2009 was a busy year for travel in the To China… and Beyond! household-of-one. As I embark on myfirst big trip of 2010, I’ve been thinking about the best trips I took in 2009.
5. Xi’an: My December trip to Xi’an was actually my second visit to the city. I went there on my first trip [...]
Yes, that Taj Mahal is insanely beautiful. You’re not too cool to go there, and you definitely should. But before you leave Delhi for Agra, be sure to visit Humayun’s Tomb as a sort of prequel to the Taj itself. The building of Humayun’s Tomb preceded the Taj by 50+ years and initiated a new [...]
Varanasi was the first stop on my April trip to India. Located on the Ganges River, Varanasi (formerly Benares) is a major pilgrimage site for India’s Hindus. They come to Varanasi to bathe in the waters and cremate their dead. The riverbank is lined with ghats, each of which has a distinctive purpose, from cremation [...]
In 1570 in India, the Mughal Emperor Akbar decided to move his capital from Agra to Fatehpur Sikri, about 25 miles away. A huge mosque, the Jama Masjid, went up. Palaces covered in elaborate carvings and inlaid stone were built to house the royal entourage. But just 15 years later, the new capital was abandoned. [...]
Nomadic Matt recently posted about how his travel style is changing, from backpacker to something more upscale:
When I first started traveling, I always went for the cheapest option. Big dorms. Eating in hostels. Buses. Hitching. Overnight trains. Constant haggling. Street food. Stealing extra breakfast rolls. Now, I go for smaller dorms, I don’t mind flying, [...]
