A Ride on the Death Railway

Take the five-hour trip on the train that follows part of the route of the Second World War Thailand-Burma route. See some great scenery and spare a thought for those who built it.

Take the five-hour trip on the train that follows part of the route of the Second World War Thailand-Burma route. See some great scenery and spare a thought for those who built it.

Blundering passport-less through police checkpoints, I gazed into Myanmar through the historic Three Pagodas Pass. Then I solved the mystery (to me at least) of the underwater temples.

This town, in western Thailand, is where cultures meet. An evening stroll across the bridge brings insight and amusement.

I spent a day with a family who grow cashews and other crops in tough conditions in southern Cambodia. Their story is worth telling.

Pull up a plastic stool, grab a bowl of peanuts, and shout “Mot-Hai-Ba-Dzo!” Bia hoi — northern Vietnam’s beloved “fresh beer” — is cheap, cheerful, and best shared with locals before it goes flat at sundown.

Rajasthan’s rural entrepreneurs craft soap, incense and ornaments while battling unfair lending — stories of resilience, faith and community on India’s sun-baked plains.

Sherpas and bottled oxygen are entirely optional on this less than arduous trek to the summit.

Ramble across 1000 years of conquering and re-conquering. Enjoy a meal with an amazing view.

This four hour train trip is a great way to get a feel for how the locals live. Make friends and learn a few words of the language along the way.

I spent a day stripping peanuts from stalks in a Cambodian village. And learnt a lot about how hard life can be, and how people can rise above the hardships.