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Category: Nature & Parks

Terracotta Army
Xi’an Terracotta Warriors and Villages

Xi’an Terracotta Warriors and Villages

Our journey to Xi’an was with a tour company called Insiders Experience. First day breakfast we stopped for delicious local foods on our way to see the famous Terracotta Army. Afterward we visited an ancient Taoist temple in the Lishan Mountains and then a local lunch. After lunch and the next day we drove around the countryside visiting small villages and exploring rural China. Xi’an Terracotta Warriors The official name for the “museum” is Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor…

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duck boats at xuanwu lake pano
Quick Day-trip to Nanjing

Quick Day-trip to Nanjing

Nanjing is a famous historical and culture city about an hour or two from Shanghai by speed train. It served as the capital  during several dynasties over the course of China’s history and most recently was the capital under the Kuomintang until 1949. There are quite a many historical sights and things to do in Nanjing however we only had two days to explore. On my to-do list was run around on the City Wall of Nanjing, play at Xuanwu…

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hilltop pano
Sri Lanka and the Way of Life

Sri Lanka and the Way of Life

Sri Lanka really surprised me with it’s rich history and culture. Before arriving, I knew very little about the country other than where it is and Ceylon tea comes from there. However, after ten days of traveling around the Central region I was blown away by what I discovered. I learned about the long, rich history of Sri Lanka people, the food, landscape, and culture. It truly was life changing and I look forward to another visit to Sri Lanka….

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Kiroro pano
Skiing in Hokkaido Japan

Skiing in Hokkaido Japan

We stayed at the Sheraton Hokkaido Kiroro Resort which is a “ski-in/ski-out” hotel and ski lodge. This arrangement couldn’t have been more convenient as the lifts and mountain are right at the hotel. Each morning we would have a good breakfast then hit the slopes for all day skiing. The snow in Hokkaido is perfect. It’s light and fluffy and this area gets plenty of snow. We arrived after Christmas and the snow was about two meters deep at least….

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Night Train Market pano
Dragons in Bangkok

Dragons in Bangkok

Our visit in Bangkok was rather short but fun enough. One thing that struck me about the city is the traffic. It does not look so bad but it really takes a long time to get anywhere by car. You are often better off to use the sky train (metro) and/or walk. There are plenty of tuk-tuks which is a fun way to get around if not too expensive. Of course the food in Bangkok is delicious and just about…

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Dinner at Parc restaurant in Seoul
Good Eats in Seoul

Good Eats in Seoul

There is so much to see and do in Seoul, South Korea however this post is pretty much about the food. I love the food scene in Seoul and everything I tried was delicious.

Pano of Dishui Lake
Day Out at Dishui Lake and the China Maritime Museum

Day Out at Dishui Lake and the China Maritime Museum

Going to Dishui Lake is a bit of a journey and so far not a lot of people seem eager to go. The area is huge and for the most part, desolate in spite of all the construction going on. Eventually, if the real estate billboards are to be believed, the area will become quite attractive. For now, it’s mostly empty and quite. Our journey begins by starting at Longyang Road metro station and take line 16 to the end…

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Hangzhou West Lake pano taken from Leifeng Pagoda
So Much to See and Explore at West Lake in Hangzhou

So Much to See and Explore at West Lake in Hangzhou

West Lake in Hangzhou has many sights and activities to enjoy. If you like to wander and explore then you’ll be quite happy here. It’s really a great place to visit – so much beautiful nature, parks, historical sights, and restaurants, all concentrated in one relatively small area. West Lake is a large, shallow lake (2.5 square miles or 6.5 km² and 3 meters deep) flanked on three sides by forest and Hangzhou city to the northeast. We stayed one…

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Yangshan Port pano
Yangshan Deep-Water Port

Yangshan Deep-Water Port

If you enjoy exploring offbeat kind of places, Yangshan Deep-Water Port 洋山深水港 will not disappoint. Getting there is pretty exciting, too. The drive takes you across one of the world’s largest bridges, and huge wind turbines loom out in the sea along the way. Approaching the islands, you’ll see tall gantry cranes off in the distance loading and unloading mega container ships. It’s all pretty cool to see, especially for landlubbers like me who are unfamiliar with such things. Yangshan…

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Wide angle view from watchtower at Chang Cheng
Beijing and The Great Wall

Beijing and The Great Wall

We took the bullet train from Shanghai to Beijing. I much prefer riding the bullet trains because they are on-time, fast and comfortable. Not to mention you go through much less hassle at the station. After we arrived to Beijing South station we took a 45-minute taxi ride to The Opposite House hotel. We really like the hotel’s modernist styling and personal service. The decor and artwork all around gives the hotel an interesting charm and didn’t feel sterile as…

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