Category Archives: Culture
Dancing in Bali
Nope, we didn’t go out dancing in Bali, but we did watch a lot of dancing. Part of the fun of touring Bali is having the chance to see traditional Balinese dancing. We caught our first performance a couple … Continue reading
North, South Tour of Bali
After a relaxing week in Ubud, we headed out to see other parts of the island. I used my first trip to Bali as a guide (my very first trip out of the US was to Bali, back in 2001) … Continue reading
The Money Trail – Japan
Ah, the Japanese Yen. Distinguished from other currencies we’ve used to date in that you have to use so much of it! No bones about it, Japan is expensive. Like ten US dollars for one shiny, red apple expensive. 1 USD … Continue reading
We’re talkin’ baseball…
Many expat Americans, including several families of American baseball players that bounce between Japanese teams and the majors back home, live in the same condo complex as our friends the Injays. Trish happened to mention that we’d be visiting to … Continue reading
Sushi at Sunrise
We were told we should leave the hotel by 4am, so when our alarm went off at 3:30, we crawled out of bed, pulled on our clothes, and brushed our teeth. Bleary-eyed, we climbed into a taxi, but all we … Continue reading
The Money Trail – Hong Kong
Next up on the money trail, the Hong Kong Dollar. The Hong Kong Dollar (HKD) is certainly the most colorful currency we’ve encountered to date. Perhaps more interesting is that commercial banks, under license from the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, … Continue reading
Just Say No
Over our first month of travel, I realized that I wished I had packed somewhat different clothing. The long dresses I brought felt dirty since they would get really hot and stretch out and drag on the ground. I had … Continue reading
Shanghai in Pictures
As John mentioned in his previous post, Shanghai is a huge, modern city that offered a western-style familiarity that felt very comforting after our adventures in Datong. We loved the fresh juice and fresh salads at Wagas (salad can be … Continue reading
The Money Trail – China
Next up on The Money Trail, China’s Yuan. China’s Yuan, like the Thai Baht, come in different colors and sizes based on denomination. Each bill depicts Mau Zedong, China’s communist leader, who founded the Peoples Republic of China and was … Continue reading
Chinese Wedding Photos
While out walking in Datong, China, we stumbled upon a Chinese wedding photo session. We learned that in China it’s typical for couples to take wedding pictures a month or two before the wedding, knowing that the two full days … Continue reading