Somehow I managed to live in Saigon for a year without checking out nearby tourist attractions. So when my employer dangled the carrot of a free flight for an awayday and by coincidence my cousin Henry decided to drop into Vietnam, well, it was high time to rectify my lack of exploring. So, with the …
Author Archives: Will Holland
Ling Tơhan
Gia Lai Folk Festival 2024 This weekend was the Ngày hội văn hóa các dân tộc tỉnh Gia Lai which was a celebration of the indigenous peoples of Gia Lai province. Each of the province’s 14 districts sent a village to represent their culture. They put on displays of crafts, music and dance. There was …
Quy Nhon and Plei Boi
Quy Nhon for Easter Our Easter holiday kicked off bright and early at 7am when the car rolled up to whisk us away. Packed inside were Yumi, three excited aunts, a cousin, myself and two other partners, and our ever-patient driver. We were headed to Quy Nhon city. Taking first the infamous Mang Yang pass …
Visa Victory and Linguistic Endeavors
Personal News Exciting news to kick things off: I finally got my new visa! With a generous two-year validity, it’s a weight lifted off my shoulders. It’s been quite the ordeal, in the past I could always do visas in Saigon but they changed the rules so all visas must be done locally. The adjustment …
Mysterious Tales from the Annamite Highlands
The YouTube algorithm has a knack for surprising me with recommendations for videos I never knew I’d be interested in. A recent suggestion had me watching a fascinating talk on the history of the Pith helmet. Learning about its practical design for sun protection and air circulation, I felt I needed to head to the …
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Fungal in the jungle
As a fan of both hiking and the allure of jungle settings, there’s not much that excites me more than embarking on a trek through dense, untamed foliage. Recently, I found myself drawn to the mysterious depths of Chư Păh. . Little did I know, my adventure would be accompanied by a nifty app that …
Butterfly Season
Gosh It’s been a long time since I’ve written a blog post! In the last one I was talking about moving to Pleiku and now 3 years on I’m settled here and a lot has happened! I’ve decided to try updating this space more often about life in Vietnam and my projects (let’s see if …
Playing it Cool in Pleiku
When I first came to Vietnam, a year ago at the end of August, I had planned to see how I felt after a year, if I wanted to go home or move to a different country. What I didn’t plan for is a pandemic! So moving country is out of the question so I …
Peaceful coastal getaway
I was incredulous when we got back to the office after coronavirus and the boss asked “did you enjoy your holiday?”. I had worked every day except 1 or 2 through the lockdown and found working from home just as difficult and more emotionally taxing. Now, Finally, I’m getting a holiday, and in an unusual …
Why I got no sleep in Bangkok
I spent a night in Bangkok but didn’t sleep a wink. If you’re thinking about Bangkok’s nefarious reputation you might need to get your mind out of the gutter because it’s not what you think. Bent over double I managed to squeeze passed the banyan tree that half blocked the narrow alley. I would never …
Eastward Ho! 