The South China Morning Post reports that, starting 15 May, passengers will finally be able to take the MTR East Rail line to Hong Kong Island. Of course, due to COVID-19, it’s more practical to say that Hong Kong residents living in Sha Tin and Tai Wai in the New Territories will at last, have […]
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COVID-19 Update: Chile Reopens All Land Borders as of 1 May
According to France24, after having been closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic since 17 March 2020, the government of Chile has finally reopened all of its land borders to all visitors, as of yesterday, 1 May. This decision was due in part to steadily declining cases throughout Chile, but also that the Chilean government recognizes […]
2021 Pandemic Travel, from Mexico to Mexico (with a Brief Border Crossing Guide)
During a stint in Chicago a few years ago, I found that Frontier Airlines offered some really good deals to/from Harlingen, Texas (airport code HRL), close to the Mexican border cities of Reynosa and Matamoros. Then, from one of those cities, it’s a cheap flight to where ever else in Mexico. Yes, why not escape those […]
Moscow’s Quirky Vending Machines
The freshest in my recent stroll through trip photos is the unexpected amusement found in the form of Moscow vending machines…and here I thought Japan had already cornered the market on this stuff. Without further ado, let’s take a gander at a few surprising – and one not so surprising – souvenirs: Now you too […]
Unforgettable Breakfasts in Sapporo, Japan
We have both been duped by today’s title. I wish I could say that my breakfasts in Sapporo, Japan were unforgettable in the positive sense – then again, I did have control over what was to be eaten – but to be fair, it was only one day’s selections that were unique. I was drawn […]
If Food Had Passports: Guatemalan Cardamom
Ever since I started raiding the breath freshener (and carminative) trays at Indian restaurants, I’ve been curious about cardamom. Whereas my usual reason for diving into those trays was for the candy-coated fennel seeds, the inimitable aggressive and unique flavor of cardamom always stood out. When else could I find the expensive pods in my […]
Nutrition Facts, or Nutrition Lies?
Fuzzy math, indeed. I was chowing down on some Nature Valley Pumpkin Spice granola bars the other day, when I noticed the perplexing Nutrition Facts label on the packaging: If I am reading the percentages (%) and Reference Amounts Customarily Consumed (RACC) correctly, I should probably hold a conference call with my elementary school teachers […]
The Neptunus Group Building, Shenzhen (China)
Recently, I came across an article from two months ago that mentioned how Chinese Leader Jinping Xi issued a decree limiting the construction of buildings >250 meters (~821 feet) tall, disallowing buildings > 500 meters (~1641 feet), and prohibiting copycat behavior – in architecture. That article made me reflect on the architectural scene in China, […]
