Shanghai’s Development Gap: What You See is not What You Get
June 28, 2013
Despite the shiny skyscrapers and Gucci stores on every corner, I find that living in Shanghai is a real tease. The city’s rapid growth unarguably has been a real success story in economic development. A picture comparing Shanghai’s skyline in 1990 vs. 2010 speaks better than words. Yet, the city’s infrastructure development has far outpaced the people. You can give…
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Solo Travel Encounter
June 26, 2013
Today, while I was marveling at the amazing Hong Kong skyline, and waiting for the Symphony of Lights to begin, a girl came up next to me and said hello. I met her yesterday while getting tickets to take the tram up to the Peak Tower. She asked if the massive line was for the ticket, or to board the…
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Tim Ho Wan: Cheapest Michelin-starred Restaurant in the World
June 25, 2013
I don’t think I’ve yet been to a Michelin-starred restaurant, so when my friend recommended the cheapest one in the world in Hong Kong, it was a no brainer to give it a go. The IFC (super fancy) mall location of the hot spot, Tim Ho Wan (添好運) is rather misleading. I trekked all the way there on foot. Google…
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Hong Kong at First Sight
June 24, 2013
I am in Hong Kong this week to take care of some visa business. This is my first time in Hong Kong! From the moment I landed, it felt like a breath of fresh air. I don’t even have a problem understanding Chinese, yet it was so nice to be in a place where most people speak English. Everything felt…
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Life of a Halfpat
June 18, 2013
Halfpat Defined The Urban Dictionary describes the term “half-pat” in two different ways:1. Halfpats are people who have relocated to another country, developed a nearly native understanding of the language and culture by themselves. Normally used in regards to China’s halfpat community.” and 2. An expatriate who is not being provided a “package” (salary bump, housing allowance, car allowance, home…
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Fresh Tagaytay Air
June 17, 2013
My Manila trip back in April wasn’t the highlight of my getaway. As my stay in Shanghai was approaching six months, I was in desperate need of some fresh air! A Twitter friend suggested that I check out Tagaytay, beautiful mountain range just two hours outside of Manila by bus. I wanted nothing but fresh air and a quiet place to…
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Powerless in Shanghai
June 13, 2013
Last night, the power went out in my Shanghai apartment. And it brought me back. The fuse box blew and I called the repairman. For all of Shanghai’s annoyances, one amazing thing is that even at midnight, someone is ready to come fix problems and make a few extra RMBs. For the next hour, I lit all the candles in…
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Manila Madness
May 29, 2013
First day in Manila, I wandered – my favorite way to travel. I had lunch plans with a Twitter friend, so I had an entirely free morning. Manila is much like Yaoundé – chaotic, loud, and has very clear divide of income level in neighborhoods. It was hot – 90 degrees with heavy humidity that makes it feel like it’s…
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Wendy, oh, Like the Burger
May 7, 2013
A few weeks ago, I hopped on a plane to Manila for a long weekend. Why Manila? Well, for no other reason than it was the cheapest flight out of Shanghai on that particular weekend, as listed on Vayama. So often, the best memories are created out of experiences that you never intended to have. It had been years since…
Read MoreLife in Shanghai: Six-month Review
April 28, 2013
In a blink of an eye, I have been in Shanghai for six months. Wow. Boy, what exactly have I been doing? Life can often feel like big blur of nothingness until you sit down to think about it. So, sitting down and thinking about it I did. I looked up what I had written at 38,000 feet in the…
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