CHINA

Country Overview:

"A land of contrasts, where ancient traditions meet rapid modernization, and delectable cuisine coexists with complex political realities."

My seven-year journey in China, from May 2013 to August 2020, was a whirlwind of experiences. I taught English, pursued my Master's in Politics & Foreign Policy at the prestigious Tsinghua University, and immersed myself in the media landscape at China Today and Xinhua News Agency. Beijing was my home base, but my travels painted a vibrant tapestry of China's diverse landscapes and cultures: the bustling metropolis of Shanghai, the historic city of Xi'an, the tropical paradise of Sanya, the unique blend of East and West in Macau and Hong Kong, and countless other destinations in between. From savoring the exquisite flavors of regional cuisines to navigating the intricacies of daily life under a distinct political system, China left an indelible mark on me.

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Forbidden City

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OMG Forbidden City

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Forbidden City Exhibition

I guess Chaumet is a big deal, and that the entire collection of jewels / crowns was worth millions of dollars. Who knew that rocks could be worth so much

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Forbidden City 3

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Forbidden City 2

My friend told me "oh this wall is a good place to take an artsy picture" and this was the pose I went with

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Forbidden City 1

I know it took me close to 4 years to get to Forbidden City, but it finally happened. It was huge, way bigger than I could have imagined from pictures. Basically there was so many palaces inside because all of the emperor's 'ladies' needed their own place to stay. One emperor had upwards of a hundred mistresses, so keeping them separated was probably the smart move

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So Close..

This is what almost making it into the Forbidden City looks like. Went in the wrong entrance (Palace Museum), took me 35 minutes to find an exit and loop back around, and by that time, tickets were sold out. 80.000 tickets sold between 8:30-11:30, so I settled on noodles and baozi. If you look carefully at the noodles, you can see the ever-present peace sign that Chinese people throw up in almost every picture.