Land of Silk and Honey

All of the Blog Posts

Welcome to my blog archive! Here you can find all the blog posts about expat living in China and Malaysia, travel articles, book reviews and recipes!

Book Review: The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro

Mar 24

Book Review: The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro

The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro Published in Uk by Faber and Faber Ltd; 1989 Kazuo Ishiguro was born in Japan but moved to England at the age of 6. He later studied at the University of Kent. The Remains of the Day was his third novel and won the Booker Prize in 1989. Ishiguro has also written two screen plays for channel 4. The Remains of the Day is written from the perspective of Stevens, the butler of Darlington Hall. It begins in 1956 with the protagonist deliber

Kung Pau Chicken

Mar 24

Kung Pau Chicken

Kung Pau chicken is a spicy chicken dish from the South-Western, Sichuan Province of China. I haven't travelled there yet. But the food is very different to the Suzhou and Shanghai style which tends to be a little sweet and not usually spicy. The name can also be pronounced: Gong Bao or Kung Po. I attended a cookery class hosted by More Fun Asia in Suzhou where we learnt to prepare this dish. Serves 4 Ingredients 3-4 diced chicken breasts 2 x fresh red chili, diced 2 x fresh

Seaweed Rice Balls

Mar 18

Seaweed Rice Balls

This simple, savoury bite is from Korea. I was first offered them at a picnic, where my Korean friend had freshly prepared them. I have since tried to replicate them for various social functions and events as they are simple to make in large quantities. They also make a nutritious alternative to sandwiches in my children's lunch boxes. For this recipe you will need to have already cooked the rice and let it cool. Ingredients: (makes 20- 30 rice balls) 2 cups of steamed short-

First- Timer's Guide to Phuket for Families

Mar 17

First- Timer's Guide to Phuket for Families

Top 10 things to do in Phuket for families We holidayed in Phuket during Chinese New Year. This article lays out from first hand experience, some of the best things to do on the island. In order to get to your accommodation from the airport, depending on your location, you can take a taxi, which would cost around 5 baht, (12p) for the first 2 km and 8 baht for km after that, or by airport shuttle. For a list of the bus stops please go here. For travelling around the island, c

Penang National Park

Mar 15

Penang National Park

Planning a trip to Penang National Park? How to get there, what to take, what not to miss. Penang National Park is an absolute must - see whether you are staying a few days or a few weeks on the island. Mike and I and the kids had to return several times for a fix in the 'wild' before our stay in Penang was over. How to get to Penang National Park: 1/ Public bus route 101 for 4 Ringit (70 pence). Check out the route and stops here: You can also take bus 501 if you are setti

Taiwan Road Trip: Where to go?

Mar 12

Taiwan Road Trip: Where to go?

Travelling in Taiwan? Where to start and what to visit? This article makes suggestions for a few days' road trip around Eastern Taiwan. We took a 4 day road trip along the eastern coast of Taiwan from Taipei down to Taitung. This article outlines some of our Taipei highlights and our favourite stop points along the way! We began our journey in Tamsui area just north of Taipei. We stayed north of Taipei in a friend's apartment with a great view of the estuary. We spent a few

Global Citizenship and International Women's Day

Mar 10

Global Citizenship and International Women's Day

Yesterday, Dulwich International High School celebrated International Women’s Day and Global Citizenship and I assisted Mike to arrange bill boards and bunting and provide a stall for the Eden charity, I also offered a nail painting service, which no one wanted. The earliest Women's Day was held on 28th February 1909 in New York, organised by the Socialist Party of America. Globally, International Women’s Day has been observed since 1911. Today, International Women’s Day is

The Horton Grand Hotel: Best Place to Stay in Downtown San Diego?

Mar 8

The Horton Grand Hotel: Best Place to Stay in Downtown San Diego?

Looking for a place to stay in San Diego's Gas Lamp district? The Horton Grand is central to the historic Gas Lamp district of San Diego. When we planned our trip to San Diego, we knew we wouldn't hire a car daily, so we wanted to stay somewhere well connected to the transport network. We wanted to stay for around two weeks and so we wanted somewhere comfortable, even if that meant something a bit up from low budget. We were a little concerned that due to the central location

Top Ten Things to do in Penang for Families

Mar 5

Top Ten Things to do in Penang for Families

Visiting Penang for the first time, with kids? This article lays out some of the top thing to do on the island! Mike and I and the kids stayed 6 weeks in Penang, in various air B & Bs. Even after 6 weeks we felt there was so much more to explore but it certainly meant we got a feel for some of our favourite spots, where we would return to again and again; some of which feature in this list: 1. Wander the streets of Old George Town The island's capital city's historical core w

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