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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whatever happened to predictability? the milkman, the paperboy, evening tv?
I’m thinking by now, you’ve already figured out what 90s television sitcom those lyrics are from. If you were a 90s kid like me, you probably grew up watching Full House. It was one of my favorite shows, and the highlight to TGIF (remember that?!). Anyway, there’s this one scene within the opening credits where… Read more
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exploring alcatraz
I always imagined that a visit to Alcatraz would be like an episode of Travel Channel’s Ghost Adventures. Lost souls, who were wrongfully (or rightfully) imprisoned, would wander the cold and damp hallways for all eternity. Uneventfully, but thankfully, there was no paranormal activity. Instead, hoards of tourists flood the prison, just to get a… Read more
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duke gardens
If you ever find yourself in Durham, NC, definitely make a stop to Sarah P. Duke Gardens at Duke University. Since we visited in February, not much was in bloom yet. Nonetheless, there was still plenty to see. Best of all, admission is FREE! Read more
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brews and bbq in north carolina
Two things that these two have in common are: 1. They go really well together. 2. They’re both really popular in North Carolina. In fact, that’s something that I learned on my recent weekend trip to Cary/Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina back in February. Ben and I flew down there to visit his brother and family. Prior… Read more
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‘islands of adventure’ is a very misleading name
I tried using the trick of making a beeline for the Harry Potter ride, like I did back in 2015 when I went to Universal Studios to avoid long wait times. But this time, it failed me. I’m not sure if maybe ‘Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey’ at Islands of Adventure is not as… Read more
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st. augustine
For a quick, weekend trip to get away from the January NYC cold, Ben and I went down to Florida. He had a work conference in Jacksonville, so I decided to meet him there. Our plan was to make the 2.5-hour drive to Orlando for Universal Studios’ Islands of Adventure, since I had never been… Read more
how to be a traveler 