Mary Slaughter

Writer's Biography

Mary Slaughter won her first writing contest at the tender age of ten and the writing seed was planted. Ten years later, after finishing her writing degree, she traded the potato fields of Idaho for the spices of Asia. While educating ankle biters in Japan, learning to cook spicy food in Thailand and avoiding bed bugs in Vietnam, she launched a travel website to document her adventures and inspirations. She's still on the road and still writing about it. To read more of her work visit www.thelongwander.com.

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Featured Travel Stories in Oriental Tales Magazine

Ninh Binh, Vietnam: Further Afield - Story by Mary Slaughter
- 5th Online Issue

We were wrong to think that border towns blend or that the line between two countries blurs with the green between them. The line is distinct and the change is palpable. Crossing from Laos to Vietnam we may as well have changed continents. The pace notched up along with the infrastructure and suddenly our relaxed senses were snapped awake. When the bus we were on pulled over in a rice paddy between towns, 30 km from Vinh, I was instantly aware of the struggle we were in for. The bus driver demands more cash. We refuse. He chucks our bags onto the asphalt and orders us off. Half an hour later we are hoarse, sweating, flushed and fuming; but back on the way to Vinh for the original price.

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