Are you considering visiting China? Well, you should and it’s a great thing to do and an experience to have. Here are some top tips to do so.

1. Eat Well

Outside of China’s borders, impressions of their food are often defined by the balanced, sweet flavors of Cantonese food. While dim sum and most Cantonese dishes are delightful, there are so many regional cuisines to be discovered like the sour funkiness and freshness of food from Yunnan and Guizhou and the fiery spice of Hunan and Sichuan cuisine.

And don’t forget the light, refined seafood, and dumplings from Shanghai and Hangzhou, and Xinjiang’s hand-pulled noodles and hearty quasi Turkish kebabs. While you could travel around to try some of these dishes, the great thing is that major Chinese cities host restaurants that offer cuisine from different parts of the country.

2. Go online

Google Maps, Youtube, Facebook and a majority of Western email providers won’t be easy to access in China, so you might want to down a VPN or Virtual Private Network to help you get past China’s “Great Firewall.”

However, in China, you can still find some handy apps like WeChat, which can be considered to a Chinese WhatsApp but is, in reality, a combination of the app, Paypal, Facebook, a food delivery platform and so much more. Some of its features are hard to navigate even with limited Chinese; however, you will still need the app to make new friends and follow restaurants, museums, magazines and other establishments on the app to stay updated about exclusive deals and events. So, experience China by booking flights and getting your passport and visa ready to go – you can order here.

3. Learn Some Chinese

While Chinese languages can be intimidating, attempting to learn some Mandarin, which is the most widely spoken language in China, will be useful. If you are in China for a short stay, consider signing up for a short language course to learn the basics of the language.

The most basic Mandarin will prove handy when it comes to moving around, and locals will be happy to see that you are making an effort. Printing out or writing down addresses in Chinese or using Chinese characters will certainly ease things for you.

4. Take the Train

In most countries, this option would imply enjoying the romance of seeing the countryside roll by as you head to your destination. However, that is not the case in China. Their high speed rail network is renowned for its convenience. With railway stations much closer to cities than airports, a journey between two major cities is faster, more comfortable and much cheaper than domestic flights.

The five hours it takes to travel between Shanghai and Beijing compare quite favorably to flight times, but with lesser stress. Furthermore, the bustle in China’s modern stations will allow you to see the direction the nation is taking.

5. Avoid the Coast

As tempting as it is, consider traveling away from major cities that sit near coastlines. Provinces and cities further inland have more distinct cuisines and cultures, and often have stronger ties with tradition.

In Yunnan province, which borders Myanmar and Laos, China takes a Southeast Asian flavor. On the other hand, Chengdu, which is in Sichuan province, has a relaxed pace and is a gateway to the wilderness that sits along the edge of the Himalayas. Chongqing, which is not that far off, is a surreal mega city with skyscrapers that hug hills on Yangtze River’s banks.

6. Shop A Bit

Well, China is home to some of the best fake goods in the world. However, there is so much the country has to offer. So, when visiting, why not buy yourself some quality pu’er tea or oolong? In the alleys, known as hutongs, around Beijing’s Guloudongdajie, boutiques stock nostalgic socialist chic homeware and attire from local designers. Stores like Shanghai-based Closing Ceremony offer a variety of Chinese art magazines and photo books.

7. Catch a Show

China’s contemporary art has firmly established itself internationally, so consider checking out some art exhibits right at the source. Some of the most prominent galleries in China include Shanghai’s Power Station of Art, Beijing’s Ullens Center for Contemporary Art, and Shenzhen’s OCT Contemporary Art Terminal.

If you love music, then Beijing bars like School carry on the city’s decades-long tradition of gritty rock. Furthermore, the electronic music scene in Shanghai is one of the best in Asia.

When we hear the term digital nomad, the first thing that comes to mind is freedom, fun, and quick money! We believe it’s an easygoing lifestyle, working from the beaches of Bali today and traveling to Bangkok tomorrow. But to successfully live the digital nomad lifestyle, it takes a great amount of commitment, discipline, and most importantly, a resourceful set of tools to keep work flowing regularly.

Being productive with exotic beaches or historical landmarks nearby isn’t easy but technology has made remote work possible and so with some restraint from your side, you would be able to lead this lifestyle the best way possible.

What to have in your Survival Kit?   

This lifestyle isn’t all fun and games, in order to keep it in effect, you need to get work done and be productive so I put together a survival kit with all the essential tools you’ll need to happily live as a digital nomad and get work done.

Your Basic Tools:  

• Your laptop/ tablet: This is the number one item you should never travel without. Whichever device you choose, all your work and tasks will get done through it so having a good operating laptop with you is key to this lifestyle.

• Laptop Accessories:  These are the small items but necessities that come with your laptop like your portable mouse, touchpad, USB, or anything else that you might need while working in a café or workspace.

• Chargers: The worst thing that could happen is having your phone battery or laptop battery die and forgetting your charger at home or losing it altogether. This will not only slow your progress but can possibly ruin your whole day. Keeping your charges nearby is very important, in fact, look into buying a portable charger for your phone so it’ll always be fully charged.

• Internet Connection: It’s no surprise that having internet is the main core behind all your tools and apps working and since you are, after all, a “digital nomad” all your work is online so no internet can definitely be a problem.

• Headphones: This may seem unimportant to you now but when you’re stuck in a noisy airport or jammed café, you’re going to wish you had your headphones! Listening to music, a radio station, or your favorite podcast will eliminate any distracting noises around you while working and will help you stay focused.

Essential Work Tools:  

• Communication: When you start traveling internationally, staying connected isn’t easy, whether it’s with your team, clients, or friends and family. But thank God for the internet! You can use a popular app like Skype to do phone or video calls or something like Telegram for more secure messaging or sharing files with your team. And lastly, we have Google Hangouts, one of Google’s many cool apps to do phone and video calls or chat.

• Project Management: Getting sidetracked when surrounded by the new culture and fun things to do is likely to happen. With a project management tool, you can easily keep track of your tasks, follow-up on pending tasks, delegate tasks to your team, and create separate projects. The most well-known app, Trello gets the job done. You can also check out a simpler app like Buckets where you can track tasks in color-coded boxes or Asana.

• Scheduling: If you have an important meeting or an event to attend, you’re most likely need a reminder. Every nomad should have an organized calendar of upcoming tasks and events so nothing will slip through your busy days. This is where Google Calendar comes in handy; however, Google Calendar isn’t the nicest scheduling app out there. Calendly took things a step further and checks your availability and sets your meetings for you!

• Virtual Mailbox: Being a digital nomad means you’re away from home for long periods but that doesn’t mean your postal mail will just disappear. You need to be sure all your postal mail is addressed and taken care of and that’s where PostScan Mail comes in! Offering an online mailbox, you’ll be able to view and control all your postal mail online. With just a few clicks you can scan, shred, forward, or archive any mail piece. It’ll be just like handling your email.

• Data Sharing: For better collaboration with your team, you need to be able to share documents and sheets with them and nothing does this better and safer than Google Drive. However, for more storage space, 18 GB, you can look into Dropbox with a starter package at $12.50.

Conclusion:

The road to freedom isn’t too far away! By using the right tools and having a strong internet connection, achieving location independence and working according to your schedule is doable. Check out WorkHardAnywhere to find the best workspaces and cafes near you, in whichever country you’re in with great Wi-Fi speed, availability, and parking.

Photo by samer daboul from Pexels

Beijing, China

Hall of Prayer by Fong Chen

Flights: From $720 each

Accommodation: $837 for seven nights for two people

Average meal cost for two: NZ$34

China is not the easiest country to travel in. There is a language barrier, the lack of Facebook and Google maps and a big cultural difference. Even the traffic alone can give the average Kiwi nightmares! But it’s an incredible place to visit. Visit the Great Wall, The Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square, The Summer Palace and explore the Hutongs in the city.

Eat classic Peking Duck, pancakes stuffed with crispy skin duck, spring onion and sweet tangy sauce. Or try a breakfast pancake ‘jianbing’, a wheat pancake filled with pickles, crispy fried crackers, herbs, spring onions and topped with hoisin or chilli sauce. Grab cheap noodles or dumplings street-side for a few dollars- eating cheaply is easy here.

Manila, Philippines

Manilla Bay

Flights: From $800 each

Accommodation: $397 for seven nights for two people

Average meal cost for two: NZ$24

Fly to Manila and then take a cheap internal flight to Palawan. From there, you can tour the Underground River, swim under Estrella Falls, scuba dive in El Nido or just spend time snorkelling and exploring the spectacular beaches. The food here is amazing and the hospitality and friendliness of the Filipino people second to none.

Hanoi, Vietnam

Hanoi at night by Greg Hayter

Flights: From $853 each

Accommodation: $411 for seven nights for two people

Average meal cost for two: NZ$28

Hanoi is an incredible city that would take easily a week to explore. It’s got history thousands of years old – the old quarter is a warren of wire-draped lanes lined with shops selling everything from sequins to welding.

The food in Vietnam is amazing, starting the day with a bowl of steaming Bo Pho, fragrant with herbs. Then fresh spring rolls or hand cut noodles for lunch, and then try a bunch of snacks for dinner. The local street-corner ‘bia hoi’ (pub) offer delicious draught beer for next to nothing, and platefuls of snacks. Point at what others are eating- fresh tofu stuffed with herbs and served with nuoc cham dipping sauce. Crispy sticky pork ribs. Make-your-own spring rolls. It’s all very, very good. The Vietnamese are incredibly friendly and love children- take your family and the kids will be spoiled and treated with much love.

Delhi, India

Akshardham Temple in Delhi, India

Flights: From $1052 each

Accommodation: $148 for seven nights for two people

Average meal cost for two: NZ$25

India has got a reputation that some would say it deserves. But it can be safe and the vibrancy and colourful chaos of Delhi makes it a truly memorable place. It’s a short drive/ train ride to Agra, where you can see the Taj Mahal and Fatehpur Sikri. In Delhi itself, there’s the impressive red fort, Humayun’s Tomb, Qtub Minar and Lodi Gardens.

The food in Delhi is famous throughout India and the world. Head to he old city, Chandni Chowk. The food stalls seemingly stretch on forever, with everything from cheese stuffed kulcha breads and aromatic curries to snack foods. Indian food isn’t just about chilli, try the chaat. Pani puri is a mixture popped into a crisp shell, topped with a watery sauce- eat it in one go and feel the crunch of the shell followed by the taste explosion from the sauce. Vegetarians rejoice- India is heaven for those who don’t eat meat.

Bali, Indonesia

Besakih, Bali by Uwe Aranas

Flights: From $714 each

Accommodation: $358 for seven nights for two people

Average meal cost for two: NZ$22

Only a ten-ish hour flight from Auckland, Ubud in Bali has become one of the most loved destinations for Kiwis and Aussies. It has beautiful beaches with great surf, amazing inland volcanic peaks, a vibrant nightlife scene and loads to explore. It’s also relatively safe and cheap- it has been developed a destination for tourists with a huge range of food options and cheap beer!

As well as natural beauty, there are also plenty of historic attractions- Tanah Lot water temple, beautiful rice terraces and the Pura Ulun Danu Batur Temple are all highly recommended. Kids will love a tour of the monkey forest!

Get your skates on!

No matter what you want- relaxation on the beach, a buzzing city to get lost in or to explore history in ancient surroundings- there is a budget location for you. Get travel insurance from a company like State, then check if you need a visa, and escape the drudgery of real life.

* All prices calculated on Kayak.com for May 2019 ex Auckland

Australia is big, beautiful, exciting and the perfect place for a real dose of adventure. With 10,685 beaches and 10 deserts, the land down under is the perfect destination for all sorts of fun and adventurous outdoor activities. The main difficulty is narrowing down your list of things to do, because when it comes to Australia, there’s no shortage of activities in which to partake for both visitors and those coming to start a new life.

Its rugged coastlines, laid-back people and striking flora and fauna all serve to make this fascinating country so appealing. In Australia, you can skydive, swim with sharks and scuba dive some of the most stunning reefs in the world. The weather is also very encouraging for outdoor activities, with plenty to do for adults and children alike.

Skydive at Mission Beach

Looking for a perfect adventure? What better way to get your adrenaline pumping than to skydive above the beautiful sea around Mission Beach? This is arguably one of the most daring and memorable things you can do in Australia. Picture being strapped to the back of a professional skydive instructor and taking photos from the GoPro in midair. The excitement is indescribable, even after the second and third times. Are you considering making an Ausmove? If so, this should be near the top of your budget list of things to do within the first three months of your arrival.

Camping

Camping is the ideal family outdoor activity; as this obviously isn’t as strenuous as skydiving, it can be enjoyed by people of all ages and still offers a significant sense of adventure. Furthermore, camping in Australia offers a unique dimension when compared to elsewhere. For instance, camping on Cockatoo Island around Sydney Harbour allows you to hike and check out the remains of the convict’s cells from way back when.

Kayak Katherine Gorge

While some people might describe watching sunset over dinner as an adventurous activity, Katherine Gorge allows you to do much more in a single outdoor trip. Kayaking or taking a canoe trip is a sure way to experience the true beauty of the Gorge. You can hire kayaks and canoes for a couple of hours or even a full day whilst exploring the entire gorge. In fact, you can rent for up to two days if you wish; this will allow you to watch both sunset and sunrise, whilst enjoying the tranquility from your kayak.

Drive the Great Ocean Road

This is a beautifully laid tarmac that stretches over a distance of 151 miles. It is arguably the most picturesque drive in the world – and definitely the best in Australia.  You can hire a car in Melbourne and let yourself loose to enjoy the breathtaking sights, like the incredible rock formation of the Twelve Apostles. There’s also the Angelsea Golf Course, surf spots at Torquay, many kangaroos, and much more.  All these spectacular sights await you on your trip along the Great Ocean Road.

Crocodile Cruise at Port Douglas

This could be the most thrilling adventure you’ll experience in Australia. Starting from Port Douglas, you can take a crocodile cruise along the Daintree River, watching these fearsome, humongous creatures brooding along the river banks and basking in the sunshine. However, the main treat is when guides throw meat in their direction to entice them out of the water. You’ll then watch the crocs in all their glory, jumping out of the the water to clasp their jaws around the food.

Surfing

Even if you’ve had your fair share of surfing during your time in the US, surfing in Australia is a whole new experience. Here, you’ll be shown the different surfing etiquettes, techniques and also get to learn about the various surf boards that are popularly used. After your first couple of efforts, you’ll be shown pictures of you surfing to demonstrate how you can improve next time around. The experience is both exciting and educative at the same time. More importantly, surfing in Australia is competitive, so you’ll get to learn from the best of the best.

Find the Pinnacle Desert

155 miles north of Perth is The Pinnacle Desert, which is home of hundreds of ancient limestone pillars that resemble tombs. It is a mysterious setting and part of the Nambung National Park, bordering the village of Cervantes in Western Australia.

It’s said that the limestones were formed over 30,000 years ago after the Indian Ocean coastal waves eroded the surrounding area, thereby exposing what is now The Pinnacle Desert. The impressive landscape is excellent for taking pictures and spending quality time with family.

Conclusion

Australia has something remarkable for everyone, and if you love adventure, then your prospective move to this country will prove to be a great decision.