lexispence10&#39;s Guestbook

The excitement of Mongolia
Mongolia has been on my short list for years. I can't wait to make this trip and your blog is fantastic! Thanks for taking us along.

From Blog: Mongolia - Ger camps, cycling, and nomads

23rd July 2023

Wolf Totem
I should have suggested you watch The Hu's "Wolf Totem" as the first track on our "World Metal" thread in the World Music Forum where the metal horses are a wonder to behold. Fascinating how the medium is embraced in many countries around the World. A real eye-opener for me as a further example of music as the pulse that keeps the hearts of many cultures beating.

From Blog: Mongolia - Ger camps, cycling, and nomads

22nd July 2023

Mongolia and the Music
Interesting read Lexi. Mongolia sounds as if it caters well with ger camps and locals catering for tourism. Love this pic of playing the Horsehead Fiddle that has to be one of the most mesmerising musical instruments on the planet. I have posted it in "Musicians of the World" thread in the Photography Forum. Check out The Hu playing "Wolf Totem" on youtube for a Heavy Metal Mongolian experience and let me know if it takes you there!

From Blog: Mongolia - Ger camps, cycling, and nomads

23rd July 2023

Wolf Totem!
Haha - it's the background music of my compilation video on my IG account. :D

From Blog: Mongolia - Ger camps, cycling, and nomads

19th July 2023

Jinshanling
Jinshanling seems to stretch forever. I have never had the guts to brave the adjoining Simatai Great Wall though. Great pic.

19th July 2023

Jinshanling Great Wall
Fabulous pic of one of my favourite parts of the Great Wall. Did Jinshanling one Christmas Day with Denise and our then teenage children. We were the only ones there so they had to open the gates to let us on. Even facetimed Denise's family having Christmas lunch in Oz from there which used to be impossible to get a phone connection at that time of year. Hope you can check out some more Great Wall in other Provinces of China as long it is indeed!!!

21st July 2023

Great Christmas gift
That sounds really awesome and memorable to have a chat with family from there. It was hard to take a bad picture here and the weather was perfect (though on the hot side). Truly, an amazing experience and I would definitely go back to visit other sections.

17th July 2023

The Great Wall
You really are doing it the right way.... seeing original and restores sections. I'm enjoying your trip.

21st July 2023

Thank you!
The Great Wall was just as incredible as I imagined. <3

17th July 2023

Home and Away
Bob Carlsen

Where wee the crowds!?
When my son and I were there it was so crowded that I decided to join some elderly people while my son walked the wall...I had broken my ankle and was still wearing the black boot. They shared their snacks with me...not sure what each was! We had a great time conversing in sign language!

21st July 2023

Early hours
Oh no! Sorry to hear about your ankle - that cannot have been fun. But at least it is a pretty park with friendly people. We arrived in the park at 7am, so we were ahead of the crowds. It was also a weekday (Tuesday), so I think there were going to be less people anyway.

14th July 2023

The wild wall
It makes me so happy to hear that you decided to have a go at a less visited section of the Great Wall (the wild/the unrestored wall). I find those sections to be the most exciting and inspiring sections. You liked it too from what I understand. /Ake

15th July 2023

Gubeikou
I absolutely loved the Gubeikou section. It was so peaceful and I love the historical visual of it. Seeing it in a half ruined state made it all the more clear the effort and longevity of it. The Jinlang section was equally amazing, but different. I loved seeing the contrast.

13th July 2023

Palaces of Beijing
I love the various palaces and historical parks of Beijing. I have been lucky enough to be able to visit some of them more than once and att different times of the day. You sometimes get a different when going to the palaces early in the morning. I have also had time enough to visit minor temples and parks. Those are also nice even though most visitors skip them. If you are pressed for time it makes sence to skip them and because essentially they are just less glamourous variations of the major sites. /Ake

From Blog: Beijing, Day 3 - Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace

15th July 2023

So much to see!
Yeah, there seemed to be a lot to do and see just walking around. It was so hard to plan and yet so easy to adapt to enjoy ourselves. While I would have liked to see Forbidden City, I was not devastated as there were so many other things to do!

From Blog: Beijing, Day 3 - Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace

13th July 2023

I lived in Beijing 20+ years ago
I actually lived in Beijing for half a year back in 2001, so little over 20 years ago. I have been back twice after that and seen how rapidly the hutongs are disappearing. At least they were replacing the hutongs very rapidly in the parts of Beijing that I lived, roamed and worked in. I kinda like the hutongs so that development makes me a bit sad. /Ake

From Blog: Beijing, Days 1-2 - Jingshan Park, Drum Tower, Brewery

15th July 2023

Hutangs
I loved the hutangs. It seemed so authentic and traditional. Just walking down and peeking through the doorways and seeing just normal people living their lives. Nothing ostentatious or touristy, just a really cool place to live.

From Blog: Beijing, Days 1-2 - Jingshan Park, Drum Tower, Brewery

10th July 2023

Harmony
I'm impressed and tired with 23,000 steps. Fascinating.

From Blog: Beijing, Day 3 - Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace

10th July 2023

The complexity of visiting
It sounds like you've made the best of the situation.

From Blog: Beijing, Days 1-2 - Jingshan Park, Drum Tower, Brewery

10th July 2023

Cappadocia
Thanks for taking us along on your trip. This is a location we hope to visit sooner than later.

From Blog: Cappadoccia .... and rain

10th July 2023

Home and Away
Bob Carlsen

Happy birthday!
And what a nice way to celebrate. And thanks for the memories as my son and I went to these places in 2013. I had broken my ankle 8 weeks earlier so he helped with my mobility.

From Blog: Beijing, Day 3 - Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace

8th July 2023

I have very fond memories from Cappadocia
I spent about a week in Cappadocia in mid 90-ies. I absolutely loved it there. It is such an amazing place. I hope to be able to go back there again some day. Thanks for your blog and for bringing back some nice memories to me. /Ake

From Blog: Cappadoccia .... and rain

8th July 2023

Bad timing
Yeah, I had been dying to go here for so long. I think it really was the weather and the organized trip. I think if I had planned on my own I would have enjoyed it. I got the first bad taste in my mouth when the minute the bus started driving from the airport, the guide asked us what optional activities we wanted to do and they were quite expensive for anywhere and he was trying to get us to 'give to the locals' essentially.

From Blog: Cappadoccia .... and rain

7th July 2023

Kayyy
non-member comment

Find guide
As for me, there is no better way to explore the country than through the locals! So I am very much into this new Find Guide app which helps you find a local guide wherever you travel. You just choose your destination, date, language and other special requirements and get a list of local guides with experience and exclusive insights on the country.

From Blog: Cappadoccia .... and rain

6th July 2023