The Vietnamese / American war occurred when all the might and firepower of the west went up against a cluster of farmers with hoes. And lost.
Read MoreTailor, tailor
Poverty-reduction campaigner, Clint Borgen once said, "When overseas, you learn more about your own country, than you do the place you're visiting."
I realised he was right the first time I was gathered into a bear hug in America by a near-stranger who did not seem to be after my wallet.
Read MoreBobbing up and down
Nestled amongst the limestone protrusions in northern Vietnam's Halong Bay are people living in floating houses.
Read MoreVisiting hours for the deceased
On reflection, not stuffing the Queen Mother was a missed opportunity.
Read MoreWater Puppetry
A traditional Vietnamese art is to combine the movies 'Psycho' and 'Child's Play' and produce a show known as ... water puppetry.
Read MoreMolesting healings
It wasn't until I was face down on the table having my bare buttocks spanked, that I wondered if my request for a head and shoulder massage had been misunderstood.
Read MoreImmaculate flying
Conversing in Japanese is like being a dog.
Read MoreProfessors do not eat guava
I have concluded that I am either part of a sociological experiment or I am doing my job really really wrong.
Read MoreI pretend to be an American
Standing in the immigration line for US citizens while clutching one of her Majesty's finest red passports did not seem the wisest of moves.
Read MoreI sit beside 36 Kinder Surprise eggs
"We recommend all passengers use the restroom before boarding."
The last time someone had suggested this to me, I was out of nappies sufficiently recently not to be trusted on car journeys lasting more than 15 minutes.
Read MoreSuperhero special
I fail all Japanese tests ever
It was not a good week for language learning.
By which I mean that if my linguistic ability was the average for mankind, the wheel would have been invented 7,000 times since nobody would have been able to share their discovery.
Read MoreAmerica is mean to me
I had been having a great evening right until the point where a guy decided to hang onto the outside of my subway car.
Read MoreAllowing time for prison
I looked down at my 'US Customs & Border Protection' form: it didn't look good.
Read MoreThere are fireworks and I lose all personal space
It was when I found myself clamped between two pairs of taut buttocks that it occurred to me this evening could have benefitted from more planning.
Read MoreBeautiful intelligence?
As I walked through Hokkaido University campus this morning, my peaceful reflections were brought to a screaming halt by the site of one gigantic poster.
Read MoreI pay in blood for family planning
Despite appreciating the obvious medical reasons behind this, there is something decidedly odd about sitting in a room full of pregnant women, waiting for a prescription for birth control.
Read MoreKeep calm and keep your clothes on
I had just begun to give my lecture (Waves & Fluids: a masterfully prepared presentation) when I felt something hit my skin just inside the neck of my top.
Read MoreI lock myself out of my apartment
Nothing really gets you out of bed faster than your cat leaving skid marks on your sheets.
Read MoreWould you like to know the truth?
One the way back from lunch, I was accosted by a crazed religious cult.
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