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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how to get the best views of the tower bridge
Take a cruise on the Thames River – if you hop on at Westminster, which is the first stop, not only will you get a great view of the bridge, but you’ll also get to see Westminster, Big Ben, and the London Eye (without any pushing and shoving). The cruise is about an hour long Read more
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where the queen (and her horses) live
Buckingham Palace is one of Queen Elizabeth II’s residences. It’s also where you can see the Changing of the Guards (but for a better view and smaller crowds, you can also catch this at Windsor Castle). Royal Mews, just down the road, is where her horses live. It’a also where some of the royal carriages Read more
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westminster
Westminster always reminds me of that episode of friends where they all go to London for Ross and Emily’s wedding. Joey and Chandler are outside of Westminster Abbey and Joey has to physically step into his map in order to figure out where he is. Luckily, we have Google Maps nowadays so I didn’t need Read more
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what you came to london for
It’s not the fish and chips. Or their warm beer. It’s something that no trip to London would be complete without seeing, that you should definitely make the *time* for. Elizabeth Tower (renamed in 2012 for the 60th anniversary of the accession of Queen), or better known to most as the Big Ben. If you Read more
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and the biggest tourist trap in london award goes to…
The London Eye! And it will cost you £23.45. But that’s only if you buy your tickets in advance on their website. We didn’t do this because we were convinced that it was included in the London Pass, which it was not. So my friends and I headed there at around noon on a Sunday. Read more
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st. paul’s cathedral
If you’re religious, you should go check out St. Paul’s Cathedral. If you’re not religious, you should still go check out St. Paul’s Cathedral. Unfortunately, you can’t take pictures inside. But the good news is you can take as many as you want, outside. I went on a Sunday, so exploring the rest of the Read more
how to be a traveler 