My Travels Thus Far

Where have you visited?

Travel. It is many people's wish to travel at once in their lifetime. However, not everyone can be be due to the lack of funds or lack of time, or both.

I have been fortunate to have done some traveling when I could. The places I visited will be listed chronologically or nearly chronologically.

I first visited China in the summer of of 1990 when I was five. The first visit to Shanghai was to get me used to the weather (which I never did get used to the hot weather). The following few times I visited China, I went sightseeing in Hangzhou, Suzhou, and, most of all, the capital of China, Beijing. I was supposed to see the city in 2009, but it was postponed due to a health epidemic. Then in November 2012, I finally visited China's Capital City. The extra three years were worth the wait. Everything I learned in the history books in middle and high school came to life. However, the best part of the trip was coming. The Great Wall of China. While there was snow when I went, the best time to go is late spring when snow and slush are not as big a problem. Seeing the Great wall of China was part of that trip. One that I will never forget.

Photo by Darren Nunis on Unsplash

The next country that I visited was Taiwan. I was there in 1993 and then again in 2022. Both times I was there for three weeks and got to see many places. While I was only eight the first time and remembered very little, I reflected more on my second visit. Author Note: Read my piece, "Traveling to Taiwan: Revisiting My Ancestral Home," for the second visit for more details. I hope to revisit the beautiful country.

Photo by Roméo A on Unsplash

Before I was from Asia, I did also visit Hong Kong. While the visits were mainly to see family, I did go to a few places. The most memorable one is Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour Mall and Hong Kong Ocean Park. In the near future, I can revisit Hong Kong.

Now for travels slightly closer to home, Brazil. My now late father took me to Brazil in June 2003 as soon as I had finished my school for that school year. When we arrived and I had got over jetlag I was in awe the summer before my senior year in high school. He had taken me to go and visit Sao Paulo and Rio. In Sao Paulo, we saw where my dad lived and worked and visited their version of a farmer's market, where I tried new food. My favorite food there as a like a beef pastel. I had like ten of them. In Rio, my dad had taken me to see Christ the Redeemer in English and Sugar Loaf Mountain or Pão de Açúcar. In addition, my father had wanted to take me to see Foz do Iguaçu. Still, alas, I could not stay in Brazil for two weeks as I needed to back stateside to take a class so that I could graduate from high school time.

Photo by Agustin Diaz Gargiulo on Unsplash

I hope that that you have enjoyed reading the post about my international travels. Be sure to check out the detailed post on my recent travel to Taiwan.