The low down and dirty on Chinese toilets
When Andres and I were living in China we befriended an American scientist with a healthy dose of wanderlust. He’s been travelling throughout Asia for a while before he buckles down to do his PhD. Along the way he’s been writing about his journey and recently shared a story that was too funny, and way [...]
Hiking in to the sky along Tiger Leaping Gorge
Some people say Tiger Leaping Gorge is the world’s deepest river canyon, we say it’s a spectacular place to spend a few days hiking. With the Yangzte River cutting it’s icy way through some serious mountains, the higher you go, the more the river rewards you with it’s vindictive perspective. Starting close to the river [...]
Naxi: the all singing, all dancing, nature loving people of China
Luckyily for us, we happened to arrive in Lijiang during the Naxi celebrations to their God of Water – Shu. Every year in January they hold ceremonies to worship nature, as they believe strongly in the value of water as the source of life; keeping their local river systems clean, living in harmony nearby water [...]
Lijiang: where old and new worlds butt heads
With a history of over 800 years, a unique cultural blend of ethnic minorities, a killer mountain back drop and UNESCO heritage listed architecture, Lijiang is not only popular among Chinese tourists, it’s in danger of being loved to death. Sure, it’s beautiful, and if you focus on the details and wander away from the [...]
Hot Spring chill out – Chinese style
You’d be forgiven for thinking this looks like a frolicky Chinese Summer scene; even though it’s still freezing outside, according to my temperature gauge anyway ( a brisk Spring variable of 0-14 degrees Celsius) it isn’t exactly the climate for bathing. These people are making the most of one of Dali’s best assets – an [...]
Photo dump: The dance of the dragon
One of the most important parts of the New Year Spring Festival is the dance of the dragon; a spectacular procession that evokes traditional Chinese values. It also just so happens to be the Year of the Dragon – the fire breathing ‘star’ of the zodiac for a good number of reasons. Dragons are meant [...]
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How to drink Baijiu like a Chinaman
It was Australia Day, we felt it was our National duty to hunt down other Australians, dig up our inner bogan, subject other travellers to horrible renditions of Aussie Rock and drink too much beer. Disregarding the true importance of Australia’s National Holiday, like the majority of Australians, and treating it as a good excuse [...]
Eternal Spring
Spring has been slipping quietly in to the dark and windy corners of Dali and whispering her delight in the change of season. The fields are starting to laugh as pink blossoms, yellow fields and white magnolias transform the countryside. Slowly, slowly, the sun has been warming up our Wintery bones and the atmosphere is [...]
Blasting our way in to the Chinese New Year
Chinese people certainly know how to party! On the eve of the Dragon New Year anarchy reigned supreme. As the good folk of Dali set off every firecracker they could get their hands on, from super rockets that lit up the night sky, to tiny throw downs and huge boxes of noise reminiscent of battle; [...]
Painting the town Chinese Red
As Chinese communities around the world prepare for the Dragon New Year, we’re feeling pretty excited to have a front seat to all the action. The streets are heaving with people shopping for new clothes, buying up special foods at the market and painting their doors with a fresh coat of lucky red. The mood [...]
