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Day 2 in Okinawa: three little islands
Oh baby, what a day. It was one of those days where I was glad to be alive. Today’s itinerary consisted of Iriomote Island, Yurijima Island and Taketomi Island. Join me on my journey.
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Day 1 in Okinawa: two planes, a limestone cave and an epic meal
I finally made it to Okinawa. It’s been something I’ve talked and talked about doing for ages. Now, I’m here. Has it only been three months since my last trip to Taiwan? Feels more like 20 years ago. Ah well. Bye bye daily grind. Hello spring holidays.
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Owl Cafe in Tokyo’s Akihabara
I love owls. They’re regal. Independent. Solitary. Nocturnal. Mysterious. Beautiful. I wouldn’t call myself an animal lover. But owls – they’re just so special to me and I can’t quite describe why. I’ve always admired them. If you share similar sentiments – or just love animals – you really must go to Forest of Owl…
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Asians Bearing Gifts: The Omiyage in Japan
If you live and work Japan, it’s pretty much expected that you bring back souvenirs for your colleagues, friends and family. It’s a custom that utterly confused me when I first came here. Unlike other countries, souvenirs here are a small food item that’s beautifully and individually wrapped. Don’t you dare present it in a…
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A Dangerous Tokyo Suburb? My day trip to Adachi
I can’t say I’ve ever truly felt unsafe in Japan. And then it was brought to my attention that Adachi is a ‘dangerous’ place. People even use it as a cautionary tale to scare young children into behaving themselves. The things local tour guides don’t tell you before showing you around their neighbourhood. Hmm… The…
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Top 5 Things to do in the Tokyo Area: stuff only the locals know about
You’ve ‘checked-in’ to all the places on the tourist trail. Now you’re wondering what to do next. I’m not particularly tech-savvy so I do things the old-fashioned way. I ask around. Here’s what the locals recommended.
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Celebrating the Lunar New Year in Japan’s Biggest Chinatown
Whenever I get homesick, a quick visit to Yokohama Chinatown is all it takes for me to feel slightly placated. Back in 1859, Yokohama was one of the first Japanese ports that opened up to foreign trade. Chinatown quickly developed to accommodate the many Chinese traders who settled down in this city. Of course, that…
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Enjoy Mongolian Food in a Yurt in Japan
Last night, I went to a Mongolian restaurant in my home city Yokohama. The lamb was DELICIOUS, the wine flowed freely and the salty milk tea was err.. unique. I even got to wear a traditional Mongolian costume and enjoy my food in a restaurant that resembled a yurt. Can’t complain. Life is good.
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The Ultimate Japanese Winter Comfort Food: Oden
Tonight, I’m making something typically Japanese. ODEN. A staple during the winter months – my students recommended it to me two winters ago. Since then, I haven’t been able to stop eating it. Mmm…mmm… Oden is made of: boiled eggs, daikon, konjac and fishcakes all stewed in a soy-based dashi broth. The ingredients vary depending…
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Day 2 in Kaohsiung: an unexpected tour guide
Our first stop was a really popular shop with the best noodles I’ve had in Taiwan. It’s a good thing Krijstelle brought us there because we never would have thought of going their on our own. The noodles were cooked to perfection, the broth was simply astounding and the flavours were just sublime. Mmm…mmm…
Twinn Swan 