Please be better than 2013. Not that your predecessor was bad, cause it wasn't. But, I just have high hopes for what transitions may bring, and I'd like it if you didn't let me down. A short review of 2013 No New Years blog post would be complete without a highlight reel from the year … Continue reading Dear 2014
The year was 1359. In the new kingdom of Lan Xang Hom Kao, a gift was given. A statue. But not just an ordinary statue: a golden standing Buddha image. The occasion was said to be a congratulatory gift from Phaya Sirichanta, the King of Angkor, in present-day Cambodia, to his Lao son-in-law on unifying … Continue reading Putting the Prabang back in Luang Prabang
I know that there was life before Korean dramas, but all that seems fuzzy to me now. Everyone who knows me, even a little, knows me as a Korean drama evangelist, trying to convert people to the joys of K-drama watching. There's no lack of haters though—obstinate ones who think they know what they're all … Continue reading Confessions of a KDrama Addict
The final two days of my Indonesian trip were spent in Jakarta. I arrived at the train station at 4:30am. After queuing for a taxi for thirty minutes, I drowsily took in the dim sights of the city. There was much more green than I was expecting which was a nice surprise. At 5am, I … Continue reading City Life: Jakarta
Despite everything I just said about Bali, Yogyakarta was my favorite out of the three places I visited in Indonesia. Perhaps it's because I had more freedom to explore and spent less time in cars, or perhaps because it was more than what it was marketed to be, but I really enjoyed my two days … Continue reading Say what? Yogyakarta!
Excursions in World Music , Fourth Edition, Chapter 6: Indonesia. In the fall of 2003, as an undergraduate music education major at Rutgers, I was first introduced to Indonesia through its music. Indonesia caught my attention again in 2005 as I marked up my world map hanging on my dorm wall based on the linguistic and … Continue reading What Happened in Bali
What would an international holiday be, if there were no linguistic discoveries made? On my most recent travels I made 3. Excuse me while I geek out about them below. 9 People are always asking me if I get different languages mixed up in my head. While the answer is usually not, I have run … Continue reading Language Connections
I get asked this question a lot. Perhaps you are even wondering what my plans are come May 2014. I'll happily let you know as much as I know: I don't know. I think of myself as having a combination of 4 options. Go back to the States Go somewhere else overseas Stay in museums/culture … Continue reading So, What’s Next?
This post will be short and sweet. I went to Bangkok. I spent 12 hours there. I didn't sleep a wink. I left Bangkok. By the time I arrived at Bangkok it was already dark. I took public transportation from the airport to the area of town my hostel was in. Unfortunately, I accidently left … Continue reading Krungthep
I did it! I visited the promised land, the land flowing with milk and honey and it was...too short. That may be the number one complaint I have with the whole trip, but I think that's what everyone says after vacation. I was in Hong Kong for the Asia Society Arts + Museum Summit, a … Continue reading Hong Kong
Feet Cry Mercy 