In Search of a Japanese Curry
Japan has a long history of curries, with each region having its own speciality. Despite having been to Japan, it wasn't until reading Kafka on the Shore that I got the urge to sample one.
Mist
A poem from Anne Harrison's collection Songs of a Sad Summer
A Gondola U-Turn
Two gondolas trying to pass, as one does a u-turn in a narrow canal; only in Venice!
The Quiet American
The Quiet American by Graham Greene is in many was a love song to Saigon, where Green once stayed. He expresses a love of the Vietnamese people and their gentle ways, although it is at such odds with the violence slowly descending as the Vietnam War looms.
Exploring the Île St Louis
The Île St Louis, an island in the Seine, Paris, is easily overlooked when visiting the neighbouring Notre Dame. It’s one of the oldest parts of Paris, said to be haunted, and boasts the (reputedly) best sorbet in Europe.
Angkor’s Forgotten Temples
Besides Angkor Wat, there are some 70 other temples in the jungles of Cambodia. After the fall of the Angkor kingdom, many were lost to memory, consumed by the jungle until they were rediscovered. Some are still waiting to be found.
And Yet More Rain
Listening to a downfall at home left me remembering times I’ve been travelling in the rain - such as Florence, Singapore and Luang Prabang.
The Lions of Venice
Representing St Mark, the patron saint of Venice, statues of lions are to be found throughout Venice, including atop the column standing in St Mark’s Square.
I Thought I Could Write A Poem
A poem from Anne Harrison’s collection Songs of a Sad Summer
Butter and the Paradox of Time
For something everyone knows, time remains intrinsically difficult to define. Making my own butter proved the paradox of observed versus real time, for doing so took but a little time and also a long time.
Medical English:Origins & Idiosyncrasies of Some of Those Crazy Words
A brief history of some commonly used medical terms and phrases, from apothecary to simply sick.
Free things to do in Melbourne
Some free things to do in Melbourne (with a few temptations along the way)
Adventures in Tofu
Tofu is remarkably easy to make - but how was the process of heating soy milk and and adding a coagulant ever discovered?
Some reading suggestions for Florence
After a day of culture and gelato, reading a book set in Florence, or about someone who lived there, can make a welcome change. Here are a few suggestions.