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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8 foods you should say halló to in iceland
Fermented shark (hákarl)- although this might be the most disgusting thing I’ve ever eaten, it’s still worth trying, just to say you’ve tried fermented shark. Just to warn you: it does taste like how a toilet would smell. It is NOT pleasant, so make sure you have some sort of chaser to go with it. Read more
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8 things i learned from the 3.5 days i spent in reykjavik
Weather in January is BONE-CHILLING. I’m used to New York City winters, but probably have never really experienced anything colder than that. So think NYC winters x 10 + snow, all the time. Everything is expensive. If you’re planning on going out to dinner, expect to pay at least 40 USD for an entree. You Read more
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golden circle
The Golden Circle. One of the top tourist routes in Southern Iceland. My recommendation? Don’t go during the winter time and don’t join a tour. I went during the winter and it was just very snowy, and everything had a blanket of snow over it. It was difficult to see what the landscape actually looked Read more
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what it’s like to see the northern lights
Instagram: Waves of Nickelodeon slime green dancing lights, interspersed with soft whispers of Provence lavender-colored gleams. Reality: Freezing your snow boots off after you’ve accidentally stepped into a slope while in complete darkness, waiting for lights that may or may not appear, and then realizing that most of the photos you’ve seen online are probably Read more
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how to be a tourist in reykjavik
Climb Hallgrímskirkja to get a view of the colorful houses of Reykjavik. Tickets are 1000 ISK (about $9 USD), and they accept credit cards. Marvel at the architecture of Harpa Concert Hall – even if you don’t have time to catch a concert here, it’s worth checking out just to see colorful glass panels that Read more
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11 things i learned about the blue lagoon
The Blue Lagoon was definitely my favorite part of Iceland. Here are a few things you should know before you go: Make sure you pre-book your tickets so that you can secure a spot. The tickets as of January 2018 were $70 USD. This was for the comfort package, which is the most basic/cheapest one Read more
how to be a traveler 