Batik in Thailand While in Thailand, I discovered Backstreet Academy. They have many affordable classes in arts like glass-blowing, batik making, jewelry making, etc. They offer classes in many Asian cities, not just Chiang Mai. So check them out if you are in any major city in SEA. I signed up for both a batik …
Carpets unfurled in Istanbul, Turkey This is what it looks like towards the end of a carpet demonstration in Istanbul. It's nearly exactly like the board game named Marrakesh - where you lay your color carpets on the game board, stacking them on top of one another until the board is many layers deep in …
A few things about China that may be helpful for others. VPN A VPN is essential if you want to use Google products at all (or Facebook, or nearly anything you are used to using). Use of the VPN was also required to get access to pay my insurance bill while I was away, which …
Updated: As I [originally wrote] this post, I'm on the high-speed train from Xi'an to Beijing. What is most striking about this trip is not only the speed (up to at least 309 km/h, that I've noticed - they have a continuously updating scroll so you can check it) but also that there are tons …
When arriving in Xi'an at the train station or airport, most people head right out to see the terracotta warriors. Make sure to research how to get there from the station before arriving, as I did, so you know where you are going so you don't wander around trying to find someone else who knows …
For the Loy Krathong celebration, there is a great parade in Chiang Mai in addition to the floating candles. Loy Krathong means "to float a basket." People from all around come with their krathongs (either hand made or bought along the streets) and then set them lit in the river. They are traditionally made of a …
Continue reading Loy Krathong (Kra-tong) floating lantern festival in Chiang Mai (Thailand)
When you are in the large cities of China, you have a lot of options for transportion including: hailing taxis, Grab, and trains. The taxi situation is interesting as there are official taxis and unofficial taxis. The official taxis are what you'll find that lined up at a taxi queue like you would anywhere else …
This is the little glass elephant I made with Backstreet Academy in Chiang Mai Thailand. Backstreet Academy offers many classes in Chiang Mai, including batik, jewelry making, metalworking, soap carving, painting, leatherwork, cooking, etc. . . I did this class and the batik class (in another post). They have classes in many cities in Asia, …
Continue reading Making a glass lampwork elephant (Thailand)
Beijing must-see The Temple of Heaven The Temple of Heaven is a sizable temple complex in Beijing. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Like many attractions in China, you do not get a map when entering, so be sure to print one at home and bring it with you. You should plan on …
Continue reading Beijing, China: The Temple of Heaven (a must see)
When you leave the Drum Tower area in Xi'an, you basically are right next to the Muslim Quarter, which is a must-see if you are in Xi'an. It is lit like Las Vegas, crowded, visually entertaining and just an amazing experience. Vendors line the streets with every kind of food. There are motorbikes, and other …
Continue reading It’s a little bit crazy, and a lot Muslim Quarter, Xi’an (China)
If you get to the Blue Mosque very early in the morning, you can be in the first batch of people to enter. The Blue Mosque (which is called Sultanahmet Camii by locals) was built in the early 1600s during the reign of Ahmed I. The Ottoman mosque is known as the Blue Mosque because …
In Beijing, you can do a Hutong tour with a visit to The Cricket Man (with or without lunch). To me, the cricket man was the only worthwhile part of the tour, so I'm so glad I didn't do one of the many hutong tours that didn't visit The Cricket Man This is The Cricket …
A power line runs through it (The Great Wall, Beijing, China) I was surprised to see this when I visited the Great Wall of China: I bought a tour that went to the Ming tombs because I wanted to see the Sacred Way. The tour however just went to one of the tombs so I …
Continue reading A power line runs through it (The Great Wall, Beijing, China);
In China, you can't get access to the websites most of us use on a daily basis. Things like Facebook, Gmail, Google, and many other sites can't be accessed without a VPN. But not just any VPN, you want one with good connections in China. Before going to China last year, I spent a …
Start off the day early with a 730 pickup for a full-day tour. The first stop is in about an hour and a half at a hot spring where they boil eggs in baskets and there are lots of touristy shops and a hot water bathroom. Then back in the bus to go to the …
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