As I made my way across China what I kept hearing the most was how good the pandas of Chengdu were. I was getting so many good reviews I had to investigate further. Chengdu has become famous for the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base, which is the most popular place to view pandas in China. […]
Shanghai Expo 2010: It’s a wonderful world, even without jetpacks and hovercars
I happened to be in Shanghai while the World Expo was on. I didn’t plan my travels around this event so it turned out to be a pleasant coincidence to be there at the same time. I entered with no expectations, and left feeling good about the world and its inhabitants. – China Pavilion at […]
Walking Westlake, Hangzhou – China
Before coming to China I had not heard of Hangzhou, but in China the city is famous for Westlake. After spending a day walking around this lake, I’m wondering why it isn’t famous around the world. AirAsia fly to Hangzhou from Kuala Lumpur but they advertise Hangzhou as Shanghai, even though it is over 190km […]
Bulgaria’s Black Sea Coast
The Black sea Coast of Bulgaria has been a budget holiday favourite for decades. First with the countries behind the Iron Curtain, and now with the countries from the cold north. Along this stretch of coast is a good cross section of Europe with styling urban cities, cheapo package holiday resorts, old fishing villages and […]
Walking the length of Broadway, New York
New York’s Broadway is a road that runs the entire length of the island of Manhattan (and continues through to the Bronx). Everyone has heard of Broadway, but before I first visited New York I just assumed it was the name of the theatre district. Ever since I discovered this geographic curiosity I have often […]
Apocalypse Wow! Judgement day frescoes at the Rila Monastery – Bulgaria
The Rila Monastery in Bulgaria is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and perhaps the most well known structure in the country. When you enter the monastery it just looks like an old fort and it doesn’t prepare you for the view that is inside. The monastery is famous for its frescoes by Bulgarian artist Zahari […]
Notes on Fort Lauderdale: beaches and canals
Fort Lauderdale is one of those places that turned out better than I thought it would be. The beaches are better than Miami (softer sand) and the mansions and super yachts along the waterways are truly grand. Fort Lauderdale Beach. Fort Lauderdale is sometimes called the Venice of America. I wince whenever I hear the […]
Notes on Miami: The Capital of the Americas
Going To Miami It wasn’t my original plan to visit Miami on this trip to the USA. I was planning to road trip from Chicago back to Newport, RI, where I have based myself. It turns out that there is hardly a hostel between Chicago and Newport, so my accommodation budget was facing a blowout […]
The Bangkok 9 Wats in One Day Challenge
Bangkok’s reputation as a traffic clogged megalopolis overshadows the fact that Bangkok has more temples than any capital in Southeast Asia. Bangkok is the seat of Thai Buddhism, and the grandest wats in Thailand are in the capital. A popular way to visit the wats is to visit 9 temples in one day. In Thai […]
Maeklong market railway, Thailand – The train that goes through a market
One of the more interesting train journeys in Southeast Asia I’ve had is riding through the Maeklong market railway in Thailand. Even if you’ve never heard of the town, you’ve probably seen a youtube video of a train going through a tightly-packed market, where market stalls are set up on the rails. The train barely […]
