Jonistravelling

Backpacking in Yunnan, China: Costs, Tips and Places to See

January 5, 2016June 30, 2014 by Jon Algie

Yubeng is a great place to visit if you are backpacking in Yunnan, China

Choosing a destination to travel to in China can be daunting. There is so much to see and do, but rather than try and cram too many places into a short trip it’s better to focus on one area. I chose Yunnan (followed by a week relaxing in Yangshuo) and it was a great decision. I weaved … Read more

How to Get an Overweight Bag on an Airplane as Carry-On

December 15, 2014June 23, 2014 by Jon Algie

How to get an overweight bag on a plane as carry on

Sorry to disappoint you, but this isn’t a post about smuggling large women onto planes so you can avoid buying them a ticket. This is a serious (sort of) tip about cutting down on airline fees, just don’t blame me for any resulting back/shoulder injuries!

Yangshuo Me the Money!!!

January 5, 2016June 20, 2014 by Jon Algie

The 20 Yuan note which features the scenery around Yangshuo

After 3 weeks travelling in Yunnan I was ready for a bit more comfort. I’d slept in more dorms than ever before and had to put up with cold showers, toilets without doors and thousands of Englishly challenged Chinese people. I found what I was looking for in Yangshuo – a great place to relax … Read more

Yubeng, China: More of a Paradise than Shangri-La!

January 5, 2016June 9, 2014 by Jon Algie

There’s a tiny Tibetan village in Northern Yunnan that might just be the most stunning place in Asia. Snow covered peaks surround lush green valleys filled with birds, butterflies, flowers and prayer flags. This village isn’t Shangri-La, instead that name (in 2001) went to a dusty, traffic filled Chinese city surrounded by barren hills. Whoever oversaw … Read more

Tiger Leaping Gorge: The Trek of the Titans

January 5, 2016June 7, 2014 by Jon Algie

The Tiger Leaping Gorge trek in Yunnan, China

It’s hard to appreciate an amazing view when you’re gasping for air. The 28 bends is the most notorious section of the Tiger Leaping Gorge trek, one of China’s top multi-day hikes. I thought I’d struggled around at least 15 bends when I saw a depressing red 1 painted on a rock – it had just began … Read more

6 Less Common Ways to Save for Your Trip

December 16, 2014June 2, 2014 by Jon Algie

I know what you’re thinking – not another post telling me to sell my car, move into a cheaper house and stop drinking coffee. Those techniques have been covered far too many times before, so I’ll give you some alternative ideas on how to save for your trip.

DISCLAIMER – If any of these tips leave you in prison or dead, you can’t sue me (I’m pretty sure that’s legally binding – I have hardly any money anyway).

Dali Old Town: A Backpacker Paradise in China

January 5, 2016May 28, 2014 by Jon Algie

A Photo from the reflection pool of The Three Pagodas in Dali Old Town, Yunnan, China

From outside my window I could hear a covers band murdering an Arctic Monkeys song, I could see 4 western style restaurants, and every conversation I had with the staff at my guesthouse was fully understood in perfect English. Is Dali Old Town still in China, or had I travelled through a wormhole back to … Read more

The Amazing Stone Forest in Yunnan, China

January 5, 2016May 26, 2014 by Jon Algie

A great view of the vastness of the Stone Forest in Yunnan, China

Nothing is easy in China. A quick internet search told me the Stone Forest, or Shilin, was 100km away from Kunming, where I’d arrived the day before to start my month in China. So, off I went to see this mystical karst landscape. 3 buses and 4 hours later I finally arrived, slightly bitter that it … Read more