japan/china 2019
On my second visit to Asia, I got to visit two countries: Japan and China. Ben’s Grandpa still lives in China – Shaoxing to be exact. So when his family decided to visit, I tagged along. Any trip to anywhere in Asia from NYC warrants at least two weeks, since it’s such a long flight.…
10 foods you should say, “ni hao” to in china
I wish I got the chance to try a lot more food but unfortunately, we were only in China for about five days. As with any country, China has its regional cuisines (I highly recommend watching, “Flavorful Origins” on Netflix to learn more about Chaoshan and Yunnan cuisines). Being that China is one of the…
6 things i learned in the 5 days i spent in china
Credit cards (and cash) are not widely accepted. Not even McDonald’s in the Shanghai train station accepted credit cards. The main form of payment is via AliPay or WeChat app where it’s either linked to a credit card, or you pre-load money onto it and it works like a debit card. Weather at the end…
7 things you should know if you’re applying for a china visa
If you’re planning to visit China, you’ll need a Visa. There are different forms you can select from, depending on the reason for your visit and the length of your stay. Here are some things to keep in mind before you apply: Download and complete the correct form (typed, in caps) prior to your visit…
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18 things i learned in the 12 days i spent in thailand
April is the hottest month of the year. We went from 3/31 to 4/13 and there were days where it was uncomfortably hot, almost unbearable. We chose this month because of Songkran, so if you don’t mind missing this holiday, I’d recommend visiting during a different month. Chiang Mai is SIGNIFICANTLY cooler, since it’s up Read more
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street markets of thailand
If you’re going to Thailand, I’m sure your research has shown you that you should check out some of the markets they have to offer. The main staples are food and souvenirs – the bread and butter of all tourists. Here are some of the markets we got to visit in Bangkok, Phuket, and Chiang Read more
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what it’s like to celebrate songkran in bangkok
Songkran is the Thai new year, which is celebrated each year on April 13 – 15. Traditionally, people pour water on each other, which symbolizes the washing away of sins and bad luck. Today, this means taking to the streets with buckets and water guns to celebrate the holiday. I always wanted to experience this Read more
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thai cooking
I love cooking. I love Thai food. So it would only make sense for me to take a Thai cooking class while in Thailand. The company we booked it with was called Thai Akha Cooking School, in Chiang Mai. They’ll pick you up from your hotel, and the first stop is a local market, where Read more
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day trip to chiang rai
The only reason I wanted to visit Chiang Rai was to see the White Temple (Wat Rong Khun). Since we were already up north in Chiang Mai, we figured that we might as well do a day tour (and by we, I mean me since I’m the planner of the trip). This was a mistake Read more
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what it’s like to pet/feed/bathe an elephant
Elephants are almost synonymous with Thailand, and there are two types of tourists: the ones who ride them, and the ones that don’t. I’m not judging the people who ride them, because I was probably leaning towards that at one point in my life. But as I did more research, I discovered that the elephants Read more
how to be a traveler 