Phra Phrom , the Thai representation of Brahma the Hindu God of creation resides in Erawan Shrine.
The official name of Erawan Shrine is Thao Maha Phrom Shrine which translates into English as Shrine of Lord Brahma the Great.
This a religious shrine where Thai people come to express their faith for one of their Gods, it’s also a place for curious tourists to take a look at, as long as you do it respectfully.
It was built to eliminate bad Karma around the Hotel premises
The Brahma statue was built by the Department of Fine Arts of Thailand
Erawan Hotel was demolished and the Grand Hyatt was built in its place
Entry fee: None
Closest BTS station: Chitlom
When it comes to religion Thai people are really intense and cannot stand seeing the figures of their Gods disrespected or worst destroyed.
The Erawan Shrine Vandalism and Death
It was an early morning of March 21st of 2006 when a man, Thanakorn Pakdeepol, destroyed the statue, he grabbed a hammer and broke the statue into pieces.
And just like the statue, his life encountered the same fate, destruction. Thanakorn was beaten to death by bystanders that watched the whole ordeal take place.
Why did Thanakorn destroy the statue? At first, people thought, due to some Arabic tattoos on Thanakorn’s body, that there was involvement from Muslim extremists
Later it the police proved that such a horrible action was simply the act of a mentally ill person.
A new statue was built and placed in Erawan Shrine on May 21st, 2006.
Erawan Shrine Bombing of 2015
Another unfortunate event taking place in a shrine that’s supposed to be a place of prayers and faith.
It was the evening of August 17th, 2015, at 06:55 pm, when a device made of 3 Kg of TNT inside a backpack exploded Killing 20 people and injuring 125
Among the dead, Thais, Malaysians, Chinese, Singaporeans, Hong Kongese and Indonesians
The Thai police arrested two suspects, one of them confessing to being the bomber. People believe the bombing was a retaliation attack because Thailand deported some Uyghur terrorist to China, instead of letting them go to Turkey to look for asylum.
The investigation never finished, which has made people come up with different theories, including government involvement.
What is Visiting Erawan Shrine Like?
At the beginning of this post, I put a video I made that gives you a good look of what visiting Erawan Shrine looks like.
When you visit, it will be full of locals and some tourists. You’ll see people on their knees around the statue praying to the God of creation and placing yellow flowers on the surroundings of the statue.
There will be yellow flowers all over the place. People put so many around the statue that the staff has to almost immediately remove them.
You’ll also see some elephant statues on the sides of the Shrine premises.
At the back, a group of Thai dancers and musicians playing traditional music and dancing for the one and only God of creation.
People line up to kneel right in front of the dancer facing Phra Phrom and saying a prayer.
Is Visiting Erawan Shrine Worth It?
Totally, plus it’s not gonna take you long to get there and hang out for 20 to 30 minutes. The shrine is located walking distance from Chitlom station and there are 2 malls nearby.
If you’re staying in the Intercontinental Hotel all you have to do is cross the street and you’ll get there.
If you happen to visit Erawan Shrine during Songkran, you’ll even find a whole street food set up nearby.
If you’re in Taipei and you’re looking for a fun hike near the city then look no further, just make your way towards Elephant Mountain, one of Taipei’s most visited mountains.
Take a look at the 6 minutes video I put together for you.
How to get to Elephant Mountain, Taipei?
Well that’s super easy, just get on the MRT and go to Xiangshan station, is the last stop on the red line opposite to Tamsui station.
Take exit number 2 and as soon as you walk out of it you’ll see signs directing you towards Elephant mountain.
As you can see in the video, the iconic 101 building of Taipei is super close to Elephant Mountain, so if you happen to be staying somewhere near the 101 area then this is perfect, it will take you no time to get there.
No matter in which part of Taipei city you are, if you take the metro it won’t cost you more than 45 NTD.
How Much Do I Have to Pay?
You don’t have to pay a single penny, that’s good right, no one likes to pay to go sweat their heart out, because ….that’s right you’re gonna sweat a lot.
The climb is very steep at points and Taiwan’s weather is usually hot and humid, so yeah you’ll sweat.
You can go up and down as many times as you want and no one will stop you. You can even take your pet with you if you want to, and as you saw in the video, you can even climb in a reverse four legs position and no one will say a word.
Make sure you take a bottle of water with you as water fountains are not present as often as you’ll need them in case you forget to take water with you.
What is the Best Time to Go to Elephant Mountain?
If you want to stay away from the crowds then try going on a day from Monday to Friday. If you want to see the sunset and the city lights coming to life then go on an evening from Monday to Friday.
Why avoid Saturday and Sunday? well because that’s when all the families and rest of people who are not working decide to go to Elephant Mountain, and it can get really crowded.
Once you make it to the top of Elephant mountain, you’ll see some other trails, the longest one is the one leading to Jiuwu peak, it would take you around 2 hours to get there.
Most people just climb to the top of Elephant mountain, they stay at one of the viewing platforms and that’s it. If you decide to do the Jiuwu trail then it will definitely be more of a peaceful hike as there won’t be many people around.
Conclusion
Elephant Mountain is perfect for a half-day trip from anywhere in the city. The mountain is easy to get to by metro and there is no entry fee of any kind.
If you want to avoid the crowds is best to go on a day from Monday to Friday when most people are working.
Once you make it to the top of elephant mountain you can just chill there and then head back down, or you can continue on one the connecting hiking trails such as Jiuwu.
We all like watching movies right? whether they’re super hero movies or horror, drama, comedy or something else, we all have a specific movie genre we look for when we sit on our couches on a weekend night.
Me, I have a thing for alien movies, whether I’m using Netflix or looking for Blue rays to buy on Amazon I always find myself looking for some outer space beings story.
But this post will be about Travel Movies, I’ll list a total of 12 that are related to traveling and I’ll speak my mind on why you should watch them.
Some of them are sad though, let’s begin.
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
Go to the office every day, do the same repetitive job over and over again, and to get away from all of it all you can do is daydream, do you relate?
If so then for sure you’ll be interested in this story. The first one in this Travel Movies list is a story about an office worker who is stuck in a repetitive office job until he gets the chance to actually travel the world in the search of the perfect photo.
Now, doesn’t that sound cool? In a way is pretty similar to my life, I have a very boring average routine and from time to time I travel a bit on a search for relaxation and nice pics too.
Here’s the trailer of the movie, starring Ben Stiller
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QD6cy4PBQPI
And even though the movie did not get much love from the Rotten tomato critics, the audience did show more love for it.
In my humble opinion, this is a movie you must watch if you like travel adventures, and I don’t think is a bad movie. If you watch and you don’t like it please let me know in the comments.
Under the Tuscan Sun
Have you ever read the following travel quote before?
Well, this movie fits in the second part of the previous quote. If something bad happens, travel to forget it.
When France Mayes finds out her husband is cheating on her, her whole life falls apart and in order to get out of her state of depression she….you guessed it!!! She travels
But she doesn’t just travel. While she is in the Tuscan country side she impulsively buys a house and decides to start her new life there, and well I don’t blame her.
Will France Mayes get over her divorce while living in such a beautiful place? There’s only one way for you to find out
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdJGMZDY0-8
Eat Pray Love
What is better than an around the world trip, that’s right Nothing!!!! Seriously I can’t think of anything better than that.
Well, perhaps winning the lottery and doing many around the world trips, yeah that’s better.
In this movie we get to know Liz Gilbert, she has a nice home, a husband and a successful career, but for the sake of drama everything falls apart and she decides she needs to start a journey to reconnect with herself.
Her journey takes here to Italy, India and Bali
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjay5vgIwt4
What a trip, 3 countries with totally different societies, culture, and cuisines. I’m sure we can all agree that we’d love to do the same trip right?
And if you’re wondering about the critic’s reviews about this one, well let me save you the search and tell you that it got a lot of hate in Rotten tomatoes.
This movie is based on a book which many critics claim was way better than the movie, they claim the movie failed by a lot to take the story to the big screen.
I think the movie is not that bad. If you watch and hate it please let me know in the comments.
Beyond Borders
This is not a love story, this is not a happy story, this is not a trip to find yourself or get over depression with a romantic ending.
This is one of those Travel Movies that takes you on a trip through a war-torn country so we, the viewers, have a better understanding of the struggles of what ordinary people in third world countries go through.
And how will this movie inspire you? Well, even though I wouldn’t expect most people to drop their job and go into a war zone to help people.
There are still many touristic places like Thailand, Cambodia, Peru, among others, where there are people living in precarious conditions.
Instead of just passing by the popular tourist landmarks taking photos for our social media, we could all make an effort to research in what way we could help someone while we travel through a certain country.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C98QNRlQgZ8
The Bucket List
Have you ever seen a quote on social media about traveling while you’re young, something like the following
Well, I totally agree with that. Actually is one of the things travelers regret the most, not traveling more while they were young.
In this list of Travel Movies, The Bucket List takes us through the journey of two older men who after being in the hospital due to their advanced age and illnesses, realize that there’s still so much they want to see before their time is up.
This movie, beyond being a trip all around the world that any person would kill for, it tries to give us the viewer a moment to reflect on life and death, is what we’re doing with our lives right now really worth it?
Just remember that nothing is more precious than time, it never comes back.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vc3mkG21ob4
Wild
The real-life story of Cheryl Strayed brought to the screen by Reese Witherspoon. In this inspiring movie, we see Chery trying to get rid of the demons of the past by doing the hike of a lifetime.
She did the Pacific Crest Trail, a hiking trail that expands for 4,270 Km from Mexico to Canada. On the way, she encounters threats of different kinds. She gives us a glance at what loneliness on the road feels like.
The average time it takes to finish the whole trail is 5 months. It’s needless to say that you must be in a decent physical condition and have experience doing long hikes to finish this trail without any major issues.
I wouldn’t even know how to pack for such a trip, should I pack power bars??
But hear this, Rachel Strayed – the real person behind this story- did it with no previous hiking experience at all, isn’t that amazing?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tn2-GSqPyl0
This is one of my favorite Travel Movies. The landscapes are breathtaking and the acting is great, Reese Witherspoon makes one of the best performances of her career.
The best exotic Marigold Hotel
You think it’s gonna be alright?
I Think it’s gonna be extraordinary
A group of retirees decides to live out the rest of their days in an exotic destination. Lured by good advertising they decide to go to India and stay at the beautiful Marigold Hotel.
But here’s the thing, the hotel is actually a shell of what it used to be. Their journey quickly becomes one full of new experiences, new food, new adventures and old feelings they thought they were too old to feel again.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzxpbWfCvjk
This is one of those Travel Movies that does a great job at exploiting India’s best cultural side. The music, dance, the colors, the smiles, the food is all there, making you want to get on a plane to India right away.
This movie is definitely more on the dramatic comedy side. It’s colorful and cheerful enough to entertain you for a couple of hours.
One Week
A Canadian movie that will make you realize that life can have bad news for you at any time and sometimes there’s nothing you can do.
A young man receives a dire medical diagnosis, but instead of going into an immediate medical treatment to try and saves his life, he decides to take a motorcycle trip from Toronto to Vancouver.
Along the way, he meets people that will make him reflect upon the current relationship with his fiancée, his job and his dreams.
The amazing Canadian landscapes are prevalent throughout the whole movie.
What would you do If you knew you had one day, one week or one month to live?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SL-PbsZKGfw
The Beach
The reason why we all want to go to Maya Bay. Before this movie, the island of Ko Phi Phi and Maya bay were very underdeveloped and it was not common to see tourists.
After the release of The Beach, Maya bay became a huge tourist destination in Thailand and is completely understandable as the place is beautiful a true paradise on earth.
The movie follows a young American backpacker who is in the search for adventure. After arriving in Thailand he decides to go on an adventure to find the secret beach, once he gets there is a story of drama that ends up becoming a thriller.
Unfortunately Maya bay is far from being a secret place. For the past 18 years, tourists have been visiting the island non-stop. All the boats and trash carried by tourists have severely damaged the island’s ecosystem.
Maya Bay has been closed by the Thai government and is expected to open to tourists again in 2021.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqDoxUxpobg
Into The Wild
This one is another classic. This is a movie that makes us reflect on the way we live life.
Commute to work every day, get a mortgage, work non-stop in an office to pay our debts, retire when you’re old and if you’re lucky you’ll have saved some money to live out the rest of your life decently.
But what if it doesn’t have to be that way?
This is the story of a rich boy who graduates top of his class and as a good athlete, but instead of getting a job and become part of the system, or use his money to travel and be a tourist, he decides to leave it all behind.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7ArZ7VD-QQ
He gets rid of all of his possession and donates his money to charity, then he embarks himself on a journey to the Alaskan Wilderness.
Let’s see one more movie in this Travel Movies list
Jungle
This movie is all about survival. A group of 4 travelers goes into the Amazon rain forest looking for adventure, but things go down south and it ends up being a nightmare.
Based on a true story, we see a group of people fighting to stay alive, this story for sure will keep you at the edge of your seat.
Needless to say that the cinematography is amazing, the landscapes of the Amazons are breathtaking making you want to visit ASAP without the getting lost part of course.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJYJmYQ0AGw
Conclusion
This Travel Movies list has a good variety of movie genres. From drama and romance to comedy and thrillers, all of them revolving around one thing, traveling.
Some of these stories are more fun and romantic. Others are a little darker and raw, those are the ones based on true stories.
So you’re in Bangkok and you’re looking for an adventure outside the city. How about a one day trip to Ayutthaya, How to go there, how expensive it is, how to get around in Ayutthaya?
I’ll answer all of your questions right now, just keep on reading. First, let’s start by talking a little bit about Ayutthaya.
What’s Ayutthaya?
It’s an ancient city, Ayutthaya was founded in 1350. It became a powerful city until 1767.
Ayutthaya used to be a trading port that welcomed merchants from the world, most of them from Europe. It’s said that the city was amazing to the eyes of foreigners, this is because of the many temples and palaces all around the city.
Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon
Just like many other cities and towns in the past and present, Ayutthaya fell to the horrors of war. The city was invaded by the Burmese – people from Myanmar- and it was burnt and destroyed.
A lot of Thai people died and the survivors fled the city. There are still many ruins in Ayutthaya, a clear reminder of the old city and a current tourist attraction.
There are about 50 different ruins sites, some of them more popular than others. These are the ones I believe you can’t miss.
Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon
If I had to choose one and only one temple to visit in a one day trip to Ayutthaya this would be the one. The name means, Great Monastery of Auspicious Victory.
In the year 1937 two Ayutthaya princess died of Cholera, the king ordered the cremation of the bodies. He also ordered the creation of a holy stupa and a preaching hall on the cremation site, that’s how this temple came into existence.
Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon
Entry fee: 20 Baht
This temple is more than just a holy stupa and a preaching hall. Around it, you’ll find different beautiful Buddha statues. If you enjoy taking photos for sure you’ll enjoy your time here.
Take a look at more pics of Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon.
There’s also a reclining Buddha statue on the premises of Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon.
Wat Chaiwatthanaram
This is another popular one in Ayutthaya. It was built in 1630 by king Prasat Thong. The name means Temple of Long Reign and Glorious Era.
At the center of the temple, there’s a 35 meter high Prang (Tall tower) and there are 120 sitting Buddha statues around it.
Take a look at more pictures of Wat Chaiwatthanaram
Wat Phra Mongkhon Bophit
This temple doesn’t look as ancient as the previous 2 but it’s definitely a site with a lot of history behind it.
Its name means Buddha of the Holy and Supremely Auspicious, the Buddha statue sitting inside the temple was built in 1538.
The statue was originally housed by a mondop ( square-based building or shrine with a pyramidal roof ) that was hit and destroyed by lighting.
The building caught fire and the roof came down and broke Buddha’s head.
They demolished the mondop and built a new preaching hall (Vihara). The statue was also restored.
Just like the rest of Ayutthaya, the Vihara and the Buddha statue were severely damaged when the Burmese invasion took place.
Restoration of the Vihara and the Buddha statue took place between 1920 and 1931.
Entry fee: 50 Baht
Wat Mahathat
Maybe this is the reason why many do a one day trip to Ayutthaya from Bangkok. Here’s where you find the Buddha’s head.
The meaning of the name is the monastery of the Great Relic. Historians don’t really know when the temple was founded. They think its origin dates back to 1377 approximately.
This temple was used for different religious events and royal celebrations.
The main tourist attraction in this temple is a Buddha head entwined within the roots of a tree.
No one really knows exactly how it got there, but what they do know is that it wasn’t on purpose, as in Buddhist traditions is not a thing to put Buddha head on the ground.
Some theorize that maybe a thief moved the head from the main temple and hid it by the tree and then he simply did not come back for it. After so many years the roots grew around the head.
Entry Fee: 50 Baht
Wat Lokayasutharam
This is the last temple I’ll mention in this one day trip to Ayutthaya post.
The main attraction in these ruins is a huge reclining Buddha statue. The statue is 37 meters long and 8 meters high.
Tourists and locals visit these ruins, it is common to see people leaving offerings to Buddha.
Right outside the premises of these ruins, you’ll find some small souvenir shops and people selling flowers which you can leave as offerings.
Entry fee: Free
More pictures of Wat Lokayasutharam
How to Get to Ayutthaya from Bangkok?
This is very simple and extremely cheap. I went to Hualamphong railway station in Bangkok and bought a third-class ticket to Ayutthaya for 20 baht.
I got there 10 minutes before the train’s departure. It might be a bit chaotic in the station, but don’t worry just ask someone who works there to tell you on which train you’re supposed to get on.
Once they point you the way just get on the train and find a seat.
The train makes many stops, Ayutthaya station is the one after Ban pho station. The train only stops for around 3 minutes so be quick to get out.
Another thing, some people buy third-class tickets with numbered seats, my ticket had no seats, so 1 or 2 stations after we departed from Hualamphong a girl got on the train and I was sitting on her seat so I had to get up.
So I spent most of the ride standing up. It takes 1 hour and 30 minutes to get to Ayutthaya from Bangkok.
I took a very early train, at around 8 am, it got very very crowded. Don’t worry if you feel like you have no idea when to get off.
Ayutthaya is the station after Ban Pho, just make sure you’re looking out the window on the left side of the train (stand facing the direction the train is moving towards) and you’ll see the names.
Ayutthaya station is also easy to spot as it has many Thailand flags hanging outside and is quite big compared to the previous ones.
How Much Does it Cost to Go to Ayutthaya?
If you take the third class train is super cheap, 20 baht going there and 20 baht coming back.
Once I was done touring around Ayutthaya I went back to the station and bought a third-class ticket back to Bangkok.
I had lunch at a little restaurant in front of the station, I just crossed over to the other side of the road and found a place selling pad thai and mango shakes.
I paid only 90 baht for my pad thai and a mango shake. Every time I bought bottled water I paid 20baht.
The big expense was the tuk-tuk I had to hire to take me around, 800 Baht for 4 hours. Which takes me to the following.
I went to Ayutthaya as part of my Songkran weekend. If you’d like to know more about Songkran in Bangkok please click below.
This is very simple, you can either hire a tuk tuk driver to take you around the temples and back to the station or you can rent a scooter and do it on your own.
Since I don’t have an international driver’s license I decided to hire a tuk-tuk driver. You won’t have to bother looking for one, they’ll be waiting for you at the station.
The minute they spot a tourist they make their move, they’ll show you all the places they can take you to.
Please don’t ride Elephants, don’t support animal cruelty.
One Day Trip To Ayutthaya Video
Now I just want to finish this post by showing you a little video I put together. You’ll see more of Ayutthaya and hopefully, it’ll make you want to go.
So you’re looking for information on celebrating Songkran in Bangkok. I’ll tell you how to make the best out of this crazy and wet weekend.
Before I go into details let’s talk a little bit about what Songkran is and how to celebrate it.
What is Songkran?
It’s the most important festival in Thailand. It marks the beginning of a new year. At its very core is a Buddhist religious festivity celebrated nationwide.
This water festival takes place every year from April 13th to 15th.
During this festival, people go out to the street to throw water at each other and the most religious ones visit temples and shrines to wash the Buddha statues and make offerings to the monks.
To throw water people use water guns, buckets or hoses, so get ready to get wet.
Songkran means to pass or move into, you can see it as the passing to the new year.
The reason why water is part of the festival is that is supposed to clean you off of bad things from the last year so you can start fresh.
Something else you’ll see is people putting chalk on each other, this derives from the tradition of monks to use chalk for marking blessings.
If you’re in Bangkok celebrating Songkran you will definitely get wet, but is actually pleasant as the weather is hot during this time of the year.
How to Celebrate Songkran in Bangkok?
In this section I’ll share with you places to go to have a water fight, to see a more religious face of Songkran and where to eat.
I’ll also talk about an amazing place which is perfect for a Holiday farewell dinner at the end of your Songkran in Bangkok visit.
Let’s begin now.
Erawan Shrine
If this is your first time in Bangkok you should definitely make a stop here, this is a religious place where locals and tourists come to pray.
And during Songkran, you can observe people using water to wash Buddha and making flower offerings.
There is always a traditional dance performance going up in the background.
I can guarantee you that if you visit this place you’ll find it very interesting, just stand back and let it all unfold.
Getting to Erawan Shrine is super easy, just get off ar Chitlom station on the BTS line, from there you’ll walk for around 7 minutes.
There is no entry fee
Now let’s move on to another fun activity celebrating Songkran in Bangkok
Street Food in Front of Amarin Plaza
Just 2 minutes away from Erawan Shrine, you’ll find Amarin Plaza. This is a mall like many others, but during Songkran celebrations many food stalls are set up outside.
There are always so many food options here, and also drinks, pomegranate, mango, kiwi, passion fruit and other exotic fruits juice.
This is the perfect stop to have some local food like Pad thai, drink some fresh pomegranate or mango juice and have some coconut ice cream.
The price for food here is definitely more expensive than what you would find in traditional markets, but the food is really good so is worth it.
They also set up tables around the food stalls so you can easily sit down and have your meal.
Here’s where you fuel your body to head towards the craziness on Silom Road.
You’ll be right in front of the road, so chances are you’ll start seeing people throwing water at each other, or riding tuk-tuks and carrying big water guns on their way to Silom road.
So, after spending some time in Erawan shrine and having some Thai food, just go back to Chitlom station and head to Sala Daeng station.
Celebrating Songkran in Bangkok, Silom Road
You should arrive here at noon, once you’re in Sala Daeng station you’ll start noticing a big amount of people, this is where the party is.
Silom Road is the gathering place for thousands of people to celebrate Songkran, the police close the whole road so people can enjoy.
The BTS line runs over the city, so once you’re out of Sala Daeng station and still on the skywalk, you can take a look down and see the crazy amount of people gathered here carrying water guns.
Now all you have to do is go down and join the party, what people do here is walk up and down the road soaking each other.
If you feel like taking a break you can simply go to one of the many restaurants or dinners on the sides and grab a bite or a drink.
How do you get water for your gun? On Silom road you’ll find people selling water for your gun, they usually charge 10 or 5 baht, so make sure you take some coins with you.
Drinking alcohol is not allowed in Silom road during Songkran, to get alcohol you have to go to one of the many restaurants on the lanes next to Silom road.
Once I got tired of walking up and down I went to Le Siam hotel, they have some tables outside and they were selling beer and had buckets of water to keep the Songkran party going.
If it’s your first time in Bangkok you should definitely stop by this temple, not just because of Songkran, but because the reclining Buddha statue is impressive.
Here’s a picture
If you made it to the reclining Buddha temple then you might also want to check out the Emerald Buddha temple, only because is nearby and if you haven’t been there before well you should.
To get to the Reclining Buddha temple you’re better off taking a Grab, the metro lines don’t go all the way here.
Khao San Road
This is another popular spot in Bangkok to celebrate Songkran. Beware, here there’s no skywalk like on Silom road.
When you go into Khao San Road is like you’re going into full water war, there’s nowhere to take cover.
Here you’ll find locals and foreigners having fun, using water guns, buckets and hoses to keep the party going.
Here you can just go to any of the bars on the side have some beer and reload your guns and shoot.
To get to Khao San Road you’ll have to take a public bus, taxi, Tuk- Tuk or Grab, no metro line goes near the area.
Songkran goes on all day long and into the night hours, don’t get mad if you’re stepping out of your hotel at around 8 pm all clean to have dinner and someone wets you.
So, if you want to Songkran until late at night is better for you to find a place with many bars nearby.
Where to Stay in Bangkok During Songkran.
Last time I was in Bangkok for Songkran I stayed at Royal Sukhumvit Hotel, the hotel is cheap and the cleanliness is okay, but the location is perfect.
This hotel is located very near to Nana station, all around it there are bars, restaurants, convenience stores, and other different shops.
Right outside the hotel the staff was celebrating Songkran, and down the street people were doing the same, there was even a small concert by the corner.
So if you want to stay in a fun and lively place then get a hotel near Nana station, you’ll still be close to the center of the city.
Is Bangkok Expensive during Songkran?
Well, chances are that Airlines do increase the ticket prices for this weekend since they know a lot of foreigners fly in.
But in my experience of traveling to Bangkok with EVA airlines, I must say the price doesn’t vary that much.
In the following tables, you’ll be able to see all the expenses I had during the Songkran weekend of 2019.
If you’re on a budget you can definitely go cheaper. I spent a total of 328.78 USD in 4 days
As you can see in the chart above. accommodation and food are the greatest expenses.
What comes now is a detailed breakdown of everything I paid for in the 4 days I was there.
I had buffet lunches at Central Food, I recommend it.
Bangkok Songkran 2019, VIDEO
I put together a little video from my visit to Bangkok during Songkran 2019. Kids playing on the streets, people having fun on Silom and more, hope you like it.
There is one final thing I want to mention in this post, this is an activity you will definitely enjoy.
Maybe on your last day in Bangkok, you’ll want to have a nice dinner or a drink somewhere special to say goodbye to Bangkok.
I believe that in Bangkok, there’s no more romantic and dramatic place than Wat Arun, well the view of it with the sun setting in the background.
Take a look.
To see this you need to be in one of the restaurants across the river facing Wat Arum.
Here are some options.
Sala Rattankosin
The Deck by Arun Residence
Eight Sight Story Deck
To get to this side of the city you’ll have to take a taxi, tuk-tuk or Grab.
If you want to go for the longer but more scenic way, you can go to Saphan Taksin station, walk towards Sathorn Pier and get on a boat towards Wat Arun.
What Do I need for Songkran?
Here’s a list of things you’ll want to wear and have while celebrating Songkran in Bangkok.
Some of these items you can get when you land in Bangkok, others is better to buy in advance.
Quick-dry clothes
Since you’re gonna have water coming your way at all time is nice to be wearing clothes that dry fast.
It might be a little uncomfortable to go into a mall or metro, where the AC is on, and you’re soaking wet.
Cheap Goggles or Cheap Glasses
Protect your eyes, there’s always some drunk d**k who thinks is funny to shoot water at peoples’ eyes.
You could get these when you get to Bangkok. You’ll find people selling them on the streets.
Cellphone Waterproof Case
This is a must, you need to protect your cellphone. You can not leave your cellphone behind as you’ll need it to get Grabs or for Google maps.
So make sure it’s got a Cellphone water case, preferably one you can hang around your neck and allows you to use your phone without removing the case.
Water Proof Bag
This is another item that will allow you to have a worry free Songkran. When you’re out on the streets you might want to take an extra t-shirt, shoes, power banks, USB cables, your passport or something else you don’t want to get wet.
Having a waterproof bag is almost essential to go out during Songkran. If you buy one you can also use it whenever you go to the beach, it’s a good investment.
Water friendly Footwear
The most common and logical option is flip flops right, that’s what most people wear.
But I’ve found out that walking in wet flip flops is not comfortable at all. They become slippery and the strap might hurt your foot.
So here are other choices, Crocs, Beach Shoes, or dry fast sneakers.
Beach shoes are not made for the streets so they won’t provide you with a lot of support. The advantage of beach shoes is that they don’t become slippery and there’s no strap to hurt your foot.
What do I mean by dry fast sneakers? Well, I bought a pair of Nike Air Vapormax a while ago. The sole is completely made out of rubber and the upper part of the shoe is as thin as a sock.
They provide great comfort when walking and get dry super fast.
Conclusion, Celebrating Songkran in Bangkok
This is a very fun festival you should try at least once in your lifetime. Bangkok has both sides of Songkran to offer, the religious one and the party one.
The 2 major places in Bangkok where people like to party for Songkran are Silom road and Khao San road.
For a more religious experience, you can visit Erawan Shrine or the temple of the Reclining Buddha.
Make sure you have all your Songkran gear needed so you enjoy Songkran comfortably. Hope you enjoyed this Celebrating Songkran in Bangkok post.
Okay, so before I start telling you about the really nice places you have to visit in Baguio.
Plus where to go for traditional and international cuisine, and also where to stay in Baguio.
Let’s start by talking a little bit about this nice town.
Where is Baguio?
Baguio is situated on Luzon Island, Philippines, it’s only a 4 hours drive away from Manila, if you take public transportation it might be 5 to 6 hours.
The time it’ll take you to get there will also depend on the traffic.
The nearest airport to Baguio is Clark International Airport, from this airport’s location you’d still need to get in a car for another 2 hours.
What is Baguio Famous For?
People call it the city of pine or the summer capital of the Philippines. It definitely has a cool weather that is not normal in the rest of the country.
Some spots people like to visit are
Baguio Cathedral
Burhham Park and Lake
Session Road, full of restaurants and shops
Baguio is also known for the many excellent universities and colleges across the city, here’s an interesting fact, half of the population of Baguio are students.
Places to Visit in Baguio
Mines View Park
One place I think you shouldn’t miss in this town is Mines View Park.
It’s located around 5 km away from the center of the city, and there is a nice view deck from where you can catch a really good view of the city.
On the way from the gates to the viewing deck, you’ll encounter many street vendors selling flowers and food.
You’ll also find people dressed in traditional Filipino costumes and taking pictures.
There is no entry fee, outside the gates of Mines View Park you’ll find many souvenirs, food, and other varieties of street vendors and shops.
Good Shepherd Convent
Here’s another place I think you must visit while you’re in Baguio
This is a convent of the Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd.
This place is walking distance from Mines View Park, and there are two reasons why you’ll want to visit this place.
The first one is because you can buy strawberry or blueberry jam, and the second one is because you can get another amazing view of Baguio.
Jams and marmalade are not all they make. The nuns also make other preserves and even cookies.
They use the money to sponsor different charities.
The money gathered is also used for the maintenance of the convent, there is no entry fee here.
Wright Park
This is another place where you can get a nice view. Wright Park is quite big, it’s good to go for a run or just chill.
On one of the sides of the park, you’ll find its main attraction, along pool/pond with decorative lamps and big pines on the sides.
You’ll see a lot of people taking pictures here as the scenery is quite fantastic.
If you entered the park through the pool of pines section, then head all the way to the end and you’ll find the park circle, turn to the left and walk straight.
You’ll find a nice spot to see the sunset, and if you go downstairs you’ll find a stable.
There is no entry fee, in this park, you’ll also find people selling souvenirs and other items.
Without a doubt, this is another must-visit place in Baguio
The Mansion
While you’re at wright park, just cross the street -from the pool of pines side- and you’ll find the mansion.
This is simply the summer house of the president of the Philippines, it was built in 1908.
There are times when they’ll let you in, but most of the time you’ll just be allowed to cross the gates and look at it from afar.
Is this worth it? well is just across the street from Wright park, so there’s really no problem with just taking a look at it.
It was amazing for me to see a lot of local tourists taking photos and selfies with the mansion as the background.
I personally thought that the mansion wasn’t a big deal at all, but hey people were having such a good time, I guess we should all learn how to enjoy life more.
Burnham Park and Lake
This is a place that should definitely be on your list, there are a lot of pines, flowers, locals having fun, there’s such a good vibe here.
The main attraction here is the lake, they have different pedal boats you can get on and pedal away.
The rooms were clean and the staff was nice. They have a bar with live music which can be very entertaining.
The buffet breakfast doesn’t have many options though.
Something you might dislike about this hotel is the many animal heads in the restaurant area.
Where to eat in Baguio?
Baguio is a developed city. The restaurant options are endless, from traditional Filipino food to Pizza and Greek food, there’s something for everyone.
Dencios
This restaurant is located inside Camp John Hay and is a good option to get some local food.
I really liked the spicy tofu and their halo halo, food prices are very affordable.
A big meal for 5 was around 2,500 Pesos
Lemon and Grass Greek Restaurant
This restaurant is beautiful. In the entrance you’ll see colorful flowers and pines, when you enter the restaurant you’ll see is nicely decorated.
And the most amazing part is that you can have your meal overlooking the mountains, it’s such a beautiful view.
Since this is not local food it’s a little bit more expensive. A meal for 5, including desserts, was around 3,900 Pesos.
The view is so worth it though.
Cafe by the Ruins
This is a nice cozy cafe where you can have breakfast, lunch or dinner, prices are very affordable.
I loved their curry shrimp with mango sauce, their smoothies are also to dies for.
Is Baguio expensive?
The short answer is: No. Baguio, just like the rest of the Philippines is very affordable in comparison to countries like the USA, western European countries and Asian countries like Taiwan, South Korea or Japan.
Here’s some data about prices for different items in Baguio.
Expenses by Category
For transportation in Baguio, you can use taxis or Jeepneys, walking is also okay as the city is pretty safe.
At the hotel, we got 2 rooms. One family room and one single room, but actually the family room is big enough to fit 5 persons.
But this town has so much to offer. Even though is very well developed by now, you can still enjoy the green of nature and the color of flowers in this city.
If you happen to be in Manila and have some days to spare please visit Baguio, you’ll like it.
Best Buddha Temples in Asia. There is something quite mystical about Asia. I guess it’s got to do with how religious people are on this side of the world.
It’s almost impossible to visit an East Asian country without seeing some display of religion on the streets from time to time.
And just like churches on the west side of the world, people here have temples.
Some of them are modest, some of them are big and some have beautiful and impressive Buddha statues.
Here’s a list of the – according to me – Best Buddha Temples in Asia
1 Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum.
Location: Kaosiung, Taiwan
The southern city of Kaohsiung on the beautiful island of Formosa, is home to one of the most amazing Buddha monasteries you’ll see in your life, I can guarantee that.
The monastery belongs to Fo Guang Shan. This is an international Chinese Buddhist monastic group based in Taiwan. This organization is also one of the biggest charities in the country.
The monastery was founded in 1967. The order of this monastery promotes Humanistic Buddhism, which aims to put more emphasis on the living rather than the dead.
They integrate traditional Buddhism into modern everyday life.
There was a time when this monastery was closed to public access. Only monks living in the monastery were allowed in. At the end of 2000, it reopened its doors.
The Fo Guang Shan order is also known for making use of the latest technology and keeping temples well furnished.
Oh and if you’re lucky enough be in Taiwan during Chinese new year celebrations, you might want to go down south to the temple and see the fireworks.
It’s still too early to know exactly when the next celebration will be.
But I’ll try to update the information right here in this post as the date approaches.
How to get to Fo Guang Shan?
Well, chances are that you’ll land in Taipei -as the international airport is located in near the capital- from Taipei Main Station you can either
Take a bus – 4 hours ride- to Kaohsiung, or take the high-Speed rail which will take around one hour and a half.
If you take the high-speed rail you have to get off at Xin Zuoying station. From there take bus E02, it’ll take you other 30 minutes to finally get to the monastery.
Entry fee: No entry fee, you’re welcome to donate and you also have the choice to buy souvenirs if you wish.
2 Buddha Park, Xieng Khuan
Location: Vientiane, Laos.
This is an open air sculpture park. Don’t forget your sunscreen, this place has an ancient look and feel, and it might also feel a little bit scary.
The main statue or at least one of the statues that stands out the most is a 120 meters reclining Buddha. You’ll also find other statues belonging to Hindu gods and demons.
The park is not as old as it may look. Bunleua Sulila founded it in 1958. He was a monk who practiced both religions.
There is a spot in the park where you can catch a good look of the whole area. All you have to do is enter the Pumpkin of HELL!!!!
Near the entrance of the park, you’ll find a pumpkin like structure. You can go inside through the mouth of a demon on one of the sides of the pumpkin. Once inside you can climb your way up to the top.
Inside the Pumpkin, there are 3 levels which represent hell, earth, and heaven.
Xieng Khuan means spirit city.
How to get to the Buddha Park of Vientiane?
It’s very simple, take a tuk-tuk. The place is not that far from the center of Vientiane. It’s very convenient and affordable, and it’ll give you the chance to see more of Vientiane.
The park is located near the border with Thailand, is perfect for those travelers who are making their way to the beautiful country of Thailand.
You can also take public transportation. If you’d like to read more about Vientiane and other ways to get to this park please click here Old Gods in Vientiane
Entry fee: To enter the park you must pay 5000 KIP, which is around 0.58 USD. To have the right to use a professional camera inside the park you’ll have to pay extra 3000 KIP
3 Temple of the Emerald Buddha | Grand Palace
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
The bustling city of Bangkok is more recognized by its vibrant nightlife, nightclub, street food, night markets, and floating markets.
But something some people don’t realize is that this city is house to some really beautiful temples.
The official name is Wat Phra Si Rattana Satsadaram. It’s regarded as the most sacred temple of all in Thailand. When you visit this place you must wear long pants and cover your shoulders or they won’t let you in.
In this temple you’ll find the statue of the Emerald Buddha.
Thais believe that the safety of the nation relies on this Emerald statue. The 66 centimeters tall statue supposedly made its way to Bangkok all the way from India.
It was placed in its current location in 1782, the year in which the Chakri Dynasty of Thailand, which still holds the Kingdom, came into power.
from wikipedia.org
The Emerald Buddha temple is actually a complex with many buildings, statues, pagoda-like structures, halls, and paintings. The Emerald Buddha is located in the main building of course.
When you enter the building where the Emerald Buddha is you have to take off your shoes.
Sit in a crossed leg position -feet must NOT face the statue- and you can not take pictures of the statue.
This statue is so sacred that only the king can touch it 3 times a year to change the cloak around it.
Oh, and one more thing, they call it Emerald Buddha because but, for Thais, Emerald simply means deep green color. In reality, the statue is made out of Jade.
How to get to The Emerald Buddha?
From the center of the city, you can take a tuk-tuk or grab (Kind of like Uber). This is really the easiest and most convenient way to get there.
If you’re feeling adventurous you could take a bus. Buses number 508, 2 and 25 will drop you off really close. Just check your Google maps and find which one is more convenient for you.
It’s also possible to reach the temple by boat. You could take the BTS Silom line, get off at Saphan Taksin station, walk towards Sathorn Pier and get on a boat. It’ll drop you off 4 minutes away from the temple.
Entry Fee: 500 Bahts, this also includes access to the grand palace area.
Let’s continue with this list of Best Buddha Temples in Asia
4 Wat Pho, Reclining Buddha
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Yet another Buddha temple in Bangkok. This temple was founded even before Bangkok became the capital of the Kingdom. People believe this temple came into existence around 1688-1703.
Wat Pho is considered to be one of the six royal temples of Thailand. Its close proximity to the Grand Palace and Emerald Buddha temple helped it gain the status of Royal monastery.
In this complex there are approximately 100 Buddha images, the biggest statue is the golden reclining Buddha.
The Reclining Buddha statue in Bangkok and the chapel that houses it were both built in 1832, it’s one of the largest Buddha statues in Thailand.
The reclining position means the passing of Buddha to nirvana.
A state of total liberation and happiness, the moment when we’ll no longer reincarnate, live, suffer, die again, reincarnate again and repeat.
How to get to Wat Pho?
If you’re already at the Emeral Buddha location you can just walk, Wat Pho will be just 6 minutes away.
Otherwise, you can follow the same instructions I gave you to reach the Emerald Buddha temple.
Take a tuk-tuk, a grab, or take the long and more scenic route through the river.
Entry Fee: 100 bahts, and it includes free water.
If you go during summertime you’ll need that water, last time I was there my skin was burning.
I had to take out an umbrella, just like a Korean girl taking care of her skin ha!
5 Tian Tan Buddha
Location: Lantau Island, Hong Kong
The mountains around it, the fresh air and the cable car ride above blue waters. This is one of my favorite Buddha temples.
The Buddha statue in this temple was completed in 1993. It symbolizes the harmonious relationship between man and nature, people and faith. This is one of the largest sitting Buddha statues in the world.
Once you make it to the top of the hill, which is a little bit challenging, you’ll see all the beautiful details. The statue of Buddha is sitting on top of a huge bronze lotus flower.
All around it, there are 6 smaller statues known as the offerings of the six devas that symbolize the 6 perfections, Generosity, Morality, Patience, Zeal, Meditation and Wisdom.
In this area- near the statue of Buddha- you’ll also find a little village full of restaurants and many souvenir shops. You’ll also find the Po Lin monastery.
How to get to Tian Tan Buddha?
It’s quite simple, take the metro to Tung Chung station, get off and walk towards the cable car station and get a ticket to Ngong Ping Village.
Once you’re there you’ll only have to walk for around 10 minutes to reach the statue of Tian Tan Buddha.
Entry Fee: The area around the Buddha, walking upstairs and take a close look is free of charge.
But if you want to go inside the Buddha statue you have to pay a fee of 78 HKD
6 Leshan Giant Buddha
Location: Sichuan, China
The Dad of all Buddha statues. This is the biggest Buddha statue in the world, at least among the ones that are carved out of stone.
This is definitely my favorite one in this Best Buddha Temples in Asia list.
This statue is 71 meters tall and was built between 713 and 803. The construction was started by a Chinese monk named Hai Tong. It was finished 70 years later by his disciples.
Why carve a huge Buddha out of a cliff? Well, as you can see the Leshan Giant Buddha is sitting facing a river, which back then was very difficult to navigate due to strong currents and many ships were sunk.
Building the Buddha statue was the solution the monk thought of at the time. It was supposed to calm the turbulent waters, and even though he did not live to see his masterpiece done.
The purpose was accomplished.
Apparently, due to all the rocks and stones being carved out of the cliff and falling into the river, the waters did become calm.
The statue was originally covered by a 13 floors wooden structure to protect it from the rain and the sun.
Unfortunately, such a structure was destroyed by the Mongols when they invaded China.
How to get to the Leshan Giant Buddha?
China is huge, so the first thing you have to do is take a flight to Chengdu Shuangliu international airport. This is the major airport serving Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province.
Directly at the airport, you can take the high-speed train to Leshan. It will take you only around 50 minutes to get there.
Once you’re there take bus number 3 and you’ll reach the entrance of the scenic Leshan Giant Buddha area in around 40 minutes.
Entry fee: 90 yuan.
7 Chin Prathanporn Buddha
Location: Kanchanaburi, Thailand
This majestic statue is located in Wat Tham Sua Kanchanaburi , is one of the most famous temples of Kanchanaburi.
Kanchanaburi is a rural area close to the border with Myanmar. Tourists usually visit this place to do activities like hiking, caving, and rafting.
2 major tourist attractions are the Death Railways and the Allied War Cemetery.
The temple is located about 12 kilometers away from Kanchanaburi town and to visit it you’ll have to pay a tuk-tuk or visit on your own if you’re driving. There is no public transportation.
The first thing you’ll notice when you’re approaching the area is the 18 meters tall Golden Buddha statue.
To see it up close you’ll have to climb some steps or pay for a short cable car ride.
The Buddha statue was built in 1973. The temple and the statue were built with the purpose of locals having a place to pay their respects to Buddha.
How to get to Wat Tham Sua Kanchanaburi?
It’s easy to get here from Bangkok. There are many tour companies offering day tours to Kanchanaburi.
But if that’s not how you roll then you can just simply take the train.
You can catch the train from Thonburi station in Bangkok. It’ll take you 2 hours and a half or 3 hours to get there. It’s really the best way to see the countryside of Thailand.
This temple is a mix of traditional Chinese Buddhism and Tibetan Buddhism. It also goes by the name of Yonghe Temple or Yonghe Lamasery.
The construction of this temple began in 1694 during the Qing Dynasty. It was when prince Yong took the throne that half of the building was turned into a Tibetan monastery.
Eventually, the monastery became the home of many Tibetan Buddhist monks from Mongolia and Tibet.
After 1949 the temple was declared a national monument and access was closed for 32 years.
It reopened its doors to the public in 1981, now it works as a temple and tourist attraction.
Inside one the buildings, you’ll find a huge statue of Buddha Maitreya. This is the biggest wooden Buddha statue in the world, it was carved out of a single white sandalwood log.
The body of the statue is 26 meters tall and 8 meters wide. It was gifted to emperor Qianglong by the seventh Dalai Lam in 1750.
You’ll be glad to know that is very simple and convenient. There are 2 metro lines – Subway Line 2 and Line 5 – in the Beijing metro system that stop at Yonghe Temple Station.
Take exit c and walk south for around 400 meters, you’ll find the temple on the east side of the road.
Entry fee: 25 Yuan, you can also rent an audio guide.
9 Bongeunsa Temple
Location: Seoul, South Korea
The last one on this Best Buddha Temples in Asia list.
During Winter Months
This is another temple that has been around for a while. Its origins can be traced back to 794 when all there was around in Seoul were open fields, trees, and villages.
Just like Korean people, this temple, unfortunately, has had to withstand the horrors of war. During the Korean war, many of its buildings were destroyed by fire.
The current temple we see today is actually a product of many renovations that took place between 1941 and 1982.
The main attraction of the temple is a 28 meter tall standing Buddha statue. It’s the representation of the future Buddha named Maitreya.
What is the future Buddha?
According to Buddhist traditions, the Maitreya or future Buddha is someone who will appear in this world sometime in the future.
This entity will be a Buddhist who is on his/her way to full enlightenment and will teach the pure Dharma.
Dharma is a concept that refers to behaviors that are in full accordance with the natural order of things and the “right way of living”
The future Buddha is supposed to appear once humankind has lost its way.
What I really like about this temple is that is close to the city, but in an interesting way is very calm and peaceful.
You can walk uphill behind the statue and see the back of it with buildings in the background, is quite a nice view.
During Summer Months
How to get to Bongeunsa Temple?
Getting here is simple, cheap and convenient, all you have to do is get in the subway and make your way towards it.
You can get off at Samseong Station on the green line and from there you’ll walk for around 13 minutes.
Entry fee: Free of Charge
Conclusion, Best Buddha Temples in Asia
East Asia is full of beautiful countries with a lot to offer, one of those things being the many Buddha temples that attract and surprise with their beauty and history.
Hope you guys have the chance to visit some of these spots.
If there is any other Buddha temple you want me to add to the Best Buddha Temples in Asia list please let me know in the comments.
You are going to be in China and you only have a couple of days, around 8 days maybe, to explore some parts of this huge country. I recommend Shanghai and Beijing in One Week
Or maybe you want to spend most of your time in other cities in the south and center of China, rather than the most mainstream and international cities, you know the most touristy ones.
But. if your issue is time-related, I would say go visit Shanghai and Beijing.
These are the 2 major cities most airlines fly to, chances are you’re going to one of them already, and they are well connected to each other.
And if you do have a lot of time, and you want to explore many parts of China.
I’d still recommend you to visit Shanghai- the city with the best skyline in Asia- and Beijing because THE GREAT WALL that’s why.
You just have to see it.
What comes now is a list of the different things you can do in these cities. Shanghai and Beijing in One Week
I’ll also share information about, where to stay, and other data that will make you want to go, hopefully.
Shanghai-The Bund
This is the most modern and the biggest financial hub in China. The heart of the city is located at the Bund, a waterfront area with colonial buildings facing the modern Skyline of Shanghai.
The Bund was originally a British settlement, that’s why there are many colonial buildings.
This place is perfect for walking around at night time or in the morning. You can enjoy both the beauty of the traditional European side of the Bund as well as the modern side of the city just right across.
Rooftop Bars-Shanghai
If you’re looking for a nice rooftop bar in Shanghai to go and have one or two drinks and get a really good look at the Skyline of the city you can go to the Peninsula Hotel.
Just go to their rooftop bar, relax and take some pictures.
Closest metro station to the Peninsula and The Bund is Nanjing East Road on Line 2
Since I just talked about rooftop bars, here’s another rooftop bar in Shanghai you can go to get a different look of the city.
Go to the Ritz Carlton Shanghai PUDONG, do not mistake it with the Portman Ritz-Carlton.
At the rooftop bar of the Ritz Carlton Pudong , called Flair Rooftop Restaurant and Bar, click here for their website, you’ll be able to catch a cool close look of the pearl tower.
I couldn’t help to take a selfie
Closest metro station to the Ritz Carlton Pudong is Lujiazui on line 2
What else can I do or see in Shanghai?
Yu Garden and Bazaars-Shanghai
The exact address of this place is 218 Anren St, Huangpu Qu, Shanghai Shi, China, 200000
The closest metro station is Yuyuan garden station, you can walk around the shopping areas free of charge. There is a small fee to pay to enter the garden area.
What is exactly this place? a nice and beautiful garden with a big shopping area around it.
But to be honest, they should call it Yu Shopping center, I think that’s more suitable.
First of all this place is crowded most of the time, like seriously crowded, so is it still worth going there and take a look? I say yes, every traveling experience is different.
I must say that I did like the design of the buildings, there are many details in every angle you see.
And the pond area is quite nice too. If you’re looking for souvenirs this is also the right place for it, as it is full of stores selling Chinese everything.
There’s a lot of history to this place. The garden was built in 1559 during the Ming Dynasty. It went through different wars that destroyed its original structure and has been restored a couple of times.
Maybe the nicest and most interesting spot in these 2 hectares garden is Huxinting Tea House.
A tea house that first opened its doors in 1855, is located at the yu garden pond.
If you decide to go inside and have tea please be aware that the prices here are high.
You won’t be paying just for tea, you’ll also be paying for the whole old tea house experience with many tea options and old ladies playing Chinese music instruments.
But if you get a table by the window, you’ll get to relax having a cup of tea while watching the crowds of people walking around and you’ll say to yourself, Thank God I’m not down there.
Tianzifang- Shanghai
The exact address is 210弄 Taikang Rd, DaPuQiao, Huangpu Qu, China, the closest metro station is Dapuqiao station on line 9, take exit 1.
This is another shopping area where you’ll find different boutique shops and some bars and restaurants as well.
Oh and also small coffee shops, it was crowded when I visited but I must say it was more likable than the Bazaars at Yu garden.
The lanes in this area are very small. It used to be a residential area in what once was the French Concession.
This touristy area is picturesque and also quite big. There are hundreds of stores. Here’s a post I found about stores to visit while in Tianzifang, from cake shops to cat cafes, check it here
I visited the cat cafe and it was nice- I like cats- but it’s a bit annoying when you’re trying to eat or drink something and then a cat jumps on the table. After a while it got old for me.
Another place tourists in Shanghai go to is
Nanjing Road-Shanghai
Sometimes referred to as China’s premier shopping street. In this area, you’ll find European designer brands as well as traditional food vendors, is kind of like a mix of the old and the new.
If you go during night time, when is the most lively, you’ll encounter a busy street full of people shopping and enjoying themselves among the bright neon lights.
You can reach this road by metro, you can get off at East Nanjing Road station or West Nanjing road station.
Just so you have an idea of what you can find here, well there are around 500 stores offering different luxury brands that include Prada, Channel, Tiffany, Omega, Mont Blanc and more.
There are also around 100 stores that carry more traditional products such as jade, silk, wood, clocks and more.
So if you’re looking for good quality products and you’re willing to pay the price for it then Nanjing road is the place to go.
Oh, and you can also find many food stores selling traditional Chinese food. Here’s a list of 5 food stores on Nanjing Road that stand out from the rest.
Shen Da Cheng: Sells moon cakes with meat fillings
Shao Wan Sheng: Sells wine cured crabs and mud snails
Shanghai First Food Hall: Sells various snacks including traditional cakes
Wangjiasha Pastry Shop: Sells wontons, desserts, and special snacks for traditional Chinese festivals
Zhen Lao Da Fang: Sells smoked fish and moon cakes with meat fillings
If you’re excited about visiting Nanjing Road and want to know more details please click here.
oh, and if you’re looking for a more religious place in the middle of the city, to go and see how locals express their faith.
You’ll be glad to know that at the end of West Nanjing road you’ll find the famous Jing an Temple.
Jing An Temple-Shanghai
This is the last Shanghai Spot in this Shanghai and Beijing in One Week post.
This temple will definitely catch your attention. There is a 4 sided statue of golden lions at the doorway which is very impressive and unique in style.
I’ve never seen anything like it before in my almost 4 years traveling throughout Asia.
Jing an temple is also the oldest temple in Shanghai. It was first built around 800 years ago, but I say this is debatable.
The temple was first located by the bank of Wusong River and later moved to its current location. It was also burnt down to the ground and then completely rebuilt.
So, I think is fair to say that this current version of the temple is not the real original one, but is still beautiful and interesting.
Opening hours: 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM
Entrance fee: RMB 50
Closest metro station: Jing An Temple on line 2 or 7
Other places you can visit in Shanghai include, Disneyland -The biggest Disneyland in the world.
They have an area called Disney Town, full of restaurants and souvenir stores, you don’t need to enter the park, Disneytown is outside the park.
They have a cheesecake factory there in case you wanna have cheesecake.
To get to Disney town get on the metro, line 2 and get off at Shanghai Science Station.
You can also make a day tour to Zhujiajiao Water Town. You can reach this ancient town by taking the metro, go to line 17 and get off at Zhujiajiao Station. For more details about this water town please click here
For an updated map and full details of Shanghai metro line please click here
Before we move to Beijing there is one more thing I want to talk about and is where to stay in Shanghai?
Where to stay in Shanghai?
Whenever I travel to a city with a big metro line, I try to stay in a central location within their metro map.
That way I know that anywhere I want to go, using the metro line will be somewhat convenient.
I recommend you to look for a hotel near Jing An station on line 2.
If you stay around this station, you’ll be only minutes away from the west and east Nanjing station, yu yuan garden station, people’s square station and Lujiazui station.
That last station is the one you need to get off at to go see Pearl Tower.
So as you can see, getting a hotel near Jing An station or any of the stations mentioned above is a good idea.
View from Hotel Room, Portman Ritz Carlton
And here’s a good hotel deal I want to share with you. If you’ve ever wanted to stay at a high-end hotel, you know super luxurious, this is your chance.
One night at the Portman Ritz Carlton goes for around 170 USD a night. That is cheap when you compare it to the other Ritz Carlton in Shanghai (340 USD a night) or The Ritz at Tokyo (1000 USD a night)
The hotel is super clean and nice, is a 5 stars hotel after all, oh and is located near Jing An station, the location is super convenient.
How to Go from Shanghai to Beijing?
The easiest and most reliable way to get from the beautiful city of Shanghai to the ancient capital of China is by train.
You can book your ticket using Ctrip – this is the site I used- change the language to English if needed and choose the train option, here’s the link
I booked a ticket from Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station to Beijing South. First class tickets sell for around 140 USD and the whole ride takes around 5 hours.
Once your booking is successful you’ll receive a confirmation email with a booking number. Print that out and take it with you on the day you go to the Railway station, show it at the ticket booth and you’ll get your tickets.
Why didn’t I take a flight? well, a lot of friends advised me to not do it. Apparently, domestic flights have a tendency to be delayed or canceled, and also, I think traveling on a train is more entertaining, so I went for the train.
Hongqiao Railway station is accessible by metro. If you happen to be staying near line number 2 just get in the metro and head towards Hongqiao Railway Station, is that easy.
After you get out of the metro you’ll still have to walk for around 8 minutes.
If you’re carrying many suitcases and traveling with children then maybe a Taxi is a better option.
Just make sure the taxi driver understands you’re going to Hongqiao Railway Station and not Hongqiao International Airport
So after 5 hours, you’ll arrive in Beijing. Let’s begin with the second part of this Shanghai and Beijing in One Week post.
Where to Stay in Beijing?
I stayed at the Holiday Inn Express, Beijing Dongzhimen. The nearest metro station to this hotel is Dongzhimen station, which is still a 13 minutes walk away but the area is nice and safe.
As you would expect this is a very affordable hotel, for a total of 4 nights I paid 305 USD, a room for 2.
Also, Dongzhimen station is directly connected to terminal 2 and terminal 1 of Beijing Capital International Airport. In case you decided to take a flight, they’re connected by the Airport line.
If you’re getting to Beijing through the Beijing South Railway Station then once you’re there take line 4 and go to Xuanwumen station, here you have to transfer to line 2 and go to Dongzhimen station.
Line 2 of Beijing’s metro system is the ring line. This means that it moves in a circular direction.
This makes it super convenient as you’ll be able to transfer to many of the other lines with ease.
If you want an updated map of Beijing’s metro/subway system and many other details about all the lines please click here
If this is your first time in Beijing for sure you’re gonna want to go and see
The Great Wall- Beijing
So as you know the Great Wall of China is huge. There are quite a few different spots people like to go to.
Some sections are very steep and challenging to climb. There is even one section that is lit up at night time and people can visit during and after the sunset.
Take your time to figure out what area of the wall best fits your needs and physical condition.
Also how much time you want to spend traveling to the spot, some of these spots are 1 hour and a half drive away from the center of Beijing. Others are 3 hours and a half.
How exactly do I get there?’
The easiest and most convenient way is to book a tour when you get to your hotel. Don’t worry you don’t have to get on a big bus and follow someone with a flag all day long.
The tour I joined was smaller. At the lobby of the hotel, I took a look at some Great Wall tour brochures and asked the receptionist to help me book a tour.
The next day I was picked up by a minivan and they took me to the wall. The tour I joined also had the option to have a traditional Chinese meal in a restaurant in a different location.
They also took us to some tea and souvenir shops.
The Tour I joined also included a visit to the Ming Tombs.
What are the Ming Tombs?
They are a Unesco World Heritage site. Just like the name states it these are the tombs where emperors of the Ming dynasty were buried. The first tomb was build in 1409 by Zhu Di, the first emperor of the Ming Dynasty.
Not every tomb is open to the public. There is a museum of old relics and just like in any other tourist site, you’ll also find a souvenir shop.
I visited this place as part of a tour, but if you’re feeling adventurous and want to go there on your own by public transportation is also possible. Click here for more info.
The Forbidden City- Beijing
A highlight of this Shanghai and Beijing in One Week adventure.
It was called the Forbidden city because during the Qing and Ming dynasty commoners -like you and me- were not allowed to enter this Palace. This place was only for royalty and high officials.
People also call it the Palace Museum. This place was home to emperors and their house halls. It was also a center for political and religious ceremonies, it was occupied this way for around 500 years.
The forbidden city stopped being the house of emperors and the center of political power in China in 1912, when the last emperor of China abdicated.
Later in history -1933- the Japanese invasion would force the evacuation of most of the treasures in the Forbidden City.
The treasures would eventually return to the city, only for half of them to be taken to Taiwan amid the civil war of China events in 1948.
The closest metro/subway station is Tian anmen East, take Exit A, from there you have to walk 16 minutes.
The Forbidden City opens from 8:30 AM to 5 PM
The ticket price is 60 CNY from April to October and 40 CNY from November to March.
You can also rent an audio guide that works with a GPS, so as you’re walking the device will recognize in which area of the Forbidden City you are and will start explaining the history behind it.
For more details about the Forbidden city please click here
Another place you can visit on the same day as the Forbidden City is Tiananmen Square, they are next to each other.
Tiananmen Square- Beijing
Tiananmen Gate in the Background
Make your way through the Tiananmen square and you’ll find the Forbidden City.
The name -Tiananmen- translates to English as Gate of Heavenly Peace. It’s pretty much a huge square in the middle of the city. It has strong historical importance as many events that have defined China as we see it today have taken place here.
This place has also seen many wars go by, it’s been partially burnt and destroyed and then rebuilt a couple of times.
Maybe the biggest threat Tiananmen and the Forbidden city faced was when the French and British, during the second opium war of 1860, threatened to burn the gate and the whole city down.
Fortunately, the Europeans decided not to and instead burnt down the old summer palace.
Here’s a panoramic view of Tiananmen Square.
I think is totally worth it to take a couple of hours of your day to walk around this place and learn a bit of Chinese history. Don’t forget your sunscreen if you go during the summer.
You can reach the square by metro, just get off at Tiananmen east or west station.
Don’t be surprised if you run into a police checkpoint and they search your belongings. This is pretty common in any tourist attraction in Beijing, and they don’t only search foreigners, also locals.
Actually I heard that they are more strict with local visitors as they don’t want anyone starting any protest in the square.
It’s also common to go through a security checkpoint when you enter metro stations.
I had a bottle of water in my backpack and they asked me to drink a bit in front of them to prove it was water.
It didn’t bother me at all, I actually felt safe to know that there are a lot of policemen around to make sure no one creates trouble.
Would you like to explore more of Beijing? Then head to
Temple of Heaven- Beijing
The place where emperors would come and pray to heaven for a good harvest.
Hall of Prayers for Good Harvest.
This magnificent temple is located in the southeastern part of central Beijing.
The closest metro station is Tiantan Dongmen station on line 5, take exit A and you’ll find the east gate of the temple of heaven.
Inside this religious complex, you’ll find one specific building that steals the show. I’m talking about the Hall of Prayers for Good Harvest.
This is the building where the emperor would get on his knees and pray for a good harvest. This circular building is completely made out of wood with no nails.
Unfortunately, a lightning strike burnt the original building in 1889. The building was rebuilt after that.
Another structure that most likely will catch your attention is the circular mound Altar. An empty circular platform with beautiful Chinese details, this is where the emperors would come to pray for good weather.
For details about ticket types and prices please click here
The last major tourist spot I will mention in this Shanghai and Beijing in One Week post is the Lama temple.
I really want to encourage you to go and see this Temple. It really is one of the most interesting ones I’ve seen around Asia so far.
This temple also goes by other names like The Yonghe temple or Yonghe Lamasery temple.
It’s a temple of the Tibetan School of Buddhism, the design of this religious building is a mixture of Han Chinese and Tibetan style.
The closest metro station is Yonghegong Lama Temple on line 2
Opens from 9 am to 5 pm
Entrance dee is 25 Chinese Yuan per person
Conclusion
Shanghai and Beijing have a lot to offer. Rooftop bars, shopping streets, convenient metro systems, and beautiful temples.
Going from Shanghai to Beijing or vice-versa is super easy using High-Speed Trains. If you decide to visit both cities you’ll have a good time for sure.
Do you think there’s something else I should include in this Shanghai and Beijing in One Week post? Let me know in the comments
There is something about Hong Kong that, in my opinion, makes it very special.
It’s like no other city in Asia. It definitely should be in your list of cities to visit if you’re in this hemisphere of the world.
Before we start this list of things all tourists have to do while in Hong Kong, let’s talk a little bit about this small and amazing part of the world.
Is it a country?
No, it’s an autonomous territory, although China is working to change that.
It used to be a British colony up until 1997, when it was given back to China but remained an autonomous territory.
Hong Kong is a global financial hub. The center of the city is highly developed with skyscrapers, shopping malls and foreigners everywhere.
As developed as it is, you’ll still be able to find traditional Chinese night markets and some traditional and picturesque gardens.
Let’s dive in!!
Things to do in Hong Kong
1 Stroll around the avenue of stars.
This avenue is located alongside Victoria harbor. This is the place you’ll also want to go to get a good look at the city’s skyline.
This avenue commemorates all of the iconic movie stars of the Hong Kong film industry. You’ll see some statues around, the most recognizable one being a Bruce Lee statue.
The avenue of stars was under remodeling for the past 3 years.
It was until a couple of weeks ago, late January 2019, that fully opened for the public again.
This is really the time to go there.
The views are really worth it. Plus is a perfect spot to sit down and see the sky turn dark and the buildings coming to light.
Is it easy to get to the avenue of stars?
Yes, it is.
The closest metro station is Tsim Sha Tsui station.
Once you’re out of the metro station all you have to do is walk for around 9 minutes. Just use Google maps and you’ll get there, or just ask locals to point the way for you.
The exact address: Avenue of Stars, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
The avenue of stars is on Kowloon island, opposite to Hong Kong island. The best view of the city is definitely from Kowloon side as most of the big buildings are on Hong Kong Island side.
I’ll explain a bit about Hong Kong’s geography at the end of the post.
2 Visit Lantau Island
Why do you want to go there?
Because is away from the city. It’s mountainous, there’s a lot of fresh air, and they have one of the nicest Buddha statues and surroundings I’ve seen.
But is not just about going there and seeing a Buddha statue, there’s really no fun in that, right?
To get there from Kowloon or Hong Kong island, you’ll have to take the metro and then get on a gondola/ cable car.
This is where the fun starts, you can even choose a gondola with a crystal floor if you want to. It depends on how much you want to pay.
The cable car will drop you off at Ngong Ping Village.
It’s a tiny village full of restaurants and souvenir stores. You can eat there, do souvenir shopping and take some photos.
The Lantau Buddha or Tian Tian Buddha will be just 7 or 8 minutes away, by foot, from this tourist village.
To get to Ngong Ping Village and Tian Tian Buddha, you have to make your way to Tung Chung metro station.
Once you’re out of the station you have to walk for around 8 minutes and get to Ngong Ping Cable Car Tung Chung Station. Just follow your Google map or ask someone to point the way for you.
I didn’t reserve tickets online.
I just got there and bought them. To check prices and many other activities and restaurants on Lantau Island please click here.
3 Go To Victoria Peak
Oh, this is a must, one of the best spots to see Hong Kong in all of its splendor.
And what a better way to get to the top than by using the old and iconic Tram.
Why should you go? well simply because it provides you with the most amazing views of the city.
It doesn’t matter if you go during the day or at night, the view will equally be beautiful, just pray for no fog.
Oh, and it gets the most crowded during the weekends in the evenings because both locals and tourists want to see the sunset.
Have in mind that this place is visited by some 7 million people every year. This is one of the major tourist attractions of Hong Kong.
Will the Tram drop me off directly at the top? No, it will drop you off at the Peak Tower.
The Peak tower is a leisure center and shopping mall, you will be dropped off inside the Peak Tower and then you’ll have to make your way up to the viewing platform.
It’s called Sky Terrace 428.
On the viewing platform there will be some telescopes, so make sure you take some coins with you so you can use them.
View of Victoria Harbor from The Peak
How Do I get to the Victoria Peak (Also called Mount Austin)?
If it’s your first time I would definitely recommend you to use the Tram, you will love it or hate it.
The closest MRT station is Central station, use exit J 2, from there you’ll walk for about 13 minutes until you reach the lower Peak Tram station.
Buy a ticket and get in line, wait for the tram to take you up to the Peak Tower.
Here’s a link to the Lower Peak Tram Station, also known as Garden Road Stop.
For adults is 13 USD, round trip ticket, it also includes access to the Sky Terrace 428. Round trip tickets for children, with access to the Sky Terrace 428 sell for 6 USD.
While you’re at the peak tower whether it’s at night or during the day, you can also do other entertaining activities, like eating.
Which takes me to the following.
4 Have Dinner at Bubba Gump, by the window.
Dinner or Lunch. What a better way to enjoy Hong Kong’s amazing view than by having a nice meal by the window.
And if you like Shrimp, just like me, then you’ll have even more reasons to visit this place.
Now, since you’re in Hong Kong, one of the biggest and most bustling cities in Asia you might not want to have a full western meal.
I understand that, but the view from this restaurant really is spectacular and the food and the drinks are good.
This restaurant is located in the Peak Tower. So if you’re going to the Sky Terrace to get a good look at Victoria Harbor, you might want to consider paying this place a visit. Here’s the link to their menu
If you’re not in the mood for eating, there’s something else you can do while you’re at the Peak Tower.
5 Visit Madame Tussauds
Madame Tussauds Hong Kong is part of the renowned chain of wax museums that were founded by Marie Tussaud of France.
In this museum you will find a wide arrange of statues, going from sports legends, celebrities, political figures, and European Royalty.
People usually go to the museum to look at how similar the statues and the real persons are, and to take photos of course.
Now let’s go to a place away from the peak and the crowds. This is a place you will surely find to be relaxing. Among all of the huge buildings and noise of the city, you’ll find Nan Lian Garden.
This is a classical Chinese garden. It’s not ancient- it opened its door in 2006- but it definitely makes you feel like you’re in one of those old times Chinese movies.
The garden opens from 7 am to 9 pm every day. It was designed having the Tang Dynasty style in mind. You’ll find rocks, trees, wooden formations, hills, water structures, and little bridges.
The exact address is Nan Lian Garden, 60號 Fung Tak Rd, Diamond Hill, Hong Kong. The closest metro station is Diamond Hill station, once you’re out of the station just walk for 7 minutes.
As you’d expect, anywhere where there are tourists there are souvenir stores, and this place is no exception.
However, even the souvenir stores in here have a very calm and tranquil vibe, you’ll also find a tea house inside the garden.
Something is worth mentioning is that the administration really makes an effort to keep this place calm and quiet.
Even though you can enter free of charge, there is a limit of how many people can enter the park at the same time. For more details click here
7 Visit Jumbo Floating Restaurant
If you’re looking for a special – pricey- place to have a nice Cantonese, seafood focused meal in Hong Kong , then you should definitely check this restaurant out.
This is an iconic spot of the city, floating in the middle of a river, even Queen Elizabeth the second has visited this place. This restaurant opened its doors in 1976.
Getting here, you can either take a taxi, which will take only 17 minutes from central Hong Kong.
Or take the metro and make your way to Lei Tung station on the South Island line.
Whether you take a taxi or the metro, you’ll still have to walk a little bit to get to a small pier, where a small ferry will cross you over to the restaurant.
The ferry ride is free. If you’re wondering how expensive is this place well.
Here’s the menu for you to take a look for yourself menu
And here are some pictures of the food
If you have the time and the budget for it please include it in your list of things to do. It’s a really nice place.
8 Go Hit The Night Life at Lan Kwai Fong
Where is the party in Hong Kong? well, in different places, but if there’s a place in town where a lot of tourists, expats, and locals get together to eat and drink that’s
Lan Kwai Fong.
This is a small square of streets, narrow lanes packed with Bars, nightclubs, and restaurants in the heart of central Hong Kong.
The area starts coming to live at around 3 pm and business close until 6 am. The closest Metro station is Central Station, exit D2.
This place gets crazily crowded during Halloween, Christmas and New Year’s Eve.
During these celebrations, you’ll encounter Police control -barricades and police force- in the area to control the crowds and avoid another tragic incident like the 1993 human stampede that killed 21 people.
And the locals take it all the time simply to get from one side to the other because is reliable and efficient.
There are 3 points in the city where you can get on the Star ferry, Tsim Sha Sui star ferry pier, Central star ferry pier, and wan chai star ferry pier.
Source: http://www.discoverhongkong.com
All 3 piers are reachable from metro stations, Tsim Sha Sui Station, Central or Hong Kong Station and Wan Chai Station respectively.
For information on the timetable and the fares please click here and you’ll see their official website
10 Relax at Hong Kong Zoological And Botanical Gardens
Maybe, during your stay in Hong Kong, there will be a day when all you’ll want to do is relax, no lines, no crowds, no going up and down the metro system, just relax.
That’s exactly what you can do at the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens.
And if you’re staying near the central station, all you’ll have to do is walk a bit and you’ll get there.
Fountain Terrace Garden
This garden has historic value, it was founded in 1864 and then it opened its doors to the public in 1871.
You can walk around the Magnolia gardens, Bamboo gardens, Azalea gardens and more.
The garden opens every day from 5 am to 10 pm and you can enter free of charge. For more details about the garden please visit their official site, click here
The closest metro station is Central Station, take exit D1 and then walk for 9 minutes, just follow your Google maps.
The Zoological and Botanical Park is near the lower tram station.
11 Visit The WWF Hong Kong Visitor Center
Would you like to cooperate with a nice cause? The worldwide fund of nature has been working to preserve animal lives and reduce the impact of humans in the environment for years.
There is a WWF visitor center near the lower terminal of the tram to Victoria Peak.
This is pretty much a store. It sells different products of every day use like, pencils, notebooks, supermarket bags, candles, towels and more.
All done from recycled materials, as they state it in their products, they focus on giving consumers a sustainable choice.
If you have 15 minutes to spare when you’re coming down the peak stop by, maybe you’ll find something you like.
12 Get on Hong Kong’s Observatory Wheel
Looking for a different angle to see the city? if that’s the case then you might wanna check this out.
Very touristy indeed but fun, unless there’s a huge line to get on.
If you’re lucky you’ll just have to wait a couple of minutes to get on.
The Wheel is located in central Hong Kong, it has 42 gondolas, including a VIP one with leather seats, all gondolas have air conditioning.
Here’s the exact address, Hong Kong Observation Wheel, 33 Man Kwong Street, Central, Hong Kong.
Prices, for adults, is 2.55 USD, for children aged 3-11 years old is 1.30 USD, for more details on prices please visit their official website.
Where To Stay in Hong Kong?
Hong Kong Map
Hong Kong can be divided into 4 different areas, Hong Kong Island (Central, East, South), Kowloon, Lantau, and New Territories.
As you can see on the map, the whole area is very well connected with metro lines, roads, and ferries.
But of course, there are some areas where it makes more sense to stay than on others.
The most convenient area would be Hong Kong island, preferably near central or Hong Kong metro station.
You’ll be in the heart of the city, near Victoria Peak, Lan Kwai Fong, the botanical garden and many shops and restaurants.
Kowloon is also a good area to stay, it will all depend on your budget.
I found a nice cheap hotel near central station called Mini Hotel Central. This is the exact address 38 號 Ice House St, Central, Hong Kong. The location is perfect, but the rooms are very very small.
Are The Visa Requirements the Same as China’s?
No, Hong Kong is an autonomous region. It has its own set of Visa requirements and has a whole different immigration system to the one of Mainland China.
And f*** me there is my country among the countries that need a visa(Nicaragua).
Having a third world country passport is a little bit of work, but every hour I put into that application was worth it.
I can’t wait to go back, even if that means I have to apply for a Hong Kong Visa.
Cost of Living in Hong Kong
It’s no secret that Hong Kong is one of the most expensive cities in the world. That’s why I’ll show you a list of different average prices for different items in Hong Kong.
The average daily price for traveling in Hong Kong is USD 126
USD 26 is the daily average you’ll spend on food
A room for a couple goes for around USD 116
In the following tables, you’ll find more information about the cost of transportation, food, and accommodation in Hong Kong, these are just average costs, it will all depend on what type of traveler you are.
Conclusion
Hong Kong is beautiful, vibrant, safe, expensive and totally worth it.
If you have the time and money and please consider it as one of your next destinations.
The best area to stay at is central, in Hong Kong island. Even though you’ll find yourself surrounded by crowds of people, there are still some spots in the city where you can enjoy some quiet time surrounded by nature.
Oh and, getting a Hong Kong visa – in case you need one- is a bit of work but not impossible to get.
Okay, let’s go now, getting there is super simple and honestly, it doesn’t take that long.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYgKayWI2cA
What is the National Palace Museum?
Is one of the museums with the largest collections of Chinese imperial artifacts, almost 700,000. Why are these relics in Taiwan and not in Mainland China?
In 1949 when the national government fell to communism, they decided to flee to Taiwan. They took with them a huge cargo of Chinese antiques that were in the National Museum of Beijing.
Step Number 1 – Get to the closest MRT station
In order to reach the National Palace Museum from the center of the city -Taipei- you’ll have to first get to Shilin MRT Station. This station is on the red line.
Since I live in Zhongshan area, I simply went to Zhongshan station and took the subway towards Tamsui.
Shilin station is on the way.
Depending on where you’re staying you’ll have to transfer lines to get to Shilin station.
Or who knows maybe you are already near this station and can just walk over there, or maybe for you is more convenient to take a bus.
Here’s the exact location of Shilin station, simply click on it and check -using Google maps- how to get there.
Step Number 2- Get off at Shilin Station
Assuming you’re using the metro, once you reach Shilin Station, take exit 1, zhongzhen Road.
Go down and you’ll see some signs directing you to the bus stop you need to go to.
Luckily for you, I took some pictures, but to be honest you won’t even need them.
All you gotta do is go downstairs -Exit 1- pay your fare and out of the station and walk straight until you reach the road.
Once you’re there just turn to your right and you’ll see the bus stop
Step Number 3 – Switch to a Bus
There are a couple of buses that will take you to the National Palace Museum. I took R30 (the same as 紅30) and it took around 15 minutes to get there.
The bus stop you’ll get off at is The National Palace museum stop, so it’s really difficult to get lost.
Step Number 4 Get off the bus and walk into the Museum
The bus R30 will drop you off inside the premises of the National Palace Museum.
As you’re riding the bus, if you take a look at your left side you’ll see when you’re reaching the palace.
The bus will turn and enter the palace premises and drop you off in front of a souvenir store, in a basement area, not in front of all the steps you’re seeing in the picture.
All you gotta do now is enter the building and go upstairs to pay for your tickets.
You can go to the right or left and line up to buy the ticket. Then you have to line up to pay for the audio tour device (optional), and finally, there is a lockers area where you have to put your bags.
Right after that, you’re ready to go through security and enter the gallery area.
How much is the ticket?
NTD 350, regular entrance for adults, after you enter the gallery and they tear your ticket, you can still go out and enter again.
Just make sure they put a stamp on your hand so they know you already paid for the ticket.
They have different collections showing on different days. You can check more details here the official website of the National Palace Museum in Taiwan.
Here are some pictures I took of what caught my attention the most
Are there restaurants inside the National Palace Museum?
Yes, there are, there is a cafe near the area where you pay for your tickets, and there are other 2 outside, still inside the premises of the museum but on a different building.
For lunch, I and my friend went to a restaurant in the basement, you can see it in the video.
I must say the food was okay, not really good but not bad either, I do think is overpriced, for some spring rolls, a lunch set menu, noodles bowl, a Tainan toast and two can drinks it was almost 2,000 NTD.
Here’s an image with the map of the National Palace Museum, it might be useful.
Conclusion
If you care about art and history you’ll like this place. Getting there on your own is no problem at all, the staff overall is very helpful.
There are restaurant options inside the National Palace Museum, at least the one restaurant I went to was okay in terms of food quality, a bit overpriced though.
