Squashed into the back seat of the dala-dala(local minivan buses), escorted by the chatty Heelal and the quieter Sa’id, I marvel at how a thirteen seater van can so easily accommodate twenty – no, we’ve just stopped again, twenty two passengers! Taking the dala-dala from the markets to the village on the outskirts of Stonetown [...]
I move slightly from one butt cheek to the other, as subtly as I can, hoping my face does not reveal my deep discomfort after sitting on a six inch high solid wood plank stool for the last two hours. It is the best seat in the house, and as the guest getting a one-on-one [...]
Its a long flight from Australia to the UK, which is why I am exiting Bangkok’s airport at midnight into a wall of pleasant heat for a twenty four hour stopover. First priority is to get to the hotel and sleep. Now that its morning, I am relaxed, refreshed and ready to jump into my [...]
Wet markets are brilliant, all that fresh produce, some so fresh they are still alive, at least until you pick them out from the display. This local market in Shanghai has live chickens, fish, crabs and frogs amongst others. And lets not be squeamish about this, the floor is very wet from the constant hosing [...]
Continuing my new habit to take a cooking class when I travel, especially when I have travelled to a place where I like the food, I am doing a one-on-one cooking class with an expert dumpling maker in Shanghai. And today’s dumpling is my favourite, the steamed prawn dumpling – the yummy and guilt free, [...]