We decided since we got sidetracked in Dunhuang that we had to at least travel to Turpan during our extended layover in Urumqi. It is unfortunate that it’s the worst time to visit the “Death Valley” of China but we’re here and not sure if we will be in this part of the world anytimeContinue reading “Catching the VIP Cruiser to Turpan”
Category Archives: Budget Travel
Hiking up to the Surface of the Moon in Japan
The beautiful landscape shaped by volcanoes and the art of bathing in a onsen attracts many visitors to Japan and beautiful mountain towns like Aso. This small town is the prefect place to experience Japanese culture and see one of the countries largest active volcanoes even in the rainy season. If it is sunny –Continue reading “Hiking up to the Surface of the Moon in Japan”
3 Farflung Museums of the World
My current home town of NYC has some pretty amazing museums. The city is fortunate to have the world’s history and art come to them instead of traveling many time zones away to see it. When I’m traveling I’m always up for checking out the ones that get a little less attention and are somewhatContinue reading “3 Farflung Museums of the World”
Circling the Flame
The one thing to not miss while staying in Kagoshima is making a day trip to the volcanic island of Sakurajima. The last major devastating blast was almost 50 years ago and hopefully it won’t go off again anytime soon. One of the three peaks still gives the surrounding area a daily coat of greyContinue reading “Circling the Flame”
Quick stop in Kyoto and on to Kagoshima in Kyushu
Our stay in Kyoto was only a few days but we’re without regrets and are looking forward to what’s ahead. Our plans on where we are going in the weeks ahead are still pretty undefined. They mostly will be dependent on the weather, if we can find an apartment in Tokyo for the month ofContinue reading “Quick stop in Kyoto and on to Kagoshima in Kyushu”
Return to the Land of the Rising Sun
We said good-bye to Shanghai on Friday as we boarded our taxi in the surprisingly sleepy Jing’an District. The ride to Pudong seemed like more a demonstration on how our taxi driver could get us to the airport faster than his nemesis the speedy Maglev. Of course, there are no working seat belts in thisContinue reading “Return to the Land of the Rising Sun”
Transport with a splash of color
Most trips overseas for the intrepid traveler involve overland travel. There’s sometimes unavoidable on small islands in the Philippines and the desert expanses of the Middle East. The road offers adventure, perspective to a new place and experiencing the local color. Some of us have quickly found that schedules in most places do not goContinue reading “Transport with a splash of color”
Taking Flight in Bryant Park
Blue Ribbon by Cori B Spring actually started as early as February in this section of the world and some would believe winter was a very kind one to all of us after how much snow was dumped on us last year. We had 70 degree days in January and we had very few thatContinue reading “Taking Flight in Bryant Park”
Your priced out of a trip destination and a dream, can’t afford Paris? Part Deux
An evening stroll along the Seine/Bospherus. A room with a view of the sparkling Eiffel Tower/Blue Mosque at dusk. This is a city where travelers can show up with no plans. Time in both Paris and Istanbul can be spent just walking the streets and spending time viewing art in small and large museumsContinue reading “Your priced out of a trip destination and a dream, can’t afford Paris? Part Deux”
Your priced out of a trip to Moscow? How about Georgia instead?
We all have a vision on how we will spend our precious days away from regular life. For some its traveling far from home to a place where most things are foreign. An evening stroll along the Volga viewing the red stars that light up the top of the Kremlin, Seven Sisters and St. Basil’s.Continue reading “Your priced out of a trip to Moscow? How about Georgia instead?”
Egypt’s baksheesh industry..will it survive?
The people who are benefiting the least Mubarak leaving office sooner than later are his police forces and political allies. They are the ones who ask for the baksheesh even if they don’t do anything helpful or even help someone cross the street safely in Downtown Cairo. Some took to the streets and were takingContinue reading “Egypt’s baksheesh industry..will it survive?”
Cairo and it’s baksheesh and sheesha
It’s hot and almost too hot, smoggy and as always, the streets are filled with cars, horse and buggies and motorbikes. Taking the camera out and trying to capture what it’s like to walk around Cairo is the last thing I think about doing. Just want to get around without loosing a body partContinue reading “Cairo and it’s baksheesh and sheesha”
farflungistan 