2009 was a busy year for travel in the To China… and Beyond! household-of-one. As I embark on myfirst big trip of 2010, I’ve been thinking about the best trips I took in 2009.
5. Xi’an: My December trip to Xi’an was actually my second visit to the city. I went there on my first trip to China in 2007, when I didn’t speak a word of Chinese and had nothing to compare it to. Returning, I had a new appreciation for the physical traces of the past that abound in Xi’an — not just the Terracotta Warriors and the Bell and Drum Towers, but also the way the old city walls and gates continue to shape the modern city that is growing up inside them.
4. Dehang: The tiny village of Dehang in western Hunan Province reinvigorated my interest in domestic travel in China. After rather dispiriting visits to a few Chinese cities — Guilin and Shanghai — Dehang reminded me of the beauty that can be found by getting off the beaten track in China.
3. Varanasi: Varanasi was our first stop in India, and it was a magical one. Despite the heat and the touts, it was impossible not to be entranced by the lively evening pujas alongside the Ganges
2. Malaysia: I don’t care if it is “Asia Easy,” I was completely captivated by the melange of cultures that defines Malaysia. I can’t pick a favorite place in Malaysia, I loved it all: watching the sun set in Pulau Perhentian, learning how to batik in Kota Bharu and sipping kopi at kopitiams all over the country.
1. Xiahe and Langmusi: I’m pretty much resigned to the fact that I won’t make it to Tibet before I leave China, which is why I’m so glad that my summer trip included stops in Xiahe and Langmusi, in the heart of the Tibetan regions of southern Gansu Province. The Labrang Monastery in Xiahe was a fascinating introduction to Tibetan Buddhism, while trekking outside Langmusi gave us an opportunity to witness the nomadic lifestyle (and get up close and personal with some yaks).
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Great post! I never made it to Xiahe or Langmusi when I was in Gansu Province, but always wanted to. And who says Malaysia is “Asia light”? I am with you – I was completely entranced by the country and can’t wait to go back. Was learning to batik difficult?
Learning to batik was a little difficult, although I think if I had been at all artistic it wouldn’t have been such a struggle. Regardless, the teacher did a very good job correcting our mistakes, so the finished products looked nice. It made for a fun day and a cool souvenir to bring home!