Traveling around the Tibetan areas of China is best done without much of a plan, as government policy on travel in those regions can change from day to day. It can be quite annoying, to be honest, and I certainly felt that annoyance on my most recent [read more…]
Four Simple Ways to Go Broke In Beijing
While food, accommodation and transportation costs in China have been creeping upward and admission fees to popular attractions are reaching astronomical levels, it is still very possible to travel the country quite cheaply. That said, it is also possible to spend ridiculous amounts of money and get very little in return. I’ve written plenty on […]
Oh What a Fun Shenzhen Visa Run!
Chinese visa policy changes on a seemingly weekly basis, but one aspect that remains constant is the frustration—frustration with the bureaucracy, frustration with the inefficiency, but mostly frustration that a country as large as China only allows visitors to stay long enough to see about one percent of it. I felt that frustration again on […]
Old Chinese Hipsters Dance in Beijing’s Jingshan Park
When you visit China, you can’t help but notice the bad dancing that goes on in the public parks, but these three took it to a whole new level in Beijing’s Jingshan Park and pretty much redefined the word “dance”. The new definition was not a good one, mind you, but it was certainly hilarious. […]
Why was Pedro in Beijing and Why Was He Naked?
I haven’t added to my annoying people series in a while, so I think it’s time I introduced a person who could be a whole series on their own: the annoying hostel roommate. I’m sure I’ll be writing many more posts in the future about people with whom I’ve been stuck in dorm rooms over the years, but [read more…]
Being Mooned by China’s Toddlers
I have no personal experience on which to base this statement, but I think I can safely say that changing diapers sucks. The invention of the disposable diaper has made the process somewhat less unpleasant, but what if I told you it could be easier still? What if I said you never have to worry […]
Nature Sucks, But I Can Help
Traveling around China, I noticed something: in a country filled with spectacular natural scenery, domestic tourists have found numerous methods to limit their exposure to the abundance of nature. They had to, really. Can you imagine if they simply accepted nature as it is? Neither can I—the prospect is simply too horrible to fathom. It […]
Climbing the Great Wall of China Is Not For Drunkards
Every visitor to Beijing makes a trip the Great Wall of China and all but a few choose between two sections: Badaling and Mutianyu. The first is the most popular and naturally, the most crowded; the second gets all those visitors who want to avoid the crowds of the first. Since more and more travelers […]
This Bad English Sign Has Saved Many Lives
…and all of those lives were able to read Chinese. This sign was found at Karakul Lake in China’s Xinjiang Province and if you’re curious what the blind four-year old who was hired to translate it into bad English was actually trying to say, here’s the gist of it: “Beware of altitude sickness. Please take […]
Warning: Picture of a Disgusting Chinese Toilet
In hindsight, I don’t know what more I could want—it has both a divider for a little privacy and select reading materials strewn about. I found this lovely squat toilet at one of the rest stops our bus made on the way from Lijiang to the Tiger Leaping Gorge in China’s Yunnan Province. You’ll find […]