No journey in Lhasa would be completed without visiting Jokhang, the inseparable place of Tibetan Buddhism and where you will see pilgrims keeping their palms together and humming heartfelt prayers.

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://bauhiniahk2014.wordpress.com/2016/07/13/jokhang-%e5%a4%a7%e6%98%ad%e5%af%ba-mecca-of-tibetan-buddhism/

For centuries, the faraway sight of the Potala Palace, for many long-awaited pilgrims and tourists,  symbolised to a warm welcome after their long journey.  When our eyes finally settled on this palace, we all knew our endeavour and days of impatient waiting are worthwhile.

The pure sight of those halls and living quarters – and the jewel-bedecked mausoleums of the Dalai Lamas – was enough for us to return to Tibet again in the future.

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://bauhiniahk2014.wordpress.com/2016/07/01/potala-palace-%e5%b8%83%e9%81%94%e6%8b%89%e5%ae%ae-a-paradise-of-spiritual-pureness/

Sichuan food is generally renowned for being spicy, oily and consisting of numerous hot hua jiao, this traditional hotpot is not an exception.  If you would like to challenge your taste buds, or have a brave taste of the heavy blench of seasonings in the evening, Sichuan hotpot, with fiery spices found in abundance in the province, will be a good option for you.

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://bauhiniahk2014.wordpress.com/2016/06/20/sichuan-hotpot-%e5%9b%9b%e5%b7%9d%e7%81%ab%e9%8d%8b-a-brave-taste-of-spicy/

Gloomy clouds blanketed the city of Mitrovica in darkness.  January wind howled, it pierced the skin of each passer-by and enveloped us with numb coldness in a sprawl of dusty roads.  Few street lights flickered and their shadows laid heavy in the potholes of the Ibar River.  We could hardly hear a pin drop except for the gentle sound of flowing waters and our regular footsteps.  In between dilapidated socialist-style buildings and shabby-brown blocks, there lies a steel truss bridge above the river.  Yet it is more than just a bridge.

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://bauhiniahk2014.wordpress.com/2016/05/31/mitrovica-a-city-divided/

Kosovo does not spring up on the usual lists of the world’s desirable destinations, nor is it a conventional place that people would first think of. What was it to be as a daring pioneer to explore this unknown place, the youngest country in Europe when the others deem it dangerous?

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://bauhiniahk2014.wordpress.com/2016/05/11/first-impression-in-kosovo/

The more I engaged in some fruitful conversations with the locals, the more I discovered the fascinating side of Serbia, and the more I would like to share my observation about this unique country, ranging from food, language, religion to socio-economic development.

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://bauhiniahk2014.wordpress.com/2016/03/25/observations-on-a-week-in-serbia/

After some sightseeing in Belgrade for a few days, the stay still didn’t satiate our yearn for travelling further, but grows within each passing day.  In hope of making the most of our journey in Serbia, we decided to head to the north, to Novi Sad, which is the capital of the Autonomous Region of Vojvodina.  After the bus ride for an hour and a half, the peak of the medieval fortress and the snowy outskirts of this second largest Serbian city passed in the glimpse of our eager eyes.

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://bauhiniahk2014.wordpress.com/2016/02/28/beyond-belgrade-a-day-in-novi-sad/

There is a legend in our Chinese tradition for centuries: If someone gets a bundle of bright red papers caught in wishing tree's branches, he/she will be granted a wish.  Here on a Wishing Tree in Lam Tsuen, every branch is hung with auspiciously red cards.  Each message on the card connotes someone's genuine wishes, wishes that seek everlasting happiness, prosperity and health.  Owing to its magic, far more than merely decorations, the Banyan tree in Lam Tsuen grabs our limelight with no effort.

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://bauhiniahk2014.wordpress.com/2016/02/14/lam-tsuen-%e6%9e%97%e6%9d%91-sea-of-auspicious-red-and-a-bundle-of-wishes/

Belgrade, literally translates as the “White City”, matches with its freezing weather during the day we came – around -2ºC with snowflakes.  Yet the frosty atmosphere didn’t chill our passion to be immersed in the New Year exhilaration.  Such gritty exuberance and the twinkles of evening lights make the city appear to be one of the impressive places in the Balkans. While it anticipates a rosier future, the statues and varied styles of architecture speak of the past and the steady transformation of this “White City”: the Austro-Hungarian relics blench with the modern cafes and brand shops, and the bygone-era culture coexists with the city nightlife.

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://bauhiniahk2014.wordpress.com/2016/02/01/evening-glitters-and-new-year-vigour-in-the-white-city/

In formal gatherings with senior officials in China, it is always the highlight when foreign diplomats or privileged guests are greeted by shaking hands and a Chinese gift as a token of appreciation. Though wrapped in lavish at first sight, the gift behind, actually the porcelain wares, more or less contains the toil of labour, the art of cravings and sleepless wait of time. Yet with all these consecutive demands, creators’ endeavour comes to no avail when such Chinese treasure has long been praised as thin as paper, as white as jade, as bright as a mirror, and as sound as a bell throughout the centuries. And there is one typical place, a place where the inspiration of those creators flourished and prospective artists nurtured. The home of porcelain wares, beyond doubt, goes to Jingdezhen.

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://bauhiniahk2014.wordpress.com/2015/09/01/jingdezhen-%e6%99%af%e5%be%b7%e9%8e%ae-home-of-porcelain-wares/