Trip Pulse: Phuket is a good transit point. Our round the world trip continues in Thailand.


You quickly realize all of Phuket’s major attractions are not on Phuket. James Bond, Similan and Phi Phi Islands…This makes Phuket a great transit point on our round the world adventure.


Phuket is Thailand’s largest island on the Andaman Sea. The island formerly derived its wealth from tin and rubber, and now tourism. This island remains a major tourist attraction but not for its climate, nice temples and beaches but rather its proximity to the true wonders of the world including Similan or Phi Phi Islands. Places like Patong also give it the infamous title of one of Thailand’s sex trade capitals which, we can happily say, we didn’t experience at all.

Tsunami warning signs act as permanent reminders of the tragic 2004 tsunami at every beach entrance. We spoke to our taxi driver whose family was spared as they were on their lifetime trip to Mecca at the time of the tragic event.

Compared to other islands in Thailand, we welcomed a well developed infrastructure of roads along many affordable food joints. It is here, we learned the new definition of ‘spicy’. Even the canned, Thai flavoured tuna was delicious and lip-burning. We even found one of Thailand’s best french-thai restaurants, one of our favourite culinary highlights thus far.

Phuket for families:

We didn’t know what to expect coming here except for some preconceived notions that Phuket is not for kids Temple in Phuket, Thailandnor families. However, our journey took us to a less touristy east coast of the island, Rawai Beach close to amazing beaches like Nai Naharn Beach, which we found perfect for Niko and kids of all ages.

Stay tuned for the next post about Phi Phi!

What do you prefer? The touristy or the road less travelled on? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below. Thanks!

Here are some of our photos from our Phuket (Thailand) visit:

Final Thoughts: Beijing – Capital of the North – Round the world with children


An oppressive government is more to be feared than a tiger. – Confucius


Let’s face it, I had many preconceived notions about China, one of the few remaining world’s communist regimes. I expected to see much poverty and difficulty my parents experienced in communist Poland in the 1980’s. The reality seemed quite different when we arrived here on our around the world stopover. When we first arrived in mainland China in Shenzhen, Natasza and I had opposing first impressions. Natasza noticed people who looked far poorer than in Hong Kong, while I was impressed with the well-developed infrastructure and presence of western brands including some reserved for the ultra rich. Perhaps, with a country of 1.3 billion people and over 100 billionaires my notion of modern communism was completely wrong.

Isn’t China one big contradiction with its political authoritarianism on one hand and a global capitalistic power on the other?

As much as you can feel the capitalistic play in motion here, much is still in question: Personal Freedom.

Beside the street hustlers who took only a few seconds to approach us at the train station selling the latest ‘brand’ goods and services, we saw empty Gucci stores, overpriced Starbucks cafés (coffee costs more in China than a full meal at a decent restaurant) and deliciously unhealthy KFC’s with more workers than they know what to do with.

  • We found taxi drivers who preferred to play cards than take our money.
  • We couldn’t call a taxi from our hotel, the hotel clerk had to run out to the main street with us to hail one.
  • We also had lamps in our hotel rooms that served as decoration only producing no light.
  • At first we thought we had poor weather with a haze and cloud cover for the entirety of our stay. It turned out, it was heavy smog hovering a few hundred meters above the city.
  • These are just a few reminders that somethings are just OFF in China.

    1. What we enjoyed the most or the least:

    The city is home to over 19 million people with its most-deserving name meaning ‘capital of the north’. Beijing is the historical and cultural centre of China. We have never felt so much history and culture passing through other Asian cities, as we did here.

    Top attractions of Beijing we were able to explore on our trip around the world:

    Hutongs

    we loved these narrow alleys in the old part of the city with local shops, best local cuisine, cafés and street vendors selling handmade goods including the famous Beijing buttermilk or deep-fried scorpions.

    Old lady sitting on one of Beijing's hutongs

    Forbidden City

    was amazingly huge and brilliant with its imperial architecture. This World Heritage Site consists of over 9,000 rooms of an area of 720,000 m2. For almost 500 years this large palace complex, built in 1400’s, was home to emperors and served as a centre of major political ceremonies and events. It took us a full day to see it. It’s a must-see.

    Tiananmen Square

    this enormous square serves as the symbol of the mixture of traditional values, historical greatness and ‘success’ of new People’s Republic of China (PRC). The prominent placement of Chairman Mao’s picture on the north gates

    Entrance to Forbidden Palace of the Forbidden City is proof of that. To me, it served as a reminder of the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, and possibly hope for a fully democratic China. Ironically, Tiananmen Gate also means the Gate of Heavenly Peace

    Temple of Confucius

    you may be unable to find this cultural gem on many of the tourist maps handed out in tourist centres. The reason? Confucius was the great thinker 500 B.C. and his philosophy, Confucianism, for centuries has defined the core of the Chinese society. The main dogma behind its teachings? Humanism, communal endeavour including self-cultivation and self-creation. As you can imagine at most times it is at odds with the existing regime. Hence, the quote in the heading.

    Traditional costume in Beijing

    This is a very complex issue but nonetheless worth exploring if you wish to know more about the Chinese inner psyche.

    Great Wall of China

    is enormous and makes an amazing impression. This grand project started in 500 BC to defend against enemies from the north (it didn’t work by the way) and may have cost 1 million lives to complete. Nonetheless, it’s an amazing symbol of human ingenuity. Another must-see.

    Niko was treated like a superstar or maybe an alien in China. Many locals would just stare at him, want to take pictures with/of him or even touch his hair. The truth is there are many Chinese tourists here from rural China who most likely haven’t seen a Caucasian child before in person.
    People obsessed with Niko in China

    People obsessed with Niko in China

    Beijing Roast Duck

    I had it and to be honest, it wasn’t any better than the one I tasted in Chinatown in Toronto. If you haven’t tried, it’s a must.

     

    2. Activities our toddler Niko enjoyed the most:

    Beijing Zoo and its Giant Pandas

    This Zoo is just massive with 450 animal species, The lion's statute at the Beijing Zoo14,500 animals and the main attraction Giant Pandas. Niko loved to see the Pandas as they fooled around on the trees.

     

    3. Our average expenses: China is very affordable but not as cheap as you may think

  • Accommodations: $70-100 for a 3 star-type hotel
  • Restaurants: 10 – 30 dollars/visit for 3 of us
  • Food, transportation (car rental) and entertainment: $30 /day
  • Note: $ refers universally to US/CA/AU that trade all within 5-10% of each other

    4. Our first impressions of locals, their culture and customs:

    Social Etiquette and Customs in China

    Chinese follow many etiquette rules that include avoidance of; direct eye contact, sneezing in public or public affection. Yet some of the Western conventions of good etiquette (as we know it) are not observed here and often include loud speaking, spitting in public, loud eating, disregard for public property, no respect in lineups and even loud public flatulence. It was frustrating at times trying to get through the door with the stroller, so don’t expect anyone to let you through.  Shove or be shoved.
    Comprehensive Management - Lost in Translation

    Here is an interesting post about social norms in China

    General tips for travelling in Beijing

  • Taxis at the airport should not cost more than 100 yuan. We received quotes up to 400, so ask the driver to turn the meter on (they may refuse)!
  • The cheapest way to get from Beijing to the Balding Great Wall of China is to take the 919 bus from east of the Deshengmen Arrow Tower bus station. There are people who look like bus terminal employees discouraging you from taking a bus instead of taking a cab. Not sure why, but we felt a stake in it for them to have tourists take cabs and not public buses.
  • Great Firewall of China – it does exist, forget about being able to use any social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, Tripadvisor or other review related sites that may review China. I fully expect our BLOG will become censored after this post!
  • Crossing the street is an art in China. Cars will never stop for pedestrians regardless if you are an official crossing or not. Driving style is very aggressive and I would recommend against driving here!
  • That being said, we found all places worth visiting, for their rich cultural heritage and social customs.

    How do you perceive world’s cultural differences, do you welcome them in open arms or not? Is it about acceptance or about tolerance? Let us know in the comments section below. Thanks!

    Here are some of our photos from our Beijing visit:

     

    Trip Pulse: Macau is bigger than Vegas – Round the world with children

    An expensive geography lesson

    The trip to Macau from Hong Kong took us just under an hour with a speedboat, but our Macau adventure didn’t start here. Our trip to the Vegas of the Orient started approximately an hour before we had to dock the ferry when we realized we may have booked the wrong hotel. How wrong? The initial hotel was located only 2 km from Macau city centre (walkable right?),

    the problem

    … it’s no longer in Macau. It’s in mainland China. The issue was we only had a 2-time entry visa into mainland China with a still planned trip to Shenzhen and Beijing. While sitting and drinking overpriced coffee at Starbucks, only one to have free wife, we were able to find the first and last available hotel, 5-star of course . Just what we needed on a budget. Enter a $250 a night territory. Ouch!  The good news, we were there for only two nights and truly enjoyed our stay:)!

    Enter Macau

    Macau is the other special administrative section of PRC People’s Republic of China with the Portuguese colonial past rather than the British one in Hong Kong. As the Portugese government in Macau needed much needed revenues, it decided to open up the gambling trade. Today, Macau is the Mecca for gamblers and a tax haven for the rich! Over 50 percent of its GDP comes from gambling revenues. Macau is only a fraction of the geographical size of Vegas Nevada yet recently it exceed its gambling revenues. Every year over 20 million visitors mainly from mainland China and Hong Kong come here to beat the odds! Macau is officially the most densely populated place on the planet and we could feel it!


    Gaming revenue in Macau this year probably will exceed $20 billion, which is a little over three times the size of Las Vegas


    With over 50 percent of Macau’s population born in China very few Portuguese influences remain, except for the colonial architecture

    Macau Ruins of St Pauls and its Cantonese-Portugese cuisine (even-though I did like their beef jerky served at every corner). It is also the second wealthiest nation in the world based on GDP (PPP) but you would not guess it by looking at dirty and rundown buildings surrounding its 5-star  hotels and casinos.

    Natasza was not too fond of the Macanese, Cantonese cuisine with the Portuguese flare … and YES we found ourselves in the comfort of our own crappy cuisine called MacDonald’s … on a couple of occasions … We picked the devil we know:)

    Overall, a very interesting and luxurious 2-day trip with a $20 loss at the casino!

    What are your thoughts on Macau? Please share them in the comments section below. Thanks!

    Trip Pulse – Hong Kong: East meets West – Round the world with children


    Hong Kong – “Fragrance Harbour” earned its name from the sweet waters of the Pearl River and the scent emanating from the incense factories of north Kawloon


    Hong Kong is one of two special administrative regions (SARs) of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). In case you are wondering, the ‘other’ China is Republic of China, also known as Taiwan. This subtropical region is one of the most densely populated areas in the world and home to over 7 million people. Chinese roots with influences from its time as a British colony can be felt here and by no surprise it is the centre of “East meets West”. Hong Kong will enjoy its civil liberties and independent judiciary system until 2047, before it is fully integrated into the PRC.  Hong Kong main areas include Hong Kong Island, the Kowloon Peninsula, the New Territories, and over 200 islands, of which the largest is Lantau Island. We had an opportunity to visit just a few.

    Kowloon

    We took a day trip from New Territories to check out the peninsula north of Hong Kong Island. We decided to explore it starting with Tsim Sha Tsui just north of the famous Victoria Harbour. After exploring the Kowloon pier area with its fantastic view of Hong Kong Island and checking out such eye candy as Salisbury Garden, Clock Tower and Avenue of the Stars we decided to venture into the heart of Kowloon. We took a recommended discovery walk via Kowloon Park, Shanghai Street, Temple Street to meet one of the most humbling Buddhist temples, followed by Jade Market Jade Market by Temple street in Hong Kong (in Chinese characters Jade means (beauty and purity) where hundreds of artisans create art with the predominantly green mineral stone that signifies long life and good health in Chinese culture. We finished the day with Niko’s favourite; the Goldfish market which is a series of stores selling every exotic fish imaginable. Apparently, the Chinese are big fans of this relaxing hobby. Some sources say China was first to enjoy fish for ornamental purposes. This tradition dates back to ancient Song Dynasty 1000 AD.

    Goldfish Market Hong Kong
    Needless to say Niko was mesmerized by the multitude of varieties and colours of these fish.

    Kowloon is very loud and crowded with overwhelming views of densely concentrated architecture. The skyline is predominantly taken over by high-rise apartment buildings which are not very aesthetically pleasing. We did however like the inexpensive food and free wi-fi offered by the city. If you are a fan of Chinese cuisine, this is the place to be. There are over 6000 Chinese restaurants in Hong Kong!

    Lantau Island

    We ventured to the island with the inexpensive MTR (Hong Kong has one of the most developed public transportation systems we have ever experienced) to see the Giant Buddha, the world’s tallest outdoor bronze Buddha. The ride up was the key attraction as we took the Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car ride to the top of the mountain.

    Ngong Ping 360 to the Big Buddha

    There, we climbed many steps to gaze at the serene Buddha. From there you can see the Po Lin Monastery, home to many Buddhist monks. The temple was just mesmerizing.

    Niko in the temple in Hong Kong We truly loved the serenity, traditional dome-shaped structures (stupas) and zen-like atmosphere of the colourful surroundings mixed with the smell of the burning incense. In Beijing we learned that burning incense not only signifies ‘yin’ energies of the dead, but was also used as a timekeeping device. No wonder people can experience liberation and awakening in such surroundings.

     

    Hong Kong Island

    After Kowloon and Lantau Island, we decided to spend a day at the heart of it all, Hong Kong Island. This island was the original colony of the Brits. The colonial influence is felt much more here than in the other parts of Hong Kong. It is the most Western part of Hong Kong with many expatriates and tourists who seemed somehow hidden in the other part of the region. We found it very eclectic, with modern influences of world’s best boutiques, brands, global financial and business superpowers mingled between obscure apartment buildings. It is quite clear that space is worth more than gold here. We looked at some real estate listings and noticed we could get a 500 sq ft apartment for a measly million $ CAD dollars. No wonder, the architecture is so overwhelmingly vertical. The Peak in Hong Kong
    The only way to fully comprehend the size of the city’s skyline is to take one of the world’s oldest cable cars built 1888 to the top of Victoria Peak. The view up here was quite spectacular of the skyscraper canyons, green mountains and the harbour. It was definitely worth the visit before our flight to Beijing.

    There are other kid-friendly attractions we didn’t have a chance to explore include Ocean Park, Hong Kong Disneyland and Madame Tussaud. Perhaps next time. It is of no surprise to us that Hong Kong with its many attractions and versatile culture is the number one tourist destination in Asia. It’s definitely worth the visit.

    Toronto TTC, take notice:

    It is possible to have a well-developed, affordable transit system in one of the largest cities in the world. It costs $10US to get from Hong Kong downtown to the airport in 25 minutes with a high-speed train called Airport Express. Also, we found the MTR very kid friendly with elevators, making travel with a stroller much easier.

    What’s your take on Hong Kong? Have you been, are you planning a visit? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below. Thanks!