Posts
Xiaomi, However You Pronounce It
I’ve been rooting for Xiaomi since I was a lad. Went for a wander round the shops. …
And What About the Water?
The grass is always greener, and the water always softer, wherever you happen not to be. …
The Village of Nanchong
Last year the New Year spawning took place in the quiet little village of Nantong. This …
Same Again?
Stand down the panic. A scientific paper has been published that is inextricably linked to …
Echoes of Mexico
For the second time in my life I’ve been hit by fraud on a physical card. The first …
Cans Film Festival
I’m putting a documentary into production: “Cans with Wings”. Pitching …
Bottle Opener, RIP
Grounded until 8 January in the sleepy hamlet of Nanchong (population: a mere couple of …
Skip vs Split
Everybody knows about skiplagging. Half of everybody has heard of splitporting. A live …
She Sells Revolut Shells by the Swedish Shore
While Nik is busy doing interviews, Klarna is cosplaying Revolut down to the last …
The French Connection
The number of eSIMs and the variety of plans out there is dizzying. One could, of course, …
Manc
This morning I was leafing through The Times. My guilty pleasure. Apparently …
Pastel de Nata
Overslept breakfast. Went to the shop instead. Spent ages choosing milk. Settled on the …
Spawning Season
Just as migrating birds fly south, December is when the status chaser starts to spawn. …
Miles, Smiles and Monkey Business
While I wage an unequal battle with Rove’s legal department over 32,692 miles at a …
Hyatt on the Bund
A famous hotel. Cult, even. On paper it sits in the Grand Hyatt portfolio, but it markets …
China: A Note to Self, 2026
Writing this for myself. Fill in the arrival card before departure …
CORRECTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS
We regret to inform readers that an error crept into our article on room rates at …
D-Day: Wish You Weren't Here
There’s no such thing as loneliness in a hostel — it gets split eight ways, along …
Uber Shuttle
It seems Uber has worked out that I’m no longer living it large. Perhaps it was the …
Hyatt House Mexico City / Santa Fe
I stayed here two years ago. Last time they upgraded me to a room with a balcony, clouds, …