Introduction
China Eastern 734 737-700 Economy Class Hong Kong to Kunming
Transiting Kunming Airport – International to Domestic
China Eastern 734 737-700 Economy Class Kunming to Lijiang
Jin Hong Garden Villa Lijiang
Biking in Lijiang, Day 1: Baisha Village
Biking in Lijiang, Day 2: Down to Lashi Lake
Biking in Lijiang, Day 3: Into Dali Villages
China Eastern 733 737-700 Economy Class Lijiang to Kunming
Transiting Kunming Airport – Domestic to International
China Eastern 733 737-700 Economy Class Kunming to Hong Kong

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After two days of fun riding, I was looking forward to Day 3.

We made our way up to a little hut, where we started our biking.

It was a dirtier, though stunning, path.

Everything was dainty and cute down to the toilets.

After that, we made our last haul on a road towards the snow mountains. Seriously, it was stunning.

Continue reading “Review: Biking in an Ancient City – Day 3, Into Dali Villages” →

Introduction
China Eastern 734 737-700 Economy Class Hong Kong to Kunming
Transiting Kunming Airport – International to Domestic
China Eastern 734 737-700 Economy Class Kunming to Lijiang
Jin Hong Garden Villa Lijiang
Biking in Lijiang, Day 1: Baisha Village
Biking in Lijiang, Day 2: Down to Lashi Lake
Biking in Lijiang, Day 3: Into Dali Villages
China Eastern 733 737-700 Economy Class Lijiang to Kunming
Transiting Kunming Airport – Domestic to International
China Eastern 733 737-700 Economy Class Kunming to Hong Kong

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After a good night of sleep, we took an hour long bus ride to a gas station, where we warmed up and began a 19km ride down the bottom of the hill. (Apologies – there are virtually zero road signs in the Chinese countryside, so I have no idea where I was.)

Wherever I was, Lijiang, China

The ride was easy, fun and refreshing, and I really didn’t have to do anything besides keep my balance. Really, I found myself unwinding more than anything else.

Villages in Lijiang, China

The downhill ride featured amazing views.

Villages in Lijiang, China

Three straw women, Lijiang, China

Continue reading “Review: Biking in an Ancient City – Day 2, Down to Lashi Lake” →

Introduction
China Eastern 734 737-700 Economy Class Hong Kong to Kunming
Transiting Kunming Airport – International to Domestic
China Eastern 734 737-700 Economy Class Kunming to Lijiang
Jin Hong Garden Villa Lijiang
Biking in Lijiang, Day 1: Baisha Village
Biking in Lijiang, Day 2: Down to Lashi Lake
Biking in Lijiang, Day 3: Into Dali Villages
China Eastern 733 737-700 Economy Class Lijiang to Kunming
Transiting Kunming Airport – Domestic to International
China Eastern 733 737-700 Economy Class Kunming to Hong Kong

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After lunch in a (real) Naxi courtyard, a truck hauled our bikes over, where we would start our 60km three-day biking tour around the city. My bike was an ex-Saharan bike that rode really well.

Lijiang Bike

We made our way out of the rather bumpy trail into the open countryside.

Near Baishazhen, Lijiang

It was a clear day, and we rode down from Xiangyang to Baishazhen, which was about a quick 15 minute ride.

Xiangyang, Lijiang, Yunnan, China

Continue reading “Review: Biking in an Ancient City – Day 1, Baisha Village” →

Introduction
China Eastern 734 737-700 Economy Class Hong Kong to Kunming
Transiting Kunming Airport – International to Domestic
China Eastern 734 737-700 Economy Class Kunming to Lijiang
Jin Hong Garden Villa Lijiang
Biking in Lijiang, Day 1: Baisha Village
Biking in Lijiang, Day 2: Down to Lashi Lake
Biking in Lijiang, Day 3: Into Dali Villages
China Eastern 733 737-700 Economy Class Lijiang to Kunming
Transiting Kunming Airport – Domestic to International
China Eastern 733 737-700 Economy Class Kunming to Hong Kong

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Apologies with the lack of pictures, as we had to hustle from each place to another.

We got off the plane at Kunming, and turned right into an area where flight attendants took our boarding passes one by one and reprinted us new ones.

China Eastern Boeing 737-700 Kunming Airport

Continue reading “Review: Biking in an Ancient City – Transiting Kunming Airport: International to Domestic” →

Introduction
Dragonair 804 A330-300 Hong Kong to Shanghai Pudong Economy Class
Hyatt on the Bund Shanghai
Exploring Shanghai
Dragonair 891 A330-300 Shanghai Pudong to Hong Kong Economy Class

Editor’s Note: Sorry for such a late post. I was deliriously tired and lagging behind terribly on sleep, so for the first, say, seven years of the blog, as we’ll be in school, expect gaps like these every now and then.

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The one problem with family travelling is that my family and I have different ideas of travel. While my mom is into landmarks, I’m mostly about mingling around local areas and getting the true “vibe” of the city. You can’t not do some of the latter when doing the former, it’s just that in my opinion, my mom doesn’t really put heart into actually getting to know how living in the city is like. (If you’re reading this, mom, I still love you, I’m just saying.)

This was one of the good things about this trip. Travelling with my aunt, I realised that she also likes being on the road and getting a feel of the city, so we had fun doing that.

Exploring Shanghai

After we settled into our hotel, we left for a little afternoon walk around the area, and wanting to visit the Bund at night, we went for a walk in the other direction. Not wanting to get lost, we quickly did a U-turn and had dinner at a pretty good hole-in-the-wall restaurant.

Shanghai streets

Shanghai streets

Continue reading “Review: To Shanghai for Books, Parks and the New Economy – Exploring Shanghai” →

Introduction
Cathay Pacific The Cabin Business Class Lounge Hong Kong
Dragonair 380 A330-300 Business Class Hong Kong to Fukuoka
Grand Hyatt Fukuoka
Seikai Beppu
Dining at Seikai Beppu
Exploring Beppu
Hoteiya Yufu City
Dining at Hoteiya Yufu City
Exploring Yufuin
Lounge Fukuoka Fukuoka
Dragonair 381 A330-300 Business Class Fukuoka to Hong Kong

Yufuin was one of the places that I originally didn’t feel like going to. It didn’t seem as intriguing as Aso, it was smaller, and it was f*cking close to Beppu, so I wasn’t a fan at the start.

Yufuin Store Toy Cars

I really have no idea where to start with Yufuin. On one hand it exceeded my expectations and was a damn charming little city, on the other hand it’s ridiculously touristy.

Continue reading “Review: Kyushu Karnival – Exploring Yufuin” →