June 9, 2010 2010 Asian odyssey: Shanghai World Expo, Kuala Lumpur, and more! (Part 1) By Simon J. Lau Let the adventures begin! I left for Beijing last Monday to kick off my 5-week vacation in Asia! So far, things have been going really well. I’m currently staying at a hostel several blocks south of Tiananmen Square. There are a ton of shops nearby, easy access to the subway, and really fun people, so I couldn’t be any happier with […]

June 12, 2010 2010 Asian odyssey: Shanghai World Expo, Kuala Lumpur, and more! (Part 2) By Simon J. Lau Yesterday, I visited the Great Wall and dined at the Donghuamen Lu night market. The Great Wall was truly amazing! We were taken to a secluded section of the Wall, so there were hardly any tourists. However, since it was secluded, most sections had not been renovated, making it a challenge to navigate. Despite this, it was a neat experience. Additionally, […]

June 14, 2010 2010 Asian odyssey: Shanghai World Expo, Kuala Lumpur, and more! (Part 3) By Simon J. Lau Over the past two days I’ve visited Beihai Park, Jingshan Park, and the Temple of Heaven. Both Beihai and Jingshan are adjacent to the Forbidden City, but Jingshan offers an elevated view of the surrounding area. Unfortunately, there was so much smog that we could only see a few city blocks in front of us. After exploring the parks, I returned […]

June 16, 2010 2010 Asian odyssey: Shanghai World Expo, Kuala Lumpur, and more! (Part 4) By Simon J. Lau My time in Beijing has been wonderful, and before I leave this Friday, I wanted to introduce some of the folks who have made this experience so special. I have included several pictures below of the hostel staff and fellow travelers whom I have befriended. There are also some photos of my visit to the Beijing Zoo. The main attraction there […]

June 18, 2010 2010 Asian odyssey: Shanghai World Expo, Kuala Lumpur, and more! (Part 5) By Simon J. Lau Today is my last day in Beijing, and I wanted to make one last post before I take the train down to Shanghai. As promised, below are pictures of Leo Hostel, Summer Palace, and the flag-lowering ceremony at Tiananmen Square. Before leaving today, I plan to see the Lama Temple and have one last meal with David and Martin. I’ve had […]

June 22, 2010 2010 Asian odyssey: Shanghai World Expo, Kuala Lumpur, and more! (Part 6) By Simon J. Lau I arrived in Shanghai a few days ago and there’s something about this city that has really resonated with me. There always seems to be something to do and see here, which might explain its broad appeal. If I were to compare it to other US cities, Shanghai is to Beijing as New York City is to Washington, DC. In just […]

June 24, 2010 2010 Asian odyssey: Shanghai World Expo, Kuala Lumpur, and more! (Part 7) By Simon J. Lau I went to the World Expo a few days ago, but it’s so big that I only saw a small part. I’ve been thinking about going back, but the weather’s been rainy and I don’t want to risk getting my camera wet. Since it looks like rain for the next few days, I might just go tonight and get it done. […]

June 26, 2010 2010 Asian odyssey: Shanghai World Expo, Kuala Lumpur, and more! (Part 8) By Simon J. Lau Here are the pictures I promised from my visit to the World Expo! This was actually my second time there. The first time, it was raining, so I didn’t bring my camera. Ironically, it was raining even more this time! But since my time in Shanghai is almost up and the weather wasn’t going to improve, I decided to seize the […]

June 29, 2010 2010 Asian odyssey: Shanghai World Expo, Kuala Lumpur, and more! (Part 9) By Simon J. Lau Today is my last morning in Shanghai and, similar to how I felt when I left Beijing, I’m also sad to leave Shanghai. It’s amazing how in such a short period of time you can grow to know people and enjoy their company so much. I think that’s one of the main reasons people decide to go backpacking. In the real […]

July 2, 2010 2010 Asian odyssey: Shanghai World Expo, Kuala Lumpur, and more! (Part 10) By Simon J. Lau I’ve spent the past 3 days in Kuala Lumpur and will be heading to Singapore today. While I can’t say Kuala Lumpur has been particularly exceptional, I did manage to visit several regional landmarks, including Petaling Street (Chinatown), the Petronas Towers, and the Batu Caves – places I wouldn’t have known about if I hadn’t come here. Nonetheless, I’m eager to […]