The Best Phnom Penh Markets

The Best Phnom Penh Markets. Copyright © 2023 Terence Carter / Grantourismo. All Rights Reserved.

Like all South East Asian cities, the Cambodian capital has a few standout markets that are worth a wander to soak up the atmosphere, snack at the food stalls, and, naturally, shop for souvenirs. Here’s our mini-guide to the best Phnom Penh markets for visitors to the city. The Best Phnom Penh Markets The Night … Read more

Phnom Penh, the Pulsating Capital of Cambodia

Phnom Penh, the Pulsating Capital of Cambodia. Copyright © 2023 Terence Carter / Grantourismo. All Rights Reserved.

I had few expectations about Phnom Penh before we went to Cambodia’s capital to do a story for a travel magazine. I think that’s why I liked the city so much. The images in my mind – of wide boulevards and ramshackle, French colonial-style buildings, dappled with mildew, and skirted by big verandas – were … Read more

Shopping Mall Sugar Rush: Bangkok’s Sweet Spots

iBerry home-made ice cream, Siam Paragon, Bangkok. Bangkok's sweet spots. Copyright 2014 Terence Carter / Grantourismo. All Rights Reserved.

I will always choose savoury over sweet, spice over sugar. My ideal dessert is something like this traditional chocolate Catalan treat, because it includes salt and olive oil. I’ll eat – and I’ll enjoy – dessert when it comes at the end of a degustation menu and I’ll happily test out Terence’s chocolate experiments (like this … Read more

Bangkok Shopping Malls: Monsoon Havens & Modern Town Squares

Bangkok Shopping Malls: Monsoon Havens & Modern Town Squares. Loft, Siam Discovery Mall, Bangkok, Thailand. Copyright © 2023 Terence Carter / Grantourismo. All Rights Reserved.

The much-maligned shopping mall makes sense in steamy Bangkok, especially during monsoon season – just as it does in the oppressive heat of Dubai. Whereas the gritty streets of both cities offer few opportunities to escape the elements, air-conditioned shopping centres provide a respite from the humidity and, in Bangkok’s case in particular at this … Read more

Footpath Feasting: From Pho to Thit Bo Kho in Saigon

Street Food in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam. Copyright 2014 Terence Carter / Grantourismo. All Rights Reserved.

When Lara first suggested the idea of a side trip to Saigon from Bangkok, my thoughts immediately turned to food, to Vietnamese food, and specifically to pho bo (or more correctly, phở bò). Soon after arriving, I’d be salivating at the words thit bo kho (thịt bò khô). You see, when I first moved to Sydney … Read more