I’m not talking about the web-shooting, masked hero who prefers his kisses upside down. I’m talking about the real deal – the man who regularly appears in the top daredevil lists alongside Evel Knievel and Harry Houdini. The climber who has conquered some of the highest skyscrapers from the Burj Khalifa tower in Dubai to the Petronas Towers…
Dancing lion
Troops of dancers in foil trousers leapt down from the open truck, determined to celebrate the mid-Autumn festival despite the rising river. Metal poles were hastily erected whilst the two halves of the lion psyched themselves up, springing like elastic into the night. The bulbous masked face of the lion trainer was fanned as a…
How to eat a scorpion
Step 1. Buy a scorpion on a stick on Kaoh San Road, Bangkok. Step 2. Make sure the stinger has been removed. Step 3. Grab a large Chang, or splash out on a Singha beer. Step 4. Think of anything except that black spiky thing in front of you. Step 5. Be brave and chomp…
8 things I regret packing on my travels
After ten weeks of backpacking and hauling my big pink rucksack around SE Asia, I realise that some items were essential and some were just dead weights. Here’s 8 things I wish I hadn’t packed retrospectively: 1. Warm clothes Denim and woollen things are heavy to lug around and not that suitable in the downpours,…
The Spanish Bull
The little girl in the red flamenco dress began to wail as the beast whipped his legs into a fervour. His black curls thrashed on his head like furious riders. The Baroque stone courtyard dimmed as candles expired under the wind of his violent kicks and spins. The drums magnified their sound until nothing else…
Thai cookery class
‘More chilli, more sexy.’ I shovelled five more mini red chillies into my curry under my instructor’s watchful eye, before sabotaging my cooking partner’s dish with secret spice – much to my instructor’s approval. My bravado was something I’d regret later. We’d selected our ingredients from the local market where spiky durian, swollen purple aubergines,…
Bollywood translated
Two dozen expectant eyes bore into my face, waiting for me to move. I scanned them all in one long pleading sweep, looking for an escape route. ‘Go on!’ urged my traitorous boyfriend, who’d sided with the crowd. My only other ally shrugged at me. He was conveniently pinned down as his hand was tattooed…
Fortune telling in the temple
Hundreds of turtles clamber over each other to escape the murky pond. The slippery rocks betray them, sending not one but dozens back into the shallow pool. The lucky ones rest in the dry heat, their dark shells cracked like eggs against their stripy yellow skin. The Chinese who maintain the temple had intended the…
Easyrider tour in pictures
Passenger view Coffee plantation Lake Lak Herding ducks Children riding water buffalo in Jun village Central Highlands Local children on rice wine farm A baby girl is strapped to her mother Rebuilt dam next to original that was destroyed by American bombs ‘Monkey bridge’ of strong bamboo ‘Farmer taxi’ Gasoline syringes Sharing the road with…
Biking tour of Pai: Top ten highlights
The low clouds clung to the slopes like wispy threads of web as we hurtled towards Pai in our minibus. Cold air slapped sticky cheeks, and horns honked as fresh skid marks were laid around sharp corners. Our bus slammed to a halt, and only laughs were exchanged between the drivers. Route 1095 from Chiangmai…
Ferns and forest 