Take a break from election news and consider this: Many men in China have an unfortunate habit of not standing close enough to the urinal. As a result, the government has launched a campaign called “Step Forward For Civilization” and you will find these signs above many urinals. The overall feel you are left with […]
FRANNY AND FINN PRESENT THE FORBIDDEN CITY
Your two young guides take you on a private tour of one of the world’s most legendary landmarks.
BEIJING’S 798 ART ZONE
When we imagined Beijing, the words that jumped to mind were Power, Government, Olympics, Traffic. The last thing we thought about was Art. But on the outskirts of the city, beyond the fifth outer ring, not too far from the airport, something exciting is happening. In a district that was nothing but abandoned warehouses ten […]
OBLIGATORY STATE-SANCTIONED VIDEO ABOUT THE GREAT WALL
It is a strict requirement of all filmmaking families traveling around the world to deliver a short film about the Great Wall of China. We frankly had no choice. Please enjoy.
FINN PULP FICTION
If you only watch one video of a nine-year old performing both parts of a classic scene from Pulp Fiction, this should be the one. As we are about to emerge from our time in China, we offer this tidbit for your viewing pleasure:
AN ARTIST IN KYOTO
Never have we witnessed more love and attention put into a single cup of coffee. Twenty-five years ago, Ishihara transformed his home into a small coffee shop on an unassuming block far off the beaten path in Kyoto. His clientele is almost one-hundred percent regulars. Six days a week, he makes between fifty and sixty […]
CHINA IN JAPAN
Our friend China, lead singer for Pink Martini, was on tour in Japan at the exact same time we were there. Happily, we got to hang out with her in Tokyo and Kyoto, and see her perform in Yokosuka. We came to the concert for China’s incredible voice, but we stayed for “The Handshake.” Check […]
EXPECTATION VS. REALITY: KYOTO
Welcome to what we intend to be a continuing series where we examine the collision between our expectations for someplace or something — and the hard truth of reality. In this case, we examine a townhouse or “machiya” we rented for six nights and seven days in Kyoto. Click here to see the listing we […]
FINN PRESENTS SENSŌ-JI TEMPLE
Speaking in Japanese (with handy subtitles), Finn takes you on a brief tour of Sensō-Ji, an ancient Buddhist temple located in Asakusa, Tokyo. This is Tokyo’s oldest temple, and one of its most well-known. Tourists from all over the world visit Sensō-Ji every year. On the day we were there, we counted eleven different field trips of […]
SHIBUYA CROSSING!
Everybody’s favorite game show at Tokyo’s busiest intersection! Now you can play along! (TIP: Put on your glasses, play video full-screen, and focus, focus, focus!)