Time to go back (Laos) December 12, 2002 I was at a temple in Luang Prabang, writing some things. It was quiet and peaceful. And a bit cold. I fell asleep. I heard some voices. I opened my The island of mystery and magic (The Philippines) March 16, 2002 Have you ever ended up in some place and never wanted to leave? It happened to me on a little island in the Philippines. I was in Siquijor, an A song for every person (China) December 30, 2001 The other day, I met a Diane. I had “Oh Diane” (by Fleetwood Mac) on my iPod and I played it for her. Diane had never heard that song. It amused The áo dài calendar (Vietnam) December 23, 2001 In Hue, at a travel office, I saw a calendar featuring women in áo dài. I made a mental note to buy a similar calendar before leaving Vietnam. My The Vietnamese dub (Vietnam) December 10, 2001 Walking around late one night near the train station in Nha Trang, I stopped at a small street-side drink stall. A group of people huddled around a Here no longer be dragons (China) September 12, 2001 There are some mysterious places in this world. I call these the “here be dragons” places. Medieval European map makers coined this term. They used The last disco in Yunnan (China) August 23, 2001 After this town is Tibet. My original plan was to make it an early night but I kept hearing the thumping from the hotel disco. And I end up at a I want to stay (Burma) June 10, 2001 It is my last day in Burma. I arrive at Yangon airport at 6 AM for my 8 AM flight. At security, a stern-faced woman inspects my bag and asks me to Snake snack and other such (China) January 31, 2001 The other day someone asked me if I have ever eaten a snake. “Yes”, I replied. “What did it taste like?”. “It did not have any taste or rather it The darkness (Malaysia) June 16, 2000 Once in a while, a ray of light would filter through the dense rainforest canopy. Our boat came out in the open near an island. The pilot rested the Next page