For Christmas week I decided to take a break, relax and spend some time at the beach. I didn’t do any sightseeing or hiking, and only took a handful of pictures. Here’s a taste of my holiday! Hope everybody had a great one, too.
The Japanese Covered Bridge in Hoi An, Vietnam
Still feeling a bit lethargic and overwhelmed by Vietnam, I arrived in Hoi An and wasn’t entirely gung ho about sightseeing and taking photos. Despite my mood, the town proved to be a nice place to hang out. The old part of town is a UNESCO site and has some striking examples of traditional Vietnamese architecture. About 5 km away is a surprisingly peaceful beach. Throw in the opportunity to get cheap, custom-made clothes from one of the abundant tailors in town as well as some delicious food and there’s enough to keep a jaded traveler going for a few days.
Coastal views from the Lantau Trail
The Lantau Trail is a 70km footpath that circles Lantau Island in Hong Kong. My friends and I hiked sections 7 and 8 of the trail from Tai O to Shek Pik, a relatively modest hike that took about 4 hours. We were kept company by hundreds of butterflies and a few terrifying spiders!
A gate in Sofia with the symbol of the country – the lion
I spent 10 days in Bulgaria and spent an average of $35 per day. I saw three major places: Sofia, Veliko Tarnovo, and Nessebar. It would have been nice to spend some more time around the Black Sea, but the huge resorts really don’t appeal to me very much and unfortunately there’s very little virgin land left to explore. Nessebar was a wonderful place, though, and definitely worth the stop!
The highlight in Bulgaria for me was independence day in Veliko Tarnovo and meeting some wonderful people at the camping site where I stayed. Sofia was also a pleasant surprise with its rich history and tolerant culture.
The beachfront at Nessebar on the Black Sea
I spent a very pleasant few days in Nessebar, a 3,000 year old city on the coast of the Black Sea. Tourist season had ended two weeks before I arrived, so I managed to beat the crowds and savor some peaceful moments on the beach. The UNESCO World Heritage Site has Thracian, Greek, Roman, and Ottoman influences and its ancient architecture is very well preserved, so strolling around the town is a great way to spend some time. There are loads of cafes and restaurants as well, with an abundance of fish.
A Yank without a Chain 