Going Places – Pakse
I flew down to Kuala Lumpur with Malaysia Airlines. It was nice to see a recent article of mine in their inflight magazine, ‘Going Places’. Thanks to editor, Vivian Chong, it is certainly one of the best inflight reads around at the moment. My feature was on the market town of Pakse in southern Laos. [...]
Petronas Twin Towers
I’ve just returned from a brief visit to Kuala Lumpur, one of my favourites among the more developed cities in Asia. With its ethnic mix of Malay, Indian, and Chinese, Kuala Lumpur is a microcosm of all things Asian. Affectionately known as KL, it is one of the most colourful and cosmopolitan cities in the region and [...]
Walls, windows and doors in Penang
Asian nations are notorious for their disregard of architectural heritage. From Beijing to Bangkok, KL to Singapore, beautiful old buildings have never stood in the way of progress. Until recently Penang was destined to make the same mistakes but commonsense prevailed and the island’s past is now proving to be its biggest tourist attraction. Described [...]
Enchanting Laos
Just a quick reminder that my books have been released in Europe. They were commissioned by John Beaufoy Publishing in the UK as part of the ‘Enchanting Asia’ series. The hardback Thai edition is co-published with Asia Books. This brand new ‘Enchanting Asia’ series are pictorial visitor guides showing many of the main cultural attractions [...]
One for Aung San Suu Kyi
On my last few visits to Myanmar it has been clear to me that there is a renewed sense of optimism within the country. The photo below was catpured in Yangon and illustrates this beautifully. Just a year ago, such a scene would have been unthinkable. I have been visiting Myanmar for the past 15 years, regardless of [...]
Rice Harvest in Myanmar
In Myanmar, the staple diet is rice; a grain has shaped the landscape of the Irrawaddy Delta. Paddy cultivation is still predominately organic and not mechanized. From the ploughing, broadcasting of seed, the replanting of nursery seedlings, to harvest and threshing, all the work is done without the use of machines. It was also been stated [...]
Tattooed Women of Chin State
Travel another couple of hours up the Lemro River from Mrauk U and you’ll enter the lower reaches of the Chin State. Most of this mountainous area is currently off limits to travellers but a handful of ethnic villages can now be visited with a guide. The main attractions for tourists, in addition to the [...]
Monks at Mrauk U
The former capital Rakhine State in western Myanmar (Burma), Mrauk U – pronounced Mror Oo – is an atmospheric town and home to many beautiful ancient temples. It is reached following a 6 hour boat journey from Sittwe. Although the area currently welcomes few tourists that will soon change and won’t be too long before [...]
Golden Rock, Myanmar
I’ve just returned from another trip to Myanmar. Travel within the country is pretty demanding as the infrastructure has suffered from many years of neglect, but the rewards for travelling here are great. If I could only travel to one country over the next decade it would be Myanmar. At every turn there is another [...]
Wandering in Yangon
Since Aung San Su Kyi’s release, Myanmar and Yangon has been put firmly in the travler’s spotlight. Yangon is one of my favourite cities in Southeast Asia and with the current mood of optimism for the future, there’s never been a better time to explore the country’s enchanting former capital. Yangon is an extremely pleasant city to [...]
Buddha Foundry, Mandalay
A stone’s throw from Mandalay’s stone carving district is a street lined with foundries casting bronze Buddha images. Using a process that dates back thousands of years, skilled craftsmen create detailed wax images of Buddhas which are encased in earthenware clay. The mould is then heated to burn out the wax and the bronze poured [...]
U Bein Bridge, Mandalay
Fifteen kilometres from Mandalay in the former capital of Amarapura is U Bein Bridge. At 1.2 kilometres, it’s the world longest teak bridge and possibly Myanmar’s most recognisable landmark. It’s certainly one of the most photographed. I first visited here 12 years ago when the country was attracting few visitors. Today, it is well and [...]
Stone Carving in Mandalay
I’ve just returned from a week-long trip to Myanmar and the city of Mandalay to take photographs for my current book commission. Mandalay is to Myanmar what Chiang Mai is to Thailand – the centre of the country’s arts and crafts industry. Weaving, bronze casting, stone carving and much more can all be found here. [...]
New Books – Enchanting Asia Series
I am sure it could be said that my postings are infrequent and when they do appear are distinctly lacking in words. The truth is I’ve never really got with the blogging thing. And the reason is simple; I work for a living. I have always considered irrepressible blogging to be a sure sign that [...]
The Monk & Mickey Mouse
While in Yangon, this scene caught my eye. A monk, who has obviously not quite managed to shake of his desire for wealth and the material world, is choosing his lottery ticket while standing next to a woman with a Mickey Mouse umbrella. Visit the Portfolio for more images of Myanmar.
Return to the Shwedagon
I have just returned from Yangon where I was taking a few snaps for a book I am working about Myanmar’s many tourist attractions. It was great to be back in the country which is one of the most beautiful and photogenic in the region. Whenever is on my schedule, I always find time to make [...]
Friendship Bridge, Nong Khai
I was in Nong Khai last week. Luckily I returned just before it was hit by heavy flooding. It’s a pleasant little town, particularly at this time of year when it has a sleepy low season feel about it. The town sits in the northern reaches of Issan and you can enjoy lazy evenings dining [...]
Poi Sang Long
The website has been sadly neglected of late due to book commitments but all Thai images were sent to the publisher today. Now I just have to finish Laos and Cambodia editions…and am rushing off to Phonsavan in Laos tomorrow morning for a few days. Something I should have posted a few weeks ago are [...]
Rainforest World Music Fest 2011
Just a quick reminder that the annual Rainforest World Music Festival in Sarawak is coming up from July 8 – 10. If you are in the region, this stellar festival is really worth going to. This year’s line-up is as great as ever, and if the rain holds off it will be another fantastic event. [...]
Bhumibol Bridge, Bangkok
Bangkok has more that its fair share of impressive bridges but the Bhumibol Bridge, named after the King of Thailand is one of the most spectacular. It is part of a 13 kilometre long industrial ring road that connects southern Bangkok with Samut Prakan Province. It’s also just spitting distance from where I live so [...]
Pakse
The website has been dormant for far too long. Current projects are taking up most of my time, leaving little to spare on these pages. Enlivened by the discovery of Marston’s Pedigree in a Bangkok supermarket, I feel inspired to enjoy a glass of the amber nectar while posting a few shots taken in southern [...]
Wat Phra Kaew
I’ve been trying to take photographs at Wat Phra Kaew for a while but every time I go it is swarming with coach-loads of tourists. On two occasions I have simply turned back and promised to return when it is less busy; something that it never seems to be. I even tried to seek assistance [...]
Year of the Rabbit
This month’s travel schedule has meant that I am late posting images taken during celebrations to mark the Year of the Rabbit. The day after it all took place, I headed off to Laos for a whirlwind tour of the south, taking pics for a forthcoming book. Having just returned, I’ve hastily sorted through a [...]
Doi Suthep
As a destination for a weekend or extended break from Bangkok, Chiang Mai is hard to beat. Despite the fact that the city has experienced far too much uncontrolled development in years and suffers from bad pollution, I still have a deep affection for Chiang Mai. In fact I lived there for about six years, [...]
