"I try something I’d not previously heard of: tui na, a Chinese massage that applies pressure to the traditional acupuncture points. My masseur is a Chinese-Malaysian woman of slight stature, but surprising physical strength. At the end of the hour she takes hold of my head, says 'relax', then twists it sharply till it clicks. Then in the other direction as well. I feel strangely flexible after all that."

Testing out three styles of massage in Malaysia.
Available for republication (print and Web).
Images available.

"Bangkok is an exciting and vibrant city at all hours of the day, especially here in the commercial centre where gigantic shopping malls line busy roads, overshadowed by the Skytrain elevated railway. But is it possible to discover a more contemplative side to the Thai capital? Having set out on foot through the humid morning haze from my hotel, I’m determined to give it a try."

Exploring the quieter back streets of Bangkok, Thailand.
Not available for republication.

[Read the full article here]

"As I listen to the music, the waitress returns to top up my jasmine tea with boiling water. Then, to my intense surprise, the duo begins playing a version of Click Go the Shears. I glance up, catch the erhu player’s eye, and we exchange discreet smiles. Like the decor of the tea house, which features a jumble of items from Shanghai’s 20th century past, it seems the music selection is drawn from a variety of sources across the years."

Tasting tea, dumplings and the historic past in Shanghai, China.
Available for republication (print and Web).
Images available.

"It’s time for the moment I’ve been dreading: getting out on the river. I’m a novice on the water, being the kind of traveller who hangs around cities investigating art galleries and bars, so there’s some tension in the air as we walk down to the sandy shore below the village. Luckily, I’ll have the able Ivy to guide us safely over the admittedly tiny set of rapids we’ll encounter en route."

A kayaking journey in the state of Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia.
Available for republication (print and Web).
Images available.

"Then comes the character we’ve all been waiting for: Ritchie swings down through the forest. He’s huge! Alighting on the platform, he samples the papayas and bananas, and then selects a coconut. With three mighty whacks against the wooden decking, Ritchie smashes open the fruit and casually tastes its interior. With a strength up to ten times that of humans, an orangutan instils a sense of awe."

Encountering wild orangutans in the forests of Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia.
Not available for republication.

"It’s a Monday and, even for a travel writer, I’m experiencing an unusual afternoon at work. I’m at the front of a two-person kayak, paddling and sometimes drifting down the Sarawak Kiri River in Borneo, on my first-ever kayaking foray. The humidity is relatively low, it’s a hot sunny day, and I’m moving past lush green banks. If only I could get my balance right, I’d be in paradise."

I go kayaking in Sarawak, Malaysia, on the tropical island of Borneo.
Available for republication (print and Web).
Images available.

"Never one to avoid an amusingly tacky gift, I pick up a small red wind-up alarm clock featuring an image of Mao, with his arm frantically waving his Little Red Book at the masses. I also fancy a set of playing cards with interwar Shanghai posters, another set depicting a bizarre 1970s ballet involving women with guns, and a relatively tasteful set of worry balls featuring a dragon and a phoenix."

Exploring the Old Town district of Shanghai, China.
Available for republication (print and Web).
Images available.

"Music is playing loudly, smoke is billowing from a nearby shrine, and a flock of birds is flying across the sky above the crowd. It’s an invigorating atmosphere: a potent blend of aroma, sound, colour, motion and human vibrancy that reaches deeper than the rational mind, intensely moving in both its passion and the good humour of the crowds which have come to share in it."

Witnessing the Hindu festival of Thaipusam in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Available for republication (print and Web).
Images available.

"Younger than most Australian cities, KL has the energetic feel of a city still in the process of establishing its identity, symbolised by the contrasts between the modern Kuala Lumpur City Centre, bustling Chinatown, and its colonial architecture. The icing on the cake - or the sambal on the laksa, perhaps - is the city's multi-ethnic population."

Outlining the attractions of the Malaysian capital over a single day.
Available for republication (print only).
Images available.

[Read the full article here]

I also have a selection of high-quality digital images available, depicting a variety of international locations. 
See examples of my travel photography.

If you'd like to republish one of these pieces, or would like a new piece written about the same location, please get in touch via the contacts below:

email:
tim@iwriter.com.au

phone:
0411-242327
(international +61-411-242327)

• Blog
• Facebook
  
• Twitter
• Novel
• LinkedIn

articles by subject:
Travel
Arts
Life
Science & Technology
Pets
 

• Aerohaveno, Tim's travel blog
• Aerohaveno Nights, a guide to Australian accommodation
• Travelroads.com