As part of my plan to broaden the scope of this blog, I would like to conduct a series of interviews with other East Asia enthusiasts and language learners across the world. Interviewees will be sent a questionnaire by email, which can be filled in in their own time and will consist of questions about their academic and/or professional background, language studies and their areas of interest or expertise. I respect the need for privacy so I’d like to assure potential interviewees that they are free to write only what they are comfortable with sharing with other readers.

If you are interested in sharing your expertise and experiences with fellow readers, please let me know by replying to this post or sending me an email to eyeoneastasia_at_gmail_dot_com.

Full details of my 101 Challenge can be found here. It’s ambitious, to say the least, but what fun would a challenge be if it was easily achieved?

Before I sign off for the night, I want to wish all my readers in East Asia (and the rest of the world) a wonderful New Year.

祝大家新年快乐！龙年行大运，身体健康，万事如意!

• Aeri’s Kitchen - Aeri shares her recipe for sweet red bean bbang (단팥빵).
• Appetite for China - Diana compiles a list of her favourite Chinese New Year dishes.
• Bamboo Butterfly - Rhonda talks about her experiences of dating Taiwanese men.
• Beyond Kimchee - Holly shows you how to make Yangzhou-style fried rice (扬州炒饭).
• Confused Laowai - Niel shares his thoughts on a polyglot’s mission to become a fluent Mandarin speaker in just three months.
• Dale’s Korean Temple Adventure - Dale visits the Sujeongsa Temple (수정사) in Ulsan.
• Easy Korean Food - Luna shares her recipe for Korean rice cake soup (떡국).
• Frog in a Well : China – The author writes about the differences between the Chinese long (龙) and the Western dragons.
• Gyeongju Blog - Sherwin discovers a Youtube channel with dozens of videos on Korean cultural heritage sites.
• Haikugirl’s Japan - Alison’s top five things that she loves about winter in Japan.
• Hermitage Hideaways - Gregory posts a slideshow of photos taken at the Geumcheon Market (금천시장) in Seoul.
• Japan : Life & Religion - Doug talks about his recent visit to the Meiji Shrine (明治神宮) in Tokyo.
• Jay Dee in Japan - Jay Dee wonders if bloggers can also be authors.
• Jottings From the Granite Studio - Jeremiah gets ready to celebrate the Spring Festival (春节).
• Lingomi - Steven interviews Hugh Grigg, author of the blog East Asia Student.
• Living a Dream in China - Sara tries to determine how immersed she is in Chinese culture and language.
• My Kafkaesque Life - The author teaches readers some Chinese New Year sayings (in Mandarin and Taiwanese).
• Notes From Xi’an - Richard travels to his wife’s village for a pre-Spring Festival visit.
• Osaka Insider - Patrick announces to release of his new guidebook Osaka Insider : A Travel Guide for Osaka Prefecture.
• Out to Lunch - Carolyn shares her recipe for vegetarian dumplings.
• Roboseyo - Rob shares his thoughts on ddeok (떡), Korean rice cakes.
• ROK Drop - GI Korea reviews the Korean film Castaway on the Moon (김씨 표류기).
• Shards of China - Nicholas talks about one of his least favourite foods: the infamous stinky tofu (臭豆腐).
• Shizuoka Gourmet - The author shares a simple recipe for tasty tonkatsu (豚カツ) sauce.
• Shu Flies - Catherine visits the New Year market in Taipei’s Dihua Street (迪化街).
• Surviving in Japan - Ashley interviews Sam Baldwin, author of the book For Fukui’s Sake : Two Years in Rural Japan.
• Taiwan Duck – The author shares a recipe for a popular Chinese New Year treat : sweet rice cakes (年糕).
• Tigers & Magpies - Eddie writes about his visit to the Noseo-ri (너서리) and Nodong-ri ((노동리) tombs in Gyeongju last September.
• Tofugu - Hashi talks about umami (うま味), the savoury taste that gives many Japanese dishes their distinct flavour.
• TravelWireAsia - Chris gives some tips on how to survive the Korean noraebang (노래방), or karaoke hall.
• TsukuBlog - The author talks about the various lucky charms used by Japan’s entry exam takers.
• Webs of Significance - YTSL lists her top ten Hong Kong films of 2011.
• What Can I Do With a BA in Japanese Studies? - Rachel visits the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka (三鷹), Tokyo.
• Xinjiang : Far West China - Josh bemoans the destruction of Kashgar’s Old City.
• You’re Not From Around Here, Are You? - Steve writes about his recent trip to Lijiang ( 丽江).

That’s all for this week. The next Eye on East Asia Blog Round-up will be posted on Sunday 29th January 2012.

PS. Details of my new project will be posted on the blog tomorrow (23rd) so keep an eye out for that!

• AFP – China Offers Sri Lanka Help to Find Silk Route Wrecks
• Anhui News - Hefei to Build a Street for Cultural Heritage
• China Daily - 200 Square Metres of Frescoes Restored in Mogao Grottoes
• China Daily - Ancient Royal Ritual to be Reenacted
• China Daily - Chinese Paint the Town Red
• China Daily - Living in the Shadows
• China Daily - Relics from Yinxu Ruins on Display in Sichuan
• China Daily - Six-talent City of Confucius
• China.Org.Cn - The Ancient Bell Museum
• People’s Daily - Relics Shed Light on Human History
• Xinhua - Drunken Dragon Festival Exhibition Kicks Off in Macao
• Xinhua - Xixi Wetland Park in Hangzhou Earns AAAAA Status

Japan :

• Asahi Shimbun - Hiragana Letters on Earthenware Bring Back Memories of Heian Culture
• Daily Yomiuri - Japan’s Blue Pearl
• Mainichi Daily News - Oldest Hiragana Version of ‘Iroha’ Poem Found on Ancient Earthenware in Mie

Mongolia :

• BBC News – Life in Mongolia
• People’s Daily - Mongolian President Calls for Wider Use of Traditional Script
• UB Post - Creating Art with Woodblock

South Korea :

• Korea Herald - Professor Casts New Light on Seoul Fortress Wall
• Korea IT Times - More Temples to Welcome Foreign Visitors Year-round
• Korea Times - Art and History of ‘Hangwa’
• Korea Times - Ways to Enjoy Seollal with Family
• The Hankyoreh - Cultural Rites Provide Key to Understanding Ourselves
• The Hankyoreh - Leave Ancestral Rites Where They Belong – in the Past
• Yonhap News Agency - Government Pushes for Joint Exhibition of Joseon Annals with North Korea

Taiwan :

• Taiwan Today - Film Documents Atayal’s Yearning for Home

Tibet :

• Radio Free Asia - Tibetan Culture Remains Strong

Readers are more than welcome to “like” the page. Come and join in the discussion with your fellow East Asia enthusiasts.

• Aeri’s Kitchen - Aeri shares her recipe for red bean porridge, or patjuk (팥죽).
• Beyond Kimchee - Holly shows readers how to make their own savoury mung bean pancakes, or bindaetteok (빈대떡).
• ChinaB - The author responds to Jonathan Levine’s article “Go East, Young Man“.
• Dale’s Korean Temple Adventures - Dale visits the serene Geumgangam Hermitage (금강암) in Busan.
• Finding Fukuoka - Patrick lists his top ten Japanese character mascots (and his three least favourite).
• Fluent Flix - Alan posts a list of useful Chinese food vocabulary with a focus on Shanghai cuisine.
• Gyeongju Blog - Sherwin talks about the odd-looking wooden fish knocker at Bunhwangsa Temple (분황사).
• Haikugirl - Alison visits the “Manga at the British Museum” exhibition and shares her thoughts on the manga Professor Munakata’s British Museum Adventure.
• How to Japonese - Daniel gives a few examples of how one can use the phrase okagesama de (お陰様で) in everyday conversation.
• Kamigata Rakugo & Me - Matt has a fun day out at the Osaka Shitennôji Doya-doya (大阪四天王寺どやどや) festival.
• Ken Lee Writes - Ken tries some chicken sashimi (鳥わさ) and lives to tell the tale.
• Living a Dream in China - Sara sets her language learning goals for 2012.
• Mandarin Segments - Greg explains what he looks for when choosing a Chinese teacher.
• Out to Lunch - Carolyn shares her recipe for laba zhou (腊八粥), a thick, sweet porridge eaten in the twelve lunar month.
• Red Cook - Kian cooks up a Yunnanese -style abalone mushroom stir fry (九層塔炒杏鮑菇).
• Roboseyo - Rob talks about some of the challenges facing cyclists in Seoul.
• Seeing Red in China - Casey reviews Travis Lee’s book The Journey Through Nanking.
• Shards of China - Nicholas talks about his first encounter with chicken feet.
• Shu Flies - Catherine gives advice to those who may be suffering from depression and living abroad.
• Speaking of China - Jocelyn interviews Carolyn Phillips and learns how she charmed her Chinese family through food.
• Taiwan Xifu - Serina visits Chungtai Chan Monastery (中台禅寺) in central Taiwan.
• The Lobster Dance - Leah talks about her recent trip to snowy Shirakawa-go (白川郷).
• The Taiwan Adventure Blog - Chris posts some photos taken in colourful Kenting (墾丁).
• Tsuku Blog - Avi explains what happens at a dondoyaki (どんど焼き) bonfire ceremony.
• Wandering Taiwan - Micki and Kristen explore the Guanghe Temple (廣和宮) in Xinpu (新埔).
• Webs of Significance - YTSL lists her ten highlights of 2011.
• You’re Not From Around Here, Are You? - Steve goes on a walking tour of Chongqing (重庆).

That’s all for this week. The next blog round-up will be posted on Sunday 22nd January 2012.

• China Daily - Channeling the Flow
• China Daily –  Keeping the Wall Standing
• China Daily - Last Living Ancient Falconry Tribe in NE China
• China Daily - Paper Trail to Prosperity
• China.Org.Cn - Official: No Excavation Plans for Wu Zetian’s Tomb
• China.Org.Cn - Redevelopment Akin to Rewriting History
• CNN - Chinese Town Threatened By Modernization
• CRI English - New Head Appointed for China’s State Administration of Cultural Heritage
• CRI English - The Decline of Chinese Language Proficiency
• People’s Daily Online - Cao Cao Tomb Protection Proposal Under Discussion
• People’s Daily Online - China to Step Up Protection of Immovable Cultural Relics
• People’s Daily Online - New Palace Museum Head Named
• People’s Daily Online - Shandong to Renovate Oldest Section of Great Wall
• Xinhua - Grass Roots Enjoying Free Admission to Chinese Museums

Japan :

• Daily Yomiuri - Japanese Food Wins Over Foreign Epicures
• Japan Times - Nosing Around Nada, the Nation’s Sake-brewing Mecca
• Mainichi Daily News - ICOMOS President Calls Mt. Fuji a ‘Universally Recognized Cultural Symbol of Japan’

South Korea :

• Korea Times - New Book on Nation-branding Published
• Yonhap News Agency - South Korea Puts 9 Sites on UNESCO’s Temporary Heritage List

Taiwan :

• Taipei Times - Pillars of the Community
• Taiwan Today - Documentary Spotlights Efforts to Return Amis Lost Souls

So what do I have in mind? Well, the project will kick off as from January 23rd (if all goes to plan) so watch this space and you’ll soon find out what I have planned.  :)

• Aeri’s Kitchen - Aeri shares her recipe for oyster juk (굴 죽).
• Appetite for China - Diana cooks up some Chinese almond chicken.
• Beyond Kimchee – Holly takes a break from the kitchen and visits picturesque Chiang Mai, Thailand.
• Borrowed Culture - Fabrizio posts some beautiful photos of Lijiang (丽江) at night.
• Chris in Korea - Chris posts a list of things you should bring with you if you’re moving to South Korea.
• Dale’s Korean Temple Adventures - Dale talks about the Twelve Heavenly Generals found at many Korean Buddhist temples.
• Japan : Life & Religion - Doug explores Tokyo’s “Korea Town”.
• Japan Navigator - Ad reviews the 1960  film “When a Woman Ascends the Stairs” (女が階段を上る時).
• Lingomi - Steven sets his language learning goals for 2012.
• Living a Dream in China - Sara passes her HSK level 5 exam (congrats!)
• Mandarin Segments - Greg talks about an amusing incident involving his “sexy legs”.
• MattCha’s Blog - Matt talks about the tradition of Korean peasant teas.
• My Kafkaesque Life - The author celebrates the New Year in style near Taipei 101.
• Out to Lunch - Carolyn shows you how you can make your own Beijing-style smoked chicken (京式薰雞).
• Rory in Beijing - Rory wraps up his first semester at Beijing’s Tsinghua University.
• Shards of China - Nicholas shares his first impressions of Chengdu (成都).
• Speaking of China - Jocelyn wonders if her marriage has made her more superstitious.
• Taiwan Duck - Learn how to make Taiwanese steamed pork buns (台灣肉包子).
• The Lobster Dance - Leah visits the German Christmas market in Osaka.
• Tofugu - John gives a huge thumbs up to the J-drama “The Reason I Can’t Find My Love” (私が恋愛できない理由).
• Tokyo Five - The author writes about a post-New Year Japanese tradition, the lucky bag or fukubukuro (福袋).
• Writer. Traveller. Tea Drinker - Becky writes about her week in the Chinese countryside.

That’s all for this week. The next Eye on East Asia Blog Round-up will be posted on Sunday 15th January 2012.