Author Archives: jollenl

Arriving in Melbourne, I was immediately whisked away to the infamous Lane 2, or as I like to call it, the “Red Line of Doom,” where customs officers meticulously comb through every item in your bag. Australia, being an island, has a serious aversion to anything foreign—especially if it might be a virus, pest, orContinue reading “Melbourne”

Touching down in Mexico City after leaving the clean, organized, and almost-military precision of Shanghai? Let me tell you, it’s like stepping into a Salvador Dalí painting. Where Shanghai’s streets are pristine and regulations reign supreme, Mexico City gives you a glorious, chaotic symphony of honking horns, smoky skies, and a traffic situation that feelsContinue reading “Mexico City”

Ah, the end of August and the beginning of September—it’s Kansas Sunflower Parade time, folks! That magical moment when the fields around Lawrence burst into a sea of yellow. There’s this one farm, Grinters or sunflower central, where the blooms stretch as far as the eye can see. But, of course, this year, my globetrottingContinue reading “Sunflowers”

So there I was, 40 floors up in one of Shanghai’s swankiest hotels, staring straight at the city’s iconic spire like it was challenging me to a staring contest. I got lucky this time—upgraded to a suite with multiple rooms and a jaw-dropping view of the Shanghai skyline. Below me, the Huangpu River was buzzingContinue reading “Shanghai”

I’ve been to China a few times—mostly Beijing—but every trip has been great. One of my all-time highlights is, of course, the Great Wall near Beijing. It’s such a jaw-dropping marvel that each visit felt like meeting a new celebrity, only taller and with more bricks. I’ve gone three times! The first was a sunnyContinue reading “Suzhou, China”