Other travelers are a great source of accurate and up-to-date information, but be careful taking any advice you get at face value. I've gone out of my way to visit places lauded by backpacker after backpacker only to end up disappointed; I've also visited places despite steady advice to avoid them and ended up having a great time. This disconnect between reputation and reality … [Read more...]
Oh no! Bangkok’s Grand Palace is Closed Again!?!
"The palace is closed." If you've been anywhere near the Grand Palace in Bangkok, you've likely heard those words. No matter what day you heard them or who said them, I can guarantee one thing: the palace was not closed. You don't even have to be near the palace to hear those words. On my second day in Bangkok, I was approached by a well-dressed man while waiting to … [Read more...]
How I Enjoyed a Terrible Terracotta Warrior Tour in Xi’an
Most group tours are a waste of time and money. Tour guides drag you from one shop, often thinly disguised as a tourist attraction, to another, with a quick stop or two at an actual attraction in between. On full-day tours, they feed you lunch at an overpriced restaurant and when the day is over, many expect tips for taking you shopping all day. Despite all that, I occasionally … [Read more...]
Even Indiana Jones Would Get Lost in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Station
I recently learned that Japan boasts 45 of the world's 50 busiest train stations, including the first 23 (source: rocketnews24.com) . The top three are all located in western Tokyo, a few stops apart on the Yamanote circle line. The busiest sits in the middle and sees almost 4 million visitors per day. Welcome to Shinjuku Station. If this is your first time here, you … [Read more...]
Seoul Convenience Stores Beat Most of its Bars
Seoul has no shortage of bars and clubs, but we did most of our drinking at convenience stores. In a city with three major nightlife districts—Itaewon for military personnel and those who like sleazy bars, Gangnam for those who enjoy overpaying for everything and Hongdae for those who prefer to have fun on a night out—why would anyone choose to hang out in front of a … [Read more...]