Hi I'm James, a professional chef with a career spanning 20 years and 2 hemispheres, but now I'm out of the kitchens, I run this travel blog as I travel the world. I'm passionate about food and fitness as well as being my family's travel organiser. I take care of the nuts and bolts of how to get from a to b, currencies, visas and all the usual dad … read more
World Food
Laos Street Food
Street ladies abound in Laos, you'll see them on every street where tourist gather. Street ladies I hear you say? Sorry to disappoint but I am strictly talking of the pancake making variety. In Luang Prabang and here in Vang Vieng there are loads of friendly street food vendors lining the sidewalk offering fresh-cooked Laos style street food. Baguettes, pancakes, noodles, soups and. of course, shakes, much … Continue reading
Best Hoi An Eco Cooking Class- Fun With Vietnamese Food!
Walk around Hoi An Old Town and her maze of backstreets and you'll see a dedicated Hoi An cooking class on offer at every turn. Sometimes arising from purpose-built cookery schools other times at local restaurants. Hoi An is often recognised as a culinary centre of Vietnam and the local businesses rightfully capitalise on their cuisine culture. Being a chef I couldn't resist getting my family (with kids) and … Continue reading
Travel Tips
Getting From Ho Chi Minh City to Phu Quoc – The Best Ways
Phu Quoc is tipped to become one of Vietnam’s major drawcards in the future and is already well established as a tourist destination amongst well-travelled people. Getting from Ho Chi Minh to Phu Quoc isn’t as straight forward as other parts of Vietnam mainly because it is an island off the south coast of Vietnam. […]
Hue to Hoi An
Hue, Hoi An and DaNang are located very close together in central Vietnam, Hue is approximately 100 km north of Danang and 126 km north of Hoi An. The journey from Hue to Hoi An generaly involves going via Danang unless you book a direct transfer. The journey time between Hue and Danang can range […]
International Ironman and Travel Fitness
My First Ironman
What made me think I could do an Ironman? I had never completed nor attempted any of the three disciplines individually at full Iron Man distance. Yet … continue reading
Ironman Malaysia. Race Recap
My 'A' race and only race of 2017 was Ironman Malaysia located on the tropical island of Langkawi, an Island of the north eastern coast of Malaysia. … continue reading
Being a Chef
Getting Chef Work in London
Getting Chef work in London is surprisingly easy. Numerous agencies are ready to sign you up and make commission on the back of your hard work, or you … Continue reading
The Secret Life of Chefs
Have you ever wanted to know what goes on behind the scenes in 5-star kitchens? I've worked in many, on two continents, for 20 years+. I was exec chef … Continue reading
Latest Posts
Hai Van Pass and Getting From Hoi An to Danang and Hue
Hai Van Pass – Đèo Hải Vân lies just north of the central Vietnamese city of Danang and is part of the Annamite range that extends down to the East Vietnamese Sea. The name means Cloud Pass or Ocean Cloud Pass as a result of the constant fog that can cover the mountains even while the lower […]
Vietnamese Food for Beginners
Having spent 6 months plus in Vietnam I’ve put together a brief Vietnamese food guide for beginners. A guide to what is best to eat and try in Vietnam and particularly Hoi An, a culinary capital in Central Vietnam, but with some tips for north, central and south Vietnam. Cuisine does vary up and down […]
Cambodian Food
As a Chef I have to try as many dishes as I can from every country I visit, or at least that’s my excuse to eating everything in sight. Cambodian food isn’t as famous as the local cuisine of its nearby neighbours, but don’t discount traditional Cambodian food, this little country with a war-torn past […]
Top Destinations for Travelling Dads
Every family travel blogger writes list posts about the best places to take travelling kids, I bet you’ve seen a few. Well, what about us dads? It’s our trip too and we deserve to have a great time. Below I’ve detailed how I rank travel destinations for travelling dads. My wife loves to travel, not […]
Discovering Local Foods as You Travel
Discovering the local foods of a region is a huge part of travel for most of us, but it isn’t always so easy. If you stick to the main tourist strip you will more than likely find yourself eating western favourites and watered down versions of local classics. Discovering local foods as you travel requires […]
Tips for First-Time Travellers
I don’t claim to have all the answers to make travel easy and pain- free, after all, isn’t working things out for yourself half the fun? Having travelled around the world more than once I have a few tips to help you along. Here are our best travel tips for first-time travellers and new travellers, […]
The Traditional Full English Breakfast
The traditional Full English Breakfast is an institution in its own right. Served everywhere in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland it should really be called the full British or full UK breakfast, but each country has its own twist on what should be served on the plate. From small “greasy spoon” cafés to London’s top […]
Water Parks Malaysia. Top 5 Guide Including Legoland Water Park
With Malaysia’s tropical climate there is a definite need for the many water parks that call Malaysia home. What is the best water parks Malaysia? Here is my guide to the top 5. The water parks are located across Malaysia from The Lost World of Tambun in Ipoh right down to Legoland water park near […]
Medical Emergency in Thailand
It started so well, a clear sunny day much like any other here on Koh Phangan. Heading to the night market in Thong Sala by taxi was uneventful until the time came to get out. Then the pain hit me like a sledgehammer. Just walking through the market was painful. Bumping into people pushed daggers […]
Emergency Medical Care in Thailand
Finally, the insurance came through and I was good to proceed with surgery, but suddenly I wasn’t so keen. Nothing wrong with emergency medical care in Thailand, but seriously, who wants a 6 inch hole and surgery so far from home? Alyson and the boys were still far away on Koh Phangan, but that huge […]
Backpacking After Surgery
Little under a month since my medical emergency in Thailand and it was time to resume travel again. This is, of course, what I love about travel in the first place. The new sights, smells and sounds that repeatedly hit you in a way only Asia can. This was going to be post Op backpacking at its […]
Refused to Pay For Dinner
Have you ever experienced a restaurant meal so bad you refused to pay for dinner? Last night was the first time that I have refused to pay for dinner. That’s not to say it was the first bad meal I have eaten, but it was the first time I dug my heals in and said […]
