Author: Jeffrey Donenfeld
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Shanghai Built Knockoff Ghost Towns Copied from Around the World
China is certainly weird. On the outskirts of Shanghai, China they’ve built a number of knockoff towns, copying styles from around the world. I explored a few of them, and was thoroughly weirded out. More on my explorations of Shanghai – Modern Ghost Towns, Racecars, and Skyscrapers in Shanghai
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The Fastest Magnetic Train in the World: Riding the Shanghai Transrapid Maglev
Shanghai has the fastest commercial maglev transportation system in the world – the Shanghai Transrapid. I explored the train, and took the ride. More on my explorations of Shanghai: Modern Ghost Towns, Racecars, and Skyscrapers in Shanghai
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Here’s Where China Makes Volkswagens – My Private Tour Of VW Car Plant #3
Lots of cars are made in China, including Volkswagen and Skoda. Showing up in a suit unannounced, I managed to talk my way into an unscheduled private tour of Volkswagen Shanghai Car Plant #3. Here’s how it all works: More on my explorations of Shanghai: Modern Ghost Towns, Racecars, and Skyscrapers in Shanghai
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Getting Hitched at the Shanghai Marriage Market
During my exploration of Shanghai, China, I stopped by the Shanghai Marriage Market – and almost got fixed up! Here’s my experience… See everything I did on this trip to Shanghai: Modern Ghost Towns, Racecars, and Skyscrapers in Shanghai
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Modern Ghost Towns, Racecars, and Skyscrapers in Shanghai
After being the more traditional cities of Beijing and Xi’an for a bit, I was ready to step into the more modern world of Shanghai. In the last few decades, like much of China, Shanghai has been on a building spree, with new buildings popping up everywhere. I took about a week to walk the…
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Visiting the Terracotta Army in Xi’an, China
After my week in North Korea, I returned to Beijing, China for a day, and then continued on to Xi’an on 2015-04-20. My friend Emily is currently living there, which made for a perfect opportunity to drop by to see a friend, and to check out the Terracotta Warriors. I only spent 3 days there,…
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Exploring North Korea and Running the Pyongyang Marathon
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), aka “The Hermit Kingdom”, has always seemed like a mysterious land. The timing on my lap through Asia worked out perfectly, and I decided to check it out for myself – and to run the 2015 Pyongyang Marathon in the process. In short: exploring North Korea was an…
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Exploration of North Korea – Successfull, Covered by NBC News
After spending a week in the DPRK – North Korea, I’ve finally landed safely back in Beijing. I ran the Pyongyang Marathon (personal record – 3:36:55), visited the north side of the DMZ, and saw in person the bodies of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il, among many other amazing and weird experiences. Full…
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Why Staying in Hostels While Traveling Solo Is Great
Earlier this year, while I was traveling through Beijing, China, I stayed in Leo Hostel. During my short stay there, I was interviewed by a Chinese school group producing a short segment about travel in China. In the segment, I speak a little about my travel experiences, and why I think it’s a great idea…
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Finding Community in China’s Capital – Beijing
My first stop in China was the capital city, Beijing. Visiting China was a big moment for me – it’s size, population, and ever increasing role in global affairs make it a force to reckon with. I felt like it was essential to give a good chunk of time to develop an understanding at a…
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Exploring A Shield Volcano – Jeju Island, South Korea
Jeju Island, located off the tip of South Korea, is a paradise for geologists, honeymooners, and adventurers alike. I ventured to Jeju on a recommendation from a friend, as well as seeing the epic pictures of the Seongsan Ilchulbong. Jeju is a geological paradise, with interesting volcanic features such as Mt. Hallasan, an almost perfect…
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Stepping Into The City Of The Future, Seoul, South Korea
Seoul, South Korea is a city of the future. It’s layer upon layers of buildings, technology, culture, people, and pollution. The streets are buzzing everywhere with food vendors, frenzied college kids, psychedelically dressed middle aged women, matching couples, and markets. It’s wired to the max, with some of the fastest internet in the world, ubiquitous…
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Snowboarding and Snow Monkey Beer in Shiga Kogen, Japan
My final stop on this lap through Japan was in at Shiga Kogen, Japan’s highest, largest ski resort. I joined a local Tokyo-based winter adventure club appropriately called “Tokyo Gaijins” on their Snow Monkey Beer Live trip to Shiga Kogen. The trip provided both awesome winter sports, as well as access to the “Snow Monkey…
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Zenkoji Temple, Nagano, Japan
During my most recent lap through Japan, I had the opportunity to spend a day at Nagano’s mystical buddhist Zenkoji Temple. I’m blaming my lack of sleep the night before for the absence of shots, but here’s a few from the time I spent there. In Nagano, I stayed at the 1166 Backpackers Hostel, which…
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Shibu Onsen Snow Monkeys
High in the mountains of central Japan, there’s a hotsprings “onsen” where Macaque snow monkeys bathe. Saori and I took an amazing trip to visit them, and soak in a few onsens ourselves.
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Running the Tokyo Marathon
My first stop in Japan was Tokyo, to run the 2015 Tokyo Marathon. Miho and I had originally entered the marathon registration lottery months before, however unfortunately, only I won an entry. I still had a good run without her – although not nearly as much fun or motivation to kick ass! Running through the…
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Exploring Manila, El Nido, and Coron, Philippines
After an excellent season on the ice this year, my first travel stop was in the Phillipines to relax with dear friends Brad and Talitha. I started my journey by flying Sydney>Manila. Once in Manila, I had a solid four days of time to myself to explore Manila. I stayed in the Makati area, at…
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World Guide – Tuned Mass Damper of the Shanghai Tower
World Guide List Item – Investigate the Magnetic Tuned Mass Damper of the Shanghai Tower From Gizmodo: https://gizmodo.com/how-a-121-storey-building-uses-a-giant-magnet-to-preven-1692540759 This is where the ‘tuned mass’ damper system of the 2,073-foot Shanghai Tower comes into play. The physics of the damper work exactly as normal — a 1,000 ton weight hangs from steel cables. But two systems…
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Living and Working at the West Antarctic Ice Sheet Divide Field Camp, Antarctica – Summer 2014-2015
After a very successful 2014-15 summer season working at WAIS Divide, Antarctica, we’ve wrapped up our operations and redeployed. Here’s a quick summary of the season: This year in Antarctica, I worked at the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) Divide Ice Core Field Camp for the University of Wisconsin-Madison Space Science and Engineering Center (SSEC)…
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Disassembling the Deep Ice Sheet Coring (DISC) Drill at WAIS Divide, Antarctica
This year in Antarctica, I worked at the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) Divide Ice Core Field Camp for the University of Wisconsin-Madison Space Science and Engineering Center (SSEC) Ice Drill Design and Operations (IDDO) Group as a Field and Drill Specialist. I was on a team of four, with our primary mission being to…
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Keeping Warm in Western Antarctica with Darn Tough
Darn Tough was a great partner to have while on my recent expedition to the West Antarctic Ice Sheet Field Camp. I wore Darn Tough socks every day under my extreme cold weather boots, and was comfy and warm the entire time. Full report soon. Thanks DT!
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Tour The West Antarctic Ice Sheet Field Camp, Antarctica
This season working at WAIS Divide Field Camp, Antarctica was busy, with days of hard work and rough weather. However, there were a few moments of free time and good weather, and during those moments I shot a few short clips. In this 40-minute video, I take you on a personal tour of most of…
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Exploring the World’s Most Powerful Icebreaker – The Jet Engine-Powered US Coast Guard Cutter “Polar Star”
After an excellent season working at WAIS Divide, my team and I returned to McMurdo to wrap up a bit of administrative items, finalizing this season’s shipping, and pack everything up for redeployment to New Zealand. Luckily, during those few days at McMurdo the US Coast Guard Cutter “Polar Star” came into port, cutting the…
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Ship Operations at the World’s Southernmost Seaport
McMurdo Station, Antarctic survives on the food, supplies, and fuel brought in via the air and sea. By far the most cargo comes in every year by sea, and McMurdo’s Seaport is the southernmost in the world. The port operates with an Ice Pier, and handles a variety of ships. Here’s a few timelapse videos…