I’ve been fortunate enough to visit Beijing twice. The Chinese capital has so many layers of history, politics, and conflict. The city is a beast, an incredibly pushy and crowded nucleus in which personal space is a coveted luxury. Beijing cyclists have to be particularly careful on the edges of the city’s wide avenues: cars, trucks, and buses are all competing in one big race and the right of way isn’t observed here. I had to remember this when crossing the roads.

A bus tour took me to Tiananmen Square, a big plaza where so many skirmishes, uprisings, and revolutions began. The event that came to my mind was the pro-democracy rally in 1989. Just about everyone in Beijing who is old enough can recall the iconic image of the “tank man,” the nameless individual who stood in front a convoy of tanks the day after the massacre. Nobody knows who he was or even if he’s alive. During my visit in 2006 I didn’t fail to notice the police officers and soldiers in the square, ready to pounce on any serious demonstrator who dared to challenge the regime, still intent on clinging to power.

The Forbidden City commanded my respect. For centuries, all the political power in China was concentrated in this imperial complex. This was the home of Chinese emperors, their empresses, eunuchs and concubines. To think of the decadent lives they lived within those walls! It’s hard to imagine the wealth of those ancient monarchs.

The Great Wall of China isn’t a single entity; in fact, it’s a collection of walls built over the course of many dynasties. The Chinese emperor Qin Shi Huang wanted to keep those pesky invaders from Mongolia and points further north out of China, so he conscripted thousands of men – soldiers, criminals, and peasants – to build the wall. Not an easy task, by any means. I was in awe of this feat of defensive engineering. To see photos of the Great Wall of China is one thing; it’s quite another to actually walk on it. Ironically, it’s drawing foreign tourists to China instead of keeping them out. Perhaps Chinese rulers planned it that way!

 

I can use many words to describe Bangkok: hot, humid, vibrant, riotous, cosmopolitan — and, I daresay, beautiful. Well, saying the Thai capital is beautiful as a whole would be stretching it a bit. However, the city has remained charming and attractive even though the rush into modernity has continued unabated. Bangkok may lack the order of Singapore and the sophistication of Tokyo, but there’s no doubt that it’s the most popular city in Asia — and the world, apparently. In 2013, Bangkok beat London as the world’s favorite tourist destination. I find myself wishing to return to experience the unique Thai hospitality and the ever-present desire for “sanuk,” the Thai word for fun. And believe me, there’s plenty of fun to be had in Bangkok. It’s not hard to find.

For newcomers not used to a tropical climate, the heat of Bangkok can be difficult to adjust to. This is Asia! I would suggest carrying a big bottle of water while sightseeing on foot and they cost next to nothing. Start the day by touring the Grand Palace Complex, the spiritual heart of Thailand. This used to be the home of Thai nobility. The grounds are immaculate, with gold spires and roofs with green and dark orange tiles. There is a dress code in effect for men and women. Don’t show up with tank tops, shorts, see-through shirts, etc. The Thai Royal Family still uses the complex for state functions, but they don’t live there. Still, appropriate clothing is a must!

The humidity in Bangkok is suffocating and the traffic can be horrendous, but stepping into an air-conditioned mall is a heavenly sensation. MBK Center (Mahboonkrong) is a great place to escape the heat while shopping for bargains. Locals and foreign tourists from various corners of the world seem to like this malla lot, because the prices are cheaper than the Siam Paragon. I got lost in the MBK mall once, and didn’t really want to leave.

End a long day of sightseeing at the Moon Bar on the top floor of the Banyan Tree Hotel. All of Bangkok will be laid out below, and at night the city lights up and the sight is wonderful. Who ever said Bangkok isn’t romantic?