For Loy Krathong (which is about the same time as Yee Ping, Yee Peng, whatever spelling variation you see), there is a great parade in Chiang Mai. There is a Loy Krathong song which is very catchy and you will be quite familiar with it by the end of the parade. You can …
Continue reading Loy Krathong (Kra-tong) festival in Chiang Mai (Thailand)
TSA Precheck gives you access to the Precheck lines at U.S. airports. Among other things, this means you don't have to take off your shoes, nor remove your (still limited) liquids ziplock from your bag, nor remove you computer from your bag. This makes things go much smoother and faster. Global Entry includes TSA precheck …
For a recent trip wasn't really looking for anything more than the trekking poles, some bathroom funnels so I don't have to use the squat toilets if they are really gross, and an assortment of antibacterial products and consumable stuff like that. But then I found these kawaii cuties: I received them yesterday and they …
Continue reading Super cute TSA approved toiletry containers
Massage places are everywhere in Thailand. They are all what westerners would be considered cheap, but depending on the ambiance the price varies substantially, from ridiculously cheap, to just really really cheap. In a temple near the south border of the old City of Chiang Mai for example, Thai massages are 150 baht, or about …
Found out yesterday that the hike I'm planning on doing from Jinshanling to Simatai is a 600 foot climb with some steep sections (I read some people say 49% grade, and others talk of scrabbling up slopes). This is supposedly the part of the wall with the best views/pictures that's easily reachable in the day …
Continue reading The Great Wall of China – Jinshanling to Simatai hike (Beijing)
Packing light - reversible/convertible clothes THERE IS A NEWER VERSION OF THIS POST AVAILBLE. In addition to taking quick-wash-and-dry clothing with you (covered here), another winning way to pack is to get multiple uses out of the same item while having it look different. One of the great things with some pieces of clothing …
Sleeping on planes? Yes, even in the middle seat There is a new version of this available - use the search box on the right My recent flight to Asia was 15 hours, and I had ended up in the middle seat. I guess that was the price I paid for getting that flight …
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