Does your writing transcend culture?
I thought I was a global person but it turns out I’m not … My novel As the Heart Bones Break is making its debut globally at Singapore Writer’s Festival in November. Well, almost globally. Singapore based international publisher Marshall Cavendish has the rights to everywhere except North America. I’m a global Asian. Jennifer’s Asian-American. … Continue reading
Yunnan Ham from a Grandmother Room
To find out more about what we ate in Yunnan, including my encounter with a 40 year old mother of all hams, read the article here: A myth Growing up, I was regaled by tales of the mythical mellow richness of the Xuanwei hams from northeastern Yunnan. They were small boned, thin skinned, thick fleshed … Continue reading
Trade the high-flying life for this …
We’re just back from remote Lugu Lake, Yunnan China where a friend traded in her high-flying high-stress corporate lawyer’s life for this: – the view from her front window – a handcrafted tribal living room – and time and more time to look back at her choices and write all about it. It was a … Continue reading
Breathable air – A basic need I didn’t appreciate till last week
The worst haze since 1997 is choking us all up in Singapore. At 12 noon on Friday 21st June, the Pollutant Standard’s Index hit 401 in Singapore, the highest in Singapore’s history. The PSI, which measure sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, ozone and particulate matter of 10 microns or less in the atmosphere, exceeded … Continue reading
8D7N All Taiwan -What I really got out of it
After all those markets, all that scenery what I really took away from the 8D7N was simply this – What’s our’s The areca clad hills scrolling past the windows The marbled gorge The fertile land We can’t own it Nor even the hours Half drugged on tour guide prattle Haggling and buying Clicking away We pass … Continue reading
Want to experience a Taiwanese street market? The best 4 on the 8D7N All Taiwan Tour
As promised, here’s more on Taiwan. Street markets, especially night markets. have been part of Chinese culture for over a thousand years. Most Chinese historical movies have street market scenes where heroes and villains meet to plot. And indeed, this is why night markets were heavily regulated when Taiwan was colonized by the Japanese. Independent … Continue reading
Are you essentially Chinese? The 8D7N All Taiwan Test
Apparently not, according to Mrs. L. Not even after an 8D7N All Taiwan All Mandarin immersion into Chinese culture. “You’re such a xing something something…” she said as she shoved me away, aghast. I’d just given her a big heartwarming bear hug. She’d looked out for me the whole trip, making sure I went on … Continue reading
Mid-Autumn: Why on this night?
Finally, 15th day of the 8th moon – Mid-Autumn Festival. The moon a beautiful yellow orb. The moon cakes set out with tea. The children traipsing around the garden with their lanterns. The children want to know why. Why on this night we eat these pastry crusted cakes. Why we walk around with lanterns. Why we … Continue reading
Awaiting Mid-Autumn: The Best Season of Your Life
10th day of the 8th month of the dragon year – a busy buzzy sort of day running around delivering Mid-Autumn gifts to friends and associates. Something new this year, we’re distributing fresh fruits and flower teas, not the usual fatty cakes! Finally sitting down to my own cup of tea now and a quiet stare … Continue reading
Reader and Writer - Praying Woman - Gardener - Foodie 