Posts about travel and traveling. Maybe to different places. Maybe the same place.
Sometimes you find an amazing travel experience through extensive research and planning. Other times, you just sort of randomly stumble on them. The second case happened to me when I randomly stumbled on Beihai Park in Beijing. It turned out to be one of the best random stumbles I’ve ever had.
Beihai Park: My New Favorite Green Blob Read Post »
Where can you find nature in a city of 20 million people? At first glance, Beijing seems like the last place you would look for natural beauty. Afterall, this sprawling megacity is famous for being crowded and polluted, especially after the “airpocalypse” of 2014. But, this city is full of surprises. Beijing has some gorgeous
Fragrant Hills Park: a New View of Beijing Read Post »
Sometimes the most peaceful places have histories full of war, embezzlement, and imperial collapse. How could on Earth could a green forested hill covered in classical Chinese architecture, surrounded by a placid lake have seen such turbulence? That’s the Summer Palace in Beijing for ya. Beijing’s Summer Palace doesn’t quite get as much hype as
The Summer Palace in Beijing: the World’s Nicest Birthday Gift Read Post »
Is there a location that says “iconic China” any more than the Great Wall? No other site is as wrapped up with Chinese national identity or foreigners’ expectations of the country. I’m happy to say that after almost three years, I’ve finally visited the Great Wall of China near Beijing. I can safely say it
The Great Wall of China is Actually Pretty Great Read Post »
Despite China’s best efforts, the dreaded Delta variant of COVID-19 recently slammed into the country with a vengeance. The total cases in the country are now sitting around 121,837. That may not sound like much compared to the United States or elsewhere, but it’s a lot for China. This is after administering nearly one and
How China’s COVID-19 Delta Variant Outbreak Ruined My Summer Vacation Read Post »
If you’re looking for an escape from Shanghai’s overwhelming glistening modernity, you could do a lot worse than Qiuxia Garden. The garden is located in the suburb of Jiading, about an hour cab ride away from the glittering steel towers downtown. The garden, and the surrounding old town, makes for an incredibly relaxing afternoon getaway.
Qiuxia Garden: An Ancient Chinese Garden in Shanghai’s Backyard Read Post »
2021 might be the best year to learn how to save money for travel. Who knows what will happen with the COVID-19 pandemic? There are signs that countries might start opening up. If not, well, we can always plan for the future, right? For those of you who are unemployed and suffering from pandemic induced
How to Save Money for Travel: A Guide for Working Class People Read Post »
Khao Sok National Park in southern Thailand might be one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been to. Imagine waking up in a floating bungalow and looking out over a mist-covered jungle lake. The otherworldly howls of the gibbons echo off rugged limestone cliffs that tower over the water. You breathe in a primordial
Khao Sok National Park Might be Thailand’s Best Park Read Post »
There isn’t much to Jinshan Fishing Village, or Jinshanzui, or 金山嘴渔村. However, it’s a nice place to spend an afternoon wandering around old narrow streets, soaking up some ancient Chinese architecture, and maybe buying some dried fish. Unfortunately, despite being a seaside fishing village, it isn’t the best place to see the ocean.
Jinshan Fishing Village: The Sea-Side Town with No Sea-Side Read Post »
The first question you may be asking yourself about the Shanghai Museum of Glass is why? Why would somebody go through all the trouble to make an entire museum devoted to a material we use so that we can look out our windows without having to breathe fresh air? It’s a fair question and one
The Shanghai Museum of Glass: Not a Good Place for Children Read Post »
