Hi, I’m Joe, founder of …in a strange land and I am a big fan of noodles. Ever since I first tasted WonTon noodle soup in Wong Kei in London’s Chinatown as a teenager, I have wanted more. I’m pleased to say I have succeeded in this ambition. The perfect breakfast in my humble opinion, […]
We’ve all heard of Muay Thai and possibly Eskrima or Krabi Krabong but there are a whole host of indigenous martial arts practised in South East Asia. Here’s a quick run down of of our Top Five: Bando Thaing– Myanmar Traditional art inspired by the bull, eagle, cobra, panther and monkey. As with Kung […]
We love a good festival and they don’t come much better than Glastonbury. Whether raining or sunny it’s a guaranteed good time for all. We’ve put together a list of essentials for Glastonbury just for you, to make the weekend even better! 1. Stay hydrated Our friends at Aquapax provide exceptional quality drinking water in […]
In March, we took a break from sourcing new products in Vietnam to visit the Cham temple complex of My Son. Jumped on our motorbike at 4am and drove the 40km to get there from Hoi An as they were opening. Made it in time to beat the tourist herds and were rewarded with breathtaking […]
When the Malik family first discovered Shangri-La in Yunnan Province, China they were astonished by the beautiful scenery, pristine air and bountiful valleys, with surrounding snow-capped mountains. Shangri-La was a heavenly place, bursting with wild flowers in bloom, bees, butterflies and crystal blue skies with pure white clouds. The Malik children; sisters Sahra (a graphic […]
During our trip to PuErh with the T-project, we were fortunate to have lunch with YeYi a Wa woman who was at the vanguard of local people wanting to improve their situation through tea farming. She was a very kind, cheerful and generous host and we would happily have stayed longer if we could. What […]
A Thangka is an extremely intricate and highly detailed hand painted image from Tibet, taking anywhere between a few months to several years to complete due to the minute detail and complex layout. While some Thangkas may cover themes of history, society, astronomy and medicine, by far the majority cover religious themes. As with much Buddhist […]
We have talked before of Yunnan’s unique position within China geographically and culturally. These factors combine to create a diverse cuisine which brings together the tastes and ingredients of the surrounding provinces and countries. Around Shangri La (Zhongdian) To the North of Yunnan is Tibet and the Tibetan plateau from where the Khampa Tibetans of […]
The Tibetan, Miao and Bai people of Yunnan Province Yunnan is unique in China, historically remote from the Chinese Empire and home to 24 ethnic minorities. Bordering Tibet, Myanmar, Burma, Laos and Vietnam, as well as the rest of mainland China through Sichaun, Ghuizhou and Guanxi, its culture today is influenced by neighbours both foreign […]