How did it come to this? This is the question that goes over and over in my mind as I grip the sides of my bunk. My knuckles are white as the hum of the motor threatens my sanity. Our small, single-hulled boat savagely rolls from one side to the other as the force of … More Wild seas and pirates: 24 hours on the Indian Ocean
I had spent two and a half days travelling to the middle of nowhere. Tiredness and irritability had become the norm and it was hot. We had travelled by plane, driven in the back of old vans and endured a horrifying ocean crossing of the Mentawai Straight. During the crossing a freak wave crashed over … More Mentawais: Island time
“Mister, mister. You eat one”, she screeched at me as the plastic bag she was holding squirmed and writhed around. In the other hand I could see a platter of what appeared to be cooked spiders, roughly the size of the palm of my hand. As I approached, she knew she had a sale and … More Lost with Louie: A Cambodian Reflection
Short Story #3 comes to you from Vietnam and involves two of my favourite things in the world: travel and food! While Short Story #1 had somewhat of a comical element to it, and Short Story #2 recounted my adventures as an unwitting 19-year-old, I am writing this story based on my heart warming experience of how food brings people together. I … More Short Story #3: A Grumpy Old Man and Giggling Women
Short Story #2 comes to you from China. When we hear “China”, most of us think about the Great Wall, Tiananmen Square or the terracotta Warriors. But as I promised, my series of short travel stories won’t be focusing on the more common aspects of visiting a country. Instead, I want to take you onboard an overnight … More Short Story #2: Fight Night on the Chinese Railway
One of the joys, if not the ultimate joy, of travel is food. Eating on your travels offers an insight into the culture, the history and the social constructs of the country or city that you are visiting. The cuisine or the types of food that are eaten in a country is often influenced by previous conquests by foreign … More The Refined Art of Traveling & Eating Well
With the return to normality comes the return of day dreams. My desire to sit down and write out my thoughts and experiences over the last two months has been minimal to say the least. I have come to the conclusion that this is due to the fact that I was living my dream instead … More Slowing Yourself Down
John Lennon’s legendary lyrics still resonate in a world that has change a lot since his passing more than 30 years ago. I remember hearing this song for the first time when I was young as my Dad played Lennon’s album on our new CD player. The fact that I could skip to a particular … More Life is what’s happening to you while you’re busy making other plans
LeftWithLouie 