March 20, 2024 A motorcycle ride through the California Delta By Simon J. Lau Last weekend, I made my way to the California Delta. The rivers and streams were vibrant and the land looked so lush. It also appeared as though the marine life was thriving. In fact, this was my first time ever seeing a California river otter in the wild. Unfortunately, this otter had met a tragic end, likely sometime earlier that night. However, I’m sure its friends […]
Last March, on my 38th birthday, I was laid off from work. I wish I felt bitter. I wish I was angry that I was let go, or sad that I was forced to leave. At least then my emotions would fit with how I imagined I should feel. Yet, I felt none of that. Rather, that morning, I witnessed a tremendous weight lifted from off my shoulders. For years, I had grown increasingly restless with my current circumstances. I […]
Last March, on my 38th birthday, I was laid off from work. I wish I felt bitter. I wish I was angry that I was let go, or sad that I was forced to leave. At least then my emotions would fit with how I imagined I should feel. Yet, I felt none of that. Rather, that morning, I witnessed a tremendous weight lifted from off my shoulders. For years, I had grown increasingly restless with my current circumstances. I […]
June 13, 2023 Mandarin Immersion (Part 30) By Simon J. Lau I made it to Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang province. This city is home to many of China’s largest internet companies, including Alibaba (China’s Amazon), Didi Chuxing (China’s Uber), and NetEase (China’s Zynga), among others. Many moons ago, I was considered for a role at NetEase to lead their North American finance operations. I went so far as to interview with the company CFO. Although that role never panned out […]
June 12, 2023 Mandarin Immersion (Part 29) By Simon J. Lau For my last day in Shanghai, I spent time at the City God Temple. It is located in what was Shanghai’s original urban core. It celebrates Shanghai’s elevation as a municipality (there are only three other such municipalities in China, including Beijing). Inside, you can find Yu Garden. It was built during the 16th century, under the supervision of a Ming-era governor. The garden includes many man-made pathways and […]
June 11, 2023 Mandarin Immersion (Part 28) By Simon J. Lau I made my great return to Shanghai! Last time I visited in 2010, I came to attend the World Expo. That was just before I left for business school, and so much has changed since then (both for the city, and for me). Specifically, I’ve now gained a level of Chinese language proficiency that has made it possible for me to take in much more of what this city […]
June 10, 2023 Mandarin Immersion (Part 27) By Simon J. Lau For my last day in Kunming, I visited the Yunnan Railway Museum. Throughout much of its history, Yunnan has been isolated from the rest of China and the world due to its rugged terrain. Before the construction of the railway, travel to the region was arduous and challenging. In 1910, everything changed when Yunnan welcomed a new era of railroad transport, facilitating increased trade with Southeast Asian countries. Over […]
June 9, 2023 Mandarin Immersion (Part 26) By Simon J. Lau I spent some time at Green Lake Park, Kunming’s crown jewel. Situated in the city center, it comprises several small lakes connected by ancient bridges. While not extensive compared to other Chinese parks, it’s one of the most enjoyable parks I’ve visited so far on this trip. Given its central location, many historic sites and popular restaurants and bars can be found near Green Lake Park. For instance, across […]
June 8, 2023 Mandarin Immersion (Part 25) By Simon J. Lau Upon arriving in Kunming, the capital of Yunnan province, I discovered a vibrant cultural hub influenced by its proximity to Vietnam, Laos, and Myanmar. Green Lake Park offers a glimpse into the city’s charm and that I’ll explore further later on. The diverse food scene in Kunming bears resemblance to the culinary variety found in Singapore, offering delicious options. However, my server initially had issues understanding me, prompting a […]
June 7, 2023 Mandarin Immersion (Part 24) By Simon J. Lau On my last day in Lijiang, I visited Baisha Village. This was the Naxi people’s original settlement in the region, and it was an important political, social, and cultural center. It’s also famous for its murals, mostly from the Ming dynasty. While exploring the village, I came across numerous fascinating motorcycles, particularly these retro and retro-inspired bikes. I even had a conversation with a motorcyclist from Sichuan province, who […]
Error: No feed found.
Please go to the Instagram Feed settings page to create a feed.
