7 reasons why you should travel to Asia

have you started planning your travels for the upcoming year? Asia should be at the top of your list! 

after 2.5 years of living and exploring here, I could share a million reasons why you should want to travel to this continent. but for the sake of time... I'll stick with the 7 most simple [but important] things that should convince you that your trip to Asia will be enjoyable, affordable, and delicious.

the beaches

no matter what you're looking for in a beach destination, Asia has got you covered. options range from deserted islands to shores of crowded cities, huts on the sand to full-service high-end resorts. you can party all night in Kuta [Bali, Indonesia,] rock climb in Railay [Thailand,] or relax on gorgeous white sands in Boracay [Philippines.]

the people

not all of my encounters while traveling have been positive. but for the most part, the people in Asia are very friendly. when one of our group was bit by a monkey in Bali, the owner of our hotel drove him to a medical clinic. any time I am lost in Taiwan, people are more than willing to answer my questions and point me in the right direction. [and usually offer me food.]

the transportation

most of us have been on a bus or a plane, but Asia offers a few unique methods of travel you can experience. living in Taiwan, I drive a scooter every day. Thailand offers tuktuks and long tail boats, and both Japan and Taiwan have fantastic high speed trains. there's always a variety of options for getting from point A to point B.

the cost

I know, guys. getting all the way over here isn't cheap. but once you're on this continent, things are ridiculously affordable. traveling on a budget is really easy to do in Asia. you can find food and lodgings for about 1/3 of the cost in the US, depending on what you're comfortable with. you can certainly spend more if you like - plenty of luxury options are available - but if you want to save by eating at 7-11 for every meal and sleeping on overnight buses, it's totally doable here.

the nature

most people picture Asia as full of crowded cities, but there is plenty of green space too. you can take a bicycle tour through rice paddies, ride an elephant through the jungle, or hike through a marble gorge cut through mountains. sometimes you'll have to go farther off the beaten track, but you can find more than [amazing] city skylines here.

the food

if you like to eat, then this continent should definitely be on your travel wish list. [eating pad thai from a street vendor in Bangkok was practically a religious experience for me. for about $3 US.] Asia is also home to the night market- rows of stalls dedicated to serving up unique snacks like squid-on-a-stick and classic dishes like beef noodle. and if you aren't convinced yet, I have 3 words for you: xiao long bao. dumplings in general are extremely delicious, but these little morsels have a soup broth steamed inside which makes them extra tasty!

the temples

one of my favorite things about traveling and living in Asia is being able to visit temples. I love how each country and culture has their specific types of architecture and decoration. I'm partial to the dragon-topped temples of Taiwan, but the orange stone of Bali... the mirrored details in Thailand... the wooden structures in Japan... OK, I just really love temples!

have I convinced you to book a ticket to Asia yet? for more info, check out my travel page for links to posts about destinations in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Japan, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

[originally published as a guest post on Rhyme & Ribbons]

linking up with Bonnie, Courtney, Cynthia, and Yalanda for Travel Tuesday

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behind the blog: my writing process

I always love taking a peek into the behind-the-scenes of people's blogs. I find it interesting that while so many of us share this hobby [or profession] we all approach it in different ways. everyone shares different pieces of their lives [and themselves] on their blogs, and getting to see something other than the usual always intrigues me. a while ago, Christina tagged me in a post to share my writing process. I've finally gotten around to answering this prompt - enjoy!

what am I currently working on/writing?

as far as the blog goes, I'm still catching up on travels from as early as April. Japan, Taroko, Hong Kong, Kaohsiung, Taipei... and bits of Michigan summer. part of this is just the sheer volume of photos I have. but mostly, I like to write about what I'm feeling that day. and my emotions don't always work in chronological order. so the older travel posts are mixed in with newer adventures and bits of daily life. I also want to incorporate some changes based on the feedback I've received from my blog survey, but with the holiday season upon us that may not be until next year.

and then we have the book. for the past year, I've been working on a travel memoir. something that reads more like a novel, a comprehensive narrative, and not a blog. currently I'm in the midst of my first edit/rewrite, making all the changes I marked up this summer. I'm about 2/3 through with that, but I still need to write a healthy portion of the ending. I've been struggling to make time for this lately... but I swear one day it will be published. [for the sake of not turning this post into a novel, I'm only going to talk about writing for the blog from here on out.]

how does my work/writing differ from others of its genre?

I suppose my genre would be "travel blog" or "expat lifestyle blog" if I had to pin it down. on the surface of things, I think I am living a different life from many other expats in Asia. or at least I don't fit into the "twenty-something ESL teacher who spends their weekends backpacking" stereotype. I'm almost-thirty, a trailing spouse, and didn't particularly enjoy my first solo travel experience. not that any of this makes me better or worse - just different from much of what I've encountered.

but I think I'm getting off the real question here.

what really makes my blog different, is that it's me. I don't just want to show you location X, I want to show you my version of it. some days it may not shine through as much, but I try to weave in my personality and personal experiences. I've worked hard [and still am] to develop my voice as a writer, but I have more practice showing than telling. photography is something important to me, and to my blog. someone recently left me a comment that really made me feel awesome: "I think if someone gave me a random set of blogger photos, I could pick out yours every time." I'd like to think the sharing of my experience, voice, and photography on this blog offers a unique perspective - but then again wouldn't we all?

why do I write what I do?

I sortof fell into travel blogging unintentionally. for years I kept a personal blog, just writing about whatever. as my love of photography and food grew, I started a baking blog. then I moved to Taiwan and decided to start a new blog from scratch, not really intending it to be anything other than about my life. but the nature of expat life [and the travel opportunities available to me] sent my work in that direction. then one day I discovered that travel and expat blogs were actually a thing. and I started to connect with that community, and my content shifted to fit more into that genre because it gave me a place to belong.

I could write about nail art or recipes or any of a million things I enjoy. but travel and expat life are the broadest, most flexible [and most photogenic] topics I have right now in my life. honestly, I just love telling stories.

how does my writing process work?

as I mentioned above, I like to write what I'm feeling. what that actually means is - if I'm not "feeling" a topic that day, I won't write about it. I think readers know when your heart isn't in your writing, or even when your interest isn't there. planning out what to post which day never really works for me. some days I have a specific topic or [usually] set of photos I am eager to share, and that's what you get. and some days I have to draw from the well of draft posts and stockpiled photos and just make it work.

when I'm composing a post, I almost always start with the pictures. I cull through shots from a certain day or event and choose which ones will help me form a story. when I'm struggling with what to write, the photos help me. sometimes though I just have something I need to say, or a specific thing I want to write and that will drive the photos. like this post- I had the topic and so created images to go along. but I shot and edited the photos first, then did the writing.

it takes me a while to write my posts because I always like to walk away from it for a bit, then come back and proofread with perspective. [and thankfully my Mom likes to email me when a typeo gets through.] sometimes I start with a vague idea and spend days or weeks pulling things together from a string of photos or phrases, tweaking it into something I feel is worthy of publishing. and sometimes the words just fly out of my fingertips.

either way, coffee is almost always involved.

what's your writing/blogging process like? do you stick to an editorial calendar or just let yourself write? feel free to "tag yourself" and answer these prompts - leave a link to your post in the comments below so I can check it out!

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travel by iPhone // a day in Taipei

one of the greatest dangers of expat life is that even living in a foreign place can become familiar over time. some days, even living in Taiwan, I have to force myself to look at things as an adventure.

today I'm going to take you along with me to Taipei for an afternoon. something that - strangely enough - doesn't seem all that strange to me anymore. so I decided to go out of my way to make my everyday a little more touristy.

I admit it. living in manhattan gave me city skyline bias. but having this building be the first thing you see when walking out of the subway [after entering Taipei on the high speed rail which runs underground as well] is still pretty impressive. the skyline is strange, because Taipei 101 is twice as tall as any other building in the city. but if you're going to play tourist, this is the right place to do it.

it seems like any city you visit has some kind of outdoor traveling art exhibit. the golden globes above [currently across from Taipei 101 as you can tell by the reflection] have something to do with the moon. I know this, because there was a painted bus parked nearby that said "moon bus."

and then... ah, yes. Taipei has one of these too. I figured a touristy set of photos needed to include the famous "LOVE" statue. unfortunately the group of middle aged businessmen who were taking pictures in front of it when I walked up decided to stand there reviewing their photos for a solid 5 minutes. after waiting that long I wasn't going to just walk away... so I hope you appreciate this photo extra for the effort I had to put in to get it.

tourists go shopping, right? Taiwan has recently opened several Gap stores. so of course I had to go in and try a few things on to verify that - yes! - they use the same sizing as in the US. meaning I can find pants that will fit my American thighs, and are not marked up with brand-label import tax. the downside [or probably, the upside for my bank account] is that the styles right now are a lot of baggy/boxy things that don't really flatter my shape. but if I find myself in need of a basic shirt or new jeans or a sports bra, I know where I can go and not be frustrated by the sizing.

and I'll leave you with a few of my favorite city sightings: narrow alleys, cat cafes, the goat park, cute old couples on the MRT, and this amazing green Volkswagen bus. do you every play local tourist in your own city?

PS: my blog reader survey is still open. you can take it here, and I'd love you forever if you did! thanks to everyone who has participated so far!

linking up with Bonnie, Courtney, Cynthia, and Yalanda for Travel Tuesday

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Hong Kong // Chi Lin Nunnery

the sign at the entrance says: when one enters the mountain gate, one leaves behind the tribulations of secular life. with its symmetrical wooden structures, fountained louts ponds, and quiet atmosphere, the Chi Lin Nunnery lived up to this promise for me. it was just the spot of serenity I needed to put behind my uncomfortable experience from earlier that day down by Victoria Harbor.

Chi Lin Nunnery is set into the base of the mountains on Kowloon, near the Diamond Hill MTR stop. this Buddhist monastery is one of the most unique I have seen, being constructed out of a beautiful dark wood. all the small trees they had potted and sculpted around the complex gave it a natural feeling. don't get me wrong - I love colorful and ornate temples. but this little oasis from the bustle of Hong Kong was exactly what I needed.

this is an active monestary, so not all is open to the public and photos are not allowed in some areas. but it is free to enter, and next to the nunnery is an entire garden park you can explore: the Nan Lian gardens [also free - more of that in an upcoming post.]

if you find yourself in Hong Kong and wanting to escape for a few hours, I suggest you follow Shakespeare's advice and get thee to a nunnery. [come on, you know I had to reference Hamlet at least once in this post!]

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2014 reader survey

whether you are a loyal reader or only stop by this blog on occasion, I would greatly appreciate your feedback in taking the below survey.

I've been taking this blog thing seriously for about a year now. while I've experienced enough growth to know I must be doing something right, I want to hear from you on how I can improve your experience. [also... you guys know a lot about me, and I'm curious about YOU.] this survey will give me some helpful input, especially from those of you who aren't regular readers or commenters.

to make this as painless as possible, I've embedded the survey below. it should take less than 5 minutes of your time to complete. be sure to click submit when you're finished!

update: the survey is now closed. thank to everyone who participated! results coming soon.

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Hsinchu // Jhulian Temple

unlike some of the smaller temples around town, the Jhulian Temple is tough to miss. an imposing courtyard flanked by food stalls and stone carvings, a large golden brazier for burning incense, and [of course] dozens of colorful dragons.

according to the helpful sign posted nearby, the Jhulian Temple [also known as the Bamboo Lotus Temple] is one of Hsinchu's 3 main temples. it is dedicated to the boddhisatva Guanyin and subsidiary deities Jhusheng Niangniang [Registrar of Births], Fude Jhengsheng [Lord of the Land], and Jing Jhugong [Lord Protector of the Boundary]

I don't really have much to add to that [other than: "blue sky, pretty dragons"] so how about some pictures?

Jhulian Temple is probably the most impressive I have discovered [yet] in Hsinchu. I love the tiny temples tucked into alleyways, but places like this are real stunners too. I hope you guys don't ever get sick of seeing photos of dragons, because I doubt I'll ever be tired of taking them...

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