Nagsasa Cove, Zambales: Camping Newlyweds

by Gay Mitra - March 13, 2010August 13, 201420

Fresh (and frozen) from our Hong Kong-China honeymoon-slash-backpacking trip, we headed straight to Zambales. And when I say straight, I mean landing at NAIA Terminal 3 around 12:30 AM then go home to unload my backpack of winter clothes and replace them with skimpy beach attire then hop on an Olongapo-bound bus at 5:00 AM….

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…

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….