Responsible Tourism with Intrepid Travel
One of the highlights of our time in China was to visit a project that Intrepid Travel supported in Xi’an as part of their responsible travel motto. Xi’an may be known for the famous Terracotta Warriors, but there is more to this city than clay soldiers and golden chariots. The Intrepid Foundation is doing it’s best to improve the quality of lives of children, animals, women, people living in poverty and people with disabilities. In Xi’an their project is to help people living with disabilities at the Xi’an Hui Ling school.
Terracotta Warriors, Are they Real or is it Memorex?
The Terracotta Warriors in Xi’ian is China’s most famous attraction after the Great Wall. The army is amazingly lifelike and it feels as if the warriors could simply wake up and start marching along as they did over 2 millennia ago.
Getting Around Internet Censorship While Travelling
Staying connected in countries that censor Internet can be a difficult task for the Travel Blogger. A VPN in China is an important tool for anyone wishing to stay connected via facebook, twitter and many other social media sites.
A Romantic Stroll on Hangzou’s West Lake
Hangzou is China’s Romance Capital and nowhere is more romantic than a stroll along West Lake. “The Legend of the White Snake,” started this love story destination. lovers and newlyweds flock to it’s shores to capture some of Hangzou’s romance and magic.
The Ghost City of Fengdu, China
“Are you an honest person? Do you think you will go to hell?” These we the questions we were faced with as we approached the first steps of the Ghost City of Fengdu during our cruise down the Three Gorges. Our guide, was a petite chipper local resident full of knowledge and ready to share it over her small loudspeaker that was slung over her shoulder. After a short ride on an electric golf cart from the ship to the entrance we were dropped at the gate of what is supposed to be one of the most sacred sites in this province of China.
Best Adventures of 2010
2010 is drawing to a close and it is the perfect time to reflect on the events of the past year. We have had quite an amazing year when we stopped to think about. It is funny, when it is your own life, you don’t really realize just how incredible things are while they are happening, but in retrospect, life can be quite extraordinary. I won’t lie, things haven’t been all roses. We worry about where the money will come from, what the future will hold and if we will ever feel comfortable enough to actually stop counting every penny that we spend.
Bamboo Rafting Down the Li River
A visit to Yangshuo, China would not be complete without a bamboo cruise on the Li River. I had visions of men using bamboo poles to push us down the river as we teetered on a thin hull.
Shanghai Skyline at Night
Shanghai has one of the most interesting skylines on the planet. When the day turns to night displays a spectacular view of neon lights illuminating the skyline.
Weekend Fun at People’s Park in Chengdu
The People’s Park in Chengdu is where to go for an authentic taste of Chinese culture. Known as one of the most laid back cities in China and it certainly lived up to its reputation.
Grand China with Intrepid Travel
We didn’t know what to expect from our Intrepid Travel tour to China. The great people at the Toronto Intrepid Travel store had offered us a trip and since we were going to be in China anyway for a press trip, we decided that we would take the opportunity to sample the Grand China Tour. It is the perfect tour to bridge the gap from backpacking to touring. With a maximum group size of 12, there is an intimacy that other tour companies do not offer.
Rock Climbing in Yangshuo China
When visiting the world’s greatest Karst formations in Yangzhou, you can’t possibly consider not going climbing for an afternoon. The area surrounding Yangzhou is a climber’s paradise and die hards from around the world come to this region to conquer its routes for months on end. With hundreds of sport climbing routes and more being set every day, it is a world-class destination for climbing. The limestone cliffs make for ideal conditions and the many mountains offer varied routes for all levels.
Cycling the Countryside of Incredible Yangshuo
We arrived in Yangshuo on an early morning train from the Hong Kong border. As we drove in comfort sheltered from the crisp air, I looked out the window to a wondrous sight. Layers of dark limestone peaks towered over the misty countryside creating the quintessential image of a mystical China. I knew that there were Karst formations in Yangshuo; I just didn’t expect to see them so soon. I also didn’t expect them to be so great in size.
Giant Pandas, Living the Life in Chengdu
The Giant Panda is the official ambassador to China and the best place to see them is at Chengdu’s Giant Panda Research Centre. We were expecting the pandas to be in small enclosures but like everything in China, we were pleasantly surprised.
Fengdu, The City of Ghosts on the Three Gorges
It is the first stop on the Three Gorges River cruise. The City of Ghosts was a place of worship before the flooding of the Three Gorges due to the Three Gorges Dam Project. Today it is a tourist attraction, rebuilt and replicated from the original city that now sits 70 metres below the waters surface. Some of the statues are real though and they are impressive in their size and stature. Fengdu may be new today, but the Chinese say that the new location is bigger and better to house the Gods.
Morning Dawn on the Li River, China
The Li River is one of the most photographed areas in all of China. A bamboo raft is the most relaxing way to witness the Massive Karst formations rising up from it’s banks reaching into the misty skies of Yangshuo.
Sichuan Hot Pot, A Sizzling Night out in China
One of the most exciting meals we have had during our travels is the Chinese hot pot in Sichuan Province. Known as the province of flavour, Sichuan is famous for it’s over the top spices. We hopped in a taxi with our hand written directions in Mandarin guiding our driver to the neighbourhood Hot Pot restaurant where the festivities began. Dining moves fast in China and within minutes the hot pot spicy water was sizzling while meat and vegetables made their way into the room in endless supply.
Hot Cupping. Therapy or Just Pain?
If the idea of having 24 big round bruises on your back for about a week sounds like fun to you, make sure to try hot cupping while in Yangshuo, China. For some unknown reason it sounded like fun to Dave and I and after a week of cycling, climbing and boating in China on top of a couple of weeks of hard adventure travel in Fiji, we thought that a relaxing session of hot cupping would be an excellent way to work out the kinks from travel.
Hong Kong in Three Days
Hong Kong can be an overwhelming city to visit, especially if you are there on a limited schedule, so we’ve come up with a great walking tour of what you can do in three days.
To Tour or Not to Tour
This past March when we were in India, we met up with our friends Julian and Becca. They had just finished a 3 week Intrepid Travel Tour of parts of India that we never made it to and they loved every minute of it. They were energized and inspired to continue travelling through India for a couple more months on their own and they had gained some valuable insight into the culture and history. They had this love for the country that we lost during our 3 months in India and it made us think that maybe we should take a tour sometime.
Top 5 Architectural Wonders of I.M. Pei
As you may know, Dave and I are not experts in the field of architecture see our lack of understanding in Barcelona and Gaudi. So when an interesting email comes our way that can teach us about structures around the world and a famous architect that we knew nothing about, we love to share it with our readers .
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