Location: Asia


Sep
20
2016
Unfinished Business Richard Pendavingh 20.09.16

Our first day on the bikes took us up the west coast from Negombo to Puttallam. It was a busy stretch of road and we were still a few days away from getting comfortable with the traffic so progress was slow.

Sep
11
2016
Sea Tigers of the LTTE Richard Pendavingh 11.09.16

In a lagoon north of Mullaitivu is a gold-painted 'victory monument'. It presides over the area where the 'Liberation Tamil Tigers of Eelam' (LTTE) made their last stand against the Sri Lankan army in 2009.

Sep
01
2016
Sri Lankan cricket fans at the Australia v Sri Lankan one-day international at Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium.
Riding the Whitewash Richard Pendavingh 01.09.16

It's hard to know when to visit Sri Lanka. December to April is officially the dry season but the weather conditions are somewhat complex with various monsoon seasons affecting different parts of the island at different times.

Aug
26
2016
Conflicting Stories in Sri Lanka Richard Pendavingh 26.08.16

A couple of chance encounters highlighted the dueling narratives of Sri Lankan history and the tensions that still remain following the end of the civil war.

Aug
20
2016
Junk in a motorcycle workshop
Sri Lanka by Motorcycle Richard Pendavingh 20.08.16

The best way to see Sri Lanka is on two wheels.

Apr
16
2016
The Art of Amistics Richard Pendavingh 16.04.16

Swedish artist Simon Stålenhag paints images of suburban Sweden in the 1980s transformed by some unexplained technological breakthrough.

Apr
21
2015
Osaka and the Dekasegi Richard Pendavingh 21.04.15

I met my first talkative local wandering Osaka looking for the famous Umeda Sky building.

Apr
16
2015
Tsukiji Fish Market Richard Pendavingh 16.04.15

You can find a lot of dead sea creatures at Tsukiji Fish Market but you wont find much whale meat.

Apr
12
2015
Pasona 02, Tokyo Richard Pendavingh 12.04.15

Right in the center of the biggest city in the world an experiment in agriculture is being conducted.

Mar
20
2015
Tokyo’s Indestructible Skytree Richard Pendavingh 20.03.15

2015 led me back to Tokyo. This time I spent most of my time in the district of Sumida in Tokyo's Northeast.

Mar
20
2015
The Nagakin Capsule Tower designed by architect Kisho Kurokawa
Nakagin Capsule Tower, Tokyo Richard Pendavingh 20.03.15

The Nakagin Capsule Tower in Tokyo is a run-down testament to the ambition of some of Japan's most celebrated post-war architects.

Mar
12
2015
The Dogs and Demons of Joetsu Richard Pendavingh 12.03.15

The small coastal city of Joetsu on Japan's north coast highlights some of the problems facing modern Japan.

Feb
25
2015
Adrift on Mt Myōkō Richard Pendavingh 25.02.15

Earlier this year I tagged along with the Australian/International off-pissed ski team to the slopes of Myokokogen.  Matt chose Myoko because the guidebook gave it four and half snowflakes out of five in the 'powder' category.  Also because our plan called for us to go from there to Kyoto and then onto Tokyo and we wanted to make sure our itinerary doubled as a tongue twister.

Feb
25
2015
Kyoto, Japan’s Spiritual Capital Richard Pendavingh 25.02.15

The old capital of Kyoto is home to about 1600 temples and countless smaller shrines.

Sep
12
2014
China’s Firewall and the Siku Quanshu Richard Pendavingh 12.09.14

The National Library of China holds an artifact that represents what must be the most ambitious attempt to control information in history.

Aug
30
2014
A neon box-canyon in Yanta district of Xi'an.
China’s Frenemies Richard Pendavingh 30.08.14

Beijing incorporates all of the contradictions of Chinese society.

Aug
18
2014
Mt Huashan, China Richard Pendavingh 18.08.14

Huashan is a mountain located  about 120 kilometres east of Xi'an- China's old capital.  It's home to some very dicey walking tracks, a really spectacular set of cable cars, a tea house perched on a cliff face and a photo studio with some genuine occupational health and safety issues.

Aug
12
2014
Workers outside a department store in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China
Chengdu & the Chinese Dream Richard Pendavingh 12.08.14

The entry point for my brief tour of China was the southern Province of Sichuan-famed for its incredibly spicy food and baffling theatrical performances.  I flew into the capital Chengdu at the start of October and explored the city between bouts of rain before venturing out into the nearby mountains.