It’s time once again to showcase some of our favorite travel posts and articles over the last few weeks. If you’re looking for some crazy stories, interesting photos, and travel inspiration, look no further! (And check out the videos at the end, too.) (more…)
Posts Tagged ‘china’
Four Star Toilets
Thursday, August 4th, 2011As we walked through the Temple of Heaven park in Beijing, we realized that we had to do what everyone eventually must do: use the toilet. After roaming through the stunningly beautiful temples and immaculate gardens, we realized that it had, well, been awhile since the last time. You know how it goes….
As public toilets in China are quite prevalent (thank God!), we quickly found one in the middle of the park. Upon entering, we were greeted with a large sign that informed us that this particular toilet facility had received a four star rating from the Beijing Tourism Administration! “This is amazing!” We thought to ourselves. So far on our trip to China, we had experienced a variety of toilet situations, and were very relieved to see this sign. As you can see from the photo, there was even toilet paper! However, the toilet paper was not actually in the toilet stalls, but instead mounted on the wall by the front door under the four star rating sign. (more…)
Photo Friday: Beijing
Friday, July 29th, 2011Beijing is a masterpiece of human culture. We spent about two weeks in the city, fell in love with it, and watched the old mix with the new. Residents bike up and down the hutong alleyways while new cars zip along the wide boulevards past rising skyscrapers. We’ve all heard that China is growing at a phenomenal pace, but you have to see it in person to fully understand the transformation.
Here are some photos from our recent travels in this amazing city: (more…)
Photo Friday: Pingyao, China
Saturday, June 18th, 2011So technically it’s Saturday, but we’ve finally made it to Mongolia and we don’t even know what day of the week it is anymore. Here are a few photos of our most recent location in Pingyao, China. It’s truly an old and fascinating town, so check it out if you happen to be in the area. (more…)
Travel Tips for China
Friday, June 10th, 2011After a few weeks in China, we’ve learned a great deal about this amazing country. Here are a few tips for navigating this behemoth of a nation with so much to see and do. (more…)
China on the Cheap
Tuesday, June 7th, 2011We arrived in China almost two weeks ago. The country has made a good impression so far. This is actually our second trip to China, our first being five years ago to the southern part of China (from Hong Kong to the Yunnan). After five years, this behemoth of a country is advancing in leaps and bounds. Economic growth can be witnessed everywhere. At the same time, ancient culture and personal experiences await around every corner.
After arriving in Beijing late in the evening, we found our hotel down one of Beijing’s many Hutong alleyways. These microcosms of Chinese culture, where locals live in close proximity to one another and share a tight-knit neighborhood, are slowly being torn apart and replaced with towering skyscrapers. While this is controversial, it adds to the dynamic and diverse nature of the city. Beijing as a whole is impressive. It’s huge and modern in some parts, but ancient and cultural in others. We visited Beihai park, where crowds perform Tai Chi in unison along the shore of an ancient lake with a modern skyline as a backdrop. (more…)
Photos from China
Saturday, June 4th, 2011So far on our trip to China and Mongolia, we’ve been to Beijing, Mount Huangshan, and some small Houzhou villages. Here are a few photos to tempt you until we can post more stories of our adventure. (more…)
China: Our Packing List
Sunday, May 29th, 2011Now that we’re about one week into our trip to China and Mongolia, we’ve ventured beyond Beijing, our first destination. For this two month trip, we’ve packed as lightly as possible. Instead of each of us taking our normal packs (around 80 liters in size) and also carrying additional smaller packs, we’re only carrying one medium sized pack (about 35 liters) and smaller backpacks. Also, one of the smaller bags is a camera/laptop bag.
We decided to pack light after our experiences with previous long-term trips. While living out of a suitcase (or backpack) gets old, so does carrying a heavy load. We learned what we can and can’t live without, and have adjusted accordingly. We’re also not going anywhere with drastic weather changes, and that makes it a lot easier to cut stuff out. (more…)
Jet Lag: How To Get Over It
Monday, May 9th, 2011In a few weeks we will begin our trip to China and Mongolia by suffering through a 14 hour flight from Atlanta to Tokyo. As much as we are looking forward to this grand adventure, we’re really dreading the long flight. Sometimes the worst part is having a layover in an unfamiliar airport between two long flights (Tokyo, in our case). You’re exhausted and just want to sleep, but all you can do is sit and wait, trying to keep yourself awake. Finally, once you arrive at your destination, you want to have the energy to explore your new surroundings. However, your internal clock will soon overcome any adrenaline rush, forcing you to retire to your new hotel.
Yes, jet lag really sucks.
Some say that it takes an entire day to adjust for each timezone that you cross on your flight. That could be up to 12 days if you’re traveling to the opposite side of the world. Who has time for that? It’s different for everyone, though, as some adjust faster than others. Younger travelers, or those that exercise often, are said to adjust faster. (more…)
Playing the Airfare Game
Sunday, April 10th, 2011The other day, we finally purchased our plane tickets for our trip to China and Mongolia. We’ve been planning this trip for a while, but recent life events led us to actually settle on some specific dates for our trip. However, like any good traveler (and anyone who wants to save money), we’ve been monitoring the prices of tickets for quite some time in hopes to get the best bang for our buck. This ended up being a waste of time, because on many of the popular airline booking sites, the price they give you when you’re about to buy a ticket can be much different than the price you’re shown at the beginning of the process.
Let the following story be a warning to anyone trying to play this game.
(more…)
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