Change Catalyst; passionate about culture and sustainability. — Life is much more complicated and interesting when you dig beneath the surface… and so are we humans. For example: I love change and variety but I also value some routine. I get bored easily but I like structure and a bit of discipline, to get things done. I love…

Exploring the world and feeling thankful — The Challenge Veronica Llorca-Smith’s Smiling World competition question, “About Gratitude”, made me think. What am I most grateful for? Love, Health, Family, Prosperity, Art, Nature, Life itself? Yes to all the above. But if I had to choose one thread that connects them all for me, it would be freedom…

Cambodian Psychedelic Rock — The first time I heard it, arriving in Cambodia’s capital in 2004, I was hooked. The sound of 1960s and early ‘70s Phnom Penh Crackling track; Tinny guitar; Full swing; Emotive interpretations; A mix of Western rock influences and Cambodian instruments and style. It’s unique, highly danceable and rocks hard…

Finally overcoming the curse of Colonel Sanders — The curse on Osaka’s Hanshin Tigers (阪神タイガース) baseball team has apparently just been lifted with their long-awaited win in the Japan Series. Maybe the Colonel forgave them at last. The Curse of the Colonel Fans and interested onlookers may remember the curse of Colonel Sanders or カーネルサンダースの呪い (Kāneru Sandāsu no…

But some of your choices might surprise you — A fleeting image I love doing psychological tests. Finding out what kind of team role I prefer, what my preferences are, top strengths, etc. But like anything else to do with us humans, it’s more complicated than that. …

As we all do, though some are more traumatic than others. — Rural beginnings Sambo the Elephant was born in the Cardamon mountains, Cambodia. She was caught on the tallest peak, Aural mountain, along with her siblings and trained for work. She grew up in Cambodia when it was known as “The Pearl of Asia”. She worked in the countryside during this…

Using technology to bring people closer — When you walk into Dawn Avatar Robot Cafe in Tokyo, a life size robot greets you at reception. And you notice slightly smaller avatars gliding smoothly around floor tracks, tending to the customers’ needs. It’s an impressive hi-tech welcome. …

You offer more than the sum of all your jobs — How many jobs have you had? What sort of things did you do and how did you feel about them? Motivation matters Perhaps some of them were all about the money, others about your passions and interests. Some did them out of necessity, others ambition, love, or curiosity. They might…

Fuel efficiency remains the path for energy sustainability — On my recent trip to Japan, I was struck by the number of small, cute vehicles. Mini motors have been popular for some time, but I noticed more than when I lived there in the 1990s. Almost every car I saw outside the capital seemed to be a “Kei” car…