Samantha Leese

Samantha is a journalist and author based in Hong Kong. Focusing on travel, arts and culture, her articles have been published by titles such as Condé Nast Traveller, Artforum, The Spectator and Time. Educated at Stanford University and The London School of Journalism, she has also lived in Paris, New Orleans and Singapore.

Top travel memory: "It was a very cold day in Kawasaki, Japan and some plans had fallen through. My sister and I ducked inside a tavern to get out of the rain. We ended up staying for hours, sharing food, drinks and stories with a great assortment of people, from off-duty bus drivers to US Marines on R&R from Okinawa, as well as some friends who joined us from Tokyo. It was one of those wonderful, authentic moments in travel that can’t be scripted."