Hsiao-Mei, Author at Hsiao-Mei's Journey

The Journey of Five Stans

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The following blogs were PDF files from the original TravelBlogs. It includes the 5 Stans countries on the Silk Road trip we took between https://hmwjourney.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Uzbekistan-Blog-3.pdf 2019 Uzbekistan Google Album https://photos.app.goo.gl/8kZuAajhcSV5ws3T8 2019 Turkmenistan Google album https://photos.app.goo.gl/xbDXZS83vkg5fgoz9 https://hmwjourney.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Turkmenistan-blot-4.pdf The other three stans – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan https://hmwjourney.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/5-Stans-Overview-blog-2.pdf https://photos.app.goo.gl/nkQtLzQTyXeFgR5T6

Southern China (8/26-9/2/26) China trip Part 4

2 Comments / Asia, Travel / By Hsiao-Mei

A Chinese proverb says, “Heaven is up in the sky, but on earth, we have Hangzhou and Suzhou.” Hangzhou is only about an hour away by high-speed train from Shanghai. Our English-speaking tour guide, Pete, and the driver were waiting for us at the train station with a van. We headed to the famous West …

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Family Reunion in Shanghai (8/22-9/2/26), China Trip Part 3

1 Comment / Asia, Travel / By Hsiao-Mei

My daughter Mei-Ling (or LL), son-in-law Srin, and grandchildren Kaanan (15) and Kavi (13) flew from Vancouver, Canada, to join us in Shanghai. This was KnK’s first time visiting China, so everyone was excited. I rented a 3-bedroom apartment 5 minutes’ walk from the popular People’s Square. The compound consisted of several high-rise apartments and …

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Beijing and Datong – Northern China (8/18-22/2026)

2 Comments / Asia, Travel / By Hsiao-Mei

From HK, we took an overnight 12.5-hour high-speed train to Beijing. It was so smooth and quiet. China has more than 31,000 miles of rail network, and standard bullet trains run between 200 and 400 km/hour. Railroad is the best way to travel around China. China uses a “true-ID” system, so foreigners must have a …

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Hong Kong (8/14-8/18/26), Southern China 2026 Part I

6 Comments / Asia, Travel / By Hsiao-Mei

Nowadays, traveling is much more troublesome than it used to be. We started our 2026 China trip stranded at the STL airport for over 12 hours. Our flight to Chicago was canceled because of stormy weather there, which meant we missed our 4 pm connection to HK. I asked AA to book us on a …

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Journey Through Central Asia: The Five Stands (September 13, 2019)

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The Silk Road going through Central Asia has been on my bucket list for a while already, not onlybecause of the history of the Silk Road, but also because I can add ‘five’ countries in one trip! Now thatI am getting really close to my goal of traveling to 100 countries, adding five in one …

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Northern England – Liverpool and Yorkshire (May 23-June 1, 2026)

1 Comment / Europe, Travel / By Hsiao-Mei

We embarked on our journey to Northern England for two compelling reasons: the Beatles and James Herriot. Liverpool, an industrial maritime city, proudly claims to be the Beatles’ hometown. Our one-night stay in Liverpool included the unforgettable Magical Mystery Tour, highly recommended by British couples we met in Cornwall. On this tour, we explored the …

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Cornwall – The SW Coastal Region of England with Unique Gardens (May 22-27, 2026)

2 Comments / Europe, Travel / By Hsiao-Mei

Cornwall is a rugged rural coastal region in South West England. We took a 5-hour train ride from London to the town of St. Austell, where I had booked our stay at The Chapel Guest House, a charming converted 1862 Methodist chapel located 3.5 km from the train station. The town bus comes only every …

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Amazing London (May 13-22, 2026)

Leave a Comment / Europe, Travel / By Hsiao-Mei

I started planning a trip to London for the Chelsea Flower Show last year. The show is world-renowned and very popular. I even joined the Royal Horticultural Society so we could avoid the large crowds by attending the two members-only days. The membership fee was well worth it. I also booked a flight with British …

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Hamburg, Germany (Feb. 23-26, 2026)

Leave a Comment / Europe, Travel / By Hsiao-Mei

Our final destination on this European journey was Hamburg, Germany. Contrary to its reputation as a major port city, Hamburg actually is located 68 miles from the mouth of the North Sea. The Elbe River, with its branching nature, provides an ideal setting for a port complex equipped with warehousing and transshipment facilities. During our …

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