Raising kids the Japanese way

My impression of the Japanese, with my limited exposure to their people and culture, is that they are unfailingly polite, spotlessly clean and oh, so law-abiding. You would think that with an aging population, their kids would be coddled and pampered, but I found out is quite the opposite. Japanese children are encouraged from an early age to be independent and fend for themselves in every situation.

Travel smart

I know I seem to be talking a lot about travel lately, but that’s because my mind is preoccupied with planning a few trips towards the latter part of the year. I keep making notes to myself, reminding myself of the things I need to do, arrange or bring. In my mind, there’s nothing worse than being unprepared when embarking on a trip. And I’ve made enough mistakes to know what I need to plan for and what I could have done better. So here are some of my tips to travel smart.

I tweet, therefore I am?

We've quoted Descartes often enough, but perhaps we're doing a lot online that we're not even thinking really hard enough about. Younger folk might find it hard to imagine, but there was a time, not too long ago, when people didn't share their every waking moment with literally millions of complete strangers. Do I feel the need to post what I did at the gym, a new pair of shoes or every meal that comes my way in a restaurant, together with the ubiquitous pictures? To put out there in the cybersphere for all eternity?

OIl-free roasted nuts

I love nuts. All kinds of nuts, from almonds, walnuts and hazelnuts to even the simple peanut. Store- bought salted, roasted nuts are a favorite of mine, especially as a snack with a cold beer, but they can be expensive. So I've learned a way to make my own roasted nuts that's idiot-proof. The best thing about making it on my own is that I can add whatever seasoning I want to it.

Stay safe while traveling

As I'm writing this, Bangkok is reeling from a bomb attack at the Erawan shrine, killing 20 innocent people. Friends who were planning a trip there are now canceling their flight and hotel bookings. The truth is, anything can happen anywhere. Air crashes, earthquakes and terrorist attacks are sadly becoming more commonplace but it doesn't mean we should just stay at home. For New Yorkers in 2011, the most unimaginable horror happened right in their own backyard. As they say, if you stop traveling, the terrorists win.