Vietnam – Vanessa Curney

Changi, Singapore - overlooking the South China Sea — Changi, Singapore, overlooking the South China Sea

I’m starting to prefer staying in the suburban outskirts of a city. Apart from getting more reasonably priced accommodation, it’s nice to be able to retreat from the frenetic centres to somewhere more quiet, if not totally peaceful. As long as there’s accessible transport to ferry me across to the centre when I want then that’s fine by me.

Changi Village in Singapore is a case in point. Just a few kilometres from the airport my hotel was about a five-minute walk from the South China Sea beach side. Nothing amazing about the hotel itself – but (on the whole) it was clean and quiet. Food there was horribly expensive without the quality to match, in my opinion. But, that only galvanised me to sample the nearby local restaurants, where prices were low and the quality significantly higher.

Changi, Singapore.jpg — Changi, Singapore

Quiet(er) Melaka (or Malacca) in next door Malaysia is a pleasant two-hour coach drive from Singapore (I used the bus company KKKL which I do recommend). And even in Kuala Lumpur, I stayed at Airbnb apartments that just skirted the flashy main centres, though with easy transport to shopping malls for sheltering from the heat.

KL during the day

KL at night — Kuala Lumpur (or ‘KL’) during the day and at night

Mojo Nomad Aberdeen Harbour — In Hong Kong, I stayed at the Mojo Nomad hotel, with this Aberdeen Harbour view from my window. Nice.

Hong Kong cafe.jpg — G4 Space cafe is just down the road from the Mojo Nomad hotel and worth checking out

Read my other Asia posts here:

https://vanessacurney.com/2018/02/08/travels-through-asia-dining-in-kolkata/

https://vanessacurney.com/2018/02/08/travels-through-asia/

Miu's Coffee House, Hanoi, Old Quarter — Miu’s Coffee House. Hanoi, Vietnam

At the start of 2017 I said that I wanted to travel to Asia and Asia-Pacific that year. From May I got to work in reporting and public information for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (or, more simply, OCHA) in South Asia (Pakistan and Bangladesh).

At the beginning of December and following these busy assignments I decided to make my way around India, Australia and Thailand for the first time visiting Kolkata, Sydney and Bangkok. Three weeks later I was back in London spending a lovely Christmas break with my 84-year-old Mum, my brother and his family.

Sydney Opera House.jpg — No prizes for guessing where this is

Bangkok night market 1 — Bangkok night market

Then I hit the road again in the first week of 2018, taking in Phu Quoc, Ho Chi Min and Hanoi in Vietnam; Colombo and Galle in Sri Lanka; and Bali, Indonesia where I am now. It’s actually cheaper to be here than expensive London, whilst waiting for my next assignment, plus I get to miss all that city’s tiresome cold winter.

Acoustics bar, Hanoi, Old Quarter — Getting ready to perform at The Acoustics Bar. Hanoi, Vietnam

I like the song that blasts out from the Vietjet flight on landing in Vietnam (the link below will take you to the YouTube video).

Galle, Sri Lanka.jpg — Fishermen. Galle, Sri Lanka

Galle, Sri Lanka snake — Rather him than me. Galle, Sri Lanka

A funeral procession in Zadar, Indonesia — A funeral procession in Sanur, Indonesia

Breakfast in Kuta - tender buttermilk chicken, spinach and poached egg — Breakfast in Kuta, Indonesia – tender buttermilk chicken, spinach and poached egg

Category: Vietnam

Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong

Travels through Asia