Lazy Girl's Travel Shares 2016–2018 (Mohe, Chongqing, Nanjing, Chengdu, Jiuzhaigou, Hong Kong, Thailand, New Zealand)
I've been planning a family trip recently, and looking at the questions on my profile made me realize I haven't written a travelogue in years. So many trips I never shared, and I also realized it's been a long time since I've looked back on my past journeys.
This is a travelogue, but not really – just a chance to share some (in my opinion) beautiful photos from a few trips between 2016 and 2018, and reminisce about those little moments of happiness. After 2018, I entered the next stage of life, and then the pandemic hit, so I stayed home obediently, doing my bit to help fight the virus, haha~
Now, let's get down to business! (I may not remember the itineraries in great detail, but I'll try to give tips where I can.)
【2016 & 2017 – Thailand (Chiang Mai, Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket), Hong Kong】
I went to Thailand twice, once in 2016 and once in 2017. The first time was for the Songkran water festival, the second was for the islands. My friend and I absolutely love this place, despite the heat. My friend even said she wants to buy a place in Thailand when she retires, hehe~ (We had originally planned to go together again for Loy Krathong, but too many things got in the way. I hope we can make that date happen soon~)
Hong Kong was just a transit stop; I've never really been that into it. I'm not the type to go all the way there just for a shopping spree (I'm not big on shopping – I just buy daily essentials and the occasional bag for a change).
Trip one: Chiang Mai, Bangkok, Pattaya
Trip two: Hong Kong, Phuket
a. We flew from Chiang Mai to Bangkok – less than an hour in the air, which was ridiculous compared to the time we spent waiting at the airport.
b. From Bangkok to Pattaya we took the airport bus. Just ask the airport staff once you arrive and they'll point you in the right direction.
c. In Chiang Mai, you can take a tuk-tuk to zip between the old and new city. If you don't mind walking, strolling around Chiang Mai is totally doable – most sights are within walking distance.
Bangkok, well, big city traffic reminds me of rush hour back in our magic city of Shanghai (Bangkok is especially chaotic and jammed). Personally, I'd suggest grabbing a tuk-tuk. If you're going to be stuck in traffic anyway, why spend more money, right? (Of course, if you're not into the tuk-tuk vibe, taxis are fine – just make sure they use the meter.)
Pattaya feels too commercialized. I wouldn't recommend taxis there – they quote outrageous prices (I don't know if management has improved since). There are tuk-tuks and plenty of motorbikes; if you're not too fussy, those are options.
In Phuket, it's best to ask your hotel to help arrange transfers like airport pickups. We were staying in a pretty remote area, so we could only rely on tuk-tuks; finding a taxi was difficult.
a. In Chiang Mai, we stayed in a guesthouse in the old city. It had a lot of character, and the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar was nearby.
b. On Phuket, we chose a star-rated hotel with a private beach – peaceful and clean, with no crowds fighting for resources, haha~
Another reason I love this city is the food. You can walk into any random restaurant and find something that hits the spot. That's what makes my friend and me happiest. Even now, back in our magic city, when we get together for Thai food, it always feels too refined, lacking a bit of that street-side charm.
And the fruit! I adore those juice stalls on the roadside – 20 to 25 baht for a cup of fresh, genuine juice, cheap and delicious~ (I wonder if prices are still the same.)
a. While staying in Chiang Mai, we booked a jungle zipline adventure. There are other day-long activities too, with hotel pick-up and drop-off – easy and stress-free.
b. Pattaya: we originally went for the beach, but honestly, it was a bit dirty and overcrowded. If you're into the ladyboy culture, though, you're in the right place. We watched the Tiffany's Show – the performance was great. Of course, there are also the less... proper shows, which I've heard can be a bit risqué and violent, probably not suitable if you've got kids with you~ Just hearsay.
c. Phuket needs no introduction – island-hopping, snorkeling, all wonderful choices. Compared to Pattaya's beaches, Phuket's are truly heavenly.
That's all I can think of for now. Now for the pretty pictures!
【2016 Harbin, Mohe】
Even though I went to university in Northeast China, I was still amazed by how cold Mohe was. It felt even colder than Xuexiang (Snow Town). This time I brought some friends and my partner to the Northeast – my southern friends hadn't seen much snow, so I took them on an eye-opening trip, haha~
a. First stop was Harbin. When I was a student, I visited high school classmates there quite often, but I still really like this city with its slight Western flair. The Modern ice lolly I never get tired of, the Ice and Snow World so cold your mouth barely opens, St. Sophia Cathedral (featured in my recent drama crush "Unrequited Love"), the Russian restaurants on Central Street, the smoked red sausage, and so on~
b. From Harbin, we took the green train to Mohe – there was only one train and it was the old-school green type. I don't know if things have improved since. My pampered partner was exhausted; the train chugged along all night, arriving in Mohe early morning. We'd pre-booked a driver to pick us up and take us southward through the region~
In Mohe, I definitely recommend hiring a car with a driver. Not everyone can handle snowy roads – one slip and it could be a major accident. Also, while Mohe is a tourist destination, it's really a string of villages scattered across the great Northeast. Sometimes the roads are quite empty. Most importantly, the driver takes care of all lodging and meals along the way (by "takes care of" I mean recommends – not free, you know). We followed the driver's pace the whole trip: not too rushed, not too idle. He recommended places to eat and stay based on experience, though the final say was always ours. As it turned out, following his lead was the right call. So I didn't even make a plan for Mohe! We just agreed on a rough itinerary with the driver in advance. It went something like this... We worked things out as we went along, and it was all very pleasant (I won't go into more detail because I don't remember clearly).
c. Costs:
Hiring the car was about 600 yuan for 4 days.
Food and accommodation in Mohe were really cheap: 60–100 yuan per night for a place to stay, and meals cost at most 50 yuan per person. (Those were the prices back then, you know how it goes.)
【2017 Chengdu, Jiuzhaigou】
My friend and I decided on a spontaneous trip, fully chauffeured once again~ so not much practical experience to share, otherwise this might not pass review, you know.
Itinerary: Chengdu – Jiuzhaigou (private car the whole way, the driver would stop here and there for snacks and sights – I found it strangely enjoyable) – Huanglong – Chengdu.
【2017 Chongqing, Nanjing】
Let's be honest: I went for the hotpot, haha~ There's not much else to say about Chongqing – just eat.
Chongqing is exhausting, with all the climbing up and down. We went during the National Day holiday, and it drizzled constantly (we had originally planned to go to Wulong, but canceled because of the rain – maybe next time).
After Chongqing, we went to Nanjing for a Mayday concert and took our wedding photos.
【2018 New Zealand】
In 2018, I became a wife~ and we planned our honeymoon in New Zealand.
Day 1 & 2: Auckland? Garden City Christchurch – stargazing paradise Tekapo (about 4 hours' drive)
The famous Church of the Good Shepherd and the Boundary Dog Statue. More than these landmarks, I was captivated by the beauty of Lake Tekapo – the mountains, snow-capped peaks, the vast sky.
We stayed near Tekapo that night, and I have to marvel at the glorious Milky Way (the Milky Way, not just a starry sky) – something a city kid like me has never really had.
Day 3: Tekapo – Mount Cook National Park (Tasman Glacier flight) – Lake Pukaki – Arrowtown – Queenstown (3 hours' drive)
Taking the ski plane over the Tasman Glacier and the Southern Alps was thrilling, and the whole Mount Cook National Park felt so pristine.
Day 4 & 5: Queenstown
It's no exaggeration to call Queenstown a paradise for young people, with all kinds of extreme sports (skydiving, Glenorchy trilogy, steamboat, Milford Sound – one of the world's eight wonders).
We had booked a skydive, but weather kept canceling Queenstown skydives. The staff rescheduled us again and again, until we finally gave up on Queenstown and drove to Wānaka to try there. After a few earlier groups went successfully, it was our turn – but then the wind picked up and they couldn't jump. I was devastated; my partner even more so (he's a bit afraid of heights and had just barely psyched himself up – though secretly, I think he was relieved).
The photo below was shared by a friend – just to give you an idea~
Day 6: Queenstown – Wānaka – Haast – Fox Glacier – Lake Matheson (4 hours' drive)
By this point, all the lakes might start to blend together, haha~ We stayed that night at the foot of Fox Glacier. In the evening we went to the local bar (the one and only) to play pool. At night, friends suggested going into the deep woods to look for glowworms. There was a light drizzle and it was eerily dark; I got spooked and didn't go far before coming out. Luckily, we did spot some glowworms – lucky!
Day 7: Fox Glacier – Punakaiki Pancake Rocks – Christchurch
Day 8: Christchurch – Auckland – Hobbiton – Māori Cultural Village – Rotorua
Day 9: Rotorua – Farm (sheep shearing) – Glowworm Caves (the photo below is shared by a friend – photography is forbidden inside the caves as glowworms are extremely sensitive to light) – Auckland, City of Sails
Day 10: Auckland – Shanghai
Through this jumbled-up travelogue, I've relived the lovely moments of those years. Many fragments have blurred, and some remain but can't be put into words. Grateful to my friends, grateful to my partner for the company along the way~
See you on the next journey~
