I blog therefore I am

SOMEWHERE OVER THE PACIFIC OCEAN--Appropriately, I'm writing my first blog entry from the bowels of a plane, en route to Asia. Welcome to OANHderlust.

I'm the Asia Correspondent for the San Jose Mercury News. My job is to explore the rich connections between Asia and the California Bay Area. I'm based in San Jose, but am hoping to get to Asia once a quarter. I'm on my first trip, to the Philippines and China.

Though I've written plenty of stories about blogging, this is my first blog. Why? Cuz I never thought I had much to say. But the more I think about it, I realize that my job affords me access most people don't get. In a day, I might be out in East San Jose talking to a paletero (Mexican ice cream vendor who walks the neighborhoods) about his undocumented status, then onto an interview with Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren and an event where Walden venture capitalist Lip-Bu Tan and I chat about his investments in China.

At OANHderlust, I take you along to explore with me. Though the blog has my name in it, it's not a blog about me, me, me--but the adventures, people and ideas I encounter. Let me take you places you've never been, real and in your head.