Ratna writes

We were privileged to spend some time in Yangshuo County, with its rolling karst mountains rounded out by years of limestone shimmying itself off in the cold, removing all its rough edges. As tourism in this area becomes more popular, Udai and I wanted to share what we did there and what we'd do differently in the future.  We spent four days in the area, which was relaxing but we think to experience it properly, two or three days would be more than sufficient to take in the scenery and sights. (Note that I was not hiking on this trip due to an injury - maybe more time would make sense if hiking is in the mix!) For a 2-3-day visit to Yangshuo, we'd suggest: Visit and explore the attractions at Ruyi Peak Soak in vibes at  Darongshu Scenic Area Spend a half day in XingPing Ancient Town Experience the Li River by boat Each of these experiences can be done in half a day at leisure, including (we think!) with kids. Ruyi Peak The Ruyi Peak complex  includes three mountains you c...

We recently embarked on a much-awaited trip to a destination we've been curious about: Beijing! Some of our favorite sights there were Prince Gong's Mansion , Ri Tan Park , and the 798 Art District . We're always on the prowl for good gluten-free veggie food, and especially since there's a misconception that it's hard to find in China, wanted to share some of our favorite culinary experiences with you. All links given below are in Apple Maps, since that should work better in China. Vegetarian Food in Beijing Suhu Vege Tiger (Qianmen): Go here HUNGRY! They have a brunch 12pm-3pm and dinner after 5pm, with tens of different Chinese dishes, done with mock meat, tofu, and vegetables. They also have some pasta/Western/Mexican options and the option to make your own hot pot. We got there at 2:45 so you can imagine the frantic scramble for food! We had: everything imaginable Tianchuxiang Vegetarian (Chaoyang): In the financial district, tucked away in an otherwise desert...

This February, Mama and I ventured out to Krabi to make up for a very hectic Q4 of 2024. On our last day, we joined a group tour to explore the Phi Phi Islands. These tours are not for the faint of heart! They are designed for adept swimmers and climbers, adaptable to being packed like sardines in a wet-hot boat. Our first stop was Loh Dalum Bay , where snorkelers could see fish right up close to the edge of the teal-clear water. After an hour of swimming and getting soaked by the sun, it was off to Monkey Bay for a peek at some simians from the boat!  Next, our boat took us to past Viking Cav e, where those of us addicted to seawater could dive in for a swim. After this, a crowded, bobbing dock and hundreds of tourists were all that was in the way between us and Maya Bay . This beauty is a sight for sore eyes! A coral conservation site, Maya Bay gained international fame after it was featured in the 2000 movie “The Beach,” starring Leonardo DiCaprio. We snuck in a photoshoot amon...