I recently had the most fantastic week cruising around taking photos in Hagiang Province, Vietnam.     This mountainous region in the country’s north is just simply stunning and the people amazing.   It was intended that the Sunday market in Meo Vac was to be the highlight of the trip, however I can honestly say each day was absolutely a highlight.

The image above is one of my favourites – taken on a foggy morning on the side of the road where this Black Dzao woman was simply sitting looking down over her field of recently planted corn surrounded by these magical vistas.   Hopefully soon I will have a bit more to share!

Tucked away in Tulum, some 45 mins or so from Playa Del Carmen, is El Camillos.  Simply furnished (mostly with plastic chairs and tables) it’s more hole in the wall than upscale restaurant, but being packed at 3pm in the afternoon was a great sign I thought.  The extensive, very reasonably priced menu features a great range of local seafood dishes all starring the freshest of ingredients.

The guacamole was absolutely to die for, while the fish tacos were some of the best that I have ever tasted.   Wash it down with an icy cold beer and you have the makings of a fabulous feast.

If you are going to head to Tulum for a day trip to see the ruins then a visit to El Camillos is well worth it.

The evolution of my life over the past 18 months since moving on from China has been both difficult and easy at times, but always interesting.   It has played such a huge role in my life over the past decade and I realise now that I definitely chose to leave at the right time with lots of great memories.  On the flip side I’m also a little surprised I haven’t actually made it back there, yet!

This year I travelled outside of Asia for pretty much the first time in 15 years (excluding Australia of course) and it was pretty awesome but I can safely say that Asia is a really special part of our amazing world.

My thirst for experiencing all the beauty and magic this wonderful world has to offer has by no means been quenched, which means there are lots more lazy travel times ahead.

The once remote areas of Asia continue on a path of rapid modernisation, swept along to some extent by tourism and technology moving through the region.   Along with this change, traditions and customs once abundantly practiced and visible are becoming less prominent in the lives of the younger generation, as globalisation instills a level of homogenisation in society.

One organisation intent on preserving traditional arts and customs is the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre in Luang Prabang, Laos.  This non-profit, independent venture is dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the tiny landlocked nation’s diverse ethnic cultures.

I’m usually not that interested in visiting museums but I certainly enjoyed this one, and even took advantage of the opportunity to sample a few local dishes in the little cafe that sits on a balcony of the restored heritage building.

It’s easily accessible in town and is definitely worth a visit if you have the good fortune of being in lovely Luang Prabang.

A visit to the Great Barrier Reef is a must do if ever in Australia.

The best way to get in touch with this simply magnificent piece of nature is probably diving, but snorkelling certainly comes a very close second (IMHO).

Once you’ve experienced its beauty from below the water then take the opportunity for a helicopter joy flight for a truly spectacular view.   It’s perhaps a little expensive but well worth it, and definitely a once in a lifetime experience.  There will be options of how long etc and if you are visiting the reef off Airlie Beach you may be given the option of flying either out to, or back from, the reef.   Personally, I’d prefer to spend 10 minutes flying across the main highlights rather than 40 minutes in transit maybe seeing beautiful aerial views but only getting a minute or two of reef.

The boat trip to and from the reef generally takes a couple hours each way, so it is a full day.  All in all though, it is a great day out but your time on the reef pontoon is limited to maybe 3 – 4 hours max, so this means it’s busy, busy, busy.   Getting into the viewing sub to take a look around, snorkelling as much of the available area as possible, filling up on the buffet lunch then teeing up time for the chopper flight.   It was also very much a family affair the day I went – lots of people, including kids, added to the hectic feeling!  So don’t go expecting a luxurious day with the reef to yourself, I think you’d need to take up the option of the overnight stay on the pontoon for a much more exclusive experience.

It’s impossible to avoid the image of legendary revolutionist Che Guevara in Cuba.

After having lived in China for so many years and witnessing the worship and ever present presence of Mao Zi Dong, I almost expected to see an equivalent worship of Castro.   Perhaps this expectation was just the result of my own sheer naivety in drawing parallels between the two, as I’m not even sure I scratched the surface of getting to really understand the psyche of this island nation during my brief visit.

Che’s face on the other hand is everywhere and he’s revered for his heroic endeavors throughout the nation.  Visiting his mausoleum is a must do if you have any interest in this enigmatic leader. The site itself is steeped in symbolism and they have a good range of photos which give great insight to his power and story.   It’s open from Tuesday to Sunday, the hours can vary a little though (sometimes it is closed when it’s raining); entrance is free but no bags or cameras etc are allowed, these can be checked in at a small booth to the left of the entrance.

When visiting Havana the thought of experiencing a taste of the iconic Buena Vista Social Club is difficult to resist.   Nowadays though it is quite common to hear it referred to as a bit of a tourist gouging event, with the show mostly said to be “tribute style”.

Well that may be but I have to say I enjoyed the overall experience.  The food wasn’t great and the mojitos were probably the worst I had in Cuba but the entertainment factor was high.  They may not have been the original headliners that achieved fame in the movie but gee, these guys were in their 70s & 80s and really turned on a great show – each one had the charisma of a seasoned, confident performer and were clearly doing something they loved.   They were there, back in the days of Cuba’s golden era of music when hedonism was running high in Havana.

It’s almost easy to be transported back to that time if you sit back, relax and enjoy the rhythmic beat.  So, while I am always one to avoid the touristy, run of the mill sights this is something different.  It’s not about seeing what the music scene of Cuba is like today nor is it trying to find the most authentic local experience that you can.   For me it is about trying to get a tiny glimpse of a past era and the passion that inspired the original Buena Vista Social Club.  These guys had it; so my suggestion would be to experience it if you can because in the not too distant future it will simply be out of our reach as each of these magnificent performers passes.

Tucked away in the centre of this island nation Santa Clara feels like the real deal.    Horse and carts act almost like a local bus service clip clopping along the streets passing by all manner of awesome architecture most of which is closer to the crumbling kind than that of shiny restored glory.

The park that is the main square acts like a magnet, drawing in residents of all ages at all times of day.   One of the best places to sit and and take in all the action is just outside the bar that’s housed in the old Theatre building, Teatro La Caridad.  They make an awesome mojito and it’s the ideal spot to just sit and be.

The little kids riding along in a cart being pulled by a goat is one of the cutest things I’ve seen and in the evenings when the band winds up the dancing spills outside onto the pavement.

Santa Clara is much more than the fascinating Che Guevara Memorial which is located on its outskirts, it is a town which offers a chance to step off the tourist trail and get a glimpse of everyday life.

From the skyscrapers of the CBD and iconic Hollywood sign to the mansions of Beverly Hills and sweeping Pacific coastline that stretches from Santa Monica up to Malibu, taking to the skies to see all the major sights of LA by helicopter is an awesome way to spend an afternoon.

It’s certainly not cheap but I found the whole process of attempting to get around by public transport all a bit tedious and time consuming.

There are a half dozen or so companies out there offering a variety of flight options – many of which are similar in route and price.  Most of these operate from secondary airports so perhaps pick the one which is most convenient.   I used a company that was based out at Van Nuys airport which was relatively easily access by the Flyaway shuttle bus to/from LAX – they also took the door off so I could get what are I hope some fantastic shots of this frenetically paced city.

The Cuban Sandwich, stuffed full with layers of ham, roast pork and cheese, makes for an awesome quick bite.     I’ve never really been a salad sandwich type of girl so the meaty goodness, in what was once a common lunch for the masses in cigar factories and sugar mills, suited me right down to the ground.

Available almost anywhere, each one I tried varied widely in both quality and presentation, but they had all the core ingredients in common and were all tasty and satisfying.

Of course it may have just been that I still was marveling at a country that still crunches away on pork rinds as a snack but my best Cubana (pictured – I removed the lettuce!) was at a cafe on Plaza Vieja in Old Havana.  What a way to suck up the atmosphere – sitting outside gazing over the stunningly restored architecture with the crowd grooving away to the rhythmic beats of the band whilst munching away on the flat-pressed goodness of a Cuban Sandwich.