Another Brit Abroad

Tag: asia

My Top 5 Bucket List Destinations (for now)

Some of the places at the top of my list to see

Source: Magnific.com

It became quite obvious to me last year that travelling is basically the best thing in the world. Finally leaving the small bubble of your hometown to explore the endless amounts of countries, cultures and cuisines, and meet people from all walks of life, is maybe the most fulfilling venture you can take. That said, you’ll never be able to travel to every corner of every country, so having a bucket list is a good idea. I thought I’d put mine down here, to remind myself of where I need to go next, but also to maybe give you some inspiration for where to book your next flight.

1. South America

Ok, I know this is quite vague. South America’s pretty big. But if I listed the countries separately then this list would be huge. I’ve actually been to South America once before: when I was 16, I spent a month in Peru and Bolivia through an expedition company that came to our school. We spent the time hiking the Salkantay Trek, making the walk up to the top of Macchu Picchu for sunrise, taking Jeeps across the Bolivian salt flats, learning how to make coffee by hand in the jungle, and eating lots (and lots) of street food. It was my first time going away somewhere without my family, and the first time I felt like I was travelling rather than just going on holiday for a couple of weeks. It opened my eyes to how much of the world there is to see, and it’s an experience that really changed my life. That said, I was only 16, and I went with a couple of teachers from school, so I feel like now I’m in a position where I could go back for longer and really explore on my own. Peru was amazing, and I’d definitely go back; we didn’t see any of Lima, just an overnight stop in a homestay before an early morning flight to Cusco, so I’d have to explore the capital. I also need some more Inca Kola, the greatest drink on the planet. I’d also love to go to Brazil and Argentina; these two countries have such great culture and history, and the food looks amazing as well. Plus, going to a game at River Plate’s stadium is on my footballing bucket list, as is the Bombonera, both in Buenos Aires. Football culture in South America is crazy (that’s soccer for you heathens in America), and experiencing the derby between River Plate and Boca Juniors would be insane. I’d love to trek through Patagonia and head down to the southermost point of the inhabited world (that might be in Chile actually… may be a reason to go there as well I guess).

2. Eastern Europe

Again, this is more a region than a specific place, but Eastern Europe is another place, but it’s definitely on the list. I am a massive history buff, and I find the story of Eastern Europe, especially post-World War 2, incredibly interesting. The sheer amount of change that the region has gone through over the last hundred years or so, from empires, to kingdoms, to Soviet satellites, to independence, is captivating. I’d love to go and explore the old cities, which have such a long history and culture; places like Dubrovnik, Split, Sarajevo, Budapest, Prague, Ljubljana, and so on. On top of that, the beer’s cheap. The floating hostels in Belgrade, along the Danube river, look incredible, whilst Fisherman’s Bastion and Buda Castle in Budapest are incredibly historic sites that I would love to explore. I’d really love to get a campervan and do a road trip around Europe, so starting somewhere a little cheaper than the western countries would be ideal. I actually wanted to do that a while ago but never got round to it. Getting a campervan here in Australia is in the plans as well, but we’ll see how we go. Regardless, Eastern Europe is a place I would love to explore; rich history, interesting cultures, cheap booze; what more could you want?

The Danube River flowing through Budapest. Source: budapestrivercruise.com

3. Russia

Expanding on the Eastern European theme, I’ve added Russia separately because a) it’s so big that lumping it into one region would be unfair, and b) most of Russia is in Asia. Again, this is mainly for the history; Russia has such a fascinating past that I would love to go and experience. As well as that, given the size of the country, there are so many different cultures within its borders. I’d love to see the Red Square, the cathedrals of St. Petersburg, the (presumably) mountainous levels of museums spread across Moscow, revel in the architecture, explore the local food scenes. I’d also love to head out east and see some of the less populated places, and see how different life is there. The far eastern regions of Russia, near the borders with China and North Korea, would be amazing to go to, just to see how the people live. If anyone’s ever watched Bald and Bankrupt’s Youtube videos where he explores all the Soviet republics, you’ll see why Russia, and the rest of the former USSR, is so intriguing, especially when he goes off to the more remote areas and meets the locals. Of course, this probably won’t happen while the war is going on and Putin is still in charge. I think the government are probably a bit cautious of westerners trying to get in at the minute, especially from countries who have openly backed and supported Ukraine, like Britain has. But one day, hopefully, I’ll be able to visit.

Of course, this shouldn’t be taken as an endorsement of the Russian government or what they’re doing in Ukraine. It definitely isn’t, but that doesn’t mean that visiting the country in the future should be ruled out. Most countries have had bad leaders who have done bad things at some point. I’m British, we’ve killed millions of people and occupied over a third of the world over the last 300 or so years; that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t come and see Stonehenge.

4. India

Another country with an incredible history is India. Again, like Russia, its sheer size means there is always somewhere new to explore and a new culture to get to grips with. As well as that, Indian food is some of the best in the world, so being able to taste it where it’s made would be amazing. Of course, the Taj Mahal would be a must-visit destination when in India, but there are so many other places that would be cool to see as well. From Goa to Puducherry, Mumbai to Delhi, there is such a wealth of culture, history, and cuisine to get through, that you’d have to stay for a good period of time to fully explore as much as possible. I would also love to travel to Kerala, which has a huge variety of environments, from coastal resorts and beaches to rolling hills and mountains, whilst the food is rich and varied. On top of Kerala, Kolkata also has a massively rich history and architectural landscape that would be amazing to see. Full of street art, markets, some of the best street food in the entire country (so Google says), as well as a whole host of museums and galleries, there is so much to see and do (and eat). India as a whole has over 40 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and is one of the oldest civilisations in the world, so it is definitely one to explore in some depth.

5. Ireland

It doesn’t really make much sense that I’ve never been to Ireland, seeing how close it is to the UK. You can get there by ferry in about an hour, and flights are cheap and frequent. Either way, I haven’t yet been there. That needs to change, if for no other reason than to have a load of Guinness. Going on the hunt for the best creamy pint sounds like a pretty good reason to go on a Dublin pub crawl, but there is still so much more to see. The Ring of Kerry road trip looks like one of the most stunning in Europe, and there are places like Cork (home of the famous Blarney Stone, which is meant to bring good luck if you kiss it), Galway and Limerick to experience the history, landscape and culture. You’ve also go the Wicklow Mountains which would be a great place to hike and camp for a few days. On top of that, the Irish are renowned for being some of the friendliest people in the world, so you’ll have good craic in the pubs.

Obviously, this is just a brief snippet into all of these places. I couldn’t possibly list everywhere in one article, but hopefully this is enough to get you inspired for your next trip, or to start thinking about making your own bucket list, so you know where you want to go and see.

The Ring of Kerry. Source: youririshadventure.com

May 9, 2026
Landing in Hanoi: The First Days in Vietnam

On arrival in Vietnam’s capital, exploring the sights and the smells of the streets

Vietnam has always been top of my travel list. From watching James May ride through the country with a colander on his head as a child, to reading about the Vietnam War and the devastation it caused, to iconic films like Platoon and Good Morning, Vietnam, before finally becoming enthralled with the food and flavours, it was the one country that I told myself I would visit and explore. It got to the point that I was actually a little worried that I had bigged it up so much in my head that it couldn’t possibly live up to the expectations that I’d set. As I sat in the airport at Siem Reap, waiting to fly to Hanoi, I wondered whether the Land of the Blue Dragon would hit the heights I’d imagined. Then I landed.

Turns out I didn’t need to worry at all.

The ride from the airport to my hostel was fairly standard. I booked a Grab and headed off to my accomodation, which was directly opposite the cathedral. Good start. After I dropped my bags off, I did what I always do when arriving in a new place: I went for a walk. I had arrived at 9pm, and so I needed to go and get something for dinner. Heading out of my hostel, I was immediately greeted to a sight that I would not tire of: bunting adorning the streets of the Vietnamese flag and the hammer and sickle, with motorbikes parked alongside.

Is this not the most Vietnamese street you’ve ever seen?

The air was cool, the atmosphere was lively, there were horns blaring in all directions, something you very quickly get used to. There are nearly 77 million motorbikes in the country, so the chaotic roads become second nature after a few days. I very quickly knew that Vietnam was indeed going to live up to the hype. I walked around the area until I found some refreshments. First, I stopped at a juice stall, Tiệm trà trái cây Bibin, and got a freshly squeezed orange juice (35,000 VND, £0.98 – you’ll see why it’s so easy to eat and drink here), where I bumped into an American man who had married a Vietnamese lady and had moved to the north of the country. We had a good chat, he gave me some recommendations and his business card for his ice-cream shop in the north of the country, inviting me if I was ever in the area. Then, he kindly offered to pay for my juice, before departing into the night with his wife. After I finished my juice, I headed next door to have my first Vietnamese phở.

That sweet, sweet brothy goodness… and the first of many, many MANY Vietnamese beers

I found myself at Phở Gà Nguyệt, just a four minute walk north of my hostel. A phở place that only does chicken – a varying mix of breast, thigh, back, wings, and offal. When I arrived at 11pm they only had chicken breast left, so they gave me extra meat. The phở cost me 55,000 VND (£1.55 – see?!), while the beer, Bia Hanoi on this occassion, was a whopping 20,000 VND (£0.56!! – dangerous). It was everything a phở is supposed to be – rich, soothing, with big chunks of tender, juicy chicken. The chillies were as spicy as you would expect, and the vibes of sitting on a plastic stool on the side of the street, watching the late night crowd go by with a hot bowl of broth and a cold beer, were every bit as exhilarating as they were in Thailand and Cambodia previously. But Vietnam feels different, it is different. Everyone I’d met who’d been to Vietnam already had told me. Now I was starting to understand what they meant. All I’d done was land, drop my bags off and get some dinner, and I felt the difference. And I still had another six weeks to go.

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The next day consisted of some sightseeing. I decided first to check out the Cathedral, seeing as it was right outside my hostel. As in, I was awoken by the bells chiming on the hour, and I could see it out my dorm window. The scale of the building was magnificent, and walking through the streets you could feel the remnants of French occupation in the buildings: the cathedral was one of the first buildings in Hanoi to be constructed by the French colonial government in the 1880s. It was then shut down after the Viet Minh took control of North Vietnam until 1990, when Mass was allowed to observed on Christmas Eve. It was built in the Neo-Gothic style, which is why it stands out as being very ‘European’-looking. I then took a walk up to Hoan Kiem Lake, just a ten minute walk, taking in the picturesque views of the famous red bridge and Ngoc Son, a temple on an island in the middle of the lake, an ideal spot for peace and serenity in the heart of the bustling city. After a pleasant stroll around the temple, it was time for lunch.

The entrance to Ngoc Son Temple

The bánh mì was born in 1950s Ho Chi Minh City, pairing French produce introduced in the 1860s – baguettes, pate and mayonnaise – with Vietnamese staples such as pickled daikon and carrots, chilli sauce, and local cuts of meat. The invention came a out following the partition of Vietnam in 1954, when over a million North Vietnamese moved south. When in Vietnam, you will eat hundreds of them. I certainly did. My first encounter of the legendary food came at The Banhmi by Kun, and was the classic filling of Vietnamese sausage, with plenty of pate and pickled vegetables. The crunchy bread, smooth pate, crunchy pickled vegetables, spicy chilli sauce and fragrance of the sausage was a match made in heaven. There’s a bánh mì spot on pretty much every street in Vietnam, so go and explore.

Bánh Mì 1/????

After that, it was time for a coffee. I’d stopped in a few shops and bought some souvenirs which I sent home, and now I’d worked up a thirst. Vietnamese coffee is essentially rocket fuel. It’s stronger than any coffee I’ve ever had, so a word of warning: if you have it black you’ll be awake for about three days. Luckily, Vietnam does some incredible things with coffee, the most notable of all being egg coffee. Created in the 1940s when milk became a scarcity, egg coffee consists of egg yolks whipped with sugar and condensed milk, and poured on top of an espresso. It’s thick, rich, and desert-like, cutting through the strong coffee perfectly.

Egg coffee

Vietnam might be one of the best places to eat and drink in the region, and possibly in the entire world. The variety of broths, noodle and rice dishes, grilled meats, sandwiches, and coffee means you will never go hungry and never get bored. And it’s super cheap as well. More importantly, so is the beer. In some places you go, beer is actually cheaper than water. Some of my favourites outside of phở and bánh mì include bún bò Huế (a spicy noodle soup form the ancient capital), bún chả (a cold noodle coup with grilled meatballs and herbs), cơm tấm (broken rice served with pork ribs, a specialty in Ho Chi Minh City).

My last stop that evening was, of course, Train Street. The famous narrow street where you can grab a spot at a bar, cafe or restuarant as on the side of the tracks and watch a train pass through the centre of Hanoi. Very much a tourist spot, as the drinks and food are much more expensive than elsewhere in the city, but if you’re going to Hanoi you can’t not go. The seats are super close to the tracks so make sure you don’t get run over. Lots of people make a souvenir by sticking their beer cap on the track for the train to flatten it.

Train Street at peak evening time

Another must-visit spot in Hanoi is Hoa Lo Prison. It was set up originally to house Vietnamese political prisoners under French rule, before it was turned into a prison for American POWs during the War. It has since been converted into a museum. The entry fee is 50,000 VND (£1.40), and for the same price you can rent an audio guide. The museum consists of the original French-built section for political prisoners, the guillotine room, and living quarters for Vietnamese prisoners. Much of the Vietnam-war era section has been demolished, and there is just one room dedicated to the American POWs, including former U.S senator John McCain, who was held there.

After my time in Hanoi, I went north to do the Ha Giang Loop. That’s another story for another time. But Hanoi let me know that Vietnam would be everything I had imagined it to be, and much more.

May 9, 2026
The Day I Fell in Love with South East Asian Food

Discovering my favourite dish in the world, and my love of all things noodles, in Chiang Mai

It seems weird to say now, but before I left England, my experience of Asian food was Chinese takeout and the occasional dabble into rice and noodle dishes that my mum would make at home (we ate a lot of rice, but it was just boiled, or occasionally egg-fried). I couldn’t use chopsticks, but I thought I could handle spice pretty well. I watched a lot of cooking shows and videos and was fascinated by the endless array of broths, soups, spices, use of unusual cuts of meat (chickens feet, tripe, insects), without ever having the opportunity to explore it first-hand. The only options for food in my town were fish and chips (not that that’s a bad thing), an endless array of Chinese takeaways, all mainly serving the expected staples of chow mein, a non-descript chicken curry, chicken balls, and an omelette for those odd enough to go to a Chinese takeaway and not get anything remotely Chinese, and the Indian curry houses which became popular in my late teen years after a night at the pub. There was also one Italian restaurant, which I worked at for seven years, which exposed me to my love of cooking and food (and now I make a great bolognese), and probably explains why Italian is my go-to cuisine.

That all changed when I landed in Bangkok. I’d finally built up the courage (and funds) to book a one-way ticket out of England to see some of the world. Sitting at the departure gate at Heathrow, waiting to board my twelve-hour flight, my head was filled with all the sights, sounds, smells and tastes I was to encounter in my four months on the road. The organised chaos of the roads, endless motorbikes roaring past, zebra crossings made redundant as you fight your way across the streets. The wafting scents of food stalls and street markets, vats of broth bubbling away for hours on end, the olfactory nerves on high-alert, ready to search for the one dish that could change your perception of the world. I dove head-first into street vendors in Bangkok: a Pad Thai on Khaosan Road (eaten with a fork, the true western heathen I was); varying noodle soups at a stall round the corner from my hostel and the flower market; an array of barbecued meat skewers and grilled fish from Chatuchak Market; a tom yum goong in Chinatown, full of fragance and spice. These were all great, and had me excited for the rest of the food that was to come. But then it was time for me to leave Bangkok and head to a city which quickly became my favourite in the world.

Chiang Mai.

If you’ve ever been to Chiang Mai, then you already know what dish I’m talking about. On my travels I met plenty of people who have been to Thailand’s second city, and every single one of them loved it as much as me. And it’s not just the food here that’s amazing: the scenery, culture, attractions; everything about Chiang Mai draws you in and makes you never want to leave. The old town square, surrounded by a moat (old school) built in 1296, has the perfect mix of serenity, nightlife and culture, with plenty of temples and monuments to get lost in, as well as, of course, being close to the Doi Inthanon National Park and numerous elephant sanctuaries (pick an ethical one please). But, obviously, anyone who’s been to Chiang Mai talks about one thing and one thing only: khao soi.

The first, life-changing khao soi

11th February 2025. 8:39pm. That’s when I first laid my eyes on such wonder.

That glorious bowl of rich, thick, coconut milk broth; luscious egg noodles; tender, fall-off-the-bone chicken drumsticks; those crunchy fried noodles; the kick of the chilli oil; the sweetness of the raw onion; the punch of lime juice; the tartness of the pickled mustard greens: heaven. Wash it down with a Chang and you’ve got one of the best meals on the planet as far as I’m concerned. That first spoonful of the broth told me that, just five days into my four-month long adventure, I was exactly where I was supposed to be in the world.

Thailand has many great dishes: pad kra pao, massaman, panang, drunken noodles, boat noodles, a whole host of fried rice dishes, the famous papaya and mango salads, and, of course, mango sticky rice, maybe the best dessert out there. South East Asia as a whole has some of the best food in the world; loc lac (a personal favourite of mine from Cambodia), pho, bun cha, bun bo Hue, the humble bahn mi (I like Vietnam, can you tell?), larb to name a few. But nothing will ever compare to that first bite of khao soi at that market in Chiang Mai. It opened my eyes to the fact that there’s so much more to Thai cuisine than just fried rice and fried noodles. The complexity of flavours in one bowl was mind-boggling. And, eating so much khao soi in my five days in Chiang Mai helped me learn how to use chopsticks. Now, I’m a pro (ok, maybe not).

The khao soi isn’t the only food from the city that stays in my memory, though. One night, whilst a few Changs in, myself and the group of friends I had made through Hostelworld ventured through the streets looking for a quick meal. We stumbled (literally) upon a small restaurant five minutes before close, and they were gracious enough to make our order to take away. Fish and pork isn’t a combination particularly popular in England, so when, in my drunken and curious state, I saw a salted fish and pork mince fried rice on the menu, I went for it. I don’t know what restaurant it was, but that plastic takeaway tub of fried fish, pork and rice I ate sitting on a bench looking out over the old square’s moat was quite comfortably the best food-after-a-night-out that I’ve ever had. And I’ve had some good kebabs.

The drunk food that I will never forget

I even took the time to learn how to make the khao soi paste from scratch. Black cardamom (the key ingredient) turmeric, ginger, shallot, garlic, a heap of dried chillies, pounded and turned into a paste, fried off with coconut milk, water, soy sauce, palm sugar and fish sauce. I followed this great video:

The only thing that was really missing from the authentic, Chiang Mai stalls was the thickness of the broth. Perhaps a cornstarch slurry would do the trick? Anyway, I highly recommend making it for yourself, even if you have a good khao soi available near you (Sydney has a few that I’ve discovered so far, Melbourne has a fantastic restaurant called Khao on La Trobe Street). A good Asian grocery near you should have the black cardamom which isn’t typically sold in restaurants, and the pickled mustard greens; I’m sure you can order them online as well. If you’re veggie or vegan, you could replace the meat with tofu, tempeh or mushrooms, and omit the fish sauce for salt. Regardless of your dietary preferences, make khao soi, or get it from a restaurant, and then come back here and tell me it’s not the greatest meal you’ve ever had.

May 9, 2026