Inner Mongolia went from being an impoverished backwater on the fringes of China to the country's sixth richest province, and the region's ethnic … [Read more...]
China’s Obsession With Foreigners And The Experience Of Kanye West
Every morning, I become a tourist attraction. "This street is called Foreigner Street, because foreigner friends like to come here to eat," tour … [Read more...]
China’s New Subculture: Ryan Lee, Traveling Musician
To say that it is not common for young Chinese people to drop out of the rat race to travel perpetually would be an incredible understatement. Many … [Read more...]
Looking For Freedom From The Chinese Education System
It's Sunday night in Dali. I'm standing outside Tang Dynasty on Foreigner Street, the famous bar street here, where I work as a greeter, waving at … [Read more...]
Christmas in China
I found myself standing beneath a 40 foot Santa Claus puppet in the streets of Taizhou's bar district. It was dancing Gangnam style. My wife was … [Read more...]
Why do the Chinese Hate the Japanese?
"We hate the Japanese." "We don't like Japanese people." It is surprisingly common for Chinese people to make statements like these in otherwise … [Read more...]
Whaling in Iceland: Tradition Under Siege
"Many NGOs and anti-whaling countries see the oceans as some sort of giant zoo or sanctuary. But we look upon the ocean as a resource which we have a … [Read more...]
Graffiti In Portugal: The Other Side Of The Wall
“I write graffiti because my head and my heart demands me to write. Because I wake up and I go to bed with graffiti in my mind. Because it's the only … [Read more...]
Nazis, Communism, and Wine in Moravia
HODONIN, Czech Republic- "Wine is made by god. The wine maker can only damage it," spoke the old wine maker Vlasomir Gloss, as he sipped … [Read more...]
A Dying Art – Traditional Japanese Tattoo
KYOTO, Japan- It was the apex of spring in Japan: the cherry blossoms were in full bloom and the fierce winter winds had died down to a gentle, … [Read more...]
