facelifting kashgar
Chinese officials are demolishing Kashgar’s Old City to prevent calamity in case of earthquake in this tremor-prone region of Xinjiang. To give some perspective on this project, many of the 13,000 families who live in the city belong to the Uighur ethnic minority, a people who–like the Tibetans to the South–have in the past been targets of clampdowns by the … Read More
the changing face of iran
good article in newsweek about the changing attitudes in iran today (also accompanied by photos the journalist took of random different people, to show a cross-section of the population).
not just peacocks… albino peacocks.
my boyfriend’s parents were in town recently, which was a good opportunity to do some exploring of the city. the best part was riding on one of those double-decker open roof buses, especially since I would not have learned otherwise that in my own neighbourhood–at the cathedral of st john divine (that big church by the university)–there live two peacocks. … Read More
the lovely story of sriracha
(on nytimes.com)
tarte tatin
inspired by the fabulous tarte at le grainne cafe (which I’ll have to review later), I made my own from a recipe off epicurious. looks so good! recipe is as follows:
who buys ostrich eggs?
my first time shopping at whole foods (union square)–and while it was overwhelmingly chaotic and overpriced–I have to admit their range of products is impressive.
a stroll through harlem
I went for a stroll in search of Sugar Hill (where many wealthy black people lived during the harlem renaissance), and found many other sights on the way… some avid speed chess players in St. Nicholas Park: a man painting (and smoking) outside the Harlem School of the Arts: an entrance to River Bank State Park: city university of new … Read More
lenin statue park
possibly my favourite park in hanoi, lenin statue park (not to be confused with the larger Lenin Park) is always filled with kids in the evenings: skateboarding/breakdancing hip-hop teenage kids, or–as shown here–young kids being driven around in remote-controlled cars rented by their parents. all under Lenin’s proud gaze.
giant wind-up hello kitty
stumbled upon hello kitty on 53rd & Park avenue.
le pain quotidien
I’ve been dying to find a decent bakery or pâtisserie in the city. there are none in my neighbourhood, so when I saw this window in the Upper East, I immediately dove into the shop.