A single unruly lock of hair (Singapore) May 16, 2025 A bevy of Korean tourists sat across from me—impeccably dressed, perfectly mannered. But one stood out, thanks to a single unruly lock of hair. She The bookstore in Ginza (Japan) April 4, 2025 In the 2000s, I used to loiter around Sichuan University. I was a yóu xué shēng—a wayfaring student—someone who enjoyed joining classes without Collecting Nostalgia and Tofu Nwe (Cambodia) November 27, 2024 A colorful alley in Hong Kong reminds me of a similar alley in Yangon. Missing Yangon, I buy a new book of short stories set in the city to read on Among the Kachin (Malaysia) October 3, 2024 I spent a few days among the Kachin. Not in their native lands in northern Burma, but in Kuala Lumpur. There is some Kachin food in the Bukit The Vision (Japan) September 30, 2024 I frequently travel between Southeast Asia and Japan, using my iPad Pro for work and leisure. I travel light, with a small The art of leaving notes (Singapore) August 4, 2024 The Indomie that I got for my lunch near Singapore’s Arab Street was a good companion for the short stories book that I bought in Jakarta a few Asia Overland, perhaps the best travel guide ever June 9, 2024 While preparing for a class on information design, I remembered a travel book titled Asia Overland. Though it has been out of print since 2002, I love Lan Anh (Vietnam) May 28, 2024 I love Lan Anh! Everyone loves Lan Anh, not just me. Let me tell you the story of how I first met Lan Anh. Back in 2015, I still sometimes stayed Tibetan tea and Nur (China) February 20, 2024 I was back at my favorite Tibetan restaurant in Bangkok, and this time they had Tibetan tea on the menu. I always order it when I see it, but I The girl with the fixed lens camera (Thailand) January 15, 2024 Always love the girl with the fixed lens camera. She will hold your hand and take you close to the things that intrigue her. Most fixed lens Please don’t hurry my order (Singapore) November 5, 2023 I love my alley in Singapore. I’m waiting for my take out banh mi when I notice a new shop next door. It’s a Vietnamese-style hair salon. The I love airports (Thailand) August 20, 2023 At airports, we shout into our phones and linger at the café selfishly long after finishing our drinks. And still, we strike up conversations with A return to the North (Thailand) March 20, 2023 I hadn’t planned on returning to northern Thailand anytime soon, but being in Vientiane late last year made me miss Chiang Mai. There’s something The neighbor (Vietnam) December 22, 2022 The neighbor always greeted me with a “hello, teacher” and a smile. I was her ChatGPT as she always had questions for me— about travel, and Alley kids in Vientiane (Laos) December 10, 2022 In 2001, when I walked down a small alley in Laos, the children paused their play and walked with me till the end of the alley, all the time asking I love Hanoi, but only in the winters (Vietnam) December 5, 2022 Some of my favorite places to hang out in Hanoi: Click on the names for the Google map location. Xofa cafe 👉 A week in Mangalore (India) November 19, 2022 Things seen in Mangalore, the west coast of India Other people’s lives in alleys (Vietnam) November 10, 2022 Hoa took me to a hidden vegetarian café for lunch. It was in a narrow Saigon alley off a busy street. I can always rely on her to show me such For a free giraffe (Vietnam) November 1, 2022 A few years ago, Thao invited me to Saigon’s Pham Viet Chanh neighborhood, promising free views of giraffes (and other tall animals) from the Saigon Holland Village (Singapore) July 22, 2022 The stamps dispensed by the Singapore Post machine next door are printed on demand, and they’re dull—which is a pity because Singapore has such