While the nation's people and history are a marvel, it is not too hard to notice the underclass powering the Lion City's lifestyle and development. just look at that dynamic development My long running perception of Singapore was shaped in my youth by its curiously barbaric portrayal in Pirates of the Caribbean, but much of the world probably reflects on it more through its majestic skyline and overwhelming opulence depicted in the likes of Crazy Rich Asians. Yes, this is a w

Hello to a country unstably oscillating between a diverse urban abundance and majoritarian machine-style reparations Urban KL: A view so nice I almost forgot I just sprayed the goddamn bidet EVERYWHERE Out of any city I visited, Kuala Lumpur may have been my favorite . A relatively walkable urban oasis with affordable dining and shopping, it felt like a Tokyo on clearance. But WAIT! The people here all have different skin colors too, a reflection of Chinese and Indian migrati

We know I'm a hater, but boy do I hate Thailand Bangkok: The water isn't the only thing that's murky... Contrary to the prior (and further critically acclaimed) two seasons, the White Lotus Season Three, based in Thailand, seemed to make up for its lack of storytelling and award-buzz via an infectious meme campaign and internet exposure that I can only compare to the second season of Euphoria. Generic as this location may be in terms of enticing the global elite, I quickly le

The descendants of the Khmer Empire finally find itself in a state of growth, albeit at stronger powers' beckoning Look at All That Glitz: you're not gonna believe it, but that growth isn't exactly equal... Why is Phnom Penh? Cambodia's capital city is weird. It's part administrative capital, part royal revelry (NO that's not Queen Elizabeth), part Chinese Casino, part tourist haven, and part poverty (obviously). That it can be all of this at around 2.4 million people is all

Modern Vietnam is (mostly) a case-study in development because its ideology stays just that, while its policy remains dynamic - for now...

Cloudy in Taipei: Perhaps more than just a weather phenomenon... Taiwan is weird . Many will consider it a part of East Asia; it certainly is in terms of per-capita income. Yet its culture's lack of public-facing cleanliness feels very Southeast Asian, if not just American. And the weather is certainly more in line with those to its West than either Japan or Korea. This was my first locale in the continent where the sun boiled, to the point where I almost fainted in Kaohsiung

One of the World's Greatest Development Successes Still Faces a Stark Regionalism (and NO, not the one you are thinking of!) City of...

Urban Japan: Not quite like the anime but still... The Land of the Rising Sun is notoriously secluded, a geographic advantage superior...

Canadians prove their federal electoral system is an accurate reflection of public opinion...at least, for now Mark Carney: Two Central...

A completely proportional representative democracy is an oxymoron and most countries utilizing it prove as much The Israeli Electoral...

Johannesburg, South Africa: Look Far Enough Away, And It's Great As I enjoy exploring the historical nuances of progress (read: I am an...

A meditation on one of the most unique places in FLORIDA...which is already saying something Downtown Miami: nice groove if you can...

The coup attempt in South Korea is not nearly as egregious when you pet it in context with Korean History.... and Asian History... AND...

There is always a stomach-dropping mix of glitz and glamour among the upper echelon of any developing country . In Guatemala City, more...

Throughout my journey (and certainly back in the U.S.), Salvadorans and their compatriots made one thing abundantly clear: They are...

Ready for Post-Election Content? Me Neither; Let's Bathe in Travel Instead --- Given that The H, as it is nicknamed, was the poorest...

The entire month of June, I was blessed to travel throughout all of Central America (minus tiny Belize). In true global traveler fashion-...

NOTE: As of publishing, I acknowledge the impressive developments that Macron and his allies have accomplished in parliamentary votes....

Upon recent announcement of China's ambiguous growth target for the coming year, I figured it time to release the last of my LSE Essays...

Mindful of recent positive developments in Guatemala, as well as the exact opposite in Ecuador, it seemed a prudent time as ever to throw...