Street Food in Shenyang

Here is a video from my recent trip to Shenyang, China. Shenyang Street Food Is Nothing Like I Imagined #ChinaFood #Authentic #RealLifeI rode up on the high-speed train to renew my passport. It wasn’t expired, but my world travels filled it all the way up with stamps. I went and did the dress up at the Imperial Palace as well. What Happens When You Wear Manfu on the Streets of Shenyang?

Welcome to Brooke McKenzie Writes

This space is built around three ongoing themes in my life: reinvention, travel, and the craft of writing a memoir.

I’m Brooke McKenzie, a traveling teacher and writer currently documenting life through stories collected in motion—across China, across classrooms, and across the quieter internal landscapes that come with starting over, again and again.

This website is where I’ll be publishing reflective articles about travel, lived experience abroad, and the process of becoming a writer while still in the middle of the journey. Rather than presenting a finished version of life, this space is dedicated to the unfolding one—the moments of uncertainty, discovery, observation, and change that shape both writing and identity.

Here you’ll find essays and narrative reflections on:

• Travel experiences and cultural observation

• Life and work abroad

• Memoir writing and storytelling craft

• Personal reinvention and creative direction

• The everyday details that become meaningful over time

My intention is to create a body of work that blends travel writing with memoir—stories that don’t just describe places, but explore how those places reshape the person moving through them.

If you’d like to follow along more closely, you can join my mailing list here:
https://brookemckenziewrites.substack.com/?r=8hb9z9&utm_campaign=pub-share-checklist

For inquiries or collaboration:
brookemckenziewrites@hotmail.com

You can also find my video storytelling and travel narration on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@BrookeMcKenzieWrites

This is not a finished story. It’s an ongoing one—written in real time, as I learn how to tell it.

Vietnamese coffee is amazing

Vietnamese coffee is so delicious. First they have strong Vietnamese coffee, then sweetened condensed milk and ice. It is so amazing. One day I had 2 cups and couldn’t sleep at all, but it was worth it: The Unbelievable Vietnamese Coffee Experience

My ragdoll cat, Trout

Here is some info about my cat, Trout, who is a Ragdoll. He is filled with personality. Here is a video of him: How My Cat Became An Internet Sensation

One of my favorite desserts in China is tanghulu

Here is one example of the tanghulu vendor in Jinshitan: The Enigmatic Tanghulu Vendor of Jinshitan

Here is some fancy tanghulu on Bazaar street in Dalian: The Most Extravagant Tanghulu You Can Buy

Chinese has an interesting coffee culture

China often adds juice to coffee. One of my favorites is lemon coffee, that they often serve at KFC. It is lemon juice, a little bit of sugar syrup and ice. Here is orange coffee: Coffee and Juice: The Perfect Breakfast Pairing - YouTube

Here is my lovely classroom in China

Here is my classroom at Dalian American International School in Dalian, China, where I teach 12th grade American Literature, 9th grade Ancient Literature and grade 10-12 Journalism. Here is a video of my classroom without students: Inside China’s Incredible Classrooms

Here is my school campus in a couple of seasons: Dalian American International School is amazing in Dalian China

I ate thali Indian with my hands in Kerala

I tried Thali Indian food in Kerala where you eat with your hands. They put the dishes in a mound on a banana leaf. You are also given a tray with little bowls of sauce, and also tapioca. The drink is Sevenup. Then you use your hands to pick up the food and eat it. It can be messay and there must be some skill, but what an amazing experience. Here is a video: The Ultimate Indian Thali Food Challenge!

Traditional Indian villages in Kerala

On my visit to Kerala I was able to see some of the traditional Indian cultures living as they traditionally did. Here is a video from Weyanaud: Inside a Traditional Indian Village

Kerala nostalgia in the countryside

I went on a tour in the Wayanaud countryside of Kerala, India, and my amazing tour guide Sabu told us about growing up in Kerala and making toys out of natural materials. Here is the video: Wayanad's Ingenious Life Hacks

I saw amazing stupas in Kathmandu

These stupas are out of this world amazing, here is Buddah Stupa: Inside the Mysterious Stupa of Kathmandu

I made new friends in Nepal

I made some new friends in Nepal. I was actually waiting for my ride at the Changridiri Hills and this lovely group of women adopted me. They called my driver for me, and even took me to a restaurant where we had an amazing lunch. Here is the video: Making friends worldwide - new frirnds in Nepal💚

Blessing by Nepalese woman

One of my best memories was getting blessed by a Nepalese woman who put the sika on my forehead and sang to me while she did it. Here is the video: I Paid For A Blessing At A Nepalese Temple

I rang many prayer wheels in Nepal

Here is one at Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu: How Prayer Wheels Can Save Your Soul

Jazz cruise in Osaka

I took a wonderful and incredibly fun trip down the river in Osaka while listening to delightful jazz tunes. It was a wonderful afternoon. Here is a video:

The Most Unique Jazz Experience in Osaka

Street performers in Kyoto

This vendor, Motoyo was giving out 100s, if you liked his performance, you could give it to him, if you didn’t, you could keep the money. The money was actually great. Here is his video: Street Performers in Kyoto are out of HAND!

Here is one playing the guitar: Incredible Street Performer in Kyoto

Here is another by the river: The Enchanting Kyoto Street Performer by the River

The Incredible Street Performers of Dotonburi

Nishiki Market in Kyoto

Nishiki Market in Kyoto had amazing and delicious food, eats and many things to see as you walked along through.

Here is a vendor cutting this beautiful slab of meat into sashimi: The Mind-Blowing Sashimi Art of Nishiki Market

Here is a Turkish ice cream vendor in Japan! Why Turkish Ice Cream is Worth Traveling For

I visited the enchanting city of Dali China

I loved my visit to Dali China, there were amazing buildings, delicious eats and great adventures around the city.

Here I am trying Yunnan Bridge Noodles: Why This Rice Noodle is Worth the Trip to China

I visited an amazing city called Jianshui China

I loved visiting Jianshui, I was there for my Mandarin Language Class through Keats Mandarin School. Jianshui was so friendly and I made so many friends. Here are some videos about my city adventures.

I came across a repair man working on ancient guitars: Master craftsman repairing guitars by hand in Jianshui

Secret Street Food of Jianshui

Fresh Orange Juices in Jianshui: The Quest for the Perfect Glass

Jianshui’s Pomegranate Juices Are Out of This World

Xishuangbanna Night Market

I had several visits to the Xishuangbanna Night Market, which had so many amazing eats, interesting people and things to see.

Here is a coconut vendor. This guy took all of the shell off of the coconut and served it up as a little jelly like dessert: Xishuangbanna's Coconut Street Food is Out of This World

Inside the Most Unusual Night Market in Asia