The Miss Universe 2010 just ended, with Mexico taking the title. A few years ago when I started doing those Asian Miss Universe comparisons (see end of the post), I was going through the Miss Universe Asian models to try and sense some of the differences in appearance between the Asian nations – as the [...]

Looking for the best universities in Asia? There are so many rankings and lists out there, so it gets confusing. Let me try and help you…   Following is the top world university rankings for the Asian academic universities analyzed for year 2010. These rankings vary in methodology and the things they evaluate. These do [...]

Tokyo’s a terrific city, well worth a few days of exploration. To sum up my trip to Japan, following is a summary of my visit to Japan’s Tokyo, suggesting a recommended itinerary for those interested.     Tip – I wrote a post for some cheap budget hotel accommodation in Toyko that might help with [...]

Tokyo can get expensive, very expensive, especially for accommodation, but if you do your research and plan ahead you don’t have to go broke booking a hotel. If you’re anything like me – traveling on a budget but well beyond hostels with shared rooms/toilet, then the following might help. All options include a room equipped [...]

Ueno (上野) is one of my favorite areas in Tokyo. Just next to the Ueno station is the Ueno Park (上野公園 Ueno-kōen) which serves some of the major attractions in Tokyo – the Ueno Zoo, Tokyo National Museum, National Science Museum,  the Shinobazu Pond (不忍池 Shinobazu-ike) with plenty other museums and gorgeous little temples, not [...]

Tokyo’s Nishi Nippori is a lovely area a bit off the main tourist track that offers a more traditional laid-back Japanese atmosphere. Abound with gorgeous little temples, old cemeteries and family owned little shops and restaurants, the area between Nishi-Nippori and Nippori is my type of place. The Lonely Planet and Frommer’s have good suggestions [...]

Harajuku is not all modern fashion and pop culture. In a nearby park is the Meiji Shrine (明治神宮, Meiji Jingū), a large Shinto shrine for one fairly recent Japanese emperor that the Japanese respect for bringing Japan out of the dark ages into modern times. Facts about Meiji Jingu: Enshrined deities: souls of Emperor Meiji [...]

You got to love the Japanese. There’s something different about them, and it’s even more apparent in Tokyo. The stereotypes make sense to me – they’re fashionable, trendy, extremely polite, care about fine details, service-quality oriented, very modern and yet with high respect for their traditions, strongly emphasizing self expression while being careful not to [...]