Attack of the Chinese Bedbugs!

by Gay Mitra - March 1, 2010August 13, 20148

Or whatever they are. Remember how I raved about our affordable luxurious Bell Tower Youth Hostel accommodation? Here’s the catch… Warning, graphic image ahead! Awesome view of the Bell Tower from our window.After a day of exploring the Muslim Quarter, we (my husband Shervin and I) went back to the hotel to get some well-deserved…

Xi’an’s Muslim Quarter

by Gay Mitra - February 28, 2010August 13, 20143

East meets Middle-East. Modern civilization meets legendary silk road. Xi’an, one of the ancient capitals of China, is downright fascinating it can amuse even the jaded long-term traveller. Entrance to the Great Mosque of Xi’an. Looking very Chinese.It was difficult to leave the comforts of our Bell Tower Youth Hostel room, but we only had…

Xi’an: Silk Road’s Eastern Terminus

by Gay Mitra - February 26, 2010August 13, 201410

There’s more to Xi’an than the Terracotta Warriors. As the eastern terminus of the Silk Road, it keeps a lot of surprises up its sleeve – waiting to be unravelled. This, we discovered on our first day in the city. Kebabs and Arabic bread sold on the streets of the Muslim Quarter.Xi’an by the way…

Beijing-Xi’an: Into The Falling Snow

by Gay Mitra - February 24, 2010August 13, 20147

Shervin and I celebrated our last hurrah in Beijing at Xiabu Xiabu. Earlier that day we finally visited the Great Wall of China but did not move on to the Ming Tombs because we needed to get ready for our 12-hour train ride to Xi’an. Drop it like it’s hot into the shabu-shabu pot! Xiabu…

Great Wall of China Group Tour: To book or not to book?

by Gay Mitra - February 22, 2010August 13, 201421

It was no ordinary Monday, for that day we fulfilled one of our travel dreams – to tread on the Great Wall of China. Now let me tell you how that day turned out to be a disappointment. Approaching the most photographed of all walls, Badaling.Shervin and I almost always steer away from group tours….

Beijing’s National Stadium and National Aquatics Center

by Gay Mitra - February 20, 2010August 13, 20149

Beijing boasts not only of old majestic buildings reflecting glorious ancient Chinese culture, but also of modern spanking megastructures that depict China’s booming economy. And among these new architecture marvels are Beijing National Stadium and Beijing National Aquatics Center. Both are situated within the Olympic Green, an Olympic Park set up for the 2008 Summer…

Yonghe Temple, Beijing, China

by Gay Mitra - February 11, 2010August 13, 20142

Yonghe Temple, also known as “Lama Temple” and “Palace of Peace and Harmony”, is probably the most renowned Tibetan Buddhist temple/monastery outside Tibet. It was converted into a lamasery in 1744 after it served as the official residence of Emperor Yongzheng. An uncrowded part of Yonghegong Dajie, the road where Yonghe Temple sits.It is located…

Tian’anmen and Forbidden City

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

I prepared instant noodles for breakfast while Shervin pored over our Lonely Planet guide. It was already 8:30AM and the mighty sun wasn’t out yet. Before slumbering the previous night, we agreed to take a train to Xi’an and spend a couple of nights there before heading to Guangzhou, where our Manila-bound flight departs. To…

Braving The Beijing Cold

by Gay Mitra - February 6, 2010August 13, 20148

The T98 (Hong Kong – Beijing) 24-hour train arrived at Beijing West Train Station 15 minutes past its ETA. The wall thermometer read 12°C. Tolerable, but it only indicates the temperature inside the cabin. Shervin and I gathered our stuff. I donned four layers of clothing, yet I was still terrified of the cold. Arrival…

My First Hard Sleeper: Hong Kong-Beijing

by Gay Mitra - February 3, 2010August 13, 20147

It was time to say farewell to our gracious Hong Kong hosts Will and Melody, after staying in their pad for three days. They have been more than kind, and treated us (my husband Sherv and I) like family. On our departure day, early morning, the four of us took a cab to Burd St….