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Mark with the Kuli tribe, Mount Hagen, Papua New Guinea

Mark

Southeast Asia Specialist

After five years working at IBM, I headed off to Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Malaysia. Destined for a year-long adventure in Australia, I cut it short after three months realising that Southeast Asia had everything I was looking for. I returned to Asia and relocated to southern Thailand for 12 months where I taught English.

On my return to the UK, my love of reportage photography turned to photo-journalism and then coupled with my passion for Southeast Asia and first-hand knowledge of the region, Audley became the logical way forward. Since joining Audley in 2007, I have returned and extensively explored Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Sri Lanka and more recently Papua New Guinea, topping up my specialist knowledge of the region. I enjoy helping others to see and experience the region’s culture, architecture and diversity, which still captivates me.

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Audley Travel specialist Mark

Start planning your trip to Southeast Asia with Mark

Mystical Mount Popa

I recommend visiting - Mount Popa, Myanmar

Driving two hours southeast of Bagan the picturesque journey takes you past farmers working the arid fields then onto the lush landscape that surrounds Mount Popa. For many years Burmese spirit worshippers have journeyed from all corners of Myanmar on a pilgrimage paying respect to the Nats, or spirits, while stupas, monasteries and shrines adorn the crest of the rock pinnacle to keep a watchful eye over the surrounding area.

Mount Popa itself, a volcanic core, is steeped in history and tradition but what really attracts me to this fairy tale setting is that it could quite easily have been created in the mind of Hans Christian Andersen or J.R.R Tolkien with golden spires, rich vegetation, cotton wool clouds and welcoming locals add to the appeal.

After exploring the mount itself the best way to witness the magic is from the hillside view point where you see Mount Popa, the temples, and the plains of Bagan in the distance.

I'll never forget when…

I was fortunate enough to be in the ancient city of Bagan with Audley the night before my birthday.

I had been sat on the terrace of my bungalow overlooking a lily pond and the many surrounding Buddhist temples when the sun slowly sank behind the mountain range in front of me, casting a beautiful reflection of the silhouetted temples through the warm orange sky.

Photos of Mark

  • Mark birdwatching in Cambodia Mark birdwatching in Cambodia
  • Mark at a Buddhist temple on Marble Mountain outside Danang, Vietnam Mark at a Buddhist temple on Marble Mountain outside Danang, Vietnam
  • Mark and Audley colleague Craig with Mr Huu Ngoc, the famous Vietnamese historian Mark and Audley colleague Craig with Mr Huu Ngoc, the famous Vietnamese historian
  • Mark at Halong Bay, Vietnam Mark at Halong Bay, Vietnam
  • Mark and Audley colleague Craig in Nam Nern, northern Laos Mark and Audley colleague Craig in Nam Nern, northern Laos
  • Mark in Hang En, Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park, Vietnam Mark in Hang En, Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park, Vietnam
  • Mark on a water buffalo, Hoi An, Vietnam Mark on a water buffalo, Hoi An, Vietnam
  • Mark in Sagar, near Inle Lake, Myanmar Mark in Sagar, near Inle Lake, Myanmar
  • Mark overlooking the temples in Bagan, Myanmar Mark overlooking the temples in Bagan, Myanmar
  • Mark with members of the Muun Tribe, Chin State, Myanmar Mark with members of the Muun Tribe, Chin State, Myanmar
  • Mark with the Kuli Tribe, Mount Hagen, Papua New Guinea Mark with the Kuli Tribe, Mount Hagen, Papua New Guinea