Lazy Girl's Travel Sharing 2016-2018 (Mohe, Chongqing, Nanjing, Chengdu, Jiuzhaigou, Hong Kong, Thailand, New Zealand)

Recently, while planning a family trip, I noticed questions on my profile and realized I haven't written travel notes for years. I haven't shared many trips with everyone, and I also haven't looked back on my past journeys for a long time.

This is a travel note, but actually not really—just sharing some beautiful photos (in my opinion) from trips between 2016 and 2018, and recalling those little joys. After 2018, I entered the next stage of life, and then the pandemic hit, so I stayed home obediently, doing my part for the fight against the pandemic, haha~

Now, here comes the real stuff~ (I might not remember the itineraries in detail, but I'll try to give tips as much as I can)

【2016 & 2017 - Thailand (Chiang Mai, Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket), Hong Kong】

I visited Thailand twice in 2016 and 2017, once during Songkran and once for a beach island. My travel buddy and I absolutely love this place, even though it's a bit hot. My buddy said she wants to buy a house in Thailand for retirement, hehe~ (We originally planned to go again for Loy Krathong, but too many things got in the way. Hope that date happens soon!)

Hong Kong was just a transit stop; I've never really been into Hong Kong. I'm not keen on going out of my way for shopping sprees (I'm not good at shopping anyway—I just buy daily essentials and occasionally a bag for a treat).

Trip 1: Chiang Mai, Bangkok, Pattaya

Trip 2: Hong Kong, Phuket

a. From Chiang Mai to Bangkok we took a flight—took less than an hour, shorter than the waiting time at the airport, which was ridiculous.

b. From Bangkok to Pattaya we took a bus inside the airport; just ask the staff and you'll find it.

c. In Chiang Mai, you can take tuk-tuks to move around the old and new cities. If you don't mind walking, strolling through Chiang Mai is also fine; most attractions are within walking distance.

Bangkok, well, its traffic jams are like rush hour in our huge city of Shanghai (Bangkok is especially chaotic and congested). My advice: take a tuk-tuk—you'll spend the same time anyway, so why spend more money? (Of course, if you don't like tuk-tuks, taxis are fine, just make sure they use the meter.)

Pattaya is too commercial. I don't recommend taxis because they ask for exorbitant prices (I wonder if management has improved now). There are tuk-tuks and many motorcycles; you can choose if you're not too picky.

For Phuket, it's better to ask the hotel to arrange airport transfers. We stayed in a remote area, so we could only take tuk-tuks; taxis were hard to get.

a. In Chiang Mai, we stayed in a homestay in the old city—very atmospheric, with the night market nearby.

b. In Phuket, we chose a star-rated hotel with a private beach—peaceful, clean sand, and not too many people sharing resources, haha~

Another reason I love this city is the food. You can find your favorite taste at any random restaurant. That's where my buddy and I find happiness. After returning to Shanghai, when we go for Thai food, we always feel it's too refined and lacks the street flavor.

And fruits! My favorite is the 20-25 baht fresh juice from street stalls—real ingredients, good value! (I wonder if the price is still the same.)

a. While staying in Chiang Mai, we booked jungle trekking. There are other options too; they usually take a whole day with hotel pickup and drop-off, easy and stress-free.

b. Pattaya—we originally went for the sea, but the beach turned out to be dirty and crowded. If you're interested in ladyboy culture, then you're in the right place. We watched the Tiffany's Show, which was wonderful. There are also unregulated ladyboy shows, which are a bit risqué and violent, not suitable for children, I heard.

c. Phuket goes without saying—island hopping, snorkeling, all great options. Compared to Pattaya's beach, Phuket's beaches are really beautiful.

That's all I can think of. Now for the beautiful pictures.

【2016 - Harbin, Mohe】

Even though I studied in the Northeast, I was still amazed by the cold of Mohe. It seems colder than the Snow Town. This time I took friends and family from the Northeast. The southern kids had rarely seen snow, so I brought them to see the world, haha~

a. First stop: Harbin. I had been there many times visiting high school classmates, but I still like this somewhat exotic city. The never-tiring Matilda ice pops, the frozen Ice and Snow World where your lips can't move, the Saint Sophia Cathedral from "Unrequited Love: The Huai Nan Version" (a recent drama, haha), the Russian restaurants on Central Street, big red sausages, etc.

b. From Harbin, we took a green train to Mohe—there's only one train, and it's a green train. I don't know if it's improved now. My pampered family members had a tough time, chugging all the way. We arrived in Mohe early in the morning, and we had booked a private driver in advance to pick us up. We headed north.

In Mohe, I recommend private car hire. The snowy roads are not for everyone; a mistake can cause a serious accident. Also, Mohe, though a tourist destination, is essentially a series of Northeast villages connected together. Sometimes the roads are really empty. Most importantly, the driver arranges accommodation and meals along the way (meaning recommendations, not full coverage). We followed the driver's pace—neither too tight nor too loose. The driver also recommended places to eat and stay based on experience, but the final decision was ours. And it proved to be a good choice. So for Mohe, I didn't even make a guide! I discussed the itinerary with the driver in advance, roughly as follows. Negotiating with the driver along the way was pleasant (I won't go into detail because I don't remember either).

c. Costs:

Private car: about 600 yuan (4 days)

Meals and accommodation in Mohe are very cheap. Accommodation: 60–100 yuan per night, meals: up to 50 yuan per person (prices from back then, you know).

【2017 - Chengdu, Jiuzhaigou】

My buddy and I took a spontaneous trip, still with a private car the whole way. So not much practical experience—I'll skip the details to avoid audit issues, you know.

Itinerary: Chengdu - Jiuzhaigou (private car all the way; the driver stopped for food and sightseeing—somehow I enjoyed it) - Huanglong - Chengdu

【2017 - Chongqing, Nanjing】

Let's be clear: I went for the hotpot, haha~ Nothing much to say about Chongqing—just eat.

Chongqing is really tiring with all the climbing up and down. It was the National Holiday, with continuous drizzle (we originally planned Wulong, but canceled due to rain. Maybe next time).

After Chongqing, I went to Nanjing for a Mayday concert and took wedding photos.

【2018 - New Zealand】

In 2018, I got married! We planned a honeymoon in New Zealand.

Day 1 & 2: Auckland - Garden City Christchurch - Stargazing Heaven Tekapo (about 4 hours drive)

The famous [Church of the Good Shepherd] and [Border Collie Statue]. More than these structures, I admire the beauty of Lake Tekapo—mountains, snow peaks, the sky.

Stayed near Tekapo at night. I have to admire the beauty of the Milky Way (yes, Milky Way, not just stars)—something I, a city kid, have never had.

Day 3: Tekapo - Mount Cook National Park (Tasman Glacier flight) - Milk Lake - Lake Pukaki - Arrowtown - Queenstown (3 hours drive)

The Tasman Glacier flight over the Southern Alps was exciting. The entire Mount Cook National Park feels pure.

Day 4 & 5: Queenstown

Queenstown is a paradise for young people: extreme sports (skydiving, Glenorchy trilogy, steamship, Milford Sound, one of the eight wonders of the world).

We originally booked skydiving, but due to weather, it kept getting rescheduled. Eventually, we gave up on Queenstown and drove to Wanaka for skydiving. After a few groups successfully took off, we were told it was canceled due to wind speed. I was devastated inside; my husband even more so (he's afraid of heights and had finally mentally prepared, but secretly he was probably relieved not to jump).

The picture below is from a friend—just for reference.

Day 6: Queenstown - Wanaka - Haast - Fox Glacier - Lake Matheson (about 4 hours drive)

By now, I was a bit tired of lakes. We stayed at the foot of Fox Glacier that night. In the evening, we went to the local bar (the only one) to play pool. My buddy suggested looking for glowworms in the deep forest nearby. It was drizzling lightly, and the forest was pitch black—I was freaked out and didn't go far before coming back. Luckily, we still found glowworms. Lucky!

Day 7: Fox Glacier - Punakaiki Pancake Rocks - Christchurch

Day 8: Christchurch - Auckland - Hobbiton - Maori Cultural Village - Rotorua

Day 9: Rotorua - Farm (sheep shearing) - Glowworm Cave (the picture below is shared by a friend; no photography allowed inside the cave as glowworms are sensitive to light) - Sailing Capital Auckland

Day 10: Auckland - Shanghai

Through this hodgepodge travel note, I recalled the good times of those years. Many fragments are blurry, many I still remember but can't describe in words. Thank you to my buddies and to my husband for accompanying me all the way.

See you on the next journey~