Oxford is first and foremost a student town. It beams with a (sometimes not so) quiet, omnipresent aura of academic quality, and unfaltering (self-)importance. Radcliffe Camera, probably the most widely known building in Oxford, certainly has an attraction that goes beyond being a tourist magnet. Once home to the Science Library, it now houses additional reading rooms of the Bodleian Library, … Continue reading
Tea is a simple thing really. Add hot water to dried leaves, let it steep for a while and there you have it. Yet independent cultures have built ceremonies and occupations around the idea and practice of consuming said refreshment, countries fought wars over it, and transporting it helped establish important and coveted positions among trading nations. Therefore it’s … Continue reading
‘It’s not surprising that to this day in certain countries, not liking tea is viewed not only uncanny but downright insulting. Even if nobody would say anything of the sort, the unsettling silence that follows your statement of “I’m not much of a tea person” or the clearly failed pun of “It’s not my cup of tea, … Continue reading
“But I don’t want to go among mad people,” Alice remarked. “Oh, you can’t help that,” said the Cat: “we’re all mad here. I’m mad. You’re mad.” “How do you know I’m mad?” said Alice. “You must be,” said the Cat, “or you wouldn’t have come here.” ― Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland And indeed … Continue reading
Are you intrigued by Japanese food but unsure if sushi is really for you? Okonomi-yaki may be just the thing for you, as it uses ingredients that are also known and widely used in Western cooking. What is okonomi-yaki, you ask? It’s a Japanese savoury dish, often compared to an omelette or a pancake, whose origins date back to … Continue reading
Postcards from the Country 