A Visit to the Past

Jazirat al-Hamra or Red Island, now part of the mainland, was once a peninsula that, with high tide, became a small island just off the coast of Ras-al-Khaimah. The inhabitants made their living… Continue reading →

Lisbon Hype

“A very particular feeling of nostalgia and melancholy, characteristic of a certain type of Portugueseness, permeates the city and its people, imparting a permanent yearning for an unfulfilled past. It is a city… Continue reading →

Introducing “A Taste of Freedom”

We have always known that, one day, we will have to leave the United Arab Emirates. Visas are tied to jobs and sponsors, and no matter how long one lives here, eventually one… Continue reading →

A Brief Stopover in Bangkok

The people who jostled for space in front of the gates of Bangkok’s Grand Palace, shortly before opening time, were entertained by a rather sturdy Thai woman with short hair, and a no-nonsense attitude.… Continue reading →

Myanmar: The Land of Green Ghosts

“If someone was murdered or died in an accident, this was categorised as a ‘raw death’. The belief was that the deceased would become a ‘green ghost’ – the most feared of all… Continue reading →

A Magical Day in Mandalay

“How dreary it would be if you could go everywhere and do everything. There would be nothing left to dream about, and dreaming, in my view, is often the best part of travel… Continue reading →

The Timeless Beauty of Bagan

“There are experiences of landscape that will always resist articulation, and of which words offer only a remote echo.” – Robert Macfarlane –  I gawk at the faded murals, and feel a wild… Continue reading →

Places To Stay: Inle Lake Sanctuary – Samkar Lake, Myanmar

“When you realise how perfect everything is, you will tilt your head back, and laugh at the sky.” – Buddha – Name:  Inle Lake Sanctuary Location:  Unlike what its name suggests, the lodge… Continue reading →

Yangon’s Shwedagon Pagoda – An Edifice to Enduring Spirituality

“To the Burmese, the Shwedagon Pagoda is a symbol of the continuity of our country, its constant presence a reminder that no matter what happens in life, we can count on our spirituality… Continue reading →

Realizing A Dream – Step 2: Have A Land Dispute

“If you expect life to be easy, challenges will seem difficult. If you accept that challenges may occur, life will be easier.” – Rob Liano –   The Shephard squinted, and waved his… Continue reading →