A Modern Wayfarer

Archives for December 2016

Best of Bingin Beach Bali

Bingin Beach Bali is one of my favourite places in the world. Apart from its breathtaking beauty, relaxed surfer vibe and rustic accomodation, there's a certain sense of calm you feel when descending the sea-facing steps which seem to go on forever. You weave through cute little warungs built into cliffs and once those waves touch your toes you really know you've arrived in paradise. Some of the best times I've had in Bali were spent watching the sun go down on Bingin Beach, eating fresh ... Read More

Saigon Highlights: A Sign of the Times

There is a noticeable schism between two of Vietnam’s most well known cities. On the one hand, you’ve got Ha Noi, with it’s quaint charm and faint French-colonial vibe, and on the other you’ve got the progressive and ever-growing Ho Chi Minh City, or Saigon as the locals still like to call it. Fast becoming one of the key commercial hubs in Asia, this type of urbanisation filters right down to the type and flavour of Saigon highlights. Free citywide wireless Internet anyone? It is this Vietnam ... Read More

The Truth About Halong Bay Junk Boats

A “Junk Boat” is still a Junk Boat, no matter how much you pay. Halong Bay Junk Boats are still Junk Boats even if the brochure the Vietnamese travel agent gave you makes it look like luxury incarnate. It is still a Junk Boat if, compared to other Junk Boats around you in the water, it looks like the veritable Sofitel of Junk Boats. Moral of the story? Junk Boats are in fact, rundown pieces of, well, junk. Granted, they’ve been given a lick of paint and a clean fit-out, but if you look closely ... Read More