Through her work as a travel writer and tour guide, Joanna hopes to communicate her passion for slow and sustainable travel to a wider audience. Currently based in Hong Kong, Joanna has contributed to a series of guidebooks on Asian destinations for Rough Guide and Dorling Kindersley, as well as regularly leading tours to off-beat and unusual places across this fascinating continent.
Whether you’re talking about landscape, people, culture or cuisine, the variety contained within China’s borders is spectacular. From the east coast’s booming cities to the wind-whipped deserts of western China, and from cosmopolitan city streets to the dusty lanes of the smallest village, there is something here to appeal to travellers of every stripe. China is clearly a country on...
It’s amazing how much you can pack into Tibet in a week with a Landcruiser at your disposal. Most of Tibet’s officially sanctioned tour operators (through whom you’ll have to book any Tibetan trip) operate fleets of aged but comfy Toyota 4x4s, taking the guesswork out of getting about and leaving you to focus on the scenery. But first, start with...
Tibet has long been isolated from the outside world by its extraordinary geography; girt by towering mountain ranges in all directions, with an average elevation of 4,500m (14,760ft) and many passes soaring higher still. Despite, or perhaps because of this, the “Roof of the World” exerts a magnetic pull on the imaginations of adventurers and romantics alike. With the construction...
China! I’ve been conducting an informal survey of fellow travellers on this for years, and I’m constantly amazed at how few people are interested in travelling in China. Although the east coast’s air pollution is (at times) ridiculous and the country’s politics have given it a bad name, China is a fantastic place to explore. The country offers huge variety, loads of history and culture, (generally) friendly people and enough great food to appeal to even the most jaded traveller.
I have a secret passion for hitch-hiking. Admittedly, it’s not always a smart/safe thing to do, but sometimes it’s the only way to get from A to B – plus some of my fondest travel memories come from rides I’ve hitched; bumping down the Karakoram Highway with two Uyghur truckers in Xinjiang, inadvertently gate-crashing a temple dedication after hitching a ride with a local dignitary in Bhutan… While public transport gives you a peek into local lives, hitch-hiking gives you front row seats.
Alone, always. I’m learning (and trying) to be a better travelling companion, but nothing beats the freedom of waking up each morning and deciding where you want to go and what you want to do. I feel more awake when I travel alone, without the insulation of a companion – I get chatting to more people, and end up trying and experiencing more too. The downside? Eating alone!
Look in vain for a way around the obstacle before gnashing my teeth and retracing my steps…