Chinese Kids with Western Names
Ever wondered how your parents chose your name? Maybe you were named after a family member, or more likely your name was completely picked at random from a long potential list. Many people will even have a bit of resentment towards their parents for their names. Of all the millions of potential names they could…
Package Tours: Pros & Cons
Most fresh-faced travellers find themselves with a very difficult question: should I book a package tour or not? Even seasoned travellers have to ask themselves this from time to time. Is it better if someone else is responsible for your trip? It really comes down to personal taste and your preferred style of travel. Package…
The Battle of the Pork: The Uproar in Taiwan
There are many ways tensions can be raised in countries. Political friction, presidential elections and government decisions over health concerns are just some of the things we’re experiencing right now in the West. Taiwan on the other hand has recently had one of the strangest causes of unrest between its citizens and has even ended…
Being an ESL Teacher: Pros & Cons
Many people decide to pack their bags and escape the constraints of their lives back home to start afresh in a foreign country. For the most part, becoming an ex-pat isn’t necessarily that hard, except for one thing, you need to find a job. Without it, a new life in an exotic country wouldn’t be…
Australia: Backpacking For Beginners
People have many reasons not to take their first steps on a backpacking adventure. How is it done? What if something goes wrong? How do you sort travel from AA to B? What if you can’t understand the language? How do you sort out accommodation? What if you get scammed? People are afraid of taking…
COVID in Taiwan: The Secret of Success
Currently, the majority of the world is experiencing a small-scale apocalypse. The entire globe has come to a complete standstill as it suffers through the worst global pandemic in centuries. I wouldn’t know anything about that, as I’m currently living in Taiwan, a country which has almost completely avoided any negative impact from COVID-19 and…
Lombok: The Secret Paradise
I often ask people “where is the best place you’ve ever travelled to?”, and there’s one answer that always makes me cringe, Bali. I can’t help but feel that a lot of people choose Bali as its the only exotic place they’ve ever travelled to. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a nice enough place, amazing people, beautiful…
Chinese Kids vs. Western Kids
Of course, there are incredible amount of contrast between China and the West, both culturally and superficially. After enough time in both places, such differences become just another part of everyday life. However, one difference stands out beyond the rest, childhoods. During my time teaching children in Beijing, I was fortunate enough to spend a…
China vs. Taiwan: The Difference
There’s a very annoying interaction I’m forced to go through regularly while travelling the world. It begins with a simple introduction and one simple question that every traveller is asked. “Where are you from?” “I’m from Wales.” “Oh, you’re from England?” “…” Almost on a daily basis, I’m pissed off as people mistake my country…
Tattoos in Japan: Taboo or Not?
Before going to Japan, everyone gave me the exact same warning: it’s going to be difficult there with your tattoos. This was said to me from both people who lived there and those who had never visited the country. You’ll have to cover them up! You won’t be able to go to such and such…