The moment the bus wheezed to a stop and the sound of waves crashing on the beach became clear, I knew that this could the perfect rest stop for a few days. Someone started some gentle reggae up and an … Continued
Travel
Turtles, toucans and torrential rain in Tortuguero
By any measure the first couple of days in the jungles of Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast are almost overwhelming. It doesn’t matter how many times you read about a country two-thirds the size of Scotland with greater bio-diversity than the … Continued
Scaling BBQ heights, Silicon valley chefs and get hammered in Canada
Damn, I’m definitely missing a trick working in media in London? I should be over in California living it large on kobe burgers and foie gras at some the world’s biggest tech companies. Hell, Facebook has a BBQ shack and … Continued
Tamarind health and safety, fish factories and beautiful eastern Turkey
We’re heading East (or West – depending on where you’re reading this) to Asia this week. Here are three looking at something a little different, a little unexpected about some of Asia’s biggest, most powerful countries. So let’s see what … Continued
Hobos, lobsters and outraged commenters
Today I’ve got a couple of contrasting slices of vintage Americana for you. There’s a photo essay on the National Hobo Convention (okay, I know it’s not food related per se, but it is very interesting) in Iowa and a … Continued
Beef skewers in Cambodia, Portland eating, tinned collywobbles and the Olympic milkman.
Photo from TomEatsJenCooks This week’s collection of links is full of interesting, and downright strange, places to visit. Hidden corners on three continents beckon, from beef liver skewers in Cambodia to sausage and maple syrup breakfast waffles in Portland. And … Continued
Walking the Dragon’s Backbone: the rice terraces of Ping’an
It’s not often you find yourself walking along a dragon’s spine. Curled protectively around the village of Ping’an in south western China, this particular beast is formed by row after serried row of rice terraces carved into the hills. The … Continued
Shangli: an ancient Sichuan trading town
At nine o’clock sharp a swoosh of sheets being pulled off tables sounded across the ancient wooden town. Then there was a communal rustling as bottoms settled into chairs. Finally a deafening click-clacking echoed through the stone streets. It was … Continued
Chengdu: urban hell and culinary heaven
I looked out over the vast expanse of rotting concrete appartment blocks and crumbling office buildings. They peered back from under the blanket of gritty polluted fog that lay over the city. Billious clouds floated low and heavy overhead. The … Continued
Is it right to travel to countries with oppressive governments?
Sharp eyes look over at me from under an olive green helmet. I see fingers momentarily tighten around the but of a tear gas gun. Our guide had said “no photos of soldiers”. I hesitate then slide my camera back … Continued