Category Archives: pop culture

Product Review: Tauranac Press New York Maps

Posted on November 2, 2015 by findingfoodfluency

Disclaimer: In exchange for writing a review about Tauranac Press, I received an assortment of books and maps. In celebration of the 111th anniversary of the New York subway, on October 27th, I attended a subway map discussion at The … Continue reading →

Posted in New York City, Non-Aviation Transit, pop culture, Reviews | Tagged books, cartographer, discussion, map, maps, New York, NYC, streets, subway, Tauranac Press, time | Leave a comment

Look Down on Us: Japanese Sewer Covers (Many Photos)

Posted on October 3, 2015 by findingfoodfluency

If memory serves, my first unusual encounter with a Japanese person was at Yellowstone National Park in 1995. He came up to my family, asked to take a picture with us, and then proceeded to photograph a garbage bin. Not … Continue reading →

Posted in East & Southeast Asia, Human Nature, Japan, Languages, pop culture | Tagged art, Japan, japanese, manhole cover, sewer cover, travel, weird | 6 Comments

Potent Packaging: Hey China, Look at Me!

Posted on September 28, 2015 by findingfoodfluency

I couldn’t find an adapter for my recent trip to Russia, so I went to a local discount store in Manhattan to get one. I didn’t end up buying this one – besides, if you wander around Broadway in … Continue reading →

Posted in China & Hong Kong, East & Southeast Asia, New York City, pop culture | Tagged Buddhism, China, Dalai Lama, discount store, Manhattan, packaging, quote, Tibet, weird, who said compassion is the pillar of world peace? | 3 Comments

Shopping Around Dhaka, Bangladesh

Posted on August 20, 2015 by findingfoodfluency

I visited Dhaka, Bangladesh a few years ago – mostly to eat– but also to check out Louis Kahn’s National Assembly Building. Naturally, I wasn’t allowed in at the time, so I had to stick to plan A, that being … Continue reading →

Posted in Human Nature, Languages, pop culture, South Asia | Tagged Bangladesh, centre, Dhaka, food, mall, New York, shopping center, Signs, weird, where is Dhaka? | Leave a comment

One-Child Policy: The Ride

Posted on August 12, 2015 by findingfoodfluency

I’ve been to Los Angeles a few times, but I still don’t know it as well as other equally food-crazed, architecturally-curious cities. All the better, since that spells greater motivation to explore the massive LA-Long Beach-Catalina-Pomona metropolis. No matter where I … Continue reading →

Posted in 随便 (Random), Human Nature, North America (non-NYC), pop culture | Tagged amusement park, California, child, children, Chinatown, how do I get to LA's Chinatown?, LA, Los Angeles, ride | Leave a comment

Taiwan, What Are You?

Posted on August 8, 2015 by findingfoodfluency

Taiwan is an island in the East China Sea. That game was fun. But is Taiwan a country? That’s still under debate, and not just by China. OK, I’ll pose the question another way…which of their colonial occupiers do you … Continue reading →

Posted in East & Southeast Asia, Human Nature, pop culture | Tagged Asia, car, China, EU, European Union, is Taiwan a country?, license plate, taiwan, Turkish | 10 Comments

Fifty Shades of Wrong: A Pharmacy a Day in Queens, New York

Posted on August 3, 2015 by findingfoodfluency

When you’re in Queens, New York, you’re bound to come across something weird at any given moment. Well…weird is fine, but one southern Flushing pharmacy likely went too far: There are plenty of distinct – and sometimes offensive – signs … Continue reading →

Posted in New York City, pop culture | Tagged change, Flushing, names, New York, offensive, pharmacy, Queens, Signs, store, weird | 1 Comment

Toothpaste, Part Two: Taiwan, USA

Posted on July 5, 2015 by findingfoodfluency

On our last trip throughout the wide world of toothpaste, we may have come to the conclusion that good dental hygiene has nothing to do with what influences certain shoppers. A memorable, if controversial brand though, oh that stuff sells. … Continue reading →

Posted in East & Southeast Asia, Human Nature, pop culture | Tagged brand, controversial, dental, hygiene, race, taiwan, teeth, toothpaste | 2 Comments

The 2015 Chinese New Year: The Year of the Escalator

Posted on February 18, 2015 by findingfoodfluency

I was wandering around the Times Square mall in Hong Kong at the time of the Chinese New Year in 2007 when it struck me that I wasn’t in New York anymore (on second though, it might be better to say … Continue reading →

Posted in China & Hong Kong, East & Southeast Asia, Human Nature, pop culture | Tagged Chinese, dragon, escalator, hong kong, lunar, new year, spring festival | Leave a comment

150 Years Ago Today, Something Important Happened in the US…But Not at a Chinese KFC

Posted on January 31, 2015 by findingfoodfluency

A KFC along East Nanjing Road in Shanghai, China greeted me with this weird and surreal mural in 2005. Whether or not it’s still around, I don’t know for sure — anyone want to go check it out? Who needs … Continue reading →