Asia Archives - Page 2 of 7

CAt sitting on a shrine at Houtong Cat Village, Taipei, Taiwan

The Adorable Houtong Cat Village, Taipei (and 5 Other Sights Not To Miss If You Love Cats)

December 28, 2021December 1, 2019 by Helen from Differentville

I’m sitting on a train in my best cat print dress jigging about like a three-year-old needing the bathroom. I’m overly excited because I’m on my way to Houtong Cat Village near Taipei, a magical place a short train ride from the main city where hundreds of felines are just waiting for you to come …

Anatomical dummies decorate Sanatorium Cafe, Fukuoka

Sanatorium – Fukuoka’s Most Curious Cafe.

January 1, 2020October 26, 2019 by Helen from Differentville

It’s not unusual for someone to wake up one day and decide to start a cafe, however, few people would then decide to theme that cafe around a hospital ward complete with a scan of their own brain as part of the decor, but not everyone is Fukuoka-based artist Sumi Takamasa – and not every …

Fun and Unusual Things to do in Ipoh, Malaysia

December 28, 2021September 28, 2019 by Helen from Differentville

Ipoh is a small city located roughly halfway between Kuala Lumpur and Penang. It’s got a reputation for awesome street art and so, when we were getting the train between KL and Penang on our recent trip, we decided to stop off on the way. We had about 24 hours in the city which wasn’t …

Cube sculpture with rainbow colours in Kaohsiung, Taiwan

Kaohsiung: Street Art and Sculptures a Go Go

January 29, 2020September 14, 2019 by Helen from Differentville

Erm, does anyone know the Taiwanese word for chiropractor as I think I’m going to need one. My head is swivelling in every direction. I’m surrounded by possibly the largest amount of huge street art murals in one place I’ve ever seen in my life – and I don’t know what to take a picture …

25 Fun and Unusual Things to do in Penang

May 9, 2022August 17, 2019 by Helen from Differentville

I remember the exact moment that going to Penang went on my to-do list. I was on a food tour in Kuala Lumpur and had just gorged myself on reportedly KL’s best banana fritters and our guide said ‘of course, if you want to try the best street food in Malaysia, you need to go …

Snake on an insence burner at the Snake Temple Penang

Checking Out the Snake Temple in Penang

January 1, 2020August 4, 2019 by Helen from Differentville

Think about some of the temples in Asia you might have visited; bright red outside and a roof with ornate carvings on it – check. Lit candles and offerings reflecting hopes and prayers of those who left them – check. An ornate altar covered in gold – check. Poisonous snakes draped around the incense burners …

Billiken statue in a clown suit, Osaka Japan

What are Billiken – And Why is Osaka Full of Them?

January 1, 2020July 20, 2019 by Helen from Differentville

There’s a lot of odd things dotted around Osaka. You’ll find giant pufferfish hanging in the sky, gold turtles climbing up the sides of a building, huge lobster decorating the ceiling of the market – there’s even a giant metal wasp if you know where to look, but among all these fabulous things is one …

Statue of a man with pasta for a head, Kokura, Japan

12 Fun and Unusual Things to do in Kokura, Western Japan

December 28, 2021July 13, 2019 by Helen from Differentville

Kokura is a fascinating city in Western Japan. Saved, through chance, by destruction from atomic bomb, it has castles, pufferfish dinners – and an entire museum full of toilets. Check out our guide to the fun and unusual things to do in Kokura.

Three fried spiders on a plate at Romdeng, Cambodia

What Does Tarantula Taste Like? Eating Spiders in Cambodia

May 17, 2021July 6, 2019 by Helen from Differentville

Cambodia, land of Angkor Wat, one of the most amazing temples ever discovered, site of the Killing Fields, one of the saddest places you’ll ever visit and home to Kampong Pluk, the fascinating floating village. However, incredible as all of those things were, none of them was the thing I was most looking forward to …

Model of coloured pasta at Wonderfoods Museum, Penang

Wonderfood Museum, Penang – It’s Mad! You’ll Love It.

January 11, 2020June 10, 2019 by Helen from Differentville

I’m standing in front of a giant plastic bowl of curry mee. Behind me are tiny miniature people running around a field of broccoli and cauliflower trees and a table containing some pink and blue bananas, multicoloured pasta dish and some green corn. I’ve never taken acid in a supermarket, but I’m pretty sure that …