A Month in SE Asia: China, Hong Kong, Singapore, & Korea


Hello! I was away traveling southeast Asia for a month and I’m amazed by how quickly it ended. I wanted to share the crazy, yet marvelous time I had while there. It was surreal to be in Asia, especially China, again after only a year. This time, however, I was able to experience more of Asia’s charm, culture, and beauty in locations other than China and Hong Kong. One of the reasons I love Asia so much is the delicious cuisine; of course, that isn’t the only reason. I traveled to various parts in Asia from December 31 to January 24. The study abroad trip commenced in Beijing, China and was completed in Seoul, South Korea. I was on a short Jan-term study abroad trip with a Whitworth professor and other Whitworth students. The course we were taking while there was Culture and Technology in SE Asia. We crammed so many sights and cities into our short trip, and it was undoubtedly worth it. I was beyond ecstatic that I was returning to places that I had visited before, and that I had the opportunity to discover and explore new locations.


On December 30, I drove up to Spokane from Walla Walla so that I would be prepared to leave the following day. My flight was departing from the Spokane Airport in the morning. I was so excited that I had difficulty sleeping.

The next day, December 31, I met up with my professor and some of the other students. We boarded our flight to Seattle and landed there after a short time. At SeaTac, we united with the rest of the students and boarded our flight to South Korea. We had a brief layover in Incheon and then flew straight to Beijing where we were met by our guide, Aaron. He greeted us warmly and ushered us to our transportation which would take us to our hotel, the Redwall Hotel. Like any other trip, I was only focused on finding the hotel and crashing. I took some time to notice the heavily congested highway, the honking horns, the brightly lit-up buildings, and the smell of China. I was finally back!


Beijing

I was in Beijing for a total of three days and three nights. Despite being such a short amount of time, we certainly fit into our schedule many activities. Many of them I have done multiple times before, however it was nice to be revisiting them all over again. Every morning we woke up early to eat breakfast before the long day began. The breakfast was buffet-style and varied from American food to Chinese food. Once we were done, we set out to begin our tour of Beijing.

The first day, we visited Tiananmen Square, the National Museum of China, the Forbidden City, the Hutong, and the Wangfujing Night Market. The air was quite chilly since it was wintertime, however we managed to bundle up even to ward off the cold.

We visited Tiananmen Square and meandered over to the National Museum of China that is right across the street. While we waited patiently to be permitted to enter, I struck up a conversation with a grandmother and her granddaughter. One of my fellow classmates was able to talk to the granddaughter because she spoke some English. At the end, she hilariously asked if my classmate and I were siblings. I struggled not to laugh since I didn’t think that my classmate and I look anything alike.

The National Museum of China contains many artifacts from much of China’s history. It is certainly a treasure trove of many important pieces of China’s culture and history. Once we had been patted down and gone through security, the first thing I saw was the giant mural on the façade. It had a blood red background and pictured hardworking Chinese striving to make progress. The museum has multiple floors and sadly, I was not able to explore all of them since we only had an hour. In the basement, I saw a few Terracotta warriors and numerous bronze artifacts. On the upper floors were buddha statues, wooden household furniture, jade, statues, and calligraphy. It was amazing to see the different time periods and the artifacts held in each exhibit. Someday, I would like to go back to explore it more thoroughly.

At the Forbidden City, we were given a tour on the different sections within the palace. It was nice to get a refresher on the history behind each section and the symbolism behind the architecture. In China, it is quite common for Chinese people to come up and listen in on the tour. They are naturally extremely curious and love to look at all of our faces and listen to us talk to each other. Some were bold enough to come and inquire if they could take photos with us; some didn’t even ask us and sidled up and quickly took a photo.

At the end of the day, we ate a delicious Chinese dinner in the Hutongs. We had made the dumplings ourselves. After, we roamed around the Wangfujing Night Market and also the shopping mall. It was a nice touch to the end of the day.

The next day, January 2, we departed at 8:30 am to go to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall. It was approximately a two hour drive to get there. The Mutianyu section is one of the most touristy locations to climb the Great Wall. At the base of the mountain, there was a chairlift that took us directly to the wall. Since it was freezing, I was very grateful that we wouldn’t have to hike all the way up to the wall. Seeing that I’m slightly terrified of heights, it was fairly scary to be dangling from a chair high above the treetops. However, the view of the valley was stunning and the slight glimpses of the Great Wall gradually became clearer. Climbing the stairs was a difficult task, but we survived. By the end of the day, my legs were shaking from exhaustion. As soon as we were done climbing a section of the wall, we slide down to the bottom on sleds that were in a metal chute. Once we had returned to the base of the mountain, bus drivers accosted us vying for our attention in hopes that we would hire them. In China, this is a typical everyday occurrence. The Chinese are exceedingly persistent when trying to sell their products to other locals or tourists. They will continually hound a person and try to bargain with you saying that they offer the optimal price.

We returned to Beijing to visit the 798 District. This art district is very renowned for its controversial art. Artists from all over feature their work in the temporary galleries. The art isn’t only in exhibits and galleries, but additionally are strewn around the district on the streets and facades of buildings. Besides the art, there are many artsy cafes and small restaurants for those who require a small respite from all the walking. Relaxing in a cafe and taking my time looking at the different forms of art was an excellent way to unwind from our trek on the Great Wall.

Sunday, January 3, our schedule was relatively undemanding. We spent several hours at the Summer Palace. Although it was fairly wintry-looking, I still enjoyed seeing the palace again after such a long time. One of the main highlights of the Summer Palace is the marble boat that sits on the edge of the lake. Nearby, there were dragon boats that were locked into place by ice. Despite the icy lake and the bare trees, the bright colors of the boats lit up the surrounding area; capturing the attention of the passersby. The Summer Palace is, like its name, the summer residence for the emperor. Therefore, the grounds contain numerous open walkways that feature intricate designs, marble railings, temples, and residential housing.

Following our time at the palace, we continued on to the Capital Museum. The set-up of the museum was very orderly; one side was a timeline of the events that had taken place in China over the dynasties, while on the other side were world historical events. I really enjoyed perusing both sides and looking at what happened in the world and China during the same time. This museum also held artifacts including a copy of Dream of the Red Chamber (红楼梦). It is one of the top classics in Chinese literature and contains so many symbols that, for those who aren’t knowledgeable in Chinese culture and history, it will make no sense. It was a mild day compared to the previous two days that were brimming with activities.

January 4 was our final day in Beijing before continuing our travels. We arose at 6 am because we were headed to Tianjin’s Shepherd’s Field. Tianjin is located two hours outside of Beijing. Shepherd’s Field is a special needs orphanage for the children who have been abandoned because their parents couldn’t take care of them. We spent time with the children; playing games, drawing, etc. I fell in love with all of them. There was one little boy, in particular, who was so cute. He would play with the colored pencils and present them to me. I really wanted to adopt him and take him back to the States with me. However, it was not meant to be, and we returned to Beijing.

After lunch, we went to the Temple of Heaven. Although it has been less than a year since I’ve been there, it was good to be back. The architecture, colors, and symbolism put into the temple is one of my favorites out of the many historical locations I’ve toured. The weather was tremendously chilly, but I still took the time to stand on the marble stone in the middle of one of the platforms. The marble stone represents luck, so there are many people who wait for their turn to stand on it. The Temple of Heaven is significant because the emperors would visit, pray, and fast for good harvest annually. It is unbelievable to see how much meaning and significance was put into the architecture of the Temple of Heaven. Not only the colors, but the number of columns, shape of the buildings, and animals all cohesively represent the things the emperor and the people wished for each year.

Even though our time in Beijing was short, it was fantastic to relive and revisit all the sights. I look forward to the next time. Our journey continues on to our next stop: Xi’an.


Xi’an

On January 4, in the evening, we boarded the sleeper train. All six of us girls were sharing one compartment, while the others in our group were more spread out. This was a totally new experience; foreign yet fascinating. Although it was extremely cramped, it forced all of us to bond even more. We sat talking from our beds about this experience, the last few days in Beijing, and the future stops. Some of the girls weren’t too pleased about the arrangements, but me made the best out of it. We had a pleasant conversation with a grad student from Wuhan. He was an environmental technology major that was graduating this year. He shared photos of his family and pet cat with us.

We arrived in Xi’an at approximately 8 am. We were met at the train station by our guide, Iris. All of us were fairly exhausted from not sleeping well. While in Xi’an we are staying in City Hotel, which is located near the bell tower. The city is just like I remembered; bustling with cars and people hurrying to their destinations. At 10:30 am we departed to go see the Terracotta Warriors. While there, we viewed the three pits and the museum that holds the bronze chariots. Our guide imparted to us some information about the Qin emperor, Qin Shi Huang Di. Beside being considered a conqueror that unified China, the money system, the transportation system, and the language, he is also known as a monster. To gain power and fulfill his agenda, he massacred approximately 200 Confucian scholars, built the Great Wall, and oversaw the building of his burial site (it took 39 years to complete). It is enthralling to think that he paved the way for progress, yet at the same time, promoted slave labor and death. Chinese history is so extensive and diverse that it would take forever to learn about even a small chunk of it. I think that’s why I find it so captivating and engaging.

By 8:30 am we had all our bags packed and ready to go. Before heading to Wuhan, we visited the Wild Goose Pagoda. It looks fairly plain and simple, however, once you look inside, the extravagance spent on details and decorations is clearly evident. A few years ago, there was an earthquake and the pagoda now sits at a tilt. Nobody is allowed to ascend because they are afraid that it will present a danger to the tourists. The pagoda isn’t the only building there. Inside the walls there are also buildings filled with buddhas in various different shapes and forms.

Following our tour of the Wild Goose Pagoda, we went to the Shaanxi History Museum. It contains much of Xi’an’s history and quite a few artifacts. After a few hours at the museum, we climbed up on the city wall and rode our bikes around on the wall. It was a glorious experience to revisit. After, we continued on to the Muslim Market. The noises and smells blended together creating a pleasant vibe. Many of the vendors were super welcoming and willing to talk with those who so desired. It was somewhat overwhelming to view, hear, and smell everything that was going on in the market. It is definitely one of my favorite experiences. Our time in Xi’an had come to an end, but I was excited to move on to Wuhan.


Wuhan

Once again, we took a night train to get to our next destination. While we were traveling, another college student talked to us about his personal life, his aspirations, etc. He was friendly and wished us well on our journey. When we arrived in Wuhan, we quickly went to our hotel and then went out for a meal. After a quick shower at the hotel, we headed over to Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST). If you’ve forgotten, our class is on technology and culture in SE Asia. Therefore, visiting this university was learning about the university culture and the technology part. Many of the students in the 3C and Dian clubs were there to welcome and orientate us. It was staggering to be on such a huge campus. The students told us that there are a total of 33 canteens, several banks, and several shops on campus. It was also overwhelming to have many of the students taking photos of us while we toured the campus. All of the students were willing to talk about their lives, but were very curious about ours too. Many of them have aspirations to visit America in the future. They were very kind to put on a talent show where some of the students talked about the culture, brought traditional Wuhan cuisine, sang songs, etc. At the end, I was sad to leave since we had hit it off so quickly and easily. However, we gave each other our contact information so that we could continue to keep in touch. Even though we weren’t in Wuhan for very long, it left a positive lasting impression on me.


Hong Kong

On January 8, we took a bullet train to Shenzhen, China. After getting off in Shenzhen, we took a bus into Hong Kong. The change in scenery and atmosphere is immensely different between China and Hong Kong. I instantly noticed the European influence, the smog-less air, and many other small changes. We were in Hong Kong from January 8 to January 17. Since we were there for so long, I will share my favorite memories with you.

Our hotel was located far away from the main centers of Hong Kong, however, I personally enjoyed it. Our hotel, Noah’s Ark, was a resort that was a huge ark with life-size animals coming out of it. It was truly a sight to see. There was another resort nearby and a sandy beach to wander on in the mornings and evenings. There was a ferry to catch to get to the main area (Tsim Sa Tsui) of Hong Kong. If I didn’t feel like taking the ferry, there was also the option of taking the bus across the bridge to the main area.

Hong Kong seems like it is mostly city, however, most of its land is preserved and turned into hiking trails. There are so many options for the hiking fanatic. Dragon’s Back is one of Hong Kong’s famous trails. It is fairly uncomplicated, and like its name curves up and down like a dragon’s back. At the top of the mountain, there are fantastic views of the other mountains, the ocean below, and the resorts that are nestled at the base of the mountains. It was stunning to feel like I was at the top of the world. The wind whipping through my hair, made me feel rejuvenated after the smoggy air of China.

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On January 13, many of us went to see the Ten Thousand Buddhas. Right from the start there were buddhas lined up on both sides of the walkway. They continued up the hillside until reaching the temple at the top. There were so many buddhas scattered around the temple, in the buildings and near a small pond filled with koi fish. It is rumored that it is possible to find a look-alike of yourself since there are so many different ones there. There was a definite air of peace permeating the atmosphere. The smell of incense filled the air as I strolled about the temple and the grounds.

Chi Lin Nunnery is another must-see in Hong Kong. The nunnery’s architecture reminds me more of the Japanese architecture. It is a dark mahogany color that stands out against the ponds filled with lotus and the potted shrubbery. The Nan Lian Garden is right outside of the nunnery and features a glowing yellow pavilion. The garden contains waterfalls, ponds, peaceful sections of rocks and shrubbery that are all cleverly light up at night. It is truly one of my favorite gardens that I have ever had the privilege to visit.

One of the best parts was reuniting with several former Whitworth exchange students. I had gotten to know all of them fairly well while they were at Whitworth, and it was amazing to meet up in Hong Kong. One of the girls set aside two days to show us around some of the local places in Hong Kong. It was a dream come true to have a native show us her favorite places. It was also great to see the others after such a long time. For the few days that we spent time catching up with them, it was pretty much just a food adventure. For me, as a foodie, it was paradise.

With Ophelia, the former Whitworth exchange student, we also visited the Garden of the Stars. At this location, there are statues of famous Hong Kong people, their handprints, their signatures, and a huge mural. Since the normal location was under construction, the Garden was in a temporary location.

One of the top sights in Hong Kong is to view the city from Victoria Peak. Seeing the lights brighten up the city at night is amazing and one of the best night cityscapes that I have ever seen in my life. Even though it was winter, the night air wasn’t too chilly. I really enjoyed looking at all the buildings and the reflection of the lights off the harbor water.

Another popular tourist attraction is the Tian Tan Buddha that is located on Ngong Ping, Lantau Island. Close by is the Po Lin Monastery. The buddha symbolizes the harmonious relationship between people and faith, and humans and nature. To arrive at the buddha, there is the option to take the gondola lift there. It was slightly terrifying because it went over a large body of water before slowly climbing up into the mountains. There was fog that was covering the mountains that added a mysterious air to the atmosphere. The fog also hindered us from seeing the buddha clearly. The buddha is ginormous and can be seen from quite a ways away on a clear day. Surrounding it are other smaller buddhas holding up offerings. Wandering through the streets were many cows. They would lazily meander through the streets; occasionally coming up to a visitor in search of food.

Our time in Hong Kong speedily came to a close, and I was sad to say goodbye to Hong Kong and my friends. I am craving the food there at this instant. On to the next destination!


Macau

While we were still in Hong Kong, we took a day trip to Macau on January 12. At Central, we caught a boat to Macau that took an hour long. We visited the historic center, Largo do Senado , St. Dominic’s Church, Ruins of St. Paul’s Cathedral, Monte Forte, Guia Fortress, The Sands, Venetian Casino, and the Cotai Strip Resort. The day was filled with wonderful landmarks and sights. I hope to visit again so that I can explore Macau more thoroughly.

Macau has Portuguese influence so there are streets and other buildings that show that influence. The historic center that contains the Largo do Senado (a street), St. Dominic’s Church, the Ruins of St. Paul’s Cathedral, Monte Forte, and Guia Fortress is very scenic and evidently shows the historical architecture. It is a huge difference from the casino area of Macau that is extremely modern. At the Cotai Strip Resort, there were many delicious options for food, expensive name-brand clothing and accessory stores, and a Venetian-styled canal that contained gondolas. It is an extreme show of extravagance in the casino area. I was really impressed by both sides of Macau that I was able to witness.


Singapore

On January 18 we flew down to Singapore for a few days. While we were in Singapore, we visited many technology sites. We were in Singapore from January 18 to January 21. Since we visited so many places specifically for our class, I will keep it short and talk about my favorite places, and also show some random parts of Singapore that I got to see will wandering around.

While I was walking around Singapore, it was interesting to note the blend of modernity with tradition. The weather was extremely humid and I would walk quickly to a building to cool down in the air conditioning. Both the more traditional buildings and the modern buildings were stunning to see. With the palm trees lining the streets, I felt like I was in paradise.

One of my favorite places was the harbor where Marina Bay Sands, the Merlion, the Singapore Flyer, and the Gardens by the Bay are all located. It was wondrous to see all the sights in almost one single place. A long time ago, my uncle from Hong Kong gave me a key chain with the merlion on it. I loved that key chain, and I had always wanted to see it in real life. I was ecstatic to finally see it in person after so many years of waiting and hoping. Marina Bay Sands is so amazing with many expensive stores and restaurants inside. I must say, they have the most delicious food there. Gardens by the Bay was fantastic. Seeing all the detail they put into each section of the garden is amazing. I wish that we had had more time to explore all the different parts of it.

The population in Singapore is very diverse in culture. While we were there, some of us went to Little India. We wandered around and I bought a few pairs of elephant pants, souvenirs for my family, and got henna tattoos. The weather in Singapore is fairly unpredictable, and while we were there, the sky opened up and the rain poured down. It was beyond my imagination. I have never seen rain pound down onto the pavement with such ferocity. It suddenly subsided after a few minutes and people continued on as if nothing had happened. The time in Singapore was brief but I would be glad to visit again in the near future.


Korea

On January 21, we arrived in Incheon at 7 pm. We were met by our guide, Anthony, who directed us to our hotel, Ibis Budget Hotel. The next morning, we visited the National Museum, the War Memorial, the Gangnam area, Dongdaemun, and ended the day with a scrumptious dinner with another Whitworth professor. Seeing the museums was fascinating since we got to learn more about Korean history and how it relates to world history. Our guide was full of information. One of my favorite things that day was going to the Dongdaemun area to visit the Gwang Jang Market. It was amazing to walk through the market and see all the fresh food that was for sale. I badly wanted to sample food, but we didn’t have that much time. I settled for getting a pancake and living vicariously through the other people. The smells were to die for. The weather was extremely cold. Definitely the coldest it has been on the trip so far.

The next day we visited the Bukchon Hanok Village. It was nice to see the traditional house style. We also visited Gyeongbokgung Palace. By that time, the wind chill and the freezing cold air was really getting to me. It was difficult for me to even want to remove my hands from inside my coat so that I could take photos. I looked at the temperature and it said 10 degrees with major wind chill. Despite the freezing state of things, I managed to enjoy the scenery. We got a slight view of the Blue House; equivalent of the States’ White House. Like China, there were many military men walking around the streets watching over the activities that were going on around them. This is a definite cultural difference from the States and the Asian countries. Many of our other activities that day included the National Folk Museum, Insadong Antique Art Street, Jogyesa Temple, Myeongdong Fashion Street, Myeongdong Cathedral, and ended the day with a delicious Korean barbecue meal.

January 2, the weather was at an all-time low of 0 degrees. The guide told us that it hadn’t been that cold in many years. It was fairly miserable to be outside even for a few minutes. First, we went to Namsan Tower (aka N Seoul Tower) where we went up to the top of the tower and looked at the stunning view of Seoul. The tower moves incrementally and is barely noticeable; similar to the Space Needle. When we came down from the tower, we went and looked at the love locks that cover many of the railings and designated “towers”. Many Korean dramas and movie scenes have been filmed there. We had planned on going to the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone), however there had been a bomb scare a few days ago and they had shut it down for an unforeseen amount of time. However, we did go see the border from a viewing area. Our time in Seoul had come to an end and we departed at 5:45 pm. Hopefully I get another chance to come back in the future.

This trip was amazing and I’ll forever be happy that I had the opportunity to travel with great people. All the locations were simply stunning in their own unique ways. Now, I will relax for awhile before my next adventure.


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