Essentials for Your First Trip to China & Perths Around the World

Hey there, Travellers!

This week's travel news has revolved a lot around the FIFA World Cup, which kicked off yesterday. From Scotland's Tartan Army drinking their flight dry within the first hour of a transatlantic crossing to the German national team paying for their fans' train fares, it's already been an eventful tournament.

Among the most excited teams and fans to be there are likely the four nations making their debut—Curaçao, Jordan, Cape Verde, and Uzbekistan. Coincidentally, also four of the most popular and up-and-coming travel destinations this year. 

Between Uzbekistan's recent loosening on visa restrictions, Cape Verde becoming an attractive alternative to spots that might include transit through the UAE, Curaçao's lush, hurricane-free Caribbean shores, and Jordan quietly rebounding from the effects of neighbours at war, this outing to the World Cup will no doubt be a nice PR opportunity for the first-timers, regardless how they perform.

I've certainly got a soft spot for Uzbekistan after my visit there two years ago, but I'd love to hear about your experiences in the other three. Even if they end up scoring an own goal or two over the coming weeks, what made you love them when you visited? Let us know in the comments!

Happy travels and safe landings,

China has always had a place on my bucket list, but its complicated and pricey visa regulations had me putting it off for ages. Until earlier this year, that is, when the government updated their entry regulations allowing Brits (like me) visa-free travel! And that was it. My China trip was on, and I got to work planning a two-week itinerary.

My plan was to fly into Chongqing, then travel by train to Zhangjiajie, Chengdu, Xi’an, and finally Beijing, where I would catch a flight home.

I'll go into more detail about what I got up to in each of those cities below, but first, here are a few things to note…

Ease of travel

Right off the bat, the first thing that struck me after landing was just how efficient the country is. Queues moved quickly, taxis often arrived less than a minute after ordering them, trains were boarded seamlessly and left on time; it was all very impressive.

In general, everyone I interacted with was very friendly and happy to try and help me. Although it's worth noting that many people do not speak English, so I mostly communicated with locals through language translation apps.

I only travelled to big cities and popular tourist areas, but I always felt incredibly safe. Streets were well lit, and if I had found myself in any kind of danger, there always seemed to be an open convenience store nearby that I could dip into for help.

One particular aspect of travel through China that I appreciated was the lack of “hassle.” Street vendors and shopkeepers rarely tried to push me to buying their products/tours, which meant I could usually shop around in peace. Although sales assistants did occasionally shadow me around a store, just in case I needed their help.

Internet

If you connect to Wi-Fi or use a Chinese SIM, you will find that a lot of your apps do not work. To get around this, you can either install a VPN or an eSIM. I opted for an eSIM from Airalo, and I was able to continue using all of my apps as usual. I found that 10 GB just about saw me through my two-week trip, but if you're a big social media user, I'd suggest 15 GB.

Cash and payments

Pretty much all payments are made through apps like WeChat and Alipay. It's best to make an account and link your card to these before you travel, since you may need to wait a while for your details to be verified. When paying, either you or the vendor will need to scan a QR code from one of your apps. It's all very quick and efficient once you get your head around it, but it can become a bit panic-inducing if you're low on battery. Thankfully, most cities are filled with rentable street-side power banks if you ever get caught off guard.

I only saw physical cash once during our trip. A taxi driver “accidentally” overcharged me for a ride, and refunded me the difference in notes. But I didn't have any issues spending it in 7-Eleven.

Train travel within China

The high-speed train network within China is extensive, efficient, and affordable. In my opinion, it's the best way to move around the country. Even the train stations were impressively spacious and swish-looking. The trains themselves were also very comfortable with tables, charging ports, and a food ordering service.

The easiest place to book tickets is trip.com, where the tickets will be linked to your passport. You can book up to two weeks in advance of your journey, but be aware that popular routes often sell out close to the departure date.

Toilets

Honestly, I am a huge fan of the toilet situation in China. Public toilets are everywhere, and they are mostly very clean. Just to be up front, 99% of the time, the public toilets will be squat toilets. But don't let that intimidate you if you are unfamiliar. They are very easy to use, and I promise you'll get the hang of it quicker than you think. Just remember to bring a pack of tissues with you whenever you leave your hotel.

And if you really miss the comfort of a western-style toilet, fear not, as most hotels have them installed.

Food

I can only talk about food from my vegetarian perspective. I am sure if you are a meat-lover who enjoys trying new flavours, textures, and spices, this will be your idea of food heaven! However, as someone who primarily eats a meat-free diet, I’ll admit that I did struggle. Vegetarianism isn't really a thing in China (let alone veganism), and most restaurants that I visited did not serve any large meat-free dishes.

To get around this, I would either politely ask if they were able to prepare one of the listed meals without meat, or I would order a selection of smaller vegetable side dishes.

All the food I ate was delicious. However, with my limited options, it did become slightly repetitive over the course of my trip.

If you have specific dietary preferences, I would suggest saving a few translated key phrases into your notes app to show restaurant staff so your mealtimes run as smoothly as possible.

I do need to shout out one specific vegetarian restaurant in Beijing that I will probably remember for the rest of my life. Tianchu Miaoxiang is an affordable, Michelin-starred veggie restaurant. And honestly, I would fly back in a heartbeat just to try their kung pao (faux) chicken one more time.

Keep reading for all the inside info on Lauren's 2-week China itinerary…

Few things make us happier than scrolling through your submissions of places you'd love to read more about. Except for maybe traveling there ourselves! 

Now, this anonymous member — let's call them Loquacious Lars — didn't give us much to go on:

No context. No clues. Just “Perth”. 

Thus we can only assume he’s looking for the lowdown on one of the 17 (or more) places on Earth sharing that name. Minus the one with the sunshine and kangaroos, though, because we already know all about it, right?

So dear readers, I give you… Perth. Just not that one.

Perth, Scotland: The OG (Minus the Sun) 

Population: 47,000

Scotland’s former capital rarely sees the flocks of tourists that descend upon Edinburgh’s Royal Mile. A shame considering its sharp spires and streets, a blend of Gothic Revival and Georgian grandeur has been fundamental in shaping Scotland’s history. Scone Abbey was once the coronation site for all Scottish kings, including Macbeth and Robert the Bruce.

The Fair City is fiercely local, home to more than 100 independent shops, cafes, and boutiques, and has been crowned the UK’s first UNESCO City of Craft and Folk Art. 

It doesn’t hurt that it sits at the gateway to the whiskey-soaked Highlands too. Those fairytale landscapes of the Cairngorms, Ben Nevis and Glencoe are all reachable in under 2 hours. 

Perth, Ontario, Canada: The One Built on Big Cheese

Population: 6,469

About an hour from Canada’s capital city, Ottawa, Perth is a town known for, well, a MAMMOTH BLOCK OF CHEESE. Why does this deserve aggressive all caps? The enormous wheel of cheddar was created in 1893 (before Kraft destroyed the craft) and took the efforts of 12 cheesemakers and 10,000 cows. 

Standing at 6ft high, the aim was to showcase Canada’s fermenting feats at Chicago’s World Fair. Transporting it to the Windy City wasn't exactly easy; at 22,000 pounds, it was so heavy it fell through the floor of the train! 

Nowadays it’s just a highway replica but worth a photo stop en route to one of Canada’s most underrated national parks: the 1000 Islands, an archipelago of over 1800 emerald islands shared with New York. 

Perth, North Dakota, USA: Six Away From A Ghost Town

Image courtesy of Andrew Filer on Flickr.

Population: 6

Deep in the prairies of North Dakota, you’ll find a rickety wooden sign posing a jarring existential question: “While on Earth, Why Not Perth?” The “o” in Not is an unnerving smiley face, reminiscent of Microsoft's clip art in the 1990s. 

Perth, North Dakota, boasts a whopping population of six, none of whom are the man in this photo. A total outsider and the entire tourism demographic for the region, if I could hazard a guess.  

Once a booming and raucous railroad community of 200 people, you’ll find more headstones here than residents now. But back in its heyday, the town boasted all the typical businesses, including a general store, a blacksmith, livery barns, a hardware store, and its very own newspaper, The Perth Journal. Impressively, the post office managed to hold on for over a century before finally closing its doors in 2003. 

Unless your hyperfocus is the type that compels you to visit places around the world with the same name, there's absolutely no reason to visit this Perth. Except perhaps if you're really into turtles. 

Perth, Jamaica: Coffee, Spuds, and a Whole Lotta Fog. 

Image courtesy of Kevin on Flickr

Population: 20,000 (and growing).

Forget sun-baked beaches; this Perth sits in the mist-shrouded mountains of south-central Jamaica right on the outskirts of Mandeville (pictured above).

And while the country is synonymous with sugarcane, the high elevation and cooler climate made it impossible to cultivate. In its place grew one of the world’s most sought-after coffees: Jamaican High Mountain Coffee, often fetching $50-$100+ a pound. 

Perth also was part of the region that introduced the very first Irish potatoes to the island in 1902.

 Today the area's rolling green hills have been transformed into Perth Estate, a rapidly growing upscale residential community known for sprawling modern homes and a fondness for looking at fog. 

So there you have it, Lars. Four distinct flavors of Perth, none of which involve Vegemite or budgie smugglers. 

There are more where these came from, of course, so please, dear readers, let us know all about your chosen Perths. And just in case it was that Perth Lars was looking for, please drop your tips for the Antipodean alternative in the comments!

Oh, and don't forget to send us a postcard of the mega cheddar. 

All the important (or silly, or strange) travel chatter from around the Jack's Community this month.

• The chickens are finally coming home to roost for budget airline Ryanair, as the UK's competition watchdog launches an investigation into the fees they charge for families to sit together.
  
  
• A new moai statue appeared on Easter Island, and scientists are floored.
  
  
• United Airlines is working on a new economy seating concept that will make sure you can't stretch out, even though there's nobody sitting next to you. Thanks a bunch.
  
  
• Sardinians are scrambling to borrow extra children and grandparents just to guarantee an umbrella at the beach this summer.
  
  
• And finally, Toronto is celebrating the World Cup in a way that only Canada possibly could: with a giant beaver hunt. If you find all 51 beavers before they disappear, please send us pics, and then consider whether you might have too much time on your hands.