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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washington, d.c. 2016
In honor of President Obama, let’s look back and reminisce on the better times when he was still in office. Ben and I took a trip to Washington DC back in September 2016 during Labor Day Weekend. He had never been to the Capitol before, and the last time I had visited was probably when Read more
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5 things you should know before ascending the world’s tallest mountain
No, it’s not Mount Everest, contrary to popular belief. But the world’s tallest mountain is actually Mauna Kea on the Big Island, standing at 33,000 feet. Of course, much of it is underwater so only 13,802 feet of it is above sea level. Even so, it’s no easy feat to make it to the summit. Read more
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exploring the big island
Since I only had a weekend to spend on the Big Island, my time was extremely limited. But even in that short period of time, these are some of the things I got a chance to check out: Hilo’s Farmers Market – open everyday from 6 or 7 am until 4 pm, you’ll find plenty Read more
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what it’s like to see an active volcano
You know those clips you see on TV of hot, bright orange lava, slowly and viscously seeping through piles of old rocks? Well, sorry to shatter this image but it is nothing like that. At least it wasn’t back in June when I visited Kilauea, the most active of the five volcanoes that form the Read more
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hiking the westernmost point of o’ahu
Also known as Ka’ena Point State Park, Ka’ena means, “heat” in the Hawaiian language. And not without reason – this 5 mile round trip hike provides no relief from the sun, as there aren’t many trees around for shade. What it does provide is excellent coastal views. There’s also a bird (moli) sanctuary, and some Read more
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swimming with dolphins
Imagine yourself floating around in the warm, serene Hawaiian waters, basking in the sun. Friendly and playful bottlenose dolphins are swimming all around you. Well, swimming with dolphins is nothing like this. Although that was the picture I had in my head (I can probably thank Flipper for that), it wasn’t what I expected at Read more
how to be a traveler 