Benders to Beeches

A particularly magical part of the world this country Victoria. A whole generation of cashed up hippie musicians and artists from Melbourne and flotillas of gorgeous and immaculate gay guys from the hospitality sector in Sydney have met half way (so to speak) and created a joyous outburst of fine dining and sweet living. God […]

Corcovado

Bass player in Ubud solos on Corcovado. Hello ! Kid accompanies him.

Bali Hai

I tried to think it over but the words got in the way These words say it much more better anyway. Most people live on a lonely island Lost in the middle of a foggy sea Most people long for another island One where they know they would like to be Bali Ha’i may call […]

Balinese Honky Tonk

OK say what you will but I think that this restaurant troubadour is the Balinese combination of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, (except he sings better than the former and plays better than the latter.) Sorry about the image, I couldn’t lighten it.

Ascoutic Music ?

Yeah, that’s right, you heard me… Ascoutic. I was staggering around the back lanes of Ubud, which is incredibly touristy and over developed (there is a Starbucks), yet still somehow retains its charm and magical loveliness. Impressively turbaned Tuans were hanging on their scooters checking themselves out in their rear view mirrors. Yeah, Hi, there he […]

The Happy Clappers

The Happy Clappers were aboard, or, as our cousins across the Tasman would call them, the Hippie Clippers. They were a happy bunch too, charismatic Christians from all over Indonesia, gathering in Jakarta to pray for the successful re-election of the current PM, Joko Widodo. There was, honestly, Happy. A lovely guy, very bright and […]

Singapore ? We adore !

Back in Singapore after almost a year’s staggering about in the near, and distant, north. All of Asia is beautiful, the people extraordinarily enchanting, decent, kind, civilised and friendly. But Singapore is something special. We all remember reading about powerful city states in ancient times, Athens, Thebes etc. Singapore is the spiritual descendant of these, […]

Who said Asians talk with their hands ? Sunny holds forth.

How to show a girl a good time on $7.83

Big date night, concert and dinner, but first, a haircut on Lake View Rd. $1. Next, a rattling good ride on the impressive Kolkata Metro from Kalighat to Park St, 2 return tickets, 40 cents. Down Chowringhee past the stalls and colour and excitement, the throbbing and hustling, to the beautiful courtyard of the Indian […]

76 Trombones in the Big Parade

Sri Lanka has amazed us. Like India in many ways, but completely different, endlesslesly surprising. We were wandering along the formidable ramparts of Galle Fort when what should we behold gaily striding down the street before our very amazed gazes but this.