Adrian's Journal

Use these 7 prompts before booking your next trip 1. Flexible-Origin Arbitrage “Find cheaper routes to [destination] using nearby departure airports within [X km]. Compare savings vs extra travel time + logistics.” 2. Cheapest-Date Probability Scan “Analyze flexible dates for this route. Rank departure–return pairs by historical lows and likelihood of future price drops.” 3. True Airline Cost Audit “List airlines on this route and calculate real total cost including baggage, seat selection, meals, and mandatory fees — not just ticket price.” 4. Multi-City Price Splitter “Test whether booking this trip as multi-city is cheaper than direct. Show segments, layovers, and savings with clear pros/cons.” 5. Alternate Hub Strategy “Identify cheaper hub cities near [destination]. Price partial routes + final legs that reduce total fare.” 6. Booking-Timing Optimizer “Based on seasonality + demand for this route, tell me when to book, when to wait, and when price spikes usually happen.” 7. Buy-or...

 ​🧧 Gong Xi Fa Cai! 🧧 ​To celebrate the Year of the Snake (and the spirit of the Horse!), I built a browser game! ​🐴 Fire Horse Run 🔥 Shoot fireballs 🧨 Dodge firecrackers 💰 Collect lucky coins ​No download needed. Play it right now on your phone:  🔗 https://adrianvideoimage.com/fire-horse-game/ ​Let me know what level you reach! My high score is Level 7. ​#CNY2026 #IndieGame #GameDev #FireHorseRun #AdrianVideoImage

Seedance 2.0 from China is blowing up the internet right now. Hollywood's freaking out and creators are going wild with cinematic clips. And everyone's asking the same thing: How do I actually get access to this beast? Here’s how to access and how to build income with it👇👇 1. What's Seedance 2.0? It's ByteDance's multimodal AI video model. You can upload up to 9 images, 3 videos (15s total), 3 audio files (15s MP3), and text. It lets you control the character, motion, camera, editing rhythm, lip-sync, and sound effects. It outputs 4-15s videos in native 2K. You're basically directing, not just prompting. 2. How do I get Seedance 2.0 right now? - Get a Chinese phone number (TextVerified / SMSPool ~$1-5) - Change your store region to China → download Douyin → create an account - Go to jimeng.jianying.com → sign in with Douyin Early access through Jimeng (not the full international Dreamina yet). 3. @ System Explained Uploads get auto-labeled (@Image1, @Video1, e...

As a solo traveler in China, these are 3 of my favorite vlogging gear. The Camera: iPhone 17 Pro The most important tool is my iPhone 17 Pro. I love it because the video quality is amazing on both the front and rear cameras. The new camera control button is very convenient. It also has great built-in stabilization, so I don't even need to carry a bulky gimbal anymore. I specifically chose the 1TB version so I never run out of storage space. I picked the Blue version because it looks timeless. I think the Orange one might look a bit "old" in five years! I also went with the Pro instead of the Max. It's smaller and lightweight, which makes it much easier to fit into my other accessories. The Support: Ulanzi MT-85 Next is my favorite selfie stick tripod, the Ulanzi MT-85. This thing is a lifesaver. It has automatic quick-release legs, so I can set it up on the ground in seconds. It stretches up to 1.5 meters tall. This means I can get the camera to my eye level without h...

Look at those legs! No, seriously—look at them. If you’ve ever traveled solo, you know the "photography struggle" is real. You’re either awkwardly asking a stranger to take a photo (and hoping they don't cut off your feet) or you're balancing your expensive phone on a shaky trash can hoping for the best. I just returned from a 9-day solo trip to China, and I made one gear decision that saved me hours of frustration: I brought along the Magnetic Selfie Stick Tripod with Automatic Quick-release Legs. Here is why this became my go-to tool for every vlog and photo I took. 1. Speed is Everything: Automatic Quick-Release Legs When you’re solo, you want to be fast. You don’t want to be that person standing in the middle of a busy street in Beijing fumbling with tripod locks. With this gear, the legs are automatic. One press and they snap open. No more fighting with stiff plastic or—heaven forbid—breaking a fingernail trying to pry a tripod leg loose. It’s professional, it’s ...

We’ve all seen those cool "instant outfit change" videos on TikTok and Instagram. You know the ones—snap a finger, jump in the air, or roll on a bed, and boom—you’re suddenly dressed for the day. It looks like magic, but as a video creator, I can tell you it’s just a simple editing trick called the Match Cut. Whether you are making a travel vlog (I used similar techniques on my recent trip to China) or just a fun OOTD (Outfit of the Day) video, this transition is a great way to grab attention without needing expensive gear. All you need is your smartphone, a tripod (or a steady hand), and the CapCut app. Here is the step-by-step breakdown of how to film and edit this magic roll transition... Phase 1: Filming the Clips The secret to this trick isn't in the editing; it's in the alignment. You need to make sure your body position looks exactly the same in both clips. Step 1: The "Before" Shot Lay your outfit flat on your bed. Position yourself on the bed so you...

  Have you ever wanted to be in two places at once? Whether you want to have a conversation with yourself, act out a comedy skit, or simply add a professional creative flair to your vlogs, the "clone effect" is one of the most effective tools in a content creator's toolkit.  As a professional videographer who transitioned to full-time content creation, I love showing people that you don't need a massive production budget to create "movie magic." All you need is your smartphone and the CapCut app. The Secret Sauce: The Masking Tool The key to this effect is a technique called "masking." By stacking two videos on top of each other and "cutting" a hole through the top layer, you can reveal the layer underneath, making it look like two versions of you are in the same room. Step 1: The Setup (Don't Skip This!) Before you even open an editing app, you need the right footage:  * Use a Tripod: This is the most important rule. The camera must ...

I’m flying to China soon, and my itinerary involves an international arrival followed by a domestic connecting flight. I've been doing my research, and let me tell you, the power bank rules are a little stricter than the usual international standards. If you're planning a similar trip, you need to pay close attention to one specific certification mark to avoid having your gear confiscated! Here’s everything I learned and the products I’m considering buying (using my affiliate links!) to ensure a stress-free experience. Rule 1: Carry-On is the ONLY Way First and foremost, like most global airlines, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) requires all power banks to be carried in your  carry-on baggage  or on your person. They are strictly banned from checked luggage due to the fire risk from lithium-ion batteries. Rule 2: Capacity Limits (The Usual Stuff) The capacity rules are pretty standard internationally: Under 100 Wh (~20,000 to 27,000 mAh):  Perfectly fine...