I want to share with you about entering and leaving monkhood. These two moments changed me in different ways. Entering Monkhood When I first entered monkhood, I remember feeling nervous. My head was shaved, and when I touch it, it felt strange, like I was touching new version of myself. The ceremony was simple but
🇹🇭Entering and Leaving Monkhood: Two Moments That Changed My Life Read More »
I want to share with you how one day in monk life feels, because sometimes people think it is mysterious, but actually it is very simple and very human. When I was monk, my day started before sunrise. Around 3:00 a.m. we wake up, and the temple is still dark and quiet. We wash our
🇹🇭A Day in the Life of a City Monk Read More »
Meet Somsak: Twenty-eight Years as a Monk, Now Sharing His Stories with Heart Somsak was born and raised in Chiang Mai, in northern Thailand, where the mornings smell of lemongrass and woodsmoke and temple bells ring long before the sun rises. At fourteen, Somsak entered monkhood — a path he would follow for the next
🖊️🇹🇭Writer Spotlight: Somsak Read More »
Some of the most meaningful travel experiences don’t happen in museums or famous landmarks. They through quiet conversations with people who generously open a window into their world. My new friends, Guek Neo and Siew Neo spent an afternoon introducing me to Nonya — or Peranakan — culture in Malaysia. How I Met Guek Neo
🇲🇾Discovering Nonya Culture in Malaysia Read More »
Just outside Kuala Lumpur sits one of Malaysia’s most iconic landmarks: Batu Caves, a place where geology, spirituality, and culture collide in the most dramatic way. The caves themselves are ancient, around 400 million years. The limestone cliffs rise like ancient giants, their surfaces carved by millions of years of rain and sunlight. Long before
🇲🇾 Batu Caves: Where Geology, Spirituality, and Culture collide Read More »
This little coastal city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and exploring it feels like stepping into a living storybook – one that reveals not just the city’s past, but the story of Malaysia itself. A Little Look at Melaka’s Past Melaka was perfectly positioned along one of the world’s busiest ancient trade routes, the
🇲🇾A Visit to Melaka Read More »
🍬 Chewing Gum (Yes, Really) In Singapore, chewing gum isn’t banned outright, but importing or selling it (unless it’s medical gum) is restricted, and littering gum can get you fined. They may not care that you chew, but Singapore definitely cares where you stick it. After seeing how spotless the sidewalks and trains are, I
🇸🇬💸How Not to Get Fined in Singapore Read More »
I know “Salted Egg Crispy Fish Skin” sounds… totally weird. Fish skin? Salted egg? What? This odd snack is a cultural experience in a foil packet. It combines two very Singaporean things: the subtle umami flavor of Salted Egg and Singapore’s fishing heritage. Salted eggs have been part of Singaporean and wider Asian cuisine for
🇸🇬🤤Salted Egg Crispy Fish Skin – Dangerously Addictive Read More »
There are some streets in Singapore that feel like they’ve been dipped in a box of pastel crayons — and if you’ve ever found yourself suddenly surrounded by mint greens, bubblegum pinks, and buttery yellows, you’ve probably stumbled into a Peranakan neighborhood. These gorgeous shophouses are more than just pretty façades; they’re living pieces of
🇸🇬💠 A Stroll Through Singapore’s Peranakan Houses: Color, Culture & Charm Read More »
