Hanoi has been the capital of Vietnam for over 1,000 years, and the city’s long and turbulent history has given rise to a rich and unique culture. Regimes have changed and wars have passed, but Hanoi has remained the cultural center of Vietnam. Hanoi was the capital of French Indochina and of Communist-led North Vietnam… Read More Hanoi: Vietnam’s historic, hectic, and charming capital
Phú Quốc is a small Vietnamese island in the Gulf of Thailand with picturesque white sandy beaches, clear azure water, an ideal climate, and many resorts. It is truly paradise, in every sense of the word. We spent four perfect days in Phú Quốc, living a champage lifestyle on a beer budget. We stayed at… Read More Paradise on Earth – Phú Quốc Island
As soon as I boarded the plane bound for Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), I could feel a different energy from Japan. There was an audible buzz as the passengers, mostly Vietnamese people, chatted and laughed. It was very unlike the ultra-silent Japanese trains that I’ve grown used to. The flight attendants wore shorts, a… Read More Two Days and “The Night” in Saigon
Over my spring break, I went on a trip to Vietnam and Taiwan. It was a fantastic trip, each day full of excitement, adventure, and great memories. I had a good travel buddy – Peter, one of my best friends from college. Vietnam instantly became one of my favorite countries, and continued to amaze, charm,… Read More Spring Break in Vietnam and Taiwan
The Japanese school year ends in March and begins in April, which means that it’s graduation season. I recently attended my school’s junior and senior high school graduation ceremonies, and I was surprised by how serious they were. I guess I really shouldn’t have been all that surprised – every Japanese school ceremony I’ve attended… Read More Why So Serious? Japanese Graduation Ceremonies
Ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arrangement, is so much more than just putting flowers in a vase. It is a disciplined art form with a long history, an established theory, and many different schools and styles. The tradition dates back to the 7th century, and is based around a reverence for nature, and the… Read More Ikebana – The Japanese Art of Flower Arrangement
Last weekend, I went back to Hakuba, Nagano on second round of my January ski trip. It was pretty much the same deal as the last trip – organized by the same guy, at the same hotel, with many of the same people attending, but was slightly less crazy this time, because there was no… Read More Hakuba Ski Trip, Round II
