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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the borghese doesn’t have to be boring
By your third museum, everything starts to look the same. Statues have the same stance. Paintings have the same subjects. And it gets harder and harder to differentiate which piece of art you saw where. And yes, I realize that might be offensive to some art history majors/art buffs out there. But art is just Read more
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what you came to rome for
After that whole near death experience, (okay, I really mean to say near pick-pocketing experience. I’m just being dramatic) I was ready to leave it behind and just go do some touristy things. Our first stop (besides lunch) was of course, the Colosseum. Well, almost our first stop. We stopped by a church on our Read more
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how i almost got pick-pocketed in rome
I almost got pick-pocketed in Rome. This also almost happened to me when I went to Dublin in 2013 but thats another story for another time. I guess I’m just an easy target? But back to Rome. These pick-pocketers know what they’re doing. They’re experts. They’ve made a career out of it. They’ve even made Read more
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the art of the perfect snapchat
Since museums are not really my thing, had to keep myself entertained somehow. So just in case this offends anyone…….#sorrynotsorry (pictures were taken in the Uffizi in Florence, the Borghese in Rome, the Vatican Museums in Vatican City, and the National Roman Museum in Rome) Read more
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there’s more to pisa than the leaning tower
The good thing about joining a tour is that it’s a full schedule. You get to see a lot of things that you probably wouldn’t be able to organize on your own. The bad thing about joining a tour is that it’s a full schedule. Pisa was the last stop on a Tuscany day tour Read more
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finally getting to taste chianti wines
Have you ever seen “Under the Tuscan Sun”? Yeah, me neither – those types of movies are just not my glass of wine. But I would imagine that it takes place in a setting like San Gimignano. Green rolling hills, quaint farmhouses, and let’s not forget the most important component – the sun. I came Read more
how to be a traveler 