We set off that morning in high spirits. We started walking towards the pier after being assured it was less than 500m down the road. However after what seemed like hours of walking in the mid-day heat we caved and flagged down a little microlet, piling in all our backpacks and just managing to squeeze … More Raja Ampat – the gem of the Pacific Ocean
When we arrived on Ternate we were told that the ferry to Sorong in New Guinea had left that morning and there wouldn’t be another one for two weeks. We rushed down to the docks to try and suss out our options. There we found that there was in fact a Pelni ship (a state … More The journey to New Guinea
Ternate and Tidore. The fabled spice islands. What better place to kick back and relax? Unfortunately, we were still in Hong Kong mode, rushing from one site to the next. I’m not entirely sure why were rushing round, all the sites were forts. Spanish forts, Dutch forts, Portuguese forts. We saw them all. So hectic … More Ternate & Tidore
We clambered onto the ship via a long, swaying and feeble plank of wood, moved through the galleys and emerged onto the deck where we had decided to splash out a little for a cabin. However, when we opened the door to our cabin, a face glared out at us from within. It had been … More K.M. Permata Bunda
It started 4 years ago in Sulawesi, an island in the north of Indonesia. We were staying in the docks in Manado and, on a whim, the parents decided to jump on board a boat headed to the closest island, Siau – dragging a very reluctant Katie and me with them. When we got there … More Operation Bau-Bau – The Origins
The final stop on our whirlwind tour through Vietnam was the island of Phu Quoc. It was here that we were supposed to be able to relax, do nothing and just sit by the beach. But, in classic Stokes fashion, it took us about a day and a half to get restless.Soooo we rented motorbikes! … More “Left! DRIVE ON THE LEFT!”
Perhaps the most bizarre experience of our Hoi An stay occurred when we were out on our bikes, exploring. It was a classic sweltering Vietnamese day and we had just reached the sea. The three of us wandered on to the beach – and all of a sudden we were transported back to World War … More “But how will I get back if you both die?!”
Our escapades in Hoi An took on a new direction when mum and dad spotted a tiny, packed, little ferry just about to take off. Apparently this was their cue to jump on, dragging us with them. Of course they had absolutely no idea where the ferry was headed, how long it would take and … More “So locals only pay 5000 Dong?!?!”
Our life in Hoi An was quite a contrast to the one we had in Hue. Where temples, palaces and tombs had occupied most of our time in Hue, in Hoi An it was all about the shopping. And to the surprise of all of us, it was dad – the ultimate hater of shopping … More But you said you wanted it slim-fit!
After another hectic, whirlwind day in Hanoi, we were due to head south by train to Hue. The journey from the hotel to the station went seamlessly – a stark contrast to the first time. But it didn’t stay that way. Just as I was falling asleep, all of the electricity cut out. Gone was … More “And the emperor had 531 wives…”
Musings and Wanderlust 