Hello Again From Saigon Hey there Reader, We've settled into our Saigon apartment and are finally enjoying some stress-free living in an excellent location with great facilities. It's been wonderful catching up with friends and revisiting favorite haunts while tackling some of those important tasks that are difficult to manage on the road - Tim's had his crown fixed, we both have new glasses (hello, clear vision!), completed baseline blood tests, and stocked up on medication. Speaking of...
13 days ago • 20 min read
Hi From Saigon - Vietnam Hey there Reader Xin chào from the vibrant chaos of Saigon! We're back in Ho Chi Minh City and honestly, it feels like coming home. This place has our hearts – the food that makes your taste buds dance, the coffee culture that puts Melbourne to shame, and most importantly, the friends who welcome us back like we never left. There's a magical sweet spot here where absolute madness meets surprising comfort, and we're soaking it all in. Well... we're soaking it in NOW....
17 days ago • 19 min read
Hello Again FromYogyakarta Hey there Reader G'day again from steamy Yogyakarta! We're in the middle of a 16-day housesit here, juggling our explorations between the tropical afternoon downpours. And I've got a confession – there's a sneaky downside to housesitting that we're battling right now. When the weather's rough outside, it's all too easy to get cozy and forget you're meant to be out exploring! Doubly so when you're revisiting a familiar place like we are with Yogya. So, rather than...
about 1 month ago • 17 min read
Hello Again FromYogyakarta Hey there Reader G'day again from steamy Yogyakarta! We're in the middle of a 16-day housesit here, juggling our explorations between the tropical afternoon downpours. And I've got a confession – there's a sneaky downside to housesitting that we're battling right now. When the weather's rough outside, it's all too easy to get cozy and forget you're meant to be out exploring! Doubly so when you're revisiting a familiar place like we are with Yogya. So, rather than...
about 1 month ago • 17 min read
Hello fromYogyakarta - Indonesia Hey there, Reader Greetings from Yogyakarta! What a difference 28 years makes! The last time we were here in 1996, we squeezed as much as possible into four nights at a basic hostel. Now we're settling into a luxurious 16-night stay in a four-bedroom villa with a pool, all thanks to a charming cat named Ricky. The perks of housesitting never cease to amaze us! Our backyard in Yogyakarta We're excited to revisit the magnificent temples that drew us here decades...
about 1 month ago • 22 min read
Hello again from Shanghai Hey there, Reader Wow, can you believe it's already February? We're still exploring Shanghai, where winter has painted the city in a mix of crisp sunny days and occasional rain showers. Despite the chilly weather, I've been warming up my wanderlust with three fascinating 'Pay As You Wish tours' through Guruwalk - more on those adventures next week! My personal Shanghai Food Tour Guide - Ben Though our Shanghai sojourn has been fabulous, it hasn't been without its...
about 2 months ago • 14 min read
May's News from Hua Hin Hey there again from Hua Hin, in Southern Thailand Things are pretty warm and dry here as a heatwave throttles much of South East Asia. Fingers crossed we get the predicted rain this week. The garden is doing OK under Tim's loving care, but the farmers and everyone else across the whole region sorely need it. I am so grateful we are staying in a beautiful home with a pool, air conditioning, loads of fans, a shady garden, and several comfy outdoor areas that catch the...
11 months ago • 16 min read
March's News from Palawan Hey there again from sunny South East Asia. This time we're writing from Palawan, one of the southernmost island groups in the Philippines. It was a massive effort to get here, and then we got stuck on a smaller island (Coron) for a few days due to rough seas. We were safe and comfortable, but the whole debacle reinforced several lessons learned over the years Stay flexible. (Seriously...!) Never schedule risky transport options leading into non-negotiable dates....
about 1 year ago • 26 min read
February's News from Hanoi Hey there again from Hanoi, Vietnam's capital. A big welcome to all our new subscribers and a Happy Lunar New Year to you all. We call it Tet in Vietnam. (And NEVER Chinese New Year!) It's a wonderful and very different time to be here. Chúc mừng năm mới! - chúc mừng (“to celebrate”) + năm (“year”) + mới (“new”) · Just before Tet, everyone is in a frenzy to prepare for the holiday. It's a time of incredible color, joy, and rituals. Then, during the actual...
about 1 year ago • 14 min read