It’s hard to believe that as I write this, it’s early February, and the end of our trip is beginning to loom in the distance. As we packed so many activities and sights into the first month, time seemed to move rather slowly, but I have to say that January passed me by in the…Continue Reading Looking into (Korea’s) future
Reflection: “There’s a saying: ‘Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. ‘ That is why it’s called the present.”–Master Oogway, Kung Fu Panda (a quote from a kids’ movie my brother and I loved). The old mate Master Oogway knew was onto something. That pretty much sums up this past…Continue Reading Another day, another oppurtunity
Dharavi – Mumbai The division line could not be any clearer; the smell of incense hit us as if we were crossing a threshold. More obvious signs of Hindu identity became quickly clearer; swastikas and a mandir (temple) all came into view as we turned the corner out of the dark and narrow streets from…Continue Reading Disunity and Unity
Welcome back to another episode! Today I’m joined by Chloe Phillips and (Dr) Meera Patel. We discuss some highlights of the trip and then delve into our thoughts on elephant rides and how humane they are. Here are some links from Meera’s research that we discuss:…Continue Reading Elephant rides – Ep 3. Tea with Tia (ft Chloe and Meera)
忘不了, unforgettable. That is the one word I can think of to adequately describe this trip. Sure, there have been ups and downs, but it is an experience firmly etched into my memory. The uniqueness of this experience dawned on me more and more as the trip came closer to a close. Like an impending…Continue Reading 忘不了。
Last week was all about indigenous rights across Mexico. Coming from little Aotearoa, New Zealand, where we have one indigenous group, led me to understand the Aztecs and Mayans as the only indigenous groups in Mexico. But boy, was I wrong. Mexico has an estimated 68 different indigenous groups and 63 languages. There are also…Continue Reading Indigenous Rights Week
Sensory Overload I can starkly remember the moment I walked out of the airport. It was a sensory overload. The heat of Vietnam hit me like a concrete wall. I felt like a rotisserie chicken under the heat lamp, and sweat poured from my body like never before. *Honk* “Water, Madam” *Honk* “Sim card” *Honk* …Continue Reading Sensational Saigon
What a beautiful country! After a 16-hour flight from New Zealand to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, stepping foot out of the airport felt surreal. Feeling the warm wave of heat on my cheeks, observing the colorful scooters racing by, and the overwhelmingly rich smell of street food, I stare in awe. The first 48…Continue Reading Chúc mừng năm mới (Happy New Years)
This week I had the pleasure of witnessing the Chinese New Year celebrations. The food, the performers, the music, and the amount of people were surreal. I spent the night walking the streets of China Town watching, listening and taking everything in. He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tāngata, he tāngata, he…Continue Reading Year of the Rāpeti
It has been three weeks in Vietnam & I can wholeheartedly say that I wake up eager to explore every single day. I am working as an Intern at NFQ, a global tech company, and the humbleness, hospitality, and genuine kindness amongst all employees have made it a breeze to settle in. In the first…Continue Reading Vietnam, you are already un”Phở”gettable