☀️Good morning, explorers!

New Year, new rules?

Zhong Wenyu, a grandmother from Shanghai, says no thanks.

At 100 years old, she is living proof that the secret to longevity isn’t discipline, it’s curiosity, joy, and above all, food. With no teeth but an unstoppable appetite, her wildly popular food videos capture a life lived in full flavour.

Across Asia, living well has never been about cutting things out. It’s about adding things in: bone broths for strong joints, vitamin-packed vegetables to boost immunity, and fermented foods to support digestion and gut health.

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Kimchi simply means “fermented vegetables”, and while napa cabbage steals the spotlight today, traditional kimchi can be made from radish, cucumber, garlic shoots, mustard greens, and even chili peppers.

Over 2,000 years ago, Koreans started fermenting vegetables to survive harsh winters. Salt, garlic, chili, and other seasonings joined the party over time, creating the tangy, complex, sometimes-spicy flavours we can’t get enough of today. By the 19th century, kimchi had cemented its place at every Korean table, symbolising family, tradition, and national pride.

Why Koreans can’t get enough of it:

In Seoul, kimchi has outgrown its side-dish status. It’s a flavour star now, popping up everywhere from convenience stores to fine dining.

Our must-try kimchi dishes:

🍲 Kimchi Jjigae at Kimbuksoon Keun Nambijip: The ultimate comfort stew — spicy, tangy, bubbling with tender pork and perfectly aged kimchi.

🥞 Cheesy Kimchi Jeon at Mokmyeoksanbang: A Seoul favourite — crispy on the outside, soft and gooey inside.

🥟 Kimchi Mandu at Gamegol Mandu: A street food staple — fluffy dough, juicy filling, and a hint of kimchi that keeps things bright and savoury.

🇹🇼 Taipei: Stinky tofu may announce itself from a distance, but one bite of its crisp, slow-fermented goodness explains why it is the city’s most beloved street snacks.

🇮🇩 Jakarta: Tempeh, made from fermented soybeans pressed into firm cakes, is a protein-rich everyday essential. Nutty, hearty, and so ahead of its time.

🇯🇵 Tokyo: Fermented soybeans known as natto are a breakfast staple. Stinky, slimy, and unapologetically pungent, they’re prized for supporting digestion and longevity.

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Fermentation is an art in Taipei, and no one masters it like Wu Hsu Pi-Ying.

🌟 Why she stands out:

At her iconic Xinyi District eatery, House of Stink 戴記臭豆腐專賣店, she has transformed stinky tofu from a street-food staple to a culinary obsession. Her tofu is fermented with herbs and vegetables for months, producing bold funk, rich umami, and varying levels of pungency.

What to try:

Seoul is a city of contrasts: Neon-lit towers next to centuries-old palaces, buzzing street markets next to serene hanok alleys. We love slipping off the main paths to hidden tea houses, secret corners, and tiny foodie gems.

Tucked away in Bukchon Hanok Village sits Rakkojae Seoul, a luxury hanok stay that feels like stepping into a living time capsule. The city’s energy couldn’t feel further away!

💸 Price check
From ₩350,000+ (~240 USD) per night. Not cheap, but worth the serenity.

Why we love it:

♨️ Private Ondol Rooms: Jade-heated floors, quiet corners, and a calm you didn’t know you were missing.

👘 Hanbok Experience: Choose from beautifully crafted traditional garments and stroll the hanok grounds in traditional Korean attire.

🍽️ Suunjapbang Heritage Dining: Inspired by Korea’s oldest cookbook, this elegant course meal is a refined journey through 500 years.

At Byeokje Galbi, Korean BBQ leaves everyday territory and enters heirloom status. This is Hanwoo beef at its most elite: exquisitely marbled cuts, grilled tableside over charcoal and seasoned so lightly that the beef does all the talking. Each bite is rich, buttery, and impossibly clean.

Jayeon Dameun Hwaro keeps Korean BBQ grounded yet unforgettable. Charcoal-grilled, juicy pork sizzles right at your table, wrapped in crisp lettuce and paired with a garlicky sauce, pickled sides, and a cold beer or soju. It’s smoky, fresh, so addictive, and the best price-value BBQ in Seoul.

Welcome to Nakameguro, Tokyo’s charming backstreets where canals, cherry trees, and quiet streets make every stroll a small discovery. When Anna lived in Japan, this was her favourite little escape from the neon chaos.

🛍 Boutique Find
Nakameguro Tsutaya Books is part bookstore, part lifestyle hub. From Japanese and international texts, stationery, accessories, reading corners, and regular pop-up exhibitions, this store is a true gem.

🧁 Specialty shop
Hidden under the railway tracks near Nakameguro Station, Hachi Go is a wonderland of Japanese-style fermented pickles, organic vegetables, and other eco-conscious products.

☕️ Sip Break
Nakameguro’s Starbucks Reserve Roastery is one of only six worldwide. This building combines a roasting factory, cocktail bar, tea floor, bakery cafe and an outdoor terrace with prime cherry blossom view.

Jakarta moves fast, but even amid the traffic, skyscrapers, and street food, there are plenty of ways to recharge, get moving, and feel your best.

🏃 Move & connect: Degen Run Club
Hit the streets of Kemang and join a 5K community run. Mixing sweat, smiles, and social energy, this is how Robert stayed fit and made new friends.

✂️ Refresh & reset: The Patriot
Classic barber meets modern cool. The Patriot is the address for expert cuts and smooth shaves, that leave you looking sharp and ready to take on the week.

☕️ Work & vibe: Anomali Coffee
Need a place to catch up on emails, read, or plan your week? Anomali Coffee in Menteng serves incredible Indonesian coffee in a calm, stylish setting.

✅ Boost your gut health and make Kimchi, Korean grandma style.
✅ Learn why Korea imports the majority of its Kimchi from China.
✅ Visit China’s Anhui province and try hairy tofu.
✅ Watch Anna’s 15 Top Eats in Seoul.
✅ Turn your travel and food adventures into mini-movies with CapCut.*

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Join the Bosingak Bell Ceremony and welcome 2026 like a local! At midnight on December 31, the giant bell rings 33 times, filling the night with cheers, laughter, and the thrill of a Seoul-style countdown.

This year, the celebration transforms into an interactive festival, where over 15,000 participants will take part in a spectacular “Pixmob” performance, with synchronized LED bracelets illuminating the night.

When: December 31, 2025, 11:00 pm–01:00 am
Where: Bosingak Belfry, Jongno-gu, Seoul

What else you can’t miss:

🌌 Cheonggyecheon Lantern Walk: The river sparkles with hundreds of glowing lanterns, perfect for an evening stroll.

🌅 Haneul Park Sunrise Festivals: Welcome 2026 with traditional performances, drum ceremonies, and the first sunrise of the year at this iconic viewpoint.

🎶 Philharmonic New Year’s Concert: Kick off the year in style with Gershwin, Schubert, and Respighi performed live at Lotte Concert Hall on January 9.

Serves: 2–3
⏱️ 35 minutes