Asia

Trails of the Unexpected

September 4, 2009

I stare at the newspaper. It wasn’t me. I gawp at the television. It wasn’t me. I trawl through the internet. It wasn’t me! I listen to the radio, podcasts, and conversations on the bus. It WASN’T me! At least — I hope it wasn’t me?

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The Reprint: ‘Fading Memories’

April 23, 2009

The nickname of Varanasi is carried on a hushed wind around those muttering it subconsciously at its entrances. Varanasty. This can be interpreted as slightly disrespectful, but I assure you for the benefit of my legal team I have an ingrained respect for the Hindi HQ.

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The Reprint: ‘The Daily Commute’

April 9, 2009

Kathmandu is not the dirtiest city I’ve ever been too. That award is divided between Naples, Marseille and pretty much every north Indian megalopolis. Marseille has some room for appeal, the binmen were on strike (it’s France, go figure). Naples suffered the same affliction, but for some reason I’m throwing their right to appeal out […]

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The Reprint: ‘Moving Times’

April 2, 2009

Imagine you watched a big American city elope for a walk. It uprooted its underpins, stretched out its girders, slipped its streets into its subways and polished its double-glazed glasses. It packed its parks into its malls and just wandered off into its own horizon. “Bye, Big City. See you again sometime.”

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The Reprint: ‘Monk Hunter’

March 26, 2009

I don’t think this weeks Reprint needs any words at all. Just look at him. He’s the cheerleader of the tour bus troop. I’m outspoken in my denial of there being a fundamental difference between a traveller and a tourist so I’ll choose my words carefully.

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The Reprint: ‘Split Personality’

March 12, 2009

In almost every country I’ve visited in Asia there is a town where artisans almost outnumber tourists. Undoubtedly talented, you can find the most amazing local and international art at guilt-pecking prices. In China it’s Lijiang. In India it’s Cochin. This image could have been anywhere, but it’s from the Balinese town of Ubud.

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The Reprint: ‘Ginger Blue’

March 5, 2009

I only ever had one pet. It was a tabby cat. I called it Thomas. My sister called it Fluffy. My dad called it Cat. It would forever be known as Thomas Fluffy Cat. Then TFC ran off, probably to a derelict pig farm at the end of our road that was the headquarters to […]

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