August is Women in Translation Month, and given how much we humans enjoy lists, especially ones containing multiples of five, we were very excited to create our ultimate list of who we believe to be some of the ultimate women of today’s Asian literary world (at least those that have so far been translated into English). For a long time women’s voices in...
For a long time now, I’ve had a passion for unique and elegant fashion pieces. In the past that meant having a wardrobe full of vintage pieces that I’d pair with high street finds, but these days my priorities have changed somewhat. Thrift store or vintage store shopping has never been a particularly popular choice in Asia, and I’ve felt my style...
Written by Yoko Tawada | Translated by Margaret Mitsutani It can take decades for us to begin to see where dystopian novelists were coming from when they wrote their stories. When their ideas start to pop up in real life, we feel a shaken sense of awe at their powers of foresight, overshadowed by the dread that they were right. They were never meant to be right...
Comparing Traffic in two countries may not seem like the most interesting premise but reflecting on my time in Asia I’ve started to realise that a lack of rules isn’t necessarily a bad thing. From Vietnam to UK Traffic in Southeast Asian countries, such as Vietnam, can appear haphazard. Stepping out into the streets and realising that the vehicles have no...
Explore a Unique Cuisine Travelling to Xi’an is an amazing experience for so many reasons, and when it comes to eating, Xi’an boasts a unique and diverse cuisine that will provide you with plenty of mouthwatering options. Xi’an people are passionate about their food and it shines through in the multitude of delicious dishes you can try. Most of these...
Everything You Need to Know About Dating a Korean Man With the rise of tour sites like Oh my Oppa and the huge surge in the popularity of Kdramas, the idea of dating a Korean has become idealised. However, it’s handy to know that there are some key differences in dating styles between North America and Korea. As always,what may seem normal in one culture may...
Hanoi is one of the most vibrant and exciting places I’ve visited. The food is fantastic, the people are friendly, and there’s loads to do. I honestly can’t wait to visit Vietnam again. That saying, It definitely takes a little getting used to, so here is my guide to enjoying Hanoi like a local. Below you’ll find everything from day trips, to...
Holidays It was October 2010 in Bangkok, Thailand, and half-term break for the local Thai school in which I taught. I had been living in Bangkok for the past two years and loved October since half-term break meant I was off for a month! October is also prime mosquito season, but I never worried about it. I lived a privileged expat life, the landlord had exterminators...
Why stay there? Books, travelling, and sleeping are my three favourite things. And Japan is my favourite country. So when we discovered that there exists in Tokyo a beautiful hostel with bunks tucked between the bookshelves, a book on every pillow, and walls plastered with vintage newspapers, I lost my mind a little bit. Book And Bed is a perfect hostel experience...
Before I lived in Tokyo and Seoul, I lived in Shanghai. Expats and locals alike in Tokyo and Seoul have joked with me more than once about the harshness of Chinese culture and the unpleasantness of life there; jokes such as: ‘On the Seoul subway, keep your voice down. You don’t want to be a Chinese tourist!’ and ‘I know I could save more money living in China, but...
