The Single Supplement Travelling alone has been incredibly liberating and eye-opening. I learned very quickly in Italy that I was never alone, well, unless I wanted to be. There are people everywhere, and most of them are as keen for a chat and some company as you are - be it for 5 minutes or 5 hours or 5 days. You do feel like it's the first day of school every day, forcing you to start up the conversation with the usual openers (where are you from / how long...

The Perfect Day in Hanoi! I knew that I've changed as a traveller when I arrive in Hanoi...and LOVE it. The type of situation that probably would have been overwhelming and intimidating last year seems a bit like home now. Motorcycles, traffic, chaos, people, markets, motorcycles, street food, honking, motorcycles, narrow streets, old architecture, chaos, and did I mention motorcycles?! The morning after I arrived, I caught up once again with Stefan, who I had ...

Saving Face Throughout Asia there is a common cultural characteristic known as "face". Face is everything because face displays your wealth and status in the community - so weddings are over the top, architecture grandiose, gold displayed at every opportunity, and of course the more initials you can put after your name (BA MBA PhD CPA ICAA Pty Ltd) the better. So, too, must one "save face" when dealing with a conflict. This is a concep...

The Vietnamese Deadpan Vietnamese people are officially awarded the Best Sense of Humour prize for my trip. I've already mentioned how cheery they are, and how accepting of Americans...but added to that is the sharpest ability to joke with such a deadpan that sometimes it takes a moment to realise they're kidding. So many times you might try to kid around with someone in India, or especially China, and they wouldn't quite know how to take it. You then have ...

Vietnamese Street Food Oh, is there a better cuisine in the world! In my travels I've had some spectacular meals, and more finely tuned my appreciation for national cuisines - Italian, goes without saying; Indian, the diversity and flavour of vegetables and pulses; Chinese, ooooh duck; Russian...um...the dill. But I am fully taken with Vietnamese food in general and at its essence is the simple tasty creations available on every street corner. That someth...