Postcards from another world | Hong Kong

Two simmering tureens were placed in front of me- a devil red broth glistening with Sichuan pepper corns ready to numb my tongue and the other, a white chicken stock with vegetables; a veritable yin-yang on a plate. As I slurped, albeit a little warily- I wondered how something that looked so evil could taste so divine?

Hong Kong is one of the most pedestrian friendly cities in the world, as most of what appeals to tourists is squashed into an area less than the size of the suburb of Bandra with the topography of San Francisco- fantastic to work off those holiday calories. Central, SOHO and Lang Kwai Fong (LKF) are a maze of alleyways, each with its own personality.  Food is omniscient, be it bars on Shelly Street, noodle soup on Wellington or a 10,000 square foot food hall in Causeway Bay. Sticky rice and pork wrapped in lotus leaf or tenderloin at Gaddi’s, this city is treasure house of cuisine. With over 10,000 restaurants, it’s like finding a needle in a heap of noodles.” Read more here! Culinary Walking Tour- Hong Kong

Postcards from Another World | A tale of two cities

Just off Xizang road, there is a crisscross of two blocks that will cover your gifting obligations for at least a year. From a stall that boasts teapots from 1940 to a splattering of Cultural Revolution memorabilia that includes the infamous Little Red book- a compilation of Chairman Mao’s revolutionary quotations. The street is also a kaleidoscope of images of every day Shanghainese life away from the glittering towers, visible over the houses in the horizon. You will get a glimpse into the Shikumenhomes- row houses where community of families’ share common living areas. It brings Shanghai’s contradictions into jarring focus.

Even a nosy photographer cannot distract
them from a game of Mahjong

A tale of two cities - Shanghai

For more postcards please visit Postcards from Another World 

For guidebooks on Shanghai check out out post Travel guides in disguise | Red Mandarin Dress by Qiu Xiaolong

Postcards from another world | Serpentine Swan Song

Hello Everyone, London is beautiful and the weather is as crisp as that first taste of chocolate chip vanilla ice-cream. This postcard picture is taken from a trip to Serpentine Lake in Hyde park. To read more go to Postcards from another world. 

RecommendedReads | Of Google + Machines

Thought I'd start today's RR with a song I quintessentially associate with all the days starting Friday 5pm to noon on Sunday. Don't ask. Just listen. Also, since Florence + The Machine are all set to come out with a new album on November 7 (see video of their first single below) so it's quite timely to be revisiting an old favourite.


Headline: How Google Dominates Us

Publication: The New York Review of Books
Afsha says: Yes, I'm obsessed with the effects of "Google" on the human mind as you might have gathered from the blog's first ever RR two weeks ago. I'm not against change. Nor am I complaining about the Google people who just want to make my life easier. I just don't believe in blindly accepting this change without understanding where the world will stand after it progresses into being a chip in my brain, feeding me information on the go. Hmm... feeling the waves of inspiration that led to my vegan phase...
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Headline: Florence and the Machine – What the Water Gave Me

Publication: Guardian.co.uk
Reshma Says: Warning... This song is moorish! Of all the new music out there, Florence and the Machine are my favorite. She reminds me of Patti Smith and I am sick to death of dance music that is ruling the charts this past year. Lungs, their debut album, reeks of literary references and this single from their sophomore album is no different. What the water gave me, talks about both the eccentric brilliant artist Frieda Khalo as well as the suicidal Virginia Woolf. The Woolf reference is easy to spot - Lay me down/ Let the only sound/Be the overflow/ Pockets full of stones. She walked into the river filling her pocket with large stones that took her to the bottom. A beautiful cinematic moment for Nicole Kidman in the movie, The Hours. Literature has influenced so much popular music. Remember Wuthering Heights by Kate Bush? Florence Welch is Kate Bush re-incarnated I think. Sting loved throwing literary references into his music, he was, after all, an English teacher. My other favorite literature in music moments are all the Tolkien references which can be seen in Led Zeppelin's music -Battle of Evermore and The stairway to heaven. (They say its not there but I can see it, I can! )

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Headline: 10 ways not to be a travel writer
Publication: Lonely Planet
Afsha says: If I had a penny for every time a newbie drooled on about how they aspired to be a travel writer because of such-and-such a lifestyle... Well, you get the drift. Equipped with jealously (can you blame me?) and a a keen awareness of the chances of "living a dream", there's not much I can contribute except cynicism. "Travel writing is not easy to break into..."; "You have to make the initial investments yourself before you're established enough to be sent travelling..."; "Me too. But I've descended from LaLa Land, you see?" Not anymore. Want to write and travel or travel and write? Here are some tips on how you shouldn't be going about with it.
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