Posts made during August, 2009
The Candy Cabs of Bangkok.
Sunday, August 30th, 2009
I love it when a city has iconic taxis. They can become a symbol of the city and add a real ‘personality’ to the place. Everyone knows what a London black cab or a New York yellow taxi looks like even if they havn’t been there before. I also love the cute green and white VW bugs in Mexico City and the tiny black and yellow Renaults in Barcelona. One of my favourites, though, is the London cab (the instantly recognisable Austin FX-4). These venerable machines had been unchanged since they were specially designed and built in 1959 (although sadly, in 1997 they finally stopped manufacturing them). But, now I have a new favourite. The Candy Cabs of Bangkok. When I was in Bangkok earlier this year… (read more)
My rather flash award and other Bangkok pics.
Wednesday, August 26th, 2009
I’ve just got home from the Australian Society of Travel Writers awards and AGM in Bangkok and, although I’m feeling very jet-lagged (and perhaps still just a bit hungover), I had a marvelous four days. The highlight was of course winning ‘Travel Book of the Year‘ for Sleeping Around, but I also jammed in a lot of other fun stuff. I certainly jammed in a lot of food with the help of the ‘locals’ who really looked after our stomachs. We were fed huge Thai banquets by Bangkok Airways, The Thai Tourism Authority and a spectacular show and dinner at SiamNiramit. I also visited the ‘Snake Farm’, lounged by the pool… (read more)
Sleeping Around wins ‘Travel Book of the Year’
Sunday, August 23rd, 2009
Yes, wow! I still can’t believe it myself, but last night at the Australian Society of Travel Writers Awards night in Bangkok I won ‘Travel Book of the Year’. I was honoured and chuffed just to be a finalist, but I was pretty much flabbergasted when I actually won it! I even had to go up onto the stage in front of the 200 guests and give a speech (a very short one). I’ll post a pic of the award/trophy when I get home (it’s a very flash glass one!). So, I’ve had a bit of a sore head today. (read more)
From Dingy World to Deluxe World.
Thursday, August 20th, 2009
I’m off to Bangkok for the weekend to attend the Australian Society of Travel Writer’s awards night and my accommodation is quite a step up from what I’ve been used to in my recent travels. I’ll be staying at the five-star (and very grand sounding) Centara Grand at Centralworld. Earlier this year I travelled around South East Asia using the original Lonely Planet South East Asia on a shoestring as my guidebook where I mostly stayed in places that would be pushing to get half a star. My room at the Centara Grand has… (read more)
Karaoke World Tour – Russia
Tuesday, August 18th, 2009
It’s Chapter Nine of Brian’s Karaoke World Tour and this time I’m singing with the Russian Mafia. I was in Moscow after completing the Trans Mongolian train journey for my book Planes, Trains & Elephants. It was on one of my usual aimless wanderings through the streets when I spotted a very upmarket ‘Karaoke Bar’ with two very large, very menacing and very well dressed bouncers standing at the doorway. This was some exclusive karaoke bar, but that didn’t stop me going in. Even when the bouncer told me that there was a $US25 cover charge… (read more)
Who reads ebooks?
Saturday, August 15th, 2009
I saw someone reading an ‘ebook’ yesterday. It’s the first time I’ve actually seen someone reading one (it looked just like the one in the pic – although it was grey and not glow-in-the-dark green). I have to say, though, that it did look a bit odd. Call me old fashioned, but I like to hold a book in my hand. I like to be able to flick through the pages and, more importantly, I wouldn’t get to use all those ‘novelty’ bookmarks I’ve got for presents over the years. I tried to find figures on how many people actually use ebooks, but I couldn’t find any. Mind you, I do hope that people use ebooks quite a bit. Particularly since Sleeping Around was ‘launched’ last week on www.Ebooks.com (and is a bargain at US$19.95). (read more)
Karaoke World Tour – Singapore
Sunday, August 2nd, 2009
I spent a couple of hours in a karaoke bar in Singapore and didn’t buy a drink. Or sing a song. But that was because one drink cost more than some Air Asia flights and I had to escape from mini-skirt wearing girls trying to pick me up before I got a chance to sing. It’s Chapter Eight of Brian’s Karaoke World Tour and although I was in Singapore doing research for my new book I couldn’t pass up a chance to add another country to my list. There was a whole line of Karaoke bars near my hotel and I picked the largest one with the biggest crowd – although the room was so dark it took my eyes a while to adjust before I could actually see the crowd. I was escorted to a table and given a drinks menu… (read more)