Contributions
Jeep Safari to Spot Wild Horses in Mongolia's Hustai National Park
Created on November 03, 2011 by Lydia SchrandtIt's summertime in the Mongolian steppe, and at such a northern latitude, we must wake early to beat the sunrise. Even in mid-July, the predawn air is crisp and cool in Mongolia's Hustai National Park, home of the last surviving wild ancestor to the domestic horse. We begin emerging from out traditional Mongolian gers, bleary eyed with cups of steaming milk tea in hand. As the horizon begins to brighten, we caravan out of camp on a jeep safari to spot the world's last wild horses. The takhi horse, native to the rolling green steppe of central Mongolia, went extinct in the wild in the 1960s. In 1992, the Mongolian Association for Conservation of Nature and the Environment and the Foundation Reserves for the Przewalski ...
Sample Traditional Chinese Street foods at the Donghuamen Night Market in Beijing
Created on October 29, 2011 by Lydia SchrandtChina is a veritable foodie's paradise with a unique culinary tradition in every province. Beijing is no exception. One of the best ways to sample some traditional Chinese street foods is at the Donghuamen Night Snack Street in Beijing. The long stretch of road is lined with vendors selling everything from the mundane noodles to the strange, unusual, and sometimes a bit disgusting, but all for a good price. Once the sun goes down, join the throngs of Chinese and international tourists who flock to Donghuamen to fill their bellies or to simply catch a glimpse at some of the strange things people will eat. The red and white striped vendor carts and strings of Chinese lanterns lining the street give Donghuamen market a welcoming ...
Bet With the Locals at a Traditional Muay Thai Boxing Match in Chiang Mai
Created on October 29, 2011 by Lydia SchrandtThe Thai people are known for their big smiles and kind spirits, and the denizens of the northern Thai city of Chiang Mai are no exception. If you want to get a taste of traditional Thai culture and make some friends while you're at it, head to a traditional Muay Thai kickboxing match and place some bets with the locals. While Chiang Mai has plenty of Muay Thai arenas that stage fights specifically for tourists, ask your guesthouse or tuk tuk driver where the real fights happen, and they'll be more than happy to take you. Muay Thai in Thailand is a combat sport, combining punching, kicking, striking and clinching techniques for an edge-of-your-seat experience. The word "Muay" means "the art or science of eight ...
Take a Cruise Down China's Yangtze River
Created on October 29, 2011 by Lydia SchrandtStretching nearly 4,000 miles, China's Yangtze river is the third longest river in the world and the longest in Asia. As the central dividing line between north and south China, the Yangtze has played an important cultural and economic role throughout the country's long history. While the big tourist spots in Beijing, Shanghai, and Xian can be maddeningly crowded with tours moving at a hectic pace, taking a cruise down China's Yangtze river gives you a chance to experience the natural beauty of the Chinese countryside at a more leisurely pace. Most Yangtze river cruises start begin in the small city of Yichang and end in Chongqing, taking you through the Three Gorges of Hubei province. The controversial Three Gorges Dam, the largest hydroelectric power ...
Taste Traditional Fermented Mares Milk in the Mongolian Steppe
Created on October 29, 2011 by Lydia SchrandtThe horse has always been the most important animal for the Mongolian people, from the days when Chinggis Khan led his horse warriors on a mission of conquest to today's nomadic families traveling across the rolling green steppe. In addition to providing a means of transportation, horses are a primary source of food. While families occasionally eat horse meat, the milk of the Mongolian horse is practically a food group all on its own. Airag, the traditional beverage of Mongolia, is made by fermenting the milk of mares in an open leather sack or plastic container. After the milk has been left out, it gradually transforms from a basic yogurt-like beverage to an acidic and very sour beverage with an alcohol content comparable to wine. ...
Race Past Rice Paddies when you Ride a Bullet Train across Japan
Created on September 07, 2011 by Lydia SchrandtWith trains zipping across the countryside at speeds up to 300 kph, Japan has one of the best bullet train systems anywhere in the world. Unlike the metro systems of many large cities, the Japanese bullet trains are meant to cover long distances between cities in a short amount of time. This means you can base your trip in Osaka or Kyoto and make day trips to the surrounding cities, such as Kobe and Hiroshima. As with most things in Japan, the experience of riding the bullet train can be summed up in two words: comfortable and efficient. Trains are punctual to the second, and because most of the lines are privately owned, corporations compete to have the most comfortable and well-maintained trains. Our train ...
Get Into the Groove of a Gobi Desert Camel Trek
Created on August 18, 2011 by Lydia SchrandtThe Gobi desert is the third largest, and one of the most famous deserts in the world. One of the best ways to experience the vast expanses of rolling sand dunes and spans of open desert is on a camel trek. These unusually regal animals are perfectly adapted to the harsh desert climate. They can go days without water, and their soft padded feet expand over the surface of the sand as they walk. In the chilly early morning hours just before sunrise, we bid farewell to our ger (Mongolian tent) and prepare to mount our desert beasts of burden. Getting on a camel is somewhat like riding your favourite thrill ride at an amusement park. You climb onto the saddle of stacked blankets while ...
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