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Tag: Hiking

Christmas in Picturesque New Zealand

Christmas in Picturesque New Zealand

New Zealand surprised me. Before going I did my research, watched videos, and looked at photos of stunning landscapes. None came even close to what we actually experienced. The mountains and countryside drives were simply stunning and beyond anything I imagined. The people seem rather chill and have an interesting sense of humor. Overall, the vibe is very relaxed and natural. Our time was spent on the South island mostly in Queenstown, Milford Sound, and Arthur’s Pass. These areas often…

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Taipei Weekend of Exploration and Discovery

Taipei Weekend of Exploration and Discovery

A bit rainy for our Taipei weekend visit but it turned out to be quite enjoyable. We had so much fun for just spending a couple days there. One of the highlights was climbing up Elephant Hill to get a nice view of the city and have a good hike. Yongkang Street is great and there are many interesting shops and restaurants. There are several popular night markets to buy food and stuff and we enjoyed most the one at…

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Hike Up Mount Fuji

Hike Up Mount Fuji

Some years ago I was on my way to Kyoto, Japan traveling by train and out the window, we could see Mount Fuji off in the distance with its iconic snow-capped peak. I thought about how cool it would be to climb up there and put the idea away in my mental bucket list then forgot about it. Last year I again thought of climbing however I had missed the opportunity as the season was too late. But this year, September…

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Fun and Easy Day Trip to Sheshan Park

Fun and Easy Day Trip to Sheshan Park

Sheshan Park 佘山 is a hill of about 100m high west of Shanghai, China. On top are an old Jesuit observatory (a museum now) and The Sheshan Basilica. The observatory complex was founded by French Mission Catholique in 1872. Sheshan Basilica is the largest Catholic cathedral in Southeast China and was built around 1863. Shanghai is flat as a pancake so this hill, although only 100m, sticks out. Sheshan Park makes for a fun day trip to go hike about, check…

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So, I Hiked Up Mount Tai and it was Good

So, I Hiked Up Mount Tai and it was Good

Mount Tai is one of the Five Sacred Mountains of China and happens to be the grandest of them all. Since Mount Tai is the easternmost mountain it is associated with sunrise and renewal. Over time the mountain has become a cornerstone in Chinese religion and for over 3000 years emperors and others have visited to offer sacrifice and pay homage. Because of Mount Tai’s significant cultural importance it is a very popular destination for Chinese and somewhat of a…

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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 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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Huangshan (Yellow Mountain)

Huangshan (Yellow Mountain)

For travelers to China who want to experience the majestic, natural beauty that this country has to offer, add Huangshan (黄山 or Yellow Mountain) to your list of places to visit. Located in Anhui Province and recognized on the UNESCO World Heritage List, Huangshan is not just one mountain but a granite massif consisting of many peaks, with the tallest at 1800 meters. Shrouded in mist year-round, these jagged peaks appear like islands among a sea of clouds and have…

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Qiandaohu (Thousand Island Lake)

Qiandaohu (Thousand Island Lake)

Qiandaohu (千岛湖) or Thousand Island Lake is a lake and city in Zhejiang province, China. The lake, which was formed by the construction of a nearby dam, boasts over a thousand islands and clean water used in the production of Nongfu Spring brand drinking water. Getting There As of 2016, the only practical way to get to Qiandaohu is by road vehicle. A railway line is under construction and may be completed in 2018. Typically travelers first go to the…

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Cultural Immersion in Dali, Yunnan

Cultural Immersion in Dali, Yunnan

Our family vacation to Dali City in Yunnan ranks up there with the best of the best travel experiences. Everything was so peaceful and enjoyable thanks mainly to our wonderful hosts at the Linden Center. Linden Center, Dali We stayed at the Linden Center which is on the northern end of Erhai Lake in Dali, Yunnan. Linden Center is a retreat more so than a hotel. While staying there you are a house guest and they offer several cultural immersion…

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