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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stephansdom
The Stephansdom (St. Stephen’s Cathedral) was probably my favorite part of Vienna. I’m not a religious person, but I really liked this church. I just could not stop staring at it. It was just so grand and majestic. I was expecting to climb some steps to get a view from the top, like most other Read more
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flying aeroflot
My flight to Vienna was 12 hours. Why, you ask? Because nonstop flights in December from New York City would have cost me at least $900. I was able to cut this down to about $650 in exchange for a layover in Moscow. This meant nine hours to Russia, and then another three to fly Read more
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vienna/prague 2017
For my remaining vacation days of 2017, I decided to make my way to over to Vienna. It was the perfect time to go, because of the Christmas Markets. Since my friend, Yan, was off at that time too, we decided to travel there together. We had one week off but didn’t want to spend Read more
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9 foods to stuff your face with in switzerland
Raclette – who doesn’t love scraping melty cheese onto food? I first tried raclette at a little hole in the wall in NYC, where they gave you two scrapes of cheese. But that was child’s play. In Switzerland, they give you a whole block of cheese. It’s usually eaten with some mini potatoes, pickled onions, Read more
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8 things i learned in the 8 days i spent in switzerland
They don’t call it Swiss cheese here. Each region has its own cheese. Raclette and Gruyère were the two cheeses I saw on most menus. The cheese with the holes that Americans eat is actually called Emmental. Weather can be temperamental. During the first week of September, Zurich was rainy and in the 50s, and Read more
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hiking the swiss alps
When you visit Switzerland, the Alps has definitely got to be on your list, whether you ski or not. Ben and I visited in early September, so it wasn’t ski season just yet – which is fine, since neither of us know how to anyway. When it’s not ski season, there are various trails you Read more
how to be a traveler 