I send him stuff to help him learn English! This time he said he would send me a bamboo scroll with Lao Tzu's "The Art of War" on it. And also a Chinese keychain is what I'd like, as I collect foreign keychains!
for flights, I like to use https://www.google.com/flights/
once you select your dates, it'll also show you how much money you can save if you book on dates close to the dates you chose.
as for hotels, I usually use kayak. if you're looking to be super cheap, you could always start couchsurfing
things that my SO and i did before we were able to see eachother more frequently included skype and online scrabble games. we skyped a LOT. that alone is a great way to feel like you're closer than you really are, and let's you learn more about how they are as a person (mannerisms etc.). We also found an app for iphones named Couple, which basically creates a facebook thing for you and your SO. you can post pictures, draw together, send messages and even thumbkiss! check it out here. i've even heard of people who go to the movies together (but apart) where you each go to a movie or watch a certain show and discuss it later. my SO and i still do that type of thing, but with books... it keeps you connected , which is important. :)
Seems really strange from his side.
I would like to suggest you to check out Letters to a jerk you may answers there found for yourself https://www.amazon.com/Letters-J-R-K-No-Bullsh-Relationships-ebook/dp/B07NDV6SB3/ref=zg_bsnr_10166948011_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=B3D4C60VTJC2JGPXNXER
These are the two books we used during our time apart.
The Complete Guide is research and interview based with some tests and activities at the back to help you mesh your lives together both during the LDR and after you are together.
Advice for the Geographically Challenged I recall being the book with better advice on how to cope and is more anecdotal based instead of research based.
It has been a while since I read these books, but I do remember these being the ones we used to help us through.
Be ready to be annoyed by a lot of little things for the first month or so. It is really no different than adjusting to roommates with differing habits. The biggest thing to remember is that you made it through being in an LDR, everything else is way easier to deal with.
And when you get married, set everything up how you want it to be, don't try to appease family members. And if family start butting into it too much, just fly to Vegas and get married. My oldest brothers cheesy Elvis impersonator wedding was way more fun that the huge spectacles of all the other ones I've ever been to.