Ah, China. A place of so much interest and of so much intrigue. So many of us lust to visit and have the best of intentions but, sometimes the Chinese government doesn't always make us feel welcome. And that is not to point fingers at its people: we're quite sure that…
Asia
We can probably count - on one hand - those of our lovely readers who don't love Studio Ghibli films, the Japanese animation studio based in Koganei, Tokyo. With classics such as My Neighbor Totoro, Howl's Moving Castle, Princess Mononoke and more, Studio Ghibli is an eternal film franchise that captivates everyone who watches.…
If you're looking for the unusual, you'll never go too far wrong if Japan is in your plan. A more playful people probably cannot be found than them. And why not? Why not have fun during your workday, or for your entire life, for that matter? You only live once, in…
Let's have a moment of silence for those who have tried and have failed. Here are just a few. We're sure you'll recognize a few: Sir James Dyson, Steven Spielberg, Thomas Edison, Walt Disney, Albert Einstein, J.K. Rowling, Abraham Lincoln, Jerry Seinfeld... the list goes on and on. But, as…
Who doesn’t love a Tuk Tuk? We certainly do, and we’ve been in them from Delhi to Peru. Cramped, noisy, smelly, chaotic and 150% fun.
Japan is a wonderland of the beautiful, the mystical, the serene, the playful and the historical. Especially with the latter, if you count years using this imperial era system, this year (2022 on the Western calendar) would be 2681 in Japan. Not many countries can claim that. If we use the standard…
Our affiliate friends, British Airways have re-opened flights to Mainland China again.
Cats are one of the most undefinable species on the planet. We bring them into our homes and they seethe disdain and muted anger when we attempt to touch them. And then, moments later, they saunter up to us, curl up in our laps and purr as if there was no tomorrow. …
As your mother probably said, "you are what you eat." And she probably conveyed dozens more wisdom chestnuts along those philosophical lines. That's what moms are for, and they're inevitably correct. And, being mothers, they're always looking out for you, scouring the earth for news, tips, suggestions and hidden treasures to make you…
If you're not from Asia, you'll often find that it's a most fascinating and unpredictable part of the planet. We love that. Why see the same old same old when you can be a part of something that may be once in a lifetime. And, after running this website for a number…
Never ones to shy away from big tasks, China is also a design powerhouse in so many ways. Their appetite and capacity for construction must surely be at or near the top of the world's countries and they bedazzle us with their ingenuity and sheer pizazz. But not all of China's works are offices,…
Unfortunately, it's not a cabaret show, but it may leave you dancing in your seats. (Vegetarians, look away now.) Asia is home to some of the widest selection of foods and cuisines in in the world. They take their food seriously, and they treasure every bite. So, when you first set foot…
In the early 1860s, a few Westerners had seen China — but nearly all of them had seen it for themselves. The still-new medium of photography had yet to make images of everywhere available to viewers everywhere else, which meant an opportunity for traveling practitioners like John Thomson. “The son of a tobacco spinner and shopkeeper,” says…
China - probably by the sheer need to do so - continues to burst forward into the future in its technological breakthroughs. As of December 2021, China's population stood at 1.413 billion.[2] According to the 2020 census, 91.11% of the population was Han Chinese, and 8.89% were minorities. China's population growth rate is only 0.03%, ranking 159th in the world.[3] China…
As of this writing, at least where we live, it's cold and snowy, and it looks like it will stay that way for some time. Grey, wet and miserable. The sun goes down at 5:00pm and stays that way until April. Yuk. Boy, would we sure would like to be somewhere warm…
Who says that web pages are a thing of the past? Yes, everyone is on their mobiles nowadays, even your grandmother. But, sometimes you just need something bigger, more panoramic, to really get the real flavour of a place, especially if you are longing to visit there. Well, if your trip is still…
You're almost there. Immerse yourself in this in 360 ˚ Video exploring the caves of Vietnam’s verdant Ninh Binh Province, often referred to as the inland Halong Bay. Float down a calm river past rice paddies and through limestone caves. Click and drag to look around on your PC or mobile. Or don your…
If you have no interest in automobiles, skip to our next post. We're being a bit selfish. Spend some time on our site, and you'll periodically see posts about SAAB cars. We love them, and have owned almost a dozen of them - including a classic 900 cabriolet to this day. And…
Thailand is so many things to so many people. Historically known as Siam and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning 513,120 square kilometres (198,120 sq mi), with a population of almost 70 million. The country is bordered to the…
We love India, and the Indian people. We've worked and live alongside them for decades. We've visited their country and marveled at the variety there. Even now, half a world apart, one of India's great cities, Delhi, is not too far away. Restaurants, festivals and close friends keep the spirit of…