It was all Yellow: Saigon Welcomes the Year of the Snake
Photos of Ho Chi Minh City’s spectacular decorations to celebrate Tết – the Vietnamese version of the Lunar New Year.
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Inside Ho Chi Minh City’s Reunification Palace
Ho Chi Minh City’s Reunification Palace is of full of grand rooms, dark bunkers, soviet-era furniture and military gadgets. Come and have a look inside.
Ho Chi Minh: City of Beautiful Madness
45,000 Dong – that’s just under a couple of British pounds – will buy you entry to the South Saigon Pools: a secluded oasis in hot suburban district 7. Kids play in the sand-filled shallow water, and in the adult pool a middle-aged Australian is teaching his Vietnamese companion to swim. She paddles with her […]
Street Photos and Portraits: Valletta, Malta
Maltese travel guides are full of references to a chequered history made up of Greek, Roman, Arab, Norman, French and British influences. They talk at length about the legacy of the Knights of St. John, the interesting architecture and the great food that characterise this Mediterranean island with its temperate December days. It’s all there […]
Dash for gold: Stratford 5 weeks before London 2012
Today I took a walk around the new Olympic Park’s perimeter, starting at Hackney Wick, passing through the flashy new Westfield shopping centre and ending up in Stratford’s original high street. The area’s seen some major changes, but will the Games realise its promise of economic regeneration?
Street view: Ibiza
I resisted visiting Ibiza for a long time, simply because I did not imagine it to be the kind of place to have a relaxing holiday, due to its reputation as binge party destination. Finally succumbing based on friends’ recommendations, I was genuinely surprised ..
1989 and my memories of change
I once rode the tide of optimistic change that marked the late 1980s. But I have since learnt that a single wave is not nearly enough to defeat tyranny.
Anti-hate crime vigil, Trafalgar Square
London’s Trafalgar Square was dressed in candle light and solidarity last night as thousands gathered in a vigil to express their opposition to hate crime. This follows the death of 62-year-old Ian Baynham, who sustained critical injuries as a result of a homophobic attack.
Street View: Barcelona & Madrid
I have always suffered some subconsciously-held prejudices about Spain, based on rather clichéd images of package holidays, an overdeveloped coastline, British people insisting on being served real ale and full English breakfasts in their mother tongue, stag weekends and general loutishness.