Suzhou is often referred to as “the Venice of the East.” In a less ethnocentric world, we would perhaps call Venice “the Suzhou of the West.” The original canal city, Suzhou was already a over a thousand years old when Venice was founded (514 B.C.E. vs. 421 C.E.) It is also significantly larger than Venice, a full order of magnitude more, in fact. Its canal system is indescribably extensive and complex, spreading through a vast network of fields, … [Read more...]
The Tsaatan Nomads – Mongolia Reindeer Herders
The Tsaatan Nomads, also known as the Dukhan, live high in the Ulaan Taiga mountain range of Mongolia. Russia borders the region to the west, the Darkhad Valley and Lake Khövsgöl (Khövsgöl Nuur) to the east. Through millennia, the Tsaatan livelihood has been tied to their reindeer herd. Today the roughly 500 Dukhan left are some of the last of the reindeer herders in the world. Reaching the Tsaatan camp is a challenging endeavor as it takes … [Read more...]
Xi’an Belongs to the World
Chinese culture belongs not only to the Chinese but also to the whole world,” said former Chinese president Hu Jintao. If Chinese culture does indeed belong to the world, then, without a doubt, the place to explore it is Xi’An. If you’ve never heard of it before, you’re probably not alone. Oddly, one of China’s most interesting and unique cities is not particularly well known to the outside world, especially considering its historical … [Read more...]
Six Things You Didn’t Know About Beijing
“I speak and speak. But the listener retains only the words he is expecting." So cautioned Marco Polo as he left the court of the great Kublai Khan in Dadu (modern day Beijing) in the year 1295 C.E. Certainly this was a timely reminder for me as I stepped off the plane in Beijing for the first time. Over the years, I had heard lots about Beijing, most of which with a negative slant. Much to my delight, I encountered a wonderful and fascinating … [Read more...]
Visiting the best of Northern Vietnam
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live with in a rural community, deep in the northern mountains of Vietnam? Eating local delicacies and drinking happy water into the later hours of the night? Away from the bustling noise of the city and all the tourism? Waking up with the farmers as the sun comes up, hearing the sound of roosters singing in the valleys? I always … [Read more...]
Suzhou, China: An Edible Garden of Eden
If I were a philosopher, my motto would be “I eat, therefore I travel.” My first step towards understanding a culture is through food. Taste is the silent thread that binds me to fellow gastronomes around the globe. This is especially true when I visit a country where I know not a soul nor a single word of the native language, my exact situation during my recent visit to Suzhou, China. As alien as I felt upon arrival, I correctly suspected that … [Read more...]
Between the Traditional and the Modern, there Lies Ulaanbaatar
Somewhere between the modern and the traditional, there lies Ulaanbaatar. Mongolia’s fascinating capital is a city evolving before our very eyes. Its population is rapidly trading its ancestral, nomadic ways for a more modern life while still trying to retain the uniqueness of its rich culture. Ulaanbaatar is a city in transition, moved by dynamics bigger than itself. It lies at the intersection of globalization, capitalism, the legacy of … [Read more...]
The Delightful Mai Samui
The calmness of the sea and the towering palm trees full of coconuts alerts you to a paradise awaiting inside the Mai Samui Beach Resort and Spa. Upon arrival, you are greeted with a smile and an ice-cold drink. But you are distracted by what’s around you. The rooms tower above and border the swimming pools below. Your eyes are spoiled at the sight and you know from the beginning that your stay at Mai Samui will be a vacation that you’ll never … [Read more...]
Welcome to Bali – Tropical Paradise or Living Hell?
What comes to mind when you think of Bali? Vacation? Beach? Beauty? Something else? For me, this Indonesian island has always been a bittersweet kind of place. "YOU DON'T ALWAYS NEED A PLAN. SOMETIMES YOU JUST NEED TO BREATHE. TRUST. LET GO. AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS." -MANDY HALE It is a beautiful place - the people as much as the land itself. But, it's also where a number of Australians (my local breed) go on holidays due to its proximity and … [Read more...]
On a Bike Through an Indonesian Kampong
On a bike through an Indonesian Kampong Indonesia is a fascinating country. The collection of islands close to the equator has everything from beaches, volcanoes, rain forest, legends and smiling people trying to make you feel at home. It's a gorgeous, mind boggling country that stole my heart already years ago. It was good to be back after many years. I arrived in Jakarta and was hurried to the car my friend had sent for me. ‘We have to go … [Read more...]
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