Most of my friends know that I'm a coffee addict because of my partner, James (who has way too many coffee toys, including a mini coffee roaster). So when I commenced my move to Canada, he gifted me with yet another of his impulse buys: the OutIn Nano portable espresso maker. Was I skeptical? Yes. Was I tired of using an Aeropress every day? Also yes. So I gave it a shot…and now I use the OutIn Nano to make my coffee every morning. If you love good coffee, it's simply one of the best pieces...| Roamscapes
“See? It doesn’t move.” Mr. Kim, my group’s guide for the day, gleefully blows at the sheet of paper held to his face. “Hanji is extremely breathable and can regulate humidity, so it was traditionally used for insulating doors and windows. And it lasts for thousands of years, too, making it the perfect archival medium.” Anyone who calls themselves a writer, I believe, has some degree of obsession with paper. We hoard ever-pristine notebooks, believing them too beautiful for our [...| Roamscapes
It was only 7pm, but the rain clouds that had been following me all week were making it seem much later in Tainan. I peered through the window of the car, wondering where the driver was taking me. We seemed to be heading down a dark, narrow one-way street where half the shops were shut. Did he have the right address, I wondered. Of course, I’ve stayed in a fair number of Taiwan’s boutique hotels. Most were hidden in octogenarian buildings […] The post U.I.J Hotel & Hostel: Viewing Tain...| Roamscapes
Does being an introvert make it easier to travel solo? Of course. That’s what I thought when I embarked on my first solo trip years ago, before I knew any better about travel (or myself, for that matter). I love being alone. To make things worse, it wasn’t a short vacation I’d planned: it was a full-on, quit-my-office-job-to-travel escapade. I soon learned that solo travel for introverts is just as challenging as solo travel in general, except that we face […] The post A Quiet Guide t...| Roamscapes
On my first visit to Kaohsiung (高雄市) in 2013, I barely saw anything of the harbor besides cargo ships and cranes. The only exception was the Kaohsiung Exhibition Center, then a brand-new building that opened onto a sliver of waterfront lawn - and was sealed off by construction hoarding on both sides. Fast-forward five years to 2019...and the entire Kaohsiung Harbor has been transformed. Today, with people jog and walk their dogs along the panoramic waterfront, while the harbor thrums| Roamscapes
I spent 4 weeks volunteering at Kipepeo Community Empowerment Program, a grassroots organization in the town of Kima, 1.5 hours away from the city of Kisumu in Western Kenya. Why did I do it? Well, I'm a cheapskate and I felt it would be a waste of money to fly all the way to Kenya just for a safari tour. Actually, I was intrigued by how most of us in Asia know nothing about Kenya, or other African countries, apart from| Roamscapes
Intellectuals, foodies, makers, industrialists, creatives, and sometimes traditionalists. Come for the food and shopping, be blown away by the natural beauty.| Roamscapes
Wondering what to pack for a trip to Singapore? As a local Singaporean and someone who prefers to travel light, I promise this packing guide will have you well-prepped and comfortable as you explore the “Lion City”. This tropical city-state is known for its varied architecture, delicious food, and nightlife…as well as sweltering heat and thunderstorms. THE PACKING LIST: SINGAPORE What to pack for Singapore: travel logistics Travel insurance Travel insurance is a must for any trip. Singa...| Roamscapes
Bangkok's specialty coffee scene is booming. While tourists put the social media spotlight on stylish cafés, I've been savouring the floral bouquets, rich liquor notes, and smooth drinking that is Thai coffee - primarily from the northern highlands of Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai - and wondering: why hasn't Thai specialty coffee taken the world by storm yet? As it turns out, Thailand has the second-highest tariffs (45%) on imported coffee. That, plus the fact that it consumes more coffee| Roamscapes
Smartphones and cars, K-pop and K-beauty: Have you ever wondered how Korean products and cultural exports became world-famous over the past few decades? If so, it's time to delve deeper into the complicated past, day-to-day life, and societal challenges of this economic powerhouse - through this list of essential cultural experiences in Korea (or South Korea, to be exact!) THE LIST: CULTURAL EXPERIENCES IN KOREA 1. Visit a traditional market2. Explore the royal palaces in a hanbok3. Feast on a| Roamscapes
Bangkok might be the Great City of Angels, but its traffic can be hell. Cars crawl along roads at a snail's pace, stretching quick trips into hours-long ordeals. Thankfully, Bangkok has an extensive, if splenetic, public transport network that gets you virtually anywhere in the sprawling capital. THE GUIDE: PUBLIC TRANSPORT IN BANGKOK Before you arrive: what to prepareArriving in Bangkok: getting from the airport to the cityGetting around Bangkok: BTS Skytrain and MRTWater transport: Chao Phr...| Roamscapes
Vancouver’s natural beauty isn’t the only thing that’s captured travelers’ hearts. Its public transit system is considered one of the best in North America, meaning that you can easily savor the city’s coffee shops and restaurants without having to rent a car. In this guide, you’ll discover all the nitty-gritty details of Vancouver public transport, as well as tips for getting from Vancouver to surrounding regions. VANCOUVER PUBLIC TRANSPORT GUIDE Before you arrive: what to prepar...| Roamscapes
Few cities boast a cultural heritage as bewitching as that of Luang Prabang, Laos. Having served as the capital of the ancient Kingdom of Lan Xang from the 14th-16th century, and the capital of Laos under French colonial rule, the city - whose name means 'Royal Buddha Image' - mesmerizes with its timeless charm. Part of it was even named to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1995, earmarking its preservation for future generations. Sunlit streets, elaborate temples, the aroma| Roamscapes
If you’ve never seen a colugo before, you’ll be forgiven for being shocked by this grotesque creature, this bat-squirrel love child with marbles for eyes. You see, when you spot a colugo, it’s usually clinging motionless to a tree trunk, eyes wide open but somehow unseeing: I was delighted, though. This was already the third wildlife sighting of my afternoon on Penang Hill, and they had all been effortless. If you enjoy connecting with nature and hope to spot some […] The post Explori...| Roamscapes
The Pacific Northwest has a strange relationship with coffee. Just about three hours north of Seattle, Vancouver’s legendary mountains and coasts partially compensate for the city’s often grey, wet climate – while the specialty coffee shops in Vancouver complete the job. Over the course of two months in the city, I’ve managed to get around a fair bit and try out a bunch of local cafes and narrow down my personal favourites. Here are my picks for the best coffee […] The post Drink It...| Roamscapes
Singapore, in my unbiased local’s opinion, is one of the best cities for night owls. There’s no lack of nighttime attractions and activities, it’s easy to get around, and it’s one of the safest places in the world. Whether you’re here for a stopover or an extended stay, here are the best things to do in Singapore at night – come make the most of your time in this vibrant city! THINGS TO DO IN SINGAPORE AT NIGHT 1. Cruise […] The post Singapore by Night: 12 Things to Do After Dar...| Roamscapes
Cheung Chau is nostalgia cranked up to 11. The shops – apart from the McDonald’s sitting right in front of the ferry pier – seem washed out from too much sun. Between a row of curtained banyans on one side and parasols on the other, bicycles and miniaturized vehicles trill and honk their way past distracted tourists. Once past the main thoroughfare, though, the promenade is filled only with sunshine and lapping of water against moored fishing boats. And then […] The post A day trip to...| Roamscapes
Spread like a tidemark along the southeastern edge of the Korean peninsula, Busan (부산) is the rebel sibling to polished Seoul: rugged as its coastline and unapologetically boisterous. After all, the once-shabby provisional capital of the Korean War now has plenty to its name, including one of the busiest ports in the world and a world-renowned film festival. There are so many things to do in Busan, and all of them will leave you in awe - but if you're| Roamscapes
Hotels in Singapore are infamously expensive, with well-known 5–star names costing up to $1000 per night. But if you’re going to splash out on accommodation, you might as well get a unique experience out of it. Here’s our pick of the best boutique hotels in Singapore and a few budget-friendly hostels and capsule hotels to make your time in Singapore even more memorable. But first… Where to stay in Singapore Singapore may be a small city, but each neighborhood is […] The post Best Bo...| Roamscapes
Wondering what Kenyan #cuisine has to offer? Writer Jacquline Wambui introduces some favorite local dishes that you’re sure to come across on your visit.| Roamscapes
From 7 April to 1 June 2020, Singapore was in its “Circuit Breaker”: the city-state’s version of COVID-19 lockdown. For 56 days, non-essential retailers were forced to close; working from home became mandatory; gathering outside or at home was banned. Of course, long before then, international borders had been shut tight. Although I started lockdown life with optimism and flights of fancy to where I’d travel “when all this is over”, fear and negativity soon took over. As a travel ...| Roamscapes
Melbourne is best known as the coffee capital of Australia and the home of the flat white. But even if you’re not a coffee drinker, Australia’s second-largest city has so much more to offer: a thriving café culture, an innovative dining scene, and diverse arts and cultural offerings that have also earned the city a reputation as the country’s arts capital. Outside the city, the state of Victoria is also known for its many wineries, ski resorts in the beautiful alpine […] The pos...| Roamscapes
Of Indonesia’s myriad indigenous peoples, a few – like the Balinese and Javanese – are known for their hospitality. Others, on the other hand, boast legacies that could make you think twice about offending your hosts. Like the Batak of North Sumatra. Best known for their iconic jabu houses with massive gabled roofs, the Batak were also feared for their strict laws, black magic, and rituals…including child sacrifice and cannibalism. Here on my first visit to Lake Toba, I was […] The ...| Roamscapes
How many bottles of liquid skincare and hair products do you have in your toiletry kit? I used to carry at least half a dozen, but in my move towards traveling carry-on only, I discovered a newfound freedom in solid toiletries and beauty products. Imagine: no more worrying about having enough product or too much product for five or seven or 11 days; no more fiddling with tiny caps and messy leaks. Thanks to greater environmental awareness, solid toiletries and […] The post Solid Toiletries ...| Roamscapes
Taipei (臺北) is at once erudite and frivolous. Streets are named after traditional Chinese virtues; bookstores and cultural landmarks abound. But proceed just a few blocks, and you'll be greeted by nightclubs and shopping streets. Luckily, getting around Taipei is always easy thanks to a well-mapped public transport system. This guide shares how you can easily use the Taipei Metro, public buses, public bicycles, and taxis to explore Taipei. And if you want to travel beyond Taipei, we've ...| Roamscapes
The souks are labyrinthine. I press my fingers to a sand-colored wall, letting its surface cool me while I pause in the shade. Just beyond this side alley is another stretch of stores, textile-themed: glittering dresses, silks, shoes. So far I've already found Chanel perfume dupes and 'Viagra stones', but Old Dubai has far more in store for visitors. This historical area of the city is nothing like the 10-lane roads, ambitiously sculpted artificial islands, and overgrowth of glass and| Roamscapes
