Zhaoyang – Our Trips Around The World

回家 – Going Home

12/06/2025 星期六，Saturday, the 35th and last day of our Down Under to Eastern Delight trip

今天就要回家了。从最初的计划、倒数着日子的期待，到如今旅程悄然接近尾声，感觉时间真的像眨眼一样飞快。早上安排好的司机8点半就到了楼下，正是那位从机场送我们到酒店的师傅。人依旧健谈，车费 1200 台币，反而比叫 Uber 还便宜。十个小时的飞行平稳顺利。飞机落地旧金山的那一刻，熟悉的冷风扑面而来，真的是一种到家了的感觉。

从Jackie 那里学到一个有意思的俚语，“痒痒脚”，意思是脚开始发痒，想动起来、想出发、想去看看世界。看样子我们这对脚痒组合暂时是该休息一下了，但我想用不了多久，我们的脚八成又会开始痒痒。

Today we’re heading home. From the earliest planning stages, from counting down the days with excitement, to now—when the trip is quietly coming to an end—it feels like time has flown by in the blink of an eye.

台北最后一天 – The Last Day in Taipei

12/05/2025 星期五，Friday, the 34th day of our Down Under to Eastern Delight trip

上午坐地铁去了迪化街，它是台北具历史味道的一条老街，以中药、南北干货、茶叶、传统零食和文创小店闻名。这里保留了许多日治时期的巴洛克风格老建筑，走在街上还是很有怀旧的气息。

In the morning we took the metro to Dihua Street, one of Taipei’s most historic old streets, known for its traditional Chinese medicine shops, dried goods, tea, old-style snacks, and creative boutiques.

台北101 – Up on Taipei 101

12/04/2025 星期四，Thursday, the 33rd day of our Down Under to Eastern Delight trip

上午的天空终于露出一点蓝意，我们便决定前往台北地标，台北 101 大楼。从酒店搭地铁约三十几分钟便能抵达。台北 101大厦于2004 年完工，曾多年保持世界第一高楼。它以竹节般的造型向上层层堆叠，被视为象征坚韧与成长的设计，同时结合了东方意象与现代工程技术。站在它脚下，总有一种城市脊梁般的震撼。

The morning sky finally revealed a hint of blue, so we decided to head to one of Taipei’s landmarks, Taipei 101.

台北第二天 – Taipei Day 2

12/03/2025 星期三，Wednesday, the 32nd day of our Down Under to Eastern Delight trip

早上因为房间里有几个插座无法使用，我打电话请前台来检查维修，没想到Ta们干脆直接帮我们换到了一间更好的角落房。房间更宽敞，景色也好太多了，意外收获了一份幸运。

In the morning, because several power outlets in our room weren’t working, we called the front desk to have someone come check and fix them. To my surprise, they simply moved us to a better corner room instead. It’s more spacious, with a much nicer view — an unexpected bit of luck!

到达台湾 – Arrived in Taiwan

12/02/2025 星期二，Tuesday, the 31st day of our Down Under to Eastern Delight trip

到不同城市旅行有个问题，就是路途会消耗掉大量时间。我们早上九点从曼谷出发，结果折腾到现在，整整二十四小时才终于安顿下来！

One problem with visiting different cities, is the loss of time traveling. We left Bangkok at 9am to fly to Taiwan and we’re finally settled 24 hours later!

曼谷的最后一天 – Last Day in Bangkok

12/01/2025 星期一，Monday, the 30th day of our Down Under to Eastern Delight trip

某人脚上顶着几个水泡，仍然坚持徒步去中国城逛一圈。一路上我们放慢脚步，尽量沿着阴凉处前行，走走停停，大约 50 分钟后到了中国城。曼谷的中国城，最早可以追溯到 18 世纪，当时为了修建大皇宫，原本居住在王宫附近的华人商贩被迁至此地，自此逐渐形成了如今繁荣的商业区。两百多年过去，中国城依旧保持着那股蓬勃的生命力：金铺、药材店、街边小吃、炒菜的火光、中文招牌与泰文交错，层层叠叠地铺满整条街。无论是本地人、做生意的人，还是来自世界各地的游客，都把这里挤得熙熙攘攘，热闹非凡。

Someone was walking around with several blisters on their feet but still insisted on making the trek to Chinatown. We slowed our pace, staying in the shade whenever we could, stopping now and then, and after about fifty minutes we reached Chinatown.

一次旧地重游 – A Familiar Place

11/30/2025 星期日，Sunday, the 29th day of our Down Under to Eastern Delight trip

2017年我们第一次来曼谷时，住在空讪区的一家民宿，所在的大楼 The River Condominium 就在湄南河畔。那时每次外出，都要搭乘大楼自家的小船横渡河面去对岸玩。今天我们特地坐上黄旗船来到空讪区对岸，重新走一遍当年的路线，也顺便看看那些我们曾常去的小饭店们。岁月带来了不少变化：港口附近的小摊贩不见了，一个熟悉的小饭店已经变成了按摩店，只有 Jack’s 酒吧依旧在那里，样子也还是当年的模样。

In 2017, on our first trip to Bangkok, we stayed at a AirBNB in the Krung Thon Buri area, in a building called The River Condominium right on the Chao Phraya River.

一趟游船 – One Ferry Ride

11/29/2025 星期六，Saturday, the 28th day of our Down Under to Eastern Delight trip

中午时分我们在酒店附近随便逛了逛。PJG 的行李箱拉杆坏了，找了一圈也没看到能维修的店，只好先打算再买一个新的。午餐我们去了 2019 年来曼谷时去过的一家泰式沙拉小店。店里几乎和以前一样，没有什么变化，味道依旧是那熟悉的泰式沙拉风味，还不错。

Around noon we wandered a bit near the hotel. PJG’s suitcase handle had broken, and after looking around without finding any place that could fix it, we decided he would probably need a new one.

一顿午餐 – All For a Lunch?

11/28/2025 星期五，Friday, the 27th day of our Down Under to Eastern Delight trip

上午先去洗衣店把衣服送去加急清洗，价格跟清迈一样，每公斤 100 泰铢。回到酒店后有时间把行李和房间整理好。十一点多，叫了 Grab 去一家我在油管上看到，由一位非常有名的泰国厨师Pam强烈推荐的餐厅。这一路上也立刻想起曼谷交通有多糟糕，不到 8 公里的距离，竟然花了一个多小时才抵达。到了店门口发现客满，等到一点多才终于轮到我们。据Pam介绍，这家店主打的是桐艾府料理。我之前完全没听说过这个地方，打开谷歌地图一查，才发现桐艾府位于泰国最东部，靠近柬埔寨，是一个海产丰富的小府。我们点了那位厨师推荐的三道菜，其中最惊艳的是那道沙拉：沙拉酱用花生芝麻糖，青柠汁和泰式辣椒，酸、甜、辣平衡得刚刚好，非常好吃。

In the morning we dropped our laundry off for an express wash, with the same price as in Chiang Mai — 100 baht per kilo. After returning to the hotel, we had some time to tidy up our luggage and the room. Then, a little after eleven, we called a Grab to a restaurant I’d seen on YouTube, strongly recommended by a very famous Thai chef, “Pam”. The ride immediately reminded us how bad Bangkok traffic can be — less than 10 km (6 miles) took more than an hour.

到达曼谷 – Arriving in Bangkok

11/27/2025 星期四， Thursday, the 27th day of our Down Under to Eastern Delight trip

又是换城市的一天。虽然从清迈飞到曼谷只要一个多小时，但我们最终抵达曼谷酒店时已经是傍晚五点多了。原定 12:15 的航班延误了整整一个小时，飞机直到 1:55 才起飞。清迈机场的设计也实在让人无奈：登机和下机居然走同一条通道。正在排队登机的人，正如果遇上其他航班下飞机的乘客，只能原地卡住等那些人先过去。办理托运更是繁琐，第一步在机器上打印登机牌和行李牌；第二步走到另一个机器称重打印收据；第三步再排队把行李交给人工柜台。现场拥挤、混乱，让人哭笑不得。

Another day, another city. Although the flight from Chiang Mai to Bangkok takes just over an hour, it was already past five in the evening by the time we finally reached our hotel in Bangkok.

清迈最后一天 – The Last day in Chiang Mai

11/26/2025 星期三， Wednesday, the 25th day of our Down Under to Eastern Delight trip

又是轻松的一天。上午我们在酒店里悠闲地休息，中午则去了一家非常接地气的小饭馆吃午饭。这家店是我在谷歌地图上找到的，离酒店很近，评价里大家都夸食物好吃，但同时也抱怨鸽子太多，会在店里到处飞。我们决定先去探探，如果真的有鸽子，就立刻转身离开。结果到店后一只鸽子都没看到，于是放心地坐下点菜。小店基本上就是一个女人在撑起全场，她既是厨师、服务员，又负责接外卖，忙得团团转，整个店就是她一个人的世界。刚点完菜，正等她忙到我们这一单时，一只鸽子突然翩然而至，直接飞进店里，落在房梁上。有位顾客上前把它赶走，之后也没再出现第二只。至于食物，味道不错，价格便宜，三道菜加起来才 140 泰铢。

It was another easygoing day in Chiang Mai, and our last one here. We spent the morning relaxing at the hotel, then for lunch, walked to a very down-to-earth little eatery called Mee Gin. I had found it on Google Maps, close to the hotel, well-reviewed for tasty food, but with repeated complaints that the place was full of pigeons flying around!! We decided to check it out first and run away immediately if we saw any birds inside!

清迈古城护城河徒步 – Around the Moat

11/25/2025 星期二， Tuesday, the 24th day of our Down Under to Eastern Delight trip

上午因为新加坡的分公司，不得不进行了一个小时的网络会议，还好时差对我来说没问题。今天我俩打算轻松地围绕古城的护城河走一圈。沿着护城河走，在四个转角和四座城门附近，都能看到断断续续的砖墙残迹。这些最初由孟莱王在1296年建立清迈时建造，用来抵御外敌。当年城墙应当厚重完整，在1558年缅甸攻占清迈后，大面积城墙被毁，随后数百年间经历了战火、荒废与风化。我以前不知道，清迈曾被缅甸统治过将近 200 年。

This morning, because of a meeting with the Singapore branch, I had to join a one-hour online call. Luckily, the time difference didn’t effect me! Today the two of us planned a walk around the Old City moat.

清迈闲逛第二天 – Wandering in Chiang Mai

11/24/2025 星期一， Monday, the 23rd day of our Down Under to Eastern Delight trip

清迈是一座坐落在泰国北部群山之间的古老城市，建于公元 1296 年，曾是独立的兰纳王国的都城，直到 1558 年才结束它作为王都的历史。如今人们所说的古城，是一个被完整护城河包围的方形区域。今天上午，我们从古城的东侧一路走到湄平河畔，慢悠悠地穿过大街小巷，看见了这个城市很多真实、日常的一面。

Chiang Mai is an ancient city nestled among the mountains of northern Thailand. Founded in 1296, it was once the capital of the independent Lanna Kingdom, a role it held until 1558. Today, the “Old City” refers to the square-shaped area still encircled by a complete moat.

两个米其林推荐 – A Tale of Two Michelins

11/23/2025 星期日， Sunday, the 22nd day of our Down Under to Eastern Delight trip

这段旅程的第二部分在泰国慢慢展开，不赶行程，不刻意打卡，只是放慢步调，让自己沉在这里的时光与泰式味道里。今天早上的第一件事，就是去附近的洗衣店，把旅行中的疲惫一并交给滚筒机。我们选择了三小时的加急服务，每公斤 100 泰铢，价格公道。
早餐是在酒店享用的自助餐，西式和亚洲式一应俱全，正好满足我们俩不同的口味，吃得很满意。

The second part of our journey is unfolding slowly here in Thailand. No rushing, no checklists – just easing into the pace, letting ourselves sink into the time and the Thai flavor. The first task of the morning was to drop off our laundry at a nearby shop, handing over both the clothes and a bit of travel fatigue to the spinning machines. We chose the three-hour express service at 100 baht per kilo, a fair price.

神奇海峡过夜游船 – Night on Doubtful Sound

11/19-11/20, 2025 星期三和星期四， Wednesday & Thursday, the 18th & 19th day of our Down Under to Eastern Delight trip

这两天的总结是什么呢？开车、游船、大巴、游船、晕船、寂静之声，大巴、游船、开车、飞机。

这两天正好是我们早在家里就安排好的——神奇海峡过夜游船行程。我们需要在周二上午 11 点半之前从皇后镇赶到马纳普里参加中午12 点半的出发。好在今天没有下雨，开车轻松不少。行程大约两个半小时，我们早上8点就出发，打算一路慢慢开、边走边停、看看风景。

These past two days have been all about: driving, boating, bussing, more boating, seasickness, “the sound of silence,” then back again, and finally flying.

皇后镇的最后一天 – The Last Day in Queenstown

11/18/2025，星期二，Tuesday, the 17th day of our Down Under to Eastern Delight trip

今天早上皇后镇开始下雨了，这边的的天气一向多变，既然出不去，就干脆上网把工作处理一下，和同事通了一个多小时的电话，把他最近的问题都解决了一下。等工作做完，外面刚好雨停了。我们开车出去转一圈。第一站去了皇冠峰，冬天这里是滑雪场，现在不开业，但山顶的视野非常开阔，能看到连绵的山脉，云雾和山底的一片绿色山谷；接着又去了海斯湖，雨后的湖面很安静，看着特别舒服。

This morning it started raining in Queenstown. The weather here is always unpredictable, so since we couldn’t easily go out, I went online to take care of some work. I spent over an hour on a call with a colleague and helped him sort out his recent issues. When I finished, the rain outside stopped and we decided to drive out of Queenstown in a little loop.

小镇和温泉 – From small towns to a hot tub

11/17/2025，星期一，Monday, the 16th day of our Down Under to Eastern Delight trip

天气晴朗，虽然头顶仍压着一层厚厚的云，但清晨的空气带着高山特有的凉意与清新，让人精神一下子被唤醒。今天我们决定到皇后镇外面走走，去看看周边几个小镇。

上午的第一站是箭镇，从皇后镇开车大约二十多分钟。一路上风景如画，绿意、河谷与远山交织，让人还没到目的地就已经沉醉。

Today we decided to roam outside Queenstown and visit a few of the many small towns in the area.

去皇后镇 – Going to Queenstown

11/16/2025，星期日，Sunday, The 15th day of our Down Under to Eastern Delight trip

上午十点多的航班从墨尔本飞往皇后镇，约中午十二点抵达。降落前从机窗望出去，连绵不断的高峰扑面而来，气势震撼，像是进入了风景明信片的世界。取好租车后开了十几分钟便到达旅馆，而旅馆门口望出去，就是近在咫尺的巨大山脉，景色美得令人屏息。

Our flight from Auckland to Queenstown departed around ten in the morning and arrived around noon. Just before landing, endless mountain peaks came into view through the window—majestic and awe-inspiring, as if we had entered the world of a picture postcard.

奥克兰动物园和伊甸山 – Auckland Zoo and Mount Eden

11/15/2025，星期六，Saturday, The 14th day of our Down Under to Eastern Delight trip

来了新西兰，怎么能错过她们的国鸟——奇异鸟呢？

How could we come to New Zealand and miss seeing its national bird—the kiwi?

怀赫科岛和另一位远方亲戚- Waiheke Island and another relative

11/14/2025 星期五 Friday, The 13th day of our Down Under to Eastern Delight trip

今天早上又有阳光。我们昨天提前买好了怀赫科岛的渡轮+随上随下巴士套票。怀赫科岛位于豪拉基湾，以葡萄园、海滩和度假氛围闻名，从奥克兰市中心搭渡轮约 45 分钟即可抵达。

This morning, the sun was out again. Yesterday, we bought our ferry and hop-on-hop-off bus combo tickets in advance for Waiheke Island (pronounced WHY-heck-ee). Located in the Hauraki Gulf, Waiheke is known for its vineyards, beaches, and relaxed holiday vibe. It takes about 45 minutes by ferry from downtown Auckland.