Social Enterprise Projects in Southeast Asia, by Joel
Over the course of our five months in Southeast Asia, we encountered a number of restaurants, hotels and other local businesses operating with the express mission of supporting a local community in need. These social enterprise projects are often funded by NGOs who provide the backing and expertise to get the business up and running, while local youth are trained as staff and profits are reinvested in the form of skills development programs. The following social enterprises i
Vegan/Veggie Dining in China, by Joel
As you might have guessed, local cuisine in China is not the friendliest to those on a plant-based diet. Beef, poultry, pork and seafood are seemingly everywhere and in everything, and often constitute the base for broths and even the oils used in preparing many vegetable dishes. While expressing a preference for vegetarian (much less vegan) food will certainly raise eyebrows and invite a few laughs, sticking to one’s ethical or health-conscious guns is entirely doable, if ar
What Could Go Wrong In Datong?, by Joel
Nonstop electric sawing and drilling until 2 am capped off with the overwhelming stench of paint thinner wafting up to our third floor street side room at the only hostel in town, only accessible during business hours by walking through a children's clothing store, and after dark by sidestepping a resident passed-out homeless man. That the hostel bed more closely resembled a stone slab than the "hard sleeper" bunks on the train we rode in on from Beijing wasn't helped by the
South Korea's Jeju Island: Competitive Vacationing, by Joel
Far from Seoul, a slick tourist board advert glorifying the natural wonders of South Korea’s premier honeymoon destination plays on a loop on the intercity bus TV, as it jerks along blocks of dilapidated apartments and corner stores. When they aren’t looking forlornly out the window, the defeated expressions on the locals’ faces suggest their awareness of the disjuncture between the postcard-worthy sights dotting Jeju Island and the reality of living and working there. Newlyw
Joel's Reflections on Japan
Impeccably-maintained public bathrooms every couple hundred feet, many with computerized toilets that offer a panoply of rinsing options, their icons struggling to tastefully distinguish between “spray” (for him) and “bidet” (for her). Automatic discounts to tourists and complementary wet naps with the purchase of even the tiniest food item. Pedestrians waiting patiently for the light to change - a minute, minute and a half - without a car in sight. Muzak versions of popular
Tokyo's Old Gods and the New, by Joel
It could well be that our internal clocks are still adjusting, yet I can’t help but attribute my lingering travel insomnia to the captivating, enigmatic essence of the world’s largest city. To describe the contrast between Tokyo’s old and new culture as juxtaposition doesn’t quite ring true, since the term implies a jarring clash of contexts. Even in the most congested neighborhoods, the Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines dotting the back alleys seem to mesh fluidly against
Joel on Planning, Process, and Purpose
In these waning days before our departure, my short-term memory is awash in the names of distant towns I’m sure I’ve been mispronouncing. I’ve been bargain hunting and gear gathering, seeing friends and family, and making creative use of the remaining condiments in our fridge to questionable culinary effect. In recent months, Amy and I have navigated enigmatic visa application requirements, been immunized against assorted pathogens and taught ourselves basic Mandarin. We’v
Book Your Heart Out, by Joel
On the face of it, reserving accommodation online should be fairly straightforward. But to capitalize on opportunities to snatch up a great room on the cheap, it’s worth understanding the motivations at play. The booking websites act as middlemen angling to grab a slice of your nightly room charge, preferably upfront and non-refundable. As the consumer, your goal is to avoid paying anything in advance, sidestep service fees and reserve the right to cancel as late as possible
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