Cherry Blossom Footsteps content
What I love about Japan
Everybody I know who’s been to Japan say they love it. There’s a great deal to love. Everyone who’s yet to get there say it’s at the top of their wish-list. Japan is like no other country. It’s a modern society, with a strong regard for history, a love of simplicity and a keen appreciation…
Read MoreWhat I love about Macau
I have a particular fondness for Macau. It’s the distinctive combination of Macanese, Chinese and Portuguese influence. It’s also the peaceful way it seems to approach life. Hong Kong can be a hectic place, so a short ferry ride to the former Portuguese colony can be a refreshing respite. Macau is most known for its…
Read MoreWhat I love about Hong Kong
Hong Kong. The harbour is indisputably the essence of the city. The whole place has an undeniable energy about it – with the liveliness of both Hong Kong Island and Kowloon Peninsula balanced by the waters of Victoria Harbour. I’ve been to Hong Kong three times in the past twenty years and each visit has…
Read MoreThe Value of Tea
I was a relatively late convert to tea. I used to prefer coffee and I think my mum, as a dedicated tea-drinker, felt she’d failed in my upbringing. But I redeemed myself when I saw the light and switched from beans to leaves. Tea features in my novel Cherry Blossom Footsteps. Set in Japan and…
Read More1960s music from the Kyoto retro nightclub
In Cherry Blossom Footsteps, Lauren and her travel mates go to a retro nightclub. I’ve made a YouTube playlist of songs and dance videos from Lauren’s last night in Kyoto. 1960s pop songs Of course, I chose all songs and artists that I like: These Boots are Made for Walkin’, by Nancy Sinatra. Great clip…
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