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The Great British Roadtrip: Avebury, Stonehenge and Bath
I’ve always believed that British summer is a myth concocted by the Roman gods, but the summer of 2018 proved me wrong, wrong, wrong. It is ridiculously hot, hot, hot. And I didn’t bring the right clothes. I prepared for 20 degree weather; but it’s 30 degrees each day and I really wish I had…
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Day 2 in Paris: reminiscing Japan and Jerusalem
The tourists are everywhere. They seem to exist in a separate space to the locals. Paris is somewhat reminiscent of Tokyo: with the too many travellers who have no idea what they’re doing or where they’re going. Like the Japanese, the Parisians are also not fond of speaking English. In Tokyo, it’s relatively easy to…
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Day 1 in Paris: the World Cup Hangover
I was expecting Paris to have a celebratory feel after the country’s victory – but the whole city is hungover. The guy who greeted me at immigration looked like he was having the worst day of his life and couldn’t wait to get home. He stamped my passport and sent me on my way -…
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Girls Day Out in San Francisco: the California Academy of Sciences and Burma Superstar
Burmese Cuisine is one of my favourite cuisines in the world. It’s a delectable fusion of Indian, Chinese and Southeast Asian food. The flavours and combinations are absolutely delightful and I highly recommend Burmese food to all hardcore foodies. I’m a little sad that it’s not that popular internationally and a little happy that I’m one…
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Day 1 in the Bay Area: Mexican tortas in San Jose, Stanford University tour and new agey dosa
A torta is a massive Mexican sandwich with everything good in it. Meat, cheese, avocados, tomatoes, jalepenos etc etc etc. It’s so humungous and so over the top that my atheist Argentine Spanish teacher said that ‘it made her believe in God’. Well – there’s nothing like a born again believer.
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San Francisco Bay Blues, Oysters, Clam Chowder and a long walk
San Francisco is the first city that I’ve visited in a long time that actually embodies the Pisces energy. A Pisces on the Aries cusp – but a Pisces nevertheless. I feel like I can just get lost in the moment and let it take me where it wants to – that I can stay…
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The Silicon Valley Crowd: my cynical first impressions
I come from a family of entrepreneurs. Difficult circumstances and a lack of equal opportunities is what drove them to start businesses. For most of my life, I always thought that entrepreneurship was a byproduct of struggle and overcoming obstacles. No one I know ever set out to be a business person. It was the…
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I Dream of Beijing
I love Japan – always have, always will. But it is a love that is born of duty and familiarity. Beijing – on the other hand – set my heart on fire. I didn’t expect it. But once I started to feel that way – I couldn’t control it. My passion had been reignited – and now…
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A Singaporean expat in Beijing: you can take the girl out of Singapore, but you cannot take the Singapore out of the girl
In my heart of hearts, I believe that our Singaporean national identity is one of multiculturalism – one that is embracive and strengthened by its ability to adapt. As a culture, we cannot afford to build great walls because our economy is intertwined with the world economy. Singapore was founded on the premise of international…
Twinn Swan 