Stretching along the western edge of South America for over 4’300 km, Chile is the longest country in the world. This extreme length gives Chile a remarkable diversity of climates and landscapes, from the Atacama Desert in the north to the icy fjords and glaciers of Patagonia in the south. Distance and climates also impliesContinue reading “Chile, nation of contrasts”
Author Archives: Pedro & Dana Evelyn Simko
Navigating the Polynesian Triangle
The Polynesian Triangle is defined by three points: New Zealand in the southwest, Hawaii in the north, and Easter Island in the east, encompassing an enormous area. Its history represents one of the most impressive examples of human migration and settlement across the open ocean. We travelled by boat for 24 days in the PolynesianContinue reading “Navigating the Polynesian Triangle”
New Zealand, nature lovers’ paradise
New Zealand is the last of the world’s large landmasses to have been colonised by humans. It is only in 1250-1300 AD that Polynesians from the area that is today Tahiti, the Cook Islands and the Marquesas, arrived in what is now New Zealand, a land which they called Aotearoa (Land of the Long WhiteContinue reading “New Zealand, nature lovers’ paradise”
Buddhism in Thailand
One of the reasons we moved to Thailand earlier this year, is because we wanted to know what it was like to live in a Buddhist country. It has indeed been a hugely enriching experience. Buddhism is not only vibrant and present in Thailand’s over 40’000 active temples, it also permeates the daily life, cultureContinue reading “Buddhism in Thailand”
Chiang Rai, lush green wonderland
On the northern tip of Thailand, bordering Myanmar and Laos, Chiang Rai province offers a tapestry of lush, bright greens and beautiful, unspoiled landscapes. We visited Chiang Rai during the month of July, the rainy season, which appears to scare tourists away (even though it only rains sporadically, mostly at night). The sights we visitedContinue reading “Chiang Rai, lush green wonderland”
Manners and culture in Thailand
Anyone visiting Thailand is immediately struck by the warmth and gentleness of the population. It’s a country where smiles are all-pervasive, people are invariably polite and kind-hearted, and no one uses harsh words or raises his or her voice in conversation. The Thais always appear eager to be helpful and accommodating, and foreigners feel thatContinue reading “Manners and culture in Thailand”
Thailand: the islands
We spent a total of six weeks in the south of Thailand, visiting a few of the nation’s many islands (there are more than 1’000 in total) . The islands come in all sizes and for all budgets, but one thing is constant: everywhere there is beauty, and everywhere you feel the warmth, the welcomingContinue reading “Thailand: the islands”
Chiang Mai, city of surprises and hidden gems
Chiang Mai, in the north of Thailand, the capital of the ancient Kingdom of Lanna, is a place of surprises and contrasts. If you were to drive quickly through the city, what would strike you first is the mess: the city vendors encroaching on the sidewalks, the large number of cars, the almost inexistent trafficContinue reading “Chiang Mai, city of surprises and hidden gems”
A culinary excursion to Bangkok
To understand Bangkok’s cuisine, you need to understand the city’s geography and history. Nestled between India to the west, China to the east and the spice islands to the south, Bangkok is located at the very center of one of the world’s most exciting culinary crossroads. For centuries, the city’s wealth came from profiting fromContinue reading “A culinary excursion to Bangkok”
Mr. Fart
Thai, also known as Siamese, is a tonal language, which means that the meaning of a word can change based on the tone used to pronounce it. There are five tones in Thai: mid, low, falling, high, and rising. For example: “naa” (หน่า) pronounced in a low tone means “face”, in a falling tone itContinue reading “Mr. Fart”
Argentina
On the southern tip of South America, Argentina is a dream for travellers. This vast nation (five times the size of France) has a hugely diverse climate and topography, covering a vast array of landscapes, from the very arid to, at the other extreme, tropical forests. Argentina features amazing, untouched beaches and some of theContinue reading “Argentina”
Morocco
On the northwestern tip of Africa, Morocco is a large and multi-faceted country, about twice the size of the UK, which we had the great pleasure of visiting for several weeks in September 2021. Our itinerary took us from Casablanca to Tangier via Rabat. From there we headed south to Fès with stops in ChefchauenContinue reading “Morocco”
Mushrooms in Chamonix
For the longest time, we watched with envy how people in the autumn wandered out of the forest behind our chalet in Chamonix, with bags filled with mushrooms. The very best are the delicate, beautiful chanterelles, which the locals call “girolles”. We tried several times to find a guide to help us identify the areasContinue reading “Mushrooms in Chamonix”
The lessons of Braila, Romania
Braila, a city in eastern Romania, offers a stark reminder of how towns rise and fall, at the mercy of politics and politicians. My family lived in Braila in the middle of the XIXth century and I was curious to find out more about this town, which is only a short distance away from Craiova,Continue reading “The lessons of Braila, Romania”
Egypt
With a population of just over 100 million, Egypt is one of Africa’s largest countries. It’s also one of the most fascinating places you can visit, the birthplace of one of the world’s oldest civilisations. But this country has a lot more to offer than (amazingly well) preserved vestiges of a glorious past. Modern-day EgyptContinue reading “Egypt”
Tanzania
Situated on Africa’s Eastern coast, just below the equator, and with a surface of about 1 million km2, Tanzania is twice the size of France, but by no means one of Africa’s largest countries (Africa itself is three times the size of the US). About 56 million people live in Tanzania, a country in whichContinue reading “Tanzania”
