Hello everyone, this is our first meeting, please take care of us!
Oh no, wait, cross it out.
Hello to the 286 old friends who are still following this article, I am back again.
One day in the early summer of 2020, I suddenly realized that I still had an article, and 1,435 days had passed since its last publication (August 21, 2016).
More than a month ago, Jay's song "Mojito" suddenly hit the social media at Lingdian. The short three-minute MV was still to the tune of Jay Chou's Fantasy. Once you listen to it, you will fall in love with it. The video shows Havana, Maragon, and Cuba’s iconic cigar flower shirt, everything is vivid in my mind. My thoughts immediately went back to the winter of 2015, when I decided to leave for Latin America for the first time.
While listening to the song, I slowly opened the [Havana Photos] folder that had been hidden in my computer for 4 years. The Havana in the MV seemed to be the same as it was five years ago, and the side of Maragon Avenue was still cheerful. crowd. I looked through the photos carefully, picked out the 6 favorite photos and secretly posted them on social media. I quickly received several messages: "I have never seen such beautiful photos posted by you before."
"Yeah, I rarely post."
If you ask why, the answer must be because of laziness.
Sometimes I really want to make a periodic summary. On the one hand, I think it is a review and reflection on what I have done in the past year. On the other hand, it is to record the experiences of the past period, which may be useful one day in the future. . Sometimes I scroll through social media from a certain period of time to help me recall something. When I see a certain post, I will inevitably exclaim: "So this kind of thing still exists" or "Oh, this has already happened. 2 years.”
In fact, many things have been forgotten for a long time. Maybe they are really not worth remembering. I don’t even want to post them on social media. It is enough to just stay in a document on the computer. The scary thing is that if one day the computer breaks down and cannot be repaired, then my story will disappear.
Of course not, those times worth remembering, the things we really care about in life, are the things worth protecting and fighting for. Love, career, maybe hobbies and the world. I am grateful to have these shining days, and I also reflect on the energy and mood I wasted on useless things. Fortunately, most of the time I am closely connected with the world, pursuing beautiful things, traveling, loving, and living.
The past 2020 could not have been worse. But it was Jay's song "Havana" that made me reopen the photos that had been dusty in the computer folder for a long time. I started to look back on everything that happened during this time, and realized that I traveled to more places, read more books, and recorded more wonderful things. I find that especially when I feel at a low point, seeing those photos and moments come back to me is like a shot in the arm, tearing the negative emotions to pieces.
Looking back on my travels in recent years, I seem to have made every trip to the extreme, planning my itinerary down to the hour. After all, there is no other way to go to more places in a short vacation. I will go to a place that few people have been to for a unique experience. I will also look at the street view of Google Maps repeatedly for a good-looking photo of others to figure out where it is, what time it is, and even where it is. Which floor did the filming take place on? I talked about every itinerary planned, but it never translated into anything. But now, I think I should share them, every destination, or a certain street corner delicacy, the commanding heights of the city, the mountains by the sea and the small restaurants under the mountains, where to watch the sunrise and sunset, where to take pictures of the stars Like the Milky Way, every place worth remembering has its own value.
Oh, by the way, it has always been my dream to build my own Lonely Planet.
Of course, the point of reopening the article is not to tell others about my life, but to give myself a summary. Share what you see and feel with everyone, or it can inspire others in their subsequent journeys and gain unique experiences. This is the ultimate meaning. So, find an interest for yourself and work hard for it. Even if 2020 can no longer be bad, and even if there is nothing worth looking forward to in this world in the end, at least we must add fire to the life we believe in.
Let me use 42 photos from the past five years to slowly tell the story of what happened, and also to throw some light on this article that decided to re-operate.
December 30, 2015, Havana, Cuba
The plane landed at Havana Airport, and I drove through Old Havana in a refurbished vintage car. A Cuban flag fluttered in the sea breeze at sunset.
Cuba seems not as far away as you think. You only need to buy a ticket to Cuba and buy a Cuban visa on-site at the airport. Due to various complicated controls, I did not successfully book accommodation in Havana during the New Year period. The driver took me to look for B&Bs on the intricate roads of Old Havana.
In Cuba, the country stipulates that citizen homes are not allowed to receive foreign tourists. However, by legally registering and paying an annual fee to the government, you can also transform your home into a casa. A blue card will be hung in front of the legal casa. Colored anchors serve as signs. Around Old Havana, there will be one B&B like this every few buildings. Those who can afford casa are generally the rich class in Cuba, so the house will be well decorated. If you are lucky, the entire floor may be yours.
January 1, 2016, Havana Cuba
The calendar turned to the first day of the new year in 2016, and I was walking on Malagon Avenue. On the Caribbean Sea, this is the slow dusk in Havana.
Malecon is actually a coastal boulevard about 8 kilometers long, which stretches from the old city of Havana to the mouth of the new city. To the north is the azure Caribbean Sea, which is about 10 kilometers away from the mainland of the United States in Key, Florida. The southernmost point is only 166 kilometers. This breakwater, originally built for military purposes, now embodies the beautiful and romantic imagination of Havana people. Every dusk in Havana, I will walk along it from the old city to the new city. People walking, couples, old women walking their dogs, vendors, prostitutes and fishermen on the beach, as well as children running carelessly on the embankment, this place is like a living room in the city, it is my favorite place in Havana The place.
April 24, 2016, Washington, United States
An old man scrawled the names of his deceased relatives in front of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington.
August 1, 2016, Xinjiang
Flying over Bogda Peak in the Tianshan Mountains
August 4, 2016, Kiev Ukraine
I found the best flight seat in Kiev!
Ukraine can be regarded as a trip that comes and goes. It was also that I accidentally saw the news about Ukraine visa on arrival online, and immediately booked a flight to Kiev with my parents. I didn’t do much preparation or strategy before coming here. I randomly searched for photos of Kiev on the Internet and was attracted by Andrei Slope. After searching many angles up and down the slope, we finally found a small hiking entrance under the shade of a tree. After a few stone steps, it suddenly became clear.
August 7, 2016, Lviv Ukraine
The setting sun shines on this small Eastern European city.
Lvivhas my favorite trams.
August 10, 2016, Baku Azerbaijan
The first time I set foot on the Caucasus, I had a cheap connecting flight, which gave me 17 hours to explore this mysterious pearl of the Caspian Sea. The architecture is fantastic, the commerce is prosperous, and the well-preserved ancient city blends with the modern. It is not a city built entirely with money like Dubai. Coupled with the hospitality of the Caucasian people, it is hard to imagine that this is a country that is fighting with Armenia on the western border.
October 3, 2016, Seattle, United States
View of Seattle from Kerry Park.
We came to Seattle again. Snow-capped mountains, forests, coastlines and cities, Seattle meets all people’s imaginations about natural life. I think it is the most beautiful city in the United States. The most suitable place for a daze in Seattle must be the local Kerry Park. The park is located on the hill northwest of the city. It climbs along the long street and has an excellent view overlooking the entire city, the Space Needle and the coastline beside the city. It is hidden In the small bay, when the weather is clear, you can even see the Rainier snow-capped mountains in the distance. Every time after sunset, the park’s viewing platform is always filled with various camera tripods. Seattle under Blue Hour exudes a unique beauty.
December 20, 2016, Cartagena Colombia
Teenagers chased the ball through the ancient streets, and fashionably dressed girls sat leisurely at the coffee table. Next to the old castle under the scorching sun, they jumped into the waves of the Caribbean. This is Colombia, welcome to the magical world of Marquez.
When García Márquez wrote, “Nothing in Paris could be exchanged for a single moment of April in my native Caribbean,” he was merely referring to Juvenal. Urbino The doctor expressed his longing for his hometown while traveling in Europe. In this heart-wrenching novel, Love in the Time of Cholera, Marquez exhausted the possibilities of love. Now that I'm finally here, seeing the spring scenery and colors, I understand why the Caribbean is so fascinating.
January 1, 2017, Nazca, Peru
On the first day of the new year, I boarded a small plane in Nazca, and another item on my bucket list was crossed.
NASCAR is such a confusing place. I was really looking forward to it before I came, but I really regretted it after I came. When I was very young, I often watched the program "Discovery". From time to time, I would mention the Nazca Curve, something like "the world's top ten unsolved mysteries, aliens created the Nazca Lines". I found out when I saw it on the spot. These are all nonsense, they were just painted by humans. . .
The fact that such a large geoglyph was not discovered until 1939 by an American couple makes people suspicious. Maybe the southwestern coast of Peru is so deserted that the locals came up with the idea of drawing lines on the ground to attract tourists for the sake of tourism. Next to the Nazca Lines, there is the Palpa Line, which is even more ridiculous. After we flew the Nazca Curve, the captain asked us if we wanted to go to the Palpa Curve to have a look, and we said no. . .
Of course, the Bucket List has been completed, but the price paid is: in order to allow people on both sides of the plane to fully appreciate the floor paintings, the captain constantly changes the flight angle, or drops rapidly or circles sharply, and never makes any mistakes. I was a bit shaken by motion sickness, not to mention my friend who vomited all the way on the plane.
January 5, 2017, Machu Picchu, Peru
When Machu Picchu wakes up in the morning light, this is the scene I have been looking forward to most for more than 20 years. I saw the Urubamba River meandering down the valley, the Andean condors circling over the Huayna Picchu Pass, and the distant mountain peaks with clouds and thin mist forming the Andes The dry season brings a touch of moisture and also heralds the arrival of the long rainy season. The noise of distant tourists cannot cover up the unique charm exuded by this ancient Inca city. Encountering every mountain, lake, and sea like this is the greatest highlight of the journey.
April 18, 2017, Alberta, Canada
Banff again. The Atlantic Ocean on the left, the Pacific Ocean on the right, a split personality at the continental divide.
April 27, 2017, Istanbul Türkiye
Istanbul is like a vortex of time and space, you can't get out if you fall into it.
Napoleon said: "If the world were a country, its capital would be Turkey."
I said: "If there must be a center in the capital, it must be Istanbul."
When you have been to Istanbul, you will find that you have actually visited four time and space at the same time: ancient Greece, ancient Rome, Byzantium and the Ottoman Empire. The Bosphorus Strait divides the two continents into two here. It sits on Eurasia and controls Africa; to the north are the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, and to the south are the Sea of Marmara, the Sea of Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea." Three continents bring five seas. "This city is surrounded by mountains and seas, and it swallows thousands of miles. The mixture and interweaving of ancient and modern, East and West, various national cultures and religions has been doomed to have an extraordinary destiny since the day it was born.
Overlooking the Golden Horn from the Galata Tower, the old city of Istanbul looks like a huge Aladdin's lamp, emerging from the clear blue background.
May 6, 2017, Fethiye Türkiye
The thrilling blue of the Aegean waters.
Speaking of the most beautiful self-driving roads, in addition to the well-known National Highway 318, U.S. Route 1 and the Norwegian Atlantic Road, Turkey’s D400 Highway also takes the cake. Starting from the Datca Peninsula, the road winds all the way along the Aegean Sea. The mountain road passes through the cliffs, and the bright blue water is at your feet. Several Aegean Sea towns with bright flowers are connected by the road, relics of the ancient Greek era. Just scattered aside. Sometimes after passing a few hairpin bends, a top-notch natural beach appears in front of you. Apart from the famous Kaputas Beach on the D400 highway, Butterfly Valley is a niche and private attraction.
Butterfly Valley is located in a valley 20 kilometers south of Fethiye, the holy place for paragliding. It is surrounded by mountains on three sides. Due to the cutting action of flowing water, a steep and deep valley with a drop of 300 meters is formed. There are no roads in the valley, so you can only take a boat or drive to the village Faralya at the top of the valley and then walk on a nearly vertical trail down to the bottom of the valley. Faralya provides an excellent perspective overlooking the Butterfly Valley. There were several photos of floating boats in the Aegean Sea that were popular in China for a while, and the prototype is here!
A small boat taking a nap at the dock.
May 11, 2017, Amman Jordan
Castle Hill stands at the commanding heights of the capital Amman. This building with a history dating back to the 11th century BC is staring at the last twilight.
Taking the opportunity to visit Turkey, I spent 7 days visiting Jordan next door. The impression of Jordan has always been associated with war, whether it is Syria under fire in the north or the legacy of Palestine in the west. But when you actually walk on the streets of Jordan, you will find that the country is surprisingly peaceful. I even went to Irbid in the north of Jordan (a border city only 15 kilometers away from Syria), intending to go to Syria through the AlRamtha port to have a look. I could get an entry stamp, but unfortunately I didn’t have an invitation letter, so the customs gave up on my idea.
But even so, I still love Jordan; it sits on the Red Sea, has a unique geographical location and environment, a glorious history, and geographical terms that only appear in maps and stories - Palestine, Israel, the Dead Sea, and Petra. . I spent a week traveling around this small Middle Eastern country from north to south. Apart from not being able to dive in the Red Sea, I seemed to have no regrets.
May 13, 2017, Petra Jordan
"The only thing that shocks me is the eastern land,
The Rose Red Wall has witnessed the entire history. "
"Match me such a marvel save in Eastern clime,
A rose-red city half as old as time." - John William Burgon
The 19th-century British poet John William Burgon once praised this ancient desert city located on the main road between the Arabian Peninsula and the Mediterranean in his poem "To Petra". This is also the origin of the name "City of Roses".
Like most tourists, I traveled thousands of miles to Jordan just to see Petra.
July 1, 2017, Victoria, Canada
canada day
July 16, 2017, Yosemite, United States
Falls River Valley Forest, three elements of Yosemite.
August 21, 2017, Woodburn, United States
Total solar eclipse in the United States.
If there must be something most worth experiencing in life, it must be seeing a total solar eclipse with your own eyes. This is the most spectacular, stunning, and unforgettable sight on the planet. The moon in the total eclipse phase hung on the blue sky like a transparent one. At that moment, everything was quiet. I finally understand why some people chase the total solar eclipse to the South Pole and the North Pole. The sky during the total eclipse will never be forgotten for the rest of my life.
The next total solar eclipse will be the South American total solar eclipse on December 14, 2020. It was originally one of this year's plans, but it is unknown due to the epidemic. I hope it can come true.
October 16, 2017, Vancouver, Canada
Every year after Thanksgiving in Canada, it is the beginning of the long rainy season on the West Coast.
November 23, 2017, Toronto, Canada
My friend and I were shivering in the cold on the central island and took a standard Toronto ID photo.
January 17, 2018, New York, United States
For fans of tall buildings and skyscrapers, New York is a real favorite.
May 20, 2018, Mount Rainier National Park, United States
Fall asleep under the snowy mountains and stars.
On the first day of hiking in Rainier, I drove there with my friends. Heading south from Seattle, the car passed La grande and entered the scenery. The sun shines through the thick clouds on the rippling blue lake water. The shadows of the clouds float slowly. The continuous rain finally cleared up at this moment. The road curves along the river and mountains at just the right angle. Sometimes when it turns a corner, a wide glacier valley spreads out in front of you.
The end of May and the beginning of June is the wildflower season in Mount Rainier. I booked accommodation in the national park that night, but the heater happened to be broken. I woke up freezing in the middle of the night and couldn't stay warm despite covering myself with several layers of clothes. I simply went downstairs and drove to the Reflection Lakes, which is 10 kilometers away. The stars in the sky were all over the lake. It’s no wonder it’s called Reflection Lake.
July 5, 2018, Mexico City, Mexico
It was my third time in Mexico City that I discovered this treasure restaurant!
July 7, 2018, Merida, Mexico
Rated as a Top1 destination by LonelyPlanet Mexico, Merida is my favorite Mexican city.
Merida has no shortage of color, art and music, and the old town is also full of colonial style. During the two days in Merida, you can fully feel the friendliness and enthusiasm of the local residents. Whenever night falls, the city is already a sea of music, full of activities and dances, and you can watch the carriages coming and going on the stone streets. Often, it feels like being transported by a time machine to a small town in Andalusia.
July 29, 2018, Galapagos Ecuador
I had a Galapagos dream.
August 3, 2018, Lima, Peru
Lima is also an old friend.
Lima is a very magical city. It is the most famous rainless city in the world. All year round, there are no violent storms, no lightning or thunder, but it is surprisingly humid. Even in the tropical desert climate, you can't feel the slightest dryness, and the air smells damp.
The reason is that Lima is located on the eastern edge of the South Pacific subtropical high pressure, where the airflow has a significant sinking effect and water vapor cannot easily rise. In addition, there is a strong Peruvian cold current passing through outside the continental shelf. The coastal air contacts the cold water surface, forming a stable inversion layer, and the water vapor can only form fog. This also leads to the fact that no matter how many times you come, you will find that Lima is always gloomy and there is never a blue sky. . . Miraflores, Lima's affluent area, is located on the seaside. It is also a traditional tourist gathering area. The huge flood defense wall blocks the rough waters of the Pacific Ocean. The local government has built a 7-kilometer-long citizen trail along the coastline. Every morning and after dusk, thick sea fog will climb up the 50-meter-high flood control slope and pour into the city. Strong water vapor wanders at low altitude, and the city lights are reflected in the sea fog. It is looming, as if covered with a layer of gauze.
August 10, 2018, Arequipa Peru
Finally got a glimpse of the Andean Condor in Colca Canyon.
November 25, 2018, Sichuan
Looking at the ethereal mountains makes you feel relaxed.
May 6, 2019, Hoi An, Vietnam
Among the sound of oars and the shadow of lights, there is Hoi An.
The ancient town of Hoi An is built along the Thu Bon River. The ancient town was formerly a commercial transit point for Chinese and Japanese immigrants. A Laiyuan Bridge divides the ancient town into two parts, half Chinese and half Japanese. There is a local folk custom of putting out lotus lanterns to pray for blessings. Put candles in the lotus lanterns and float them down the river to symbolize happiness and health in the coming year. The moonlight is pouring down, and you can go boating on the Thu Bon River. After dark, the ancient city is illuminated red by colorful lanterns, and the river reflects the lights on both sides of the river, which is particularly enchanting.
Hoi An Ancient Town is influenced by the culture of Guangdong and Guangxi, and the buildings are mostly Lingnan style. On the east side of Laiyuan Bridge, there is also a gathering area of Chinese-style buildings: Chinese temples, five gang guild halls, shophouses along the street, Ming and Qing style old houses and ancestral halls, they all look so familiar. Vietnam has experienced hundreds of years of war. It is really commendable that such an exquisite Ming and Qing ancient town can be so completely preserved.
May 9, 2019, Dalat, Vietnam
Welcome to Gaudi’s House in Vietnam!
Among the most worth checking out attractions in Vietnam, the Crazy House (Crazy House) in Dalat must not be missed. Its designer is Nga, the daughter of the former President of Vietnam. The shape of the building resembles a huge ancient tree. The internal trails spread out like branches and leaves, and tunnels up and down connect all the intricacies. Walking through the tree holes and steps, you feel like you are in a fairy tale world. For children who like hide and seek, this place is simply a paradise.
Crazy House was originally intended to be a hotel, and now has a total of 10 rooms. The houses are tucked away throughout the Crazy House and can be briefly visited through windows and doors if they are not booked out for the day. Each room has an animal theme: elephant, bear, giraffe, hippopotamus... But even if it is opened in such an Internet celebrity tourist attraction, tourists don't seem to buy it, and the overall evaluation of the hotel is not high. Maybe it's because there are too many tourists. People swarm in during the day and people always want to see the inside of the guest rooms through the cracks. I'm afraid there is really no privacy at all.
Of course, this does not prevent Nga from continuing her unrestrained design. The crazy house is still being expanded, and hotel rooms are being added every year. Art never ends. Gaudi's House in Barcelona has been under construction for 137 years. Who knows how long the crazy house will grow?
October 2, 2019, Mint Philippines
The bright emerald Loboc River runs through southwestern Bohol, and boats travel through dense rainforest waterways, home to the Philippine tarsier. The local government specially opened a small tarsier sanctuary halfway up the mountain for tourists to appreciate this unique creature.
October 6, 2019, Casa Paris Philippines
After procrastinating for five years, I finally got my diving certificate at the end of 2019. How could I miss the Casa Fault in Paris and meet a green turtle as soon as I entered the water?
Speaking of diving, the story during this period is really long. From the initial "I won't go into the water to death" to "it smells so good" after getting the certificate. Looking back at the first experience six years ago, it seems that it was not that difficult. . .
Back in June 2014, in Koh Tao, Thailand, that was my first contact with diving. Anyone who has experienced diving knows that before diving you must master one of the most basic essentials: ear pressure balance. However, under the leadership of an Australian coach, I walked into the water carrying the cylinder with a vague understanding. As soon as a person sinks in the water, the surrounding pressure increases rapidly, squeezing the eardrums. When diving, most people hold their noses and exhale forcefully to equalize ear pressure. Perhaps due to poor communication, I felt huge pressure as soon as I entered the water. No matter how the coach demonstrated, I could never find a way to balance the ear pressure, so I had to use swallowing saliva, which was less effective, to relieve the eardrum tear. pain of. The entire experience was spent in suffering. When I got out of the water and asked the instructor about the maximum diving depth, I got the answer that after 3 meters, my whole body collapsed. . . The painful first diving experience made me change my mind. Even in a world-class diving paradise like the Galapagos, I still didn’t have the courage to put on a tank.
Fortunately, in the summer of 2019, I still forced myself and finally obtained a diving certificate with the help of an indoor swimming pool, opening the door to a new world.
June 21, 2020, Xiamen
Xiamen annular solar eclipse.
I have been looking forward to this annular solar eclipse in China for a long time. The total eclipse belt starts from Ali, Tibet, travels across China from west to east, and finally ends in Taitung, Taiwan Province. Most areas such as Qamdo in Tibet, Neijiang in Sichuan, Ganzhou in Jiangxi and Xiamen in Fujian are the best observation points for this annular solar eclipse. But because late June belongs to the traditional plum rainy season in southern China, we have not yet decided on an itinerary. Until the week before the annular eclipse began, the weather forecast could not predict where exactly there would be sunny weather in the 4,300-kilometer-long total eclipse coverage zone in China. . .
Until Saturday (June 20), I finally saw that the subtropical high had stabilized and occupied most of Fujian. There was a high probability of sunny days in Xiamen, so I decided to set off immediately. Buy a flight ticket and book a hotel in 3 minutes. From the time I decided to leave to the time the plane took off, there was a gap of 6 hours, which broke my record of leaving at the drop of a hat.
It was my first time to visit Xiamen and I didn’t do any sightseeing guide beforehand. Public viewing spots like Yanwu Bridge and Baicheng Beach were all recommended online. I was afraid of too many people, so I decided to climb the stairs. I climbed a lot of stairs on Sunday morning, battled wits with the security guards, and finally found a suitable rooftop observation point near the Shimao Twin Towers.
Annular solar eclipses are rarer than total solar eclipses, but they are far less shocking. The sky of the total eclipse cannot be seen with the naked eye, and the camera cannot capture it without a light filter, which is a bit disappointing. But it is still a rare experience in life.
Xiamen is really a beautiful place. The coastal city has a pleasant climate and the streets are clean and tidy. Although the houses on the island are dilapidated, they feel very orderly. This is my first time coming to Xiamen, and I understand why Xiamen’s housing prices are high.
July 18, 2020, Silver
You have a copy of Tianwai Express, please check it.
I used my weekend time to travel to Gansu in the north to check out the Neowise comet, which occurs once in 7,000 years. The tail of the comet can be so long! It was no wonder that we shivered in the cold wind all night, but we could only feel that our enthusiasm was still as strong as before.
One day in 2020, Nanjing
The last one is of course my favorite city.
"Lands, rivers, cities and forests are all in one place. It is hard to find such a beautiful scene in a big city in the world."
I finally finished writing this 8,000-word article in Nanjing, which can be considered a restart of this article. The content and form of the article are still based on my own Lonely Planet, which will be covered both at home and abroad. (Set a Flag) I will try my best to update at least one article a month, stay tuned!
As for the second half of 2020, we don’t know what else will happen. But what is certain is that the world will definitely become better and better as we wish. Even though the global situation is already so bad, we still cannot stop. Every journey has an end, but we can start again.
Let me end this article with a passage from Beryl Markham's "Flying West by Night":
"The past years seem safe and harmless and can be easily crossed, while the future is hidden in the mist, which makes people look timid from a distance. But when you step into it, the clouds will clear up."