About
Hi, I’m Bill. I live in Saigon, and since 2022 this blog has been where I keep the notes from my trips around East and Southeast Asia, Australia and the United States.
Ink on the Map started as a way to remember the small, practical things I wish someone had told me before a trip: which bus actually goes up to the viewpoint, how early you need to reach a temple to beat the tour groups, and what a bowl of noodles really costs. Most of my trips are slow and on a modest budget. I take trains, buses and ferries wherever I can, I walk a lot, and I plan my days around food.
I usually travel with a friend or two, and some of my favourite stories here happened because a local friend showed us around: dinner with a friend’s family in Bali, a night drive across the border into Miri, and a boat ride through the water village of Kampong Ayer in Brunei.
Where I have been so far. Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong in East Asia; Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and Brunei closer to home; and longer trips to Australia and the United States. You can browse them all on the Destinations page.
How I write. Every story here comes from a trip I took. Prices, timings and opening hours are what I paid and saw at the time, so please double-check before you go, as things change quickly.
Why “Ink on the Map”. Every trip leaves a small mark, like a drop of ink on a paper map. This blog is my way of filling in that map slowly, one place at a time.
Say hello. If you have a question about a trip, spotted something out of date, or want to share a tip, the Contact page is the best way to reach me. I read every message.