Weekly Wrap Up

This week our group spent the week in Dalian, Lianoning, China and had quite a great experience. Having never been to Asia before, none of us really knew what to expect, but then again, that’s how it’s been for most of the trip! The flight wasn’t too bad, especially compared to the previous week. We only had to stop twice. Upon exiting the airport, we all realized just how busy and heavily populated China is! It felt like an even more crowded version of Times Square. Checking in to the hotel was not a problem and we were able to adventure around a bit and try some exquisite Chinese cuisine. Deciding to grocery shop has been a smart decision on every trip as we end up saving a lot of money in the end. Monday’s adventure was very fun and awe-inspiring. LaoDong Natural Park is a beautiful place and the seat-lift up the mountain allowed us to see just how amazing the views could be. The sled ride back down was intense and got everyone’s adrenaline going by the time we reached the bottom. Tuesday was a bit more laid back as we casually made our way through the city and checked our all of the massive buildings located in Zhongshan Square. After being in Kenya where there are not many tall buildings, this felt like a whole different world. On Wednesday Noah forced us to learn some history, but thankfully it was actually exciting and interesting as it was in regards to the ongoing battle between Russia and China. We were able to experience Russian cuisine and lifestyle while in Dalian! It was somewhat eerie, as we felt as if we were in the aftermath of where war had once taken place. Thursday we took it easy and hung around the hotel. It’s nice to take a break from the adventuring every now and then and re-collect our thoughts and energy. On Friday we didn’t hold back though. We spent the day at Happy Snow World and shredded the slopes for hours on end. Thankfully no one got hurt on the crowded slopes. To end the awesome day we were able to partake in a delicious Chinese buffet before heading back to the hotel. I’m not sure about everyone else, but I’m quite sure I gained about 10lbs in straight Chinese food, which by the way, is MUCH better than the “Chinese food” that is served back in the ol’ US of A! Overall Dalian was an awesome experience and I’m glad I finally made it to Asia! Definitely will make a trip back again in my life.

Money:

Arrival:

Flight = $2,867 USD [18,209.46 CNY]

Food:

Hotel Breakfast = $197 USD [1,250 CNY]

Grocery = $440 USD [2,795 CNY]

Meals & MSIC = $100 USD [632 CNY] + $25 USD [158.92 CNY]

Hotel:

Room= $2,653 USD [16,860 CNY]

Misc:

Souvenirs = $58 USD [368.38 CNY]

Ski trip = $90 USD [600 CNY]

Taxi = $15 USD [95.27 CNY]

Total: $6,240 USD [39,632.73 CNY]

Trip Total: $66,548.51 - $6,240 = $60,308.51 USD