It pains me to think that we made the mistake on more than one occasion of merely passing through the state of Singapore en route elsewhere in the world. Knowing that this tiny island is home to the world’s best airport, should have been an indicator of some of the amazing sights and treasures to …
Geoff and I like to tail off a busy trip (especially one that is packed with sightseeing adventures and early morning departures) with a few nights somewhere tranquil and beautiful. After 10 days in Siem Reap and Saigon, we were ready for a little peace and quiet. Phan Thiết is a coastal port city in …
Ho Chi Minh city, or Saigon as it is known by the locals, is an exciting blend of traditional and modern. Soaring glass sky-scrapers (even one with a helipad) overshadow French colonial architecture, while women in traditional hats sweep water away from their makeshift storefronts with reed brushes. Scooters flow through the streets like flooding …
Southern Vietnam: Saigon, Mekong Delta and Cu Chi tunnels Read More »
Nothing excites the imagination quite like the discovery of a lost city. Cambodia is synonymous with the temples of the UNESCO World Heritage Site – Angkor – the world’s largest (and best preserved) religious complex. The extensive and important city was built in the 12th century and lay swallowed up by the jungle for hundreds …
The changing tide burbles along the hulls, birds chirp in the trees all around and the murmurs of an awakening fishing village – hidden in the dense jungle upstream – drift across the water. As the first longtail clatters its way out to sea, the river slowly comes to life. We are anchored a mile …
There is a magical place in north-east Vietnam, that is renowned for its emerald waters and thousands of towering limestone islands, capped with lush rainforests. Just a three and a half hour drive from Hanoi, the best way to enjoy this UNESCO World Heritage site is on a boat cruise! Travelling with our friends Carol …
Mention Vietnam and most people’s thoughts tend to go to the tragic war of the sixties and seventies. It was interesting to hear people in Vietnam, refer to the “American War”, which I suppose makes perfect sense and highlights that I have had a very American perspective on the subject. Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam …
“Welcome to Trat!” proclaimed the sign at the airport. We admired the green topiaries that had been cleverly crafted into elephant shapes. After all, Thailand’s third largest island after Phuket and Koh Samui, Koh Chang is fondly known as ‘Elephant Island’ because of its mammoth size and elephant shaped headland. 🐘 Forming part of the Mu …
Beijing is the capital of the People’s Republic of China and the world’s third most populous city. Before the establishment of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, the capital was also known as Peking. Why this was the case seems unclear – it may have been related to the Cantonese dialect, or a mispronunciation …
When in India, don’t miss the opportunity for a quick trip to Nepal! Staying with Carol and Roy always has its advantages, especially because they get us to do things that we would otherwise probably not have considered. Having been living in New Delhi for almost a year, they were eager to explore further afield …
The frantic chaos that is India, assaults you as soon as you get off the plane.The airport is a seething mass of people and it seems like thousands of people have come to meet our flight. It’s a relief to see Roy’s tall frame towering over all the local people. Carol firmly fights off the …
The sails flap as we thread our way slowly between the sheer limestone karsts of Phang Nga Bay, our wake the only disturbance in the pea-green expanse. The chatters of the swooping swallows echo against the imposing cliffs. We are in heaven. The limestone cliffs of Phang Nga Bay are calcium carbonate, which is generally white. …
Les saveurs de la vie is a blog about lifestyle, travel, food, photography and other musings. We are Nikki and Geoff, married since 1995 and based in Johannesburg, South Africa 🇿🇦.