"Short stories and travel reports from my life adventures around the globe".
The APOPO Hero Rats, Siem Reap. February 2020. I’ve always tried to seek out unique and quirky travel projects. After all, it would be boring if I was always posting about temples, churches, beaches and museums. Although I have indeed done plenty of that over the years. Moreover, these more unusual experiences are invariably the most […]
Read MorePsar Leu Market. March 2020. Another Asian city, another colourful, frantic market for the Leighton Travels archives. Siem Reap has a ripe market scene, with most people heading for the Old Market in the heart of town near Pub Street. But if you wanna strip back all the hassle from vendors and their overpriced goods, […]
Read MoreCambodia Landmine Museum. January 2020. Take even a rudimentary look into the history of Cambodia and before long you’ll find yourself entering the tragic world of the landmine. During decades of war, experts say at least six million landmines found their way into Cambodian soil. Moreover, these evil devices have been responsible for the deaths and […]
Read MoreWat Damnak Pagoda. January 2020. There are a number of fine temples and pagodas to enjoy in Siem Reap. My favourite of these is the pretty Wat Damnak Pagoda, SR’s largest Buddhist centre. It lies on the eastern side of The Siem Reap River jus a few minutes from the heart of downtown. Moreover, it was […]
Read MoreThe Lotus Farms, Siem Reap. January 2020. It was a burning hot afternoon in Siem Reap as Sladja and I jumped out of the tuk tuk. Wow, was pretty much all I could say, as I drank in the landscape. For the most part, Siem Reap is an uncompromisingly dusty place. Thus we were delighted […]
Read MoreArtisans Angkor, Siem Reap. January 2020. A common misconception about Siem Reap is the idea that, aside from The Angkor Temples, “there’s nothing much to see”. I hear this time and time again. Moreover, I remember reading several blogs that claimed 2-3 days is enough to “do Siem Reap”. Mm. We spent seven months in Siem Reap and […]
Read MoreWar Remnant Museum, Siem Reap. January 2020. I’m unlikely to ever forget our visit to Siem Reap’s so-called War Remnant Museum. Not, I should point out, for the right reasons. It had all sounded so promising on paper. Come, said the online blurb, to “a place of healing for bodies, hearts and minds”. To an […]
Read MoreWat Preah Prom Rath, Siem Reap, Cambodia. January 2020. I remember feeling surprised by how just incredibly clean and colourful Wat Preah Prom Rath Temple is. In fact, both Sladja and I were literally blinded by columns of kaleidoscopic light as we entered the complex. These competing streams danced around us in all directions under the […]
Read MoreMiniature Replicas of Angkor, Siem Reap. Following our life-changing adventures in Belgrade, Sladja and I drew up plans for a future together. With her living in China and myself based in The UK, it was all a bit complicated. Nevertheless, we managed to book up what we thought was going to be a 1-month stay in […]
Read MoreChurch of St Sava, Belgrade. August 2019. Belgrade is a city that’s positively blessed with picturesque churches. Among the finest of these structures, I’ve already blogged about the stunning St Mark’s Church. And the exceptionally pretty St Petka’s Chapel and Ruzica Church nestled within Belgrade Fortress. However, if I had to choose the Serbian capital’s […]
Read MoreMuseum of Yugoslavia, Belgrade. August 2019. I hadn’t been aware of it before my visit to the Serbian capital. But actually my general knowledge of modern history and its key world leaders had a large Yugoslavia shaped hole in it. Churchill? Sure, I have a solid overview. Stalin? Yup, I could certainly give you a […]
Read MoreAn Afternoon Exploring Zemun, Belgrade. August 2019. It was yet another sweltering sunny day in Belgrade as Sladja and I rumbled through the city in a bus destined for the neighbourhood of Zemun. For the first time we were leaving downtown behind for a change of scenery and pace. Nestled on and around the right […]
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