Sometimes a blog is a confession.  Intended or not.  Writers spill their secrets, their darkest desires and ensnare you involuntarily into their web.

So, here goes – in the depths of my heart – I’ve been cheating.  On hostels.

Don’t mistake me, I still love the devil-may-care attitude of hostels, the loads of multi-dimensional, sometimes bizarre people you encounter, the management’s admirable attempts at breakfasts you recall from home and the cheap beer easily attainable from a fridge.  Just slip some dollars into a jar and let the drinking begin.

But now, there’s room for another in my heart: Roomorama.

Ever since I got the lucky chance to test drive some properties in Taiwan and Hong Kong, I’ve grown quite fond of you.  See – I savor my alone time even more these days.  Space for me to roll out my yoga mat.  Snort with laughter at things I read or watch.  Chat to my close friends back home with freedom to discuss my innermost thoughts without an audience.

I was blind to the other side of the fence for too long.  That short-term accommodation at times can appear more expensive, but it reaps so many benefits.

I’ve touched on this in the past, somehow having your own room is so bloody relaxing.  The solo female traveler can unclench – be flexible with her guard a little.

Second confession: when researching accommodation options for San Fermin, I was worried.  Although my timing of six months in advance seemed smart, hostels and hotels proved unforgiving.

It was clear the traditional route wasn’t going to pan out.  So based on the strength of my previous partnership with Roomorama, it was beautiful timing when they stepped in to be crowned our main accommodation provider for San Fermin.

A city the wee size of Pamplona brings in the most tourist dollars during the fiesta, a time when sweet, elderly Spanish ladies sweep and dust their spare rooms to open them to tourist fodder. Such as me.

Here’s a preview of our flat:

Our flat is situated in the old town near to Café Iruña, the establishment made famous by Papa – Ernest Hemingway.  We’ll also have a fine view of the bridge over the river Arga.

We’re excited to be in the thick of the action, because from what I’ve been reading, there will be plenty for us to pick and choose from!

Mostly though, it’s reassuring to have a cozy, comfortable place to rest at until the next party.  And that is worth having sometimes.

Final confession: some of those paperbacks you saw me reading, I stole from you, hostels.  Forgive me?

Read about Roomoram’s beginnings or connect with them on their website, blog, Twitter and Facebook.

Catch up on Girls Running With Bulls latest posts as we recommend five resources to get you started on the road to San Fermin or discover five must-read books on Spain, to stoke the travel fire in you.

Photo:  Matt Hintsa

Though not a well-known destination in China, Yangzhou has charms worthy of seeking.

Situated at the northern bank of the mighty Yangzte River, Yangzhou grew to attention during the Sui Dynasty, under Emperor Yangdi. It was named the southern capital of China – Jiangdu – until the completion of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal – one of the largest man-made canals in the world.

Like many great cities throughout history, Yangzhou underwent a succession of ruling parties, from the Wu Kingdom to the Qing Dynasty. What has remained consistent is this city fostered foreign trade, development and cultural exchange through the ages. The discovery of Katarina Vilioni’s tomb dated 1342, suggests a thriving Italian community existed in the city. Vilioni was the daughter of an Italian merchant, her father likely involved in the silk industry.

Two hours from Wuxi by bus, my university took us for a weekend excursion, where I captured some photographs.

Ge Garden is a human devised oasis, built by Huang Zhiyun in 1818 during the Qing Dynasty.  A rich salt merchant, Zhiyun admired bamboo for all it symbolizes – uprightness, longevity and good luck.  The Chinese characters for bamboo leaves resemble the world ‘ge’, thus Ge Garden was baptized.

The garden is a veritable wonderland of serene pools among a canopy of trees and clusters of bamboo.

The garden was also enjoyed by Huang Zhiyun’s four sons.  He had seasonal themes built in different areas of the garden, like fall:

As one explores further, pagodas are dotted all around, as places to turn to for reverie, relaxation or snapping photographs.

Huang Zhiyun instilled the importance of education in his sons, encouraging them to be indoors as well as outdoors to exercise the mind.

The rich woods, warm lighting and enclosed gardens can turn the most violent thoughts into a sea of calm.

Though I was enchanted, many of my colleagues said once you’ve seen a few Chinese gardens, they all tend to look similar.  What we find exotic can be commonplace to the local.

Slender West Lake is a man-made lake surrounded by a whopping 24 attractions – White Pagoda, 24 Bridge, among others.  Worth a full day’s attention.

The lake itself is called ‘slender’ in homage to slim, beautiful girls.  The water supports more than beauty though, transporting tourist gawkers back and forth.

In my estimation, China is bursting with recreation in tune to the ancient – that maze of re-inventing the old.  Yet, at times, fresh paint leaves one yearning for rubble, instead of sheen.

Sometimes though, wonders do grab hold.  5 Pavilion Bridge, for instance.

Marco Polo alluded to spending time in Yangzhou, likely under the command of the Mongol Emperor Kubilai Khan.  A major trade center for salt, rice and silk – it’s probably more true that Polo was working in the salt industry, though no texts exist to confirm this.

The White Pagoda stands in Beijing’s Beihai Park and during the Qing Dynasty the emperor demanded a recreation be built.  Legend says it was built from salt.

A visit to Yangzhou is not complete without an excursion to Daming Temple, famed for Monk Jianzhen, a monk who became the superior of the temple and traveled to Japan to spread Buddhism.  He failed to cross several times until he was successful and welcomed with open arms by the Japanese people.  He spent his final years in Japan.

The front entrance of many Chinese temples usually has an array of Buddhist deities on hand and Daming is no different.

In places of worship it’s easy to miss small details.

Or gaze above to the heavens.

In between all this sight-seeing, don’t assume I was starved.  I got to sample some local cuisine.  Yangzhou is famous for its fried rice.

I discovered more vegetarian delights – pickled celery anyone?

Though I call myself vegetarian, I am technically a pescetarian, so breaded fish with chillies landed in my mouth.

The university was generous with my accommodations.  I slept like a princess over a weekend:

Not to mention having the perfect lounging chair.

I’m told hotels of this nature is a fairly new concept in Yangzhou, perhaps I’m lucky to sample this city right now?

Before you skip to hotspots like Beijing, Guilin, X’ian or Shanghai, pick an unknown place and see what you discover.  You might be surprised.

MIck Jagger once said this of rock stardom: ” A good thing never ends.”  As late as 2007, at age 63, Jagger was still performing at rock concerts with his legendary band The Rolling Stones.

Now he’s 68 and still elicits screams, panty scrunching and propositions.

And it seems so do I – in China.

To be frank, campus life is sedate.  I spread out in my apartment and write prose, ride my bicycle to the teaching building where all my classes are and soak in the manmade lake, curved bridges and pagoda structures.

I assumed I’d glide through, be unnoticed, because I look like everybody else.  That has been an adjustment in itself – living in  a country where literally everyone resembles me to some degree.

But not so – strange occurrences began to happen.  It started with students early in the semester.  Girls or boys standing up in front of an entire class gushing about my hair, eyes or overall beauty.

Emails from students dinged my inbox.  My favorite to date: “Teacher Jeannie, I am very glad to be in your class, to learn all the English and yes – you are pretty.”

I was then asked to train faculty – help improve their communication skills.  During the first class, two adult women shyly introduced themselves and then called me so beautiful before sitting down slightly embarrassed.  It wasn’t just beautiful, but so beautiful.

Last week I gave a special lecture on the importance of culture – showing some photos of my travels, relaying the lessons I’ve learned.  It seemed a success – people asked questions and I received a few complimentary emails afterwards.

As students and faculty dispersed the lecture hall – a small crowd stormed me.  One set of girls asked me to head their Internet club (perhaps code for English club), while two boys and a girl discussed me as an oddity.

“She gives such a good lecture.  And isn’t she beautiful? Pretty?  Oh and so sexy.”  One of the meatier boys then proceeded to talk about weightlifting – how often he does it and so on. Awkward.

Now if this had been a darkened room, with drum and bass – a few drinks in my body to fuel me and a Saturday night when anything could happen, this kind of attention is welcome.

The strangeness is the setting.  This is a fairly respected university and it leaves me feeling, well, scrutinized from the wrong angle.

Nothing’s weirder than being called sexy by a student in a lecture hall.  Oh, but this is China.  And I guess this is what happens?

I’m honestly not sure.

What I am sure of is the falsity it creates.  I now understand how Gwailo (as my mother called them in Cantonese) can generate mass hysteria.  Have Chinese goddesses flinging themselves at them or capture the rapt attention of a Chinese person who laughs at everything he or she says or hangs on every syllable.

What it can create is inflation – in your head.  You begin to see yourself as distinct – so much so that bold behaviours emerge or worse –  a God complex.

I’m no prettier than the next girl, and it’s wise for me to remember this when I arrive in Europe by July and become old schleppy Jeannie again.

Expats – have you experienced this or witnessed it in action?

What would an earthquake feel like?  You stand on solid ground, a tremor travels from a few feet away until finally it’s throbbing beneath you.  The earth could split open under you, reveal her secrets or send you flying into a whole new stratosphere.

That’s the only way I can describe my upcoming summer adventure:

You heard the rumblings in the past while, a hint here or there.  Confirmed.  I am participating in San Fermin.  If I must sprint alongside six charging bulls –  Oneika, Nicole B., Lois and Nicole S. are worthy partners to do this with me.

On that note, I happily unveil Girls Running With Bulls!

Website: girlsrunwithbulls.com

Introduction post: Welcome to Girls Running With Bulls.

Twitter: @girlsrunwbulls

Fanpage: www.facebook.com/girlsrunwithbulls

I’m thrilled about this on so many levels.  For the thrumming excitement, spectacle and the sheer experience.

Read Michael Hodson’s account to gain some perspective on this popularized fiesta.

I hope you follow along, because it’s going to be quite the ride!

Subscribe to my YouTube Channel to receive more updates about San Fermin.

What can transpire when a seemingly silly idea grabs hold and blossoms?  The backbone of this series is about women adopting new attitudes or tackling extreme ideas and running full bore into triumph.  Kate Cox and Victoria Cavaliere decided one day to prove to the world that you can travel for two weeks on only $1,000.  Oh, and they’ve created an independent television show around the concept, just to add fun into the mix.  Welcome to Off the Radar Travel.

Q: Your concept is cool.  How did the idea come to fruition?

A: Off the Radar Travel was born of this basic conundrum: How can we be moveable objects when time and resources are fixed and unmoving? We kept wondering, what if minimal resources aren’t really the limitation we think they are? What if they’re the ticket to a more authentic experience when you travel? We had our two weeks of vacation, about a thousand bucks and enough wanderlust to fuel the whole human race. So, we decided to test our theory: 2 weeks in a country on a grand. Could we see more on less?

Q: Many people are taking advantage of multimedia tools and starting web TV shows, what makes yours distinct?

A: Well, Off the Radar basks in uncertainty! We don’t know the outcome of our mission on any given trip. The idea is to find out what works and what doesn’t. It’s not about how much bizarre food we can eat or how many beautiful vistas we can photograph. It’s more concrete than that: If we spend 50 lempiras on a taxi to our next destination, do we need to stay in a cheaper hotel? Can we get abroad on miles and then fudge the rest? Imagine us as pocket companions. We’re real women traveling—foibles, triumphs and all.

Q: What were some of the surprises you discovered trying to travel for two weeks on a budget of a $1,000? The pluses?

A: For one thing, that budget of time and money means you’re running lean and mean. So it’s like instant prioritizing. The stuff you struggle to sustain in your daily life takes a backseat to moments. Moments are always the surprise. One of the pluses of this is that you become more flexible, mobile and quick-thinking. Destinations are a surprise, too. So, you want beaches and culture, but you want a value and you don’t want crowds? Think Honduras instead of Costa Rica. In some ways, the budget gives you more choices. You start exploring the destinations you’d never thought of. You get creative.

Q: Do you think the cost of traveling is what stops people from doing it?

A: It’s a big part.  But it’s also an ever bigger excuse. And that’s a myth Off the Radar wants to dispel– the idea that you can’t find enough money to push your own four corners. In many cases, people stay grounded because of fear of the unknown. If we see travel as our key to a world that feels less mystifying and polarized then it begins to seem more like a priority than a privilege. In the same way that you budget for a car, groceries, or a fabulous new handbag, you can find ways to travel affordably and in line with one’s personal financial reality.  That’s also why we set the budget so low for the show.  If we can have a really awesome experience (we are not talking dorm hostels and ramen here!) on what we would at least spend at home in two weeks anyway, how can money be a reason to never take that dream trip?

Q: What does your series cover? What can we expect from it?

A: One of the best things about Off the Radar is that it is entirely relatable and yet unique.  We did some research and found that the vast majority of adventure travel is done by women, regardless of age or marital status.  On many of those trips, women are traveling together. However, there’s never been at TV program (that we know of) that reflects this reality.  On top of that, we want to take our viewers to some pretty unexpected spots. Upcoming episodes are slated for Laos and Oman.  Exceptional travel destinations that don’t get nearly enough press.  And because they don’t, they are also a bit more affordable!  We also want to show people how to get Off the Radar in their own backyard.  Microtrips, if you will.

Q: So, if any enterprising women want to shoot their own TV show, what type of camera did you use?  Editing suite?  And web uploader?

A: We used a Sony HD NXCAM HXR-NX5U (just one!) and had a couple wireless mics, a tripod and we traveled with 1TB drives to offload the day’s footage (since P2 cards are too expensive to buy in bulk for two weeks of shooting).  Though both of us have now upgraded to Apple computers (trusty iMac and trusty MacBook Pro) we actually logged the footage using an old Dell laptop.  We just couldn’t afford to upgrade at the time.  Editing was done on FinalCut.  We’ve been uploading clips using Vimeo and our very affordable GoDaddy domain and WordPress blog.  Web tools have become so user friendly and so professional-looking, it’s possible to build an entire web presence for very little money.

Q: You describe yourselves as “office bums”, can you elaborate what that means?  (Since I’m a former corporate drone.)

A: Well, all that really means is that we have jobs that keep us tied to home for most of the year. In our case, New York City.  We’ve had different experiences professionally, and jobs that we’ve either loved or loathed, but a reality has been PTO (actually, we’re both freelance now, so NO PTO!) and understaffed workplaces where it can be a scramble to get away. We think a lot of people have that same reality.  No matter how happy and fulfilled (or miserable and bored) you are professionally, and even if you travel for work, traveling to grow personally has to remain a priority. Sometimes, you have to think outside the box to get it going.

Q: Finally – I think a lot of women don’t do things because they feel their ideas are crazy.  What advice would you give them?

A: We have a special aversion to the word crazy and find that it is often used when your idea or opinion is spot on!  Making a project a reality often just starts with talking about it — out loud.  The more you hear yourself say something — “I want to hike Kilimanjaro” or “I want to start a catering company,” the more it becomes…doable.  No dream is crazy and no idea too big to implement if you’re willing to put the time, effort and love behind it!

For a change, I have nothing more to add, except I urge you to watch Off the Radar’s zippy trailer for the pilot episode:

Connect with Kate Cox and Victoria Cavaliere on their website, Vimeo, Facebook and Twitter.  

Chicks Conquering the World is a monthly series about women overcoming the odds or doing unique and different things.  If you’d like to be featured or want to nominate someone, contact me  at: nomadic.chick@gmail.com.