It’s a bit grey and there is a chill to the air as we arrive in Hong Kong. Technically our day started yesterday as we have flown overnight and there has been barely a night’s sleep between the four of us.… Read the rest
Hello Hong Kong!
Terracotta Warriors
Not a trip for the unyielding traveler, finding your way from Xi’an city to the Terracotta Warriors is an exercise in patience and luck.
The Journey
We set out from our hotel with views of catching the very reasonably priced local bus out to the site of the Warriors, around an hours’ drive away.… Read the rest
The Forbidden City
The only word that comes close to describing the enormity of the Forbidden City is “vast”. Even this doesn’t seem to do it justice. It’s hard to comprehend that the Forbidden City (Palace Museum) was built in the Ming Dynasty (around 1420).… Read the rest
Drum & Bell Towers
The Drum and Bell Towers stand opposite each other at the ends of Drum & Bell Square. Together, they served as the city’s official timekeepers until 1924, with drums beaten and bells rung to mark each hour of the day.… Read the rest
Temple of Heaven: Imperial Walkway Bridge
The Temple of Heaven Park is a vast green space in the heart of Beijing. It has the not-so-green Temple of Heaven, including its Circular Mound Altar structure as its centerpiece. By no means is the Temple the only structure though.… Read the rest
Temple of Heaven: The Imperial Vault of Heaven
The Temple of Heaven Park is a vast green space in the heart of Beijing. It has the not-so-green Temple of Heaven, including its Circular Mound Altar structure as its centerpiece. By no means is the Temple the only structure though.… Read the rest
Temple of Heaven: Circular Mound Altar
The Temple of Heaven Park is a vast green space in the heart of Beijing. It has the not-so-green Temple of Heaven, including its Circular Mound Altar structure as its centerpiece. … Read the rest
Hutongs
This feels like the real deal. It’s drizzling and I’m finally out. In China. The real China. Old certainly meets new here in the Hutongs (narrow street) district where neon sits beside hundreds of year old buildings. These are now protected as the old town historic district. … Read the rest
Tokyo In 12 Hours
Tokyo in 12 hours! Not ideal, but it’s all I have. I’m on a stopover on the way home and have been awake for 24 hours already. Having left the UK yesterday and now landed in Tokyo early this morning, I have a mere twelve hours to explore.… Read the rest