Shanghai Travel Tips & Tricks

You could easily say Shanghai is a record-breaking city as it has the world’s longest bridge, fastest train, and until recently tallest ever building. It was the birthplace of an economic revolution that led to modern China and is one of the engines that powers China’s supercharged economy.

It is the largest city in China and it was once a sleepy fishing and textile town. In the 1850s, Shanghai was even used as a verb to describe drugging and kidnapping of sailors that frequently docked and traded in Shanghai. But despite the negative start, modern Shanghai is living in a totally different story – a vibrant vision of development and economic growth. Today, Shanghai has grown into a busy center with international commerce and is one of the fastest growing cities in the world.

Getting Around

The best way to get to the city from the airport is by taxi. Shanghai taxis do not differ from their counterparts in other countries with just one exception the drivers are caged but don’t be alarmed you’ll know why soon. There are a few types of colored taxis in Shanghai. Whenever possible, try to avoid dark red or maroon taxis as they are operated by small taxi companies and drivers will very likely take you for a ride. Though Shanghai is the largest, and the most developed city in China, its streets are not as confusing as it initially seems. It has an extensive public transport system of buses, trolleys, taxis, and metro system that will bring you virtually anywhere in Shanghai.

While traffic is fairly smooth and convenient, the great influx of foreigners and Chinese from other parts of China to seek their fortune in Shanghai has contributed to the increasing congestion. With its rapid urbanization, Shanghai is also a melting pot of cultures. see all the buildings behind me they’re a real mishmash of architectural styles as so much difference here we’ve got corporate chic, space-age retro there’s no real unifying theme uniting all these buildings together. I think this reflects Shanghai’s cosmopolitan culture but not only that it demonstrates the Shanghai mindset of doing whatever it takes to stand out from the crowd.

Lupu Bridge

Perhaps, it is the drive to be outstanding and recognized that has made Shanghai literally a record-breaking city. To get a feel of what it’s like at the top, you can to the top of a building to see the world’s longest arch bridge. The 3.9 kilometer Lupu Bridge opened in 2003 and offers a spectacular view of Shanghai Expo site on both sides of the river. The magnificent vista stretch is living proof that Shanghai is China’s bridge to the world economy and the land of dreams for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Skyscrapers

20 years ago Shanghai’s tallest building was the Park Hotel which is built in the 1930s. Since then over 4,000 buildings have gone up, 2,000 of which have been skyscrapers, and this rapidly changing cityscape is evidence of Shanghai’s ferocious economic growth and evolving business culture. Back in the city, Shanghai is in full swing expanding a skyline, the Shanghai business district boasts of famous landmarks like the Jin Mao tower which is also home to offices of many multi-international companies. While Europeans took centuries to build some of their cities, Shanghai took just decades. As massive urbanization is still undergoing, the persistent sound of construction can be heard throughout the city.

Expat Community

With society moving at such a fast pace, joining a networking session with the expatriate community in Shanghai is a great idea. Networking is one trick to doing business in Shanghai. The right connections and referrals will open many doors of business opportunities for the well-acquainted entrepreneur.

There is so much to do and see in this city, hopefully this guide will help you plan your next trip to Shanghai.

5 Things You Should Know Before You Visit Taipei

Taipei is an ultra-modern city, but it also has deep rich cultural roots and it is becoming more and more a gateway to East Asia and Southeast Asia. Here are five things you should know before you visit Taipei, Taiwan.

Bring Cash
The currency in Taiwan is the NTD or new Taiwan dollar. Make sure you carry a bit of this around with you especially if you are going out for meals. This is because many of the very famous restaurants don’t accept credit cards.

Tipping is Unnecessary
Tipping is not customary here in Taiwan, so don’t worry about tipping in restaurants or taxis. If the taxi fare is 95 NTD and you give the taxi driver 100 NTD and tell them to keep the change, that’s okay but don’t feel you have to tip the taxi drivers or restaurant staff as well. Now, if you are staying in a four or five-star hotel, then sometimes the staff that works in the hotel will expect the tip especially the porter that carries your bag.

English is not Widely Spoken
What you will find when you visit Taiwan is that people do not speak as much English here especially compared to Southeast Asia. But no worries, if you come to a restaurant in Taipei like Din Tai Fung in Dongmin everybody on staff can speak English and virtually all of their restaurants have English-speaking staff. That is not the case with all restaurants so you will find a little more of a language barrier. However, many restaurants in commercial districts will have at least one person on at all times that could speak English.

If you go to a traditional morning market in Taipei, then it will be a bit more of a language barrier for you. Food stalls and little restaurants that are around the night markets probably will have a bit of English language skills and sometimes Japanese and Korean as well. Most of the signage is in English in Taipei City especially and all the transportation services have English and will all have English speakers on hand at any time as well. Also, no worries when you are visiting tourist attractions like Taipei 101, the number one tourist spot in Taipei. Most of the staff speak English and many museums and tourist attractions also have English-speaking staffs.

Claim your VAT Refund
Claim the 5% VAT tax when you leave Taiwan. All foreigners can get back up to 5% VAT but you must spend 3000 NT dollars on the same day which is about $90. Do that at a big department store or retail outlet that that sells big-ticket items and they will be happy to issue you that receipt. You can take that to the airport on departure and cash out and get your money back either on your credit card or cash. Don’t ask night market stalls or outdoor clothing stores to give you a receipt they won’t do it.

World Class Public Transportation
Taipei has one of the best metro systems in the world; it is super efficient and very convenient. If you think you will be in Taipei more than a couple of days, you should get one of the easy cards because not only is it convenient to get around on the MRT and bus system but you can also use it to use the U-Bike system which is a fantastic way for getting around the city.

I hope you have an amazing time in Taipei Taiwan. The people are extremely friendly and helpful, so don’t be afraid to get lost you are in a safe place.

Hawaii’s Big Island Travel Guide

Hawaii’s Big Island lies in the North Pacific Ocean and it is the youngest and largest of the Hawaiian Islands. There are a range of climate zones in this still growing land mass. Some friends of mine who run and Edmonton Roofing company said that their recent trip to the Big Island was the highlight of their Hawaiian adventure. Nature’s elements collide spectacularly on this volcano rich island. Enjoy the ocean breezes and the warm blue water, delve into a lush green jungle and see the red hot lava flow. Their special connection to nature and Hawaiians unique Polynesian culture is ever present.

It is also the domain of Pele – the mythical goddess of passion, volcanoes, and fire. Remember, nobody is in a hurry here, so take your time to see the island’s natural wonders or drive around the big island. The west side of the Big Island is resort rich and offers water sports, history, and beaches. Here are some must see attractions on Hawaii’s Big Island.

Kaloko-honokohau National Historical Park
Here the Pacific Green turtles crawl ashore and you can dive into the sheltered Kahaluu Bay to greet the Honu underwater. It is a beach park that is part of Kailua Kona which is the main resort hub on the island. This is a relaxing place to try some paddle boarding and enjoy the sunshine. Treat your children to one of Hawaii’s specialty shave ice or taste of their exclusive brew when you are ready for a break.

Mauna Kea Beach
Relax for a few days on this beach which has the highest point of the Mauna Kea Volcano in its backdrop.

Captain Cook Village
Captain Cook was a famous English explorer that was killed in 1779. The jetty built in Captain Cook’s honor is now used for people watching and sunbathing.

Pu’uhonua o Honaunau
This place was used for refuge in ancient times. Here you can walk around the burial temple of Hawaiian Chiefs, play board games, or see primitive canoe huts.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Explore this historic national park and spend some time in Hawaii’s interior. Visitors from around the world come here to see the steaming craters of the Kilauea volcano. This volcano had been erupting for more than 30 years now and you can see as the lava pours into the ocean by joining a cruise.

Pololu Valley
Hawaii is one of the wettest cities in the United States but you will be entertained by the many indoor attractions here when the heavens open. Overlooking the sprawling forest reserves of the Big Island is the Pololu valley on the island’s northern tip. This is the birthplace of the king who unified the Hawaiian Islands – Kamehameha the first.

KAPA’AU and Javier
You can browse the galleries and boutique shops in the rustic and historic towns of Javier and KAPA’AU.

What To Do When You Feel Post-Travel Depression

When it comes to post travel depression, it is one of the most uncomfortable feelings that any traveler could ever experience. After an amazing trip halfway across the world, returning home and trying to live a normal life once again can seem like an impossible task to accomplish. Instead of discovering something new every single day, life becomes pretty boring – or that is what you think at least. That being said, you might feel like something’s not right. But guess what? Something is indeed off, and it is completely okay for you to feel this way. What you are actually going through right now is simply called the post-travel depression. As you can see, post-travel depression is a real thing, and after spending a longer period of time traveling the world, coming back home can feel like the hardest part of your journey. But you are not alone. With this in mind, there are some certain things that you can do to make yourself feel a little bit better!

Explore Your Hometown

It is pretty much safe to say that you have become an expert when it comes to discovering cool new places, haven’t you? After all, you spent the majority of your time abroad taking short trips to nearby cities and seeking out cool new neighborhoods. With this in mind, instead of crying and moaning about how you are not on the road anymore, you should do the exact same things at home. Go on a short trip to a nearby city, participate in a local cultural activity, or go on a hike with a friend or two.

Practice What You Learned

While it is true that you are no longer surrounded by foreigners on a daily basis, that doesn’t mean that you can’t put those new skills of yours to good use in your hometown. For example, there are many different things that you can do to practice the language that you learned while you were away from home. You can read the local news online or watch a movie in your target language.

Plan Another Trip

One of the best ways to get over post-travel depression is to plan another trip. While it is true that not every single problem can be solved by going on a road trip, sometimes getting away is a great way to give yourself some much-needed relaxation time. It is like fighting fire with fire, isn’t it?

Surviving a Business Trip in the Tropics

Are you in charge of giving a presentation at a university in Manila, and even though there is an air conditioning system installed in the room, you just can’t stop sweating? In fact, you haven’t been able to stop sweating since you woke up and had a nice cup of coffee. But as start to get aware of your surroundings, you begin to notice that none of your colleagues are sweating as much as you are (in fact, they might not be sweating at all), and on top of that, they look as professional as they can possibly look. How is something like this even possible? Well, the answer to this question is actually pretty simple.

You see, when you are working in a tropical climate, it is pretty hard for your body to adapt to the sudden climate change. For example, you are in your hotel room and you are about to get some sleep. It is very important to note that sleeping accommodations are not always great in tropical countries. And even if you manage to find a five-star hotel or something like that, chances are that it won’t be a quiet place. That being said, here are some things that you can do to make surviving a business trip in a tropical country much easier!

Adjusting to the Food

When it comes to traveling the world, you should prepare yourself for dining experiences that you are not quite used to. And remember that just because you see a roadside shack or tables in the middle of the street, that doesn’t necessarily mean that it is going to be bad food. Keep in mind that there are many different countries where life is mostly lived outside on the street. What this means is that you will get to see a lot of open air markets, restaurants, and businesses while exploring these countries.

Keeping Cool

It happens to the best of travelers – as soon as they enter the country, they start to sweat uncontrollably. Not only is it embarrassing, but it is also very uncomfortable. But at the end of the day, we are all human beings, right? If your body is not used to cold or humid climates, it is just trying to adjust to the sudden climate change. One way to get rid of all that uncontrollable sweating is to drink a lot of water. Seems like a pretty logic solution, doesn’t it? Also, try to avoid eating heavy foods, because they might actually end up making you feel worse.