F.E. Beyer's Blog, page 3

My Book in the News

Gary Jennings, the Mexican Museum of Anthropology, and my new Mousepad

I arrived at the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City two hours before closing, so only had time to see half the items on display. Out of all the amazing stuff, my favourite was the 3-metre-tall basalt sculpture of Coatlicue, the Aztec goddess who gave birth to the moon, stars, and Huitzilopochtli, the God ... Gary Jennings, the Mexican Museum of Anthropology, and my new Mousepad

The post Gary Jennings, the Mexican Museum of Anthropology, and my new Mousepad first appeared on F.E. Bey...

MY NEW NOVEL: SMOKO

Blurb: One day the postal services will turn a buck by using drones to deliver fake Rolexes to citizen slackers on a universal income. But for now, nobody has told the sorting machines and electric delivery vehicles about the singularity, and the mail team continues busting arse delivering gym membership promotions to retirement villages. Adopting ... MY NEW NOVEL: SMOKO

The post MY NEW NOVEL: SMOKO first appeared on F.E. Beyer.

Cambodia 2023 Trip Report

1 Siem Reap  The City Once out of the airport, your first glimpses of a new country are precious. Hopefully, the sense of novelty causes a dopamine release. As you visit more countries more regularly, the buzz lessens. My first new country in years, I could feel the dopamine buzz in Siem Reap, Cambodia. According ... Cambodia 2023 Trip Report

The post Cambodia 2023 Trip Report first appeared on F.E. Beyer.

2003 Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, NZ

Phongsaly In 2003, I trekked in the highlands of Phongsaly, the Northernmost province of Laos. The leather work shoes I���d bought in Hong Kong for my six-month stint working in Shanghai didn���t serve me well. Greatly amusing my fellow trekkers, I slipped and fell on my arse multiple times while descending muddy jungle paths. Referring ... 2003 Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, NZ

The post 2003 Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, NZ first appeared on F.E. Beyer.

Hua Hin

The Train I enjoyed the slow train to Hua Hin, the seaside town 200 km south of Bangkok. Scheduled to get there in five hours, the train made it in six. I bought 2nd class sleeper fan tickets and got two wide seats facing each other. Travelling by day, we didn���t fold them out to ... Hua Hin

The post Hua Hin first appeared on F.E. Beyer.

More Bangkok Observations

The Grand Palace is a tourist attraction living up to the hype ��� as in yes, it���s worth visiting. Although other temples around Bangkok Old Town have equally impressive golden buddhas and multi-tiered roofs, not to mention fewer Chinese tour groups,  their (cheaper) entrance tickets don’t include entry to two museums and a dance show. ... More Bangkok Observations

The post More Bangkok Observations first appeared on F.E. Beyer.

Bangkok Observations

We flew back to Bangkok from Danang in Vietnam. Prices at Danang Airport are in dollars. No surprise then that, apart from a family of Chinese tourists enjoying 18 USD dollar combos, Burger King was empty. I felt guilty buying a small bottle of warm Sprite for $3.80. What a waste of money. An odd ... Bangkok Observations

The post Bangkok Observations first appeared on F.E. Beyer.

Bangkok Observations: Danang to Bangkok, Sukhumvit Area

We flew back to Bangkok from Danang in Vietnam. Prices at Danang Airport are in dollars. No surprise then that, apart from a family of Chinese tourists enjoying 18 USD dollar combos, Burger King was empty. I felt guilty buying a small bottle of warm Sprite for $3.80. What a waste of money. An odd ... Bangkok Observations: Danang to Bangkok, Sukhumvit Area

The post Bangkok Observations: Danang to Bangkok, Sukhumvit Area first appeared on F.E. Beyer.

Off the Rails in Phnom Penh: Into the Dark Heart of Guns, Girls, and Ganja Reconsidered

Earlier in 2023, I wrote a review based on what I remembered from having read “Off the Rails in Phnom Penh: Into the Dark Heart of Guns, Girls, and Ganja” in 2003. This book had popped into my mind many times over the years, and with a first-ever trip to Cambodia coming up, I thought ... Off the Rails in Phnom Penh: Into the Dark Heart of Guns, Girls, and Ganja Reconsidered

The post Off the Rails in Phnom Penh: Into the Dark Heart of Guns, Girls, and Ganja Reconsidered first appeared on F.E. Be...