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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flying british airways
With more and more budget flights popping up nowadays, British Airways was still the better deal at the time I booked in February. It was $663 for a flight at the end of May. Norwegian was around $550, but I would have had to pay for a checked luggage both ways, so it would have Read more
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6 things i learned in the 8 days i spent in london
Boring but useful tips you should know before you go. The trains, tubes, Underground, whatever you want to call it, are super convenient. They run pretty often and all of the stations have tickers showing you when the next train will be arriving. The system is also very easy to understand, with large maps at Read more
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how to be a tourist in london
So you’ve admired the Big Ben, rode the London Eye, witnessed the opening/closing of the Tower Bridge, but there is much more to London than just those obvious spots. Here are 16 more things to do in this city: Read more
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abbey road
The Beatle’s Abbey Road was released on my birthdate, September 26, many years before I was born. It’s also the last album that the Beatles recorded together before they broke up. It’s also named for the location, where Abbey Road studios is located, which is where they recorded. The album cover is easily recognizable: John Read more
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you don’t need to understand rugby to enjoy the game
One of the things on my England bucket list was to catch either a live soccer game or a live rugby game. Unfortunately, soccer wasn’t in season when we went in May, so we went with a rugby game. We were lucky with timing because we happened to catch an Aviva Semi-final, so I think Read more
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the one market you must visit in london
There is no shortage of markets in London. But if there is only one market you can make it to while you’re in town, it should be Camden Market (sometimes called Camden Lock). With over 1,000 different stalls selling food, music, art, clothing, souvenirs, it would be hard not to find something to buy. I’m Read more
how to be a traveler 