Compared to the more travel-heavy past 3 months, January was pretty stationary. I don’t think I intended on staying in the U.S. for so long, but I’m really glad I stayed through January. This gave me one more month to see friends, eat good food, and create memories. Since this was my last month before going off to travel again, I made sure to see as many people and visit as many LA spots as possible. I’m happy I got to spend this…
September 2015 travel re-cap: returning home
Let’s keep going with these re-caps… this one is a heavy one! September started off on a very high note. After a full month in the ICU department + recovery suite, my sister, Lena, was transferred out of the hospital and into a rehab center (on the very last day of August, I believe)! (Hello new readers! Read here if you have no idea what happened.) This put everyone in a good mood. Once in rehab, she progressed very fast – from…
Southern California, home sweet home
When we first decided we were going to get rid of everything that tied us down and travel, we both had our worries, but there was never a doubt in our minds that we wouldn’t like the nomadic lifestyle. D is Southern California born and raised, and I’ve lived here for almost 2 decades. After living in one place for so long… well, it can get quite ordinary. And there’s a whole world out there! So many different cultures and…
Sun, fun, and mud at Glen Ivy Hot Springs
I hope you will forgive me for jumping around a bit on the blog. I thought I’d interrupt my adventures abroad to talk a little about adventures at home. And hey, that keeps things interesting, no? After 3 months spent in the beginnings of a chilly South American winter, I was ready for some of our famous Southern California sun. I was also ready to catch up with one of my best girlfriends. Our requirement was someplace relaxing and pampering (as…
The Ultimate Guide to Koreatown – the Coolest Neighborhood in Los Angeles
After almost a decade of living in/around Los Angeles, I still haven’t made up my mind on whether I love or hate the city. However, I have come to the conclusion that Koreatown just may be the coolest place in LA. If you are looking for a night out in downtown Los Angeles… let’s say the kind of night where you eat good food, channel your inner rockstar, and maybe even chat up a cute girl (or guy)… and if…
10 Things to do in Downtown Los Angeles (on a walking tour)
Sometimes on a weekend when D and I find ourselves without any plans, we ride the train up to downtown Los Angeles. We mainly go to eat at one little Mexican stand called Rodolfo’s. Rodolpho’s is situated smack in the middle of the bustling and ever so colorful Olvera Street, a charming little brick-lined alley inducing visions of old Mexico. It also has an interesting history of being the oldest part of downtown Los Angeles. Olvera Street is conveniently located…
Adventures on Catalina Island – Part 2
Catalina is not the typical island of your dreams. It is more desert than tropical. Instead of waves lapping up on soft white sand beaches, the waves crash into rocky cliffs. Most of the island is a conservancy, where bison roam free and other creatures call home. Falcons soar through the valley against the backdrop of jagged mountains dense with vegetation. It’s a majestic kind of beauty. And then there’s the little town of Avalon, where all the action happens. Rows…
Adventures on Catalina Island – Part 1
On clear days, Catalina Island looms far in the distance off the Southern California coast, a mysterious rocky mass disrupting the otherwise uninterrupted vast expansiveness of the ocean. It is said that the island has been home to a series of settlers for over 7,000 years, though it is now primarily a tourist attraction for Southern Californians looking for a quick getaway. And while I’ve lived in SoCal for 15 years, I never went, mainly because cheapo me didn’t want to…