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Claudia Looi

Asia

market in Shanghai

Two street vendors making traditional snacks in Shanghai

Asia has 48 countries including Turkey and Russia (part of Siberia). If you think all Asian countries are the same, you'll be surprised when you visit. You'll discover one-of-a-kind finds in each country - and some cities within the same country have their unique culture, religion, history and landscape. For example, Yogyakarta and Jakarta are located in the same Java Island in Indonesia but their history, culture and food are not the same. You can read more about it here under Indonesia.

Come with me to the ger camp of Mongolia, Great Wall of China, street food corners in Shanghai, jockey club in Hong Kong, Borobudur Buddhist Temple in Yogyakarta, the rice terraces of Ubud Bali and more.

I grew up in Asia, to be precise Malaysia. I've spent years traveling in Asia but I've not been to all the countries.

Last year my family and I spent three months traveling in Mongolia, China and Indonesia. We ate a few thousand meals in the apartments and in all sorts of dining places with the locals. We took time exploring the cities and countryside on our own using the metro, taxis, buses and trains. In Mongolia we had a tour leader and a tour guide and in Indonesia we hired drivers to take us around. I've shared some of these experiences here.

Take time to read through and send me an email if you have any questions about the destinations below. I'll be adding more soon.

Gandan Monastery Ulan Bator

Gandan Monastery Ulaan Bataar

Mongolia

Things to Do if You Have One Day in Ulan Bator Mongolia

The Stops Before the Amazing Ger Camp in Terelj National Park

Things to Do and See in a Mongolian Ger Camp

11 Real Mongolian Foods Not Served Outside of Mongolia

The Black Market- Naran Tuul Market in Ulaan Bataar Mongolia

9 Brilliant Things to Do in Ulaan Bataar

DSC_EntireViewChina

Beijing

Being a Tourist at the Great Wall of China

Peking Duck in the 1864 Quanduje Restaurant Beijing

Getting Lost in the Hutongs of Beijing

Dining Experience in Beijing

High Speed Train Beijing to Shanghai

Shanghai

Cheap Eats Under $2 in Shanghai

Jingan Sculpture Park Shanghai

Bamboo Scaffolding in Shanghai

Combination of Local Eats and English Afternoon Tea in a Day

Suzhou Museum

Buying Eyeglasses in Shanghai

Local Fruits Seller in Hangzhou

Chinese Travelers

Overnight Train From Shanghai to Guangzhou

To read more about Shanghai, check out my eBook on Amazon for just $2.99. You get 30 chapters of tips on traveling in Shanghai.

Shanghai

Shanghai eBook and Table of Contents below

Local bananas

Local bananas in Guangzhou

Guangzhou

Discovering the Authenticity of Chinatown's Chinese Foods in Guangzhou China

The Benefits of Staying at Fraser Suites Guangzhou

Historic Guangzhou

Train from Guangzhou to Hong Kong

Hong Kong Tram and station in the middle of the road

Hong Kong Tram and station in the middle of the road

Hong Kong

Where to Stay in Hong Kong

10 Hong Kong Foods to Die for Minus One

Riding the Tram in Hong Kong

Useful Tips to Hong Kong Horse Racing

Vendor selling salaks

Vendor selling salaks in Jakarta

Indonesia

Air Asia from Hong Kong to Jakarta: An Economical Way to Travel

Living the Expat Life in Jakarta for 3 Weeks

Sundanese Cuisine in Jakarta Indonesia

Tropical Fruits in Jakarta

Bandung: The Shopping Mecca of Indonesia

Jakarta, The City with the Worst Traffic in the World

11 Expat Recommended Things to Do in Jakarta

Affordable Domestic Flight from Jakarta to Yogyakarta Indonesia

Where to Find an Economical Hotel in Yogyakarta with 5 Star Reviews

Is Yogyakarta in Your Travel Bucket List?

Borobudur: The Destination Everyone Should Visit in Indonesia

Where to Stay When Vacationing in Bali

28 Photos That Will Make You Want to Visit Bali

Sunset at the Sea Temple of Tanah Lot Bali

The 3 Rice Terraces to Visit in Bali

Bukchon Hanok Village tour

Korea

Guide to Seoul Korea for First Timers

A Hanok Stay in Seoul

17 Ways to Learn Korean Food Culture in Seoul

Underground Nakwon Market in Seoul

15 Tasty Street Food in Seoul

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The Grand Hyatt Rio de Janeiro is in Barra da Tiju The Grand Hyatt Rio de Janeiro is in Barra da Tijuca, far from the central areas many first-time visitors want to explore. Traffic can add considerably to the journey.

If you have just three nights and want to visit Copacabana, Ipanema, Santa Teresa, and Centro, this wouldn’t be my first choice for location.

For a longer stay, perhaps five nights, with time for shopping and a quieter side of Rio, it’s worth considering.

This was my second trip to Rio. I split my stay: two nights at the Grand Hyatt and one in Santa Teresa.

Save this before booking your Rio hotel. A beautiful hotel still needs to fit your trip.

Stay tuned for the hotel I stayed at in Santa Teresa. That one was a wonderful surprise!

#GrandHyattRio #BarraDaTijuca #RioTravelTips #WhereToStayInRio #globetrotter100club
Would you stay farther from Rio’s famous sights fo Would you stay farther from Rio’s famous sights for a view like this? 🇧🇷

Sunset over Marapendi Lagoon, filmed in mid-September from the Grand Club lounge balcony at Grand Hyatt Rio de Janeiro. A boat passing across the water, apartments in the distance, and a view worth taking your time over.

My connection to Barra da Tijuca goes back to 2013, when I spent two weeks here in a private duplex apartment, before the Grand Hyatt opened. Returning last month gave me another way to experience this part of Rio.

If you want a quieter base, away from the hustle and bustle of the main tourist areas, I’d consider staying here. Grand Hyatt Rio is a lovely option for that kind of trip.

The trade-off is travel time. Copacabana can be roughly half an hour away by car in light traffic, but allow an hour or more when traffic is heavy. If your visit is short and packed with sightseeing, staying closer to the places you want to explore may be more practical.

But if you have time to slow down and enjoy another side of Rio, Barra da Tijuca deserves a look.

Save this for planning your Rio stay. Do you prefer a quieter base or staying close to the action?

#GlobeTrotter100Club #BarraDaTijuca #GrandHyattRio #RioDeJaneiro #BrazilTravel
Most visitors only spend a few hours in San Marino Most visitors only spend a few hours in San Marino. I decided to stay overnight, and it completely changed the experience.

As the day-trippers left, the streets fell silent. The medieval castle took on a different charm in the warm evening light, the sunset over the surrounding countryside was unforgettable, and dinner was a delicious plate of fresh truffle pasta.

If you’re planning a trip through Italy, don’t just make San Marino a quick stop. Spend the night. You’ll experience a peaceful side of one of the world’s smallest countries that many visitors never get to see.

Would you stay overnight in San Marino?

#SanMarino #VisitSanMarino #EuropeTravel #CastleViews #TrufflePasta SunsetLovers
I couldn’t believe it when our guide showed us thi I couldn’t believe it when our guide showed us this tiny rainforest seed in Kinabalu Park. After a few tries with the lighter, it finally caught fire and burned like a candle thanks to its natural oils.

Nature never stops surprising me. Have you ever seen a seed that can do this?

#KinabaluPark #globetrotter100club #Sabah #Rainforest #TravelMalaysia
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