The Brag Corner: UNESCO World Heritage Sites I’ve Visited

by Gay Mitra - September 23, 2014December 2, 20157

Like, someone cares. And that’s why such wee space in this blog is aptly named “The Brag Corner”. You see, on a sizzling hot day in Leon, Nicaragua when I don’t feel like sightseeing nor working, I think of trivial things to do. Today, I thought of tallying the world heritage sites I have stepped…

Book Sharing Project 2012: Three Flights To A Library

by Gay Mitra - September 19, 2013August 12, 20144

I got choked up. And I must have squeezed my daughter Luna a little too tight. She fought her way out of my embrace and ran towards a gaggle of loitering pupils. I was standing on stage in the middle of a half-century-old school, forcing my weepy eyes to stay open. Three months we waited…

The Great Call Of China

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by Gay Mitra - January 14, 2012August 12, 201450

Our calling came two years ago. Visuals of a snaking wall on a mountain, a “bird’s nest” made of steel, a humongous portrait of a man seemingly watching over a city square, and snow – lots of snow, floated in our dreamy heads. We took heed. Even if we’re total Cheimaphobics. We arrived as honeymooners…

Snapshot Saturday: Brilliant Nest

by Gay Mitra - May 14, 2011August 13, 201424

Beijing’s National StadiumAlso known as the Bird’s Nest, is the world’s largest steel structure. Strolled around this brilliant work of art and architectural genius, one fine winter morning. TweetShare This page was viewed times.

Snapshot Saturday: The Wall and The Shoelace

by Gay Mitra - December 11, 2010August 13, 20144

Still can’t believe I tied my shoelaces on a historic wall!While the above caption may not seem to make sense, I’d like to stress how difficult it was to take my foot off that handrail. I froze as a gush of winter wind swept past. Planning to see the Great Wall of China? Read this…

Snapshot Saturday: Great Balls Of China

by Gay Mitra - October 23, 2010August 13, 20141

Pardon the exaggerated title. I’m actually just pertaining to squid balls.You reckon that’s what the kid is holding? Then it must play a significant role in depicting Chinese culture. Sculpture can be found along Xi’an’s Beiyuanmen Muslim Culture Street. TweetShare This page was viewed times.

Guangzhou’s Orchid Garden

by Gay Mitra - March 10, 2010August 13, 20144

Our last stop in China, and we almost didn’t make it. The Orchid Garden is a tranquil hideaway in the middle of a bustling city. A perfect spot to take a breather after our 12-day backpacking trip across four major cities. But before we ended up in the garden, a mishap almost tragically capped off…

Mausoleum of the Nanyue King

by Gay Mitra - March 8, 2010August 13, 20144

We arrived a little past 11:00 AM in Guangzhou (also known as Canton), the capital of Guangdong province, after a 27-hour train ride from Xi’an. We had 9 hours to kill before checking in for our 10:15 PM Manila-bound flight. Just enough time to visit one of the best museums in China. Inside the museum….

Xi’an-Guangzhou: The Long and Winding Railroad

by Gay Mitra - March 5, 2010August 13, 20146

A hair-pulling 27 hours. That’s how long our train ride from Xi’an to Guangzhou was. The last of our China backpacking trip. Image of a traveller who fell in love with intercity trains. I actually savored those 27 hours!Rewind 44 hours earlier, at around 3:00 PM, our tourist van (we just came from The Terracotta…

The Terracotta Army

by Gay Mitra - March 3, 2010August 13, 201423

One of the greatest archaeological finds in the world, The Terracotta Army of Qin Shi Huang, used to parade around my dreams. Our encounter with them in real life happened unexpectedly. The army, eerily standing guard. No two warriors are exactly alike.We ended up in Xi’an after cowering from Beijing’s freezing temperature. Instead of 7…