The Shanghai Tea Scam
It was my last day in Shanghai. The uneventful six days leading up had been filled with the usual tourist jinks – dining out in local eateries (my favourite being the steamed bun with crab meat and pork stuffing), being harangued on the popular shopping strips by shady vendors who approached under the guise of […]
My Year of Living (and Travelling) Without a Mobile Phone
The circumstances that led to the parting with my treasured mobile phone were not premeditated. If anything it was just good timing. That and the copious amounts of cheap alcohol consumed at an Irish bar in Edinburgh which resulted in yours truly waking up drunk in the middle of the night and pissing in the […]
The 10 Uncomfortable Truths of Travelling in Central + South America
Tomorrow is the eight month anniversary of my backpacker travels through the continents of Central and South America. Since arriving in Cancun, Mexico back in October, I was gently exposed to a new culture and way of life. As I’ve ventured off the gringo trail and gone deeper into the heart of the eleven countries […]
Endless Love
“John, I understand you’re frustrated. It’s something we’ll…” He interrupted again, cutting across mid sentence, increasing my anger. I let the phone hang limply in my hand, swinging by the cord. His voice still bellowed from the receiver, and I looked at CJ standing in the doorway clearly growing impatient. He pointed to his watch. I […]
Travel and Characters
I’ve been backpacking for over seven months now through Central and South America, and whilst by and large the backpacker scene can be fairly samey, with the same 5-6 characters recurring, the most memorable people I have met have been when I’ve been taken off the beaten track. When I write, I try and draw […]