Matt Wehner – wadventures https://wfamilyadventure.com Just a fancy way to share our experiences in China Sat, 18 Feb 2023 01:19:30 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wfamilyadventure.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/cropped-wfamilysquare-32x32.jpg Matt Wehner – wadventures https://wfamilyadventure.com 32 32 Xi’an Photos https://wfamilyadventure.com/xian-photos/ Fri, 08 Feb 2019 05:56:32 +0000 http://wfamilyadventure.com/?p=1009097

Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, China

Here are some of our favorite pictures from our time in Xi’an.  The Terracotta Army is an amazing site and Xi’an has years of history that are almost incomprehensible.  We are so thankful for our time there, especially experiencing it with Grandma and Grandpa. (Click any photo for a larger view.)

]]> Phuket Photos https://wfamilyadventure.com/phuket-photos/ Tue, 15 Jan 2019 05:10:35 +0000 http://wfamilyadventure.com/?p=1008869

Phuket, Thailand

The 2 weeks we spent in Phuket, Thailand were exactly what we needed during our first year of living abroad. Since our arrival in Beijing in August, we have been nonstop busy, and it felt like we didn’t even have a moment to pause and breathe.  Phuket finally provided us the time to appreciate what we were experiencing.  We saw animals, people, food, landscapes, ocean, islands, and so much more beauty. Click any photo for a larger view.

]]> X-Mas Elephants https://wfamilyadventure.com/x-mas-elephants/ https://wfamilyadventure.com/x-mas-elephants/#respond Tue, 25 Dec 2018 00:10:42 +0000 http://wfamilyadventure.com/?p=1008553

Phuket, Thailand

Christmas Day 2018.  After opening presents and the obligatory picture in front of a Christmas tree, we were ready for an adventure we have all been looking forward to for a long time.  Our Christmas present to each other was an experience at the Green Elephant Sanctuary Park.

In this Elephant sanctuary we experienced elephants in the most natural way, in their natural environment where they are free and simply wonderful.  Visitors can get in close contact with the impressive pachyderms by touching and feeding them. Thanks to the Green Elephant Sanctuary Park Phuket, abused elephants get a second chance at life – without chains and beatings.  In this park, traumatised animals are not allowed to be ridden.  We learned a lot about Thai Elephants and loved experiencing their daily life through feeding and bathing these magnificent animals.

This was unlike any Christmas holiday we have spent in the past.  But the last 5 months have shown us that together, we can create new traditions.

]]> https://wfamilyadventure.com/x-mas-elephants/feed/ 0 A Day at the Beach https://wfamilyadventure.com/a-day-at-the-beach/ https://wfamilyadventure.com/a-day-at-the-beach/#respond Thu, 20 Dec 2018 02:44:12 +0000 http://wfamilyadventure.com/?p=1008456

Kamala Beach, Phuket, Thailand

This was one of those amazing days the girls will always remember.  We rented a few beach chairs under umbrellas, bought juice smoothies and ice cream, and stayed at the beach all day.  These girls had seen an ocean once before, but it was cold in Florida so they did not get to swim.  Today they truly swam in the ocean for the first time ever.  They loved it so much we couldn’t get them to leave, which proved to be painful later when both developed pretty tough sunburn.  We all learned when it’s time to take a break next time.
]]> https://wfamilyadventure.com/a-day-at-the-beach/feed/ 0 Photos from Pingyao https://wfamilyadventure.com/photos-from-pingyao/ https://wfamilyadventure.com/photos-from-pingyao/#respond Tue, 13 Nov 2018 13:44:22 +0000 http://wfamilyadventure.com/?p=1007984

Pingyao, Shanxi Province, China

For me, Pingyao was my first excursion in China outside of Beijing. The older style architecture prominent within in the walled city center was definitely was a contrast to what we are used to in Beijing. My hope for photos here was to show some the ancient buildings and some of the everyday life among them. Click any photo for a larger view.

]]> https://wfamilyadventure.com/photos-from-pingyao/feed/ 0 BUGS! https://wfamilyadventure.com/bugs/ https://wfamilyadventure.com/bugs/#respond Sat, 03 Nov 2018 11:45:43 +0000 http://wfamilyadventure.com/?p=5668

Various Districts, Beijing, China

I haven’t seen a whole lot of wildlife since arriving in Beijing a few months ago. I’ve seen some birds, but really have not been able to get a good photo of them. It really is odd being in a land with no squirrels! Neighbors say hedgehogs live in the bushes in our compound, but I haven’t seen one yet. Still, we all have seen some pretty extraordinary bugs: spiders as a big as a maple leafs and oddly charismatic praying mantises. Click any photo for a larger view.

]]> https://wfamilyadventure.com/bugs/feed/ 0 Something I Saw Today: Pikmin Car https://wfamilyadventure.com/something-i-saw-today-pikmin-car/ https://wfamilyadventure.com/something-i-saw-today-pikmin-car/#respond Tue, 09 Oct 2018 09:01:39 +0000 http://wfamilyadventure.com/?p=5353

Chaoyang District, Beijing, China

Spotted in my Morning Commute: A White Pikmin Car

Pikmin: a plant/animal hybrid helper from the Nintendo game series of the same name.  White Pikmin specialize in poison powers.

Beijing traffic can be tough.  I am lucky that I am able to take the bus into WAB with the girls. I try to sit a bit far away from them because I think the school bus is important social time for kids, and I try to stay out of the way. I put headphones in and watch the commute.

I love Nintendo games and the Pikmin series, to me, is part of the Top Three game series: Mario, Zelda, Pikmin.  The symbolism of a white Pikmin in the smog doesn’t escape me.

“When we move back to Minnesota, we should get a yellow electric car and make it a yellow Pikmin” -Nola

]]> https://wfamilyadventure.com/something-i-saw-today-pikmin-car/feed/ 0 The View from the 14th Floor https://wfamilyadventure.com/the-view-from-the-14th-floor/ https://wfamilyadventure.com/the-view-from-the-14th-floor/#respond Mon, 10 Sep 2018 02:49:34 +0000 http://wfamilyadventure.com/?p=5596

Chaoyang District, Beijing, China

One of the perks of our temporary housing was a grand view of Beijing. The shear vastness of a city with population of 21.5 million is really mind-bending. It really looks like the city goes forever. I tried my best to capture the view in as many kinds of lighting and atmospherics as I could during our month stay. Click any photo for a larger view.

]]> https://wfamilyadventure.com/the-view-from-the-14th-floor/feed/ 0 798 Art District in Photos https://wfamilyadventure.com/798-art-district-in-photos/ https://wfamilyadventure.com/798-art-district-in-photos/#respond Thu, 30 Aug 2018 02:18:33 +0000 http://wfamilyadventure.com/?p=6165

Chaoyang District, Beijing, China

July-August was a whirlwind of packing decisions, Craigs-listing belongings, exhausting travel, humid high-temperatures and, unrelenting culture shock. I’ve lived abroad before, and knew we all would definitely have some uncomfortable adjustments . Still, I vastly underestimated how difficult it would be to adapt while all was fresh. Luckily we lived in the 798 district this first month. It was just full of photographable novelties.  Once in a while, I could walk around and take photos to help me process my new surroundings. It became a welcome break from daily life’s grocery-store-puzzles, transportation mysteries, new smells, and adjustments to my concept of personal space.  Click any photo for a larger view.

]]> https://wfamilyadventure.com/798-art-district-in-photos/feed/ 0 Early Evening Photo Walk with Ivy https://wfamilyadventure.com/early-evening-photo-walk-with-ivy/ https://wfamilyadventure.com/early-evening-photo-walk-with-ivy/#respond Thu, 16 Aug 2018 13:39:59 +0000 http://wfamilyadventure.com/?p=5524

Chaoyang District, Beijing, China

Living in our temporary apartment has been great overall, but it is a lot less space than we are used to.  Nola and Ivy were getting on each other’s nerves on one night, so I decided to take Ivy out for a quick photo walk to give them both a little time away from each other.

I’m still getting used to a new camera, but really like it’s low light performance.  Ivy got some great photos for her first time with a non-toy-or-phone camera. It’s interesting to see the world from Ivy’s viewpoint. Click any photo for a larger view.

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