Knee How? The further misadventures of a globe-trotting Singaporean

Book excerpt: Rodney Ee launched his first book of travel anecdotes in 2013 after collecting stories and travel experiences over many years of globe-trotting. The world has changed a lot since then: The advent of 4G and the abundance of free WIFI have created a culture of instant gratification on Social Media. Furthermore, before the Covid-19 pandemic struck and completely altered global tourism, travel had never been easier with the proliferation of budget airlines and handy navigational apps. In the past, Asian travellers with “yellow” skin (Chinese, Japanese, Korean and others) were sometimes collectively treated with disdain and subject to racial slurs in some countries. Fast forward to the present, and almost a fifth of all tourism spending is attributed to Chinese travellers, who are now warmly welcomed and targeted by many merchants and tourism authorities around the world. The Chinese diaspora has also emigrated to almost all corners of the world, and as an Asian traveller it is common to hear foreigners try to catch your attention by calling out “Knee How, Knee How” everywhere you travel. Covering all kinds of travel experiences from bull-fights and safaris to unique spa sessions and fiery festivals, this collection of 20 pieces are mostly drawn from Rodney’s further travels since his last book, and reflect his keen observation of human nature and his ability to spin stories that are both humorous and entertaining.