Among Singaporeans of a certain age, the mention of Pulau Ubin conjures nostalgia for the days before their nation’s transformation from a jungle of simple villages, called kampongs, to a forest of high-rises. For Singaporeans born since the 1970s, Pulau Ubin is probably as foreign as it was to this American, who went in search of peace, quiet and, quite literally, another side of Singapore.
Read the full story in the Los Angeles Times.
As a frequent traveler to Japan and a one-time resident, one thing I’ve heard over and over: tragedies have struck the Japanese for millennia, yet they’ve always bounced back. I’ve written about Japan after the quake and tsunami (see the story and slide show here). Now that we’ve observed that grim anniversary, it’s worth reminding ourselves why we love Japan in the first place, in words and pictures (click for slide show).
Read the original version of this story published in the Los Angeles Times and revised with a slide show on my Forbes Seat 1A blog.
“Where you headed?” asked the cheerful driver of the rental-car shuttle at the Detroit airport.
“Detroit!” I answered, equally cheerfully.
“Southfield, Birmingham or Rochester?” he asked, referring to well-to-do northern suburbs.
“No, Detroit,” I responded.
Silence, then a shrug as if to say, “Suit yourself.”
Yet Detroit is evolving from a place feared by many Americans – and Michiganders - to a place for art. Cheap rents and an urban pioneering spirit are attracting young artists, and new restaurants, nightspots and even urban farms are serving this growing community and its hipster fans. It’s still the early days, but change is palpable, even to the casual visitor.
Read the full version of my article in the Los Angeles Times.
26 Sep 2010
11 Oct 2009
14 Jan 2007
26 Jun 2005
