Look, I can’t dent it. This year was kick ass. Trying to sum it all up is too overwhelming. So instead I think I will do it with pictures. In January I started running with a new gang. Little did
War on Christmas (in China)
I know that right now there is a kerfuffle against the plain red Starbucks cups. It seems like it is this year’s battle in the never ending “war against Christmas.” Well, I’m in China, so who cares? In this Communist, developing
Badminton Queen
I’m one month into the semester so I thought I’d fill you in with how things are going. This year I changed departments. Before I was in a different department, but now I’m back to teaching English majors. I wish
Mid-Autumn Festival and Bobing!
While the America’s were enjoying their blood moon, we had just finished worshiping the moon ourselves here in China. The lunar eclipse coincided with Mid-Autumn festival, a day you are supposed to gaze at the full moon, eat moon cakes
The Exotic Bazaars and Markets of Xinjiang
One of the coolest parts of Xinjiang was going to the markets and bazaars. They are quite famous and predictably, some have been commoditized for tourists (Like the one in Urumqi which was super lame.) They aren’t quite the dangerous
The Food of Xinjiang (Don’t Read if You’re Hungry)
I think now would be the time to tackle one of the best parts of my trip: the food. One of the things I love about food in China is it is fresh. Every dish has lots and lots of
The Sunburn Chronicles: Turpan, the Second Lowest Point on Earth
Given my very public aversion to heat you think I’d avoid going to the hottest spot in China. A place that is the second lowest point on earth (after the Dead Sea) and below sea level. Just my luck, in
Big Ass Buddahs!
You live in asia for awhile you see a lot of temples. And in these temples you see a lot of Buddhas. When you live in China, a country that believes bigger is better, you are bound to see not
The Sunburn Chronicles: How I Used my Sweet and Innocent Face to Sneak into the Magao Caves
So remember when I said traveling in this region was tough? Well, I had the most difficulty in Dunhuang, China. Going to the desert was easy, my hostel was right next door and I just walked. But the other exciting
The Sunburn Chronicles: Back in the Gobi Desert
Years ago, I took a trip to Inner Mongolia. We went to the grasslands and also took a long car ride to a spot of the Gobi Desert in the northeast section, where you could sled down a dune and