Most of the domestic help in Hong Kong homes is supplied by women from the Philippines (and Indonesia) who are paid a fixed rate salary of $3,800 HK each month for six days work (about $450) plus housing and medical care. What I found most interesting is what these domestic[…]
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In November of 2012 I bought a one way ticket from Los Angeles to Taipei, Taiwan with China Airlines which at the time was offering the best rates between the two locations. I expected the typical airline experience of seats sized for 12 year old kids, small bags of peanuts,[…]
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I’ll admit up front that the sound of a Chinese Opera is similar to finger nails on a chalk board and makes me want to run screaming out of the room. However, I would recommend attending the Chinese Opera to anyone in Asia. So the bigger question is why; what[…]
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I was told about betel nuts before I every actually saw one or noticed anyone eating them. However, it in now way prepared me for my first encounter. I was walking down the street when a man walked toward me. With a thick Taiwanese accent, he said, “Welcome, please come[…]
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While sitting at dinner in a small street cafe, I heard mechanical music off in the distance. At first I thought it was the ice cream truck coming and had a pavlovian reaction. My mouth started watering and I started craving ice cream. I was curious to see what kind[…]
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One of the great challenges for me in Taiwan was adjusting to their bathrooms. Picture this, you just ate some new funky food like chicken feet to impress your Taiwanese friends. An hour later after leaving the night market you really, really need to use the bathroom. The situation becomes[…]
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While traveling in Taiwan I came upon a unique opportunity to stay at Fo Guang Shan Monatery near Kaoshsiung (which many believe is one of the largest Buddhist monasteries in the world). Before this trip, I had no idea you could stay in one. Apparently most of them offer limited[…]
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I’m not sure what I expected when I was invited to go to the night market. I think I pictured something exotic with dancing girls, fire breathers and snakes. While I didn’t see dancing girls or fire breathers, I’m told there are snakes at some night markets, just not the[…]
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I will admit I’ve never really been a fan of tea. Every time I’ve tried it, I felt it tasted like grass in hot water which caused my face to shrivel into an embarrassing “yucky” look which is best not seen in public. However, since I’ve been dating Cocoa Ho[…]
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I’ve been on many trains and trams over the years, but have never had the chance to ride a high speed bullet train. I was excited when I found out the best way to get from the airport to where we were staying was by taking a bus and then[…]
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After graduating with my bachelor’s degree, I got on a plane and headed to live in Israel. Before graduation I had learned of an awesome opportunity for students in Israel called an Ulpan. Ulpan is obviously a Hebrew word which in today’s vocabulary might be best translated as a ‘work-study’[…]
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