The best part about Christmas is the coming together of family and sharing a meal. Or, in my case this year, it’s being invited into someone else’s family… a hardcore Polish family. D’s grandfather grew up in Poland, survived WWII, and immigrated to the US where he met his wife and raised 8 children. Through all this, he has kept the Polish tradition of a Christmas Eve supper (a Wigilia) alive. D’s dad has assumed the role of chef and…
Lessons from Hawaii
Spending time in Hawaii is a bit different than spending time in Los Angeles (and I’m not just saying this because I was on vacation). Los Angeles – the land of the superficial – is often consumed by selfies, labels, and smartphones. On Hawaii, there is no room to think of such things. Time slows down in such a way that you are able to notice things you usually take for granted. The locals are friendlier. You just feel happy…
Kualoa Ranch Photo Journal
A trip to Kualoa Ranch is like a trip to yesteryear… to a time when the world has not yet fallen victim to modernization. Where the jungle grows wild and free. Where cows leisurely graze on rolling green hills. It is nature so pristine and pure that Jurassic Park comes to mind. Kualoa Ranch is, without a doubt, the most beautiful place I have ever seen. D and I had the pleasure of spending a day at this nature haven…
[Oahu, Hawaii] Best Cheap Eats, Part 2
Last week, I shared my picks for Oahu’s best cheap eats. This week, I am sharing a few other places worthy of praise: Honorable Mentions: Fook Lam (Chinatown Honolulu) – We came here on Yelp recommendations as we were craving dim sum after days of feasting on Hawaiian food. Eating here is like a study in textural gastronomy… sticky shrimp dumpling wrappers, chewy gooey rice balls, and flaky egg tart crusts with creamy custard filling. The ingredients are fresh and…
[Oahu, Hawaii] Best Cheap Eats, Part 1
When I was planning for my trip to Oahu, Hawaii, one of the most common, well-intentioned advice I received was to be prepared to spend a fortune on food. This was not my experience. D and I were able to eat on about $40-$50 a day for the both of us (errr… save for the couple of meals where we purposely pigged out). Being foodies, we arrived on Oahu with a short list of must-hit-up places, and we also came…
A Tale of Two Parasailers
About exactly one year ago, I was hanging off a harness 400’ above the San Diego coastline, marvelling at the vastness of our oceans. Parasailing wasn’t the thrilling adventure I’d imagined it to be (trust me, I was about to pee my bikini bottoms as I was getting strapped in), but rather a calming one. We hung in almost total silence with the sky surrounding us and the ocean below our feet. And my fear of heights? It disintegrated with…
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…
Downtown Portland, Oregon is a foodie’s dream
D and I travelled to Portland, Oregon a few months back on a whim. We were looking for somewhere new to go for a long weekend and figured, why not. We knew nothing of this town except that 1) everyone loves it and 2) it has good food. Win and double-win! So naturally, upon our return to SoCal, the conversations always went something like this. “How was Portland?” “Amazing!! We ate a lot!” “What else did you do?” “We just…