Fall 2013
Sichuan Fire Breather by Mark Lawrence
Karakul Lake by Mark Vranicar
There are a number of ways to plan a trip. 

 

One might, for instance, pore over a travel guide book, or research trip itineraries online, or phone a friend who's already been to the destination. You can watch a video of Anthony Bourdain eating roaches in front of a temple. Or you can find Google's most most stunning images of a place, gawk, pinpoint them on a map, and then plan accordingly. That's how my upcoming four-week trip came together. If it turns out to be uninteresting, uncomfortable, disjunct, a total flop, well, at least it will be aesthetically pleasing.

Xinjiang yurts on the Karakorum Highway by Lisa Weir
Scenic view of Ljiang by Pete Wong

 There's something to be said for the value of aesthetic pleasure in travel. No doubt, history, art, cuisine, cultural immersion have enormous value, too: these things are appealing and valid reasons to visit a place. But, if nothing else, the hills of Ireland, the cathedrals of Italy, the caves of Laos and the lakes of Myanmar have taught me that it is worth it to have your breath taken away by sheer physical beauty. It's refreshing. It's humbling. It is, at least partially, why we travel.  

Ili - Xibe tomb by Aimee Groom

 This issue of the Travel Tattler is all about eye candy. We're bringing you the most awesome and magnificent images from China and telling you where to find them. Take them in, take a picture, and then put your camera down. And, if your itch for the best noodles or the most bizarre market can't be subdued, well, then you'll know it's time to  befriend a local. 

Ili - Old Uighur man by Aimee Groom
Travel Steals
 
Rafting in Luang Prabang 

 

 

  Green Discovery Laos is offering a $50 (USD) white water rafting day package.  The per-pax-priced excursion includes transportation, barbeque lunch, a guide, and safety gear. Visit SOTA Travel for details.
 
Ho Chi Minh City Day Tour 
 

 

This is an excursion for people who love markets, food, and boat rides. $53 USD per person will get you transportation to Cai Be floating market, a private boat ride down the Mekong Delta, a cooking class, lunch, and a bike ride. Not bad for a day of scenery and gastronomic delights. This package is also courtesy of SOTA travel.

 

Eye Candy
Outside of China
Monastery on Inle Lake, Myanmar
Yangon, Myanmar
 
The Worst-Ever  Souvenirs 
 
Travelwireasia.com encourages you to bring your friends and family back something from your recent trip. Just, please, not these things.

You just aren't going to wear it. Really. These dainty, silky outfits feel like a good idea when travelling around Japan, but once you are back in your home country, it will become your new bathrobe, at best. The significance, and exoticness, deteriorates every minute it's worn between clothing and the shower.

 

Plastic, Reclining Buddhas with Light Bulbs in Their Mouths

 If the Buddha represents religion, faith, and spirituality, isn't a plastic replica with a cheap light bulb in the Lord's mouth mildly disrespectful? A tastefully made replica of Buddha is a classy souvenir of Asian faith and religion, but the plastic-light-bulb combo might not be the most tasteful selection.

 

Cuckoo Clocks That Play 'The East Is Red'

This song may be significant in China. However, waking up to it every morning, especially if you belong to another country, may be mind-numbing. 

 

This is an excerpt from Travelwireasia.com's post Asia's Tackiest Souvenirs. Get the full text at Travelwireasia.com.

 

About Let's Travel! 
Let's Travel! is a radio show and website that gives visitors and listeners the insider's take on travel. Come explore the world of travel and culture with us at www.letstravelradio.com.  

The Tattler, radio show and website are produced by Susi Raphael and Michael Zufolo.

 

Photogenic China
Image c/o google images

 

Mount Huangshan

Photo c/o Chinatravelgo.com

 Consisting of at least 154 square kilometers of peaks, Mount Huangshan in China's Anhui province boasts cloud-bathed mountains such as Lotus, Brightness Apex, and Celestial Capital. "The Yellow mountains" are open to tourists year-round and have an agreeable temperature throughout the year. Visitors can hike up the peaks or take a cable car up. More info at anhui.travel/en. 

 

Photo c/o Zazzle.com

Suzhou

Photo c/o pinterest.com

Just a twenty-five minute train ride from the bustle of Shanghai, Suzhou's quaint canals, draping trees, and hanging lanterns are a sure city break. Suzhou's old-fashioned gardens and Pintan opera shows (an opera sung in Suzhou dialect) are well-toured, but, in this waterside hub also merits lazy afternoons, teahouse visits, and, of course, a canal boat ride. Read more about Suzhou at travel.cnn.com.

 

Jiuzhaigou Valley 

Image c/o visittheworld.tumblr.com

 

Many years ago, when the the mountain god named Dago had a crush on the goddess Semo, Dago gifted her a mirror made up of wind and clouds. Then the devil showed up and the mirror fell to the ground, smashing into 108 pieces, or 108 colorful lakes. Jiuzhaigou Valley was born.

Today, the Valley is not just 108 lakes, but also waterfalls, mountain peaks, and vibrant foliage (particularly in autumn), and tribal people that comprise the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The dynamic scenery in the park is noted for its "dreamlike, fairyland" quality. Visitors can arrive via flight or car; there are also buses from Songpan, Guangyuan, Jiangyou and Mianyang. Learn more about the Jiuzhaigou Valley at www.travelchinaguide.com.

 

Photo c/o Pinterest
 

 

Red Beach, Panjin

Image c/o http://cristimoise.net/

 

Located in the Liaohe River Delta, about 30 kilometers southwest of Panjin City, the Red Beach gets its name from red-colored sea weed that flourishes in saline-alkali soil. The weed starts growing during April or May, remains green during the summer, and turns flaming red in autumn. Only a small section of the beach is open to tourists. Source. For more info, check out travelchinaguide.com/cityguides/liaoning/panjin.

Zhangjiajie

Image c/o zhangjiajietourism.us/
 
It has mountains, sandstone pillars, lakes, streams, caves, gorges, fauna, and UNESCO-World-Heritage-Site status, but Zhangjiajie isn't your average national park. For one, it is said to have inspired Avatar, specifically the "floating" Hallelujah Mountains. It also has the world's highest natural cave, and an outdoor elevator on a mountain (it just happens to be the "world's fastest, tallest and largest load lift). With natural spectacles galore, this scenic experience promises to be more than a walk in the park. Find out more at zhangjiajietourism.us.
 

The Sun and Moon Pagodas, Guilin

Image c/o wikimedia.org

 

Guilin, in the Guangxi province of China, has its share of attractions. There's the Li River. There are neon caves. There's this mountain that looks like an elephant trunk. But there are also the Sun and Moon pagodas on the shore of Banyan Lake. The Pagodas break a number of world records: the world's the highest copper tower, the world's tallest buildings in bronze, the world's tallest water tower. Visitors can climb to the top floor of the Pagodas. To add to the coolness, an 18-meter underwater aquarium links the towers. 
Travelchinaguide.com has more info on Guilin.