Eight days in a backpacker’s oasis in Wuhan, China
DAY 53 – A stay at a hostel on a wooded lot in Wuhan, China gave us the opportunity to rest up, book a Yangtze cruise, and engage in some fierce music wars. [keep reading]
Overnight stay in Zhuzhou, a town I can’t remember
DAY 51 – Funny how some places you visit leave no impression on you whatsoever, like ghost towns of your memory. Zhuzhou, China was like that for me. [keep reading]
Tea leaves and local families in Taxiacun
DAY 49 – An extra day in tiny Taxiacun, China let us explore the town and even get a surprise invitation to a local family's house, where they gave us tea cake. [keep reading]
Fujian tulou houses and the perfect kindness of strangers
DAY 47 – After a bus ride to the famous tulou in China we found no facilities at all, and fell in with a group of Taiwanese cyclists who took us under their wing. [keep reading]
Gulangyu, a Chinese community like no other
DAY 46 – Quiet and relaxed Gulangyu is a peculiar island in south China that feels a lot more European than Asian. It's easy to forget time on "Piano Island". [keep reading]
Shaoxing and the mysterious yin-yang of travel
DAY 36 – There is a "yin-yang" aspect to travel: you see some things and you miss others. Shaoxing, China showed us that that is how it should be on the road. [keep reading]
Lose yourself on “Old Street” in ancient Tunxi
DAY 31 – Most people pass through Tunxi, China because they're on their way elsewhere. But here's what you find if you stick around and explore Tunxi instead. [keep reading]
Struggling up China’s sacred Huangshan mountains
DAY 26 – Striking out on your own as we did on the Huangshan Mountains in China is much more rewarding than the comfort and stability of package tours. [keep reading]
The secret misty mountain town of Tangkou, China
DAY 24 – Tangkou, China is an obscure mountain town that feels like it was made just for you. Travel should mostly be remarkable destinations such as this. [keep reading]
Laundry service plus vomit: The tale of Hefei
DAY 14 – Hefei is a growing Chinese city that still feels old. We managed to find laundry service on a rural back street and I overcame a spell of throwing up. [keep reading]
Saying “yes” to a Chinese tout was a good choice
DAY 12 – About a tour of Kaifeng, China with a local named "Jason", a.k.a. Golden Phoenix, a great guy who showed us the city on his bicycle rickshaw. [keep reading]
The amazing food stalls of Kaifeng
DAY 7 – The food at Kaifeng, China's nightly market is so good we stayed a few extra days, just to eat more of the cheap, delicious dishes there. [keep reading]
The ancient clay army and the small wild goose
DAY 5 – How travel can show you places you'd only ever dreamed of visiting – like the Terra Cotta Army near Xi'an, China, a real trip across time. [keep reading]
The big grey skies of Xi’an, China
DAY 1 – The grimy air of China can actually enhance the distant, ancient feel of some of its modern cities. That's how we found magnificent Xi'an in central China. [keep reading]
The strange beauty of Sa Pa, Vietnam
DAY 333 – Sa Pa is the best of northern Vietnam in winter: cold, rugged, with nice guesthouses and a mystical feel. Here's how it inspires you to continue traveling. [keep reading]
As Khmer kids in canoes do circles around my motorboat
DAY 228 – Traveling Cambodia by river, like we did today, can be a great way to see local people and the real countryside. As long as your insulin stays cool and dry. [keep reading]