Vijay Verghese
@vijayhk.bsky.social
Scribbler, strummer, uphill scrambler. The view from Hong Kong. My mag of 20 years, SmartTravelAsia.com
Gerrymandering by Democrats as a tit-for-tat to counter Texas Republicans will mean the unraveling of democracy (or representative govt). Electoral rigging needs to be fought at the legal and Constitutional level
August 5, 2025 at 1:22 AM
Gerrymandering by Democrats as a tit-for-tat to counter Texas Republicans will mean the unraveling of democracy (or representative govt). Electoral rigging needs to be fought at the legal and Constitutional level
Bali serenity up in the cool Ubud hills. These are places to restore the spirit, drain the wallet, and remind us that peace and harmony are not just Woodstock ideals. They are quintessentially natural
June 6, 2025 at 11:02 PM
Bali serenity up in the cool Ubud hills. These are places to restore the spirit, drain the wallet, and remind us that peace and harmony are not just Woodstock ideals. They are quintessentially natural
The other side of Hong Kong
May 12, 2025 at 12:38 AM
The other side of Hong Kong
Opportunities now for the emergence of new regional trading and political blocs, an overhauled world order with a stronger South, and perhaps a restructured UN, but an increasingly isolated and marginalised USA. The UK might look at Brexit anew with the transatlantic special relationship torpedoed.
April 7, 2025 at 5:53 AM
Opportunities now for the emergence of new regional trading and political blocs, an overhauled world order with a stronger South, and perhaps a restructured UN, but an increasingly isolated and marginalised USA. The UK might look at Brexit anew with the transatlantic special relationship torpedoed.
Hotel sleep matters. Stars less so. And now the slugfest has reached your bedroom as hotels swap, sell beds, and add stars. Why travellers are seeing stars too www.smarttravelasia.com/check-in.htm
A no-holds-barred column by the Editor Vijay Verghese on lost travel causes from flight mysteries to hotel scams
A no-holds-barred column by the Editor on lost causes from flight mysteries to hotel scams.
www.smarttravelasia.com
February 26, 2025 at 12:46 AM
Hotel sleep matters. Stars less so. And now the slugfest has reached your bedroom as hotels swap, sell beds, and add stars. Why travellers are seeing stars too www.smarttravelasia.com/check-in.htm
Reposted by Vijay Verghese
When my class was elected in 2010, we cut congress’ own budget and our personal ones by about 10 percent.
This one should cut theirs by about 20, and each office should lay off a couple employees.
Same DOGE is requiring.
Make every
@gop
answer
This one should cut theirs by about 20, and each office should lay off a couple employees.
Same DOGE is requiring.
Make every
@gop
answer
February 18, 2025 at 12:32 PM
When my class was elected in 2010, we cut congress’ own budget and our personal ones by about 10 percent.
This one should cut theirs by about 20, and each office should lay off a couple employees.
Same DOGE is requiring.
Make every
@gop
answer
This one should cut theirs by about 20, and each office should lay off a couple employees.
Same DOGE is requiring.
Make every
@gop
answer
Reposted by Vijay Verghese
If you wanted to cut waste, fraud, and abuse, you would empower the inspectors general.
If you wanted more waste, fraud, and abuse, you would fire them.
If you wanted more waste, fraud, and abuse, you would fire them.
February 17, 2025 at 2:17 PM
If you wanted to cut waste, fraud, and abuse, you would empower the inspectors general.
If you wanted more waste, fraud, and abuse, you would fire them.
If you wanted more waste, fraud, and abuse, you would fire them.
Gaza, its economy, and democratic institutions, must be rebuilt with a massive infusion of aid and oversight (as with the Marshall Plan). But Palestinians cannot be exiled. This is absurd. Any stolen Gaza, however glitzy, will suffer revenge attacks on a Biblical scale. There will be no peace
February 5, 2025 at 11:31 AM
Gaza, its economy, and democratic institutions, must be rebuilt with a massive infusion of aid and oversight (as with the Marshall Plan). But Palestinians cannot be exiled. This is absurd. Any stolen Gaza, however glitzy, will suffer revenge attacks on a Biblical scale. There will be no peace
Hong Kong street scenes will get you in the moo-ed. #hongkong #streetart #travelphoto #travel #wanchai
February 3, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Hong Kong street scenes will get you in the moo-ed. #hongkong #streetart #travelphoto #travel #wanchai
February 1, 2025 at 2:15 AM
January 18, 2025 at 11:37 AM
Reposted by Vijay Verghese
#Januarty #ArtShare
Day 8| Tone
Vintage silk tie, lace upholstery trim and cotton. Please share. All of my work supports endangered animals. #craftivist #craftivism #embroidery #horse #fabriccollage #collage #horseart @bsky.art #art #quilt #fiberart #textileart #equineart #sew #quiltsky
Day 8| Tone
Vintage silk tie, lace upholstery trim and cotton. Please share. All of my work supports endangered animals. #craftivist #craftivism #embroidery #horse #fabriccollage #collage #horseart @bsky.art #art #quilt #fiberart #textileart #equineart #sew #quiltsky
January 8, 2025 at 12:01 PM
#Januarty #ArtShare
Day 8| Tone
Vintage silk tie, lace upholstery trim and cotton. Please share. All of my work supports endangered animals. #craftivist #craftivism #embroidery #horse #fabriccollage #collage #horseart @bsky.art #art #quilt #fiberart #textileart #equineart #sew #quiltsky
Day 8| Tone
Vintage silk tie, lace upholstery trim and cotton. Please share. All of my work supports endangered animals. #craftivist #craftivism #embroidery #horse #fabriccollage #collage #horseart @bsky.art #art #quilt #fiberart #textileart #equineart #sew #quiltsky
Quintessential Macau, a rich tapestry of history, from St Paul's facade to St Lazarus Sq, St Lawrence Church and flag festooned A Ma Temple
January 8, 2025 at 12:15 AM
Quintessential Macau, a rich tapestry of history, from St Paul's facade to St Lazarus Sq, St Lawrence Church and flag festooned A Ma Temple
Hong Kong borderlands beckon on a cool winter morning
January 4, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Hong Kong borderlands beckon on a cool winter morning
Boxing Day... Hong Kong. The other side of the city that never sleeps
December 26, 2024 at 12:20 PM
Boxing Day... Hong Kong. The other side of the city that never sleeps
Fani Willis's disqualification is entirely her own doing. There's no use pointing fingers or appealing. Trump's election interference case demanded the most circumspect and serious handling. The side romance undermined everything.
December 20, 2024 at 11:19 AM
Fani Willis's disqualification is entirely her own doing. There's no use pointing fingers or appealing. Trump's election interference case demanded the most circumspect and serious handling. The side romance undermined everything.
People watching during a revisit to Lau Sum Kee, Hong Kong's oldest surviving tiny sweaty wonton noodle dive that still presses the dough between bamboos - hard human labour for a divine slurp #hongkong #hkfood #hkfoodie #wonton #wontonnoodle #worldcuisine #food
December 14, 2024 at 12:55 PM
People watching during a revisit to Lau Sum Kee, Hong Kong's oldest surviving tiny sweaty wonton noodle dive that still presses the dough between bamboos - hard human labour for a divine slurp #hongkong #hkfood #hkfoodie #wonton #wontonnoodle #worldcuisine #food
Asia's most feisty golf courses from Kabul's oil-and-sand 'browns' to Japan's blazing fall colour fairways, Thailand, India, and even a few big swings in remote Indian Ocean boltholes #travel #golf #golfinasia #Asiagolf #sport #vacation www.smarttravelasia.com/golf.htm
Best golf in Asia from mountain courses to seaside roughs, Japan to Thailand, Vietnam and the Maldives
A detailed review of the best Asian golf courses and resorts, by Libby Peacock, and more from Smart Travel Asia and Dancing Wolf Media.
www.smarttravelasia.com
December 11, 2024 at 12:30 PM
Asia's most feisty golf courses from Kabul's oil-and-sand 'browns' to Japan's blazing fall colour fairways, Thailand, India, and even a few big swings in remote Indian Ocean boltholes #travel #golf #golfinasia #Asiagolf #sport #vacation www.smarttravelasia.com/golf.htm
Reposted by Vijay Verghese
Queen Elizabeth 'refused to allow Israeli officials inside Buckingham Palace' - https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/queen-elizabeth-refused-allow-israeli-officials-buckingham-palace-says-former-president
Queen Elizabeth 'refused to allow Israeli officials inside Buckingham Palace'
Former Israeli president Reuven Rivlin says late British monarch thought every Israeli was 'either a terrorist or a son of a terrorist'
www.middleeasteye.net
December 11, 2024 at 12:09 PM
Queen Elizabeth 'refused to allow Israeli officials inside Buckingham Palace' - https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/queen-elizabeth-refused-allow-israeli-officials-buckingham-palace-says-former-president
Reposted by Vijay Verghese
Donald Trump’s “Department of Government Efficiency,” led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, is promising $2 trillion in spending cuts—but with no real authority to act, it’s raising more questions than confidence. Today, The Big Picture explores this meme-inspired initiative and its glaring flaws.
Will Trump's 'Department Of Government Efficiency' Actually Accomplish Anything?
As Trump sets Musk and Ramaswamy up for failure, Democrats hope to call DOGE's bluff
thinkbigpicture.substack.com
December 10, 2024 at 11:20 PM
Donald Trump’s “Department of Government Efficiency,” led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, is promising $2 trillion in spending cuts—but with no real authority to act, it’s raising more questions than confidence. Today, The Big Picture explores this meme-inspired initiative and its glaring flaws.
Reposted by Vijay Verghese
AI-fuelled cloud storage boom threatens Irish climate targets, report warns
AI-fuelled cloud storage boom threatens Irish climate targets, report warns
Friends of the Earth calls on government to rein in growth of datacentres for fear they could increase fossil fuel use
Ireland has allowed itself to become a “data dumping ground” for big technology companies such as Amazon and Meta which are…
www.theguardian.com
December 10, 2024 at 1:58 PM
AI-fuelled cloud storage boom threatens Irish climate targets, report warns
This was 2017! Now there are opportunist Israeli 'buffer' zones in Gaza, Lebanon and even Syria. A criminal land grab no less. Settlers will then demand their own 'lebebsraum', a word we know too well. How did Israel go so wrong? #news #Syria #Israel #politics #Gaza
www.amnesty.org/en/latest/ca...
www.amnesty.org/en/latest/ca...
Israel's Occupation: 50 Years of Dispossession
Mass human rights violations during the 50-year occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip have devastated the lives of millions of Palestinians.
www.amnesty.org
December 10, 2024 at 1:21 PM
For eco-warriors, the truth about saving the planet and the 'greenwashing' trap - my newspaper column #travel #climatecrisis #ecowarrior #hotels #ecotourism #greenwashing www.bangkokpost.com/business/gen...
Is greenwashing taking travellers to the cleaners?
Every hotel wants you to save the planet. The messianic messages are everywhere -- on little tent cards on the desk, proud notices on the bathroom door, and in dolorous the-end-is-nigh letters from th...
www.bangkokpost.com
December 10, 2024 at 1:12 AM
For eco-warriors, the truth about saving the planet and the 'greenwashing' trap - my newspaper column #travel #climatecrisis #ecowarrior #hotels #ecotourism #greenwashing www.bangkokpost.com/business/gen...
