Lazy Girl's Travel Sharing 2016~2018 (Mohe, Chongqing, Nanjing, Chengdu, Jiuzhaigou, Hong Kong, Thailand, New Zealand)
Recently planning a family trip, I noticed from questions on my profile page that I haven't written a travelogue in years. So many trips haven't been shared with everyone, and I also realized I haven't looked back at my past journeys in a long time. This is a travelogue, but actually not really—just sharing some beautiful photos (in my opinion) from trips between 2016 and 2018, and reminiscing about those little good times. After 2018, I entered the next stage of life, and then the pandemic hit, so I stayed home, doing my small part for the fight against the pandemic, haha~ Now, here comes the serious part~ (I might not remember the itineraries very clearly, but I'll try to give tips as much as I can.)
[2016 & 2017 - Thailand (Chiang Mai, Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket), Hong Kong]
I went to Thailand twice in 2016 and 2017—once during Songkran, and once for the islands. My travel buddy and I absolutely loved the place, even though it was a bit hot. We joked that when we're old, we'd buy a house in Thailand to retire, haha~ (We originally planned to go again for Loy Krathong, but too many things got in the way. Hope we can make that happen soon!)
Hong Kong was just a transit stop; I've never really been interested in it. I'm not into shopping sprees—I'm not good at shopping anyway, just buying daily necessities and occasionally a bag as a treat.
Trip 1: Chiang Mai, Bangkok, Pattaya
Trip 2: Hong Kong, Phuket
a. From Chiang Mai to Bangkok we flew—it took less than an hour, and the waiting time was even longer than the flight, which was a bit ridiculous.
b. From Bangkok to Pattaya we took a bus from inside the airport; just ask the staff and you'll find it.
c. In Chiang Mai, you can take a tuk-tuk to get around the old and new city easily. If you don't mind walking, strolling through Chiang Mai is perfectly fine—most attractions are within walking distance.
Bangkok—well, the traffic there is as bad as rush hour in Shanghai (even worse and more chaotic). My advice: find a tuk-tuk. You'll spend the same time anyway, so why spend more money? (If you don't like tuk-tuks, you can take a taxi, just make sure they use the meter.)
Pattaya is too commercialized. I wouldn't recommend taking taxis—they overcharge (I don't know if management has improved). There are tuk-tuks and many motorcycles; choose what you're comfortable with.
For Phuket, it's best 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 find.
a. In Chiang Mai, we chose a homestay in the old town—it had more character and was near the Chiang Mai Night Market.
b. In Phuket, we chose a resort with a private beach—peaceful and clean, not crowded with other tourists.
Another reason I love this city is the food. You can walk into any restaurant and find something you like. That was the happiness for my friend and me. After returning to Shanghai, we'd try Thai restaurants, but they always seemed too refined, missing that street-side flavor.
And the fruit! I loved the street stalls selling fresh juice for 20-25 baht—real ingredients, great value! (I wonder if it's still the same price now.)
a. While in Chiang Mai, we booked a jungle trek and other activities—each took about a day with hotel pickup and drop-off, hassle-free.
b. In Pattaya, we went for the sea, but the beach was pretty dirty and overcrowded. If you're interested in ladyboy culture, you're in the right place. We saw the Tiffany Show—it was great! But there are also less formal shows that can be a bit racy—not recommended for kids, from what I've heard.
c. Phuket, of course, is great for island hopping and snorkeling—much better than Pattaya's beaches.
That's all I can think of. Now for the photos!
[2016 - Harbin, Mohe]
Even though I studied in the Northeast, I was still amazed by the cold in Mohe—colder than Snow Town, it seemed. This trip I took my friends and family from the south who hadn't seen much snow. Big sister took them to see the world, haha~
a. First stop: Harbin. I had been there many times visiting high school friends, and I still like this city with its European flair. The never-tiring Madier ice cream, the frozen Ice and Snow World, the Sophia Cathedral from the drama "Unrequited Love" (which I just watched recently), the Russian restaurants on Central Street, the red sausages, etc.
b. From Harbin, we took a green train to Mohe—there was only one train and it was green. I don't know if it's more advanced now. My pampered family member was exhausted by the long, clattering ride. We arrived early in the morning in Mohe, and I had pre-arranged a driver to pick us up—then we headed north.
In Mohe, I recommend hiring a private driver because not everyone can handle snowy roads—one mistake can cause a big accident. Also, Mohe is a tourist destination but essentially a collection of remote villages, so roads can be quite empty. Most importantly, the driver arranges all accommodation and meals along the way (meaning recommendations, not direct booking). We followed the driver's schedule—neither too tight nor too loose. He gave us tips based on his experience, but we made the final decisions. It worked out well, so I didn't need to plan much. I just discussed the itinerary with the driver beforehand (roughly as below). It was a pleasant experience (I won't go into detail because I don't remember).
c. Costs:
Private driver: about 600 yuan (4 days)
Meals and accommodation in Mohe are cheap: accommodation 60-100 yuan per night, meals about 50 yuan per person max (prices from back then, you know).
[2017 - Chengdu, Jiuzhaigou]
My friend and I took a spontaneous trip—also fully chartered a car, so not much practical experience to share. I'll skip the details to avoid moderation issues, you know.
Itinerary: Chengdu - Jiuzhaigou (full chartered car, the driver stopped here and there for food and sights, oddly enjoyable) - Huanglong - Chengdu
[2017 - Chongqing, Nanjing]
No beating around the bush—I went for the hot pot, haha! In Chongqing, just eat.
Chongqing is really tiring with all the uphill and downhill. We went during National Day holiday, and it was rainy (we planned to go to Wulong but canceled due to rain. Next time!).
After Chongqing, we 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 ? Christchurch (Garden City) - Lake Tekapo (Stargazing Heaven, about 4 hours drive)
Famous spots include the [Church of the Good Shepherd] and [Boundary Dog Statue], but I was more captivated by the beauty of Lake Tekapo—mountains, snowy peaks, and the sky.
We stayed near Lake Tekapo. The Milky Way at night was breathtaking (not just stars, the Milky Way!)—something I, as a city kid, had never experienced.
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 thrilling! Mount Cook National Park felt so pristine.
Day 4 & 5: Queenstown
Queenstown truly is a young adventurer's paradise—extreme sports everywhere (skydiving, Glenorchy trilogy, steamship, Milford Sound—one of the Eight Wonders of the World).
We booked skydiving, but the weather kept cancelling. The staff rescheduled multiple times. Eventually, we gave up in Queenstown and drove to Wanaka to skydive. After a few successful jumps, we were told it was cancelled again due to wind. I was devastated, and my husband too (though he's afraid of heights and had psyched himself up—he was probably secretly relieved it didn't happen).
Below is a photo from a friend—borrowed for reference.
Day 6: Queenstown - Wanaka - Haast - Fox Glacier - Lake Matheson (4 hours drive)
Maybe a bit of lake fatigue by now. We stayed at the foot of Fox Glacier that night. In the evening, we went to the local bar (the only one) for pool. Later, my friends suggested exploring the forest for glowworms. It was lightly drizzling and pitch black—I got spooked and turned back early, but we did find some fireflies. Lucky!
Day 7: Fox Glacier - Punakaiki Pancake Rocks - Christchurch
Day 8: Christchurch - Auckland - Hobbiton - Maori Culture Village - Rotorua
Day 9: Rotorua - Farm (sheep shearing) - Glowworm Caves (photo below from a friend; no photography inside the caves as glowworms are sensitive to light) - Auckland, City of Sails
Day 10: Auckland - Shanghai
Through this jumbled travelogue, I've recalled many beautiful moments from those years. Some memories are blurred, others I remember but can't put into words. Thanks to my travel buddies and my husband for accompanying me all the way.
See you on the next journey~
