Category: Asia

Hanoi, Vietnam: Part II

8/7/2024

Summary

Airport Rating ****
Reception of locals *****
Cost: £££

My second trip to Hanoi and the surrounding area
The city has gotten a lot busier and a little more expensive but feels safe and the prices are reasonable
An intense experience with a lot of energy concentrated in the city centre
Main Sights: Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem Lake, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Temple of Literature, Train Street, Tran Quoc Pagoda, Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, French Quarter

Ho Chi Minh City: Part II

24/6/2024

Summary

Airport Rating ***
Reception of locals *****
Cost: £££

My second trip to Ho Chi Minh City, almost nine years after my first
The city feels a lot busier than my last visit, but that's not necessarily a bad thing
No issues as a Sikh in airports or in the city
Main Sights: Cu Chi Tunnels, Independence Palace, Ben Thanh Market, Central Post Office, Ba Thien Hau Temple, Book Street, Landmark 81, Tan Dinh Church, Cafe Apartments, Bui Vien Walking Street

Singapore: Part III

13/5/2024

Summary

Airport Rating *****
Reception of locals *****
Cost: £££££

My third trip to Singapore, almost 6 years after my second, and a decade after my first
There has been a little bit of change in the city, but it largely feels the same and remains expensive - but safe
This trip I focused on the Sikh history in the country
Main Sights: Marina Bay Sands, Gardens by the Bay, Chinatown, Little India, Raffles, Little Korea, Haji Lane, Jewel

Shanghai (and a little Hangzhou), China

11/3/2024

Summary

Airport Rating n/a
Reception of locals *****
Cost: ££££

Largest city in China and a true global city with a relatively large (for China) immigrant population of Asians and Europeans
Shanghai is expensive, perhaps the most costly of Chinese cities that I have visited
Like the rest of China, local payment applications and a smartphone are essential to navigate life in the city
Main Sights: Shanghai World Financial Center, Oriental Pearl Tower, Bund, Former French Concession, Yuyuan Garden, Chenghuang Miao, Nanjing Road

Beijing, China

26/2/2024

Summary

Airport Rating *****
Reception of locals ***
Cost: ££££

The most populous capital city in the world, and the second largest city in China
Largely functional and political city (similar to DC) without much the buzz or atmosphere
People are generally friendly and I had no issues at the airport
English is not widely spoken, and local payment applications and a smartphone are essential to navigate life in the city
Main Sights: Great Wall, Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven, Hohai, Beihai Park, Wangfujing Street,

Hong Kong

12/2/2024

Summary

Airport Rating *****
Reception of locals *****
Cost: ££££
Update: I originally posted this in 2019 but I've updated in 2024 following another visit. Updates in italics

An assault on the senses; Hong Kong is a lot to take in
No issues at the airport, and no issues with locals
A city of extremes, with luxury high rise apartments, next to small box rooms in very old buildings
Main sights: Victoria Harbour, The Peak, Kowloon night markets, Tian Tan Buddha, La Kwai Fong, Central-Mid level escalators, Kowloon Walled City Park, Hong Kong trams, Aqualuna, Man Mo Temple

Abu Dhabi, UAE

8/1/2024

Summary

Airport Rating *****
Reception of locals *****
Cost: £££££

A more laid-back and less intense version of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates
One of the more expensive cities in this part of the world
No issues as a Sikh in either the airport or the city
Main Sights: Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Qasr al Watan, The Corniche, Louvre Abu Dhabi, Marina Mall, Abrahamic Family House

Doha, Qatar

31/12/2023

Summary

Airport Rating *****
Reception of locals *
Cost: £££££

One of the best airports in the world, and with a large South Asian expat population, no issues as a Sikh either in the airport or the city although a year after my visit, the city closed down all Sikh Gurdwaras
City built on servitude and near slave labour, but advertises itself as an Arab success story
Much like Dubai, the city feels a little fake, a little like the Truman Show, but less of a tourist trap
It's pretty expensive
Main Sights: Souk Waqif, National Museum of Qatar, The Corniche, Villaggio, Pearl Island, Aspire Park

Shenzhen, China

18/12/2023

Summary

Train Station Rating ****
Reception of locals *****
Cost: £££

No major issues travelling as a Sikh but as Sikhs are uncommon in mainland China, you might get a few stares and questions
The gateway to modern China, Shenzhen is where China opened up to the world and is a large modern city on the surface, but with a lack of development under that surface level
Prices are reasonable - transport is relatively cheap, the cost of food is reasonable, but luxury goods are similarly priced to the UK
Main Sights: Lianhuashan Park, Dafen Oil Painting Village, Coco Park, Huaqiang, Dongmen Pedestrian Street, Ping An Finance Center, Talent Park, OCT, Nantou Ancient City, Sea World (not the one you're thinking of)

Astana, Kazakhstan

12/6/2023

Summary

Airport Rating *****
Reception of locals *****
Cost: ££££

A new, planned city that serves as the capital of Kazakhstan
Creative architecture that aims to be futuristic but feels like a vision of the future from 20 years ago
City feels fake, with little character, and reminds me of a smaller Dubai
No issues as a Sikh in the city or the airport and people are friendly
More expensive than Almaty but taxis are still super cheap
Main Sights: Bayterek Tower, Grand Mosque of Astana, Palace of Peace and Reconciliation, Presidential Park, Future Energy Museum,

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Your Journey starts here

Hanoi, Vietnam: Part II

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Ho Chi Minh City: Part II

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Singapore: Part III

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Shanghai (and a little Hangzhou), China

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Beijing, China

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Hong Kong

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Abu Dhabi, UAE

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Doha, Qatar

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Shenzhen, China

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Astana, Kazakhstan

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