Tag Archives: long-term travel

Cameron Highlands: The HIGHlight of Malaysia. Apparently…

Posted on October 16, 2015 by laurapattara

‘You’ll LOOOOOVE the guesthouse’ he said ‘It’s completely surrounded by nature’ he said. This is like that time he told me: ‘Oh, you’ve never ridden a big motorbike before? Only a scooter? Aaahhh…don’t worry…it’s same same!’ And then I am … Continue reading →

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A Taste of the Expat Life in Penang, Malaysia

Posted on August 29, 2015 by laurapattara

The housekeeper walks in, takes one quick glance at the living room, declares the whole apartment ‘sparkly clean’ and proceeds to unpack two bags full of groceries. Apparently, we’re cooking curry today…and who’d dare argue with that? Sanra is not … Continue reading →

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Travel Etiquette: How NOT to Make Enemies and Offend People When Travelling

Posted on August 13, 2015 by laurapattara

Contrary to what you may think, I’m not immune to the odd travel faux pas here and there, despite my many years of practice. My bouts of foot-in-mouth disease may have decreased in the last few years yet try as … Continue reading →

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Hipmunk City Love: Top 3 Culinary Secrets of Siem Reap, Cambodia

Posted on August 8, 2015 by laurapattara

Siem Reap is the undisputed tourist-queen of Cambodia and home to the UNESCO-listed Angkor Archaeological Park, once the heart and soul of the ancient Khmer Empire. You would expect that such a popular, special place would be brimming with amazing … Continue reading →

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Travel: it’s evolutionary, Watson!

Posted on July 25, 2015 by laurapattara

I really didn’t need a Harvard psychologist to convince me of the fact that the only predictable thing, in life, is its unpredictability. However, as I watched Dan Gilbert’s Ted Talk, The Psychology of your Future Self the other night, … Continue reading →

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Overlanding in Low Season?! You bet!

Posted on July 16, 2015 by laurapattara

We’re currently travelling through Southeast Asia at a time of year when many fellow travellers are keeping well away. The weather is crap, the heat unbearable and humidity stifling. As most overlanders know, the trick to keeping up this luxurious … Continue reading →

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Thailand: Land of Smiles and Friendliness. You sure about that?

Posted on June 28, 2015 by laurapattara

25th June: Krabi “Would you like a coffee?” The custom officer politely asks as he takes the papers from our hands. “Coffee??!!” Chris and I answer in unison, with what can only appear, to an outsider, as utterly idiotic expressions. … Continue reading →

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Germany to Thailand-TRIP STATS-Day 960

Posted on May 22, 2015 by laurapattara

After just a little bit of nagging, zee in-house accountant has finally found some time to get some new trip stats together. Yey for nagging! If you recall, when we left Germany on 12 September 2012, we estimated that we … Continue reading →

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Stories from Phnom Penh

Posted on March 19, 2015 by laurapattara

There’s a dead man lying in the gutter. A red cloth napkin covers his face. He’s wearing a colourful floral shirt, the kind which seem to be a big hit here with foreigners. I can tell he’s a Westerner because … Continue reading →

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Letters Home from Africa: Sudan, December 2009

Posted on February 11, 2015 by laurapattara

I almost can’t believe it. I read and re-read the message posted online, yet after further research, it seems to be true. The car ferry between Sudan and Egypt, crossing Lake Nasser, is no longer. The road is now open. … Continue reading →

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