Before actually getting to Chengdu in mainland China we flew into Hong Kong as we had to first get our visas. It actually turned out to be a very quick one day process (once the lengthy form was complete with names of relatives, employment history, and financial info) and then we were able to get our flights to Chengdu. Hong Kong was packed full of people between the mountains and the sea, but was organized and rather enjoyable compared to the dirty chaos of the...

Korea was cold, fishy, and calming. In just 12 short hours we drastically dropped in temperature from the bustling city of Bangkok to slowed down winter Seoul. Back to freezing temps for the first time in awhile. Luckily out hostel had heated floors. It felt like arriving in New York as Seoul is a modern westernized city. Though we felt Bangkok and Thailand itself could have gladly taken up much more of our time, the organization of the city and cool crisp air wa...

After crossing the border into Thailand we got off the train in Hat Yai and were immediately bombarded by people offering bus services and other goods. Luckily we didn't stick with the first company that brought us over to their booth at which a group of Germans paid more than double what we paid for our 6 hour bus ride to the beach side town of Phuket. We had our first Thai meal at a small place right next to the bus company. I am still drooling over it right n...

Crossing over the border into Malaysia from the expensive international modern city of Singapore was a dramatic change in scenery to dirt roads, houses built out of any material lying around, and endless rows of palm trees. The train ride to Kuala Lumpur was less than desirable with pieces of the floor missing, the doors constantly flinging open on the slightest turn, and people smoking in between the carriages. At least the smoke put a damper on some of the othe...

Eight hours on a smooth flight while catching up on some recent American films and unlimited gin and tonics made the flight to Singapore literally fly by. We were met by one of my mom's cousins, Colette, and her husband Jeff. They live in Singapore for Jeff's work, which has also had them living in Italy for awhile in addition to extensive traveling they have done themselves so they were able to appreciate picking up weary travelers at 10pm and taking us in for t...