I was wondering around in the kitchenware area of Tokyo when I chanced upon this amazing cafe. The atmosphere was great – very chill, very industrial and very relaxing compared to the busy road outside. The aroma of the coffee…
There is an old saying in Japanese: “Never say ‘kekko’ (enough), til you’ve seen Nikko” (日光を見ずして結構と言うなかれ). This attests to the place Nikko has in the Japanese psyche, that it is the ultimate sacred place of mystical beauty, and of deep…
Udon noodles are white noodles made from plain flour (not rice flour) and salted water. A Japanese staple for more than a thousand years, udon was introduced to Japanese cuisine in the Nara period (奈良時代), AD 710-794. There are many…
If you are a dark tourist interested in the paranormal, then there are three sites in Mississippi you shouldn’t miss! Vicksburg Founded in 1719 by French colonists, what is now Vicksburg was the homeland of the Natchez Native Americans. Ten…
Portugal urgently needs to update its reputation. First of all, Portugal is not a Mediterranean country but an Atlantic country. More precisely, it is not Spain speaking a different dialect. Secondly, Portugal has a rich Celtic heritage like Wales, Ireland…
Visit Carcassonne Carcassonne is an impressive fortified city some 80 kilometres east of Toulouse. The citadel dates back to 100BC in the Gallo-Roman period. When the Romans were defeated by the Visigoths in 462, King Theodoric further fortified the castle….
We took a weekend trip with friends up north to The Hague. To many, the Hague is this boring city where the International Court of Justice is located. But we’ve discovered its very cool side! True, it doesn’t have…
It’s near the end of winter right now but you still need to keep warm. I generally wear formal winter wear for work but during the weekend, it is still important to keep in style. Last season I wrote about…
Thailand’s reputation as a popular tourist destination has earned itself not only the much-needed revenue, but also swamps of people who should never have been able to travel. Not to point fingers (meaning I will be pointing fingers) at the…
Apart from taking a cooking class or admiring Lanna architecture, there are several excursions you can take from Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai. Here is what I have done. 1. Visit the Golden Triangle and take a boat to Laos…
