Given its close proximity in Southeast Asia, it’s surprising how little I knew about Laos before our trip. It’s one of the few communist states left in the world. Subsistence agriculture is its main industry. And it is relatively untouched by tourism still, having opened up to the world only in the 1990s. But with […]
Sapa is a laid back, mountainous town in Northwestern Vietnam, blessed with a cool climate throughout the year. The Hoàng Liên mountain range dominates the area, setting a dramatic backdrop for many scenic treks. Just venture out a little to nearby indigenous villages and you’ll be rewarded with views of stepped paddy fields – […]
Fansipan is the highest peak in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, hence earning itself the romantic title ‘Roof of IndoChina’. So when we went to Sapa this April, it topped our list of things to do (pun unintended haha). In general, there is not much info online on self-exploring Fansipan and the villages around Sapa when […]
Known as ‘Capital of the French Alps’, Grenoble is a haven for thrill-seekers. Skiing, climbing, swimming, flying – there’s something for every adventurer. The modern city sits right at the intersection of three magnificent snowcapped ranges – Chartreuse, Vercors, Belledonne. Take your pick. In 40 minutes or so (the average ride to any of […]
Climbing Mount Kinabalu has always been in my list. In Feb 2015, the opportunity came up when I was in Sabah for a business trip. Since I was going solo, I wanted a no-frills trip – get in, get up, get out. A check on the net revealed many all-in packages offered by tour agencies […]
Unlike our last two well-marked routes at Adam’s Peak and Horton Plains, the hike up Ella Rock was extra special in its own unguided, haphazard way. Following the vague directions from our friendly innkeeper, we simply started walking from our hostel along the train tracks towards the huge Ella Rock that was hard to miss, […]
“What time is the train coming? Can we buy our tickets already?” I asked the man for the 3rd time in the ticketing office from the back door. We were getting restless at Hatton Railway Station, the fatigue setting in from our early morning hike up Adam’s Peak. Our train was supposed to arrive at […]