Corner Turn

Japan Day 2012 @ Central Park

noreply@blogger.com (MichDom) — Sat, 26 May 2012 10:57:00 +0000

After weeks of constant rain and cloudy weather, we finally had a clear day and full of sunshine. This is one of those days that you don't want to be stuck at home.

When we heard about the Annual Japan Day celebration in Central Park was on that weekend, Madison and I went to check it out.

This was a free event and open to the public at New York City Central Park. We came a little early but I could see lines on certain booths. They are waiting for the food booths to open at 11:30 a.m.

The main area is located on the Naumburg Bandshell where they have a set of stage programs.

They have a Kendo Performance. Currently, Madison is really into Power Rangers and Knights and Armors so she was totally fascinated on this demonstration. She even shouted "More! More!". She is such a tomboy and her school teacher even thought so.

It is also tradition to have a Taiko Drum performance. For some reason, there is a way they beat these Taiko Drums that sounds really soothing to me. I always look forward to listen to these performances.

They also promote to teach kids how to use chopsticks. My little one picked it up quickly. At least I don't have to worry about her hand eye coordination skills.

Fishing the balloons!

And she saw a familiar face. She asked to meet Hello Kitty so we waited in line for the photo op.

Free robot battle. A simple concept and yet very popular with the little boys.

I might have to think that you use the same calf muscles when you use high heels. I would be afraid to wear these. For me, this is a recipe for disaster - face first.

Cosplay.

We waited in line for free gyoza.

And had some cold udon noodles.

Madison getting hungry and cranky.

Free Ito En Tea giveaway. I got Jasmin Tea, Green Tea and an Oolong shot.

New York City Central Park on a glorious day.

This was the first time I went to this event. It was well organized, well funded with generous sponsors. The Japanese really know how to organize events like this. The food and drink lines were long but it was moving quickly. They have enough volunteers that made this ran smoothly. I look forward for next year.

For more information, click here.

Taste of Tribeca 2012

noreply@blogger.com (MichDom) — Thu, 24 May 2012 02:28:00 +0000

Every year nearby restaurants in the Tribeca neighborhood of NYC offer a select sample from their menu. It is an organized fundraiser to benefit art and technology enrichment for the local community.

To be able to participate on the sample tasting, you have to buy a $50 card that would allow you to try 6 items on the menu. It's pricey but when you consider the quality and presentation on each booth, I would say this is the high end version of a street fair food festival. And its for a good cause.

At Duane Street

Duane Park Patisserie had Warm Molten Chocolate Cake with Bittersweet Chocolate Sauce.

Landmarc had Beet Salad with Arugula, Walnuts, Goat Cheese and Mint Yogurt. I skipped this one.

Grandaisy Bakery had Roman Style Pizza.

Acappella had Homemade Porcini Agnelotti with Port Wine Sauce. One of the best ones.

From The Palm Tribeca.

Super Linda had Esquitas Tostada.

Takahachi Tribeca had Eel and Crab Salad Handrolls. These are always a delight.

FDNY Ladder 8 had Greek Meatballs with Homemade Tzatziki Sauce on Grilled Pita.

Tiramisu Mochi from Nobu. I think this was the crown jewel on this event.

There were also premium seats that allows you to sit and have your choice of sample dishes brought over by volunteers on orange shirts. Premium seats costs $175. A whole table of 6 costs $950. Again, its for a good cause.

For more information, please click here.

Shawnee Inn Poconos

noreply@blogger.com (MichDom) — Fri, 18 May 2012 01:38:00 +0000

One of our (before the baby) favorite weekend getaways revolve around golf. It all started in trying to hit the ball at a nearby golfing range every weekend morning to getting our own golf clubs. We never took lessons but went ahead and learned how to play the game on our own.

The front desk at our cabin resort recommended this golf club. I never expected much about it but I was astounded to find a golf resort with an old world hotel. It was well maintained with nice manicured lawns. We went around to check out the area.

The driveway to the golf range. It is early Spring and the trees are beginning to show signs of life. By High Summer those should be filled with leaves. At the end of the road was the Delaware Water Gap.

The water looks to have a gentle current that would great for kayaking. It doesn't look deep but I am a little bit wary swimming on rivers. I grew up next to the beach so bodies of fresh water is unfamiliar territory to me. I might let Madison play on the side.

The hotel facade. The facility looks well maintained.

Inside the lobby.

The decor leans on the masculine side. It is a golf resort after all.

Where did they got those lanterns? Love those.

Found some old memorabilia on the wall. It mentioned that golfer Arnold Palmer and actor Jackie Gleason were regular visitors.

I just love this balcony. This place really reminds me of The Great Gatsby. I could just picture in my head having parties on the lawn.

Somewhat like this.

I would like to sit on those rocking chairs and read a book overlooking this view. It's probably the slow season.We only saw a couple of ladies sitting in the front. The men are probably out golfing.

* This pool is what really sold me on wanting to stay overnight.

* And this too.

When we inquired on the green fees, they have a promo for March and April for $25 per person which includes the use of the golf cart. Twilight fees are $19 each. Not too bad. Hubby promised me that we might try to stay here at least overnight. When? The mid week rates are reasonable but we might wait till the next shoulder season. It's cheaper that way.

*photo credit: Shawnee inn

Always Smiling

noreply@blogger.com (MichDom) — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 04:54:00 +0000

I have never known anyone to be so optimistic and so cheerful than my friend Regie. Even in calamity he still manages to smile even if his fridge is floating away in waist deep flood. I really admire that. Next time, I will try to remember in times of frustration that it could have been worse - just like that floating fridge.

Photo source: Regie's blog.

The Poconos Weekend

noreply@blogger.com (MichDom) — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 01:27:00 +0000

It was a surprise when hubby told me that he wants to do a weekend getaway. I was exhausted these past few weeks and I don't feel like going on a long drive. And since we have always been driving south on most getaways, this time I suggested going north. The Poconos Mountains sounds a good idea. It is close, an hour and a half drive and we never been there. So, we grabbed the water cooler, the van and the in-laws and off we went.

The Poconos Mountain is a popular (and cheap) options for family vacations. It is great to visit on both extremes of the season. On winter, it is a popular ski destination. On the summer, it is known for hiking and white water rafting. We are in a shoulder season (too cold for the pool, too warm to ski) so I am not sure what other options we could do for the weekend. It turns out that its a good thing not to do much on a weekend. My in-laws (both retired) made sure we ate good and got enough sleep. I told hubby that we should do this more often.

Our 2 storey "cottage" for the weekend. It has 2 bedrooms, full kitchen and a pull out couch on the living room. It even has a storage area outside for ski equipments. The interiors really has nothing to write home about but it has the basics and ideal for big families.

The next day we woke up early for the golfing range. Hubby only took select clubs and forgot the wood. I am a little annoyed but its a great day so I settled using the #3 and the hybrid.

Then we had lunch at the cottage and picked up Madison so we could do some sightseeing. I am always interested on hearing the history of every place we visited. Nothing really historic happened here at the Poconos mountains but it was interesting how was the way of life back then when travel is very limited. The Delaware Water Gap Trolley is a good start on going around the area.

This is one of the scenic spots at the Trolley ride. Across is the Delaware Water Gap and the highway that connects the town to civilization. It is said that the river had a tendency to overflow on hurricane season.

Then the guide pointed out the mountain side that looked like a face with an eagle perched on its nose. Can you see it?

After the Trolley tour, we head back to the cottage and sat around in the patio. Later the day, the temperature went down and its too cold to be outdoors. We decided to have an early dinner and finish the rest of the wine while watching DVD.

I know. I wish I could write something about doing cool things but rest and sleep seem to be a luxury for us nowadays. Next post would be more photos of what I would term as a "hidden treasure" on the Poconos. I have never heard of this place before but I would love to come back and stay at least overnight on this inn that looks like you are in a time warp. A little hint - it reminds me of The Great Gatsby. Enough said.

Playtime NYC -Mar 2012

noreply@blogger.com (MichDom) — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 13:00:00 +0000

We made a point to stop by one of the major trade shows in New York City called Playtime New York. They are small in terms of size compared to ENK Children's club yet they reach an international market. The current collections displayed are for the Fall/Winter season 2012/2013.

Hard to miss it. Look for the balloons.

The pop up shop where you could purchase the items on display.

The display is called Wool Games. Chunky cardigans and bulky scarves would be in vogue again next winter.

Gods of the Stadium. Another indication that sports motifs never fades.

Mix and Don't Match. According to the description: "The aim of the game: to be in glorious discord!" Sounds good to me.

This brand has caught my eye - literally. I am very particular in purchasing sunglasses. There are a lot of brands of quality sunglasses for adults but I don't see much of them for kids. I would like to add these items on our collection in the near future.

It is usually a hassle for me to go to Soho but this time they made it easy to have a free shuttle that we can take from the Javits Center. I hope they would do it again next time.

The Top Apple

noreply@blogger.com (MichDom) — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 13:14:00 +0000

You know I don't usually read biographies but this is one of those that you shouldn't miss reading. He did inspire me.

My favorite quote didn't came from Steve but from Bill Gates when Steve confronted him about stealing his ideas:

"I think it's more like we both had this rich neighbor named Xerox and I broke into his house to steal the TV set and found out that you had already stolen it."

"Stay hungry. Stay foolish."

Winter is Coming

noreply@blogger.com (MichDom) — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 13:00:00 +0000

I am a fan obsessed. My favorite scenes always revolved with Tyrion Lannister. I am now forced to read the book. If you like an ensemble with medieval and a hint of fantasy themes then this is a show for you. It helps that it had great casting too. More of these pretty please.

Evita

noreply@blogger.com (MichDom) — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 13:00:00 +0000

I held off not watching any Broadway production in years. The recent revival of Evita is so enticing not to be missed out. It also helps that watching Ricky Martin in live production doesn't hurt either.

Recap: Korea Series

noreply@blogger.com (MichDom) — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 12:00:00 +0000

If you are not tired of the Korea series postings (yet!), here is the complete series in case you miss a posting:

The photo below was taken in Incheon airport on our way back home. We are scheduled to land in San Francisco and transfer to another flight to Newark, New Jersey. Those Sopranos sang their heart out that it hit a sore spot (for me) as they bid us goodbye. Seoul made a great impression on me. As I said before, I vow to come back for more.

Korea series: More Random Notes

noreply@blogger.com (MichDom) — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 16:49:00 +0000

Our last days before heading home had been a blur. We are now in a rush to fit in some shopping and places we want to see. Around this time, we had been often calling home. I am terribly missing hubby and my little one.

Yeongdeungpo
When we are in the process of booking this trip, there was a big debate as to where we would stay in Seoul. We sorted it out based on price, location and convenience. Then we chose this mid-range business hotel located on top of a mall aptly called Times Square. The area is still surrounded by a cluster of residential neighborhoods and its great to see something mundane like watching locals head over to work in the morning.

The Yeoungdeungpo train station is convenient when you need to take a day trip out of town. Coming back, it is the first stop in Seoul. This is very convenient when you are coming back around when the metro stops running at midnight. Our hotel is one block away from this station.

Can you believe that our hotel is on top of this mall? Crazy, I know.

This was our home in Seoul for 10 days. We are not used to jet lag that we end up watching TV around 3 am. We don't understand most of the shows but we had a good laugh on certain commercials.

Our room was spotless.

The only weird thing about this hotel room was the glass partition between the beds and the bathroom. There is a curtain to cover up the glass and that is the extent of privacy you are getting.

Nam Dae Mun Market
This is the largest and oldest open market in Seoul. I believe you could get everything you need here only if you know where to get it. It is also a place where you could get items at wholesale prices.

We came at a time when most of the outdoor vendors are wrapping up their wares. The weather looks like it is going to rain.The vendors wasn't as aggressive so shopping was painless.

I can't resist foods that are fresh off the steamers. They smell so good too.

Afterwards, we went on for some old fashioned barbecue.

National Folk Village
It was one of the major tourist attraction in the city. It was free and a major stop at the Seoul City Tour so we did manage to check it out.

It probably took a village to make this a functional kitchen.

Traditional Korean houses has no furniture. They all eat and sleep on the floor.

It is probably the most important wares in every household. The traditional jars to store everything from kimchi, chili paste to soy sauce.

Namsan Tower
This maybe our last tourist tour from our trip. It is a great wrap up of seeing the city in birds eye view. It turns out this is not just a plain observation deck but it also had historical significance in Korean history.

The bus took us halfway up but you still have to walk a steep incline to the tower.

One of the great views we saw from the top. This was a good reminder for me that I am actually in Asia. It has been more than 10 years since I visited Manila. I am close but not too close enough.

A tree row of "lovelocks" at the observation deck.

The top of the Namsan mountain was formerly used as a smoke signal station.It was used for emergency communication during the Joseon Dynasty and was retired in 1985.

After thoughts....

This is the final post of the Korea series. It was a great journey to a fascinating culture that I can't get enough of. It felt that I only scratched the surface. I vow to come back for more hoping next time I could bring hubby and baby in tow. It's a promise.

Jiro Dreams of Sushi

noreply@blogger.com (MichDom) — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 23:06:00 +0000

This looks like an interesting portrait of one of the greatest sushi chefs in Japan. I am pretty sure that I would crave for sushi after watching this.

About The Film

JIRO DREAMS OF SUSHI is the story of 85 year-old Jiro Ono, considered by many to be the world’s greatest sushi chef. He is the proprietor of Sukiyabashi Jiro, a 10-seat, sushi-only restaurant inauspiciously located in a Tokyo subway station. Despite its humble appearances, it is the first restaurant of its kind to be awarded a prestigious 3 star Michelin review, and sushi lovers from around the globe make repeated pilgrimage, calling months in advance and shelling out top dollar for a coveted seat at Jiro’s sushi bar.

Quote of the day: Trent Walton

noreply@blogger.com (MichDom) — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 00:59:00 +0000

"There's something sacred about reading a blog post on someone else's site. It's like visiting a friend's house for a quick meal 'round the breakfast table. It's personal — you're in their space, and the environment is uniquely suited for idea exchange and uninterrupted conversation. In many ways, we should be treating our blogs like our breakfast tables. Be welcoming & gracious when you host, and kind & respectful when visiting." -Trent Walton

Now do you agree?

Mad Sunday

noreply@blogger.com (MichDom) — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 01:24:00 +0000

Don and company are back at work. After a whirlwind courtship, he is settling down with his new (and young) wife - till he found out about his surprise 40th birthday partly. Check out the song and dance routine that his wife prepared for him, click here.

What do you think of the 2 hour Mad Men episode?

Korea series: Gyeongbok Palace

noreply@blogger.com (MichDom) — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 16:44:00 +0000

It was our first full day in Seoul. Both of us are suffering jetlag and woke up as early as 3am. It took us a while to figure out how to go the Palace. We have no idea where to get the subway from our hotel and by the time we found one, it is a totally different stress factor to figure out how to get and use the pass card. I guess this is why we love to travel, its times like this that always stands out of the greatest adventures.

Built in 1395, the Gyeongbok Palace (translated to Palace of Shining Happiness) is the iconic symbol of the Joseon Dynasty. After the 14th century Japanese invasion, it was burnt to the ground and was left in ruins for 3 centuries. It was rebuilt again in 1867. And after the assassination of Empress Myeongsong in 1895, the imperial family left the palace and never came back.

I have watched a handful of Korean Historical dramas to recognize the guard outfits. It you think those are colorful enough wait till you get to the royal costumes.

At the Main (Gwanghwamun) gate. They do have a schedule for changing of the guard ceremonies.

At the Inner (Heungnyemun) gate. This what fascinates me about the palace design, in Europe castles the enemy only has to go through a moat and one massive gate. In this palace, once you went through the massive front gate, you have to do it again on the inner gate. This gives the people at the inner sanctum time to retrench or escape.

The Throne (Geunjeongjeon) Hall. This is where the King formally meets foreign envoys.

The Pavilion (Gyeonghoeru) Hall. It is often used to hold important banquets.

The detail on the roof of the Pavilion Hall.

The Hyangwonjeong Pavilion. The two storied Hexagonal Pavilion sits on top of an artificial island in the middle of the lake connected by a wooden bridge.

Amazing details on one of the building structures at the Palace grounds. How do you like them eaves?

This is how would a structure would look like without those colorful details. What do you like best?

There were a lot of low surrounding walls and gates like these around the palace grounds. My guess was to either to provide privacy or to control who goes over a certain area in the palace.

The tall structure next to the palace buildings serves as a chimney for the underground heating.

After we took the scheduled palace tour, we are now tired and very hungry. I still want to take photos and walk around the area but my sister is getting cranky by the minute. I don't blame her. I would like to come back here again and study more than its history. I want to look further on how its design and architecture or its similarities to other palaces in Asia.

I still have a couple more postings. Thanks for reading.

Showroom Envy

noreply@blogger.com (MichDom) — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 16:20:00 +0000

One of the most recognizable American brand in the children's apparel industry had added a new showroom in NYC. I can't help but admire their design concept. I really love that display wall of current looks of the season. I am having showroom envy hoping to have one of my own --someday.

photo credit: minor details

Penelope

noreply@blogger.com (MichDom) — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 02:22:00 +0000

In lieu of Valentines Day, the local library had a whole set of romantic movies lined up the on video wall. Most of them I've seen before, some are familiar, some are not--appealing. One movie got my attention, not because its interesting but it stars somebody that I don't usually see on rom-com movies. When you see a serious actor doing something lighthearted with a hint of fantasy, its worth checking it out. I wasn't disappointed, James McAvoy can be the ultimate dreamboat. I think he is now.

Penelope is the story of a young girl from a privileged and wealthy family that was born with a pig snout. Legend has it a witch after a tragic event, put a curse to her family generations ago. To overturn the curse, she has to find someone of noble birth to love her.

Far fetched, I know. It had a great start till a scheme of unveiling turns thin. It's still worth watching it even if you are pining for pretty boy McAvoy.

Korea series: Coffee And Tea

noreply@blogger.com (MichDom) — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 19:14:00 +0000

The first thing that I noticed once we started exploring around Seoul was the abundance of coffee shops. They seem to be everywhere. Some are chains, some are stand alone shops. Coffee in these places aren't cheap at all. But it gives you that fancy space to rest and relax that weary feet.

Cafe Pascucci. They are a coffee shop chain that I see them mostly on major malls. I regret not taking a photo of the entire shop but it is mostly decorated with dark colors and leather seats.

This was a coffee shop on the Dongdaemun area. I forgot the name but it has a sign says "premium" on it. As I only like to drink cafe latte, I took the initiative to try something new, a green tea latte. It was good in its creamy and frothy way but it didn't give me the jolt that I usually get from coffee.

At Cafe Benne. This might be the most popular chain since they are almost everywhere and also endorsed by the popular Korean stars. Although they serve breakfast fare like waffles and pancakes, they are open a little later. The one in front of our hotel opens at 9 am.

The Bird Flying Tea Shop

One of the guide book recommendation was to try having a traditional tea in Insadong. There were a couple of them to choose from but the author's favorite place was quite hard to find since the shop signs were all in Hangul. It turns out that this particular place was tucked away at the end of a narrow side street. Located on the second floor with rickety stairs, it was one of our best finds that made Insadong so special.

This was the kind of place that you have to take off your shoes at the top of the stairs. A minute after we sat there was a group of fellow tourists with a local guide that took them there. The guide told them that this was their favorite place to show to people.

We could hear small chirping birds on the side. The place is crowded with old furniture. We were sitting on an elevated platform on top of a pillow. It was small but we were comfortable.

I got a simple herb tea and my sister got something sweet. Too sweet for my taste.

The coffee and tea shop scene around Seoul was something that I really like. There were a lot of them that a 10 day trip would not be enough to try them all. Unless I drink about 5 cups of coffee in one day. It would be excessive, it also make me very giddy. And that's not fun.

I still found a slew of photos to share from this trip. So more Korea series posting to come. Stay tuned.

A day in the life

noreply@blogger.com (MichDom) — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 01:46:00 +0000

Ever thought of having a life that revolves only on basketball? This guy does. He wakes up on the crack of dawn working out, practicing and training till the end of the day. But doing what you love makes it a joy every waking day. I salute to that.

Korea series: Korea Food Expo 2011

noreply@blogger.com (MichDom) — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 01:30:00 +0000

Whenever you have precious finds, there should be a let down. We saw a billboard outside the Coex mall advertising the Food Expo. We had so much fun at the Kids Fair so we thought why not check it out. It turned out that it is only for trade only. Let me share some ho hum events:

A well placed board outside the Coex Mall. It did look interesting at first.

First indication that its trade only. A handful of folks in suits.

When you get in, you will see a lot of European wines in display. Foreign wines are so expensive in Korea. A bottle of white wine from Napa Valley, California had a 100% mark up.

Makgeolli - local Korean rice wine. They are so cheap, I have seen one bottle that sells for $3 at a convenience store. Traditionally, they drink this on a wide bowl.

We were trying to buy some locally produced wine but they only sell wholesale. Unfortunately, those wines are not available either for purchase on local stores.

Seriously, those mascots do creep me out.

A speaker talks about talking about her favorites food items from the neighboring Southeast Asian countries. She mentioned that she loves the dried mangoes from the Philippines.

So what's up with the shin guards?

Look who I found? If you are a fan of Korean pop culture then it will be hard to miss him. He is currently on mandatory military service.

I was tempted to take my picture with a cut out. But my younger sister had been egging me like crazy. According to her I am such a corn ball. Whatever.

A Masterpiece

noreply@blogger.com (MichDom) — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 15:42:00 +0000

Who knew that a period piece has so much soap opera? Matthew loves Mary, Anna and Bates, Sybil and Branson, Lord Grantham and ....So much angst. I love it!

Here is a short clip of what makes Downton Abbey so addicting. It is a scene of what is happening upstairs where they introduced a new heir to the estate. He is a lawyer by profession and wants to continue working while running the estate. This caused the nobles to look down on his profession. Watch how the dowager countess' question, you could get a sense on how idle their life had been.

Lady Grantham is an American heiress. Her Mother is coming to Downton Abbey on Season 3. Looking forward to the swinging barbs between her and the Dowager Countess. I can't wait.

French Parenting

noreply@blogger.com (MichDom) — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 18:40:00 +0000

I am always curious about parenting across cultures. There is nothing like a one size fits all but you could always take the best part that fits your style.

This book sounded interesting from an American expat in France and her observation on the way the French take on parenting. This would definitely be on my ever expanding books to read list.

To get a glimpse on her thoughts, click here.

Korea series: Food Trip

noreply@blogger.com (MichDom) — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 16:54:00 +0000

It felt that this particular trip had been a blur. Looking back, my sister and I had rare sit down dinners in Seoul. It is also our fault that every time we see something interesting we stop and look. Most of the time we ended up snacking. When its time for a proper meal, we are not in the mood and sit down for another bout of bottomless meal. I kid you not.

To get an idea of how a typical restaurant meal, it starts with a ban-chan. It is a small side servings, a bit more hearty than an appetizer. It really depends how generous the host gives you but it typically has a side of kimchi and other spicy and fermented greens. Often times, these sides do complement with the meal you have ordered.

This was our first sit down meal since we landed in Seoul. We found this place about walking distance from the Main Palace. This is what I consider as a generous portion since they gave us a fish side dish. The lady that served us our meal came up and try to make pleasant conversation. We didn't understand what she said but we understood that she is telling us to try the fish. She sounded like a typical Grandma asking us to give it a try. I indulged her by picking a piece with a chop stick and tasted it. I nodded in agreement. She seemed to be satisfied and left us to enjoy our meal.

This is from a restaurant in the Myeongdong area. We met up with someone my sister knew from college. He treated us to this nice meal. It is also refreshing to have someone translate and order for us. This time they gave us a side of boiled egg and tofu. The photo below is our main meal, a seafood stew.

Among generous hosts there also stringent ones like this noodle place in the middle of Insadong. The clam soup is nothing to write home about so is the small portion of kimchi. And no, they didn't do any refill.

Street food finds...

We don't have any expectations but those are very tasty barbecue. They grill the meat then broil it for a few minutes then grill it back again putting that heavenly sauce. The meat had a soft texture and added with the sweet sauce, just perfect. We like it a lot that we ended coming for seconds. It is cheap too.

They make hotdogs that are coated in dough. It did look popular with the locals. We pass on this one since there are other options.

Looks like a sweet pancake. We passed on this one too.

Another hotdog concoction.

Dried squid. I was surprised that they make it sweet unlike the Japanese salty version.

I think this is something of a spam like meat. I passed on this one.

Sugar coated sweet potato. I give this stand high marks for presentation. I noticed this cart right away. I passed on this one too. We are getting too full from sampling other foods.

This is a typical street food cart in Seoul. It has fried foods in front of anything tempura. The one in the middle are rice rolls soaked in (very) spicy chili sauce. It is so spicy that we didn't get far from one sample bite. I might have drank a gallon of water after. I draw my limitations from here.

The last but not the least, our favorite street food. It is corn bread with eggs benedict on top. A whole meal in one. We always stop and eat one whenever we pass a vendor selling it. The photo below was the first time we tried it. They smell so good too!

Hope this made you hungry as I was writing this post. I still have a couple more entries coming on the Korea series. It turns out I have a couple incoming post. Stay tuned.

Grandparents Day

noreply@blogger.com (MichDom) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:07:00 +0000

A snippet of Madison's art skills. And Grandpa has hair! Haha.

My A to Z travels: The Restless New Yorker

noreply@blogger.com (MichDom) — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 00:36:00 +0000

My first ever guest post from my cousin Kristine. I would find it interesting to see her response to the A to Z travel questionnaire. She has been consistently travelling to various exotic locales these past few years. Every time she posts her travel photos, it makes me want to go there. I won't be surprised if she decides to take a year off to roam around the world.

Age you went on your first international trip.I left for a month-long study abroad trip to Argentina in December 2003, about a week after turning 21. It was my first international trip by myself, not knowing anyone else in the program. I've been hooked ever since.

Best foreign beer you had and where.
I'm not much of a beer connoisseur, but my favorite beer-related memory has to be in Sapa, Vietnam. Exhausted after trekking all day in the heat through the rice terraces, we were surprised to find a river just a few meters from our homestay. We jumped in, bringing our beer with us to a big rock in the middle of the river. So awesome.

Cuisine (favorite)
Vietnamese. To me, no other cuisine can match it freshness and variety of flavors. And I love how the street food culture is so strong that fast food chains have never caught on.

Destination (favorite, least favorite) and why.

My favorite area of the world is probably Southeast Asia, for the food, the beaches, the sites and the friendly people. Even bargaining with vendors is a pleasant experience. Also, I go to Miami every year, because it's such a fun, easy and cheap weekend trip.

I haven't been anywhere that I disliked enough to vow never to return, but my least favorite is Montego Bay, Jamaica. We couldn't walk one block without being harassed by really pushy people trying to sell us beer, weed or trinkets. They wouldn't take no for an answer and if you tried to ignore them, they would get really insulted.

Event you experienced abroad that made you say "wow".
In the Serengeti in Tanzania, coming across lions hunting down and subsequently tearing apart a gazelle. Amazing!

Favorite mode of transportation.
The train, hands down. I've taken all sorts of trains, from the local metros to super high speed trains to rickety overnight sleepers, in Europe, Brazil, Morocco, Thailand, India, Peru, China, Vietnam and Egypt. They have wildly varied in speed, cleanliness and services, and I enjoyed each one. I wish the US was less car centric and had more long distance train routes.

Greatest feeling when traveling.
Knowing that you have x number of days ahead of you to do nothing but explore and see, do and eat something new.

Hottest place you've travelled to.
Jordan in July, hiking through Petra in 100+ degree weather under the noon sun with no shade.

Incredible service you've experience and where:
At the Old Cataract Hotel, a former presidents' palace overlooking the Nile in Luxor, Egypt. I went in for a drink and just to see the grounds, and I must have had five or six people serve me, from the guys opening the door to the guy taking me to my table, to the bartender, the waiter, etc. I actually found it way over the top, and I felt uncomfortable sitting there, drinking a cocktail that cost more than what all my servers made all day.

Journey that took the longest
It took about 40 hours door to door to get from my hotel in Zanzibar back to my apartment in New York. My itinerary involved three different airlines, going from Zanzibar to Nairobi to Paris to New York. I had a 7.5 hour layover in Paris during the day, so I capitalized on it and took the metro to see the Eiffel Tower, walk along the Seine and pick up brunch at a local patisserie before boarding my next flight. When I finally got to JFK, I was pleasantly surprised that my bag, with its handwritten luggage tag (in pencil!) made it through the long journey.

Keepsake from your travels.
Thousands of photos. And a few new friends from around the world.

Let down site and where
Chichen Itza. The pyramid looked bigger and more impressive in the photos. The vendors on the grounds of the ruins yelling out to the tourists to try to sell their junk took away from the "sacredness" of the place. The 4-hour bus ride to get there didn't help, either.

Moment where you fell in love with travel
I remember flipping through National Geographics when I was kid, thinking how lucky those photographers must be to see all those places. I never thought that I would have the opportunity to do so myself.

Nicest hotel you've stayed in.
I've stayed in a few nice hotels (mostly for work), and I've found them to be generic and never worth the money. One of my favorite places that I've ever stayed is the Posada Amazonas Lodge in the Peruvian Amazon. The lodge is literally in the middle of the jungle, with all rooms without walls, completely open to the wilderness. There's no electricity, and there's a beautiful bathroom in each room but no hot water. With no "amenities," there's nothing to do but take guided walks through the jungle, lounge in the hammocks, chat with guides and other travelers and occasionally discover fuzzy, feathery or scaly visitors on the lodge grounds.

Obsession. What are you obsessed with taking pictures of while traveling?
Food, markets and trains.

Passport Stamps. How many and where?
I haven't counted, but enough to get additional passport pages and fill them up.

Quirkiest attraction you've visited and where.
Probably the "World Erotic Art Museum" in South Beach, Miami. It's a whole gallery floor full of naughty images, sculptures, toys, etc. from around the world, all collected by one little old lady.

Recommended site and where.
Anywhere that seems interesting to you, especially if it seems like a "once in a lifetime" trips. I think a lot of people put them off, because they seem to daunting to plan, too far away or too expensive, but a lot of countries are surprisingly accessible.

Splurge. Something you have no problem forking over money for while traveling.
Trying anything new, like hot air balloon rides in Jordan and Egypt, paragliding in Nepal, hanggliding in Hawaii, scuba diving in Mexico. Also, airfare, especially long leg direct direct flights...so worth it.

Touristy thing you've done.
Lots of stuff, maybe the most touristy of which was a luau in Oahu. And a gondola ride in Venice.

Unforgettable travel memory.
Too many to count.

Visa. How many for where.
From memory... Brazil, Cambodia, Kenya, Tanzania, India, Nepal, Jordan, China, Vietnam and Egypt. About $600 total and totally worth it, although I think it's silly that there are any fees at all for <30 day tourist visas.

Wine, best glass while travelling and where.
Best red was in Argentina. It was literally cheaper than water and was usually accompanied by an amazing, medium rare steak. Best white was in Montepulciano in Tuscany.

eXellent view and from where.
Watching the Hana coast from a rented convertible in Maui, the Nile from a felucca in Luxor, Tuscan vineyards from atop an old castle in Poppiano, the peak of Everest from a prop plane, the sun rising over the dunes of the Sahara.

Years spent travelling
I haven't taken off a year to travel (yet).

Zealous sports fan and where.
Not much of a sports fan, but I got to watch a soccer/football game in Argentina. The stories are all true - the security checks, the barbed wire fences between each opposing team's cheering section, the armed police. No riots that night though, luckily.

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Thanks Tin. I hope you find time to update your blog so we could follow you on your travels.