Welcome to Laolao's Travels! 

Who or what is a Laolao?

Laolao 姥姥 is Chinese for Grandma, specifically a maternal grandmother. Chinese has different words for every kind of family relationship. When I'm in China, my Chinese friends' children call me Nainai 奶奶, the word for a paternal grandmother. That's the polite way for a child to refer to any older woman.  

Who is this Laolao?

Hi, I'm Les! I'm a Laolao with 6 grandchildren ranging in age from 2 to 22. A little more than 15 years ago, I ditched a law practice and took a job teaching in China. A crazy decision? Most definitely! One of the more insane decisions I've made! Since that first mad decision, I've had the great good fortune to teach Law on 3 continents, plus teaching everything from Mandarin Chinese to Canadian History. Currently, like most Americans, I'm home - isolated and itching to pack my suitcase and take off.

What's the plan for Laolao's Travels?

Well, travel of course! I'm enthralled by new places, people, and cultures. So, come with me as I stroll through 15 years of travel memories until I can get out on the road again. I'll be looking at experiences that take you to well-known tourist spots and those off the beaten path. Along the way, there's likely to be some recipes for local cuisine for those of you who, like me, are adventurous enough to taste unfamiliar food. (One day I'll tell you about the silk worm grubs, sheep's eyes, and other ... um ... delicacies.)

I love to travel with my grandkids in the US, so you can look for some ideas on what to do and see with preteens and teens. And, since 2 of the boys are on the autism spectrum, I'll try and add some tips on traveling with non-neurotypical kids. Just remember, every individual on the spectrum is different. What works with my grandsons may not work for others.

As an older adult, I'm very aware of accessibility issues. One of my passions is archeology. Whenever I visit my best friend in China, he says, "Sister, I've found a new tomb for you to explore!" That should give you an idea of how much archeology excites me. Many archeological sites, by their very nature, present some challenges for older and differently abled people. I'll let you know whether an archeological or other site is completely accessible, or whether sections are going to be a problem and what's available to make it easier to visit.

走吧！Let's go!