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
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
We love eating street food on the footpaths of Bangkok. But if there is a downside, it’s the sweltering heat and often stifling humidity that nearly constantly hangs over the city. There is a cure though and it’s sipping Singha Beer in Bangkok. Icy cold beer too, like the one in the photo above. There’s … Read more
Eating out in Saigon is an absolute delight. While street food rules in Vietnam’s northern capital Hanoi, in the southern Vietnamese city of Saigon, officially called Ho Chi Minh City, you’ll find some of the country’s best restaurants. We’ve long loved Vietnamese cuisine, having been spoilt with authentic Vietnamese food when we used to live in Sydney, home … Read more
Saigon’s leafy streets, art deco delights and elegant colonial-era villas mean the city is easy on the eyes. But after dark, when splendid old buildings such as the Opera House and City Hall are spectacularly illuminated, the city is stunning in parts and atmospheric everywhere else. Saigon after dark is a treat. While it’s fun … Read more