BON APPETIT & BON VOYAGE

KON' NICHIWA JAPAN

2016-11-11T16:08:00.003-08:00

Kon' nichiwa Japan!
I've just returned from my 10 days trip to Japan and cross off another bucket list. YAY!

Here I am giving you a quick snapshot of my budget itinerary and hope you find it helpful. Here is a link I find super useful, http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2164.html

*If you are mileage plan member, this maybe insightful. *
I am an Alaska Airline credit card holder and have always love their $99 companion fare which I often used to travel to Hawaii. Hawaii is a very popular destinations for all tourists around the world, particularly Japanese as it is the closest USA destinations and Hawaii is beyond paradise. With that being said, there are so many flights flying in and out from various city of Japan. Since I'm already saving a few hundreds dollars using companions fare for my BF and I, we decided to do a 2nd leg trip flying to Japan. Needless to say, RT flights from Hawaii to Japan was $600 including tax!

8 days is not enough to see Japan as we want to visit the city of Osaka, Kyoto and Tokyo!
Departing from Honolulu International Airport to Osaka (23 hrs with 2 hrs layover in Taipei.

LETS GO!!!!

Day 1 - OSAKA
Arrive Osaka at 8am - Osaka also known as Japan Kitchen.
Daytime- Visit Osaka Castle. Have fresh sushi at Kuromon Market (open 10am, Kuromon market open much later compared to other city markets, highly recommend for Chu-Toro)

Nighttime -Check out Dotonburi, a long strip of malls offer tons of local and international food selections. Must try Ichiran Ramen and Takoyaki

Tips: Take a photo with the Glico Man.

Day 2 KYOTO
Osaka to Kyoto - Kyoto is a beautiful city that offers a rare link between the modern life in the city and its very ancient past filled with temples and shrines. Highly recommend to Stay at a Traditional Ryokan feature Tatami Set.

Kyoto has different regions. Here is the link. http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2158.html
This link will help you to plan better and maximize time by visiting regions to regions.

Depart from Osaka Train Station - 30 min ride on the Shinkasen aka Bullet Train.Arrive at Kyoto Station, proceed to Ryokan to drop suitcase and we are ready to explore Central Kyoto and Eastern Kyoto!!

First stop, Kiyiomizudera Temple! Right infront the temple, is the famous Higashiyama area featuring traditional Japanese houses, narrow alley ways and well manicured Japanese Garden. If you keep walking, you will Walk to Gion District, famed for Geisha and you might luckily spot Geishas at the Yasaka Shrine, continue to walk down Hanamikoji Street.

Eat: Gion Tsujiri Honten but do expect a little wait. This dessert place has everything made of Matcha including the jelly and whip cream.

When the sun is setting, walk to Pontocho and have traditional Kyoto dinner. Pontocho is a very small narrow alley offers various of upscale dining, such as Kaiseki but it can be pricey. So we opt out, and had Kobe beef aka Wagyu beef instead.

Day 3: KYOTO
Check out from hotel. Went to the Kyoto station to buy tickets to Tokyo and placed our suitcase at the station locker. Our plan was to explore Southern Kyoto.
Take a train from Kyoto Station less than $2.00 to see the famous Fushimi Inari Taisha. Wonder around and then walk to Tofukuji Temple.

If, If we had time to spare. We wanted to check out Arashiyama bamboo forest which is in Western Kyoto and Kinkakuji in Northen Kyoto.

Day 4- TOKYO - Shinjuku and Ginza
Arrive Tokyo. Check in hotel at Shinjuku. Explore - Western Tokyo
Many places open around 11am and close at midnight so we had to check out Tsukiji Fish Market and get fresh seafood at the outer market. Take a short walk to Ginza to check out Imperial Palace. Went back to hotel for a nice evening nap.

7pm: Catch a train to Shibuya. Check out Uobei Sushi for bullet train sushi chain and take a photo/video at Shibuya crossing. Indulged in the hustle bustle of Shibuya and don't forget the Shibuya last train is midnight.

Day 5 - TOKYO - Harajuku
Explore Harajuku. Famous for street fashions. Take a trip down Takeshita Street and check out Meiji Shrine.
Eat- Afuri Ramen ( Dipping Noddle). During at night, explore Harajuku and get the famous Harajuku Gyoza.

Day 6 - TOKYO Asakusa and Odaiba
Check out the oldest temple in Tokyo the Asakusa Temple! Then walk to Ameyoko in Ueno, it used to be a black market during WW2. Ameyoko shopping offer the best prices for shopping such as green teas, chocolate covered chips and many more!Evening: Check out Roppongi Hill. An up and coming youngster town. Take a bite at Izakaya spots and drinks like a local.

Day 7 - TOKYO - Ueno
Planning to go see Fuji Mount and hotspring. But we eneed up going to Tsukiji Fish Market as we were craving for sushi and then doing some last minute shopping in Shinjuku. Day 8 - Check out Tokyo National Museum. I got really lucky when we visit, the museum feature special exhibition- The thousand years old of The Hidden Buddha of Rakuyaji Temple in Shiga during Heian Period.

Day 9 -TOKYO-USA
Depart from Narita Aiport to HonoluluTokyo is really small, so you can pretty much plan your day how you feel.

Example: Tokyo National Musuem is in Ueno which I could cramp in day 6, but it was closed on Monday so i went back on my last day when I had time.
There are tons of beautiful park such as Yoyogi Park but we are not into Botanical park. If you have extra day to spare, many will go to Tokyo Disneyland.

It really depends what you prefer. These are a snapshot of mine. Here is a link Ive used for all my reaseach and it is easy and straight forward. Hope this help.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2164.html

JE TAIME PARIS

2016-05-03T03:53:00.004-07:00

I cannot wait to share my Paris experience with you all. There are so much to share so I will break it down into three sections.

Sections:
1) Tips on flights, accommodations, travel apps etc.
2) Pre-trip planing
3) Third one will be the actual travels, places we get to visit, and the unexpected scenes.

Lets go!

SECTION 1.

Most of you have found some reads, stumble on links or even score a better deals than mine, I would love to hear about your experience in getting cheap travel but here are mine!

These are my personal tips, there are no validations, proves or research whatsoever, take it or leave it.

1) Book your flights on Mon &Tues, leave on Tues, Wed and Sat.I have been sitting in front the laptop for weeks everyday (except Fri-Sun, don't waste your time on weekend, the prices will make you real mad!), and I find airfare prices fluctuates a lot.

I book my airfare after 10pm, there are no validations or proves but thats when i got the cheapest on most of my travels, try it yourself.

2) I know that I want to visit Paris & Italy sometimes in late March/early April ( Milan, Rome, Venice, Florence, Siena, Monte Carlo and I rank these city by my top choices)
Prior to booking, I was planning to take a train from last destination in Italy to Paris (about 8 hrs train, 100Euro for the fare)

1st search SEA- CDG RT and the cost was around $950.
2nd search PDX- CDG also around $950
3rd search YVR- CDG, around $600
4th search YVR-CDG, MONTECARLO-YVR $1500
5th seatch YVR-CDG, FLORENCE-YVR $495

So Yes, I skip Monte Carlo on my list.

3) Travel time frame, off seasons are good time to go because airfare & accommodations are cheaper and less touristy but I want to visit when it is a little nicer to walk. I prefer early April but the airfare tickets are in the $700 from YVR! And the last week on March was $500.

My favorite apps
A) Hopper, this app will give you an estimate at what week/day airfare are the cheapest. This is best use for someone who is very flexible, wants to travel sometimes in next month to XYZ, but not so recommended for those traveling at specific dates.
If you download the app, lets say you want to go LA, it will tell you memorial weekend is not desirable and the cheapest it can find you is 2nd week of May for RT $115. (I've seen lower)

B) Cheap 3 X, this app is based on your geography and it will tell you at which airport fly in and fly out (closest to your first airport choice) offer the best rate. Like flying into Fort Lauderdale vs Miami, or Long Beach vs LAX and vice versa.

4) BOOK IN ADVANCE! I CANNOT EMPHASIS HOW IMPORTANT TO BOOK 6 MONTHS IN ADVANCE! THERE ARE NO EXPLANATIONS NEEDED FOR THIS, THE FURTHER OUT THE BETTER, if not wait for the last minute deals, airline cut prices when they can't fill planes for an upcoming weekend

5) This needs drumroll..... GOOGLE FLIGHTS & STUDENT UNIVERSE you rock my passport! Google flights save me hundred on dollars, it gives me suggestions on travel destinations, recently help my friend to buy a RT airfare from SEA-HK for $550. Student universe are prime website for students who study abroad and airline works with schools offering low prices, yes, they do need valid student ID. If you are student, make sure you check out this website.

https://www.studentuniverse.com/

6) This is my personal secret. Not always 100% while searching, but it works!
Ex: If you fly from SEA-KUL(Kuala Lumpur), there are layover in TPE or HK. Make your search into multi-city destinations, and stop in HK, TPE, spend 2 or 3 days as you like, the prices are either the same or cheaper!

I tacked on my TPE trip back to Kuala Lumpur in 2013 via EVA airline, and Hong Kong to Kuala Lumpur via Cathay Pacific in 2015!
For my next visit back home, I am planning to take Ana Airline because they have a layover in NRT, Japan!

Out of all, these are all time consuming!!!
If travel is your passion, and you need to be on budget, you gotta put in the time and effort. Just sayin'

ACCOMDATIONS:
I book all my accommodation from Expedia. They are indeed the greatest by far in giving you a COMBO prices.

Once I found the Paris airfare on google flight, I called Expedia, and booked it through them and they offer suggestion to stay in Paris and nearby locations and were able to give me combo deals for 20% cheaper anywhere else.

You should get an idea of hotels and locations you want to stay, and be ready when they give you suggestions.

EX: I know I want to stay in Saint Germain des pres district in Paris and I listed 10 hotels that I like within my star & price range. I got a 4stars hotel for under $120 a night and it was showing $150 on other websites, and it only went higher and higher after the following week.

*****This one below requires lots of work but if you want to stay nice and save!

There are groupon.fr & groupon.it exist and clearly I can't read.
So I google translate everything, this is so fun *shooked my head*, you can find hotels by the Lourve, 4-5stars with bed and breakfast for 2 for $169, and even better one. Why didn't I book it in Paris? because they don't have any offers within the time frame I am traveling or not the districts I want. ( Oh, my biggest factor in booking hotel in any cities has to be close by to a Metro station)

I did use this method for my Florence hotel which includes breakfast, and Florence is a small city where you can walk everywhere.

TOUR
Depart from Paris - Florence
$80 pp each day includes tour, buses, accommodations. It is a hop on and hop off, some tourists get on Rome, and some leave the tour in Venice. It takes you to all the famous & touristy sites. Affordable, easy and save you from all the planning.

http://www.taketours.com

At this point of my trip, it was already 2 months of researching, 6 months prior to my travel date.

$550 airfare (including tax) pp
$360 3 nights 4 stars hotel in Paris for 2
$400 5 days tour from Paris to Florence for 2
$500 4 nights 4 stars hotel in Florence for 2
$50 Expedia travel insurance pp ( I cancelled my Paris trip last September and they refund me all of it)

Grand Total: $1500 per person for 2 weeks including flights, accommodations, tours and taxes!

SECTION 2.
NOW IS THE LONG 6 MONTHS OF WAITING PERIOD.

My favorite and one stop for all website I recommend, TRIP ADVISOR. If there is only one travel website I have to pick, it is going to be Trip Advisor. In fact, all the picture you are about to see are from reviews, ratings and suggestions from all travelers around the world!

I have such an AMAZING time because of all of you who takes the time to share your experience both good & bad on TA!

SECTION 3.THE TIME HAS ARRIVED!

DAY 1...

YVR-CDG Direct flight 2pm, 9hours flight. 9 hours ahead.

Day 1
8am- arrived at CDG, Paris
9am- it was the same day of Brussels attack so airport securities are tight, everywhere we go including cafes and department store require bag check. It is safe okay, just tight security.
10am- Get an RER train to city center, 35min train ride. 10 euro. very easy just follow the sign or follow the crowd.
11am- gets into city center and get a taxi to hotel, 6EURO.
1130am- leave the baggage at hotel and take metro to MONMARTE. Wants to see Sacre Coeur and visit #1 Baguette winner 2015. We were super hungry and got lost for 30min, and when we found it, it was close. I remembered Michael said to me before travel " feed me and i'll be good". His face was not pleasant... so we went to the closest bakery.

While in Sacre Couer, watch out for scams! There are top 10 scams in Paris and we encounter one on our first day, it was the friendship bracelet scam, don't let them catch your attention and just walk away. There are scams everywhere in the world, especially touristy area. Just be alert!

http://travelscams.org/europe/common-tourist-scams-france/

1pm: Take Metro to Madeline and we are going to LADUREE. I was debating to do Lauderee or Angelina Paris.

After High Tea, shopping continues at Rue Saint Honore.

7pm: Catch a taxi back to hotel and get ready for the romantic dinner cruise.

I found this on TA and the reviews almost seems too good to be true.
It includes 2 hours long cruise with dinner. Michael and I don't always splurge on expensive dining and we have been saving for this trip so we thought this cruise is a perfect way to end our first night in Paris. The night view along the Seine especially Eiffel tower at night was spectacular, very romantic experience.
Highly recommend!

http://www.calife.com (Book 2 months ahead, a little more ahead during peak seasons)

DAY 2.......

Jet lagged and woke up at 3am, so we walked 2 miles to our first activity!
I signed up for 3 hours biking tour with fat tire Paris via Expedia. This save you time and fare from Metro to Metro. I highly recommend because you get to see Paris monuments in a guided group setting, the tour guide is very helpful and he gives some brief summary about each monuments and you have plenty of opportunity to take pictures. Instead of taking Metro to each destinations, you can bike from each places.
And if the monument intrigued you from the outside, you can take a picture and come back the next day! You might already recognized some of these pictures from Instagrams.

While we are heading to the meet up point for the bike tour, we walked past Eric Kayser Boulanger!
http://www.maison-kayser.com/en/

YAY! We made it to the meeting point. Just right outside Metro, and you see people start checking in.

Here are some pictures from the Bike Tour.

The bike ended around 230pm.... We sat at nearby coffee shop for countless shots of espresso because the jet lag kickin'. That was rough. Next, we take the metro to Saint Germain and walk to the love lock bridge via Rue Bonaparte. If you take this road, you can't get more french than this. It is the cutest Rue I've taken. And they have another Laduree, so I got some macarons again.

Then we reached to our next destinations. Pont des Arts
aka Love lock bridge. The bridge was taken down so here you will see a sad padlock that Michael brought from the states. Then there is a new section where you can still hang your locks, just a few bridges down by the tip of Ill de la cite, so we bought another lock for it.

After that, we went shopping at ZARA! Got lost heading to Notre Dame and we found ourselves at Les Marais!

NOTRE DAME, SHAKESPEAR&CO,

RUE DE LA HUCHETTE!

NEXT STOP, RUE DE LA HUCHETTE

We woke up at 3am, walked from 7am-9pm, we drank countless espresso, and walked miles in Paris. Our body hates us, and we cannot wait to get back to hotel. My plan was to take metro, but at this point, we have to catch a cab.

DAY 3...

We see most on my checklist, so today are the museums I really want to see, this is not Michael's favorite day but today he was the camera man for me. HAHAHA. Below are pictures taken at Grand Palais, next to it was JArdin du Palais, and
Cafe Kitsune.

Oh i also found my name street RUE VIVIENNE right oustide Grand Palais.

Next, we walked to the Opera House & Galerie Lafayette.

NEXT, GALERIES LAFAYETTE. If you want to do tax free shopping, this department store has an office on the bottom floor that allows you to get tax refund on the spot.

10% Cash, or Credit Card (2 weeks) 12%.

Our last dinner meal was an authentic french cuisines by our hotel.

We see so much in 3 days, but you can never have enough of Paris. There are so much more things to do, see and eat, will save it for next time!

MALAYSIAN FOOD YOU CANNOT MISSED

2015-09-14T23:20:00.001-07:00

Blog about Malaysian Food.

Malaysian food consists of cooking traditionally and improvised practices around Malaysia, they both reflects multi ethnics majority of Malaysia’s populations which divided into Malay, Chinese and Indian. You probably found a lot of them taste similar or originated from other countries, thanks to our ancestors, but we Malaysian have certainly improvised the taste by either substituting with local indigents or using different cooking techniques, where the dish has now become Malaysian signature. One good example is Malaysian Wonton Mee. It is not the same anywhere else in the world, they totally taste and looked differently. So today I was scrolling through my old albums and found I have snapped a few food pictures during my trips back home so here you go!

I am so sorry that most of the picture did not turn out okay and might not even look appetizing but they taste better than it look. Really! Also you will find a lot of them are being presented in wrap paper because these are mostly street food. Many Malaysian find streets food are much more locals and they are amazing!!! If you know a local, you are in luck, because they are gonna show you all the local spots you can't find yourself.

These are the Malaysian Food you cannot missed.

1. This is Nasi Lemak. It is very Easy to find and many considered as National Food. They can range from hawkers stand RM 2.50 to nice restaurant RM20 , totally depends on the location.

2. Satay. aka Chicken on a stick and you can choose all sort of different kinds. It also comes with a peanut sauces.

3. Asam Laksa(tamarind based)/ Curry Laksa (Coconut based). Asam Laksa is popular in Penang and if you ever go to Penang, you must have it.Curry Laksa is pretty dominent in Malaysia. Laksa is a Malaysian dish with chinese origins and crafted with Malay spices. Above are two different laksa dishes.

4. Roti Canai. Above pictures are roti tissue and roti prata.

5. Mee Goreng. Stir fried noodles is also an iconic food. If your stomach allowed, try Chinese hawker and Malay hawker, very distinct differences.

6. Bak Kut Teh. This is a pork bone tea soup, it is infused with herbs and needs a couple hours of slow cook boiling, you can paired it with the Chinese Donut. I like to have mine served early in the morning as breakfast.

7. Char Khew Teow, also very commonly found in hawkers stand. Try both Malay vendor and Chinese vendor, they both have different tastes.

8. Beef Rendang. This is a Malay dish, it is a spicy dish and it is originated from Indonesia and it is also commonly served across the country.

9. Ikan Bakar literally means 'burned fish' or you can called it Charcoal Grilled Fish. The barbecued fish is one of the classic dish in Malaysia and you can find the most common around the beach areas. And of course they are fresh catch.

10. Rojak. Rojak is a delicacy in Malaysia mixed with various ingredient. There are chinese rojak and Indian rojak, and with different ethic flavors come with different mixing and indigents. So don't be surprised if you found different mixings each time.

11. Half boiled egg and bread with kaya. Kaya is a type of Jam crafted with Pandan and usually enjoyed in the late afternoon. I only have a picture of the half boiled egg, and I had mine around 2 in the morning.

There are hundreds of Malaysian Must-Have Dishes and these pictures do no justice. As a Malaysian, these are the foods I really wanted to have when I was back home, so I hope you can find a better version of these dishes when you visit Malaysia. Bon appetit!

T is for Tension-Free Travel

2015-06-23T18:21:00.002-07:00

T is for Tension-Free Travel

July is the best traveling month this summer and many of you are no doubt traveling quite some distance to see what the world has to offer. Whether you like flying or not, here are top 10 tips of mine that will help you make your trip more comfortable, and ensuring you don’t arrive looking exhausted.

CHOOSE YOUR SEAT. If you are not travelling with a child, always try your best to get a seat few rows behind the exit to avoid loud crying babies on airplane. If possible, Plan ahead and get that window seats!

NECK PILLOW. I used to always end up waking up with my head on my neighbor's shoulder which was so embarrassing! And you know waking up in awkward position with Neck-aches sucks.

HAPPY IMMUNE SYSTEM. Emergen-C, airborne, ibuprofen etc. Jet-lag, dirty hands, airports, airplanes and the overall number of people you are likely to come into contact with en-route, does not make for a happy immune system.

CHAPSTICKS. A long plane ride means dry lips and lets be real, they refill the water only when you asked for it. Don’t forget to bring an empty water bottle.

EYE DROP. If you wear contact lens, bring the mini size contact solutions. This will freshen up your eyes.

FACE WIPES AND MAKE UP. Your skin can suffer terribly when traveling, so it’s important you keep your face clean. A small Ziploc bag of face wipes will help to clean and moisturize your face, and are easy to carry. Tips: Get a sample-size products from beauty bar at department store/ sephora or gift with purchases are great, sometimes it comes with a tiny mascaras. Put on make-up right before you land and keep it simple. Foundation, a little blush, mascara, your trusty lip balm and you’re good to go. Keep it clean, fresh and natural.

SANITIZERS. Airports are a germ-breeding ground so this will come in handy if you can’t get to a bathroom easily to wash your hands in the airport or on the plane.

A PAIR OF SOCKS. To speed up the line at the airport security, I always choose to wear flats, sandals or even slip on. And the plane temperature drops in the middle of the night and though you brought blankets and hoodie, but your feets are like icicle cold, and found yourself scrunch up in your tiny seats. Bring them socks.

FRESH UNDERWEAR. I mean 20 hours long flight, and even 8 hours, c’mon, you know it is scratching up your butt and you’re probably embarrassed to pull them wedgie. Extra-Extra comfy? Just wear a cotton “bralette” under a tank, with a loose fitting cotton t-shirt.

DRY SNACKS. Just a small bag of trail mix, candy or granola bars.

VIVE HOTEL WAIKIKI

2015-06-23T18:05:00.001-07:00

Versatility, Chic, Comfortable and Affordable boutique hotel in the heart of Waikiki.

You can read all about them on Yelp, Trip Advisor, tons of highly raved customer rating and honestly, excellence values for money!

Here are top 10 reason why I love my stay and you should give it a try.

Fresh pineapple juices upon entrance and complimentary breakfast every morning! Hotdog buns, croissants, blueburry toast, coffee, fresh fruits and etc. The breakfast was delicious, and a perfect way to start our day. We haven't stopped talking about how much we miss that breakfast selection!
Can’t finish your leftover or having a midnight craved? They have microwaves and toaster! Yup, I did enjoyed the microwaves 5-6 times throughout my stay. #leftover
Complimentary beach gears. Google the rates of renting your own beach mats, umbrellas and chairs… Forget it, you can have this free of charge every day, when you come back from the beach 2-3 times with your wet towels, just pick up fresh new ones at the front desk.
There is a bus stop right outside the hotel which can take you to Ala Moana, Pearl Harbour and the airport, and the buses are only $2.50 no matter how far you go. The buses came regularly and we believe great value compared to a rental car. And there are parking spot for bicycle.
Distance to the beach, just few blocks away. And it is perfectly located in the middle of the strip, closer to Duke statue and Waikiki beach wall. I thought it was perfect as it is less crowded than main street.
Hotel room is newly renovated and updated with modern contemporary design. Love it!
5 out of 5 stars from front desk to housekeeping service! Very chill, donw to earth and welcoming environment. Jacqueline the concierge made our stay even better with her outstanding service!
Service room : If you are taking a red eye flight back and hotel checkout is at 12pm, you can leave your baggage at the front desk, hit the beach and come back during your reserved hour to get freshen up or nap. It does required 24 hours advance reservation.
One of my favorite place is Me BBQ, which is right across from the hotel. Easy, cheap and good.
Pricing!!!! After writing through all the things I love about this place and still get to feel good for the price you pay. Two words: Worth It.

MIAMI LIVIN '

2015-04-22T21:29:00.001-07:00

M I A M I L I V I N'

Here are the 8 Reasons why I love this city

8. The clubs and bars are open later than pretty much anywhere else, and even if you don't stay out til 5 a.m., it's nice to know you won't be hassled home until you're good and ready. Even if you're an hour late to something, you're not really late. It's Miami time. The club close at 5am, and walking out the club when the sun is just coming up makes me feel so alive. Tips: Don't get a cab, just walk along the beach & feel the warm breeze.

7. There's beautiful people here of every imaginable ethnicity, and when they get together their kids are even more beautiful. Seriously!

6. Not only SOBE has been called the American Rivera but an art Deco playgound. You will find local their art scene emerged as one of the best in the country, but it's also probably the least stuffy and most fun art scene in the world.

5. The clear blue water and fine white beaches are a must-see for any Miami visitor: even for locals, the beautiful beach just doesn't get old. This weather will makes you miss Florida every winter.

4. There's a strong entrepreneurial streak here (even if it tends to sometimes manifest itself in illegal ways). Like seriously, I think everyone here own a YATCH because there are more Yatch than fancy-a** cars. Or the other way around.

3. Lime Fresh Mexican Grill, Pizza Rustica and Pollo Tropical beat Chipotle, Dominos, KFC or pretty much any other fast food or fast casual restaurant hands down. It's also a culinary hot spot for everything from gourmet to casual beachside cuisine.

2. Not only is topless sunbathing legal, but it's really no big deal. It is absolutely free spirit and a city with lots of great figures human-being. Along the beach, you will find people jogging, skating, biking, playing volleyballs, and all sorts of sun-activities.

1. Unlike other cities there's none of the snobby attitude over who is "a real Miamian." No one's actually from here, and if you've been here long enough to get at least half of this list we'll consider you one of our own. I met a few Columbian, Costa Rican, Guatemalan ... but very little that actually says I'm from Miami.

SOBE

I love South Beach. South Beach is the Miami postcard, the water is always amazing; clear, warm, and inviting. A trip to Miami without a trip to South Beach is a waste of time! I have been here many times and it never disappoints. Right across from the Ocean Drive is the heavenly beach. Crazy cars, beautiful girls, hundreds of great restaurants and things to do! This place is a Nuts, but absolutely Love it! South Beach is great for walks and people watching. Night life pops. The beach is beautiful and there are plenty of stores, restaurants and hotels around. Definitely a must-visit when you go to Miami. I highly recommend you to live around the strip so you can fully experience SOBE. I once stayed a few miles away, and ride the bus to SOBE for only 75¢ per trip. Buses run every 12 to 20 minutes daily, stopping at popular destinations throughout SoBe. All our air-conditioned minibuses are bike- and wheelchair accessible for your convenience. So climb aboard and leave the walking for a leisurely stroll down Lincoln Road or Española Way. Or just make appointment with the Mr.Sunshine, but don't forget to apply sunscreen. A bad sunburn will ruin you trip, trust me.

Riviera Suites South Beach

Stayed at the Riviera and had a great time here! This hotel is in a great location near South Beach, Lincoln Road shopping, and many restaurants.The room smelled wonderful, the decor was clean lines and art deco trendy yet contemporary. Our room was on the first floor and in the corner and when we walked in it was very visually pleasing. It had a great mini bar that was fully stocked with drinks and snacks in the room. The beds were extremely comfortable and I'm pretty sure they were made of memory foam. The room had air conditioning and heat as well as windows that you could open wide for fresh air. They also offer Free shuttle to and from airport. From 7-8pm they offered a free happy hour down at the hotel bar which was outside in the courtyard. The line for free booze gets long so get there early. They also have a beautiful rooftop pool! The pool staff kept the pool area neat and clean and brought me water and ice often without being asked. They were fantastic! The pool areas are the star!

MANSION NIGHTCLUB

Got a free ticket to see Arty while dining on the strip and had such a grand time partying up! The drinks are cough cough pricey though! Mansion is a nightclub, concert, and cirque du soleil all wrapped into one. It was definitely for the experience and live it up for Miami!

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA

2015-02-24T23:22:00.001-08:00

Hello again,

Happy Chinese New Year and hope you all had a wonderful Valentine's a few weekends ago. This year, I'm fortunate to be able to spent valentines' day + mini getaway in Vancouver with my loves one and here are some snippets of it. I thought since I am blogging about Vancouver, I'm also going to share with you all the mini trips I've taken up here in the pasts.

There won't be an exact timeline when these trips were taken, but I still hope you'll enjoyed reading about my mini adventures in Canada.

xoxo,

SUTTON HOTEL

Lets start with one of my many favorite hotels in Downtown Vancouver. The Sutton Hotel is Vancouver's premier luxury business hotel located a few blocks away from the finest shopping and arts. I absolutely enjoyed my stay here during my short business trip in Vancouver and met many lovely staffs as well. I often prefers modern interior when it comes to hotel selection, and so I thought I might give Sutton Hotel a try after reading it's raging reviews.

This hotel definitely has its European charm, elegance ambience, and the suite is appointed with charming french decor, and luxury detailing. I personally think Sutton is luxury living at its finest.

Sutton Hotel Lobby

COAST

Happy Hour Spot: Get a warm toasty seat on the patio at Vancouver's premier seafood restaurant, COAST on Alberni ST. Below me is the HH menu featuring buck a shuck oysters $1 each. The seafood selection here is fresh, flavorful and fantastic. Afterwards, take a stroll right outside the restaurant, there are plenty of high-end designer boutiques on Alberni.

GUU'

The infamous Guu restaurant is one of the prime dining location for both the locals and tourists. They have a few branches and the one that I visited twice was Guu Original Thurlow. It is tucked in the corner on Thurlow st, junction with Robson St. This place transports you into a rowdy little tavern, especially the staff, cheering and shouting while they go around the business and the delicious smells of the kitchen. The wait was approximately 15-20min depending on the nights. Hands down one of the best/authentic Japanese dining place in Vancouver, and a very fair price for what you get.

Below was a lunch menu during another visit at Guu.

NERO BELGIAN WAFFLE BAR

Desert lover? Check out NERO BELGIAN WAFFLE BAR on Robson ST. I am literally still dreaming about this place. I was actually being recommended by a friend of mine who is also a foodie, much bigger foodie than I am, and I can't thank him enough for this amazing place. This place is so tiny and you probably will walked past it like I did. The waffle is so light and crispy, the chocolate is smooth and rich, and not too sweet at all. Great mouth watering waffle!

BON CREPE

Matcha Green Tea Lover? This desert will impressed you with its bold fragrance, composed with perfect density, not too sweet and a little bitterness in the end. Pure deliciouness! This desert also located in the heart on Robson ST. There is also a small Japanese convinient store attached to it.

MAUMI SUSHI BAR

Are you a fan of Sashimi? Check out this neighborhood gem , MAUMI on Bute ST.
I was so impressed with the freshness of the fish, the quality of the fish, and the presentation. This sushi bar offers a wide variety of fresh sashimi, and the owner shipped rare fishes multiple times a week from different parts of Japan. I highly recommend to leave it up to the chef by choosing the OMAKASE "chef choice" sashimi for its exclusiveness with careful selection and high quality preperation. This place is not good for group, probably fit up to max 10 people at a time and the wait can be up to an hour and sometimes might ran out of fish. But I definitely put a 5-star for this authentic place and it is worth a try!

HYATT

Another one of my favorite hotel is Hyatt on Burrard St. This is my 2nd stay at this hotel and I absolutely loved it. Both times was a short stay but I had a great time. This hotel was recently renovated with super high-tech elevator and fancy lobby. It is very central to the downtown area of Vancouver, and walking distance to all main destinations and subway station.

Below is the most recent during V'day weekend.

This is from last year.

CACTUS CLUB CAFE

Everytime I visit Vancouver, I have to stop by Cactus, located right across from the Hyatt Hotel. The service here is mediocre but the food and atmosphere in here is fantastic.

In the summer time, you gotta try their girly peach blinis. Perfect for the weather.

DIM SUM

Lets not forget the mandatory DIM-SUM breakfast runs in Vancouver, it is delish! There are hundreds of great dim sum restaurants in Vancouver and varies in prices. The most recent one was TinTin Seafood restaurant in Richmond City, across from YaoHan Supermarket. The picture below was actually a dim sum place in Chinatown.

RIVERROCK CASINO RESORT AND HOTEL

This hotel is located in Richmond, and it is a prime location if you are interested to check out the Annual Richmond night market during the summer time. This hotel is a mini suite featuring a living room and a bedroom.

River Rock

SHABUSEN YAKINIKU HOUSE RESTAURANT

Shabusen Yakiniku House Restaurant located in the beautiful Downtown Vancouver, serving Korean and Japnese cuisine with cook your own table top stove. If you are feeling extremely hungry, you can give this Korean BBQ and Sushi a try.

There are so much more to explore and things to share about but these are the top choices I would highly recommended. If you ever check these places out, let me know how you like them and lets get connected!

See you in March!
Bon Voyage

HOLLYWOOD TIME, LOS ANGELES

2015-01-07T13:09:00.001-08:00

Dear readers,

First of all, I just wanted to wish you all a Happy New Year! May 2015 be a year filled with lots of adventures, unexpected surprises and crazy rides!

Speaking of rides, Santa Monica is one of the most popular destination in California, and often visited by tourists around the year. Santa Monica was famed by its beachfront resort in the early 20th century and the populations boom since.

Now, Santa Monica has one of my favorite shopping stripe , " Third Street Promenade" featuring from high end to local boutiques. Below is some of the pictures taken at the Santa Monica Pier.

To get to Santa Monica, you can choose to ride Hop On- Hop Off Trolley, and sat on the second floor of the double decker bus, you'll surely feel California-Dreamin'

Next stop,

We have the famous HOLLYWOOD BOULEVARD, it is filled with lots of tourists, and lively full of action for everyone. It is an attraction that is always mentioned on things to do on LA lists, probably spend about 2 hours max, take some pictures on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and visited the famous Madame Tussauds Hollywood.

The next Stop, DISNEYLAND, A little regret that I was busy running and riding' the ride, all I had was a some fireworks pictures. But it will do.... everybody love disneyland, so I know you will too :)

My ultimate favorite amusement park in California is Universal Studio, Handsdown!

It is about a day long, I highly recommend you to go off peak season or at least pick a weekday, or you will be spending most of your time waiting for your turn. This is a must do when you are in LA!

Food: Get a turkey leg!

Here is some of my version of Universal ...

To be continued...

CHIANG MAI, THAILAND

2014-12-09T20:39:00.004-08:00

Ho Ho Ho,

Happy Holidays everyone!
Hope you are excited about the gifting season and celebrating New Year.
Is been a while since I wrote to you all. However, even with all the holiday craziness, I am still able to find a quite time to write to you about a memorable trip I've taken to - Chiang Mai, Thailand.

I wasn't able to much time editing these photos, but I just wanted to take share some pictures I've taken while I was in Chiang Mai. This is also a way to embrace my need for solitude and quite time.

While life will never stop you from completing all the tasks, always remember to find time in all the craziness, for yourself. Take your mind off doing something you love, reenergized, and then strive.

"Smile, breath, and go slowly" - Thich Nhat Hanh

You can spend your whole Chiang Mai vacation exploring the famous night bazaar.
Once you have exhausted from all the art of cheerful haggle, there are plenty to more to see.

First stop, This is a very famous Thai Hainan rice chicken restaurant... the wait can get up to an hour.

Thats a salty duck egg porridge. If you are not familiar with porridge or congee, it is simple, nutritious and comfort food. Every porridge tastes differently in different parts of Asia as they all used a little different ingredients. This street stall offer its porridge at 90 Thai Baht, 30 cents USD, prepared with lots of ginger, salted egg, fish sauces, and duck meat.

When you are in South East Asia, treat yourself a common found delicacy, Bird Nest Soup. They are among the most expensive animal products consumed by humans.

Next highlight is the famous Chiang Mai Floating Market, the floating market was mediocre. As a young traveler, I was interested in finding areas where locals and tourists intertwined. The food was good, reasonably priced, and lots of varieties. Here is the entrance to the floating market.

You are probably disgusted by this picture, So let me clarify, I did not eat them.
These are Thai Insect, very popular Thai Snack Food in Thailand.
I was in shocked when I saw them selling " FRESH FRIED INSECTS" ... Not appetizing for me, but they surely do have customers. Thai Insects are usually fried in a wok, with Thai seasoning. If you don't find fried insects at street vendors, you can always find them at a Temple Fair throughout Thailand to help raised money for the temple.

I think these are crickets.

" Whats this? "... Oh these are Fried Chicken Skin.

Street food but amazingly good.

One of the best boat noodles I ever had in my life. #streetfood

What the floating market looks like looking down from the bridge.

Stairway to the river.

Using real banana leaves to make some traditional rice cake.

Khao Neeo Mamuang- This wonderful and authentic-tasting Thai desert Mango Sticky Rice is as good as it looks.

Ox Tail is to make an Oxtail soup. is a "must have" soup to cook during winter months as it is hearty, rich and a real comfort food in the cold weather.

This is a Thai-Muslim influenced dish which originated from the Southern parts of Thailand. You will also see a similar kind of dish in the Northern part of Malaysia but their style uses a lot more spices - more like the Malaysian "Soup Kambing".

Cotton Candy.

Grilled Squid on her boat.

Famous Thai Iced Tea.

bamboo table for dinner?

T'was a gigantic grilled Squid!

Bird eggs.

Anchovies.

Fresh Mangoes.

Sticky pudding.

Khao Jam.

I have no idea what is this soup.

Thai Curry, served plate by plate.

When we left, it was already night time.... So that was a little adventure in Chiang Mai, Thailand. I hope you guys enjoyed it. Is been a wonderful year to be blessed with all the opportunities to travel, leaving foot prints around the globe, and sharing it with all of you here.

Wishing all of you a Happy Holiday and Merry Christmas.

Thank you for all your support,

Until next time guys!

xoxo

ALOHA HAWAII

2014-11-14T06:16:00.003-08:00

Dear readers,

Is been a while since my last posting due to switching job and busy preparing for tis holiday season. Can you even believe December is coming soon?! Anyways, I have finally taken some time to show you guys my recent trip to Oahu, Hawaii. Hawaii is made up by over 100 of islands with 8 major islands. Oahu is the 3rd largest island and it is the most populated island in Hawaii. Hawaii is a major tourist destination and Honolulu situated on the island of Oahu, this island serve as the main gateway to Hawaii and also major International gateway into the United States. Of course, there is the famous Waikiki Beach situated in the beachfront neighborhood of Honolulu :) Now you get a little bit of intro of where exactly I was spending my time in Hawaii...

AHH... Hawaii is truly a paradise. Everyone just seems to be so friendly and happy all the time! Maybe it is the sunshine, maybe is the food, the islanders lifestyles are all pretty chill and laid-back! This is actually my second time visiting Oahu and also my very first destination I ever repeat. My first time to Oahu was actually a HS graduation gift 4 years ago, so it is even more meaningful to me when I get to revisit this paradise as my College graduation gifts 4 years later.

I personally love travel package gift, because it is precious time you spent to create unforgettable memories and stories to tell that will last you life time. And every time you visit a new place, you create a whole new meaning about the trip and yourself. It is just an awesome gift and I'm very blessed for it.

Typically, my usual vacation agenda would consists tons of activities, planning and checklists of places I wanted to see. But I wanted to do something different this time, so instead I didn't plan anything at all. I am just going to plan with the "mood", so whatever I am feeling that day will decide what my plans are going to be.

We had already explored Oahu and completed lots of touristy thing on our prior trip to Honolulu with a rental car. It is actually a really cool and convenient way to circle the island and checking out some beautiful local beaches. If you have not been to Hawaii, you might want to consider renting a car or with travel agency.

Since we already know we don't want a rental car, we booked a hotel right in the heart of Waikiki, we stayed at the Sheraton Waikiki. This hotel is situated on the beach, with private access to the beach, and right behind Royal Hawaiian, short walking distance to everywhere, perfect location! And this beautiful hotel featuring infinity pool overlooking sunset, a grand luxury stays experience.

Daily plan:

Woke up each day, head to the beach or morning swim at the infiniti pool, Yelped a nice lunch, walk around, take a long nap, swim more, watch the sunset, grab a nice dinner and repeat. Love lazy vacation where doing absolutely nothing is doing something.

Last minute call:

But on the 4th day, we decided to make a last minute call when we woke up to sign up for a snorkeling adventure at Hanauma preserved bay. This is definitely a must-do when you're on Oahu. So I found a few great recommendation on Yelp, called it and booked it! They arranged a pick up at your hotel and dropped you right off after the adventure. $19 per person including gears and transportation! Just a short drive out of the city brings you to the rim of this dormant volcano that pushed up out of the ocean a million years ago. One of its sides collapsed and the interior was filled by the ocean forming this picturesque lagoon filled with thousands of fish and other marine creatures. The bay is absolutely gorgeous. I was surprised at the amount of fish in the clear blue waters despite hosting over a million visitors per year. There are brilliantly-colored fish swimming among the coral reef, some even in large schools that sweep along the current right next to you. My only advise to you, put lots of sunscreen on your back and bring some bands-aid.

Car Rental:

HAWAII 23

It is all based on word of mouth and I am referring this awesome transportation to you!A friend of mine had used HAWAII 23 dozens of time and never once disappointed. She had taken many others airport transfer and finally found her "designated" ride in Hawaii. Hawaii 23 deserved 5 stars because not only they are always on time, the driver called prior to let you know they are coming. They Introduce themselves right at the beginning, whom they are speaking to! These locals are so welcoming and informative about Hawaii, the culture, the food, the activities. Anything I asked, they answers with MORE suggestion ! I will never forget the Hawaiian music in the background, it gets all of us pumped up when we just freshly landed in Hawaii. Pick up is direct from Airport to Hotel/ Hotel to airport. They did not pick up anyone else for only $23 each way for 2 people!!! Add $7 per additional person.

Food:

So I posted some food pictures on it, and looking at the picture definitely makes me hungry... I won't go onto too much details on food, Yelp has already done the job for me and I'm lovin’ it. But I still wanted to chip in my 2 cents where must-go-eat places.

1) ONO SEAFOOD - HANDS DOWN THE BEST AHI POKE IN HONOLULU.

2) Ramen Nakamura

3) Marukame Udon

4) Hawaiian Shaved Ice

Shopping in Hawaii is also on the top of the list, but I didn't get shopping done and given my time there was spent under the sun and listening to Hawaiian music. They do have all the fancy-schmancy luxury boutiques and stores packed with tourists. If you do love shopping and beaches, Oahu has it all for you.

Hawaii was a perfect vacation to end my summer 2014. I hope you enjoyed. Bon Voyage!

Vivienne

DREAMY SAN FRANCISCO

2014-10-14T21:26:00.003-07:00

Dear Readers,

When I was little, sitting in front of the television, watching American tv show... San Francisco was probably one of the most filmed city I've ever seen in both American movie and in the Chinese Drama. And I always thought, is this what America looks like? I mean... they even filmed one of my fav Bollywood superstar- Shah Rukh Khan in the movie "My name is Khan" in this city! So when I think of America, I think of this place.

I have always wanted to go to this dreamy place.... and here I am finally blogging about this place!

I was traveling for work outside the city. So I've decide to use my day off to drive to this dreamy place.

If you have not already been here, I hope my little snippets will make you dreamy about this beautiful city too.

Bon Voyage!

The highlight of this dreamy place is the magnificent Golden Gate Bridge!

It was a foggy day and we weren't able to see the bridge at any view point, I was a little disappointed at first, but we tried to find another way driving up the mountain. We came out from the fog and the view was breathtaking. Here is a picture of the city floating on the cloud.

Great scenery. Much history to see. Who knew that there was an old military airfield at the base of the bridge?

Fishermans wharf is one of the most beautiful places to be, packed with fine restaurants and seafood stalls. Def a tourist filled area to walk around by the Pier. There are many shops and restaurants. You can also see Alcatraz from the pier.

A trip to San Francisco just isn't complete without getting Boudin Sour Dough bread. We ate lunch here while sightseeing through the Wharf and surrounding areas. The weather was windy but sunny so we sat at the outdoor seating. Great view and ambience.

Alcatraz Island, located in the middle of San Francisco Bay, is a must-see attraction for any visitor to the area. One of the most infamous prisons in the country for housing notorious criminals. You can see this island from the Fisherman Wharf.

Fresh calamari!

Next stop to the Oldest Chinatown in America! First off the gate, it was beautiful. There were lanterns, busy sidewalks and shop full of anything!

Walk down the street and browse through the open market stores. See dry fish and unusual fruit and vegetables. You'll feel like you're in China.

A trip to San Francisco would not be complete without a ride on a San Francisco Cable Car. They still turn the cars around by hand and watching how they operate the cars is fascinating. It's a must !

Read about the Golden Gate Bakery before visiting San Francisco and so glad I stopped not only for an egg tart but also for other sweet and spicy specialties. It is Easy-to-find bakery on Grant Ave - it is the only bakery I saw with a 10-12 person line outside the store. The egg tarts were delicious and lived-up to its reputation. Look at the crazy long line, def worth the wait!

Alright, and the last stop for shopping to conclude my one day trip is The San Francisco Center .

Bon Appetit at Bangkok Noodle house, walking distance from San Francisco Center. It is a very tiny store packed with people. The food is pretty tasty at a very reasonable price.

Hooray, another city crossed off my list! Until next time, bon voyage :)

EXPLORE TAIWAN

2014-10-05T03:12:00.003-07:00

Dear reader,

One of Asia must see destination- Taiwan! Taiwan is famous for it's amazing food, cultural and leisure. If you ever make a trip to Asia, you can take Eva air or China airline enroute to Taipei for a few days or a longer layover, this is a place you must see and visit.

This is also my very first trip I ever plan for myself as a solo traveler, and mapping out my itineraries for a week long vacation!

Here are some of the places I have been during my time there.

My Top 2 favorite spots for Taiwanese food :

Taipei Shilin Night Market - This location is all about food! It is one of the biggest night market and it has almost everything local eatery has to offer!

Jiu Fen- Unique place with beautiful old building and shops. Hidden in all those shops, there is a market square selling all sort of stuffs like in a night market. It is usually a half day long trip, but it is definitely worth the drive.

My top sites to gain Taiwanese cultural & historical sites:

Chiang Kai Sek Memorial Hall :

The chiang kai-shek memorial is probably the best historical spot in the city. The gardens surrounding the memorial are beautiful and the hall shows a detailed history of the life of chiang kai-shek and his influence during WWII and the communist revolution. Such a big historical place and the construction is really magnificent! The good thing, the MRT exit is just right next to it.

National Palace Museum :

I am a museum lover and I totally spend my whole day at Taiwan National Palace Museum, This is also a must visit attraction in Taiwan. Best to reach early and go off early before the tour groups come in. Once the tour groups is in, it is havoc like a market place filled with people. The museum has tons and tons of collection which you'll need a day or two to finish browsing through all of them. They have amazing artifacts collected all the way to 6000 years back! It is spectacular way to learn about the history and culture of the making of Taiwan.

ANDDD ... Some of the other cool places that I think you must see:

- Taipei 101 : Definitely one of THE must-go places, especially for a first-time visitor to Taipei.

- Yeh Liu Geo Park : Must see scenery of Magnificent sea view, unique rock and all the scenery there is marvelous.

- Favorite clubbing spot : SPARKS at Taipei 101 and ROOM 18, they have very good music and sound and lovely people and great DJ with good mixing.

- LongSan Temple : A must go place for Buddhist followers, seeing the difference architecture and a beautiful landscapes.

- Xi Men Ding Shopping district : Fantastic sites for all the trendy shopping for low cost! P.S I got my belly piercing done here.

I hope you enjoy Taipei as much as I do!

Bon Voyage!

ADIOS COZUMEL

2014-09-15T23:52:00.001-07:00

Hola !

Como estas? Just got back from Mexico's largest island, Cozumel, a beautiful island with a balance mix of cosmopolitan restaurants, hotels and shops set amidst astounding natural beauty.
It is famous for its superb scuba diving,the Mayan Ruins Tulum and also as a cruise ship destination where stylish amenities are offered in a simple island atmosphere. We spent our day walking in the heart of downtown Cozumel, San Miguel, sipping on margaritas and trying to catch some AC whenever we walk by the store.
San Miguel, has a laid back elegance combining the charming remnants of colonial Mexico with the conveniences of modern life. It can get a little repetitive of shops along the shopping strips, but enjoy it anyways. And if you are too bored to shop around,don't worry, there are tons of activities to do in Cozumel! But make sure you sign up early before the excursions sold out/too late.It was a short day in Mexico for me, but good enough to make me wanna come back soon!

Adios,
Vivienne

GRAND CAYMAN LOVE LETTER

2014-09-15T23:18:00.000-07:00

Dear readers,

Savoring every last bit of summer that’s left, here’s a little Caribbean-inspired summer vacation in Grand Cayman Island. From finding a spot under the trees for a picnic at Seven Mile Beach to finding exotic local boutiques in Georgetown, Whatever you ended up doing, you will find that the Cayman Island is the ultimate Caribbean destination and the epitome of an island getaway vacation. Voted one of the best beaches in the Caribbean Island years after years- 7 mile beach, there is nothing else better than spending your day peeking beneath the sea, sun-bathing on the sugary sand and collecting seashells to bring home some nautical home décor. Life is a beach , It is That simple.

Love all the way from the Cayman Island,
Vivienne

POSTCARDS FROM BALI

2014-09-03T20:52:00.000-07:00

Bali is like no other place because...

Whether you are looking for complete relaxation, exquisite dining, or exciting nightlife, Bali has it all. This place is enriched with Balinese cultural fill with beautiful landscape and tropical smells at every corner. Everywhere you turn there’s a visual coconut tree, green mountains and turquoise sea, while your nose fills with a huge blast of exotic floral. It is a paradise.

When first get to Bali…

Get spoiled from sun bathing from the pool and the sea, discover the nature that makes us beautiful. Bali often rated as one of the most beautiful beaches in Asia, The very first thing I did when I arrived was drop my jaw and stare at the insane view of the sea.

Where to stay...

We stayed at the Legian Bali Hotel which is on Legian beach located between Seminyak and Kuta Beach. We choose to stay in Legian area which is about 2-3miles away from the hustle bustle and main touristy spot in Kuta. It is such a wonderful beachfront resort with beautiful gardens and large pool. Legian is the perfect place to stop to watch the sun fade over the Indian Ocean topped with a bottle of Bali Bintang also known as the Indonesian Beer.

When in Bali, you must...

Take a trip to Ubud to get your souvenirs shopping done. Shopping at the traditional market gave you a local flavor and there are lots of places to eat and shop. Ubud is famous for its arts and crafts and you can get some really beautiful pieces to take home. Splurge yourself with a beautifully handmade batik!

When in Bali, get local...

Eat crazy looking fruits! You can get all kinds of tropical fruits from Rambutan, mangoesteen, mango, durians, jackfruits and many more! Of course, there are fresh coconuts drinks everywhere!

When in Bali, my safety tips…

Beware of sketchy money exchange area that offers high exchange rates that is too good to be true. They usually exchange in really small bills so it looks like a big fat stacks. I watched them count Rupiah in front of my eyes and it was short about $100 less when I counted. I asked for the USD back and they do not seem very nice about it. The Balinese called them the “magic trick”.

Lesson learned.

LOVE IN NEW YORK

2014-08-15T01:07:00.001-07:00

New York...New York
I want to wake up, in a city that never sleeps
And find I'm A number one, top of the list
King of the hill, A number one....

These little town blues, are melting away
I'll make a brand new start of it
In old New York
If I can make it there, I'll make it anywhere
It's up to you, New York..New York New York!!!

Conquering New York in one visit is impossible. But to at least say you have conquer New York, you have to hit some of the most iconic places such as Times Square, Grand Central, the Empire State Building, Financial District, the Statue of Liberty, Central Park, and more – and then explore to some of the most amazing shopping and dining spots - SOHO district, Broadway, 5th Avenue, Madison Avenue, Park Avenue and etc.

The hustle bustle in New York is insane! The clock is always running and the pace is literally ten times faster. Even though I was on vacation, I was constantly on-the-go trying to get from point A to point B. It is impossible to slow down. So make sure you have a pair of comfortable walking shoe during your visit, and walk really fast! You can also catch a yellow cab, ride the subway or walk through hundred of blocks all the way from Chinatown to the Upper East/West Side. Whatever you ended up doing in New York, you are going to love it!

I personally think the most iconic part about New York are the people who live here. Maybe it's the large melting pot, diverse population of different cultures and traditions packed so tightly together, and also serve as a popular cross junction in the world, you get a place filled with new ideas, creativity and passion in all aspects of life.
There is no place like New York.

Here are some of my version of New York City and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Bon Voyage!

Max Brenner, Chocolate by The Bald Man!
Have you seen the movie Charlie the chocolate factory? Well this place is the sum definition of it all. If you are a chocolat addict, you will love this place. If you are not, you are getting addicted.
Chocolat!Chocolat! Chocolat!

SYMPHONY OF LIGHTS

2014-08-11T04:00:00.005-07:00

Hong Kong Skyline View will take your breath away. In my case, twice! There is really no place like Hong Kong. Voted No.1 Best attraction in Hong Kong is its breathtaking Skyline View. According to CNN saying that Hong Kong makes the picture-perfect two-dimensional skyline both during the day and night. Hong Kong also topped New York City as having the best skyline in the world.

There are two ways of getting the best view of Hong Kong.

#1 : Views from ferries crossing Victoria Harbour

You can enjoy the skyline by taking the famous Star Ferryor other ferry ship across the lovely Victoria Harbour. This is one of the most memorable skyline I ever had from a ferry ride, that was also my last ride before departing Hong Kong. The rainbow reflection from the water makes the night view even more glamorous. Each way is only $2 USD. Hong Kong is such an happening place enriched with traditional cultures and histories of its people. What we are witnessing today, is the aftermath of the hundred years of battles, millions of handwork, and sacrifices.

#2 : Views from Victoria Peak

I personally think that the best views of the Hong Kong Island side come from the world famous Victoria Peak with its glamorous views of Hong Kong Island skyscrapers. My friend and I were both trying to catch the sunset at the Peak so we took the MTR to the tram station. Since it is peak season, the tram takes at least 3 hours in line! She instantly changed the game plan and decided to take the double decker bus to catch another express bus from the Star Ferry Pier to the Peak. I am really glad that we choose to ride the double decker bus, as you get to see the downtown sitting from the top view.

When we made it to the top of the peak, it was just in time for the sunset. We waited approximately 30min for the sky to get dark and needless to say, the skyline at the Peak was the highlight of my trip.

Tsim Sha Tsui East Promenade

Tsim Tsa Tsui

Hong Kong SkylineThe Peak

This is the sunset picture taken at the Peak

The view when it gets dark at night.

MONGKOK NIGHT MARKET

2014-08-11T01:09:00.000-07:00

MONGKOK CRAZINESS

Shopping Spot :

The Ladies Street at Mongkok in Kowloon District is an extremely vibrant place to shop that is crowded and bustling. This is the place you can get almost anything at super deal price, including all the knocked off. The key to conquer this place totally depends on your bargain skills, so bring out your best bargain skills, calculators if you needed! Do make sure you look at things before you buy. Some sellers can be rude if you walk away after bargaining. It is a fun experience but be prepared to walk away and be dragged back. There will be several booths with the same merchandise and you will want to find the best deal. This is the place for all your souvenirs stop!

Food :

The street food at Mongkok is great and cheap. Everything looks really delicious so leave a big appetite before you go. While shopping along, you can grab some snacks or fingers food at some small shops, selling famous Chee Cheong Fun, Fried Calamari, Curry Boiled Fish Balls, Chicken Egg Waffle, Bubble tea or some local famous street foods that you never seen before. The line can be quite long so do not ask which one is the best as each has their unique tastes. Street food price range from $2-$5 USD. However, if you have a sensitive stomach, there are lots of sit in restaurants along the streets as well. You will have plenty of choices over lunch or dinner selling local dishes or even International cuisine. Don't worry, there are food everywhere in Mongkok!

Weather :

In summer time, I recommend to visit during the evening time when the hot weather starting to cool down. Remember this is a highly crowded place so be prepared to still feel the humidity at night.

How to get there :

Ladies Market is such an easy place to find if you take the Mtr. You can take the MTR to the Mong Kok station and take the E2 exit. Approximately walk 1-2 minute and your are in the heart of the Ladies Market.

Advise:

While you may indulged in your shopping spree, always be alert and be extra careful of your belongings as pickpockets always operate in crowded places! Make sure you ask and confirm for the price before purchasing or getting onto a taxi!

Fresh pressed Sugar Cane

Mongkok Station - Mongkok station Link

Chicken Egg Waffle

Coconut Soy Milk

Ladies Market - Mongkok Link

KOWLOON WONG TAI SIN TEMPLE

2014-08-07T23:19:00.001-07:00

My first blog post is dedicated to one of my favorite blogger GaryPepperGirl who had also recently visit this place and inspired myself through her blog to take a trip to this temple during my visit in Hong Kong. The architecture and colors are amazing! Wong Tai Sin Temple is located in Kowloon district and it is easy to reach by MTR. I highly recommend this temple during your visit, as it is quite fascinating to experience different strand of Buddhism. During the summer, the heat is extremely humid and you will be expecting lots of tourists in this local spot. You'll be surrounded by the fragrant smell of burning incense and the sight of faithful believers praying for wealth and health. It is a truly unique experience.

http://www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/index.jsp

AIM & PASSION

2014-08-07T21:55:00.002-07:00

Bonjour!

BonAppetit & BonVoyage is created with an aim and passion to provide a vast array of personal touch and inspiration consisting of food, wellness, fashion and travel adventure of Vivienne's life journey.

She was born and raised in Malaysia, currently reside in Seattle, Washington USA. At age seventeen, Vivienne entered a world of complete stranger as a first-generation immigrant. She takes chances and follows her heart when facing the unknown and uncertainties, always carrying high hopes in pursuit of her own happiness.

Since then, she has embarked on many more adventurous journeys that will fill your mind as she guide you to discover some of the most amazing place on earth and experiencing life-changing memories and sharing people stories.

While she is still searching herself in this great big world, she leaves footprints around the world in which she will be sharing some of these memories with you all through here.With humble and gratitude, Vivienne will continue documenting her life journey with hope to inspire others to do the same.

BON APPETIT & BON VOYAGE

KON' NICHIWA JAPAN

JE TAIME PARIS

MALAYSIAN FOOD YOU CANNOT MISSED

T is for Tension-Free Travel

VIVE HOTEL WAIKIKI

MIAMI LIVIN '

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA

HOLLYWOOD TIME, LOS ANGELES

CHIANG MAI, THAILAND

ALOHA HAWAII

DREAMY SAN FRANCISCO

EXPLORE TAIWAN

Dear reader,

One of Asia must see destination- Taiwan! Taiwan is famous for it's amazing food, cultural and leisure. If you ever make a trip to Asia, you can take Eva air or China airline enroute to Taipei for a few days or a longer layover, this is a place you must see and visit.

This is also my very first trip I ever plan for myself as a solo traveler, and mapping out my itineraries for a week long vacation!

Here are some of the places I have been during my time there.

My Top 2 favorite spots for Taiwanese food :

Taipei Shilin Night Market - This location is all about food! It is one of the biggest night market and it has almost everything local eatery has to offer!

Jiu Fen- Unique place with beautiful old building and shops. Hidden in all those shops, there is a market square selling all sort of stuffs like in a night market. It is usually a half day long trip, but it is definitely worth the drive.

My top sites to gain Taiwanese cultural & historical sites:

Chiang Kai Sek Memorial Hall :

National Palace Museum :

ANDDD ... Some of the other cool places that I think you must see:

- Taipei 101 : Definitely one of THE must-go places, especially for a first-time visitor to Taipei.

- Yeh Liu Geo Park : Must see scenery of Magnificent sea view, unique rock and all the scenery there is marvelous.

- Favorite clubbing spot : SPARKS at Taipei 101 and ROOM 18, they have very good music and sound and lovely people and great DJ with good mixing.

- LongSan Temple : A must go place for Buddhist followers, seeing the difference architecture and a beautiful landscapes.

- Xi Men Ding Shopping district : Fantastic sites for all the trendy shopping for low cost! P.S I got my belly piercing done here.

ADIOS COZUMEL

GRAND CAYMAN LOVE LETTER

POSTCARDS FROM BALI

LOVE IN NEW YORK

SYMPHONY OF LIGHTS

#1 : Views from ferries crossing Victoria Harbour

#2 : Views from Victoria Peak

MONGKOK NIGHT MARKET

KOWLOON WONG TAI SIN TEMPLE

AIM & PASSION

Bonjour!

BonAppetit & BonVoyage is created with an aim and passion to provide a vast array of personal touch and inspiration consisting of food, wellness, fashion and travel adventure of Vivienne's life journey.

Since then, she has embarked on many more adventurous journeys that will fill your mind as she guide you to discover some of the most amazing place on earth and experiencing life-changing memories and sharing people stories.

Thank you all and wishing you a wonderful journey of life.

BonVoyage!