Are We There Yet

North Is Not For Sissies!

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 18:30:55 +0100

I just found out that my friend from Seoul would be visiting Europe next month. She mentioned off-handedly, she was thinking of coming to Stockholm, as well. Oh, c’mon now, Stockholm??? Every schmuck in the known universe visits Stockholm! Be adventurous, live a little, and come up North! And that’s...

A Cherry Blossom By Any Other Name�

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 18:30:36 +0100

Japan confuddles people, and that's a fact. Toilets that do everything but the dishes (in contrast to those in China, and what’s with me and those toilets anyway?), freakishly realistic fake food displays, otakus in Akihabara openly taking photos of girls underpants, manners police telling you not to apply makeup...

Going to Beijing this summer?

Sat, 22 Mar 2008 11:22:36 +0100

Learn to squat and bring your asthma inhaler... So, let me get it straight. China managed to design and build new stadiums (stadia? What’s the plural of “stadium” anyway?) for the Olympic Games, but somehow forgot to install western-style toilets in them? Did they also forget that half of the western...

One kimchi to go, hold the Kia, please

Thu, 13 Mar 2008 15:45:39 +0100

My neighbors upstairs got themselves a dog. And a piano. Now, I have absolutely nothing against dogs and pianos in general, but these people already have a small, screaming baby. I take it as a sure sign it’s time for me to move. And I’m thinking about Korea… I’ve never been...

Stuff Happens - Even When You�re Being Careful

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 18:47:47 +0100

While rape cases involving foreign tourists have been fast tracked through the Indian courts in recent times, nobody knows the actual numbers of assaults on women travelers. Some attacks, like mine, never even make it into the system. I wasn’t accepting a ride from a perfect stranger at night in Goa,...