Earlier this summer, I decided to leave China’s southwest and travelled north beyond the Yangze (长江) and the Yellow River (黄河) to Shanxi (山西) province. Do make a distinction between Shanxi (山西) and Shaanxi (陕西). Shaanxi (transliterated with two ‘a’) is home to Xi’an and the famous terracotta army, while Shanxi (with only one ‘a’)…
In this blog, I have tried to introduce slightly off-the-beaten path travel destinations and a few alternatives to famous ancient towns like Lijiang 丽江 or Fenghuang (凤凰) which have become overcrowded with tourists, mainly historical villages. A short article about the Miao village Dehang (德夯) was the first one about a place I did not…
This is the fourth post of my Shanxi civilian castles (山西民间古堡) series. So far, I already took you to the deserted stone fortress of Xiangyu (相峪堡), within the lost walls of Douzhuang (窦庄) castle and more recently into the imperial manor of Kangxi in Huangcheng Xiangfu (皇城相府). When travelling through China, I take the train…
If you are visiting the United States from Canada, there are some ‘must-haves’ you should include as part of your travel checklist. Whether you are traveling for business or leisure, follow a few important guidelines to help make the trip go that much smoother. Every US travel checklist should include: Passport – a valid copy…
Obviously, there are some parts of the world where a professional guide is pretty much mandatory for reasons of the preservation of life and limb. You don’t want to take yourself on a safari unsupervised, go wandering on your lonesome through a mine-strewn war zone, or up and then precipitously downwards across the slopes of…
Now that the summer is over and autumn is fast approaching, it’s a great time to begin planning your next holiday. Seriously, you know how busy it can get when the summer months are almost upon us, what with so many people doing their last minute holiday preparations and so accommodations are getting scarce. Why…
Much like Fenghuang (凤凰), the Miao village of Dehang (德夯) seemed to be this must-go place half-way between heaven and earth. After ten years of living in China, I usually prefer to stay away from touristy places, but some places sound too good to skip. In the same time, going to crowded popular tourist sites…
One of the largest parks in the USA is Yosemite National park, which is located in the state of California. Each year this park is visited by millions of tourists who explore its fascinating attractions. More than ninety percent of this park is designated as a wilderness area; there are unique and diverse habitats there…
For parents of a young one, traveling can be a nightmare. The majority of the trip is possibly spent trying to get your baby to quiet down. This can make it extremely hard if not practically impossible to relax or even enjoy your trip. Fortunately for parents, there are proven strategies that you can employ…
The best things in life are free… or cheap. If you are thinking of going on a safari but are afraid that you can’t afford it, don’t fret. You can still enjoy the good things in life without breaking your bank. Here are a few ideas. Book your flight early If you plan your travel…