Stories about East Asia from October, 2005
China: Am I A Journalist
EastSouthWestNorth asks: “Am I a journalist?” His answer: “If I wanted to become a traditional journalist, I would have become one. Instead, I became an independent blogger by my own choice because the freedom and style appeal to me.”
Myanmar: West is Wrong
“What we need is a more serious, thoughtful, creative and most importantly realistic method of assisting the blossoming of democracy” — Burma Watch.com agrees that the West's approach to Burma isn't working.
Philippines: Monster Ball
An aswang is an evil, flesh-eating creature in Filipino folklore. They are said to infest particular provinces in the Philippines, one of which is now hosting an aswang festival. Sassy Lawyer writes down her thoughts about the Catholic Church's opposition to the celebration.
South Korea: By-Election Report
Flying Yangban‘s Andy, guestblogging at The Marmot's Hole, looks at the result of the recent by-election.
Philippines: Technology Salaries
Pinoy.Tech.Blog and its readers react to data about information workers’ salaries in the U.S. with the observation that even technicians make 15-20 times more than a technician would be paid in the Philippines: “You can stop wondering about the rising trend in offshored operations.”
North Korea: Crop Failures
OneFreeKorea at North Korea zone has information from a Christian aid worker who is reporting widespread crop failures in the hermit state.
Singapore: Prepping Witnesses
Mr. Wang recalls his days prepping witnesses as a deputy public prosecutor in Singapore:
Vietnam: Construction
Virtual-Doug watches a house being built in Vietnam.
Images from Myanmar (Burma): Concentration?
‘concentration’ by awfulsara “A young monk by candlelight, brow furrowed in not quite peaceful contemplation.”
Indonesian blogosphere: Season of forgiveness, Indonesian poor and parliament member salary increase
Next week on Thursday, million of Indonesian are going to celebrate Eid ul-Fitr that mark the end of Ramadan, the month of fasting, this simply the biggest holiday in Indonesia the most populous Muslim country in the world.
China: Shanghai in Pajamas
A new blog has an unhealthy obsession: taking pictures of people wandering Shanghai in their pajamas.
Japan: Antique Show
Japundit has an article on Nandemo Kantedan, a 10-year-old TV show that, like the popular U.S. series Antiques Roadshow, values people's old junk and makes their wildest dreams come true.
Singapore: Blogger Pleads Guilty
Huichieh Loy of From a Singapore Angle reacts to the conviction of the third local blogger charged for making racist comments. Mr. Wang has information about the other players and mitigating factors in the case.
South Korea: Office Space
Working in Korea lists seven things he finds different about Korean workplaces.
Vietnam: In the Soup
On noodlepie‘s suggestion, soup-obsessed No Star Where tries Vietnam's famous noodle soup pho at a pho chain he derided as McPho and is pleasantly surprised.
Cambodian Blogger Little Sopha Learns How To Rock
Blogger Little Sopha with member of Michael Learns To Rock Band, in Russian Market, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. According Tharum the news that the touring schedule of a Danish rock band named Michael Learns To Rock, included a date in Phnom Penh, inspired "a wave of euphoria of younger generation...
China: Sprucing Up Blogs
Chinese blog service Bokee.com has launched a tour of campuses to teach students how to make more interesting blogs.
Hong Kong: BitTorrent Conviction
Chan Nai-Ming has the dubious distinction of being the first person convicted in Hong Kong for seeding films for BitTorrent P2P file-sharing. Chatter Garden has thoughts here and here.
Philippines: Political Ads
Manila streetwalker Carlos Celdran is stopped short by a set of billboards on a corner — all depicting heirs of famous political families using sex to hawk consumer goods.
South Korea: Historical Amnesia
At The Marmot's Hole, a lively discussion centering around U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton's comment that South Korea's move further away from U.S. interests reflects a “historical amnesia.”
Taiwan: Ally Lost
Coming Anarchy comments on Taiwan's latest diplomatic loss: Senegal now recognizes Beijing.
About our East Asia coverage
Oiwan Lam is the North East Asia editor. Email her story ideas or volunteer to write.
Nevin Thompson is the Japan editor. Email him story ideas or volunteer to write.
