Blogs from Asia - page 14687

Saturday, so Felicia didn’t have to work. Had breakfast at Grace. Got a songtaew up to Doi Suthep, which is where Wat Phrathat is located up on the top of a hill. It was beautiful up there, wanted to spend all afternoon there, it was to so peaceful and pleasant. We got blessed by a monk—we kneeled in front on him and he threw water on us, said some chants, and then tied a white string on each of our wrists (male monks cannot touch females, so he laid it on Felicia’s wrist and I tied it). We hung out at Doi Suthep for a while just enjoying the peace and tranquility of the surroundings. Got a songtaew up to Bhuping Palace, the Royal Winter Palace. I had to borrow a pair of pants since you ... read more

So 16 hours later, at 9AM, we arrived in a very warm and muggy Xian. This is a past capital of China, and current regional government centre and is quite prosperous and large. It is also the starting point of the old Silk Road trading route so has a large Muslim population. Pollution is a huge issue - you cannot believe the air quality. But still, it is a great place for a visit. In fact we all agreed that we wished we had more time here. Our location was great, and after a quick shower up we all headed off to do our own thing. I visited a few sites outside of the city walls - the Great Goose Pagoda and surrounding temple, as well as the Shaanxi Museum. Afterwards I headed to the city ... read more

The one-legged teenager pondered the huge piles of rusty anti-personnel mines with the feigned disinterest common to those his age - I almost expected a drawled "whaaatever". Then he handed me one of the mines and said, with something approaching glee "Press here". It should have been obvious what would happen but when we heard the loud 'CLICK' of the internal detonator we all jumped nonetheless. He laughed, with something of a developing swagger. He would be a man soon, an Asian man, from a poor, underdeveloped country. A one-legged man. The biggest thing that struck me about all these deadly landmines was just how simple they were. But for a few bureaucratic hurdles best circumvented by those with better connections, I think my immediate friends and I could have a landmine factory setup and running ... read more

Asking for directions can work as a pick-up line.... I mean literally....You need to get somewhere, but you don't know how.... So you ask for directions. Instead of the usual response, you get chatting and then you get picked up in a car and taken to your destination. In other words, asking for directions can score you a lift! Brilliant, isn't it! I got dropped off in the city by three friendly Kiwi guys, whom I'd met at the airport in Hong Kong. After saying goodbye and getting invited out for drinks with them later on, I headed out in search for a place to stay. I was walking down the street slowly, loaded up with my backpacks (2 of). Noticeable from afar, my pack had reached 'over-sized' proportions at this point in my trip. I ... read more

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