Quanzhou, China

International Worker's Holiday in Quanzhou

Hometown of Lao Zi, founder of Daoism (Tao Te Ching)

Also Quanzhou has been a religious/cultural capital in China for centuries, due to its strategic trading location along the Pacific, many different people have been living here harmoniously for a long time.

For me this means many vegetarian restaurants and good temples!

Lao Zi

This pagoda is 100% stone which I think is amazing;

it's built as if it's wooden, with lots of unnecessary joints, but pure stone.

The only Hindu temple in China I know of.

It's been converted to Buddhist, but these sculptures remain.

Hobbiton and Rotorua, New Zealand

Rotorua is a big town of 78,000 people, a few hours away from Auckland. There's actually plenty of things to do here for at least a few days, but I only had one day here. So I went to the Maori village and Polynesian Spa, both were perfect and I wanted to have a few more days here.

Tamaki Maori Village

Went on a short tour, and feast, at a local Maori village

Educational fun and cheap, and great feast!

They steam all the food underground, in the traditional style

Hot Springs Spa; Always Great!

Couldn't Resist...I've been collecting food experiences here that are hard to come by in China.

Funny Translation

"Mousetrap" a hobbit classic and very delicious!

Hobbiton is on Alexander farm (you're welcome) in Matamata, not far from Rotorua. 

Bag End - residence of Frodo and Bilbo Baggins

Feel free to check out this evil on Amazon Prime if you like evil. I actually don't like evil, so I was supremely shocked just seeing the title...still hard to believe this absurdist propaganda exists.