In the South Korean education system there is intense pressure for students to achieve. From around 4th grade in elementary school a child's learning future may well be mapped out. Competition to get into the 'best' middle or high school is intense, and by age fifteen a large percentage of Korean kids will have spent about two thirds (or more) of their waking hours working towards this goal.

82% of high school graduates will enter university, (source: Glutted with graduates), their final desti...

Publishing my first non fiction book a couple of months ago was a wonderful moment in my writing life.I believed in the story I was sharing, felt totally committed to the project and didn't have a moments doubt that this was going to be a great read.

That it is still selling steadily thrills me. I feel like a proud mother. I want to do it again but I'm having problems.

Even with several exciting options at various stages of development I can't seem to pull anything together. It makes me feel li...

I don't eat out very often here in South Korea, for various reasons.

Having spent the first two days of the trip at the aptly named Paradise Hotel in Colombo, Jane and I reluctantly packed our bags for phase 2. We were to meet our driver and set off on the long journey to Habarana, complete with hangovers from the Arrack cocktails of the night before!

Needless to say, much of that journey passed in a blur. We were blessed with a great driver of course, and a comfy ride.

The famed 'cultural triangle' area was really more about my friend than myself. Being plagued...