Museums around the world are always on the look out for new ways of bringing history alive, but nothing could prepare me for what I was to experience at the Tuol Sleng Museum of Genocidal crimes in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. No fewer than three survivors of this former […]
Thailand may still have been officially mourning the death of King Bhumibol the Great after 70 years on the throne, but Bangkok’s famous Khao San Road was alive with partygoers enjoying a lively night out. The bars with their flashing neon lights and prominent signs like “No ID […]
Passing through pleasant rice and sugar cane fields, our train journey through the western Thailand countryside was a memorable experience. As mountains unfolded in the distance, a serene river, teak and papaya trees and colourful temples could seen closer to the line. The windows could be fully opened […]
“Don’t look, close your eyes,” I was told is the best strategy for crossing the road in Ho Chi Minh City. “Wave your hands in the air, so they can see you and make sure you don’t stop.” Ho Chi Minh is not Vietnam’s capital, but it its […]
They say pictures speak a thousand words. Countless accounts have been written about the Vietnam War but it is seeing vivid images of civilians caught up in the conflict – like ordinary peasants massacred by US forces – that truly help understand the human cost of the military […]
Kraków’s Rynek Glowny oozes with charm. The city’s main square – the largest medieval town square in Europe – is surrounded by colourful neo-classical fronted buildings, which are today mostly occupied by restaurants with outdoor terraces. Horse drawn carriages carry visitors past the various attractions, such as the […]
Looks can sometimes be deceiving, as a visit to Warsaw proves. The squares and alleys of the bustling old town may look historic, but the majority of the buildings appreciated by visitors are actually fairly modern. It can in fact be said to be Europe’s youngest old town. […]
In part one of my round-up blog of 2016, I waxed lyrical about southeast London and all the great places I have visited in that part of the capital over the course of the year. But other spots, both here in the UK and abroad, also stand out […]
Search for the ‘East End’ on the internet and you are presented with page after page of interesting content. Bookshops are filled with volumes on this area of London as well, many of which I have read in recent years. And I hope to find other new books […]
Much of Amsterdam’s network canal-side towpaths is a surprisingly peaceful place to walk, even at the height of summer. There are some exceptions to this rule, not least in the notorious red light district which is popular with stag parties and other groups all year round. Another busy […]
Past In The Present 