Angkor was once the capital of the Khmer kingdom, but nothing lasts forever. In the 14th century there was a wealthy grandma known as Lady Penh living on the outskirts of a village located in present day Phnom Penh. During
Mischievous Mouse Deer
One morning, in the raucous racket of the rainforest, Mouse Deer was nervously nibbling grass tips, snaffling tree buds and chomping fallen fruits. Suddenly, a shadow fell upon the ground. He started, and then looked up into the fiery eyes
LAKE GUATAVITA
The Muisca people of the Andes, believed that Laguna de Guatavita was created by a crashing meteor that transported a golden god who resided in the lake’s floor. The legend says the lake is where the Muisca celebrated a ritual
CURIOUS DITTY BY RAFAEL POMBO
Whilst writing, walking and rehearsing in Bogota, found this gem by Colombian poet Rafael Pombo (1833-1912) just waiting to be turned into a song. The Poor Old Lady Once upon a time there was an old lady With nothing to
THE GIRL WHO WAS KIDNAPPED BY AN ORANGUTAN
Sabah prised the leech from her leg and stabbed it with a stick. She spat on the wound of tiny teeth marks and was about to return to her jungle home, when she felt a grip tightening around her waist.
Captured Kenyan Cockroach Quarantined
All three of us were hoping for free flights for life but when the captured cockroach was presented to the lugubrious steward he quipped, “It’s not mine.” As he whisked it away he offered, “This is a delicacy in China.”
The Taxi Driver’s Tales, Querataro, Mexico
I asked tour manager Blas to ask Francisco if there are any good stories to be found in Querataro. There are many, was the reply. We parked up by the station and here are the basic versions recounted. Tale 1
Dias de los muertos – PiG’s Take 1
Marigolds aka Cempasuchil or, in the Nahuatl language – Cempazuchtli , are the symbolic flowers for the Days of the Dead celebrations here in Mexico. The scent and colour of these vibrant flowers guide the spirits of departed ones towards
The Legend of Popocatepetl and Iztaccihuatl
The Legend of Popocatepetl and Iztaccihuatl On a clear day, the towering white peaks of the legendary Popocatepetl and Iztaccihuatl volcanoes can be seen from the great metropolis of Mexico City. Rising beyond 17,000 feet in elevation, these two majestic
THIS WEEK’S STORY Three Little PiGs or Three Little Pixies?
This is the first published version of what was to become The Three Little PiGs. THE FOX AND THE PIXIES Dartmoor, England. There was once a fox, who, prowling by night in search of prey, came unexpectedly on a