Over-the-top action sequences, mismatched voices and melodramatic acting. That’s what I thought of Chinese cinema before I took a tour this past October of the Shanghai Film Studio in Sonjiang with the Shanghai Expatriate Association. Wondering through sets of the 1930s Nanjing Road, Old Shanghai Bridge and Suzhou Creek along with exhibits on classic movies, props and costumes, I found a new appreciation for Chinese cinema.
A photo tour of Shanghai Film Studio
Though the Studio is now more of a theme park instead of an active production studio, the old movie sets provide a wonderful backdrop for photos. Sit back and enjoy the show!
Many movie artifacts, like this sedan chair, are on display in the museum portion of the Shanghai Film Studio.Original costumes featured in films throughout the industry’s history are also on display in the museum.Aspiring actors put on kung fu skits in a “West Side Story”-esque fashion.
A set designer paints backdrops for an upcoming production.
A collage of shots from Chinese film covers the wall in the museum. Images from such hits as “Marriage of the Fairy Princess” (Tian Xian Pei, 1955) can be found in the collage.Movie sets depict architecture from Spanish to Russian throughout the theme park.A set is on display in the museum, including the antique movie camera from the studio’s hay day in the middle of the 20th Century.With the spectacular backdrop of old Nanjing Lu, a fashion shoot was in progress the day of my visit.Not sure who these guys were, but since they had an entourage following them with cameras, I assume they were some international movie stars or models on set.An active trolley is available to take visitors through the Shanghai Film Studio.A scene from the 1920s hit “Disturbance in the Alleyway” is set up in the museum. The movie depicted Yuyang alleyway off Huaihai Road in Shanghai.Among the most visited sites in the Shanghai Film Studio, this church appears in the popular Chinese TV show “Xin Shang Hai Tan.”
The Shanghai Film Studio also makes a popular destination for wedding photos among the locals.
Classic cars and European monuments are among the sites at the Shanghai Film Studio.Chinese soap opera stars film a scene near Suzhou Creek.
In one area of the Shanghai Film Studio, a World War II American town is set up, intact with pinups.I end the tour by posing in one of the classic car props. The tour of the Shanghai Film Studio is a step back in time and a welcomed escape from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Cheering on the Switzerland National Team during the World Cup viewing party at the St. Gallen FC Arena. Being back in Switzerland means more fusseball!
We’re back! After a five-month stint in the United States (only about two for Chris) waiting on visas and attending classes, we’ve returned to Switzerland.
There are some changes since the last time we were in the Land of Chocolate. First, it’s summer now! Summertime in Switzerland is beautiful, and so much better than the snow and cold we entered last time. We’ve already been on a beautiful hike to the Rhine Falls and shopped for fresh fruit at the outdoor city market.
Instead of the quaint countryside of Eschlikon, this time around we’re living in the bustling city of St. Gallen. Instead of a mile-and-a-half walk to the train stop, we’re only about five New York City blocks. Instead of going two towns over, I can skip over to the end of the street to pick up some groceries. Instead of looking out the window to the meadows with cows, I now see an ice cream parlor (I still miss the cows!).
What does Switzerland mean for W2LL2T?
Chris has accepted a position with his company that will have us here for the next (foreseeable) one to three years. I’m in the process of finishing school and looking for a full-time position with an international firm. With so much going on, we are cutting back some on our travel and concentrating more on integrating into our new Swiss life.
The Rhine Falls, the largest in Europe, make for a great destination on a Sunday afternoon hike.
So, what does that mean for the blog? Our focus will be shifting soon to the expat life in Switzerland. As we apply for driver’s license, go through the job hunting process abroad, learn German, and other life tasks, we’ll be posting about these functional aspects and sharing our experiences.
Don’t worry, though, travel is still our thing. We still have some plans in place to attend special events in other countries, like Oktoberfest in Germany and the Tomato Fight in Spain. We’re also going to continue with our WorkLife Travel Destinations.
We hope you’ll join us here as we continue to live our lives abroad and explore new places. As always, if you’re interested in a certain aspect of Swiss life or some other travel-related question, let us know in the comments.
My dad, Erie, and I on top of the Empire State Building in NYC. The best gift I ever got him was a surprise stay at the Waldorf Astoria in Midtown.
Through moving an entire house in one bound to rescuing breakdowns on I-75 faster than a speeding bullet, my dad and dad-in-law are super men. Though we’re not there to celebrate Father’s Day with them in person, we are certainly thinking of them. Since we can’t reminisce in person, here’s a list of the top travel gifts we’ve given Erie and Larry over the years and some other recommendations for great gadgets to help out your traveling papa.
Travel gifts for Dad
1. 1,000 Places to See Before You Die
In 2006, my dad set out on his second Across America trip. In his RV, he went from coast to coast, exploring places like the Yosemite National Park in California to the Biltmore Estate in North Carolina. As he and my stepmother explored all these iconic American sites, he was able to check them off in his “1,000 Places to See Before You Die” book that my sister and I had given him. My dad is a hard man to impress, but he really enjoyed this book. As we sent the book to him while he was already on the road, he even went back to some places just to make sure he could see the recommended sites.
2. GPS
For Christmas one year, we bought Chris’ parents a GPS. As we are completely and utterly addicted to ours and his parents love their Sunday drives, we thought it would make a great gift. We’re fond of the Garmin series for its ease of use, and it has come in handy quite a few times for his parents. They still like to turn it off, though, and get lost in what they find on a Sunday afternoon.
An external hard drive is a great way to keep documents stored on the go.
3. External Hard Drive
While my dad is constantly on the move, he needed an easier and more secure way to store and access his important documents. An external hard drive was just the item. Now that one terabyte drives are the norm, we recommend the Western Digital My Passport for its reliability and affordability at about $80 per unit.
4. Special Stay
The best gift I ever got my dad was a surprise stay at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City. As he and his dad used to travel to NYC and admire the hotel, they never stayed there. The evening we checked in, I’ve never seen my dad so excited or happy before. It was the best money I’ve ever spent. Find the location your dad wants to see the most and splurge. If you’re an active traveler, use your reward points.
5. Passport Holder
For most men, the less you have to carry, the better. Wallets can be easily pickpocketed and aren’t large enough for all travel documents. A passport holder that can easily be secured around the neck or carried as a small backpack makes travel easier.
Chris and his dad, Larry, pose for a photo at the Fort Worth, Texas, Stockyards. His parents were happy to have their GPS when they made the road trip from Alabama to Dallas to visit him.
6. Camera
Your dad will most likely want to capture all the memories he’s making with your travel gifts, so give him a way to do that. For the basics, try the Panasonic Lumix. At an affordable price, easy-to-use features and high quality photos, this camera is great for snapping candid shots throughout any trip.
Happy Father’s Day to all our worktrotter dads! May your travels be full of wonder.
Street performers, such as this juggling soccer player who climbs light posts throughout the city, are a common sight in Paris.
Next week, Monica will rejoin me in Europe with a flight into Paris. For Americans, Paris is one of the most highly sought destinations and often, like it was for myself, competes with London for the first European city visited in one’s life.
If it’s your first trip to Europe, Paris will amaze you with a panorama of beautiful art and architecture. Each morning, an army of green clad trash collectors descends on the city and makes its beauty shine for another day of soups, cheese, crepes and wine. If you believe the people will be rude, they’ll likely meet your expectations. If, on the other hand, you smile and greet with “Bonjour” then ask “Parlez-Vous Anglais?” rather than “Do you speak English?” you’ll probably have a much better experience and soon notice more rude tourists than rude Parisians.
Favorite Paris Places
EuroDisney
It’s Europe’s No. 1 tourist attraction, catering to more people than any other destination on the continent. That’s worthy of mentioning here, and maybe, if you have kids, you, too, will want this on your agenda. However, in approximately five trips to Paris, I have not yet wandered into EuroDisney, but as Monica is a huge Disney fan, I foresee a trip in the near future.
Once you’ve visited The Louvre, other art museums pale in comparison.
The Louvre
The Louvre may also be a visit you want to delay but only because it is so spectacular. No other art museum will ever live up to the hype once you visit The Louvre. This is, by far, the most magnificent collection of art in the world – paintings, pottery, sculptures – it’s all here. It contains so much art, in fact, that you probably shouldn’t try to see it all in one visit. Even Napoleon III’s apartments are nestled inside. Choose a category that you want to emphasize or hire a local guide for the highlights then continue around the complex until you can’t fathom taking another step toward a piece of art in the near future. Don’t be too disappointed that the Mona Lisa is as small as your notepaper and you’re not allowed to stop there and gawk but instead must look while continuing a walking pace around its edges. There is plenty of other art that will amaze you. Also remember that the Louvre has many entrances so you do not have to wait in queue at the glass pyramid you recall in the Da Vinci Code as most tourists do. But do visit. Life is short.
Nearby on the Pont des Arts bridge, hawkers are happy to give you a lock and key on Europe’s most famous spot for locking your love eternally by throwing the key into the river below. When you return to Paris years later, just trust that your lock is still there and don’t go looking for it amidst the hundreds that have been added in the past couple of weeks.
The iconic Eiffel Tower offers spectacular day and night views of the City of Lights.
The Eiffel Tower
You’ll hear many people tell you that you should visit the Eiffel Tower in the daytime and the nighttime for completely different perspectives. In a way they’re right, but don’t spend the time and money on two visits in one vacation. Just visit in late evening and be there when the lights start to flash on before eventually maintaining their brightness in that familiar yellow hue. Also, don’t depend on that brightly lit tower to be your landmark at the end of a late night. At around 1 a.m., the lights dim and the tower fades into the darkness.
From here, you’ll see the full 360 perspective of the Paris skyline, a wonderful blend of architecture and history with only one ugly dent, the Tour Montparnasse, finished in the early 1970s and hated by Parisians as an eyesore ever since. There is one way to avoid the Tour Montparnasse in your photographs and to replace it with the much more beautiful Eiffel Tower. Take those photos from the top of the Tour Montparnasse rather than from the Eiffel Tower. The building is easily reachable by public transportation.
An upscale burlesque show, the Moulin Rouge is classic Parisian.
Moulin Rouge
If you’re doing that EuroDisney thing with kids in tow above, you get a different sort of entertainment and should move on. However, we’ve never heard a disappointed visitor for the show at Paris’ classiest cabaret, teetering on the edge of Montmartre and the red light district.The women will be scantily clad and the easily offended should stay away but it’s a world apart from the sleazy strip joints back home with a Broadway-esque caliber performance and classy dancing. I’d order a ticket without the overpriced dinner and eat ahead of time in one of the many wonderful restaurants around Montmartre.
If you have a bit of extra time while waiting on the show, have your portrait painted at Place due Tertre or look up and take a stroll to the Basilica Sacre-Coeur.
Versailles
This is another full-day adventure if you’re ready to explore both the palace and the gardens of the royals. Both are spectacular and it’s worth the trip. You can reach the grounds easily by public transportation so don’t trust tour operators who may lead you to believe otherwise. It is, however, on the outskirts of the city and necessitates a good chunk of time.
Coffee and pastries are a staple in the French diet, and Paris offers up some of the best of these tasty treats.
Paris Shopping and Eating
If you like outdoor markets as much as Monica does, Paris will be your mecca. For food, antiques, or household goods that are just a bit too pricey in nearby Switzerland, everything you want can be found in these outdoor markets cascaded throughout the city.
When you’re done, take a break in the plethora of outdoor seating offered by Paris restaurants. I don’t remember ever eating at a Paris restaurant twice but I also don’t remember ever having a bad meal. Even better are those small quaint places that have to rearrange and squeeze you into a crowded spot that requires a few people to stand before you can be seated.
Working in Paris
For the perspective of working in Paris, we asked our friend Joel Scs, a business analyst in the IT department of a large bank in the popular La Defense business district. Joel moved from Parisian student to Parisian businessman five years ago.
With its breathtaking views, Versailles offers the perfect out-of-town experience.
He’s happy to be located in Paris and finds advantages there over other European cities: “Compared with a lot of other countries in Europe or in the world, the amount of vacation, the social security and work conditions in general are definitely an advantage.France is also a very ‘centralized’ country, so compared with other cities in France, it’s easier to find a job, in a lot of fields. Also, although the lifestyle may be more stressful here, there are a lot of different things to do after work.”
Joel squeezes into the subway daily still half asleep and arrives at work around 9:15 a.m. where “absorption of a cup of coffee is necessary, along with the usual social interaction that goes with it. Real work will start afterward and last until noon or so.” He then enjoys the classic Parisian lunch break from noon to around 2 p.m., although he’d like to stress that it does not always last the full two hours. People begin to depart around 6:30 in the evening and “often people will go have a drink, meet friends, do another activity, or just go home to their family.” Joel currently fills his evenings with dance lessons.
With a plethora of activities available, Joel finds it even more difficult to describe an “average” weekend in Paris. While the mundane tasks of shopping and laundry often get thrown into the weekend schedule, he also finds time for dancing tango and salsa, visiting a museum exhibit and having coffee with his girlfriend.
Joel offers “if you come and visit Paris, enjoy the food, the wine, the view on the monuments! If you want real restaurants, get out of the tourist areas. Lots of good places have nice dishes for 15 to 18 euros (sometimes less). You just may need to know where to look. Locals should definitely be able to help you with this last point!”
I give Paris an 8 . What would you give it?
Ranking Paris
Paris is the cliff notes version of Europe for those who must choose a destination that offers the most value in the shortest period of time. Now that we’re living in Europe, I prefer the slower pace of visiting many smaller scale European cities for the full context. I give Paris an 8. What is your dream city to visit in Europe?
Fortune tellers at the Temple Street Night Market in Hong Kong speak with waiting patrons. These feng shui fortune tellers use the structure of the face to learn more about your history and your future.
“You have lucky face. You be rich, after your three children. Good heart. Your husband is lucky man.” As Chris stood smirking to the side, the fortune teller at the Temple Street Night Market in Hong Kong continued to tell me how I was a woman who knew what she wanted and was very determined with my “tiger eyes.” After paying the 50 RMB (about 8 USD, which was a higher price than the other fortune tellers we stumbled upon later at about 30 RMB), we both walked away laughing in good nature.
I had just received my first fortune face reading, and the fortune teller, a middle-aged Chinese lady dressed in a traditional qipao that could bargain down a beggar, had used a form of feng shui to deliver a fortune spot on (determined) in some instances and completely off (there will be no three children) in others.
What is feng shui?
Literally translated. feng shui in English means “wind” and “water.” As all traditions in China, feng shui has a foundation in the three main religions of Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism. A belief system that adheres to elemental conditions affecting fate from birth, feng shui is about the energies in the universe that shape our fortunes.
Dating back to 4,000 BC, feng shui was considered a metaphysical science that aligned a human’s life with celestial bodies. Using astronomy as a guide, the Chinese structured homes and buildings based on the alignment of the stars to bring about the best use of qi, or life force, and the yin and yang, or polarity of forces. The Four Celestial Animals, or the cardinal directions provided by the star constellations, in historic times that guided feng shui were:
1. The Green Dragon of East that brought the Spring Equinox
2. The Red Phoenix of South that brought the Summer Solstice
3. The White Tiger of West that brought the Autumn Equinox
4. The Dark Turtle of North that brought the Winter Solstice
In more contemporary times, feng shui fell out of favor during the Cultural Revolution when it was classified as part of the Four Olds and banned in the mainland. Since the death of Mao Zedong, feng shui has grown once again in popularity, but it is still taboo in Chinese government to consult with feng shui experts. Today, feng shui is mainly seen as an interior decorating concept for more harmonious surroundings. This singular view, though, misses the complexities of the belief system.
What a feng shui face reading can tell you
On a particularly cool evening last fall, Chris and I attended a talk about feng shui face readings hosted by Janny Chyn of Shanghai Pathways. A feng shui master delivered a speech that was translated by Chyn on the many ideas behind what the structure of the face told about a person. Like the fortune I received, some of the beliefs were very plausible while others made little sense. In feng shui, as the environment and energies shape your fortune, the attributes of the following 10 body parts are used to predict your future.
1. Ears
The shape of the ears can tell a feng shui fortune teller how you were born. If the ear shape is that of swaddled baby, you spent most of your time in the womb upside down. If the outside of the ear is thick, you are healthy, smart and practice good nutrition.
2. Forehead
The wider the forehead, the more creative the individual. Wider foreheads allow for more energy flow.
3. Eyebrows
The thicker the eyebrows and more set together, the better the personal relationships the person enjoys. The wider apart the eyebrows, the bigger the heart of the person. Narrow eyebrows depict a picky person.
4. Eyes
Small eyes are signs of an introverted person whereas bigger eyes show more of an extrovert. When the eyes are watery or look to be laughing, this is a sign of love. Dark circles under the eyes of a woman are a sign of a female-nature disease. Eye contact in China is also important as direct eye contact leads to trust and non-direct eye contact signals a lack of honesty.
5. Cheeks
If a woman has high cheekbones, it is believed she likes to be in control. If the cheeks are discolored to a pale or darkish tint, there is a problem with the lungs and money mismanagement is common in the person.
6. Chin
The sharper the chin of an individual, the more likely he is to make bad decisions.
7. Mouth
A mouth turned more upward shows agreement where a mouth turned more downward is in disagreement. A thicker lower lip depicts a person who treasures friendships while a thin upper lip shows the person to be a good debater. A mouth not centered depicts an untrustworthy person.
8. Nose
A selfish person is said to have a long nose where a more agreeable person usually has a round nose. The bigger the nose, the more stubborn the person is believed to be.
9. Hair
Thick hair is a sign of a strong person who likes to direct. Thin-haired people tend to be more considerate. The shinier the hair, the more the person is believed to be in love. Red hair is a sign of happiness.
Most traditional Chinese gardens, like this one in Leshan, China, incorporate elements of feng shui. Here the pagoda is in directional harmony with its surroundings.
10. Face
A square face belongs to a serious person whereas a more round face thinks a lot and makes good decisions.
What does your face say about you?
According to feng shui, I’m a good person who makes good decisions and thinks a lot. What would your face structure tell a fortune teller?
Known as the Mermaid City, Norfolk is considered “the cultural hub of Hampton Roads.”
Known for its large Navy presence, Norfolk, Va., is the “cultural hub of Hampton Roads.” With a little bit of everything, the city offers something of interest for all its nearly 246,000 residents.
Favorite Norfolk Places
Town Point Park
Home to several signature festivals, Town Point Park is eight acres located on the waterfront overlooking the Elizabeth River. Great for a lunchtime walk with its proximity to downtown or a Saturday enjoying events, such as the Bayou Boogaloo Cajun Food Festival (a personal favorite), this park is a piece of tranquility in the big city.
Virginia Zoo
With more than 400 animals on display in a 53-acre facility of themed gardens, the Virginia Zoo in Norfolk has grown into a world-class zoological park. Chris and I enjoyed the viewing bubbles in the prairie dog exhibit where you can get a inside look into the natural habitat.
The MacArthur Memorial
The son of a Norfolk native, Gen. Douglas MacArthur was laid to rest in The MacArthur Memorial in Norfolk in 1964. The museum portrays the war hero’s life through personal and professional exhibitions.
Norfolk Botanical Garden
Providing the backdrop for a professional development conference I was on the planning committee for, the Norfolk Botanical Garden offered a beautiful location with 155 acres of 40 unique-themed gardens. I was sold when the meeting room’s back wall was made of glass overlooking azaleas and camellias, one of the largest collections on the East Coast. Guided tours are available throughout all the gardens, including boat and tram tours from spring to fall.
Wells Theater
Home to the Virginia Stage Company, the historic Wells Theater is a well-preserved example of Beaux-Arts Classicism from the early 1900s. Stage productions from the classical such as The Christmas Carol to the modern like Honky Tonk Angels play throughout the year.
Other special event venues to check out in the city include Chrysler Hall for Off-Broadway shows, Scope Arena where the minor league team Norfolk Admirals play, and Harbor Park where the minor league baseball team Norfolk Tides play. These venues and more are ran by Seven Venues.
Norfolk Naval Stations is the world’s largest Navy base. Guided tours are offered from the Naval Tour and Information Center at Gate 5.
Naval Station Norfolk
The world’s largest Navy base, a tour of Naval Station Norfolk features aircraft carriers, destroyers and amphibious assault vessels. As an active military installation, come prepared with ID and be ready for inspections of your vehicle and person.
Norfolk Eats
A favorite for nightlife entertainment, there are plenty of eateries on Granby Street and Baxter Avenue. Monastery offers Eastern European cuisine in a soothing ambiance. For upscale Cuban, check out Havana.
Off the downtown main scene, Freemason Abbey offers one of the most unique dining experiences. Occupying a former church in tact with stained glass windows, the restaurant offers American cuisine with a full bar. For a fresh Tex-Mex taste, Machismo Burrito Bar is the place to enjoy a burrito as you watch The Tide pass by.
Working in Norfolk
With top employment opportunities in defense and healthcare, Norfolk also promotes a strong environment for entrepreneurship, ranking in the top five cities for Entrepreneur.com. To learn more about the thriving Mermaid City, native Jennifer Cauldwell explains why the city is the “cultural hub of Hampton Roads.”
Currently the Division Head of Public Information for the Norfolk Department of Recreation, Parks & Open Space where she oversees public relations, marketing and community outreach initiatives for the city’s parks and recreation system, which encompasses 18 recreation centers, 12 specialty centers, six pools, eight cemeteries, more than 130 parks and playgrounds, and seven miles of beaches, Cauldwell has been working in the city for the past six years. She enjoys Norfolk as an employee and resident for its plethora of entertainment options and the fact the city government focuses on effective and responsive management. “Whether you are looking for nightlife, entertainment, recreation, the performing arts, or sports, Norfolk has you covered. That vibrancy and energy makes Norfolk not only an amazing place to live, but a cool place to work as well.”
Cauldwell says she works with several City of Norfolk departments to make the city the best it can be for residents and visitors. “One of the reasons that we can continue to call our city the cultural hub of the region is that our team works every day, not just Monday through Friday, to make sure Norfolk is the place you want to visit, play and live.”
Sitting in the captain’s seat aboard the USS George H. W. Bush during a Friends and Family Day in 2010. I give Norfolk a 7. What would you give it?
When she’s not conducting a ride-along with a local reporter on planting trees, hosting a community bike ride, planning the grand opening of a new aquatic center, developing emergency communication plans, or popping by the radio station for an interview on the upcoming Senior Olympics, Cauldwell enjoys trying out the many new restaurants across the city. “I’m a sucker for a good meal. I’ve lived in this area for almost 30 years and there are still tons of restaurants in Norfolk that I haven’t tried.” She also recommends a visit to the Nauticus where you can view nautical exhibits, including a tour of the Battleship Wisconsin.
Ranking Norfolk
I give Norfolk a 7. What is your favorite military town?
If you’ve ever seen a mom going through TSA pushing a a stroller and dragging along a Little Mermaid suitcase while bouncing a crying toddler on her hip, you have to give it to her for those nerves of steel (no matter how much the Banshee-like screams coming from the child make you cringe). In honor of Mother’s Day, I spoke with a few moms I know about their top tips for traveling with children. Here’s their tried-and-true advice for parents new to the travel game.
Eight travel mommies give their tips for traveling with children
Drew, now 3, sits at Mesa Gateway Airport with his great grandmother before boarding his first flight at age 1. Mom Kelli encourages first-time traveling parents to pack double of everything they think they will need.
“When Drew was just turning 1 I went on a short flight with family. My thought as a first-time mom was to travel at times he would be tired so that he would sleep and I was exactly wrong. My No. 1 travel tip that I’ve learned the hard way is to make sure the kids are well rested and well fed. If you attempt to board a plane at bed time, you will have a cranky, confused little one and heaven forbid you have any sort of delay. My second tip with kids…when in doubt just pack it. Think you’ll need one diaper? Pack two. Think your little one won’t be hungry until you get there? Pack a snack anyway. Your daughter hasn’t exploded a diaper in weeks? Pack an extra change of clothes (for baby AND for mommy) anyway.” -Kelli Hernandez, Mother of Andrew (Drew), 3, and Alaina, 1
“Be sure to bring blankets and soft toys from home to make the baby’s bed at your destination. Kids are like dogs and operate on sense of smell. If it isn’t familiar, they aren’t going to want to sleep. With jet lag and infants/toddlers, there is no escaping the week of pain. Make sure they get plenty of sun in the day to reset internal clocks. At night, even if they aren’t sleeping, keep the room dark. Maybe you’ll have to adjust bedtime a little bit later, but the sooner you get back to your schedule the better for everyone.” -Erica Lyn, Mother of Eden, 1, and soon-to-be Eden’s little brother/sister
“One thing Chloe loves when we travel: Melissa and Doug makes a coloring ‘book’ with thick cardboard pages where you use a brush filled with water to ‘paint.’ It’s perfect for travel because water is so easy to clean. We also sing silly songs. She loves making up her own songs and singing them to us!” -Debra Mimbs, Mother of Chloe, 2
“Definitely iPad, LeapFrog, DVD player (good one and fully charged). Small gifts or treats that your kids love – wrap them up as small gifts and each 30 minutes (if he is under 4) or every hour (above 5), you can give them one present at a time. Tips: coloring books, small puzzle, special theme toy of their favorite movie, such as Toy Story or Cars. Small eats are a MUST. Another tip, be the last one getting on the plane; it will give you enough time to change diapers in a more comfortable and spacious bathroom. Also time for them to run around and GET TIRED! Try to get seats closer to the bathroom where you can have quick trips and be closer to the kitchen area so it’s easier to get a glass of water for your little ones. I hope it helps, it can try your patience, but if you are prepared, it makes it easier for you, the kids and all the passengers will be truly thankful!” –Patricia Kavanagh, Mother of Elias, 11, and Mattias, 4
Xavier, 1, snacks on some fresh fruit while on a 14-hour road trip from El Paso, Texas, to Los Angeles. Having snacks for the little ones during long hauls is a must.
“X has had some big road trips in his 18 months on Earth. Last summer we took a huge road trip from El Paso, Texas, to California. He was 11 months. The trip from El Paso to Los Angeles is a 14-hour drive. This was his fourth road trip, but with this one we left really early in the morning so he slept a good two to three hours after we left. We took tons of water, fresh fruits, crackers and homemade baby food in a cooler. We made sure he had toys to play with and music to dance to. Every time we stopped for gas, we made sure he got out with us and let him stretch his legs and feet. When he would start to get fussy, we would take turns sitting in back with him. That worked the best because we could play with him and read to and sing with him. This has worked for us a lot. This baby has traveled thousands of miles in a car and seems to be a champ now. So, my list for a great baby road trip: 1. Snacks 2. Fresh fruit 3. Baby food 4. Toys 5. Books 6. Music 7. Plenty of stops to stretch out 8. Switching mom and dad to sit in the back to play with baby if fussy.” -Jennifer Gonzalez, Mother of Xavier, 1
“I think the most important thing I’ve learned after LOTS of traveling with the kids is that it’s a good idea to always keep Motrin and Children’s Pepto-Bismol in your handbag or carry-on. That way you are prepared for fevers, headaches, tummy aches, etc. (We’ve learned this the hard way.) Also, little snacks are important — I usually have raisins, nuts and granola bars. As for keeping them entertained, the best thing I’ve found is the iPod. Belly really enjoys having podcasts that teach foreign languages put on hers. Sutt sticks to music, but either way, it keeps them busy and quiet.” -Haley McPhail, Mother of Bellamy, 10, and Sutton, 8
Of course you want to pack extra clothes when your child gets messy, but what about an unexpected change in weather? When you’re expecting spring temperatures in your destination but don’t get above 50 degrees Fahrenheit, you’ll be glad for those sweatshirts and gloves. Be sure wherever you’re going to pack one or two outfits for opposite of the weather you’re expecting. -Chasity McCoy, Mother of Parker, 7
Grayson, 1, prepares for his airplane ride from Virginia to Alabama at 8 months old. Mom Elizabeth says the iPod and snacks are her must haves when traveling with children.
“I would say snacks and an iPad are my two ‘must haves’ for travel. As the mother of an 18 month old, my son is on the move 24-7. Food and episodes of Curious George are my only hope. As an advocate for breastfeeding, I also recommend freezing a couple bottles of breast milk the night before a trip so you don’t have to bring a pump. The day of the trip, bring some bottles that aren’t frozen and some that are. I gave Grayson a bottle at take off and landing for each flight. The frozen bottles were ready for the second flight. I used water with a little juice for flavor on the way back. The bottle at takeoff and landing worked brilliantly because it kept his ears from popping and made him sleepy between the bottle and the plane engine. The only time it backfired was when we got stuck on the runway in Atlanta for two hours coming home late at night. The plane’s engine was off and he would not sleep. He went through two bottles of water/juice and I ran out for take-off. He eventually crashed but it was torture. Though I am an advocate for breastfeeding in public, you are in pretty tight quarters on the airplane. I did try to book mostly window seats so I could lean into the window and throw a blanket over me if I needed to breastfeed to calm him or sooth him to sleep. Now that he is 18 months, future trips will likely require that I book an aisle seat to constantly get up and move around with him.” -Elizabeth Dyer Brooks, Mother of Grayson, 1
Happy Mother’s Day to all our worktrotter moms. May you have smiling faces and clean hands as you travel with children.
A full-grown panda eats a bamboo stick at the Chengdu Panda Reserve. There are 60 different species of bamboo that pandas eat.
Oreo is a 1-year-old male panda. At this age, he’s about 27 kilos and too large to hold. For the photo, I can only sit next to the cub and awkwardly try to put my arm around him. As the last in line for the photo op, he doesn’t seem to mind if I muffle his fur while I give him an odd sort of hug. After the 20 or so people in front of me, Oreo has begun to ignore the attention, concentrating on his honey-covered bamboo stick. As the Chinese caretakers usher us all through the line, snapping the photo and urging us along, I have crossed one more item off my bucket list.
Touring the Chengdu Panda Reserve
The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding has more than 100 pandas for conservation efforts. Established in 1987, the reserve is trying to replenish pandas in their natural home.
Upon arriving at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, our tour guide snaps a photo of Chris and me posing in front of the panda-shaped entrance way. We have both paid about 60 RMB (about 10 USD) to enter the park plus another 100 RMB (about 16 USD) for an English-speaking guide.
We walk through about a half mile of natural habitat, bamboo forests, seeing roughly 40 pandas. Our guide tells us it’s good we’ve come in the early morning since the pandas will be more active at this time. As the bears are best suited for the cold, they are more active in the cool dawn hours. She warns we must move quickly before midday approaches, bringing warmer temperature that the pandas begin to conserve their energy in and fall asleep.
In all of China, there are only about 1,600 giant pandas. Due to an over-hunting of the animal in ancient times, the panda is now considered an endangered species.Collected for their unique color pattern, pandas were presented as gifts to emperors during early dynasties and other countries, such as Japan, as political offerings. The US received its first panda, Su Lin, in 1934 at the San Diego Zoo. This practice stopped in 1983, and pandas are now only given internationally on loan programs.
Panda cubs are unable to defecate or urinate without assistance until 4 months old. When not with their mothers, staff at the reserve must help them in the process.
To help conserve the country’s national animal, the CRBGPB was established in 1987. Located in the heart of Sichuan province, one of only three provinces in all of China where the panda is a natural inhabitant, Chengdu with its cris-crossing mountain ranges is in the middle of the native panda habitat and is the only location in the world that is home to wild and captive pandas.Today, the CRBGPB has more than 100 pandas.
In the first section, we see the 2-year-old pandas who have recently separated for the first time from their mothers. They are frolicking and climbing on and through the platforms provided by the reserve. As pandas are typically solitary creatures who become aggressive when trespassers come into their territories, these early friendships will not last.
Farther along, we see the full-grown pandas, 5 years old and above. These bears are more lethargic. Many are lounging while they eat bamboo sticks while others are fast asleep. As they need approximately 70 kilos of bamboo a day to stay healthy, they don’t do much more than eat, drink plenty of water to digest the fibrous plant, defecate every two hours, and sleep up to 14 hours a day. To help hold the bamboo in place and feed themselves, pandas have six digits on each paw. At each enclosure there are plaques providing the name, age, sex, family line and birth date of the bears. We see Xiao, Jingjing, Yuanrun and other traditionally-named pandas basking in the sun.
These 3-month-old panda cubs are adorable rolling over each other. These friendships won’t last, though, as pandas are typically solitary creatures.
Next up is the breeding, birthing and baby care center. With mating season in the spring, births typically take place in the fall and winter. At birth, newborns are pitiful pink whimpering things who don’t even open their eyes until about 40 days old and only weigh about 100 grams. The black and white fur starts to appear at about 2 weeks old. Though we don’t see any newborns, there are 3-months-olds that are so cute it makes me want to reach through their glass enclosure and squeeze them.
Usually only one cub is birthed to a mother at a time, but sometimes twins are born. In the wild, a mother will only pick one of the cubs to raise, leaving the other to die. At the reserve, though, many mothers encounter false pregnancies or miscarriages. When this happens, a twin cub is given to her to raise.
Red pandas resemble racoons more than their black and white cousins. They were made immensely popular by the movie Kung Fu Panda.
As we exit the center, we arrive in the exhibit of red pandas. The tour guide tells us the reserve actually brought in the red pandas only after they were made popular by the movie Kung Fu Panda. These cousins to the giant pandas, red pandas resemble racoons more than their black and white family members. They race up trees instead of the slower climbing gait of their cousins, and they eat much less than their black-and-white kin.
At the end of the tour, we take a walk through the small museum on the reserve with panda artifacts, photos, videos and lessons. Of course, the musuem exit is through a gift shop where you can purchase all sorts of panda memorabilia, such as stuffed animals, jewelery, books and post cards.
Panda photo op
For a generous “donation” of 2,000 RMB, I was able to take a photo with 1-year-old Oreo. Though a bit awkward, I crossed off a bucket list item.
After a generous “donation” of 2,000 RMB (about 325 USD), I am ushered into a small room with about 20 other people where we watch a video about the development of giant pandas. After the video, the guide gives a speech about pandas, showing us an incubator where newborns are kept, holding up a model of one.
The group is then escorted to another building where we adorn surgical frocks, shoe coverings and plastic gloves. We enter into another room of the building where Oreo sits on a bench and we line up for our three-minute photo op. As the guide ushers us through the line, two other assistants keep Oreo entertained by handing him stick after stick of bamboo dipped in honey. As the 1-year-old panda greedily snatches for another treat, members of the group sit beside Oreo as the photographer snaps the official photo and their friends click photos on their phones. If you sit too long, the guide will insist you move along.
A young guy tries to take a bamboo stick from Oreo for a photo, and the staff is quick to shout and perform the “Chinese windshield wiper” in his face. He settles back more appropriately for his photo and then is ushered out. Once we all have a chance to take our photo, we exit into another room where we remove all our surgical garb, and Oreo is led back to his mother in the nursery area.
We wait for the photos to be developed, and then we receive a gift bag. Inside, there is an official certificate thanking us for the “donation,” a panda pin and scarf, and our photo in a glass frame. Though I look a bit funny in the picture, I can now say I’ve met and touched a live panda.
A visit to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding is highly recommended for any visit to China. The photo op is optional.
Supporting the Chengdu Panda Reserve
I highly recommend visiting the Chengdu Panda Reserve for an up close and personal look at these unique black-and-white bears. Certainly go for the English guide, but the photo op is completely up to how important the experience is to you. On one hand, I certainly got to do something I’ve always dreamed of, and I was supporting a great cause. On the other, just know you’ll be really rushed and there isn’t much interaction for what you pay.
The Victory Arch in downtown, honoring veterans and remembering America’s wars, is an iconic symbol of Newport News.
A great place to live, work and play. When I worked in public affairs for military posts and bases, I included this line in quite a few marketing materials for the installations. It’s a great slogan, and I can personally apply it to Newport News, Va., (no snarky comments from you Southsiders!) since that was my last permanent home in the States. I miss much and more about this port town, and I enjoy visiting any chance I get.
Favorite Newport News Places
Hilton Village
This neighborhood of Newport News feels like Main Street USA. When you walk down the boutique-lined Main Street, you can find clothes, antiques, hand-crafted jewelry, bistros and more. My top three places to visit in Hilton Village are The Magickal Attic where my friend Melissa Kepley can supply any of your Pagan needs, Couture Cakes by Nika where the Orange Dreamsickle Cupcake is simply to die for, and Plantiques where you can get your fill of vintage antiques and try out some delicious Southern favorites in the cafe.
These monsters plagued us in our basement until we learned they were cave crickets common to Southeast Virginia. They can be viewed up close and personal, if you dare, at the Virginia Living Museum. Photo Credit: Gunther Tschuch via Creative Commons License.
Virginia Living Museum
If you’re an animal lover, then you’ll love the Virginia Living Museum with all its natural habitats and wild species exhibits. The museum offers hands-on learning activities and an outdoor nature walk through woodland animal spaces.
Funny story, when we first moved into our house in Newport News, we kept finding these enormous jumping spiders in the basement. I hate detest these eight-legged monsters, and I kept telling Chris they were radioactive freaks of nature since we lived across the street from the Newport News Shipyard where some of the ships in port used nuclear materials aboard. My theory, some normal spiders had gotten into the radioactive waste aboard these ships and then made their way across the street to our basement. It wasn’t until we visited the VLM for the first time that I learned the creatures weren’t actually spiders but a type of cave cricket common to Southeast Virginia. Even though I was no longer afraid of becoming SpiderWoman if bitten, I still did not like to find these awful insects that are completely different than the nice little crickets I used to catch as a kid in Georgia.
Mariners’ Museum
As home to the great Civil War naval battle of the Monitor and Merrimack, the Mariners’ Museum focuses on the nautical history of the area. With exhibits and collections that feature vessels, tools and other seafaring items, the museum is known as “America’s National Maritime Museum.” Within the museum grounds, you can also take a walk or run through pristine nature on the Noland Trail. A 5-mile walking/running path along the edge of Lake Maury cutting through the 550 acres of the Mariners’ Museum Park, the trail is an active place for walkers/runners of all caliber.
From Huntington Park, there is a lovely view of the James River Bridge. Like many other places in the city, the park is named for Collis P. Huntington, a railroad tycoon who was a founding developer for the modern-day Newport News.
Huntington Park
Within walking distance of our old neighborhood, North End Huntington Heights, was a man-made beach on the James River, beautiful rose garden, walking trail, play area and fishing pier at the Huntington Park. Also located in the park is the Virginia War Museum where you can learn about the commonwealth’s key roles in major American conflicts and the large military presence in Hampton Roads.
City Center at Oyster Point & Port Warwick
A mixed-use development, City Center at Oyster Point is a one-stop location for shopping, dining and entertainment. Chris and I especially enjoyed the outdoor concerts at the pavilion around the lake. Across Jefferson Avenue is another similar mixed-used development with another variety of shops, Port Warwick. Instead of a lake, this area is centered around an open green where many festivals and farmers markets are held.
Fort Eustis & The Transportation Museum
The Transportation Museum at Fort Eustis relives the history of military transportation and its role in protecting our nation. From tanks to planes, you can find exhibits of all modes, shapes and sizes. Half of Joint Base Langley-Eustis and an active military installation, Fort Eustis is home to many commands and the main training ground for transportation soldiers. Be prepared to have your vehicle inspected upon entering the installation, and have valid driver’s license or identification card and insurance ready to receive a visitor’s pass.
Newport News Eats
Newport News offers a wide variety of restaurants, cafes and bistros to meet your tastes. Circa 1918 in Hilton Village is an excellent option for a date night with its unique menu and chef’s daily creations. If you’re looking for a Latin American taste, try Mambo Grill or La Pena Horeb where Spanish and Caribbean flavors combine. If Mexican is what you crave (like me!) check out the many Plaza Aztecas in town – my favorite Mexican restaurants outside of El Paso, Texas. For pizza, check out The Brickhouse Tavern in Port Warwick where the specialty is thin crust. My favorite pho place is Bamboo One with delicious bubble teas. Finally, The Train Station provides a wonderful evening meal with wine and live jazz.
Working in Newport News
The crane at the Newport News Shipyard is the largest in the Western Hemisphere. Huntington Ingalls Industries that operates the shipyard is Virginia’s largest industrial employer.
Home to Virginia’s largest industrial employer, Huntington Ingalls Industries, Newport News is a pro-business city. Along with healthcare services, manufacturing, printing, and wholesale distribution, the fastest growing employer segment in the city is technology.
For an insider perspective, I spoke with Gail Benge Kent about why she has based her business, The Buzz Factoree, a public relations and marketing firm that helps small and mid-sized businesses and non-profits tell their stories to achieve goals through traditional and new media, in the city. Working in Newport News since the late 1970s, Gail has seen the area grow in terms of technology, higher education with Christopher Newport University and cultural arts. “There are lots of opportunities for doing business here, and the people, for the most part, are really diverse and friendly. I think that’s because there are so many people from other parts of the country who came here by virtue of the military at some point in their lives. I think that allows us to maintain a fresher perspective.”
Celebrating 2009 Halloween at our annual party in Newport News. We give the city an 8+. What would you give it?
When she’s not meeting with clients, writing copy, updating websites, or pitching a story idea to the media, Gail enjoys spending time with family and friends at one of the city’s many entertainment venues, such as the Downing Gross Cultural Arts Center, Peninsula Fine Arts Center or the Ferguson Center for the Arts. “When I first moved to the Virginia Peninsula after having lived in Norfolk for a year, I was told ‘It’s a great place to live, but you wouldn’t want to visit there,’ meaning it’s a great place to raise a family, but there’s not much to do. That’s really not true any longer.”
Rating Newport News
I give Newport News a 8+. What is your favorite “hometown”?
Though Chris and I have been fortunate enough to travel to some awesome locations, we don’t fit into the category of the rich.
I wish I was rich like you. I wish I could afford to travel. How nice it must be not to worry about money.
Chris and I love to share and swap travel stories with others – it’s one of the best parts about traveling, getting to know others and learning from them. It seems, though, that when we share these stories with those who don’t travel, or at least don’t travel much, we’re routinely met with the tongue-in-cheek comments above and the like. It’s a slap in the face.
Though I don’t believe it’s intentional, statements like these only prove to embarrass or enrage me. I consider myself a modest person. I like to share my travel stories, but I’m more interested in hearing about others than talking about myself. Just recently we learned how one of Chris’ former co-workers worked the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta – personally meeting athletes, watching the opening ceremonies on the front row, and how a late train was the only thing that kept him out of Centennial Park at the moment of the bombing. It was a great story and something we never knew about this person. I’d much rather hear about others’ experiences than being told how they wish they could be like us or do what we’re doing.
The presumption of these statements is maddening. Last time I checked, I’ve never been featured on Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, and I’m not all that prone to sharing my bank account information with random people. How curious is it then that these statements somehow seem to have some inside information that we’re not even aware of about our financial status? Another pet peeve, stop wishing and start doing. I’ve heard plenty of excuses for people not traveling, but those all they are, excuses not reasons. “I don’t have the money” they say as they drive off in their Dodge Chargers whilst illegally driving and texting on their iPhone5. “I have kids.” Let me introduce you to just a few parents of the now more than 3 million children attending international schools worldwide. “I don’t want to travel/I couldn’t live like you.” OK, I’ll give you that and respect that decision. At least you make no ands, ifs or buts about it.
Tips for saving money while traveling
As I step down off my soapbox now, there are ways of saving money while traveling. Chris and I employ all of these tactics so we can continue to travel, and it’s all about sticking to them.
1. Set your priorities
The first and most important of our rules to travel budgeting is knowing what’s means the most to you. If traveling is your No. 1 priority, then you have to sacrifice in other areas. As of yet, we have found no other way around this. When I’m in the US, I drive a 13-year-old car that has its fair share of aging problems. Except for a one-month period, I haven’t owned a smartphone since we started traveling. Partially due to my hatred of shopping, I only buy clothes now at markets and on-sale, out-of-season pieces. Find the extras in your life you can cut back.
Chris and his friends met a couple of European travelers at the hostel in New York City. Hostels not only are a cheaper option than a hotel but you meet so many new and interesting people to discover the area with.
2. Give up hotels
No, it isn’t anything like the horror movie. Hostels are budget accommodations where you meet a ton of really nice and interesting people. Yes, you will share a room and bathroom (unless you pay extra for a private room), but consider it like being back in camp dorms. Couchsurfing is even better. Made up of a community of open-minded travelers, Couchsurfing allows you to connect with a local host who is typically more than willing to show you around. Just be sure to pay the kindness forward. If Couchsurfing is just too far out of your comfort zone, check out Airbnb. A site where people rent out rooms or entire homes for some extra income, you can find places all over the world to stay cheaper than a hotel. Except for the occasional splurge, Chris and I have hosteled and surfed our way through Brazil, Argentina, China and Europe.
3. Join every rewards program you can get into
Though they can be a pain, if you are willing to take the time to manage airline, hotel, restaurant and other rewards programs, you can end up saving tons. As members of each of the major US airlines rewards programs (and they all partner with foreign airlines when traveling abroad), we’ve received free and next-to-nothing transcontinental and trans-Altantic flights. I will be staying two nights free in Syracuse, N.Y., next month due to my points with the Starwood Preferred Guest program.
4. Go public
In transportation that is. Public transportation and good ole’ Pat and Charlie (your feet) get you around cheaper (and healthier) than any rental car. If you’re going to be in an area for a week or more, look at unlimited ride cards that can be purchased for a week, month or year. The unlimited seven-day pass for the New York City metro provides more value for the buck than paying for each ride separately.
Street food is an affordable dining option almost anywhere, and it gives you a feel for the authentic culture.
5. Cheap eats
Our biggest splurges are on food. You certainly don’t want to skimp while trying the local cuisine as it is such an integral part of any culture, but there are still ways of saving money while traveling on your food expenses. Look for street food, a truer taste of the local culture than some fancy restaurant and lots more affordable. Pick up some staples at the open-air market and have a picnic in the local park. Check out Urbanspoon to see local ratings for cheap, medium and high priced venues.
6. Go where the locals go
If you venture away from the streets with hoards of tourists, you’ll find more authentic events, foods and decor, likely for a lower price. If you used the tip above on affordable lodging, you’ll usually get much better recommendations from hostel employees and Couchsurfing members than from hotel bellhops and desk clerks.
Your tips for saving money while traveling?
Did we leave anything out? What money-saving tricks do you use?
