Vietnam then. Home of Pho, too many zeroes on currency denominations and British people seeking a little cultural adventure. As random nights out go, playing guitar on stage in a Vietnamese bar with the runner up in Vietnam’s inaugural Pop Idol competition – Ngọc Ánh – accompanying me on percussion takes some beating. The back-story … Continue reading
Nearly five years have passed since I first visited Shanghai, a city with an ineffable draw on me. Following our reluctant departure in 2013 after little more than a year’s residence, we returned as visitors last year with a little trepidation. With hindsight we needn’t have done so. No such concerns or worries this year … Continue reading
“Malaysia: Truly Asia” claims the worldwide advertising campaign for Malaysia. It is. It’s probably a lazy description, but imagine a mix of China, Thailand and India and you have Malaysia. A predominantly Muslim country where ladies in bikinis swim alongside ladies in full body (and head) covering (“burqinis”, as they’re probably not called); where the … Continue reading
“They” say you should never go back; that returning only serves to diminish, never enhance a memory. Bron and I decided to ignore this, returning to Shanghai almost a year after we left. We stayed with Andrea, an American friend we’d met during our year in China, herself shortly departing to start a new job … Continue reading
Kazakhstan, geographically and politically positioned halfway between China and the UK, seemed an unlikely location to meet up with Rachel, our friend from Shanghai with whom we’d experienced many a Chinese adventure. So we settled on the Seychelles. Not halfway, but an equal pain in the arse for all of us to reach. The guidebooks … Continue reading
“Would Paul Sims please contact immigration”. Not the friendliest of welcomes for Anny at Heathrow airport, as she’s taken to one side and quizzed about her reasons for visiting the UK. I kept my natural predilection for sarcasm suppressed as the immigration official asked questions such as “Are you expecting anyone at Heathrow today?” … Continue reading
ShanghaiSims 