"What surprised me most about Tokyo is that it is so calm," Our friend Mike tells us over cold beers and plates of steaming chicken fried and breaded, rolled into succulent skewers, and charcoal grilled. Smoke rises up out of the black iron skillet of charcoal chicken, a Japanese specialty and surprisingly delicious despite its deep black exterior.... Continue Reading →
From my perspective, I absolutely believe in a greater spiritual power, far greater than I am, from which I have derived strength in moments of sadness or fear. That’s what I believe, and it was very, very strong in the forest. - Jane Goodall We haul our heavy backpacks out of the car, legs... Continue Reading →
For all the perfectly captured pics, tales of spectacular sights, and recountings of the joys of travel, there are about ten times as many behind the scenes mishaps, moments of boredom, long lines, and spending seemingly hours trying to find ANYWHERE and ANYTHING to eat. This is especially true when visiting China's capital city, a... Continue Reading →
Stepping off the plane in Beijing, we already felt the difference from Guangzhou in the dry and chilly winter air. Not a trace of humidity in this city that hadn't seen rain or snow since October. We were stunned at our good fortune as we stared at an ice blue sky, no clouds or smoggy haze in... Continue Reading →
As I reflect on my experience celebrating Chinese New Year in Guangzhou this past week, I've been contemplating the many times I've felt nervous and overwhelmed by crowded places and local customs only to find joy outside of my comfort zone. I carry my past experiences with me as I continue to delve into the... Continue Reading →
Guangzhou is abuzz with anticipation for Chinese New Year. Personally, it reminds me of the feeling the week before Christmas when looking forward to the day is almost better than the day itself. People are out washing the streets, the windows, the storefronts; planting new trees, flowers, and installations celebrating the year of the dog; selling... Continue Reading →
