A Modern Wayfarer

Archives for November 2016

Hanoi Highlights: A Street-Cart Named Desire

Sometimes when you’re on the road, unexpected things happen. Like exiting your hotel in old town Hanoi in search of a local travel agent and ending up at his family’s place for dinner. There are many tantalising Hanoi highlights – both big and small – to be uncovered just by walking down the street and chatting to the locals. It is this eager hospitality and old-world charm that sets the city apart from other Vietnamese cities, as well as its fresh and tasty street or “hawker” food lining the footpaths around the Old Quarter. Declaring it a physical impossibility to go hungry in this city would be an understatement. With delectable delights of Bun Cha (grilled pork and noodles) and Beef Pho (pronounced “pha”, I swear)  steaming away right in front of you, all you have to do is pull up a crate and get gorging. Eating on the street is always a memorable experience, from the ephemeral nature of many vendors, who might be there Tuesday but not Monday, and possibly only until 10:45am, or whenever they run out of food, to the often chaotic setting, with the makeshift hawker stalls dotted along the sidewalk and the noisy Vietnamese traffic blaring in the background. There are of course, some commonsense tips to follow when choosing your preferred vendor: Always look for vendors with people already eating their fare. Ensure the food is still bubbling and boiling in the Pho pots. Scope out how clean the “kitchen” and the condiments look. If you follow these tried and tested tips both your taste buds and stomach will be happy. Hanoi Highlights Hoan Kiem Lake (The Lake of the Restored Sword) First things first, when you arrive in Hanoi head straight to its historical centre and take a leisurely stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake. It’s a great way to get a feel for this French-colonial-inspired city, and it is one of the major scenic spots serving as a focal point for its public life. Quaint little café’s line the lake so you’ll have your pick of where to stop for lunch. Take a Tuk Tuk Ride Every city in Southeast Asia has a different kind of tuk-tuk, and cyclos are Hanoi’s tuk-tuks! The driver pedals you in a bike-like device reminiscent of a wheelchair. Warning: these contraptions are built for two very minuscule people, and if you do manage to squeeze in with…

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Thailands Floating Cinema: A Flashback

Thailands Floating Cinema was a fleeting spectacle that gave new meaning to the term “going out” to the movies. The world is no stranger to the Outdoor Cinema, but what if the world was floating somewhere in the middle of a tranquil lagoon, idly rocking back and forth with the tide while viewing a quaint screen floating on the horizon in front of them? This was reality in March 2012, when the quintessential outdoor cinema catapulted from its humble, grounded origins and re-imagined into the clear blue waters of Nai Pi Lae Lagoon on Kuda Island for the last night of the Rocks Nao Yoi Festival. The designer of Thailands Floating Cinema, Beijing-based architect Ole Scheeren, described the project as “A screen, nestled somewhere between the rocks. And the audience…floating…hovering above the sea, somewhere in the middle of this incredible space of the lagoon, focused on the moving images across the water: a sense of temporality, randomness, almost like driftwood. Or maybe something more architectural: modular pieces, loosely assembled, like a group of little islands that congregate to form an auditorium.” You catch his drift… How Was Thailands Floating Cinema Constructed? The project adopted traditional Thai building practices, gleaning techniques used by local fishermen to construct floating lobster farms. The cinema was crafted out of recycled materials and buoyant pockets of wood bound together with mosquito nets. There is hope that the no-longer-functioning marvel will reappear as a cinema once again at some stage, but for now, parts of it sit as a floating playground for the children of the Yao Noi community. AMW xx ~ Featured Image via Confessions of a Boy Image via Places To See In Your Lifetime

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Summer in Lake Bled: A Weekender

Some people visit beautiful Lake Bled in Slovenia to relax, to savour the peacefulness of a place in the Julian Alps usually covered in snow. Phoebe from WoodandLuxe and I had other ideas. Sure, we were glamping in the most tranquil accommodation possible, but our ‘how’s-the-serenity?’ moments were dramatically interspersed with a kind of ‘all-you-can-complete’ buffet of adventure activities. Basically, our 48 hours of summer in Lake Bled looked like an Olympic decathlon complete with cycling, sitting, swimming, rowing, riding, rafting, walking, hiking and of course, eating. Fair to say we experienced Lake Bled and its surroundings from all angles. 48 Hours of Summer in Lake Bled – Adventure Activities Horse-Riding – Summer in Lake Bled By now I’m pretty sure you know one of my favourite ways to experience a new place is to jump on the back of a steed. Luckily, Bled has more than a few riding tour operators catering to different skills. We booked a two-hour tour of the lush Bled countryside through 3Glav Adventures for 50EUR per person. The ride, which takes up to 6 people, commenced at their stables a mere 10-minutes from Bled village. We meandered through some quiet streets and ended up at hidden Zayrsnica Valley where we got ample galloping time! Cycling – Summer in Lake Bled You have two cyling option in the Lake Bled area. One: hire a bike for a few euros from one of the many vendors dotted around Lake Bled and take in the gorgeous scenery. Or two: get serious and take a four-hour guided mountain biking mission in the mountains of Triglav National Park. A moderate level of fitness is required so you don’t have to be Cadel to negotiate the trails. 65EUR/person through 3Glav Adventures. Swimming – Summer in Lake Bled Warning: the only time you really want to be swimming in the Lake is during the summer months, and even then the temperature is relatively bracing. The good news is it’s perfect for a dip to cool off on a hot day. Why not grab a picnic, roll out the blanket and bask in the glorious sun. Rowing – Summer in Lake Bled You can hire rowboats from vendors around the lake for 5 EURO per hour. You can also hire paddleboards, kayaks and if you’re feeling slightly lazy you can always get a dude to paddle you around in an extra large…

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Garden Village Lake Bled: A Peter Pan Paradise

I know a secret little garden in Slovenia where you can sleep under the stars surrounded by fresh salad produce and bubbling brooks. I know a place where you can wake up in a luxurious tree-house or five-star canvas tent (I’m talking heating/air/con, TV – the works) to the sound of bumble bees busy doing their business. A place where, upon rising, you can get your downward dogs down-pat on the lush grass next to your very own hot-tub, pick an apple from the tree and be on your way to a special farm-to-table breakfast laid out on a bed of grass in front of you (a table top made out of real grass to be exact). Yes, Garden Village Lake Bled isn’t your typical holiday experience. Hell, it’s not even your typical ‘eco-glamping’ experience, if ever there was one. Garden Village is a special slice of nature and it’s hard to compare it to any other lodgings around the world. Garden Village Lake Bled – The Lowdown Vibe  A naturalists heaven Think Hansel and Gretal but without the weird witch! Sound  Nothing but the buzzing sound of life! Crowd Families, wedding groups, couples, friends – basically anyone who loves a good glamp (and who can afford the price tag that comes with it) Highlights Proximity to the Lake itself – Garden Village Lake Bled is located a mere 5 minute walk to the lake and the Pletna boat landing that takes you to Bled Island. The food. Oh dear lord, the FOOD! They grow all their fruit and veggies in their garden and source local fish from the lake. You can literally taste the freshness! The peace and quiet that comes with a back-to-nature experience. The communal fire-pit for those chilly nights. A place where you can bond with your fellow guests over a glass or two of red. The large, double-level glamping tents are the best I’ve ever stayed in. Think 5-star hotel room inside canvas. The ‘living pool’ – a swimming pool which looks like a pond and has things growing in it. Cools. Stay in the double-level glamping tents and you get your very own solar-heated hot-tub Snack on a strawberry or an apple from the garden. Free bikes to explore the lake and surrounds. Surprisingly, the WiFi reception is pretty good Lowlights This is glamping with the price-tag – for the best tents you’re starting at…

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Things To Do In South Australia That Don’t Involve Wine

Things to do in South Australia… Um, wine, wine and more er, wine? Well no, actually. There’s more to South Australia than just fine wine and sublime cheeses. In fact, it’s totally possible to avoid the wineries altogether! If you’re slightly crazy. More than half of Australia’s wine is produced in the Southern State! And with nine grape-producing regions, wine is everywhere you look! Adelaide is a connoisseurs haven, and while it’s hard to resist the lure of a good Barossa Shiraz, if you feel like taking time-out from tastings these are a few other things to do in South Australia; things where you’re guaranteed to stay sober… maybe. Things TO DO in South Australia Hahndorf As Australia’s oldest surviving German settlement, this quaint little village is tucked away in the Adelaide Hills, about a half-hour drive from the city-centre of Adelaide. Hahndorf is like stepping into a 20th Century Thoman Mann novel, with traditional European architecture built over 150 years ago. The main street is where it’s at – with an incredible array of small-goods shops selling bespoke knick-knacks like cuckoo-clocks, soaps, minerals, candles, antiques and hand-crafted leather wares. And of course, the cheese! Who can forget the cheese! The town wouldn’t be worth its German chops without it! So head on over to Udder Delights and give your taste buds a treat, or go all out and enrol in a cheese-making class. Set aside an entire day to meander through the shops and have lunch at either Seasonal Garden or Café Assiette. Slightly out of the main street area is the former home, studio and garden of one of Australia’s most iconic artists, Sir Hans Heysen – which is open to the pubic 7 days a week. It’s intriguing to witness the detail of some of his original, lesser-known charcoal works, and I thoroughly recommend a visit even if you’re not that into art. Fleurieu Peninsula Coastal Drive This breathtaking stretch of coastline is still one of South Australia’s best-kept secrets, and being just 45 minutes south of Adelaide it’s super close for a day trip. In my opinion, to really experience the rugged cliff-scapes and to get a feel for the Peninsula’s beauty you should hire a 4WD and, tide pending, drive along the waters edge at Gulf St Vincent on Silverlands Beach. If you’re not so keen on the sandy self-drive, Off-Piste 4WD Tours offer exclusive full-day culture,…

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