Pete's Wicked Travels

Some travelers tend to go way overboard with their packing: packing enough to last them two weeks when they go away for a weekend. While others go to the other extreme, forgetting important items like passports or medicine. It is important to try to strike the perfect balance, bringing only what you need.

First off, important items that you should find room for in your luggage. A guidebook to your destination or to the region you are visiting will end up being your saving grace. It is your best resource for finding important information regarding accommodations, food, customs, and transportation. So make sure to pick one up and pack it along with the rest of your things. Along with the guidebook, another essential item is a Swiss army knife. This multi-tool is the fantastic and easily packs into any backpack since it is so compact. It has so many uses that it will take the place of many other tools that you may have packed separately.

When packing your clothes, the packing method you use is important as clothes will take up the majority of space in your luggage. You want to refrain from neatly folding them individually as you would in your drawers at home. If you do, you will find that they get wrinkled when compressed. Folding your clothes is also not the best space saving method. Rolling your clothes is a very effective method that seasoned travelers swear by. Lay the item face down, fold back the sleeves, and then roll from bottom to top. You can then put your rolled up clothes into different zip lock bags categorized by type of item. For instance, put all your underwear in one zip lock bag, and your t-shirts in another. This makes it a lot easier to navigate between your items without having to repack everything.

If you are traveling by plane, remember the extra security restrictions with regards to your carry on. You are not allowed to pack any liquid or gel substance; they will need to be packed away in your checked luggage. Also take into account restrictions on bag weight and number of bags you are allowed to travel with. Many airlines now charge a fee for every checked bag, and some charge for your carry on as well. Some airlines have also lowered the maximum permitted weight for checked luggage. Before packing, check with your airline to make sure you won’t be hit with any extra fees.

When it comes to packing toiletries, less is more. Take only half a tube of toothpaste and roll up the end tight. Store shampoos in travel sized containers and only take half a roll of toilet paper, crushing it so the middle is folded. In order to get past the no liquid ban for carry-ons, look into solid shampoo bars and tooth powder. You can find them easily on the internet and they will make it possible for you to get through security and have some toiletries in case of emergency.

admin Travel Tips packing, travel, travel gear, Travel Tips

When it comes to a traveler’s dream destination, China has got to come close. With over 5,000 years worth of culturally rich history and a vast expanse of land spanning thousands of miles, what would a traveler not love? With so much to see in do in this large land, it is hard to come up with a list of the top things to do, however, here is my attempt.

No list would be complete without mentioning walking along the Great Wall of China. It is of course one of the most popular things to do in China, as it is the quintessential Chinese landmark. You can climb the wall at a number of locations throughout the countryside. Try to find a remote passage, as you can wander within the guard towers with significantly less interruptions from fellow travelers.

The Terracotta Warriors, first discovered in 1974, were buried in 210 BC. The thousands of life-size figures have individually unique faces and hair and armor styles which are appropriate to their rank.

The Wolong Nature Preserve is located 3 hours outside of Chengdu, and houses the largest panda reserve in China. The center works to ensure the Giant Panda species will continue to exist. Tourists can observe pandas in their natural habitat and can even help researchers feed and play with these beautiful and threatened animals. Another great animal attraction is the Beijing Zoo. It is the largest zoo in China, and used to be a private garden owned by a royal Qing aristocrat before being converted into a zoo in 1901. The zoo holds approximately 6000 animals of different species from all over the country.

In terms of important historic landmarks, Tiananmen Square is it. Forever synonymous with protest and freedom, Tiananmen Square is imbued with a certain quiet power that is essential to any stop in Beijing.

Make a stopover in Tibet to see the Potala Palace, the former seat of the Dalai Lama. It is now a Chinese museum, but is still famous for its imposing white walls surrounding the inner red palace that sits at over 12,000 feet. Also while in Tibet, visit Jiuzhaigou Valley – a nature reserve located in China’s Sichuan Province. It is a beautiful example of China’s varied landscape, as it is famous for its crystal blue lakes and multi-level waterfalls. It is populated by a number of Tibetan villages so it is a superb place to see and experience local Tibetan culture as well.

A trip down the Li River will not disappoint. Starting at the Mao’er Mountain, the Li River flows southeast for about 437km. This area is the largest and most beautiful river scenes in China which attracts millions of visitors each year. The Karst Mountains make this stretch of water the most beautiful scenic area in China. The 50 mile long expanse from Guilin to Yangshuo is the finest section of the river because it is blossoming with rolling hills, limestone cliffs, and mysterious caves.

This list has just scratched the surface of things that you can do while in China, however, these are some of our favorites.

admin Asia Asia, china, things to do, travel, travel lists