I am interrupting my China series with a linkup to my friend Upasna‘s blog party. This month’s theme: travel packing musts! I used to pride myself on being a super light-weight packer (1+ years as a full time nomadic traveler and all in a carry-on!), but lately, I feel like I’ve been accumulating more and more (useless, as D would say) things. Maybe it’s the fact that it has been so long on the road and I’m starting to crave…
[Taipei] A street food lover’s guide to Taipei cuisine
A couple of weeks ago, D saw this article on Matador Network – 9 Foods You Have to Try in Taipei, Taiwan – and he was infuriated. Really?? Wontons?? Where are the stinky tofu and the pork belly rice? Both quintessential Taiwanese eats. Or even beef noodle soup? Only the dish that Taiwan is known for! Did the author only spend 2 days in Taipei and deemed the few meager snacks she had as must-eats? And seriously half of that list is…
6 steps to bargaining at D’Talipapa market in Boracay
The D’Talipapa Seafood Market is one of my favorite places on Boracay, and at the same time, my least favorite. Seafood is one of those things that I’m mostly apathetic towards (it just seems like too high prices for not too much payoff), but if I happen to get my hands on some, I don’t know why I don’t eat more of it. It’s delicious! On the other hand, D is a big seafood fan (check out the gigantic shrimp we had…
Angkor Temple Hopping Guide for Dummies
In my last post, I gave you a taste of everyday life in Siem Reap. But let’s be honest, if you’re headed to Siem Reap, it’s most likely because of one reason only: to see the ancient Angkor temples! So today, let’s get on to what you really care about and talk about temple hopping. First, before I say anything, I have somewhat of an embarrassing confession: I honestly didn’t know anything about the temples. I mean, of course I’ve…
The best of Europe in meals
As I look back on my Europe posts, I feel bad for having slacked on my Foodie Fridays. And it’s really not fair as we did eat a lot of good food. So here, I continue my recap of Europe with the absolute best meal we ate in each city/country. Some are budget and some are more expensive, but each is representative of the local cuisine and worth seeking out. London: English breakfast and tea Ah, the full English breakfast. It’s…
The Best of Europe: Churches (Vol. I)
My first Europe trip is over and I realize that I haven’t written much about it at all. The thousands of pictures I’ve taken lay jumbled in a series of digital folders, unsorted and unedited. It makes me feel a little bad because I saw so many incredible things and now those memories are slowly slipping away. So here goes a series of Europe recaps, mainly for myself so I can always remember. First up: places of worship!
The locals’ guide to Warsaw: Poland’s phoenix city
Warsaw is a city best appreciated through its history. At first glance, Warsaw is neither impressively metropolitan nor charmingly historic (unlike the more popular Krakow). It seems neither here nor there, as if a city not yet come into its own. The result is a very forgettable city, some may even say utterly lacking in character. But to even begin to appreciate the city, you need to understand the history. Warsaw’s story is one of heroism, destruction, and rebirth. Stick with me as…
How not to get fat while traveling
It was in a Berlin H&M when I realized that the only dress that fit me was a whole 2 sizes larger than what I usually wore. It was in Prague when I took one look in the full length mirror (though it was totally a fat mirror) and swore off food for the rest of the trip. When did I become so unhealthy?? Before I set off on my journey, I honestly never thought staying healthy would be a problem….
Buenos Aires: Take Two
A few weeks ago, I got honest about my feelings towards Buenos Aires, and I wrote about how I will not be returning for a long, long time. It turned out I was a liar, because I returned exactly 2 weeks later. Our long journey back to Southern California from Montevideo was one that took us across 5 countries in 36 hours, including a 7-hour stopover in Buenos Aires. Hmmm… what to do when you’re stuck in a city that you didn’t particularly care…
Packing List, Part Deux: Summer in Europe
A few weeks ago, while Amazon-shopping for some more travel clothing, and putting together my summer wardrobe for Europe, I said something I never thought I’d say: “I think I have too much clothes.” Yep, the girl who previously had a closet full of clothes with tags, and who would go for over a month without repeating a shirt, is now over-analyzing every piece of clothing in her carry-on. After 3 months in South America, I realized how minimalist I can be….