Olympics Stabbing in Beijing
August 10, 2008 | Written by Devin Galaudet
Several years ago, I took a trip the Davao City in the Philippines. By all accounts, I should not have gone. Davao and Mindanao was considered to be an unsafe place — according to the State Department of the U.S. I think a journalist had been murdered and there was some terrorist activity going on. Whether it was a good or bad decision, I went anyway. I had decided that the likelihood of something diabolical happening... [Read more]
204 Nations, the Olympics
August 8, 2008 | Written by Devin Galaudet
I have been watching the parade of nations for the opening of these 2008 Olympic games held in Beijing, China. I enjoy the colorful costumes and the realization that Myanmar sent a team, so did North Korea, Vanuatu, Iraq, Afghanistan, and dozens of other countries where politics, finances and facilities make sportsmanship hard to come by. Some nations sent teams, with as few as one member and without any chance of winning... [Read more]
Tianhou Temple, Shenzhen’s Soul
January 14, 2008 | Written by StevePeer
Some people say Shenzhen has no soul.
The mega-city of 10 million sits on the Chinese mainland next to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Before Deng Xiaoping made Shenzhen a Special Economic Zone in 1979, the city was a mere fishing village of a 300,000. The People’s Liberation Army engineering core came to the site of what was to become a Chinese... [Read more]
Announcing the New Seven Wonders of the World
July 7, 2007 | Written by Steve Smith & Christine Johnson
A worldwide popular vote has been underway to select the New Seven Wonders of the World, sites to be listed alongside... [Read more]
Getting around China using English
March 18, 2007 | Written by Devin Galaudet
There are currently over 170 million people studying English in China. However, whether you’re disputing a bill at a downtown fanguan or trying... [Read more]
Big Attractions in China (video podcast)
March 7, 2007 | Written by Devin Galaudet
Just before the Los Angeles Times Travel Expo ended, Devin caught up with Xinhong of the China National Tourist Office. Good thing, the Olympics and the World’s Fair is coming to China. Xinhong also has a few recommendations for travelers interested in food and Southern China.... [Read more]
Chinese Cultural Quirks Exposed
February 28, 2007 | Written by Devin Galaudet
Tai Chi is practiced in English tea gardens. Mah-jong tiles are clunked-down on Las Vegas casino tables. Shaolin Kung Fu is taught in Bolivian martial arts schools.
It seems China’s unique cultural traditions have spread the world over. But have they all? Let’s take a look at some obscure Chinese customs that, for one reason or another, have yet to make the leap to universal popularity.
Pretty... [Read more]
The Year of the Boar, 2007
January 4, 2007 | Written by Devin Galaudet
From the files of what does this have to do with travel comes…”The boar is the 12th animal in the Chinese horoscope. In ancient China, it was believed that people would have the characteristics of the element and the animal that ruled the year of their birth. Just as modern astrogists believe that people born under a certain sign of the zodiac will have common characteristics. People born in the Year of the... [Read more]
Vote for the New 7 Wonders
December 26, 2006 | Written by Steve Smith & Christine Johnson
In what could be the largest vote ever, the world will soon choose the New Seven Wonders of the World to stand alongside the Ancient Seven Wonders of the World. In January, the New7Wonders committee, chaired by Dr. Federico Mayor, selected 21 finalists out of the 77 nominated sites. You can have a say in the selection of the final seven by casting your vote. From anywhere in the world, call +423 663 90 02 99 and use the... [Read more]
Two Sites in Beijing with Eileen
October 19, 2006 | Written by Eileen Moran
I started out at 10AM taking a pleasant taxi ride through the insane traffic of Beijing, which... [Read more]
The Great Wall with Eileen
September 28, 2006 | Written by Eileen Moran
Today I went to the Great Wall with the Freshman class of Beijing... [Read more]
From Yak to Beijing
September 22, 2006 | Written by Eileen Moran
I arrived back in Beijing at the Beijing Sports University exhausted after delayed flights and bad airline “food.” The true delay was that some of my classmates decided to bring much of Tibet back with them in their luggage and so the group had to wait and help with the lugging of luggage.
Classes started bright and early this morning, so the short breaks between sessions were filled with frantic errands... [Read more]
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