We have spent the last seven days in Cambodia, which is a remarkable country with an amazing and also horrifying history. In my parents’ lifetime, two million people were exterminated by the Khmer Rouge. Many of the people we met had family members who were killed. The people we met were all kind and generous […]
THE SIMPLE BEAUTY OF WAT ARUN
Wat Arun, the Temple of Dawn, rises over Bangkok’s Chao Phraya River, theoretically catching the first morning light that hits the city (before all the skyscrapers were built). It is still the most eye catching site on any water taxi ride up the river. Wat Arun is one of over 31,000 Buddhist temples spread across Thailand. […]
TWO MINUTES OF THAI BOXING (IS MORE THAN ENOUGH)
From the moment we arrived in Bangkok, the guy behind the desk where we were staying asked “Are you going to see the Thai Boxing?” Frankly, we hadn’t even considered it. But on a balmy night, Mark headed off alone in a cab carrying a bag filled with way too much camera equipment to capture […]
OUR SOUVENIR FROM THE FRENCH CONCESSION
When one thinks of Shanghai, the image that is presented to the world is the glistening Pudong skyline — a monument to the 21st “Chinese Century.” But we stayed across the river in the more historic part of town, an area more akin to Greenwich Village or the Latin Quarter of Paris. This is the […]
MARRIAGE CORNER
In People’s Square, thousands of aging Shanghainese parents gather every Sunday to try and fix up their unwed sons and daughters. When we heard about this, we knew it was something we had to witness — and we also knew it might be wise to bring along a bonafide Chinese bachelor to introduce us to […]
WHAT WE SEE TODAY: BIRTHDAY WOMAN
Since 1991, when I first met her, I’ve gotten a front row seat to watch Jen grow older and more beautiful. There is no more fabulous view a guy could have. She is an extraordinary wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, adventurer, writer, director, travel companion, taskmaster, collaborator, and muse. Jen is fierce and opinionated, and she […]
TWENTY QUESTIONS: THE KEY TO SUCCESS
In a visit to another of the world’s lovely coffee houses, we catch the proprietress off-guard with one of life’s important questions.
MOST DISGUSTING BATHROOM ON THE PLANET?
Take a break from election news and consider this: Many men in China have an unfortunate habit of not standing close enough to the urinal. As a result, the government has launched a campaign called “Step Forward For Civilization” and you will find these signs above many urinals. The overall feel you are left with […]
FRANNY AND FINN PRESENT THE FORBIDDEN CITY
Your two young guides take you on a private tour of one of the world’s most legendary landmarks.
BEIJING’S 798 ART ZONE
When we imagined Beijing, the words that jumped to mind were Power, Government, Olympics, Traffic. The last thing we thought about was Art. But on the outskirts of the city, beyond the fifth outer ring, not too far from the airport, something exciting is happening. In a district that was nothing but abandoned warehouses ten […]