Asia / Middle East
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Kong Island
Hong Kong 10/10/2016 UpdatePlease check state department travel advisories due to the protest before you head out. Without further ado…. my story After a 6 hour delay and losing most of a day, I finally reach my destination, Hong Kong. A British colony since 1842 and returned to China in 1997, it’s always been an important international trading port and the backdrop of a ton of movies – from Bruce Lee films to Bond films and everything in between. I stayed in an area called SoHo – home to more expats and lively nightlife. After Korea, I was a bit drained and wanted something more ‘homely’? Definitely not the right word, there’s no…
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The Land of the Morning Calm
Seoul, South Korea 1/18/2020 Japan might be the ‘Land of the Rising Sun’, South Korea is the Land of the Morning Calm. This name was given by an emperor from the Ming Dynasty in China – calling Korea ‘Chaohsien’ which means ‘Morning Freshness’; later dubbed as ‘Morning Calm’ However this is a lie in Seoul. Seoul is the complete opposite of calm; however Jeju or other smaller cities, I see it to be more accurate. In Seoul, morning calm really only seems to exist between the super early hours of the morning, I’m going to guess between 3-4am and if it rains. This city seems to 100% energized at all…
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Dubai – an uncultured city
7/18/2016 Like they typical girl you see in teenage movies – you know the one that wants to be the most popular girl, shows off her new designer handbag and jewelry, thinks and wants to be better than everyone else, but loses her true identity for the sake of her image, that’s exactly what Dubai is. Built on nothing but wanting to be the best, biggest, fastest, longest, highest at the time of construction, Dubai has a self identity complex. The city is fake. It’s cool to see the architecture which is nothing short of amazing, but culturally it’s lacking. Besides seeing local men in their white robes (dishdash and…
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Bali Breezed
Bali, Indonesia 1/18/2020 Yes, breezed. I’ve heard so many great things about Bali, I had to make a stop over. On my way to Singapore for work, I took a little weekend trip to Dubai (read about it here) then shot off to the little pre-dominantly Hindu island in an otherwise Muslim nation named Bali. I was there nearly a week and it felt like I needed more time. There’s are essentially 2 parts of Bali most tourists go to and rightfully so; the cultural side and the beachy more resort style. Let’s start off with the former. Ubud This is basically the epicenter of Bali tourism. Ask anyone who’s been to Bali…
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Bangkok
2/23/21 Krung Thep better known as Bangkok, which basic means ‘the place with lots of olive trees. This capital city of Thailand boasting a strong population of 10.5 million people and growing has yet another name. The official name is insanely long, ready? Ok try pronouncing this: “Krungthepmahanakhon Amonrattanakosin Mahinthara Yutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udom Ratchaniwet Mahasathan Amonphiman Awatansathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukamprasit” no joke. This roughly translates to something along the lines of:The city of angels, the great city, the residence of the Emerald Buddha, the impregnable city (of Ayutthaya) of God Indra, the grand capital of the world endowed with nine precious gems, the happy city, abounding in an enormous…
