Day 3 was our final day with our private tour guide and driver. The tour company we had worked with offered the flexibility of customizing our itinerary. I've always wanted to visit a Hutong so naturally I requested a Hutong visit. As well, I wanted to explore the art scene in Beijing given the ...
Beijing Day 2: Sacred Way, Ming Tombs, Great Wall of China
The Great Wall of China was the number one attraction I was most looking forward to on my first visit to China. The Day 2 itinerary took us a long away from Beijing and it made the most sense to cluster the following attractions into the same day. Since Beijing is notorious for its traffic, our ...
Beijing Day 1: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Jingshan Park, Temple of Heaven
Welcome to Beijing, China! This past summer, I finally visited China for the very first time after collecting 43 other countries' stamps in my passport. I was extremely excited to visit a country with such a dynamic history, strong culture and traditions, and the country of my heritage. For my ...
Tips for Shopping at Shanghai’s Fabric Market
So you've decided to visit the South Bund Fabric Market in Shanghai. To conquer the overwhelming selection, you need to go in with a solid game plan and stick with it. The photos of my custom-tailored clothes seen on this page were taken upon my return to Toronto as it was obviously too hot to wear ...
How to Research and Plan a Trip Like a Boss
I love traveling to cities more than once because each trip makes you less of a tourist. By the third visit, I even put away my camera to start looking at the surroundings through my eyes rather than a lens. But when you’re visiting a city for the first time, some level of planning is in order to ...
Eleven Madison Park: NYC Michelin Star Restaurant
Can you figure out the address of Eleven Madison Park? It didn't hit us until we said the name of the restaurant aloud! Eleven Madison Park, a 3 Michelin Starred restaurant, serves contemporary American fare under the helm of chef Daniel Humm. Walking to our table at the end of ...
Rio de Janeiro Itinerary: Saint Teresa, Selarón Stairs, Santa Marta Favela, Corcovado
If it’s your first time in Rio de Janeiro, chances are you would want to see the most iconic attractions Rio has to offer. My friend and I joined a small group day tour in December to avoid the hassles of pre-booking tickets and figuring out directions and transportation. There were only 6 people ...
Rio Food: CT Boucherie
CT Boucherie was another restaurant recommendation from the same food tour guide who had recommended Bar Urca. I would definitely revisit this restaurant on my next trip to Rio de Janeiro. ...
How to Visit Sugarloaf Mountain On Your Own
If you're deciding whether to join a group tour to visit Sugarloaf Mountain (Pão de Açúcar) in Rio de Janeiro or to brave it on your own, I would strongly suggest doing it on your own! We had considered joining a tour to visit Sugarloaf Mountain, but decided to venture out on our own; saving at ...
Dubai Food: Al Hadheerah at Bab Al Shams
If you want to experience an Arabian Nights themed dinner in Dubai, head to Al Hadheerah at the Bab Al Shams Desert Resort and Spa. In a nutshell, Al Hadheerah is a live dinner theatre where patrons dine under the stars. Dinner at Al Hadheerah was one of the highlights of my Dubai visit ...