Bad drivers
On a recent visit to Vietnam, football star David Beckham snapped a photo of a bareheaded woman trying to snap a shot of him while driving a scooter with a baby between her feet. She's since been charged with breaking…
Hanging out
This may be the best-ever use of a goal post. I saw it on An Bang Beach, near Hoi An, Central Vietnam
Changes
It's been a while since I posted. I could make excuses and say I've been busy and that would be true -- I have a 1/2 time job, run a small souvenir company, write and illustrate books and have small kids.…
Good morning, Hoi An
It's official! After years of dreaming, months of dithering and some frantic weeks of giving stuff away and packing, we have moved! Goodbye Saigon and hello Hoi An, or more specifically An Bang, a small fishing village by the beach some…
Smells like teen spirit?
Since Vietnam's baby-wipes market is covered, this enterprising company decided to branch out to the next (obvious?) market ...
Welcome to McVs
They won the war but... It's hard to think of a more Capitalist symbol than the golden arches, now found beside Saigon's iconic Post Office in District 1. Gold star on red. Golden arches on red. At least nothing clashes.
Saigon’s book street
Nguyen Van Binh, a little street that runs along one side of Saigon's Central Post Office in District 1, has been transformed into "book street". The street is lined with dozens of kiosks and open-fronted bookshops, as well as cute…
Read all about it!
If you love smart crime fiction, mysteries and suspense - and are looking for more stories set in Asia, here's the link to my new publisher's newsletter. New subscribers will get a free short story by fireman-turned-crime-writer Tony Knighton: Crime Wave…
‘Tis the season
I unpacked our old fake Christmas tree and found this 1-meter-plus-long snakeskin inside the box, which was stored in a cupboard directly behind my work desk. Can’t help but wonder where the skin’s owner has gone, and how much bigger…
Art crush
Happy New Year! My latest art crush is Mabel Royds (1874-1941), a UK artist known for her woodcut prints made using Japanese techniques. Mabel worked in Canada and travelled in Europe, India and the Middle East. Too broke to afford…