{travel inspiration} Cat & Adam's cycling journey

The ever-intrepid Cat & Adam in their cycling finery!

My friend Cat and her boyfriend Adam are currently on a cycling journey - from London to Australia, via the world!! It is definitely the most ambitious and inspirational trip of any kind that anyone I know has ever undertaken.

From their temporary home in London (both are Australian) they have so far cycled across Europe (France to Greece and lots of pretty places in between), across Turkey on what sounded like an epic journey in itself, and as I type are traversing Georgia. Next, it's the 'stans (think Borat's homeland!), Iran, a ferry over to UAE and Oman, then to Sri Lanka (ok, they have to fly there but then it's cycling all the way). Then its across to India and non-stop cycling from south to north, to Nepal, Tibet and into China, down into southeast Asia (and hopefully a pitstop at my place!) and finally, to Oz.

Cat with some gypsy thugs, pretending to be friendly for the camera (actually the one on the right looks pretty scary)

Wild camping in Turkey - what a beautiful sight to wake up to!

Tales of camping in the wild, encounters with gypsy thugs, the overwhelming hospitality of strangers and awesome sights and scenery along the way are all chronicled in Cat and Adam's blog Cycling2Oz if you want to join me in some armchair travelling! Am looking forward to their Asia leg and when they finally make it to sunny Saigon for some much needed R&R (am thinking massages, pedicures and hairwashes at Jasmine - maybe some beard maintenance for Adam!) though there's many an adventure ahead of them before then. Can't wait to read more. I hope they make a film or write a book about their experience!

Adam tackling some mountainous terrain in Turkey

So - where would you go/what would you do if you were going to undertake some kind of epic journey across the world? I'd love to follow the ancient spice route on a food-focussed journey, taking in markets and souks, spice gardens, tea and coffee plantations, authentic, family-run restaurants, cooking schools and staying in atmospheric hotels with character and history along the way...what about you?

New York, New York!

A scanned pic of the Brooklyn Bridge taken on our first NYC trip in 2000 (pre-digital camera days!)

Exactly four weeks from now I'll be exploring cafes and shops in the East Village, strolling through SoHo or might be at MOMA. I'm going to New York!!

In case it's not obvious enough, I'm pretty excited about our upcoming 10-day stay in what might be my favourite city in the entire world. First though, we're having a couple of days in Bangkok to refuel on pad kee mao and iberry, stock up on books at Kinokuniya, hopefully get a Thai massage or two and wander the labyrinth that is Siam Square. Then it's on to Sydney to see family and friends and do lots of fun Sydney things (and eat lots of yum Sydney food, e.g. macarons from Adriano Zumbo's in Balmain - obsessed - even had them hand-delivered in Saigon when my parents came to stay!). Then New York, then back to Sydney for a bit more time before returning to Saigon (a month away in all). The countdown to this trip has been the most agonising one ever (18 days to go.... 18 days to go....). Before then I need to try and keep myself pre-occupied with Saigon-centric stuff so I don't drive myself (even more) insane!

Date night in Saigon #2 (Vino, Gia Dining Room & Cage)

First venue on our 2nd (on the blogging record) date was Vino - a cute little wine shop with a bar situated in The Refinery, the former opium den turned eating and drinking enclave accessed through a French colonial archway on Hai Ba Trung. A few glasses of a Shiraz Voignier in the leafy, tiny front courtyard and the evening was off to a great start. Vino is so low-key and gorgeous I think it's my new favourite (I know, it changes all the time - I can be fickle like that!).

For dinner, we headed to new restaurant Gia Dining Room. A relatively small, contemporary bedecked space, Gia Dining Room serves up modern Vietnamese fare and French-influenced dishes with some great seafood and delicious duck with fresh green peppercorns (mmm...). Despite it being a Saturday night the restaurant was strangely devoid of customers. By the end of our meal we were actually the only people left in the room. Either Saigonites eat really early or the word just isn't really out yet about how great this little place is (despite a review being featured in AsiaLIFE HCMC recently). Anyway - Gia Dining Room is well worth a visit if you happen to be in Saigon (and it's great value for money - fine dining at a modest price!). Sold yet?! Wow, I should be on commission or something!

Moving on... time to sample some Saigon nightlife at Cage, a club and live music venue decorated with (you guessed it) elaborate bird cages with chandeliers inside. We had a few drinks but I think it was a little early or an off night as no-one had braved the dancefloor by the time we left. The funniest thing about Cage is the namebadges the staff wear, which flash ''Hello" in neon. So Saigon!

Romance factor: 9/10 (intimate Vino, chic Gia Dining Room and fun(ny) Cage were the perfect dateworthy combo)

Food factor: 8/10 (delicious baked scallops in a delicate cream sauce were a highlight, and our steak and duck mains were amazing. Points lost as nothing very unique or enticing on the dessert menu!)

Fun Factor: 9/10 (an overall great date and a reminder of Saigon's stylish side - it does have one, promise!)