Two and a half years after moving to Hong Kong, I finally just made my way to Macau, that ‘other’ Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China, for a girls’ weekend out. Frequently cited as the Las Vegas of the East, with significant Portuguese influences, I was […]
All posts filed under: Global Culture
Into the Deep: Exploring the Great Barrier Reef
A visit to Australia is not complete without exploration of the Great Barrier Reef, the largest coral reef system in the world (for now), one of the seven natural wonders of the world, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the largest living thing visible even […]
A Week of Autumn Celebrations in Hong Kong!
Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!! In past years, the mid-autumn festival was held to give thanks for a bountiful harvest and to reunite with long-lost family members. The latter of course retains relevance today, the former a bit less so. One of Hong Kong’s most important cultural […]
Discovery – The Joy of Travel! (Relaunching Hong Kong Fong as WanderFong)
The almost indescribable power, and joy, of discovery What’s the best part about traveling? Of course, there’s no right or wrong answer. But I do think there is a somewhat universal truth – the sensory-heightening process of discovery. It’s like the grown-up version of a […]
The Brilliance of Brooklyn
For years and years, Manhattanites vehemently refused to go to Brooklyn. All sorts of excuses came to mind – it was ‘too far away’ and had little to offer. Venturing there would be a waste of time and energy. And much of the world didn’t […]
Falling (Back) in Love With New York City…[Downtown Highlights]
About a month after we moved to Hong Kong, my long-time hesitation about relocating to the other side of the planet from my beloved New York City vaporized. When people asked me if I missed NYC, my immediate response became a flat ‘no’. With a few […]
Paradise Found: Stunning, Enchanting El Nido, Palawan!
If you’re like me, you probably have a list of top travel destinations you wish to visit in the next few years – maybe even in your lifetime. Mine has been a long list, and I’ve been very fortunate to have had the opportunity to […]
The Wonderland of Singapore
Ahh, Singapore… Singapore is a relatively small country (and city, and state) – occasionally referred to as ‘the little red dot’, floating at just over 700 square kilometers and populated with ~5.4 million people. Pervasive photos of especially its brightly illuminated night skyline and luxury shopping […]
Searching for the Soul of Singapore
When people used to mention Singapore to me, a very specific vision would pop up in my head. The mini-Dubai of Asia – a very clean (and gum-free!), fabricated island playground, sprouting with glitzy skyscrapers, hotels, and shopping malls – and that’s pretty much it. […]
Reflecting and Remembering: Ghosts of the Genocide in Cambodia
[Introductory note: I would like to request that before you dismiss this post as a simple recount of historical events, please consider that genocide continues in countries around the world today. In my humble opinion, there are lessons still to be learned from this horrific series […]
Outliers: On Individuality, Illusion, and the Importance of Being Different
I’ve always rooted for the underdogs. The outcasts. Those who live on the fringes either because they choose to or need to – or both. Those who dare to be different – or just are different. The outliers. Not simply because they are outliers, but […]
Standing on Ceremony: Soaking up Rituals in Japan
Ceremonies and rituals are a constant source of fascination for me. There is an air of mystery to them, at least to a relative outsider like me. The scientist in me makes me more matter of fact, but that same scientific spirit also makes me […]
