All things writing, travel, and books!
Short story #2 It was a wet November night when the story broke. A thin gasp rang out across every house in every town. The world inhaled, held its breath in unison. Exhaled. Then, silence. It’d been spotted. Seven years since The Great Rain started. And now, today, the end had been written. A full … Read more
Day 13. Diary date: 14th October. After yesterday’s activities—involving a cooking class and the weekend markets in Chiang Mai—it’s time to check out what Pai has to offer. The weather is incredible today. It’s early morning. We grab a cup of coffee from the drip machine, and nurse our mugs while watching the heavens open … Read more
What is an erhu? The erhu, often hailed the “Chinese violin”, is a two-stringed musical instrument originating from China. The ‘er’ in erhu means two in Mandarin—for the two strings! It’s made from a soundbox—which can be hexagonal, octagonal, or circular in shape—connected to a long neck by two silk strings. These days, the strings … Read more
Short story #1 Her name is not important. What’s important is how she walked: step versus step, feet drumming against uneven cobblestone, heels dashing anxiety onto the earth’s unforgiving surface. Above, the sky stared down at her through steely eyes—closed off, overcast, and unkind. It was a cold day, yet sweat dripped down her back. … Read more
Days 11 and 12. Diary date: 12-13th October. Yesterday’s antics in Chiang Mai—What’s Chiang Mai Really Like? Wat Phra Singh & Chedi Luang—are over. Horrible nights sleep. I blame the heat and the noise of a 12 person dorm. And sometimes it’s the silence, if it’s not the noise—there are 11 other people in here, … Read more
Today, I’m going to explore science fiction through one key concept, called cognitive estrangement, and one key work: Ursula Le Guin’s The Dispossessed. But firstly, if you missed it, be sure to check out why you should read science fiction here. Ok, let’s learn some things. What is cognitive estrangement? Cognitive estrangement is a … Read more
Day 10. Diary date: 11th October. Quite the day yesterday. Catch up here if you missed it: From Bustling Bangkok to a Warm, Weary Morning in Chiang Mai. …And so the tenth day of travel begins. We wake up today in sun-soaked Chiang Mai at Family Home Hostel after sampling the city’s night-life. Slightly hungover, … Read more
Haruki Murakami’s Kakfa on the Shore is a strange, lurid book. You float through this dreamscape of modern Japan, effortlessly switching between the real, the fantastic, and the absurd. The characters drift through their story, unquestioningly, directed by powers outside of their own will. Everything in the book is subject to its own strange, internal … Read more
So, you want some science fiction books that’ll keep you glued to the pages? Look no further. I’ve compiled a list of my top 5 best sci-fi novels, particularly thinking of what I would recommend to someone starting with the genre. These are some of the very books that I first read in the sci-fi … Read more
Diary date: 9-10th October 2019 (days 8-9 so far). Leaving Bangkok After last night’s strange experience in Sukhumvit, we begin the next day by sorting out tickets to Chiang Mai. We play around with the idea of visiting Ayatthuya or Sukhothai on the way up north, but ultimately decide we’re not interested in all those … Read more