The Culture Map
Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating that all peoples cry, laugh, eat, worry, and die, it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends.
Hello, welcome to my little corner of the metaverse!
My name is Shing and I live in London after growing up in Yorkshire.
Travelling has always been in my blood. Having an Irish mother and a Chinese father, I grew up learning about my heritage and relished in the diversity and differences between these two cultures.
As soon as I was able to work at sixteen, every penny I saved went towards travelling. I began by going on European train journeys and short escapes with my twin brother. Following this, at twenty-one I went to China to teach English. During this time I discovered how much I enjoyed solo travelling. Since those early days I have travelled to over 60 countries across six continents.
These days, I still love to travel, but I also prioritise other things in life and find a lot more value in things that are on my doorstep, especially in London.
Outside of travelling, I have a BA in Creative Writing and an MA in Human Rights and Social Justice. Most people choose a post-grad that’s related to their under-grad, but this might tell you something about my ever-evolving interests.
Thanks for tuning in,
Shing
What you can expect on my blog
I aim to showcase the inspiring diversity of our world
I write about the things that I believe make our world special and interesting. Topics range from the leg-rowing fishermen of Inle Lake to the stone-carved temples of Mamalluparum; from London’s literary landscapes to brutalist architecture in Paris; and from a cathedral built inside a mosque to a city that started life as a penal colony.
I also love being out in nature and I try to incorporate hiking into my trips wherever I am in the world. If you love nothing more than slipping into your hiking boots and setting off onto the trails, I have a section on my blog dedicating to hiking which I hope you will enjoy and draw inspiration from for your next adventure.
If you would like to contribute an article to feature on The Culture Map, feel free to contact me at: shing@theculturemap.com and I will get back to you.