One of the greatest legacies the Portuguese left in the former colony of Macau was their cuisine. Portuguese sailors picked up spices from Africa and Latin America as they sailed east which their wives then blended with the local ingredients in attempt to recreate dishes from home. The delicious hybrid is now known as Macanese. The […]
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Holiday Tea at the Peninsula Hong Kong
Once we decided to go to Hong Kong for our Christmas vacation, the first thing we penciled in was afternoon tea at the iconic Peninsula Hotel. Opened in 1928, this historic property has become synonymous with luxury and is considered one of the finest hotels in the world. A nod to Hong Kong’s colonial past, the British-style […]
Visiting a Shanghai Flower Market
Shanghai’s Caojiadu Flower Market is where local florists go to get their stock and where orchids can be had for a song. Stall after stall is filled to the brim with every kind of flower under the sun. Potted plants claim the space near the ground-floor entrances while the cut flowers can be found down a ramp […]
A Tour of Shanghai’s Fairmont Peace Hotel
Shanghai’s iconic Fairmont Peace Hotel began life in 1929 as Sassoon House, named after its owner Sir Victor Sassoon, a British real estate mogul. While Mr. Sassoon lived in the 10th floor penthouse, the rest of the building was dominated by the prestigious Cathay Hotel. The Chinese government took over the building (and all the […]
Tomb of Emperor Jingdi, Xi’an
While in Xi’an, we paid a visit to the Han Jing Mausoleum, the final resting place of Emperor Jingdi, the fifth Han emperor, who ruled China from 157-141 BC, and his wife. The impressive tomb, which covers 20 square kilometers, is still being excavated and the museum is designed to give visitors an incredible glimpse […]