Ekaterinburg, Russia

Russia may not love the United States (and most European countries) right now, but I was really excited to cross another intriguing destination off my bucket list. I'll admit that Ekaterinburg wasn't my first choice of Russian cities to visit, but the randomness of it was charming in itself.

For a while, I wasn't even sure if the trip would happen because the visa process was such an ordeal. To apply for a business visa, I needed an official invitation letter from the Russian government, which takes about a month to fulfill. The letter must then be sent (in its original form) to me in Hong Kong, and attached with a series of other forms and government documents that come from my local office. 

When I finally had all the requests in place, I arrived at the consulate and had to wait just for the sake of waiting. When I finally spoke with someone, he informed me that the normal processing time was 2 weeks (which I didn't have enough time for), but I could get it rushed in 3 days for an ridiculous fee. I couldn't help but wonder: Does it really take 2 weeks to attach a sticker in my passport?

At the end, the entire process cost almost US$700, but I had a multiple entry visa for one year. I should have been eligible for a 3-year visa with my American passport, but they said I could only get one year with a rush application. The whole ordeal taught me one thing: Russia clearly does not have a strategy to grow its economy through tourism! 

I flew business class on Aeroflot, which was surprisingly luxurious. The meal was a 7-course dinner (clearly geared towards large Russian people), and the seats were so far apart that I could have squeezed about 3 rows of economy class passengers in my space. I finally arrived in Ekaterinburg around 3AM, but the sun never actually sets in the summer so I was treated to a beautiful mix of amber and violet hues in the sky. 

Landing in Ekaterinburg at 3AM

Unfortunately, my luck ended when I reached the baggage claim and learned that my luggage did not arrive with me. It's no fun to be without any clean clothes after almost 24 hours of traveling, but I was too tired to care at that point. I raised a claim with the attendant (who spoke no English) and searched for my hotel driver. 

The next morning, I met up with my coworker and explored a bit of the city center. Despite having a population of over 1.3 million, Ekat felt like a small city and it was easy to walk almost everywhere. We were both tired from flying (and I was wearing the same clothes from the day before), so we just went through the pedestrian shopping street. The Ruble has fallen drastically this year, so it felt like the entire city was on sale.

The shopping district looked very "Soviet" to me. Lots of square cement buildings, people in ridiculous costumes trying to hand out advertisement pamphlets, and quite a few imposing statues looking down on everyone. None of the people looked particularly happy, although I suppose I wouldn't be happy either if I lived in such an economically depressed country. 

It is difficult for me to pass a status without posing for a picture with it

Not sure what this guy is doing, but it was worthy of a picture

The city did not feel crowded at all. Buildings were all spread far apart from each other, and my hotel was located adjacent to a lake that had a very quaint ambiance. In a complete contrast to me life in Hong Kong, I enjoyed being in a place where I could have some personal space and where I didn't completely stand out from the crowd. 

View from my hotel room

Several of the days had beautiful weather and I was amused to see hundreds of people playing in this giant fountain near the hotel. Some were shooting people with water guns, others were just filling empty soda bottles with water to pour on other people. It was such innocent fun that almost felt like the way America must have been in the older, simpler times. At first, I wondered whether people only get attacked with water from other people they know, but I learned the hard way when a huge container of water was dumped on my head. 

People celebrate warm weather by playing in the public fountain.

There are several beautiful Orthodox churches scattered along the city. The most visible was Cathedral on the Blood, which garnered its name from an imperial execution that happened on the very same land by the Bolsheviks in 1918. The Russian Orthodox church was built on the hill in 2000, which explains the freshness of the building. 

Looking up at the Cathedral on the Blood

I went on a Sunday, so it was busy with worshipers. The entrance on the basement level was filled with religious paintings and statues. People were lighting candles and walking through at a relaxed pace. We then climbed the stairs to reach the main sanctuary, which was actually quite small. No one really stands for very long, but rather, walks through slowly while the priests conduct their prayers. It was interesting to see, but I didn't understand anything that was happening since it was all in Russian. 

A woman lights candles in the basement of the Church on the Blood

People worship in the sanctuary level

From there, we walked along the river to another church that looked inviting with its shiny gold domes. The inside was much less busy than our first destination, but the ambiance and decoration was very similar. 

Outside of Khram Bolshoy Zlatoust Cathedral

Another woman prays at the church

Overall, there really isn't much for tourists to do in Ekaterinburg. The city has a system of very old trams that make the B-Line in Boston look cutting-edge. Even the architecture was largely unremarkable, other than a government building that is impossible to miss. I didn't go inside, but still felt it was worthy of a picture. 

One of the old trams that traverse the city center

Probably the most beautiful (and frightening) building in the city

One day, we went outside the city to visit the Ural Military Glory museum, which (by the name alone) sounded incredibly interesting. Growing up, I have heard about the history of world conflicts from a Western perspective, so I was excited to see how Russians portray their military history. It turns out, the museum was more about displaying military vehicles and other large equipment. 

Tanks lined up outside the museum

Lots of rail equipment from the USSR was available to see

I almost got run over by a train :)

Inside, the display was a lot different. The first level had old luxury cars (which were very chic). There were even some American brands showcased here, which was surprising to me (partially because they are American and partially because I didn't think Ford made luxury cars...)

An old Ford sits proudly among the luxury cars

I'm not sure what this is, but I want one

The next level had cars that normal people would drive around. Even my coworkers were sharing stories about the cars that their parents and grandparents would drive growing up. I have to admit that none of the brands looked even remotely familiar. 

One of many old fashioned cars on display

The top level was mostly military uniforms and other random artifacts from the past century. Overall, I really enjoyed the museum. There were lots of cool things to look at, without feeling like you are being dragged through a history lesson. 

Old military uniforms looked surprisingly fashionable to me

On the way back to the city, we decided to stop inside another Russian Orthodox church that looked interesting. The architecture was more traditional, and we were lucky enough to witness a service going on. The men were allowed inside with shorts, but my female coworker was required to cover her head out of respect. Again, I had no clue what was happening but I find it interesting to witness how different religions conduct their weekly services. 

Front gate of the church near Ural Military Glory museum

People worship inside the cathedral

Much different than the onion-domed cathedrals in the city

Overall, Ekaterinburg was a very cute and interesting place to visit. However, it was quite obvious that the economy is struggling and that life is not easy for people living there. I was lucky to visit during one of the few warm periods, but I would be absolutely miserable if I had to spend an entire winter there. Compared to Hong Kong, it was really nice to have wide open space and fresh air, but I definitely missed the vibrant and forward-looking atmosphere. Time to go back home.

Vivid Sydney

When I heard Vivid Sydney was taking place during the time that I was in Australia, it didn't take much convincing to get me up there! 

I took a Greyhound coach from Canberra, which is much less ghetto than its US counterpart. Arriving in mid-afternoon gave me the chance to walk around the city, do some shopping, and see some of my favorite sites before the lights went on. I was amazed at how easily I could navigate the CBD after only one trip there. 

I checked into my Air BNB, which was a really beautiful home in Darlinghurst.  Compared with the sky-high hotel prices, this was a no-brainer. With such a local experience and a much larger living space, it's no wonder why AirBNB is becoming so popular. 

My friend arrived from the suburbs and we decided that a bottle of wine was in order before venturing out to the festival. When we did eventually make it out, our first stop was University of Sydney.

Even before arriving at the campus, I could hear the music and I was getting excited like a little kid on Christmas. We watched the show for at least a half hour, and I was surprised that none of the segments were repeating. This was a great start to the night. 

Just one of many beautiful pictures at Sydney Uni

From the university, we walked through CBD and Chinatown, on our way to the fountain show at Darling Harbour. This part of the city was completely packed with people, and the show was admittedly shorter and less impressive than it had been hyped. 

Rather than waiting for a seat at one of the tourist traps in Darling Harbour, we walked back to Chinatown area and found a great Vietnamese restaurant. 

The next and final stop was Circular Quay, which has the biggest concentration of attractions. On our way over, people were walking in the opposite direction in droves, which made me a little nervous. I looked at my watch and noticed it was already almost 11pm!

Circular Quay, as viewed from Park Hyatt hotel

We first saw a silent (yet intricate) kaleidoscope effect at the Museum of Contemporary Art. The various geometric patterns on the building were mesmerizing. Next to that was an interactive exhibit, where people got to make the lights move around as if they were butterflies in a garden of colorful mushrooms. 

Museum of Contemporary Art

Interactive light display at Vivid Sydney

Of course the most iconic structure to be lit up was the Sydney Opera House. By the time we got there, the lights were just silently dancing around the roofs, but I think the show is set to music in the earlier hours. Even without the music, the silent display was still beautiful to watch.  

Andy and me, with the Opera House lit up in the background

Sydney Opera house gets decorated for Vivid

Further around the quay, there were countless of other light-based exhibits - each produced by different artists and with deeper meanings. For example, a series of branch-like tree sculptures called "Arclight" was meant to represent various environmental phenomena such a temperature, wind speed, and humidity. 

Arclight, with the Sydney Harbour Bridge in the background

Even something as simple as a lit-up pig has deeper meaning if people take the time to learn more about the story behind it.  This exhibit called "Entitle" represents the overly-indulgent contemporary lifestyle. I think these more thought-provoking exhibits are what make Vivid Sydney a great destination for all ages.  

Entitle Exhibit at Vivid

I know I'm a tourist, but Sydney is just one of those cities with immeasurable "wow factor". For many of my family and friends, Australia would be the trip of a lifetime, and I'm so fortunate to have been there twice already. 

If anyone told me they were visiting Australia in late-May / early-June, I would absolutely suggest that they put Vivid Sydney on their list of must-see highlights (make sure to spend more than one night there because there is just too much to see). The city is a joy to visit in any time of year, but the lights just add an extra layer of mystique and fun that most people don't get to experience. 

I have heard that this idea of projecting lights onto buildings is already growing in popularity, with similar events in Moscow and Berlin. It would be difficult to match the childhood wonder that I experienced in Sydney, but I would love to see what the other cities have in their arsenal for such an event. 

Canberra, Australia and the 2015 YMCA Half Marathon

In Asia, it's very rare for me to feel the comforts of home. Living there is amazing, but almost everything is vastly different from the life I left in the United States. I was really excited to return to Australia, because I have such amazing memories from my last visit there in 2014. Although it is 10,000 miles away from family, something about Oz makes me feel like I'm back at home.

This trip was primarily spent in the capital city of Canberra, which is a peaceful place that felt more of a college town than it did the center of government for a country of 23 million people. In a way, Australia is defined by open space, so it is only fitting that the capital city is also sparsely populated.

View from the plane as we were approaching Canberra airport

When I arrived, the weather was cool and crisp. The hotel was buzzing with traditional afternoon tea, and I could hear a pianist playing in the background. The staff members were casual and inviting - a welcome change from the very formal environment throughout much of Asia. Canberra has many traditions, but it is still Australia - a place where people like to have fun and enjoy life. 

My first full day in Australia was filled with none other than a half marathon. When I woke up, there was still frost on the ground and I almost didn't know how to cope with the freezing weather. Before the race started, people were chatting in small groups and staying warm just like I would expect in a perfect autumn race back home. This was a small race, with only around 450 runners. There were no race shirts, and no loud DJ's to pep up the crowd. Just a serious race filled with serious racers. 

The first mile went along a paved street, and I actually felt like I should have worn more layers because my feet were frozen and my breath was visible in front of me. Eventually, I warmed myself up - just in time to enjoy the beautiful riverfront park that we were now running through. 

First part of the race, on pavement with frost on the ground!

With such a small group of runners, we quickly fell into a rhythm and there were very few people passing each other. I just pushed myself to keep from falling behind the person who was pacing me. It was pushing me to the limit of discomfort, but I couldn't let myself fall behind.

Although I was struggling, I still managed to take in the sights around me. I loved seeing the leaves changing colors, and an occasional rower piercing the otherwise calm waters. There were even a couple hot-air balloons taking in the perfect autumn weather.  The entire ambiance just felt like being in New Hampshire. I was loving it. 

The race course took a loop around the river, with lots of small twists and turns throughout the path. The elevation was relatively constant, too, which made for a really pleasant run. Before I knew it, the 13.1 miles was complete and I was running through the final stretch of grass to reach the finish line. There were no big crowds, but I was really happy to start my trip with a sport that I love. 

Approaching the finish line of the YMCA Canberra Half Marathon

The YMCA Half Marathon didn't have any sort of post-race activities, so I just went straight back to my hotel (which was conveniently right across the street from the finish line). It wasn't my best finish ever, but I was under 1:25, which is always my psychological threshhold for feeling satisfied.

That afternoon, I walked around downtown and did some shopping. Canberra Centre has a surprisingly huge mall, which is spread across several city blocks and contains almost all of the stores you would also see in Melbourne or Sydney. I actually ended up buying quite a bit of things that I can't get in Hong Kong, so I was pretty happy. 

A sculpture sits in front of Canberra Centre mall

One not-so-convenient thing about Canberra is that all the shops and restaurants close so early. I was actually somewhat surprised, considering that it is also home to one of Australia's best universities. I would have expected more of a late-night culture. I don't think I could live in a place like this unless I had a family. 

My hotel was located near all the government buildings on Capital Hill, and although I didn't go inside any of the buildings there, I was amused by the unassuming architectural style. Parliament House is such a contrast to many other government buildings around the world. I actually learned that the construction of the building required the removal of much of the hill, which was placed back on top of the roof. Yup, Paliament House has grass on the roof. Try to find that in another country! 

Parliament House in Canberra, Australia

The unassuming main entrance of Parliament House

Although I didn't have much time for sightseeing in Canberra, I made it to the Australian War Memorial, which was surprisingly incredible. 

Leading up to the war memorial on Anzac Parade, you actually pass an outdoor memorial for each war that Australia has participated in. They are very well done and remind me a little of all the memorials in Washington DC. 

The building itself is perched upon another small hill, with wonderful views of Capital Hill across the river.

View of Anzac Parade from the Australia War Memorial

I didn't really come with any expectations, but the museum was very well done. The two world wars were on the main level, with lots of relics, statues wearing period clothing, alongside other miscellaneous supplies and news stories depicting the events of the war. The back wing was a huge hall with actual aircraft that was used during the wars. It was amazing to get up close, and I can imagine that little kids would be in absolute awe. 

Loading a plane from the WWII era

The basement level contained a chronological series of the more recent events, going all the way up to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. I was visiting the museum with a colleague from Vietnam, and it was really interesting to learn about the Vietnam War from his perspective (actually called the "American War" by Vietnamese people). 

Preparing to jump out of the helicopter in Vietnam

An exhibit depicting one of the more recent wars

After visiting the museum, we went up to the tomb of the unknown soldier. On the way into the building, I saw lots of people placing poppy flowers on the walls where names of the soldiers were engraved in the walls. Unlike Arlington National Cemetery, where the tomb sits outside, the Australian version is in the center of a church-like building. In a way, it is fitting that the tomb of the unknown soldier sits atop the museum that commemorates Australia's involvement in all of the international conflicts. 
 

Looking at the building that houses the unknown soldier

Students add memorial poppy flowers to the wall

Tomb of the unknown soldier

Leaving the Australia War Memorial, I felt so much more impressed than I ever would have predicted when I first walked in. I learned a lot about the wars that I was never taught in my US-centric education. Walking through the museum with a Vietnamese citizen made the experience even more interesting. 

Canberra may not be the most exciting place in the world, but it is full of national spirit that makes Australia so unique. From the old-world style of my hotel to the understated Parliament building covered in grass, Australia has quietly asserted itself as a country that doesn't need to be about the glitz and glamour. I really enjoyed the laid-back ambiance of the city, and the kindhearted nature of its people. Although I was on the other side of the world from where I grew up, I felt like I was right at home.

Hangzhou, China

When people talk about Hangzhou, the first thing they mention is the West Lake. Yeah, it's beautiful and enchanting (I devoted an entire entry to it). However, I was also surprised by the lesser-known attractions in the city that make it such an exciting place to visit. 

First, let's talk about the food. I found it to be among the best in China. The flavors were a little sweet, very delicate, and well prepared. CNN even did a recent article about my hotel's restaurant - which was rated among Asia's top 50 restaurants (#34). The most amazing dish for me was a roasted pork pyramid, which was basically a tower of bacon that you peel apart and stuff into a puffy steamed pancake. Clearly not a very healthy choice, but it was well worth the indulgence!

Jin pai kou rou (Dongpo Pork Pyramid) - truly mouthwatering!

Of course there are always some unappetizing food options in China, but the more frightening foods are also the ones that provide the best memories. One night, the local staff took me out to a restaurant that served a dish that still turns my stomach. It was a soup containing raw prawns that were flopping around in a rice wine, tomato and vinegar broth. I was instructed to eat them whole - including the shells, heads, and antennae. "Don't worry, they will die in the alcohol", I was told. The sweet, tangy flavor of the liquid, mixed with the biting crunch of the shells is something I will not soon forget. 

This is one soup I never want to try again!

Of course, China wouldn't be complete without some religious sites and swarms of tourists. The most famous is Leifeng Pagoda, which perches atop a hill next to West Lake. The pagoda was originally constructed in the year 975, but the current version is clearly not the original structure because it contains an ultra-modern glass elevator that catapults visitors up to the top level for a view of the city. I decided to take the stairs, which allowed me to see each level separately. There was some nice artwork throughout the pagoda, but I would be lying if I said spent more than 2 minutes breezing through each exhibit.

Modern elevator inside Leifeng Pagoda

They even have escalators if you don't want to climb the steps

Well-decorated interior of the pagoda

The views from the top of the pagoda were really quite nice, despite the swarms of tourists who kept getting in my way with their selfie sticks. 

Views of West Lake from the top of the Leifeng Pagoda

Another must-see destination in Hangzhou is the former residence of Xueyan Hu. Nestled in the middle of the city center, you would never guess that a city block contained anything spectacular. However, inside the high walls was far more than just a home. It was more like a neighborhood, with tiny buildings clustered around beautiful Chinese gardens and coy ponds. 

Beautiful Chinese architecture fills the residence complex

Looking out over the coy pond and some buildings making up the residence

I was truly in awe the entire time, and it almost felt like walking through a miniature (and more beautiful) version of the Forbidden City in Beijing. Visitors are allowed to walk through a majority of the buildings, and some even retain the period furniture and household items. I think part of the appeal for me is that Mr. Hu made his fortune as a merchant and banker, yet he lived like a royalty - with countless women and servants quarters. I could almost imagine the lives of everyone living there. 

I can start to imagine life in this tiny piece of Mr. Hu's residence

Nearby the home is the famous Hefang Street, which is a pedestrian-only street with various touristy items for sale, street stalls selling interesting foods (mostly grilled items on sticks), and some upscale restaurants with traditional Hangzhou specialties. 

Crabs on a stick? Just one of many delicacies on Hefang Street

I didn't buy anything because I'm not really into knickknacks, but Hefang Street should still be on anyone's itinerary because of the interesting characters, traditional architecture, and local souvenirs. 

Walking along Hefang Street

Traditional architecture lining Hefang Street

For people who need more useful items, there are also larger shopping malls and international luxury goods near my hotel. I walked through one of the malls quickly before realizing that sales clerks in China also like to hover as they awkwardly follow you around the store. It's a shame they can't learn more about the western shopping preferences because these tactics totally turn me off of the entire experience. Of course, import duties in China make all the prices higher than Hong Kong anyhow, so I had no real reason to do much shopping.

I was, however, amused when I saw a giant billboard from Gap with the slogan: "Dress Normal". It made me wonder whether this a global slogan or if was it an intentional jab at the lack of style across much of the country? 

Is this the global slogan for Gap or only in China?

The weather was perfect on Sunday, so I hiked up the hill near the edge of Hefang Street to reach City God Pavilion. I was excited to see what was up there, since the unique structure can be seen from all over the city. I didn't have any expectations, so I was pleasantly surprised to see a funny little museum inside. There were statues depicting what I can only assume is ancient traditions meeting modern technology. One statue was of an older woman carrying a bowl, while a younger child stared at a computer. Next to them was another older guy carrying a tablet. There were no other tourists around, so I put aside my pride and took advantage of the photo op. 

Skeptical of what I was seeing...

 

Taking a selfie with the statues. Yes, I have completely lost my mind.

The top levels of the pavilion also provided really beautiful panoramic views of the city, which I think are even better than the other hilltop structures in Hangzhou. 

Views from the top of the pavilion

After leaving the pagoda, I continued hiking up the hill to find several other shrines and temples that were nestled in the woods. I love being able to just wander around aimlessly, without any particular agenda or timeline. I almost felt guilty stopping for just enough time to take a few pictures before rushing off again. Maybe it's because I don't understand the religion, but all shrines just start to look the same after a while. 

Beautiful architecture hides in the trees

A statue remains comfortable in his "home"

The hiking trail was very well defined, and there were even several motivational signs on the way that lauded the fitness efforts of all who hiked up the hill. I don't really need the motivation, but the signs were amusing nonetheless. At the top, there was also a two-story gazebo-type structure that afforded beautiful views of the City God Pavilion and the other sites I had just visited on my way up. Although I had not even walked very far from the surrounding city center, it felt I was miles away.

Views from the hilltop, which felt like miles away from the city

Perhaps my most enjoyable memory from Hangzhou was when I went to a cultural museum near West Lake with a couple of my colleagues. Walking down the street, we were stopped multiple times by groups of students who were practicing English and wanted to interview a tourist. Obviously I stand out from the crowd as a potential English speaking foreigner, so I was a prime target for these interviews. 

Their language skills were wide-ranging, but I loved how their faces lit up when they could actually have a conversation with a native English speaker. They all asked to take a photo with me as "proof" of their interview, and I only wish I could be sitting in that class when they presented their photos and all realized they spoke with the same person!  

One group stood out in particular - not because of their impressive English skills, but because one girl was wearing a shirt that said: "I love weed". Did she know what she was advertising? Probably not...

A group photo with the girls who interviewed me

Before visiting Hangzhou, I had no idea the city would be so full of amazing experiences. From shopping to hiking to cultural attractions, it is a place that truly has something for anyone.