Odysseus Journal

In Search of My Culture & Heritage

2017-07-25T14:27:00.000-07:00

“Where are you from?” Question I’ve heard all my life. Simple yet ominous, almost always with an underlined implication that I am not from here.

Here can be subjective as well. Here in California, the U.S. or wherever I am, even in San Francisco where Asian Americans make up almost one-third of city’s population, I am often asked, where I’m really from.

Of course, I know what they mean. The question they're asking is about my heritage, my Korean heritage that is.

Truthfully, it has taken me a long time to understand my South Korean heritage and culture.

I was born in Seoul and immigrated to the U.S. when I was 10 years old. Although South Korea was an underdeveloped country then, my childhood was filled with happy memories of friends, school outings and long walks with my regal grandfather whom I’d always looked up to.

I remember distinctly the change of seasons, the bone-chilling cold winter followed by beautiful warm spring, the heat of the summer, and then cool breeze and breathtaking autumn foliage that came along with autumn.

There are childhood memories that are engraved in my mind. Birthday parties, family gatherings, and celebrating Korean traditions like annual gijesa, a memorial service performed on Chuseok and Lunar New Year and bowing before photos of ancestors who have passed away. I still remember the faces of my great grandparents and maternal grandmother.

Despite what those living in the western countries may think, the wonderment of growing up in most developing or underdeveloped countries are no different than that of developed world. Finding joy in simple things in life like puddle of frozen water in the backyard that provided an ideal place to glide or the warm summers nights spent playing outside with the kids in our neighborhood until the sun set.

The fondest memory of my young childhood was when I was first introduced to Christmas. After watching the movie “A Charlie Brown Christmas”, I asked my grandfather what the holiday meant. Of course, being a devout Buddhist at the time, my grandfather had little knowledge of Christian holidays.

My dear grandfather must have asked someone he worked with or must have referred to the movie because the next thing I knew, he had decorated one of our house plants with various fruits in shape of ornaments, and I was told, that was Christmas.

Aside from the wonderful childhood memories, there wasn’t a lot I knew about South Korea.

I arrived in the U.S. before we began to learn history, social science or anything else that really defines a country, and everything I learned about my heritage and culture was as an immigrant in the U.S.

Although I spent most of my life acclimating into the new environment, immersing myself into the culture and language of the new country, every holidays and special days were spent with my family, including new members of the community who recently arrived in the States. I was taught at an early age the gold rule of Korean culture, “We take care of our own.”

However, having been educated in a conservative region in the U.S., there wasn’t a lot of exposure to history and politics of Asia. More time was spent on Nixon Watergate Scandal than understanding the Korean War, only premise being, North Koreans are bad; South Koreans are allies.

Six year had passed before I returned to South Korea. By then, only thing I was interested in was being an All American girl next door. Like most teenagers, I was caught up in the shopping frenzy in Seoul and had little interest in attractions and historical sites. All I cared about was going to Itaewon or Dongdaemun, the prime shopping area for knockoff designer merchandise and hitting the next food stall or restaurants.

Then, 20 years later, I went back to South Korea as an English Teacher. Aside from being able speak and understand basic Korean, I knew so little of the country in which I was born, and I went about my day as an outsider looking into the country I barely knew or understood.

My foreignness did not go unnoticed by the locals as well. Most South Koreans I encountered asked me, “Where are you from?” They, too, did not see me as one of their own, as a Korean. Nevertheless, I was embraced as something else, something different. In Korea, I am what the natives refer to as gyopo (교포), referring to people who, as a result of living outside the home country, have lost touch with their Korean roots. I had become a foreigner in my home country.

Although I’d spent my teenage and young adult life living up to the image of what an American should be, I began to see the value in my own culture. I had always cherished the memories of my childhood in South Korea, and even after three decades of living abroad, all the memories and familiarity came rushing back.

I remembered the generosity of the people, like the courteous shop keepers and hospitable restaurant owners and staff, the caring little old ladies (halmonies) sitting on public transportation who would offer to hold my heavy bag if I’m standing in front of her, and the stoic taxi and bus drivers who would go out of their way to help you just because you needed it.

I didn’t need to be a fellow citizen, everyday human kindness superseded boundaries of race and ethnicity.

I have spent the past decade revisiting and learning more about South Korea, a country where the warmth of the people embraces you from the moment you get off the plane.

After the birth of my son, it became even more important to understand its culture and share with him the things that I loved as a child.

It came as a surprise to see how easily he acclimated in South Korea, especially how much he loves the food. It's been a joy to see his face light up when he is sitting in pojangmacha (a small tented food stall) having delicious street foods like spicy rice cakes, fish cakes, fried squid and hotteok, learning Korean history and traditions at the National Museum, or giddy about staying overnight at a traditional hanok inn (a traditional Korean house) where we slept on the floor like I used to when I was a little girl.

He bares none of the stigma of being a gyopo and has all the freedom to explore and experience everything with a fresh perspective.

At the same time, I can see that he feels the connection that binds us to the land, and he understands the heritage that is part of him. Not only the history and tradition, but also the importance of being socially conscious, sense of community, respect for elders, and the value of family.

It's wonderful that with every visit, my son and I have not only discovered new places but also learned, and are learning what it means to be Korean.

Road Trip Through South Korea’s Idyllic Countryside

2017-05-30T22:01:00.002-07:00

South Korea is one of my favorite travel destinations! I love that everywhere you go, there a wonderful mixture of ultra-modern technology as well as tradition and natural beauty. It is a country full of spectacular sights of both industrialized, urban cities as well as cultural, suburban and rural areas. It is a diverse country for both city tourists and wild adventurers.

As much as I love Seoul, South Korea’s capital city, during this trip, I wanted to venture out and see other parts of the country.

There are many different way to take a road trip in South Korea. As the public transportation is one of the finest and the most efficient in the world, you can take either buses or KTX, high-speed train to any desired destinations. However, we opted to rent a car and drive, which gave us a lot of flexibility to change our itinerary!

Full disclosure, renting a car is expensive in South Korea (about $100/day), but the standard and the quality of car is much better than the run-of-the-mill cars you get in the U.S. Not only was the car we rented looked (and even smelled) like it just came out of a showroom, it was equipped with the top of the line media equipment and GPS.

Instead of renting the car at one of the two main airports, (ICN or GMP), we decided to pick up our rental at a location near by the hotel, which saved us about 3 hours of travel time, and we had to pay for the convenience.

Note that some of the car rental offices are located in residential buildings, which will be difficult to find, and do not be discouraged or worried if you don’t see parking lot of rental cars. As space is limited in Seoul, rental offices may keep one or two cars based on reservations.

Once we picked up the car, we were on our way to Gyeongju, the ancient capital of Silla Dynasty located southeast of the Korean Peninsula.

As is the case when taking a road trip in any foreign country, having a reliable GPS is a must! Some may insist traveling without one will enable you to enjoy the off the beaten path, but after nearly three decades of travel experience, I’ve learned that I’m able to enjoy the off the beaten path more if I actually know what path to take.

However, South Korean roads are in an impeccable condition, and there is plenty of great signage in English to make the road trip doable without a navigation system.

Unfortunately, we found out an hour into our road trip that the week we’d designated for the road trip was the week of a major holiday in South Korea, and everyone (which seemed like all of Seoul’s 10 million inhabitants) and their Uhm-ma were on the road with a destination in mind. Note to self, always be aware of major holidays when making travel plans!

Although our trip to Gyeongju took 7 hours in comparison to the 4 hours it was supposed to take, we were glad that we made the trip, as we couldn’t have asked for a more scenic introduction to the South Korean countryside.

South Korea consists in large part of Precambrian rocks that are more than about 540 million years old, and the country is largely mountainous, with small valleys and narrow coastal plains. The T’aebaek Mountains run in roughly a north-south direction along the eastern coastline.

Although none of South Korea’s mountains aren’t very high, they certainly are picturesque and retains a peaceful and relaxing atmosphere even while sitting in a back-to-back traffic jam. And as strange as it may sound, the best part of our prolonged drive were the bus stops along the highway, which were equipped with a great selection of freshly made Korean meals and snacks!

Gyeongju (경주)
Nestled in the central valleys of South Korea is Gyeongju, “walking museum”, as I like to call it. It is a testament to Korea’s past, and there are numerous Buddhist temples and royal burials grounds throughout the city ad beyond to keep you busy for weeks.

Bulguksa Temple

Daereungwon Tomb Complex

Jeonju (전주)

Jeonju is one of South Korea's top destinations, though it remains under the radar for international travelers. The largest city in the country's southwest, Jeonju has a vibrant historic district and a fantastic food scene!

In 2012 the city was designated a Unesco City of Gastronomy. Though the city itself sprawls, the main attractions are mostly clustered in one area, and you can easily wander cobblestone lanes lined with traditional homes, Hanok.

Many hanok are now also guesthouses, and sleeping in a hanok means sleeping on mats on the floor (which benefits from ondol, a unique form of underfloor heating in traditional Korean architecture).

I haven’t slept on the floor since I was a little girl, and my husband and I weren’t sure whether how our wiry middle-aged bodies would react. Surprisingly, we had the best nights sleep, and we enjoyed sharing the experience with my little boy, who thought, “Sleeping on the floor was really cool!”

Jeju-do (제주도)

Jeju-do (제주도), Korea’s largest island, has long been the country’s favorite domestic holiday destination thanks to its beautiful beaches, lush countryside and seaside hotels designed for rest and relaxation.

What surprised me the most was that there were so many family-friendly places and activities.

Kimnyoung Maze Park (김녕미로공원)

Seguiwpo, Daepo Jusangjeolli Cliff (주상절리 대포동지삿개)

lovely Deokpanbae Museum

Udo (우도)

Situated off the eastern coast of Jeju Island, Udo Island was named because it resembles a lying cow. It boasts fertile soil, abundant schools of fish, and scenic sights; local heritages (female divers, stone walls, and stone tombs) as well as natural attractions abound on the island, making it an ideal day trip from Jeju Island and a lovely drive.

Spectacular Lotus Lantern Festival

2017-05-17T22:34:00.000-07:00

I have seen a lot of spectacular events around the world. NYC Marathon, Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, Tour de France and even the Rice Festival in little town of Arles. However, I've never witnessed an event so festive and at the same time, as lovely and tranquil as the Lotus Lantern Festival in Seoul, South Korea.

The Lotus Lantern Festival celebrates the Birth of Buddha similar to the way Christians celebrate Christmas in observance of the birth of Jesus Christ. However, unlike Christmas, Buddha's Birthday is celebrated throughout a month (usually in April) in most part of Asia as a non-commercial event, which means, it's a holiday that can be enjoyed just for the sake of celebrating without the lunacy of gift giving.

The month-long festival is packed with events, and all the Buddhist temples are decorated with magnificent display of colorful lanterns. However, the highlight definitely are the events that takes place on the last weekend before the Buddha's Birthday which falls on 8th April by Lunar Calendar.

Ever since I read about the Lotus Lantern Festival on an inflight magazine, I knew it was something I must see, and it was nothing less than spectacular!

The highlight of the festival was the evening Lantern Parade. As if the endless stream of floats carrying beautifully constructed and brightly illuminated lanterns weren't enough, on the contrast to the rowdy festivals in the U.S. and Europe, I was surprised how peaceful the parade was. There were even chairs for the spectators to rest and enjoy all along the parade route!

There were lantern carriers and floats with everything from traditional lotus flower lanterns and paper lanterns to lanterns in the shape of Hangul, the Korean alphabet, spelling out words. There are huge floats in the shapes of dragons, elephants and birds as well as Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. There are groups from temples, groups from schools and of course the most popular groups are the monks themselves.

It truly was one the most mesmerizing and memorable event I’ve seen with vibrant palate of colors of the lanterns and participants of the parade. I really loved the celebratory atmosphere, and it was great to see the comradery of the people and all the families with small children who were enjoying themselves into the wee hours of the night.

Lotus Lantern Festival is an event I would fly across the world to see again!

Breakdown of the events.

▣ City Hall Lighting Ceremony

Seoul City Hall Plaza will be decorated with a large light symbolizing the birth of Buddha on April 18 before the official lotus lamp lighting ceremony. With the lighting of the large lamp, the lotus lamp lighting ceremony will begin with various programs including praying around the pagoda stone.

The lights will come on every evening during sunset, until 1:00 am from April 18 to May 5. Anyone wishing to see the beautiful lotus lights can visit City Hall Plaza.

▣ Exhibition of Traditional Lanterns

People from all religions around the world will enjoy seeing the display of lanterns made with hannji. Approximately 40 designs of uniquely colored lanterns will be on display. Wishes are made according to the shape of the lantern.

This beautiful exhibition is free of charge and is open from April 29 to May 5 for 2 hours. The exhibition is held at Bongeunsa Temple, visitors can take subway line No.2 to Samseong Station. Go out exit No. 6 and walk for about 10 minutes to the temple.

▣ Festival’s Eve Celebration

The Eve Celebration will parade from Jogyesa Temple to Insa-dong, offering spectators a splendid sight. The larger than life lanterns along with amazing costumes make this event unforgettable.

The Eve Celebration will be held on April 29, from 7:00pm to 9:00pm, starting at the street in front of Jogyesa Temple.

▣ Buddhist Street Festival

Performances of Korean traditional percussion instruments and the Foreigners’ Traditional Dance Show offer much to see. Visitors can also take part in making lotus lanterns, experience of traditional straw utensils, and a variety of other Buddhist-related activities.

Additional activities include eating temple fare and sampling traditional tea. The Buddhist Street Festival is open on April 30, from noon to 8 pm and is held at the street in front of Jogyesa Temple.

▣ Opening Ceremony for the parade

The opening ceremony is full of rhythm and song. Roughly 30,000 Buddhists representing temples from around the country gather to celebrate the birth of Buddha.

The opening ceremony is held on April 30 from 4:30 to 6:30pm for 2 hours at Dongdaemun Sports Complex. To get there, take Subway lines No. 2, 4, or 5

▣ Lantern Parade

Approximately 100,000 lanterns will light the streets at the Lantern Parade. Unique lanterns in the shape of animals, flowers, mythical creatures, and more will travel the streets of Seoul, creating an atmosphere that is magical. Lanterns will range from small hand- held lanterns to larger than life lanterns.

The Lantern Parade is held on April 30 from 07:00pm to 09:30pm. The parade starts at Dongdaemun History & Culture Park and heads down the streets of Jongno, until reaching Jogyesa Temple.

▣ Being Together Celebration

The final celebration of the festival is the Dongdae Celebration of unity and hope in which flowers rain down from the heavens in front of Jogyesa Temple. The city becomes one at this event as visitors sing and dance in celebration. The final celebration will take place in front of Jogyesa Temple on April 30 from 9:30pm to 10:30pm. This final celebration for the festival will be packed with people, so caution is advised.

An Unforgettable Road Trip through the Wild West

2016-08-16T09:17:00.001-07:00

America is a country of vast and diverse landscapes. One can travel just 30 minutes from home and experience a completely different culture and climate or drive for hours without seeing the horizon.

To truly understand and appreciate America, you need to take a road trip. There’s no better way to experience the charming little towns, stunning scenery and America’s varied landscape than from behind the wheel of an automobile.

The beauty of the road trip lies in its simplicity. There are no fixed schedules and to-do lists. It’s all about going with the flow and discovering what lies ahead just around the bend, over the rise, or beyond that distant horizon. And with a little luck, you’ll witness a spectacular sight like a herd of bison crossing the prairie.

Someone once said that to understand America, you need to understand baseball. I would argue that to truly understand America, a road trip is in order, to see and experience the diverse people and places that make up this great country.

I really enjoyed every road trip I’ve taken in the U.S. I’m always mesmerized by the beauty of the landscape, and the large expanses of countryside carved up by the highways and freeways are just as iconic as any skyline I’ve seen.

From breathtaking sunset over a purple desert in New Mexico, picturesque shorelines of the Pacific Coast Highway, to the stunning expanse of salt flat in Utah, being on the road has always enabled to me to discover the simple beauty of life. And our road trip from San Francisco to Yellowstone National Park through the Wild West was no exception.

The western half of North America is often described as a land of contrasts, and no route across it gives a sharper sense of the region’s extremes than Highway 80. Starting in the west, just outside San Francisco, winding up northeast through the Great Desert Basin in Nevada to the Great Salt Lake in Utah (where it splits into I-15 or I-89), this route traverses some of the wildest and diverse landscapes imaginable. Besides offering up-close looks at mile after mile of magnificent and almost completely untouched wilderness, we were privy to the breathtaking nature of Montana and Wyoming.

It was an absolutely spectacular trip, and with help of YELP, we were able find wonderful little mom and pop restaurants and hidden treasures along the way.

San Francisco, California to Carson City (or Reno), Nevada

Enjoy the stunning view of the newly renovated Bay Bridge. Stop at Saul’s Deli in Berkeley and pick up the best pastrami sandwich and latkes in the West Coast and have a picnic in Live Oak Park. The drive through Donner Pass is absolutely breathtaking and definitely worth the 20 minute detour.

Carson City, Nevada to Salt Lake City, Utah

The drive from Carson City to Salt Lake City through the Great Desert Basin in Nevada is long (a little over 7 hours). Appropriately nicknamed “the Loneliest Road”, it passes through a largely barren uninhabited region. However, the road, the actual driving surface is excellent, and there are a few interesting sights along the way: a hole-in-the-wall restaurant that sells delicious homemade pies in Elko, B.J. Bull Bakery, Steve’s Homemade Ice Cream in Fernley, and a decent selection of Mexican restaurants in Winnemucca.

Definitely must see: Thunder Mountain Monument in Imlay, Nevada and Bonneville Salt Flats near the Nevada Utah border.

A Day in Salt Lake City, Utah

Spend half a day in the city strolling (or take a tram) around Temple Square and downtown. Then, be sure to take a drive out to Antelope Island State Park. It’s not only the most scenic place to see the Great Salt Lake, but also the landscape is absolutely idyllic! We felt that we were in the midst of a National Geographic photo shoot.

Take a leisurely drive around the island and enjoy watching herds of bison or magnificent antelopes crossing the prairie, and stay and watch breathtaking colors of the sky as the sunsets over the lake.

Hyatt Place and Hyatt House are located smack dab in the middle of downtown SLC and provides comfortable accommodation, and be sure to check out R&R BBQ and their finger licking ribs!

Salt Lake City, Utah to Driggs, Idaho

There are two routes you can take from Salt Lake City to Yellowstone, and depending on exactly what you want to see in between and how much time you have will determine the optimal route.

The most direct route is to take I-15 North via Idaho Falls, which is about 320 miles (4½ hours). The more ambitious and adventurous route is via I-89 that takes you through Jackson Hole (about the same in distance but twice as long).

Although every travel forum recommends the second option, after spending 7½ hours on the road only few days back and recovering from road fatigue, we opted for the quicker route. However, next time, I would definitely take the I-89 route and stay in Jackson, WY.

Nevertheless, we found a fun stopover, Idaho Potato Museum, in Blackfoot and Pitmaster BarBQue Company in Idaho Falls, where I had the best barbecues.

A Day in Yellowstone National Park

What can I say that hasn’t already been said about this majestic park. Yellowstone is so grand that it covers three states: Idaho, Montana and Wyoming.

Take a short hike around Lower Geyser Basin, where you can see variety of geysers including the Fountain Paint Pots. Grand Prismatic Spring located in Midway Geyser Basin is a must as the vibrant colors of the bacteria that inhabit the geyser's interior is absolutely stunning! Have lunch at Old Faithful Lodge Cafeteria or Dining Room while waiting for Old Faithful to erupt, which can take 45-60 minutes.

After lunch, take a scenic drive along the Yellowstone Lake, the largest freshwater lake above 7,000 feet in all of North America, and on to Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone where there’s a spectacular view of the waterfalls. It’s an iconic view that has been captured in numerous paintings.

One thing I do not recommend is staying in West Yosemite at the entrance of the park. Although it may seem convenient, the town is flooded with tourists and lacks infrastructure or decent restaurants.

Glorious Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

It may be just a stone’s throw away from Yellowstone, but Grand Teton National Park is a visual masterpiece in its own right. Not only is it the home of the major peaks of the dramatic Teton Range, 13,775-foot Grand Teton, but also the West’s most defining wildlife, although we didn’t spot any during our trip.

The best part was hiking the scenic trails to the Inspiration Point with the stunning view of Jenny Lake. Also, make sure to take a drive along the Jackson Lake with beautiful vistas and stop for a swim in the glistening lake, which was a remarkable experience.

On your way out, stop at Jackson for dinner. It’s a charming little town straight out of a Western movie set that offers a surprisingly great selection of restaurants. Our favorites were Bunnery Bakery, which had great food and atmosphere, and Teton Thai Plate, where we had one of the best Pad Thai Noodles!

It was a real treat finding all these little hole-in-the-wall places, restaurants and sights during our road trip, and I can’t wait to go back on the road again!

Mo’ Fun Things To Do With Children In Seoul

2016-05-25T21:15:00.000-07:00

We always have a great time in Seoul!

I can't think of a better place to spend Springbreak with children than in one of the most significant capital cities in Asia. Seoul offers a wonderful mixture of culture, history and fun activities for children of all ages.

Olympic Park (올림픽공원)

In the midst of the megalopolis, Olympic Park offers 1.5 million square meters of extensive grassy fields, sculpture gardens, walking paths, and rest areas.

Also, the park preserves the spirit of the 1988 Seoul Olympics and provides a wonderful space to stroll and enjoy some of the most innovative artwork and outdoor installations.

It was an artistic feast as well as a calming experience, and more importantly, it was great place to hang out with my little boy and to have great conversations, which is always my favorite part of any trip!

Cheonggyecheon (청계천)

Oh, the serenity! A walk along this 3½-mile stream is a true oasis for adults and children alike.

While it's situated smack dab in the middle of the city, Cheonggyecheon is remarkably quiet because the stream is more than 15 ft. below street level. It felt like we were in a park or in the midst of wilderness, and I was surprised its tranquility.

The National Museum of Korea (국립중앙박물관)

The National Museum of Korea is a great place for adults and children.

The grand, marble-lined, modernist building cleverly channels plenty of natural light to show off Korea’s ancient treasures. Among the must see exhibits in the ground floor galleries are the Baekje Incense Burner, an extraordinary example of the artistry of the 6th to 7th century Baekje Kingdom; and the Golden Treasures for the Great Tomb of Hwangham.

Also, there is a Children's Museum offering a snapshot of Korean culture with plenty of hands on features and play spaces. The only downside is that it can get crowded at times, especially during weekends. However, there are plenty of fun activities for kids, and it provides a great opportunity to learn about Korean history.

The highlight of our visit was strolling around the outdoor area surrounding the reflecting pond.

Aquarium at the COEX Mall (코엑스 아쿠아리움)

Contrary to my initial skepticism, the Aquarium at the COEX Mall turned out to be a fantastic place to spend a rainy day!

This huge theme Aquarium with 3,000 tons of water and 40,000 marine wildlife of 650 species was designed to allow visitors to embark on an adventure that follows water on its way from the high Andean mountains, through the Amazon tropical rain forest to swamps, rivers, seashores, and finally to the depths of the ocean.

The walk starts with the exhibit of Korea’s Land and Fishes composed of very impressive replicas of fresh-water environment such as rice field, swamp, river and lake. Continue to the Fish Wonderland with the main theme of the fish infiltration into the world of human beings. This exhibit is particularly funny with a variety of devices of our every-day life modified into water tanks, for example, a refrigerator, washing machine, TV or phone booth invaded with fish.

Although it's a popular destination among tourists, I can't deny that COEX Aquarium is a FUN place for kids, especially on a rainy day.

Seoul Grand Park (서울대공원)

One of the great surprises during this trip was Seoul Grand Park!

Set among forested hillsides in southern part of the city, Seoul Grand Park consists of themed areas for education, nature, and amusement. The park is known for its various amusement facilities and scenic beauty, including Seoul Grand Park Zoo, Children's Zoo, a rose garden, Seoul Land amusement park, and the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Gwancheon.

Although Seoul Grand Park is located just outside of Seoul, it feels like you're in the midst of wilderness. It was such a tranquil environment, and after spending a week in a city of 12 million people, it was a calming environment that we very much needed.

Worth noting

Without a doubt, the best part of our trip to South Korea was feasting on delicious food!

Although barbecue meats and kimchi are commonly known outside the country, in Seoul, each popular dish has its own "town", a street filled with restaurants all serving their versions of that particular food.

From street foods like rice cakes in spicy sauce (tteokbokki) to Korean set menu (Hanjeongsik), every dish has distinct flavor, texture and taste, and every meal was absolutely delightful!

Must see next time:

Children's Grand Park (서울 어린이대공원)

Seoul Land
Seoul Children’s Museum

Gwacheon National Science Museum

My Top 10 Urban Oases

2015-10-16T20:05:00.000-07:00

I am a quintessential city girl. I love big cities and preferred being in the midst of a concrete jungle than in the wilderness. But even a hard core city girl like me needs to chill and relax from time to time, and I retreat to a tranquil space that allows me to just that.

Botanical Garden (San Francisco)

Smack dab in the middle of the Golden Gate Park is the Botanical Garden (at Strybing Arboretum), and it truly is a beautiful oasis in the heart of San Francisco. There are so many wonderful things to discover, and with more than 7,500 various species of plants, spouting fountains, wide open fields and a number of lovely little nooks, such as the Garden of Fragrance and the Children's Garden, you can sit quietly with your family and friends lazing together in the sunshine, reading books or exploring the various garden floras. Also, it is one of the loveliest places for a picnic.

Shakespeare Garden (San Francisco)

Hidden away along a small path to the California Academy of Sciences, the enchanting Shakespeare Garden, with an arched iron-wrought gate, is the type of homely garden opening that one would to expect to stumble upon in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. Even visitors who have strolled through Golden Gate Park dozens of times may have never wandered into Shakespeare Garden. It’s pretty easy to miss if you’re not looking for it.

The Shakespeare Garden contains numerous plants that are referenced in Shakespeare's actual writings, and on the back brick wall, quotations and passages from his plays are engraved on stone tablets for visitors to read.

Central Park (New York City)

What more can I say about Central Park that hasn’t been said. It’s FABULOUS! Immersed in lush and wild nature with a massive skyline as a backdrop, it’s truly an urban oasis that defies all logic.

For most New Yorkers, the park is a sanctuary. Especially for me, it was a place where I would retreated to whenever my life in the city got too much, and I needed to regroup and recuperate. Also, some of the best and most memorable experiences I’ve had were in the park, like serendipitously meeting my husband.

It’s a place where we always go back to reminisce about our wonderful past lives in the city as well as creating beautiful new ones with our son who absolutely adores every corner of the park.

Our favorites in the park: Heckscher Playground, Poets Row, Bethesda Terrace, Alice in Wonderland Statue, John Lennon Imagine Memorial, and the always entertaining and eclectic street performers.

The Highline (New York City)

After all the places I’ve seen in NYC, I can honestly say that the Highline (from Gansevoort St to West 34th St, between 10th & 11th Avenue) is my favorite. It epitomizes the city that is constantly evolving and recreating itself. Not only the design and the atmosphere of the park unique and innovative, it has transformed a neighborhood which was formally known as the “Death Avenue” into a trendy, upscale, and more importantly, family friendly area.

As the park expands from lower Manhattan to 31th Street in Midtown, it provides some of the best views of the key monuments, the Empire State building, Chrysler Building, and on a clear day, the Statue of Liberty.

There's an eclectic mix of art installations as well as tasty food carts, art vendors and musicians, and the great thing about the Highline is that it enables you to have and enjoy an urban experience in the midst of (man-made) nature.

Riverside Park (New York City)

I loved living on the Upper West Side. Aside from it being one of the more residential and child-friendly neighborhoods in Manhattan, you're privy to two of the most beautiful urban oases in the world, Central Park and Riverside Park.

Although Riverside Park is by no means as well-known as Central Park, it is a vast expanse of green space and a home to beautiful gardens, landscaped paths, sports facilities, public art, and some of the most stunning river views.

Venice Canal (Los Angeles)

Secreted away from the hustle and bustle of the famous boardwalk, the picturesque canals of Venice, California, are one of the seaside community's hidden charms.

More than 100 years ago, developer Abbot Kinney conceived the mad idea of building a "Venice of America," a cultural Valhalla dedicated to the fine arts, complete with canals, gondolas and imported Italian gondoliers. The experiment failed, and the gondoliers went home, but the canals remain and are a splendid place to take a walk.

Begin this walk near the intersection of Washington Boulevard and Pacific Avenue, at the corner of Washington and Strongs Drive. There, under a small sign that says "Venice Canals Walkway," turn in and begin exploring. Within minutes, you'll lose the roar of Venice traffic and begin to experience the charm of canal life.

Jardin du Luxembourg (Paris, France)

The Jardin du Luxembourg has always been one of my favorite places in Paris! I love the beauty and the elegance of it all. When I lived in Paris, it was a sanctuary where I could go to think and write.

Being back in the Luxembourg Gardens with our son, I discovered that it was a delightful place for kids as well, and there were many activities for children to enjoy, and each time I’m there, it’s as memorable as the first time I’d visited Paris.

Promenade Plantée (Paris, France)

I absolutely love the High Line in NYC! So, when I heard that it was inspired by Promenade Plantée in Paris, I had to check it out and see it for myself.

Created in 1988 by Philippe Mathieux and Jacques Vergely on the former railway line, which linked Place de la Bastille to Varenne-Saint-Maur from 1859, the Promenade Plantée mixes areas of wild vegetation that has sprung up alongside the railway line with more modern landscaped areas.

It begins behind the Bastille opera house and runs above avenue Daumesnil to the Jardin de Reuilly: it is the famous Viaduc des Arts. The Allée Vivaldi then comprises the shopping part of the walkway. Then, it continues through tunnels and trenches and ends at Porte Dorée and the Bois de Vincennes.

About halfway to Bois de Vincennes, there is a large green park with a pelouse (lawn) that's not forbidden to walk on as most of the green lawns are in Paris, and there is also a small playground.

Promenade Plantée truly is a hidden gem, and although the ambiance is definitely different from the High Line, it’s a perfect place for children – also, you won’t see many tourists here.

Kollwitz Platz (Berlin, Germany)

Named after the famous German painter, print maker and sculptor Käthe Kollwitz, it is one of the loveliest and liveliest squares in Berlin.

Farmer's Market at Kollwitz Square has a great selection of meats, cheeses and organic food, as well as wine – and oh, fresh oysters! Also, there are playgrounds nearby, which is perfect if you have a little one.

Cheonggyecheon (Seoul, South Korea)

Neglected merely as an overpass since 1970, Cheonggyecheon was was a small stream that flowed through the downtown area along some of Seoul’s popular sights. Then, in 2003, the mayor of the city decided to restore the stream and give the city some much-needed natural space, and when the restoration was completed in 2005, Cheonggyecheon became a haven of natural beauty and oasis in the midst the cosmopolitan city.

Situated smack dab in the middle of the city, it is one of the nicest place to take a stroll. For children, it’s an absolutely perfect place to explore as you walk along the stream, there are many artistic and fun details that are sure to delight every child.

Fun Things To Do With Children In Paris

2015-08-14T21:04:00.000-07:00

There’s no disputing that Paris is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Paris, however, is not known for being the most child-friendly city – or people friendly for that matter.

Therefore, as soon as my husband and I booked our trip to Paris and planned to do a road trip to Provence, I started to feel some reservations about taking our 7-year old to the city that is known more for its aesthetic beauty, culture and romance rather than joyous atmosphere.

Then again, even for grown ups, visiting Paris can be daunting, and as breathtaking as the city may be, dealing with the locals can be about as pleasant as the trip to the dentist office – actually, our dentist is much nicer than the surly Parisian waiters.

Regardless, after being away from Paris for almost a decade, I knew it was time for me to go back and introduce our son to the city of light.

We started to prepare him for the trip and generated some excitement. We told him all about the food – oh, the food! The delectable pastries that were like a slice of heaven and baguettes that tasted like nothing else he’s ever eaten. He already knew that the Eiffel Tower was there and made it clear that he wanted to climb to the top of it. Although my husband and I never felt the need to go to the top of the Eiffel Tower in all the years we’ve lived and visited Paris mainly because we absolutely detest standing in line for anything, if that’s what our little boy wanted, we were happy to oblige.

Then, a few weeks before our trip, I started to panic and wondered whether we had enough activities planned, things to do and places to go with our little boy who would literally climb the Eiffel Tower if he was bored. I mean, we couldn’t very well sit in our hotel and stuff ourselves with pastries the entire week.

I combed the internet in search of “fun things to do with children” and found it sparse and disturbing that the majority of the list comprised of activities that seemed eccentric even for adults. Taking a 7-year old to an underground sewage system or a cemetery – seriously?!?

Ultimately, we discovered plenty of fun things to do in Paris and found that the city is filled with lesser-known draws that are authentic and a pleasure to visit as a family. The secret to discovering Paris like many other big cities in the world is to explore the neighborhood’s microcosm of parks, bakeries and cafes. In other words, when in Paris, do what the Parisians do.

I’m happy to say that we had a wonderful time, and here are some of the awesome places and fun things we did in Paris.

Les Berges de Seine
In a city that prides itself on maintaining its tradition and old world atmosphere, innovative leisure spaces have been created all over Paris. In one of the latest urban renewal projects, Les Berges de Seine offers Parisians and visitors a new space to relax and unwind.

The city has closed almost 1.5 miles of its UNESCO World Heritage-designated Seine riverbanks to car traffic and created an area solely for pedestrians, filled with restaurants, immaculate gardens, 'zen' spaces, and children's play areas complete with climbing wall. It also offers some of the most picturesque views of the city.

The easiest way to reach Les Berges de Seine is just by Musée d'Orsasy via the grandiose Emmarchement staircase, which links the upper quai to the lower quai. Other access points are Port des Invalides and Port du Gros Caillou.

The Jardin du Luxembourg
The Jardin du Luxembourg has always been one of my favorite places in Paris! I love the beauty and the elegance of it all. When I lived in Paris, it was a sanctuary where I could go to think and write.

Being back in the Luxembourg Gardens with our son, I discovered that it was a delightful place for kids as well, and there were many activities for children to enjoy.

Our little boy’s favorite was renting a sailboat (2€ for 30 minutes), and he loved navigating and watching his little boat float across the boat pond (the Grand Basin). The sailboats are not remote control, and the boats are controlled with a long pole that your child will be given at the time of the sailboat rental. The sailboats are marked by flags of different countries around the world, and as your child will be able choose their boat, they will know exactly which boat is theirs.

However, keep in mind that this is a very popular activity among tourists and locals, and during the weekends and summer holidays, it may take up to 30 minutes to get a boat. Nevertheless, seeing the joy on our little boy's face made the wait worthwhile.

Also, there is a large playground located in the Luxembourg Garden as well. However, it didn’t sit well with me that we had to pay an entrance fee (2.60 euros for kids over 18 months, 1.60 euros for adults) to get into a playground – it didn’t feel very égalité.

Jardin des Tuileries
As I've always said, traveling with a child can be such a blessing, as it has allowed us to interact with the locals and be in an environment that is more authentic to the place that we visit. Traveling with our son has also enabled my husband and I to see and experience a whole another side of the places we’ve visited many times and thought we knew so well.

Although I’ve always known and enjoyed the lovely parks and gardens in Paris, not until we returned with our little boy, have I realized the wonderful nooks and crannies of it. For instance, I didn’t know that there were so many wonderful areas for kids in the Jardin des Tuileries.

Contrary to the playground at Jardin du Luxembourg where you have to pay, the former is free. There are slides for big kids and toddlers alike, jumping platforms, metal merry-go-rounds and net hammocks among others. The ground is also covered with sand or a foam-like material so kids don’t hurt themselves when they fall. For an fee, you can also head to the trampolines just around the corner and a carousel.

Bateaux Vedettes du Pont Neuf
In all the years I’ve lived and traveled in Paris, I’ve always put off taking a boat tour of the Seine, as it seemed – well, a bit too touristy.

However, on a 90 degree summer day, we couldn’t have chosen a more perfect way to see the sites and gain a whole new perspective on a city that I thought I knew well.

Boat tours in Paris is about as common as finding taxis in NYC. However, we opted for Bateaux Vedettes du Pont Neuf because it was closest to our hotel, and it offered a great summer discount: 9€ morning cruise, 10€ afternoon and evening cruises.

The Parc du Champs de Mars & the Eiffel Tower
Before leaving for France, our son was adamant about one thing; he wanted to go to the top of the Eiffel Tower. When we arrived at the Champs de Mars and saw the mile-long line for the elevator, he merely cringed and said he would rather play soccer in the park.

I realized that kids are more flexible and pragmatic than adults when traveling, and their happiness and joy doesn’t necessarily depend on seeing and checking off a list of tourist attractions but on the sharing moments and experiences. Our son was happier playing near the Eiffel Tower rather than actually going up it.

The field in front of the Eiffel Tower (The Parc du Champs de Mars) is an absolutely lovely place for children. The scenery is unbelievably French, and it was surreal to see our little boy and my husband playing soccer with the Eiffel Tower in the background.

There’s also a nice playground at rue de Grennelle and a little crepe stand, where we had the best ham and cheese crepe in France!

Promenade Plantée
I absolutely love the High Line in NYC! So, when I heard that it was inspired by Promenade Plantée in Paris, I had to check it out and see it for myself.

Created in 1988 by Philippe Mathieux and Jacques Vergely on the former railway line, which linked Place de la Bastille to Varenne-Saint-Maur from 1859, the Promenade Plantée mixes areas of wild vegetation that has sprung up alongside the railway line with more modern landscaped areas.

It begins behind the Bastille opera house and runs above avenue Daumesnil to the Jardin de Reuilly: it is the famous Viaduc des Arts. The Allée Vivaldi then comprises the shopping part of the walkway. Then, it continues through tunnels and trenches and ends at Porte Dorée and the Bois de Vincennes.

About halfway to Bois de Vincennes, there is a large green park with a pelouse (lawn) that's not forbidden to walk on as most of the green lawns are in Paris, and there is also a small playground.

Promenade Plantée truly is a hidden gem, and although the ambiance is definitely different from the High Line, it’s a perfect place for children – also, you won’t see many tourists here.

Stravinsky Fountain & Centre Pompidou

One thing that was on my list of things to do that we didn’t get around to during our trip was seeing the Centre Pompidou. I’ve read that there were great activities for kids: Children's Gallery (Galerie des enfants) on the ground floor and the Atelier des Enfants (a supervised activity center) that has a workshop on Wed and Sat from 2:30-4.

However, we did get around to seeing the Stravinsky Fountain, which our son really liked, and we loved watching the sunset from Le Restaurant Café Georges over the city of light, which was absolutely stunning!

Palais Royal

As we were taking a nice stroll through the city one morning, we came upon the Palais Royal, and although it wasn’t a place we planned to take our little boy, it turned out to be an excellent place for him. Our son loooved jumping up and down the statues (not sure what they’re called), and if he wasn’t busy jumping, he had a great time running around the courtyard.

Square d'Anvers & Sacre Coeur
The playground at Anvers station isn’t one of the more appealing places in Paris. However, if your 7-year old has been walking all day and need a break, this little patch of greenery with few play equipment at the foothill of the Sacre Coeur might as well be Disneyland. There’s also a nice carousel at the bottom of the stair way – the same carousel that appears in the millions of sketches of this world-famous monument.

Forum des Halles
Despite its seedy reputation, I always love the area near the Forum des Halles. It’s vibrant and edgy, and it’s one of the few neighborhoods in Paris, where you can really get a feel for the city's diverse culture and dynamic energy.

Unfortunately, the Forum des Halles has been going through a major renovation and construction since 2011 and due to be completed by 2016. Equipped with two large playgrounds (2,500 sq.m for 7-12 year old and 1,370 sq.m for 2-6 year old), 8,244 sq.m of lawn, and 4 hectares of uninterrupted parkland, it will be one of the largest leisure spaces in Paris. I look forward to taking our boy there on our next trip!

Practical Tips & Recommendations:
As mentioned in most travel guidebooks and forums, buying a book of 10 Metro tickets (carnet) is the best and the most economical way to utilize the public transportation in Paris. There’s also a carnet for children (ages 4-9) that are ½ price of adults, which makes it a great deal!

The bus is the most scenic and easiest to board. The Metro and RER can require a surprising amount of walking (both getting to and getting through the station) and a large number of steps if you’ve got a stroller. Our favorites were buses 42 and 69 that stoped at all the major tourist attractions.

Although there isn't a shortage of charming, stylish and chic hotels in Paris, there are limited number of hotels that offer a room for families with children, and the majority of the hotels requires booking two rooms. Therefore, we prefer to book an apartment hotels or a vacation rental instead.

Great shops for kids and adults alike: Hema, Village Joué Club, Au Nain Bleu, Pain d’épice

More of my favorites in Paris
http://0dysseusjournal.blogspot.com/2011/09/expats-guide-to-paris.html

The Joy of Traveling as a Family

2015-08-04T20:58:00.000-07:00

Being able to travel at any age is wonderful. However, the experiences differ at different stages (age) of your life. Not better or worse, but just different.

When I was in my 20’s, I definitely saw the world in simpler terms, and everything in it was brighter and rosier. Everywhere I went was new and different, and I inhaled and absorbed new environment as if tasting a delicious buttery croissant for the very first time.

Then, came my 30’s, and my discoveries became more cynical. I traveled all around the world and began to see the reality of life in places that I regarded so highly. The beauty of Parisian cafés clouded by chain smokers or surly waiters whose favorite pastime was judging and making snide remarks about the tourists. The picturesque European countryside tainted by the locals who viewed people of color with disdain as if they were alien invaders from Mars. And witnessing the inequities that exist in the most desolate and impoverished parts of the world. The more I traveled, the more cynical I became.

Now, in my 40’s, I have gotten back the joy and the thrill of travel, and it is purely because of our son. Seeing the world through his eyes has allowed me once again to see the beauty of the world that we live in, and I’m learning all over again to take delight in the little things that make life wonderful.

Therefore, I’m always surprised by the people who tell me how difficult or even impossible it is to travel with children. After traveling all over the world as a solo traveler, then with my husband for almost two decades, and for the past 7 years with our son, I can honestly say that traveling as a family has been the best experience for me.

Of course, traveling with children has its challenges, and the experience of traveling as a family is not going to be the same as the trips my husband and I took as a couple. Forget packing an overnight bag and flying to Paris for the weekend at a moment’s notice. Everything has to be planned and planned well with a little person in mind, who seems to be running on his own schedule.

Gone are the days when the two of us took a road trip without a destination, driving for hours listening quietly to anything that came on the radio in whatever language it was in. Now, we have to plan exactly where to stop for breaks, lunch breaks, snacks, potty breaks, and the occasional “let’s get out of the car and run around so that our little boy won’t climb the backseat of the car” breaks. There isn’t a lot of room for spontaneity, but our trips nevertheless are full of unexpected adventures.

The first time my husband and I took our 5-year old boy to Berlin, I realized that our experience of traveling will never be the same. While planning the trip, it became apparent that we couldn’t go to most of the places we used to hang out or do the “cool” things listed on Time Out (which used to be my travel bible). No more underground clubs, sitting at smoked-filled cafes for hours or strolling through dingy flea market looking for communist era memorabilia, and we definitely couldn’t stay at a hip little hostel that required us to roll down the bed from the ceiling like a drawbridge.

Instead, we decided to rent an apartment in a neighborhood that we loved (Prenzlauerberg), and we spent the week hanging out at playgrounds and outdoor cafes overlooking some of the most idyllic streets in Berlin.

To my amazement, it turned out to be a wonderful experience. We spent much of our days doing what most Berliners do, shopping at the local markets, taking our kid to the park and playgrounds, having Kaffee und Kuchen (coffee and cake) as a mid-day snack, and just enjoying the summer in the city.

Although Prenzlauerberg was a neighborhood that is relatively well-known among tourists, during the week, we rarely encountered other tourists. We felt like we lived there and were one of the locals, and the best part of it was that as our little boy interacted with other children in the playground, we were able to engage and get to know their family.

I realized that I didn’t need to be in a remote island in South Pacific to have an authentic encounter in a foreign country, or to experience real human connection with someone half way around the world. Traveling with a child and as a family allowed me to have that experience, and everywhere we went, we were able to connect with people in a much deeper level.

I loved traveling with my husband. However, when we traveled as a couple, most of the time, it was just the two of us with the occasional encounters with expats and fellow travelers along the way. Even if we were able to speak the local language, everyone saw us as tourists, and our interactions never surpassed friendly chats or small talk.

However, when you’re traveling with children, there’s a bond that develops immediately with the locals. You’re accepted into their world, and you don’t even have to speak the language – as if you have a “members only” card into a global village of parenthood.

There’s no need to get "off the beaten path" or to seek out an authentic experience because when you travel with children, it happens organically. The same locals that I tried to get to know when I traveled as a solo traveler or as a couple would voluntarily come up to us to ask about our child and to freely talk about their own children. It’s an absolutely wonderful experience to discover that parents from completely different parts of the world share the same hopes, dreams and concerns for their children – something that no travel guide can capture or describe.

Also, the most beautiful thing about traveling with children is that they see everything – and I mean, EVERYTHING with wide-eyed amazement, joy and awe, and no matter where we are, they will always find ways to amuse themselves. Although I don’t know if our little boy has fully grasped the significance of the places he has been to or the things he has seen, the joy that he feels is palpable and contagious!

I remember during our first trip to NYC, how excited our little boy got when he saw a pile of rocks in Central Park. To him, it may as well been Mount Everest. Being that it was his very first trip to NY, I'd planned a list of places and things I wanted to share with him. Instead, we ended up spending the whole day climbing and just hanging out in the park, which our son still remembers as being the most fun thing we did on that trip.

That’s the most extraordinary thing about traveling with children. You never know what may turn out to be the most memorable experience, and something that you may overlook as being mundane or insignificant turns out to be the most wonderful moments of your life.

I’ve always looked for that moment when I travel. A connection to a place or to people that feels special and authentic. Most often, “being a local” means having the day-to-day normal experience and interactions with people – ask New Yorkers how many times they’ve been to the top of the Empire State Building.

As a seasoned traveler, I understand why people seek out places that are off the beaten path or haven’t been discovered by millions of tourists, and the travel guides and blogs certainly do their best to market these so-called secret places that only the locals or few tourists know about. However, when you travel with children, every place you go turns out to be a hidden gem.

Traveling with children allows you to find wanderlust in the ordinary, in the everyday life, and see the world through child’s eyes, and traveling as a family has made me realized that wanderlust is not just embodied in an exotic place 5,000 miles from home or in a smoky underground club in Berlin, but a pile of rocks in a beautiful park.

Fun Things To Do With Children In Washington DC

2015-04-10T21:10:00.000-07:00

Washington, DC is a great place to explore with kids! It’s like being in an educational Disneyland filled with historic sites, museums, monuments, and outdoor recreation.

More importantly, there are so many opportunity for kids and adults to learn. History, art and culture, DC has it all! Our nation’s capital is filled with family-friendly attractions to spark everyone’s interests.

Also, the best part of visiting Washington DC is that unlike Disneyland, almost all the attractions are free. So, you’ll be able to have a wonderful vacation without spending your mortgage.

So, without further ado, here are our 10 favorite places and things to do in DC.

National Air & Space Museum

We have visited many aeronautical museums around the world, but none was as impressive as the National Air and Space Museum. It's the sheer number of aircraft and artifacts that make this Washington DC museum beloved by both the aviation-obsessed and the marginally curious.

Not only does NASM displays the largest collection of air and spacecraft in the world, it provides a wonderful space where the whole family can learn about the history, science, and technology of aviation and space flight. Some of the highlights include: the world's first airplane, the "Wright Flyer", the Apollo 11 Command Module "Columbia",

Make sure to check out “How Things Fly” exhibit in room 109, a learning lab, where children can conduct various hands-on experiments and watch demonstrations.

National Museum of Natural History

Although our beloved Dinosaur exhibit was and will be under renovation until 2019, we enjoyed our visit to the National Museum of Natural History.

The facility contains some of the most famous museum artifacts in the world: the supposedly cursed Hope Diamond, more than 285 fossils and artifacts, an 80-foot dinosaur skeleton, an enormous prehistoric white shark, and an exact replica of a living North Atlantic right whale.

Make sure to check out the Discovery Room, where there is a great hands-on display for young children, and the Q?rius education center for older kids, a first-of-its-kind interactive lab where kids can make their own scientific discoveries.

National Zoo

Without a doubt, one of the most kid-friendly places in DC is the National Zoo, where you can see more than 400 different species of animals. Favorite animals include giant pandas (Mei Xiang, Tian Tian, and their new adorable offspring, Bao Bao), elephants, cheetahs, lions, and tigers ... oh my!

Also, the National Zoo is located in Adams Morgan, a culturally diverse neighborhood filled with a great variety of shops and restaurants, which is a place the whole family can enjoy.

National Portrait Gallery

Housed in one of the most stunning Greco-roman building I’ve seen, the National Portrait Gallery offers much more than portraits of figures that shaped culture, art and politics over the vast history of the United States. It’s a sublime museum experience and a refuge from the chaos and the crowd of the more popular Smithsonian sites.

The Contemporary Art collection on the third floor is impressive, and the beautifully lit center courtyard deserves a visit –a perfect place for a break or a little treat!

National Museum of American History

You don’t need to brush up on American history to take your kids to the National Museum of American History, as it’s just as easy to take a refresher course by going through the museum. Whether you’re looking at the Star-Spangled Banner or Dorothy’s Ruby Slippers, NMAH provides a great place for kids of all ages to use their imaginations and learn about our nation's history.

Lincoln Memorial

The Lincoln Memorial is one of the most iconic symbols of our nation’s capital and a must see for all visitors.

For our little boy, it was the site he wanted to see first, even more so than the White House, because it was a place where his favorite president was memorialized. The Lincoln Memorial features a solitary, 19-foot-tall statue of Abraham Lincoln sitting in contemplation, which is flanked on both side chambers with inscriptions of Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address and arguably his most famous speech, the Gettysburg Address.

However, the place that meant the most to me was the spot where Martin Luther King Jr. gave his “I Have a Dream” speech.

Stroll around the Tidal Basin

... and see all the monuments & memorials: the Jefferson, Martin Luther King, Jr., Franklin Delano Roosevelt and the Korean War Veterans Memorial

DC’s monuments and memorials are free and open to the public 24 hours a day. Spread out across just two miles, it’s a wonderful place to go for a stroll, bike or take a paddle boat. Of course, the whole experience becomes sublime during the peak of the cherry blossom season, but even when there is no petal in sight, it’s an absolutely picturesque place to be with your little one.

National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden

The elegant garden located adjacent to the National Gallery of Art is a true oasis. A fountain, which serves as an ice rink in winter, is at the center of the Garden, and walking and seating areas offer visitors a chance to rest and reflect upon a wonderful collection of sculpture in the midst of nature.

US Navy Memorial Plaza

Conveniently located on Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. (between 7th & 9th Streets), the United States Navy Memorial honors the men and women of the United States Navy. The outdoor Plaza that features a “Granite Sea” map of the world, towering masts with signal flags, fountain pools and waterfalls and The Lone Sailor statue, is an absolutely lovely place for a break and rest.

Also, check out Paul Bakery & Café, which offers a great selection of sandwiches, lunch menu and pastry option.

Hirshhorn Museum

Looking at Contemporary Art may not be most children’s idea of a good time, but Hirshhorn Museum provides a small and manageable collection of large eye-catching art that will grab your child’s attention.

The museum comprises of innovative video or mixed-media installations, and more importantly, it’s one of the few museums that actually welcome visitors to walk through the art. This was a huge hit with my 7 year old!

Where to stay: For my money, I would stay in the Arlington (VA) side of the Potomac River, preferably around Rosslyn Station. It’s extremely easy to get to the Mall on the metro – 10 minutes, and there are a lot of restaurant options near by the station.

Where to eat: The meals at any of the Smithsonian Museums are like most public venues and amusement parks around the country, overpriced and underwhelming. Nevertheless, when the little ones are hungry, and you can’t schlep across town to find a 5-star restaurant, you make do with what you have.

However, Museum of Natural History, American History Museum and National Portrait Gallery provides some of the better dining option and definitely a more scenic dining area. Also, the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden has a great cafe that’s worth taking a break from the museums.

Tidal Basin is full of kiosks that sell fast food, but bring a sandwich or picnic items from a deli, as there are many lovely spots to have a picnic.

There are so many fun places to visit and things do in DC, and even after a week, we didn't have enough time to see it all - so, for the next time.

Glen Echo Park
International Spy Museum
National Air and Space Museum, Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
National Building Museum
Tugooh Toys
Waterfront Park
watch global fairy tales and puppet shows at the Smithsonian's Discovery Theater
catch a performance at the Kennedy Center

A Glimpse of San Francisco's Rich Heritage & Culture

2015-03-14T21:39:00.000-07:00

San Francisco is one of the great cultural plateaus of the world. One of the really urbane communities and a truly cosmopolitan place in the United States. – Duke Ellington

Courage is the most important of all the virtues, because without courage you can't practice any other virtue consistently. You can practice any virtue erratically, but nothing consistently without courage. – Maya Angelou

How to survive “the happiest place on earth.”

2015-03-06T15:16:00.000-08:00

After 6 years of pretending that Disneyland doesn’t exist, my husband and I finally caved into taking our little boy to “the happiest place on earth”.

I’ve had Disneypark-phobia for some time. Then again, just the thought of going on any type of theme park vacation used to give me an anxiety attack … literally.

It wasn’t because of the conventional reasons and fears: the crowd, the cost, and in the past months, life threatening measles outbreak (and only-god-knows what other germs and bacterias that infest in these parks).

Being a bonafide city girl, I don’t get intimidated easily by crowds. Actually, I tend to enjoy a dynamic space where there are a lot of people and tend to get wary when I’m walking down an empty street. And although the cost of the park is a hefty sum, $92 for adults and $86 for kids aged 3 to 9 (which I’m told will increase again this summer), as these are trips to celebrate a special occasion, usually our son’s birthday, we were more than willing to bear the cost.

Also, as frightening as this year’s measles outbreak has been, our son has been vaccinated since shortly after birth. Therefore, we were not worried about the slim chance of him contracting the virus.

However, weeks before the trip, I felt a knot in my stomach, and while looking at the map of the theme park planning where we wanted to go, I began experiencing a panic attack. I couldn’t breathe or think, and it got so bad that I asked my husband to plan the day with my son alone, as I couldn’t bear to look at the map.

It was so unlike me to be panic-stricken while planning a trip, as I’m usually enthralled by excitement and joy of exploring and discovering a new place. Yet, the thought of being in an environment that feels like a giant souvenir shop, having to stand in line for every ride and being surrounded by screaming children and grumpy tired parents made me physically ill.

Then again, never underestimate what a parent will do for their children. Some mothers lift a car to save their child who’s stuck underneath, and I was going to Disneyland.

However, I wasn’t going without a game plan. We planned our trip for a week during Springbreak, which in hindsight is one of the worst times to be there, along with all-dreaded summer vacations and Christmas holidays. Luckily, unbeknownst to us, it was the week before LA Unified School District’s springbreak, which meant we were able to avoid the local crowd.

Nonetheless, I was not able to get rid of the pit in my stomach every time I thought about the trip. So, I called a friend of ours who lives in LA, and asked if they could join us at the park. They were seasoned patrons of Disneyland and have been to several Disney parks all over the world, and they were more than thrilled to meet us there.

Also, in order to keep my sanity, we planned only one day at the park and planned to spend the rest of the week in LA.

Nevertheless, from the moment we landed in LAX, I could feel my heart palpitating, and I was still overwhelmed by the thought of being there the next day.

To our surprise, being at Disneyland in Anaheim or in Garden Grove was like being in a small town in Vermont. Everybody was so friendly and welcoming. Unlike the aloofness and indifference we’d encountered in central LA, it was as if there was something different in the air – Novocaine, perhaps.

Also, I couldn’t believe the special treatment we got just by mentioning our son’s birthday. Not only free upgrades but also special treats and notes from the hotel staff sent to our room wishing our boy a happy birthday. My husband and I have been all over the world to celebrate our birthdays, and we have never gotten such royal treatment!

After a wonderful evening of rest and relaxation at the hotel, we headed out early to Disneyland, and although I’d feared long lines at the entrance, we were able to get through the gate without waiting. It was so easy that I wondered whether we were in the right place.

Then, as we walked through the Main Street, reminiscent of a small town in Northeast, it became clear we were at a place designed specifically for children. Disney parks are their dream come true, and as cynical as we, adults may be about the pomp and the artificiality of it all, when I saw our son’s eyes light up with wonderment and joy, I knew it was worth everything I’d gone through to be there.

Unlike other travel experiences, he got to call the shots in Disneyland and decide where to go and what to do. He explored a galaxy far far away on a Star speeder, trained with Jedi knights to defeat the Dark Side, embarked on an undersea research expedition, raced around a scenic miniature motorway as as if he was a Formula 1 driver, and the list goes on.

As we visited each attraction, seeing the delight and excitement in his face sustained me though the long lines, and I began to enjoy myself as I rediscovered the inner child in me. As we watched the elaborately staged parade, which alone was worth the exorbitant entrance fee, and the magical fireworks in the evening, I couldn’t think of anywhere else I’d rather be with our little boy.

No matter how dreadful and overpriced Disneyland may be, there’s no disputing that our son had a fantastic time, and more importantly, it was a memory that will be etched in our minds forever!

Nevertheless, as parents, there are few things that we can do to keep our sanity and even enjoy the trip, and here are some of my tips.

Visit the park during off season. From my experience and from what I've been told, the best time to go is in January and February. Also, the week before (or after) the LAUSD’s springbreak tend to be less crowded.
Stay at a hotel nearby, and take the shuttle. As long as it's in the area, the distance doesn’t matter, and make sure that the hotel offers a shuttle service to the parks. It’s cheaper and more convenient than driving, as parking is difficult, and most likely, you still have to take the shuttle from the parking lot.
Buy tickets online before you get to the park. It’s one less line you have to stand in.
Everyone we spoke to told us that Fastpass would minimize the wait time at some of the rides. However, we didn’t need it, as we were there during off season, and the wait wasn’t too bad.
Also, stay flexible and be willing to move on to other attractions or rides if there’s a long line at the one that you wanted to see, and come back to it when the line is shorter. Our boy’s favorite attraction in the park is Jedi Training, and when we tried to attend the 10:20am session, the arena was packed with little people. So, we went on to three other attractions and came back 1½ hours later, and there were a lot less people, which also meant that our son had a better chance of being picked to participate.
More over, to maintain your sanity, you have to accept the fact that you will not be able to see ALL the attractions. Even after our second visit, we still haven’t seen It’s a Small World, as waiting in that long line usually means losing half a day and being totally exhausted.
No photos with the characters! We enjoy sharing and commemorating the experience as a family. Therefore, taking photos with strangers hidden in costumes, especially waiting in a line for an hour to do so, is not our priority. I would rather photoshop Mickey and Minnie into a family photo.
Last but not least, if/when it get too much, take a break or just leave, which is what we did on our first trip. After a day of fun, our son was exhausted around 3pm. So, we decided to call it a day, as if we pushed ourselves to see and do more, we would not have enjoyed ourselves as much. Understandably, parents who spend the big bucks want to cover everything while they’re there, but if your child(ren) becomes too tired, most likely, they - and you will remember how exhausting the trip was instead of how much fun you had.

Ultimately, we had a great time at Disneyland, and believe it or not, I would gladly go back to “the happiest place on earth!”

15 Unforgettable UNESCO Heritage Sites

2015-02-12T21:46:00.000-08:00

Often, I have been asked what my dream job would be. Being able to travel the world discovering beautiful places wouldn't a bad gig. However, I'm not talking about being a travel writer, but working for UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization.

UNESCO is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) that promotes international collaboration through education, science, and culture in order to further fundamental human rights, justice and freedom all over the world. As part of this effort, UNESCO catalogs and preserves sites of outstanding importance, either cultural or natural, to the common heritage of humankind with the purpose of bringing awareness of their significance to the world.

Each year, nations that choose to participate may nominate sites to be added to the list, and listed properties must meet at least one of 10 criteria like representing a "masterpiece of human creative genius," or that it is an area of "exceptional natural beauty." However, when you visit any one of these 936 locations, it becomes exceedingly apparent why they are considered of value to humanity.

I had the pleasure of visiting and seeing quite a few UNESCO Heritage Sites around the world, and here are some of the most unforgettable places.

Ankor Watt (Siemreap, Cambodia)

There are three things I remember distinctly about my trip to Cambodia: the overwhelming heat, the temples, and the ever-present aftermath of Khmer Rouge.

I knew so little about Cambodia prior to my trip, and even now, after visiting and seeing most of the significant sites, I’m still uncertain as if I have grasped the enormity of the atrocities the Cambodian people were subjected to for nearly three decades.

There are two faces to Cambodia: one shiny and happy, the other dark and complex, but such is the yin and yang of Cambodia, a country that inspires and confines.

The Great Wall (China)

It’s hard to overlook the magnitude of People’s Republic of China, a country where over 1.3 billion people reside, almost 130 different languages are spoken (excluding dialects or sub-dialects), and where there are more than 55 ethnic groups.

China has always intrigued me, and it has been on my bucket list of travel for as long as I could remember. The Forbidden City, the Great Wall of China, and of course, Tienanmen Square, where the 1989 protests took place, the image a man standing in front of a column of tanks forever etched in my mind. It was an epic travel experience that I'd always dreamt of.

So, when Beijing was chosen as the site of the 2008 Olympics, I knew I had to make my pilgrimage to this land of one of the world’s earliest and greatest ancient civilizations.

Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara (Japan)

Japan is known as the "Land of the Rising Sun", but for me, it will forever be the land of the most spectacular sunset. It’s also a place where I’d spent one of the most tranquil and peaceful New Year’s Eve.

Melaka & George Town (Malaysia)

No country embodies a wonderful diversity in landscape, culture and people of Southeast Asia like Malaysia, and it has everything that one can hope for in vacation destination, a great mixture of cultures, history, people and some of the most delicious food I've had in SE Asia!

Malaysian cuisine is as diverse as its people, and the mélange of Chinese, Malay and Indian and even German (Café Edelweiss) dishes I had in Georgetown were some of the best I’ve had in the world.

Of course, no trip to Malaysia would be complete without visiting Melaka, a charming little town about 3 hours north of Singapore.

My favorite part of Malaysia, however, was the warmth of its people, and there are only few countries in which I have traveled where I was treated with such remarkable hospitality, kindness, and generosity (S. Korea & Turkey being the other). I've found the Malaysian people to be genuine in their approach to foreign visitors, another fine byproduct of the underdeveloped tourism industry, and unlike other countries in SE Asia where the majority of tourists tends to be Westerners, in Malaysia, most of the vacationers and tourists were Malaysians, which I really appreciated and enjoyed.

Overall, our 3 weeks in Malaysia was an absolutely unforgettable experience ... one we hope to repeat someday soon!

Changdeokgung Palace (Seoul, South Korea)

Seoul is FABULOUS! Over the past three decades, I have witnessed my homeland transform itself from the rubble of the Korean War to become an economic powerhouse not only in Asia but worldwide, and no city in South Korea epitomizes and reflects this transition like its capital, Seoul. From the concrete jungles of the 80’s and 90’s to the softer-edged 21st century urban oasis that it has become since the new millennium, largely thanks to its visionary Mayor, Seoul is not only one of the most interesting and exciting cities in Asia but also the most tourist-friendly.

Seoul is a cosmopolitan city that equals, and in some respects, surpasses the likes of other megapolis in the world like New York City and Tokyo. Everywhere you look, there’s a reflection of prosperity that has been built from sheer determination and dedication of its citizens. From the upscale high-rises in Gangnam district to the chic boutiques in Apgujeong; or the rows galleries filled with fine art in Samcheongdong district to the regal omnipresence of Gyeongbokgung, Seoul is a sophisticated traveler’s dream come true.

Great thing about Seoul is that, like NYC, another favorite city of mine, it’s ever-changing and ever-evolving, and every time I return to the city, I’m reminded that the best is yet to come.

Istanbul (Turkey)

Sometimes, traveling is more about people than places, and I fell in love with Istanbul long before I arrived in Turkey. I was first introduced to the warmth and the generosity of the Turkish people while living in Frankfurt, Germany, also known as “little Istanbul”.

From market vendors to restaurateurs, classmates to language teachers, the vibrancy and kindness I had experienced from almost every Turkish immigrant I’d encountered was a welcoming contrast to the austerity and aloofness of the local Germans.

I’d always heard from travelers returning from Turkey that you arrive in Turkey as a guest and leave as a friend, and my experience in Istanbul was no different. Everywhere I went, I was overwhelmed by the hospitality of just about everyone I’d come across.

Needless to say, I had a wonderful time in Istanbul, an amazing city full of extraordinary history and culture, breathtaking scenery, and excellent cuisine. So, teşekkür ederim ... thank you Istanbul for an unforgettable trip.

Salzburg (Austria)

The hills may not be alive with the sound of music, but Salzburg, in my opinion is the most beautiful town in Austria. Despite the inaccuracy of the Von Trapp family’s escape route, this birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart boasts itself as being the Golden City of High Baroque, which becomes self-evident as soon as you step into its Altstadt.

Being in Salzburg is like being in a fairytale. Standing beside the fast-flowing Salzach River, the Altstadt’s mosaic of graceful domes and spires, the formidable cliff-top fortress and the mountains beyond will enchant you even before you get to the old town. Everywhere you go, you’re overwhelmed by the breathtaking scenery, the skyline, and the history.

The best time to visit Salzburg is during Christmas, when the tradition and the festivities of the holiday highlight its beauty. You’ll be charmed by the wonderful Christmas Market on the Cathedral Square, the traditional stalls, the stars overhead and the quality of the products, and enchanted by traditional craftsmanship, delicious Christmas cookies, aromatic tree ornaments and many arts and crafts of the season. It’s definitely an experience that you should not miss.

Brugge (Belgium)

Bruges, Venice of the North as it’s called, is a city straight out of a fairytale with its picturesque medieval architecture and gorgeous landscape reminiscent of the works of Flemish masters – and one my favorite little cities in Europe.

Prague (Czech Republic)

My first trip to Prague was when Europe was experiencing one of the coldest winters in almost a century. Although I was used to the cold winters in NYC, I never felt the kind of wind chills and frosty conditions that I'd faced in Europe. It was absolutely brutal and so cold that even my teeth hurt.

Despite the syberian weather, I was determined to travel and experience places in Europe that I’d always dreamt of. Prague had been on my travel bucket list for some time, and I wasn’t going to pass up the opportunity.

Being there in the winter, it seemed that my husband and I had the whole city to ourselves. We strolled through the empty streets, admiring the dream-like scenery, stopped at little cafés straight out of Tolstoy novels, and as we crossed Charles Bridge, I felt as if we’ve been transported to another time and place. It was beauty beyond my imagination, and its alluring skyline left me breathless.

Albi, Arles, Carcassonne, Mont Saint Michel, Pont du Gard, Saint-Emilion, Strasbourg (France)

Not surprisingly, there are over 30 UNESCO Heritage Sites in France, and as a self-proclaimed Francophile, I’ve spent the past decade traveling and discovering everyone one of them. From the picture perfect country sides of Alsace to the magnificent beaches of Dune de Pyla, I love all the wonders that the country has to offer: breathtaking scenery, charming villages and towns, spectacular beaches (mostly the western coast and not the proverbial Cote d’Azur) and mountains, the divine selection of wine, the scrumptious cuisine … and the list goes on and on.

Tuscany (Toscana) in the Northwestern region of Italy is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe. That’s perhaps the reason why my husband and I've had our doubts about visiting Tuscany for awhile. However, considering that it is possibly the greatest repository of art in the world, and home to world class wine and cuisine, we could no longer resist the temptation of visiting these beautiful parts of Italy.

Berne (Switzerland)

It would be hard to find a more idyllic town in Europe than Bern (Berne).

I'd visited Berne during my first trip to Switzerland, and when the train pulled into the central station, I thought I was looking a mirage. I had to get off the train to see whether the picture perfect town outside my window wasn't a figment of my imagination.

What a beautiful city it turned out to be! A city that I’ve never even heard of until I opened my guidebook. Having arrived in the city at sunrise, I strolled through the quiet and empty streets alone, feeling as if I was walking through pages in a fairytale. Then, just as the cafes and markets were opening, I found a quaint little cafe at the edge of the Nydeggbrucke (Nydegg Bridge) near the Bear Pit.

I must say, it was a dream-like experience, and although I’ve visited Bern several times after moving to Europe, the first time was the best, and the most unforgettable.

Quito & Cuenca (Ecuador)

Traveling is like falling in love. Although I can’t put into words what it is about a place that I’m drawn to, I know it and feel it as soon as I find it, and as soon as I landed in Ecuador, I was captivated!

Sitting on the equator between Colombia and Peru, Ecuador may be one of the smallest and less-known countries in South America, but it’s packed with the most startling contrasts of scenery.

Everywhere we went, we were surrounded by breathtaking scenery, think majestic mountains of Switzerland alongside the tranquil beauty of the Greek Isles. The eye-catching colors of Ecuador leap out from every corner of its diverse landscape.

Although the country’s greatest draw are the Galápagos Islands, the rest of Ecuador shouldn’t be seen merely as a stopover. Thanks to its compact size, traveling around Ecuador is easy, and this friendly and vibrant country truly is a microcosm of South America. For me, Ecuador was a wonderful introduction to the continent that I hope to see and discover more of in the future.

Chichen Itza (Yucatan, Mexico)

My first introduction to Mexico was no different than for millions of American college students. My best friend and I’d decided we wanted to get in on the beloved tradition of going to Cancun during spring break - a rite of passage so to speak, and boy, did we get exactly what we were looking for, plenty of partying and sun.

But even through the haze of all the partying and sun, what I remember most about Mexico was the enchantment of seeing and experiencing a culture that was none like I’d ever known. Whether you’re soaking up the sun on the breathtakingly beautiful white sand beach or marveling at the wondrous Mayan ruins of Chichén Itzá; dancing the night away at a trendy high-energy night club in Cabo or enjoying one of its delectable traditional dishes, which has been deemed also as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, Mexico is adept at satisfying everything we look for as travelers.

French poet André Breton famously called Mexico the surrealist country par excellence, and every time I’m in Mexico, I’m reminded that what is ordinary there is truly extraordinary.

Grand Canyon, Yosemite National Park, Taos Pueblo, Carlsbad Cavern National Park (The U.S.)

"America's national parks are a treasure house of nature's superlatives – 84 million acres of the most stunning landscapes anyone has ever seen. They became the last refuge for magnificent species of animals that otherwise would have vanished forever; today, they remain a refuge for human beings seeking to replenish their spirit." - PBS, The National Parks

Seeing the World through Airplane Window

2015-01-19T22:16:00.001-08:00

I love to fly … on an airplane. So much so that before the ordeal of security checks at the airport sucked the joy out of flying, getting on a plane used to be one of my favorite part of travel.

I also love seeing the world outside an airplane window, watching the landscapes as the plane lifts off and cruises above the rest of the world for hours. It could be an enchanting sunset, the majestic mountains and terrains, or the spectacular city scene with its intricate transport network woven into society. It's a beautiful and wondrous world below waiting to be discovered.

Being 35,000 feet above lends itself to a spectacular view of the places I want to be, and always inspire me to plan the next flight!

My Expat Life

2014-12-18T10:05:00.000-08:00

ex•pa•tri•ate
1. a person who lives outside their native country.

There’s no better way to experience a new place like being an expat. Just imagine walking along the Seine River on the way to work, going for a run in Central Park in NYC, and hiking in the Andes Mountains on a beautiful sunny day – and you get to do it all over again, everyday!

For most expats, living abroad is a realization of their dream, and unlike tourists, the new and exciting experience is amplified not only with a sense of adventure but also with sense of belonging.

I remember when I moved to Paris, a friend of mine told me, “When you start to dream in French; then, you’re French.” Unfortunately, being French wasn’t just about mastering the language, and most often, living abroad as an expat had its share of challenges.

Although it’s easy to say, “Home is where the heart is”, when your heart belongs to so many places in different countries; then, you feel as if you belong nowhere.

However, there is the inevitable romance and the extraordinary experience of living an expat life. As one of my favorite writer Pico Iyer has said, in the past two decades, I have become "a global village on two legs. I am a multinational soul on a multinational globe.” Traveling to different cities half way across the world is as natural to me as picking up groceries at a local market.

And like myself, most of my family and closest friends are expats: a Polish, who studied in Germany, England, and now living in Paris; a Mexican who has lived all over the world but prefers to be a citizen of Switzerland, a born and bred Texan who recently migrated to Ecuador – the list goes on.

Therefore, I have asked them to share their stories. I wanted to know more about the city and the country in which they live and their lives as an expat. Although the stories we have as individuals may differ, the issues are common to all expatriates regardless of nationality, and like 214 million people living outside their native country, our world is “where the foreign and the familiar always coexist in unexpected ways”.

Kay, born in Germany, lives in San Francisco, USA

Why did you move to San Francisco?
This move had many reasons. For one, my wife and I planned to move back to the US for some time. What better place next to New York is there to move to? San Francisco offers a great quality of life: a beautiful city right at the Pacific Ocean, good food, great outdoor attractions, and a diversity that penetrates every aspect of the life here.

After 7 years of living in San Francisco, what are your feelings about the U.S.?
I’ve become a US citizen. I am proud and happy to contribute to a society that is more diverse and multifaceted than any other country in the world. In that sense, I am feeling more at home than I have in Germany – while at the same time I am keenly aware of my own heritage.

What do you like most about living in San Francisco, the U.S.?
The sense that there are fewer barriers. The quality of life in San Francisco. Where else can you enjoy the ocean, the wine country, the mountains and national parks like Yosemite and Pinnacle Park? Also, San Francisco has to offer so much to children as they are truly an accepted and fully embraced part of the life in this city.

What has been the hardest/most difficult part?
Adjusting to the culture which requires me to be open-minded and watchful of my interactions.

If you could change one thing about the U.S., what would it be?
Gun laws! Eliminate the 2nd amendment.

Where have you lived around the world? Favorite places?
My favorite places are New York, San Francisco, and Berlin. Well, and then there is Southern France and the Dordogne region which is always great to visit.

Where do you want to move to or settle down eventually?
Living on a 40 foot sailboat cruising the Southern Pacific Ocean. It would be nice to keep San Francisco as a home base though.

Where do you feel at ‘home’?
My home is where my heart is – with my wife and my son.

Wiktor, born in Poland, lives in Zurich, Switzerland

Why did you move to Zurich, Switzerland?
for a better life

After 8 years of living in Zurich, what are your feelings about Switzerland?
very positive

What do you like most about living in Zurich, Switzerland?
friendliness and openness of Swiss along with the international crowd living here

What has been the hardest/most difficult part?
People in Switzerland can also be very rigid, too polite, too careful with others and thus very boring. I prefer American way of socializing with people.

If you could change one thing about Switzerland, what would it be?
I would not change anything about Switzerland. The location is perfect in the center of Europe. Zurich is a perfect little town with a lot of wealth and very high standard of living (27% residents are millionaires even excluding the value of their own properties). It’s perfectly organized and very liberal. Also, Switzerland is very business friendly, flexible and very stable (for example: tax authorities replay within hours if you have questions and they decide mostly in your favor. The decision stated in email is binding by law).

Swiss are generally very friendly and helpful. When dealing with business at work all Swiss are very efficient and goal oriented. You can always count on given word and then the paper work is to be done afterwords. Written law seems to be below the "human law" on many occasions. Nobody is hiding behind some "regulations" when it comes to be pragmatic and flexible (for example: I left Swiss Life and I asked for a bonus. Bonus was promised to me in the email even if I left on my request. Swiss Life forgot to pay me bonus with my last salary and it paid me the money after I left and signed all kinds of papers. If the same situation occurred in Germany, HR would have freaked out about transferring me money under such conditions because I left the company for good.

Everybody works towards a mutual goal. There is a collective way of thinking where strangers do things for you for free, which is nice and gives you a very nice feeling to be part of a friendly community. Swiss smile at you when you look at them on the streets and often greet you.

In addition, half of the working population in Zurich is of foreign origin, so English is now a second language here. There are many high skilled professionals from different parts of Europe/ World. My team at work consists of 10 people with 11 passports where nobody really remembers others nationality.

The only thing I would change is to make Swiss more "cool" and "less shy" when it comes to dealing with strangers. "Dude, relax, have a drink.” I would NEVR dare telling this to a Swiss guy, as he would find this way too direct. Even my neighbor Tina from across the lake (Tina Turner) said she can easily enter a bar and sit by a table and no Swiss will ever disturb her. They will always value her privacy. Contrarily, in France, everybody wants a selfie with her. Swiss are either too shy, very respectful or maybe they just got used to the prominent people who live here.

It seems that Switzerland is not just a safe haven to international investors, big and small companies and professionals like me but also to famous people and their anonymity as well.

Where have you lived around the world? Favorite places?
Germany, USA and Istanbul (Turkey)

Where do you want to move to or settle down eventually?
Switzerland

Where do you feel at ‘home’?
Switzerland is my home.

Antonio, born in Mexico, lives in Geneva, Switzerland

Why did you move to Geneva, Switzerland?

The first time I moved to Switzerland I settled in Zurich and lived and worked there for 18 months before being transferred [by my employer] to NYC. The second time I was transferred again from NYC to Geneva, and the last time in January 2012 I was transferred again from Luxemburg City to Geneva.

After 3 years of living in Geneva, what are your feelings about Switzerland?
Switzerland still is an island in the middle of Europe. In the recent years with the global crisis, Switzerland was able to cope with minimum damage to its economy, and the Swiss franc is at historical levels. Plus, I am also very comfortable with the order and cleanliness of the cities.

What do you like most about living in Geneva, Switzerland?
It’s a small city with a cosmopolitan ambiance and a very international population.

What has been the hardest/most difficult part?
Seeing friends leave. Some being transferred to other cities, some voluntarily.

If you could change one thing about Switzerland, what would it be?
In Genève in particular, I would change the very socialist side of the administration and their lack of control with crime. There are too many breaks in, and the police are too busy giving parking tickets to tackle the crime.

Where have you lived around the world? Favorite places?
Hermosillo, my hometown and the place I long to visit at least once a year. Vancouver, Canada. My first experience living and working abroad, still one of my favorite cities, you can ski during the day and set a bonfire by the sea at night. Seattle, WA was a fun experience. I partied hard for two years. Zurich was my first time living in Europe. NYC is a city I still call home although Genève is my actual home. Madrid, where I partied all nights and study during the day. Luxembourg and I have a weird love-hate relationship. And back to square 6, my home Genève.

Where do you want to move to or settle down eventually?
I wouldn’t mind staying here and then retire in to a small tropical beach, but keep a Swiss chalet for skiing in winter. But things can change, and I’m always ready to adapt to a new place.

Where do you feel at ‘home’?
I actually do feel at home wherever I’m at any given time. I called all the cities I ever lived home, and even if I miss few things from other places I do my best to adapt and move forward in my integration process.

Kelly, born in Singapore, lives in San Francisco, USA

Where were you born?
on the beautifully-hectic island-city of Singapore

Why did you move to San Francisco?
I was incredibly blessed to move across the world with my husband when his start-up was acquired by Stubhub in 2012. It offered me the chance to take a break from work to (finally!) pursue a graduate degree in Nonprofit Administration.

After almost 3 years of living in San Francisco, what are your feelings about the U.S.?
Hmm … this would be somewhat biased since San Francisco was the very first city I visited in the United States, and there’s still so much more to live, breathe and experience in the US. I’ve also been told San Francisco (California) is not in any way representative of the rest of America. But in one word, America to me is super-sized. Food portions aside, I don’t think the novelty (and ridiculousness) of these will ever wear off.

What do you like most about living in San Francisco, the U.S.?
The fact that San Francisco Bay Area is the heart of technology means that the person next to you in Starbucks is probably working on the next big start-up; the guy standing next to you on BART could very well be one of the founders of Twitter, heck, maybe you could even run into Zuckerberg in Whole Foods when his Dolores mansion is ready. Always makes for interesting conversations!

What has been the hardest/most difficult part?
I miss being able to walk the streets at night, late night supper with friends, movies at 2am, drinks by the beach, without worrying if we are in the ‘wrong area’. That’s something I took for granted in Singapore. Well that and the weather. Being very much a tropical weather kinda gal, I am always cold in San Francisco. Even on the rare occasion there is a “heatwave”, I still tote around the extra layer just in case.

If you could change one thing about the U.S., what would it be?
GUNS! How many more innocent lives need to be lost before America realizes there’s no place for guns in civil society?

Where have you lived around the world? Favorite places?
We’ve traveled to a number of cities, not enough evidently. And so far, Barbados and Mauritius is at the top of my list. We are planning a RTW (round the world) trip eventually; so, this might change!

Where do you want to move to or settle down eventually?
Singapore is home truly, for me. But Mauritius is on the cards too. Then again who knows when we will be done being nomads?

Phil, born in Big Spring (Texas), lives in Ecuador

Why did you move to Cuenca, Ecuador?

Living in Houston, Texas had become very tiresome and financially difficult so I started looking for a place where I could retire early, that had a great year round climate, a stable democratic government, a lively art and cultural scene, good medical care and where I could have a very comfortable life for much less money.

After looking at many alternative in the US, Europe and Asia, I heard about Cuenca in Ecuador and after a exploratory visit found that it had all the things I was looking for and more.

After almost 5 years of living in Cuenca, what are your feelings about Ecuador?

Every year I find more and more things I like about this country. I think it is a country that has great untapped potential and a place that has made tremendous progress in lifting up and caring for its people.

What do you like most about living in Cuenca, Ecuador?

There are so many things I like it is hard to chose but for me I guess it would be the physical beauty of the place. I am still charmed and amazed at how many magnificent, majestic, and magical vista there are in an around this place. It is pleasure just to get up and go outside everyday.

What has been the hardest/most difficult part?

There really has not been anything that difficult for me. It sounds petty but I guess the most difficult thing has been having to buy things that are imported and thus more expense than in the US. This is a country that has the potential to manufacture anything and yet there is so little effort in that arena.

If you could change one thing about Ecuador, what would it be?

I would like to see more of an entrepreneurial spirit here. There is so little self-initiative, and that is sad considering the potential and the resources it has.

Why I Love To Travel

2014-11-18T16:35:00.001-08:00

Some travel to find themselves; others travel to lose themselves. I travel simply because I enjoy the experience. Whether it’s discovering new places or rediscovering places I’ve been to, I love gaining a new perspective of the world, and if I can pick up another language, even better.

While I may not gain the life changing spirituality that some seek, I have definitely developed a more reflective way of seeing and thinking about the world around me. I see the world more clearly, as if looking through a pair of glasses, and I have a better understanding of it. Therefore, the more I travel, the clearer the world becomes.

Even as a little girl, I’d always been a wanderer – in my mind, that is, always wondering what lies beyond the horizon. I was always curious, and yet didn’t know what I was curious about. I just knew that there was something more beyond the generic life and rhythm of suburbia.

I remember seeing pictures of my grandfather as a young diplomat who traveled around the world shortly after World War II, standing in front of the Eiffel Tower, Taj Mahal, and the Colosseum in Rome looking so handsome and regal. It resembled everything I wanted to be – worldly. I wanted to explore and experience the world.

Then, I found exactly what I was looking for – my first trip to New York City!

I was in my mid-teens, and my mother had visited a friend of hers in Queens, with whom we’d stayed for few days. Those were the most exciting few days of my teenage life. NYC was the polar opposite of the middle class suburban environment in which I’d grown up. It was fast-paced, wonderfully diverse, full of energy and excitement, and most of all, real.

I was hooked, and I fell in love with NYC – and, more importantly, with traveling! It was as if someone had opened a window into the world.

Then, the summer before I graduated from university, I went on a trip to Europe. Although the thought of traveling solo around a completely different continent was overwhelming at first, as I began to read up on and plan all the places I wanted to visit and things to do, a sense of exhilaration and excitement came over me.

From the moment I landed at Gatwick Airport, the travel bug had bit me. Despite the 12-hour transatlantic flight and being terribly jetlagged, the excitement of being in a new country, a new continent energized me. I walked all over London and felt as if I could walk to the ends of the island.

I spent the next two weeks immersed in the beauty and the culture of the continent. Hopping from one country to another with a Eurorail pass, it was sublime to discover new places, meet new people, and to be in the midst of the completely different world.

Strolling through the enchanting empty streets of Bern, Switzerland in dawn’s early light, I felt as if I was in a fairytale. The culture and vibrancy of Barcelona, and seeing the majestic Sagrada Família blew me away! And when I arrived in Paris, its beauty and the overwhelming joy I’d felt walking to through the city of light was absolutely palpable!

My first trip to Europe forever changed my life, activating a permanent, insatiable wanderlust, and it hasn’t been the same ever since. On the flight back from London, as I was listening to all the tourists telling each other how glad they were to be returning home, I was planning my next trip, making a list of places that I wanted to go: Bruges, Gent, Prague, Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck, Bern, Zurich, Luzern, Lausanne, Bordeaux, Tours, Istanbul. Happy to say, I’ve seen them all.

Also, the experience was the cornerstone of growth and a catalyst to becoming my ideal self. It changed my perception of what is important in life and made me seek out and pursue things I felt passionate about. I enjoy discovering new places, even in my hometown and encountering people from different cultures. I love how interconnected the world truly is, and my aspiration is to embolden myself to view everyday life as a journey and travel as an ongoing state of mind.

More importantly, the experience of traveling is about enjoyment, the enjoyment of seeing beautiful places, being in the midst of new culture, and encountering wonderful people. Travel helps me to realize the goodness in people that is often forgotten the daily grind, and it almost always comes from people and places you least expect.

That’s the true beauty of traveling, being able to meet wonderful people in unfamiliar places. Aside from the magnificent sites, world-class museums, and unforgettable meals, what has always made my travel experience truly special is encountering extraordinary kindnesses, having great conversations with people who started out as strangers, and forming unexpected friendships.

Travel has changed my life in more ways than one. It has opened my mind to the different ways of different cultures. It has taught me a lot about history, art and architecture, about traditions and culture, and even about my own heritage. It has made me a more empowered person by granting me a better understanding of the world and of its people. It has made me realize that the world is a complicated place, and there are no easy answers, stereotypes or even beliefs in a high power that will answer all the questions we may have or all the uncertainties that may exist.

However, there lies the true beauty of life, in unraveling and uncovering these mysteries – the unknown, and the only way that we can gain a better understanding of the world and ultimately of ourselves is to go out and experience it first-hand.

I’ve learned countless life’s lessons through travel. Among the most significant is how insulated and small our lives can be without an exposure to different places, different people, and more importantly, different perspectives. Also, traveling and gaining a better understanding of the world has taught me to cherish all that I have, while living my life to the fullest with humility, tolerance and compassion. And above all, it has shown me how to see the beauty in the simple things and that like everything else in life, it’s better when it’s shared, and I am so grateful that I get to share my passion for traveling and all the experiences with my family, my wonderful parents, my husband who truly is my best friend, and our beautiful little boy.

As one of my favorite novelists Pico Iyer said,

We travel, initially, to lose ourselves; and we travel, next to find ourselves. We travel to open our hearts and eyes and learn more about the world than our newspapers will accommodate. We travel to bring what little we can, in our ignorance and knowledge, to those parts of the globe whose riches are differently dispersed. And we travel, in essence, to become young fools again- to slow time down and get taken in, and fall in love once more.

I, for one, cannot wait to fall in love again.

I'd love to hear why you love to travel? How has travel changed your life?

Where the Water Meets the Sky

2014-11-09T09:09:00.001-08:00

As cynical as I feel about so many things in the world, nothing puts my life in perspective like seeing the ocean and watching the sun disappears into the horizon where the water meets the sky.

Standing at the edge of the coast and looking at the majestic blue sea before me, I can’t help but to be humbled by the grandeur of it. An overwhelming sense of serenity washes over me, and as I watched the wave crashing against every rock and every grain of sand on the beach, it stirs my heart and brings joy to my soul.

A Fabulous Week in San Francisco

2014-10-13T09:22:00.000-07:00

Recently, friends of mine were visiting San Francisco. Although I have always prided myself in being the city’s aficionado and have seen most (if not all) of San Francisco’s highlights, pinpointing them to merely few days for tourists was a task I was not prepared for.

Then, when I started to research places to go and things to do, I was surprised to learned that most of the recommended tourist sights listed in travel guides and websites really didn’t give the visitors an authentic feel for what San Francisco was all about and hardly showed off what this complex and diverse city has to offer.

Also, with all the extraordinary things to see and do, every travel guide and website recommended day trips outside of the city after spending merely 2-3 days in the city. Seeing San Francisco in 2-3 days?!? That’s hardly enough time to taste all the wonderful foods!

Unlike some of the locals who look down upon touristy spots (which applies to people everywhere, New Yorkers, Berliner, Parisians – especially the Parisians), even after living in San Francisco for 7 years, I love doing touristy stuff. However, in order to truly see and experience the beauty and eclectic culture of this city, you must go off the beaten path beyond the city’s iconic landmarks.

So, for those of you who are interested in experiencing San Francisco and all its diverse culture, sights and foods, here are my recommendations of the places to visit and things to do to - and have a fabulous week in the city by the bay.

Day 1: The Conventional Highlights

Grace Cathedral
Lombard Street
Coit Tower – Don't miss the newly restored murals depicting California agriculture, industry and the city’s leftist leanings.
lunch @ House of Nanking or House of Xian Dumpling
coffee break @ Réveille
City Lights Book Store – definitely one of San Francisco’s institutions and one of the few truly great independent bookstores in the United States that specializes in world literature, the arts, and progressive politics; quotes and photos of Burroughs, Kerouac and Ginsberg are displayed throughout the store; it’s not just a bookstore – it's a legacy.
Chinatown

What to expect: Stunning views and photo opportunities, hilly streets which San Francisco is famous for, introduction to the diverse ethnic groups that has become an integral part of this city – this country.

What to avoid: Chinese restaurants on Grant Street, most of which are mediocre. Instead, head over to the restaurant in Inner/Outer Sunset for great Chinese food.

Day 2: Golden Gate Park

Stow Lake – Do not miss the climb up to Strawberry Hill. There are steps near the Chinese Pavilion along the waterfall, and the view from the top is breathtaking.
lunch @ any restaurant between 6th – 12th Avenue between Judah & Lincoln Way
Japanese Tea Garden
Shakespeare Garden
National AIDS Memorial Grove
Conservatory of Flowers

What to expect: Over three miles (4.8 km) of sublime nature & beauty; Golden Gate Park stretches between Haight-Ashbury and the Pacific Ocean and encompasses 1,017 acres of gardens, walking paths, lakes, recreation fields, museums, a Japanese tea garden, and innumerable areas for music events and recreational sports.

Day 3: The Mission District

Mission Delores
Delores Park
lunch @ Pica Pica Arepa Kitchen, El Toro Taqueria, Limón Rotisserie
check out more than 200 colorful murals that reflect the area’s Hispanic heritage and the immigrant experience displayed all over the neighborhood, especially around Clarion Alley, Balmy Alley and 24th Street

What to expect: Illustration and reflection of the rich history and heritage of Hispanic immigrants, a GREAT selection of Hispanic, Central and South America cuisine, trendy boutiques, a spectacular view from the top of Delores Park

What to avoid: Overpriced restaurants that are more hype than substance; You can usually spot them by a block-long line outside – trust me; they’re NOT worth the wait and the hassle!

Day 4: San Francisco Treat

F line trolleys – Rice-A-Roni may have made San Francisco’s Cable Cars famous, but F line trolleys will forever be my favorite mode of transportation in the city and the best way to see the city’s highlights.
Fisherman's Wharf
Pier 39 Seals
lunch @ La Boulange Metreon or Tropisueño
Union Square (view from Cheesecake Factory inside Macy's)
V.C. Morris Gift Shop on Maiden Lane – Fashioned in 1948 by Frank Lloyd Wright, a precursor to his famous spirals for the Guggenheim Museum in NYC is definitely worth a visit.

What to expect: A fun trolley ride along some of the most scenic part of the San Francisco, especially along Embarcadero

What to avoid: Restaurants inside the Ferry Building, which tend to be overpriced tourist traps

Day 5: Spectacular Views & Nature

16th Avenue Tiled Steps
Lands End & Sutro Baths
lunch @ Burma Superstar or Giorgio's Pizzeria
Crissy Field
Palace of Fine Arts

What to expect: Absolutely breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean and the Bay with the majestic Golden Gate Bridge as a backdrop, all around great photo opportunities, great picnic spots

Day 6: The Heart of San Francisco

Alamo Square Park & the Painted Ladies
Haight-Ashbury – The birthplace of America's counter-culture, which was born during the summer of 1967, a.k.a. The Summer of Love.
lunch @ Parada 22
Hayes Valley – a great selection of one of a kind stores and boutiques
Castro
Twin Peaks

What to expect: Although Haight-Ashbury has become one of favorite spots for tourists, it still is the best reflection of what San Francisco – and San Franciscans are all about, eclectic bohemians at heart.

Day 7: Experience Fahrvergnügen, the Joy of Driving

Drive along HWY 1 to Pacifica & catch the sunset at Fort Funston

What to expect: Pure exhilarating driving experience along the coastal road that was declared by National Geographic Magazine as being one of the world's greatest “drives of a lifetime”, and it doesn’t disappoint! It’s without a doubt one of the most unforgettable sights in North America, filled with towering cliffs, gorgeous secluded beaches, and spectacular nature with every twist and turn revealing the most breathtaking scenery. Although Highway 1 goes down all the way down to central California coast, the drive to Pacifica will give you a nice glimpse of the spectacular scenery.

I recommend you skip:

Renting a bike – Have you seen the size of the hills in San Francisco? Why would anyone recommend renting a bike to tourists is incomprehensible. Unless you have the stamina of Lance Armstrong, there are much better and easier ways to get around the city. Also, San Francisco has some of the most aggressive bikers in the entire country. We’re like New Yorkers on two wheels. Therefore, I don’t recommend that you take this mode of transportation to tour around the city unless you want to feel like you’re auditioning for the urban version of “Survivor”.
Segway Tours – There’s nothing that is more disruptive to the idyllic scenery and local life in San Francisco than a group of Segway tourists. I get that it's a “fun” way to see the city, but just be warned, it definitely annoys the locals.
Museums are subpar in San Francisco, and the only museums worth going to are the ones that cater to children, as listed in my blog, Fun Things To Do with Children in San Francisco.

I grouped my recommendations by neighborhood, as seeing them by neighborhoods will not only give you a better understanding of the city and its community, but it will save you a lot of time and energy – I was surprised to learn that one guidebook actually recommended seeing Fisherman’s Wharf in the morning and Golden Gate Park in the afternoon, which is located in complete opposite part of town.

There are a lot of great things to do and see in San Francisco, and whether you’re visiting the city or just looking to entertain guests, I hope this list provides plenty of inspiration – enjoy!

For more of my recommendations in San Francisco, check out:

Insider's Guide to San Francisco

I ♥ My City!
Fun Things To Do With Children In San Francisco

10 Most Memorable Experiences in Ecuador

2014-08-25T10:02:00.001-07:00

We've had so many wonderful experiences during our trips to Ecuador, but as the novelist Pico Iyer said, "Travel is like love, mostly because it’s a heightened state of awareness, in which we are mindful, receptive, undimmed by familiarity and ready to be transformed. That is why the best trips, like the best love affairs, never really end," and I for one cannot wait to find another unforgettable experience.

1. Stepping back in time in Quito, a wonderful introduction to South America

Located high up in the Andes, you can see the dramatic landscape of Ecuador’s capital even before you land, as you can get some of the best aerials views from the plane.

The compact Old Town, known as the centro histórico, is the city’s undisputed highlight, a jumble of narrow streets and wide, cobbled plazas lined with churches, monasteries, mansions and colorful balconied houses. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Old Town contains some of the most beautiful Spanish Colonial architecture on the continent.

I certainly enjoyed strolling through the picturesque streets, which I was told was the new and improved version. There has been an extensive renovation and restoration to this part of town in the last 3 years as part of city's effort to boost tourism.

Sundays (weekends) are a great day(s) to walk around Old Town, as majority of the roads are closed for pedestrians. Also, churches and cathedrals, which usually charge an entrance fee are opened to public for free.

Although it can get crowded, the atmosphere is festive and fun with different venues of music and street performance everywhere. The streets are filled with musicians and performers, and every which way I turned, I saw beautiful colonial buildings with the breathtaking scenery of the mountain in the background and the dramatic view of the El Panecillo (Virgin Monument), which was absolutely stunning! I really enjoyed spending the entire day just strolling, sightseeing and soaking up local culture.

My favorites in Quito:

Archbishop’s Place – a nice selection of restuarants & cafes located inside the courtyard
Basilica del Voto Nacional, Ecuador’s largest Gothic cathedral, adorned with gargoyles inspired by the country’s iguanas, pumas and Galápagos tortoises
Calle García Moreno
Calle Sucre to Plaza San Francisco, which is one of the loveliest squares I've seen. It's a perfect place (Tianguez Cultural Cafe) to stop for lunch, drinks or just to sit and enjoy the view.
City Hall
El Sagrario
La Compañia de Jesus Church
Plaza de la Independencia (Grand Plaza)
Presidential Palace
Santo Domingo Plaza
Teleferrico Cable Car & the view of the city from the top – the fast and thrilling ride up the mountain in this cable-car gondola is usually enough to put a smile on most kids' faces.

Not to miss:

the changing of the guards at Plaza de la Independencia (every Monday at 11:00am)
Sunday mornings in Old Town, which is closed for pedestrians
the view of Quito from the top of Basilica del Voto Nacional
La Casa de la Cultura, a phenomenal space that exhibits all types of art and cultural venues & the indigenous market (about 2 blocks away from la Casa de la Cultura) consists of some of the finest selection of Indigenous Arts and Crafts from Otavalo.

2. Straddling the Equator & witnessing the wizardry at the Inti-Ñan Solar Museum
It’s no secret that the name Ecuador stems from the fact that the Equator passes right through the country, and seeing the line that marks the “Mital del Mundo” has become one of tourists’ favorite attractions. However, what I enjoyed more than standing at the monument was the visiting the Inti-Ñan Solar Museum just up the road (240 meters north)that claims to lie exactly on the equator itself.

For an entrance fee $3, you get a guided tour and demonstrations of various equator- and solar-related phenomena and a certificate of being an “Egg Master” if you manage to balance an egg on a nail. The guided tour is very entertaining, especially for children, and you can participate in various experiments, such as the Coriolis Effect, which demonstrates the directional change of water. When a bucket of water was poured into a tub on the Northern Hemisphere, it swirled in one direction (as indicated by the leaves floating in the water), whereas on the Southern Hemisphere side, the water swirled in the opposite direction, and the distance between the two hemispheres is only few feet! Although some of the “scientific” experiments seemed more like wizardry, it definitely kept us, especially our 6 year old entertained!

3. Visiting Baños de Agua Santa & the Amazon Basin

The Ecuadorian Rainforest is located in the eastern lowlands of Ecuador. This region that is is the upper edge of the world’s Amazon basin, descends from the foothills of the Andes to 200 meters.

In Ecuador there are more than 5.5 million square kilometers of this kind of forest, and it’s considered one of the 25 interesting areas of biodiversity on the planet with more variety of plants and animals than any other place in the world. It’s also loaded with impressive wildlife, with quiet blackwater lagoons, raging rivers, dense tree canopies and flooded forests, and it's home to traditional indigenous tribes. It truly is a scene straight out of Indiana Jones movie.

We opted to stay in Baños de Agua Santa, a favorite among the backpackers and adventure seekers, and although I had some reservations about visiting Baños, as I had visions of wannabe bohemian atmosphere of the Montañita in mind, surprisingly, it turned out to be a lovely little town.

Although the town is known mainly for its thermal pools (hence the name Baños or baths), which are nourished by the mineral-rich naturally heated springs of Tungurahua, it also offers a wide variety of extreme sport activities, such as kayaking, rock Climbing, paragliding, mountain biking, trekking, bridge jumping, zip Lining, and horseback riding.

As the town is located in the midst of some of the most spectacular nature in Ecuador adorned by beautiful waterfalls, you can easily spend the entire day driving around the area enjoying the picturesque scenery and exceptional views of the upper Amazon Basin stretch out below. Also, Baños is an excellent base from which to explore the jungle and neighboring protected areas, such as Parque Nacional Sangay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983.

We especially love the hike to Pailon del Diablo Waterfall, which was twice the size of the Vernal Fall in Yosemite. We were able to hike all the way to the fall, so close that we were drenched afterwards. Aside from the spectacular scenery, we love the walk across the bridge over a gorge that seemed to drop to the core of the earth. Also, the tour of the Amazon ended up being the GREAT adventure we'd hoped for – made me feel like we were indeed searching for the Temple of Doom!

4. Riding the Nariz del Diablo Railroad & the spectacular scenery of the Ecuador's Andes

In 1899, after 25 years of frustrated plans and abortive attempts, work finally started on Ecuador’s first railway, which would link the coastal city of Guayaquil with the capital, Quito. The greatest obstacle, which prompted the line to be dubbed “the most difficult railway in the world”, was met 130km east of Guayaquil at a near-vertical wall of rock, known as El Nariz del Diablo (The Devil’s Nose). The ingenious engineering solution was to carve a series of tight zigzags out of the rock, which allowed the train to climb 800m at a gradient of 1-in-18 by going forwards then backwards up the tracks.

The train from from Guayaquil to Riobamba and Quito ran for almost a century, until 1997, when El Niño-related weather devastated the tracks, wiping out most of the railline. Currently, a controversial multi-million-dollar project to restore almost the entire original rail network is underway, and as of summer 2013, only the 12 km stretch from Alausí to Sibambe has been operational.

The Devil’s Nose train (Nariz del Diablo) takes off from a little town of Alausi, located about 4 hours north from Cuenca (also 6 hours east of Guayaquil and 4 hours south of Quito). The closest big city is Riobamba (1½ hours away). Although most tourists book their trips through a tour company, we decided to do the trip on our own.

On the contrary to what's stated on their website, the train operates Tue - Sun, 3 times a day: 8am, 11am, and 3pm. Also, we could not buy the tickets through their website or get through to anyone when we called the tel. no. stated on the website. The ONLY way we were able to get the ticket was to purchase them in person at the train station in Alausi (open 8am-3pm).

However, as this is an extremely popular activity among tourists, the tickets go fast, and you may not be able to get tickets for the same day. We arrived at the train station around 2:30pm and got the last 4 tickets on the last train the next day. Therefore, be warned, those looking for a day trip may be disappointed.

Tickets for adults are $25 ($14.50 for 65+ & children 2+), which is an extremely reasonable in comparison to trains in N. America and Europe, and as the other reviews have mentioned, the price includes a light snack and a beverage at the Sibamba train station.

Although all cars are renovated and restored, some of the cars have better photo ops and are more spacious. Regardless, throughout the (40 min one way) ride, we were privy to the most spectacular view of the area, and the Devil’s Nose train was one of the most memorable experiences we’ve had in Ecuador.

5. Strolling through the beautiful streets of Cuenca’s Old Town

Nestled in the Andes Sierra, Ecuador's core, Cuenca is a gorgeous little city filled with stunning colonial architecture, bustling highland markets and diverse mix of people.

Walking through the city’s Old Town with its narrow cobblestone streets and a rich collection of colonial-era churches, plazas, and buildings, you feel as if you’ve been transported to a different place and time. And the presence of its diverse cultures and various indigenous population (Incas and Cañaris) only heightens this magical setting.

It’s no wonder that most locals regard Cuenca, also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as Ecuador’s most beautiful city.

My favorites in Cuenca:

the city's main plaza, Parque Calderón
Catedral de la Inmaculada Concepción
Church of El Carmen de la Asunción & the flower market
Plaza de San Sebastián
Museo Municipal de Arte Moderno
Church of Santo Domingo
Plaza San Blas
Museo del Banco Central & Pumapungo archaeological site
The Todos Los Santos archaeological site – symbolizes the three layers of history, in a single area, you'll see structures built by Cañari, Inca, and Spanish settlers.
the magnificent view of Cuenca from Mirador Turi
la Casa de la Mujer
one of the local markets, Feira Libre Mercado, full of vendors who sold everything from fresh produce, meats and seafood, animals for pets to flowers. I've been to many great outdoor markets all over the world, and I so enjoy them, as it's always a great introduction to the local people and culture.

6. Magnificent murals of Cuenca

One of my favorite thing to do in Cuenca was taking walks along the Río Tomebamba admiring the graffiti art. As part of Cuenca Mayor's effort to clean up city's graffiti, artists were hired to paint and display some of the finest works of art along the walls of buildings, much like the graffiti art project in San Francisco. Vibrant culture and art is one of the things that has really impressed me about Cuenca, and everywhere I looked, there was so much creativity and beauty. It’s easy to see why this paradise that has lured thousands of Americans away from home.

7. Scrumptious meals

I loved to travel, and what I love more than finding spectacular scenery or breathtaking sights is discovering great food! And there are plenty of great meals to be had in Ecuador.

Some of the best meals I’ve had were in smaller towns. As the majority of Ecuadorians spend their weekends and leisure time with their families, sharing a meal is an important part of these moments. Therefore, on the weekends, you will find that most restaurants are packed with families, party of 4 or more, and usually, that’s where you will find the tastiest food in Ecuador. Although as a rule of thumb, I tend to steer clear of the restaurants recommended by travel guides or travel magazines, but especially in Ecuador, the best way to find a great place to eat is to ask the locals.

My favorite Ecuadorian dishes:

Maduros – grilled plantains, which are usually served as a side dish
Roasted Pig – A common Ecuadorean delicacy is roasted pig, especially common in the sierra region. The meat is extremely tender, and with a generous helpings of mote (corn kernels, which have been boiled and peeled) and llapingachos (mash potatoes balled up and then lightly fired), it make for an excellent meal anytime of the day – literally, as you'll see a whole pig roasting on spits at little stands along the highways or on sidewalks in almost every little town.

Seafood & Ceviche – Seafood is most plentiful and best on the coast, where shrimp, lobster, and a variety of fish are always on the menu. The coastal region is famous for its ceviche, a cold concoction of fish, conch, and/or shrimp marinated in lime juice and seasonings. The marinade is said to "cook" the fish or seafood. Ceviche is a great treat for lunch or as an appetizer.
Soups – Soup is a serious fare in Ecuador. Not only does it come with almost every lunch and dinner, but it can easily be a whole meal by itself. My favorites are Locro (a potato-cheese soup) and any form of Sopa de Mariscos (seafood soup).
Trout – Trout in Ecuador is like chicken in the US. You can get trout anyway you like (fried, breaded & fried, grilled) in almost every Ecuadorian restaurant, and they are guuud. It usually comes with salad, rice and/or fries.

Recommended restaurants in Ecuador:

Café Calé de Queso (Cuenca: Baltazara de Calderon 3-76 & Gran Colombia)
Fabianos (Cuenca: President Cordova 4-84)
Oro Mar (Cuenca)
Red Crab (Cuenca: Luis Moreno Mora 3-63 & Francisco Moscoso)
Corvel (Paute: Simon Bolivar 8 -37, tel. 072251556) – a lovely restaurant about 45 min. outside of Cuenca in the town of Paute. Corvel looked like a 5-star restaurant in Manhattan, and the food is well worth the drive.
El Agave (Cuenca-Giron: Panamericana Sur Km 17.5, tel. 4035065) – located about 30 min outside of Cuenca about half way to the town of Giron

Hosteria Dos Chorreras (Cuenca: Cajas National Park)
Anabelle's American Ice Cream Shop (Chordeleg)
Delicias del Mar (Ambato: Av. Gonzales Suarez y Abdon Calderon, tel. 03 2820 891 & Riobamba: Av. Daniel leon Borja y Autachi, tel. 03 2940 855)
Amarelo Coffee & Shop (Banos: Pedro Vicente Maldonado y Ambato)
Le Petit Restaurante (Banos: 16 de Diciembre 240 y Montalvo)
Pappardelle Ristorante (Banos: Rocafuerte y 16 de Diciembre)
Oh Mar (Salinas)
ALL the little Cabanas along the beach in Olón

8. Watching Germany make World Cup history
Germany winning the FIFA World Cup makes it the first time a European country has ever won the championship in South America. It is a moment that will go down in history, but was certainly not the only memorable experience we had during this trip. Watching the championship in South America, the continent where World Cup was born, was absolutely exciting and entertaining, and especially for our 6 year old boy, it was an experience he will never forget.

9. Hiking in the majestic Cajas National Park

Cuenca is surrounded by beautiful landscapes and nature, and Cajas National Park is one of the most magnificent sites.

This hiker's paradise, also Ecuador’s natural heritage, is located about 30 minute west of the city, is filled with golden-brown grasslands reminiscent of the Scottish Highlands and over 200 clear cold mountain lakes. Although the water is too cold for swimming, their clear still surface gives them an enchanting mirror-like character, especially when they reflect the colors of the deep blue mountain sky.

10. Enjoying the beauty & tranquility of Ecuador's Pacific Coast

Though better known for its Andean Mountains, Amazonian rainforest and the unique Galapagos Islands, Ecuador has a spectacular beaches that rivals some of the best beaches along the Pacific Ocean. Stretching some 1,500km (937 miles) from the border of Colombia to Peru in the south, the Pacific coast embraces long expanses of deserted beaches, with warm swimming waters, charming fishing villages, luxury vacation resorts, surfing beaches, and wildlife sanctuaries.

The road building projects along the coast opened up much of this area, and few towns, like Montañita, Salinas and Manta, have already been “discovered” by international and local tourists alike. Nevertheless, much of Ecuadorian coastline remains undeveloped and unspoiled, and in many little villages, I felt as if we were the only tourists.

It’s a scenery that so many travelers of earlier generations 20-30 years ago have described of the Yucatan and Baja Peninsula, the Caribbean or the Greek Isles, surrounded by sense of serenity, organic beauty, and of course, the friendly people who seem to enjoy a simple way of life. La Costa is a state of being, a state of mind and a place where Ecuadorian vacationers like to go to spend time with their family, to relax and have fun!

Ecuador's Pacific coast is full of little villages with miles and miles of gorgeous white-sand beaches, and although they lack some infrastructure, they're charming, family friendly, and full of quaint little shops and open-air restaurants (cabanas) that serve freshly prepared delicious meals. Also, it was fun to witness the daily ritual of fishing, where the whole village comes out to help and collect the day's catch. Then, once the entire net full of fish is pulled onto the beach, everyone, even the tourists, is allowed to take home as much fish as they can carry. It was a wonderful experience in getting to know the locals, and we came back not only with a bucket full of fish that we grilled for dinner that evening but also with a truly unforgettable travel memory.

Customs You Should Know Before You Travel

2014-05-24T09:51:00.004-07:00

Being a savvy traveler means more than traveling between time zones. It's also important to understand the customs, practices and habits of the countries you’re visiting. Customs and etiquette are an integral part of many cultures around the world; thus, you should to familiarize yourself with the local customs of your destination, as knowing a few key cultural practices can enhance your travel experience.

South Korea

It’s customary to address people by their last (given) name or title. For example, if someone introduces himself as Ban Ki Moon. It’s safe to assume that his last name is Ban and his first name Ki Moon. Therefore, you should address him as Mr. Ban, and not Ki or Ki Moon.
Take off your shoes when entering someone’s home (also in some restaurants).
Accept drinks with both hands (with right hand while left hand supports your forearm/wrist), and do not pour your own drink, but do offer to pour others'. It is common to trade and fill each other's cup.
Be careful how you place your chopsticks (also in China and Japan). When you put them down, you shouldn’t leave them sitting upright in your bowl. This is something reserved for honoring the dead. When you need to put yours down, just remember to put them to the side of your bowl, or on a chopstick holder if you have one. Same goes for placement of spoons.
Avoid giving change with left hand even if your left handed (also in most Asian countries).
Don’t expect personal space when you’re out in public (also in most Asian countries). South Koreans general do not place importance on personal space; therefore, you should not expect that others respect your own space/place.

Thailand

Take your shoes off when entering a temple.
Don’t show someone the bottom of your foot, as in Thai culture, the feet are considered the lowest and dirtiest part of the body, and the person who sees the bottoms of yours could be offended. Be mindful of how you sit or stand so that you aren’t pointing the soles of your feet in someone’s direction, especially if you’re sitting on the ground; keep your feet flat on the ground if you stretch your legs out in front of you.

Europe

Think before you tip too much. Be sure you check your bill before you pay, as the menu prices tend to include service fees.

France

The niceties of basic greetings really do matter. Remember to say bonjour when you arrive in a shop or restaurant, merci when you want to thank someone, and au revoir when you leave. Not only are you showing basic manners, but you’re making an effort to speak the language, which a native in any country would respect.
On the other hand, when in a confrontation or dispute, smiling can be perceived as being dishonest. Instead, keep a straight face and friendly tone.

Germany

Titles are very important and denote respect. Use a person's title and their surname until invited to use their first name. You should say Herr or Frau and the person's title and their surname.
Don’t expect speedy service at restaurants, cafes or bars.
Don’t be bothered by the silence during a meal. Germans don’t normally engage in conversations while eating.
Table manners are extremely important, and almost everything is eaten with knife and fork – even hamburgers and fries. When you’re finished eating, lay your knife and fork parallel across the right side of your plate at a 45 degree angle.
Even if you’re invited to a restaurant, everyone is expected to pay for their own meal, and the check can be split 10 separate ways by the wait staff.
In numerical expressions German uses a comma where English uses a decimal point, for example, €19,95 (19.95 euros).

Italy & Spain

Although shorts are permissible in churches, short shorts and skimpy tops are frowned upon. If you’re wearing a tank top or a strappy sundress, you will be asked to cover your top with a scarf (usually provided by the church). Don't sight see during church services, although you can stand at the back and look.

Spain

Lunch and dinner are served later than most parts of the world, and businesses, especially in smaller cities, are closed during siesta (midday break for lunch and a nap). Evening meals usually begin around 10pm, and it may go on until after midnight.

The UK & Spain

Mind your hand gestures and head nods. Although hand gestures might seem to be a great fallback when you don’t speak the language, certain gestures have a very different (and sometimes offensive) meaning in foreign countries. Avoid the two-fingered, reversed “peace” sign in England (both translate loosely to the middle finger in the United States), and the seemingly innocuous devil horns that signifies “rock ‘n’ roll” is actually quite offensive in Spain, where they imply that someone’s spouse has been unfaithful, i.e. a castrated bull.

Ecuador

Be prepared for late dinners. Drinks and appetizers may start at 8:00 p.m., and dinner may not be served until 11:00 p.m. or midnight. A party may not end until 4:00 or 5:00 a.m. Sometimes breakfast is served before the last guests leave.
When guests are invited to a restaurant, the host pays for the meal.

Nigeria

Respect is very important in Nigeria as everybody want to be respected. If you are new in Nigeria you may have many offers of help but with an expectation of reward, normally money.
Generally Nigerians are very warm and love visitors, and when you’re invited to a restaurant, it’s customary that the host pays the bill.

The US

Be respectful of one’s personal space.
Remember to tip, usually 15-20%.
Don’t be afraid to look people in the eyes when you speak. It signifies that you’re a trustworthy person.
Be mindful of smoking area, as smoking may not permitted in most public places and national parks.

Greetings around the world

When traveling, first impression is very important, and greetings are often a crucial interface we have with people.

Arab countries: close male friends or colleagues hug and kiss both cheeks. They shake hands with the right hand only, for longer but less firmly than in the West. Contact between the opposite genders in public is considered obscene. Do not offer to shake hands with the opposite sex.
Belgium, The Netherlands & Switzerland: 3 kisses from the right
China: a nod or bow
France: 2 kisses, one on each cheek unless you’re in Paris, then, 4 kisses
Japan: bow in 90 degree angle, palms on thighs, heels together
Malaysia: both hands touch other person's hands, then are brought back to the breast, called salame gesture
Nigeria: Saying hello is common greeting, and hand shake among close friends.
South Korea: bow in 45 degree angle (right hand in one or both hands)
Thailand: place palms together, elbows down, and bow head slightly, called wai
The US: a hug for close friends and family, a hearty handshake for everyone else. Also, asking, “How are you?” is merely a form of greeting, and should be met with short reply, normally, “Fine, thank you, and you?”. It’s not a real question that warrants a long answer.
The UK: same as in The US minus the hug

What are some customs from your country that you would like people from other countries to know?

To find out more about cultural etiquette around the world

5 Things That Travel Magazines & Guidebooks Don’t Tell You

2014-05-01T14:04:00.002-07:00

Traveling isn’t always fun, and at times, it can be as arduous as being stuck in a standstill traffic on LA freeway.

Therefore, being a smart – and more importantly, an aware traveler is important. This doesn’t mean just being aware of your environment, getting your vaccination shots or knowing that you need a visa. It’s also important to familiarizing yourself with different cultures and customs like wearing a headscarf, understanding that tank top and shorts may not be an appropriate attire in some parts of the world, and more importantly, knowing not to go gallivanting or hiking in the most conflict-driven regions just for the thrill or worse, for an “off the beaten path” experience.

Familiarizing ourselves with all the different customs that exist in the world can be quite a task. Often, there isn’t sufficient information in travel guides and magazines on these matters, as these publications are designed to make traveling appealing and attractive. I mean, what travel publication will promote, “Paris, the City of Plight”?!?

However, after all the years of my travel, I’ve learned that it’s just as important to be knowledgeable about the nuisances of travel as well knowing the hottest bar or restaurant to go to, as the experience and insight you gain as a tourist is a reflection of the broader world. And ultimately, isn’t that what traveling is all about?

1. A tourist by any other name is still a tourist to the locals. Discussion of being a tourist versus a traveler is superfluous, as no matter how we see ourselves, to the locals, we’re all tourists.

This is especially true in the poorest regions of the world. Although we may put on a sari or cover our hair with hijab, truth of the matter is, we all travel with our own expectations of the places that we visit, and we often pick destinations because what they represent. For instance, we go to Paris to experience glamor of the “old world”, to sit in outdoor cafes and watch the pedestrians go by; to Mexico to experience the carefree beach life while sipping margaritas by the pool; to Thailand to see the “exotic” cultures.

Essentially, tourists/travelers are all outsiders who have expectations of what a place is and how the people should act. Even if the reality of the place is incongruous to the fantasy, travelers tend to congregate to an environment that lives up to their expectation. Whether it’s Khao San Road in Bangkok, Cancun (Mexico) or the beaches of Montanita, Ecuador, the environment is the same once the tourists take over – they all become the set of Alex Garland’s novel.

2. As much as we would like to believe that we live an egalitarian world where race (more accurately, ethnicity) and nationality don’t matter, people are treated differently depending on where they come from. Although it’s natural to encounter cultural differences and culture shock when we travel, for certain nationalities and especially for people of color, traveling to a certain parts of world can not only be unpleasant but also dangerous.

Racism is something that is rarely discussed in travel guides and magazines, and even most travel forums tend to steer clear of this topic. Tragically, racism is an integral part of the world, and as a person of color, traveling often highlights the detrimental effect of 500 years of colonialism.

Although the people around the world are becoming more cognizant of racial inequality, and in some countries, there have been valiant efforts to achieve a higher level of awareness in attempt to eradicate racism, these experiences are still demeaning and dehumanizing when we confront them thousand miles away from home.

More importantly, the disconcerting aspect of such discriminatory attitudes and racial bigotry is that travel experiences in certain parts of the world can be quite different for people of color, and in some regions, even pose unforeseeable dangers that are unfamiliar to most white travelers.

I remember how uncomfortable I’d felt when I was traveling in the Eastern part of Germany. Especially, in the cities that recently received rave reviews from all the well-known travel magazines as being the “hotspots” and “up and coming” places such as Dresden or Leipzig, I’d encountered nothing but hostile stares and locals who made me feel as if I wasn’t welcomed in their cities.

Tragically, during 2006 FIFA World Cup, when people from all over the world descended upon Germany, we would find out the extent and gravity their animosity towards ethnic minorities, as racially motivated attacks began surfacing in the various cities and towns. Since then, human rights organizations such as the Africa Council and the International League of Human Rights have issued travel advisories to black and Asian tourists to avoid certain areas of eastern Germany.

Although we are well aware of travel warnings about Americans traveling to regions that are conflict ridden and where there are imminent dangers to our security, racially motivated treatments and attacks against people of color are rare discussed and even acknowledged among travelers. The only way we find out is through firsthand experience and under the most harrowing circumstances.

Click here for harrowing tale of a traveler who experienced racism at Paris airport

All over Europe, people of color (tourists and average citizens alike) are facing increasing trends in racism, and as unpleasant and unpopular as the topic may be, as world travelers, we must be aware and be cognizant of it, if not for anything, to know that we are not alone in encountering these experiences.

3. Places (attractions, restaurants, bars, etc) in renowned travel magazines and guidebooks are visited by thousands of tourists, and if a place is known for being “off the beaten path”, chances are, it’s not.

Some people may poke fun at the tourists who travel thousand miles to eat at McDonald's or to drink coffee at Starbucks, but most often, you’ll encounter more locals at these establishments rather than at a corner cafe or so-call undiscovered restaurant that were written about in New York Times. If major publications like NY Times, Lonely Planet or Frommers took the time to write about a place, you can assume that hundreds of thousands of their followers have read about it – and will be there.

Of course, there’s nothing wrong with going to places that are recommended by these publications, as most often, they really are sites and experiences not to be missed. However, it’s unlikely that you will mingle with the locals, as most people who dine at these establishments and trek the so-called off-the-beaten-paths are fellow tourists/travelers.

Case in point, last year, shortly before traveling to Ecuador for the very first time, I did some research on where to go, things to do and see. Montañita, a little fishing village along the Pacific Coast, was mentioned in all the guidebooks and was recommended by several travelers as a place I must visit. Shangri-La of South America as one traveler called it; I was intrigued.

Unfortunately, I found this tiny beach town to be stereotypical in living up to the western perception of what an underdeveloped world should be. Full of backpackers and wannabe surfers in dreadlocks and sarongs, who looked about as authentic to the local culture as someone wearing a kimono, it was a pit stop for the tourists to live out their bohemian fantasy. If the hodge-podge of hostels and tattoo parlors weren’t annoying enough, the only Ecuadorians I encountered were vendors and shop owners, who greeted their customers by asking, “Where are you from?” in English.

It reminded me of all the so-call exotic destinations that fulfilled the suburbanites’ imagery of exoticism, and frankly, being in Montañita was no different from being on the Island of Majorca or among the seedy elements of Khao San Road in Bangkok. Perhaps, it was Shangri-La long before the guidebooks discovered it.

4. You don’t always get what you paid for. Places that are expensive aren’t necessarily worth the price you paid.

As a Californian – San Franciscan, I am painfully aware how high the cost of living in California can be. I’m doubly aware that for most visitors to this great state of ours how shocking it must be to pay such hefty sum for food and lodging. It’s expensive to travel in California, and often, what you get isn’t worth the money you paid for them.

For example, as spectacular as Yosemite is, finding lodging near the park (meaning at least an hour drive) is not only challenging and requires a reservation months and even a year in advance, but also costly. Unfortunately, even if you manage to find and book a hotel months in advance and are willing to sign over your first born, you’ll find what you get is no better than a sub-standard motel reminiscent of a truck stop near a highway. It’s tragic, but it’s what you have to put up with when you're traveling in California.

No matter what kind of fancy spin the guidebooks and magazines may put on the hotels, motels and B&B’s in California, what you get is incongruous to the price you’ve paid. And it’s not the only place where high prices don’t mound up to great standards, as I’ve encountered same kind of disappointment when traveling in Switzerland and Japan – high prices, low standards.

5. Being a vagabond or nomad isn’t as glamorous as the bloggers make it out to be, and traveling and discovering the world doesn’t have to be a life altering decision. It can be as easy as going for a run or become a second nature like brushing your teeth – you simply need to get into a habit of doing.

Although the tales of people quitting their jobs, selling all their earthly possessions and leading a life of a vagabond may seem romantic, it’s just as easy to hold down a full time job and travel with a family as it is to walk the earth alone like Cain.

For almost two decades, I have traveled to over 300 cities in 30 countries. I believe that discovering the world and truly understanding the culture requires more than strapping on a backpack and traveling off the beaten path, and no matter how well traveled or culturally proficient we may see ourselves, ultimately, we are all tourists in the eyes of the locals.

Nevertheless, I do my best to travel with respect to the culture of the places that I visit, learn the language, and more importantly, I try to interact with the locals whenever I can, as after all, the best travel memories I’ve had were those shared with others and connections I’ve made along the way.

For me, travel is an extension of everyday life, and as much as people like to get away from it all, life’s nuisances exist – and follow everywhere.

However, I’ve learned countless life’s lessons through travel. Among the most significant is how insulated and small our lives can be without an exposure to different places, different people, and more importantly, different perspectives. Also, traveling and gaining a better understanding of the world has taught me to cherish all that I have, while living my life to the fullest with humility, tolerance and compassion. And above all, it has shown me how to see the beauty in the simple things and that like everything else in life, it’s better when it’s shared.

5 Most Difficult Aspects of Traveling

10 Fun Things To Do With Children In LA

2014-04-22T17:59:00.004-07:00

While the "City of Angels" may not evoke images of children frolicking in the sun, every time we visit Los Angeles, I’m always amazed that there are so many wonderful activities for kids. Although LA is best known for glitz and glam of Hollywood, there are plenty of fun things for the whole family, and here are our 10 favorite places and activities.

1. Disneyland

Yes, the price of Disneyland themepark is exorbitant, and the wait can be exhausting; however, after having been there with our 6 year old son, I agree that Disneyland really IS the happiest place on earth. For people of all ages, this legendary theme park is packed with fun things to do.

Stroll down Main Street USA to experience turn-of-the 19th century America, head Westwards at Frontierland and tune into the music of New Orleans square, or transport yourself and your little ones to a galaxy far far away in Tomorrowland. All your favorite cartoon and fairytale characters and the Jedi Order come to life in dream-like environments.

Even the most cynical heart will find that Disneyland is the most magical place on Earth.

PS, I don’t normally give a shout out to a hotel, especially a chain one at that, but Howard Johnson Anaheim Hotel and Water Playground (HOJO, as it’s fondly called) is nothing short of awesomeness.

2. Santa Monica Beach & Pier

When it comes to family fun, Pacific Park is our go-to destination. Located on the historic Santa Monica Pier, it's the West Coast's only pier-set amusement park, including world's only solar-powered Ferris wheel that rises 130 feet above the Ocean. From trapeze school that offers up a high-flying experience to ocean front walk, from carousel to arcade and aquarium, Santa Monica Pier offers plenty of activities to keep your little ones happy and active.

However, the best part of Santa Monica Beach is that you’re surrounded by 360 degree breathtaking view of the city and the ocean, and with almost 365 days of So. Cal’s sunshine, you can definitely count on having fun anytime of the year.

3. Lemon Tree & Koreatown
Every time I visit Koreatown in LA, I’m always pleasantly surprised by all the wonderful finds. Aside from a great selection of restaurants and foods, there are malls and stores that carry one-of-a-kind goods and toys for our little one, which makes it a fun outing for the whole family.

During our last visit, we found Lemon Tree, a restaurant that had an indoor playspace for children (ideally for those under the age of 7). It’s a perfect place for a playdate, as while kids are having a blast in the playspace under restaurant employee supervision, parents get to relax, enjoy a meal and even get to engage in a meaningful conversation.

As expected, the food and service is on the mediocre side, although it sure beats the greasy mess at other so-called kid-friendly dining establishments like Chuck E Cheese, where you can hardly hear yourself think. There is a $9 entry fee for every child, and accompanying adult must order a meal, which makes it a pretty hefty sum. Nevertheless, an afternoon of fun for our little boy and a peaceful meal and conversation for my husband and I – priceless!

Other kid-friendly restaurants in LA:
Giggles N’ Hugs
Little Prince Kids Cafe

4. Griffith Observatory

Griffith Observatory is one of the most iconic landmarks in LA that no one should miss. Especially if you’re visiting Los Angeles for the first time, you should definitely make the drive or hike up there in order to get the best view of the city – and the most breathtaking sunset.

However, for children, it’s an awesome adventure into the outer space! The observatory features 60 space-related exhibits designed to sparkle any and all children’s imagination, the highlight being the largest astronomically accurate image ever produced 20 X 152-foot porcelain enamel dazzler that's cleverly called "The Big Picture."

Every time we’re in LA, we spend at least half a day at the Griffith Observatory, and on warm nights, with the lights twinkling below, this is one of the most romantic places in L.A.

PS. The only downside is that the parking lot can fill up quickly during weekends and holidays, and you will have no choice but to hike or take the shuttle (runs every 30 minutes) to the observatory. So, if you’re traveling with young children, you may want to get there early.

5. Shane's Inspiration
Disneyland may be the happiest place on earth, but Shane's Inspiration gets my vote for being the most inclusive. This may not mean a lot to most people, but for me, it’s important that ALL children have access to a wonderful playspace without having to pay exorbitant amount of money – not to mention, there’s no better place to meet the locals.

True to their words, Shane’s Inspiration is an inclusive and universally accessible playground, and it's designed to allow children of all abilities to feel that the playground was made especially for them. Each design was guided by a team of experts, the children with disabilities who use them and medical experts who work with those children every day.

And the best part of Shane’s Inspiration is the location, as it’s embedded in the most idyllic part of Griffith Park with the gorgeous Hollywood Hills as a backdrop.

6. California Science Center & IMAX Theater

If you think visiting Los Angeles is expensive, then, a trip to California Science Center will change your mind. Entrance to one of the most popular museum destinations in California, 400,000 square feet of fun and scientific exploration is FREE!

The museum keeps young ones entertained by presenting science through exhibits tied to popular culture or blockbuster movies. Plus, there are tons of hands-on activities and demonstrations in Science Court. Last, but certainly not least, you'll all leave awestruck by the 7-story IMAX theater that brings worlds "as small as an atom and as vast as the universe" to life right in front of your eyes.

7. LA County Museum of Art (LACMA)

Traveling with young children doesn’t mean having to spend your vacation at crowded amusement parks, or going to places where entry is determined with a yard stick. My husband and I have always taken our little boy to destinations that we enjoy like National Parks, beaches, and even museums. The museums in Los Angeles are not only some of the best and the most unique in the country, but also provide tons of fun activities for children.

The collections of the LA County Museum of Art (LACMA) are housed in a vast 20-acre complex of buildings. The focal point is the BP Grand Entrance, which includes the stunning installation of Chris Burden's Urban Light, which also happens to be an ideal spot for children to play hide-and-go-seek. However, once you get them inside, there's Richard Serra's Band, an expansive ribbon of rusted metal that creates flowing spaces which simultaneously intimidate with their immensity and enchant with their intimacy. The waves of metal provide a perfect space for children to use their imagination, and throw in a ride in Barbara Kruger's romper-room-sized elevator and the rain of rubber tubing that is Penetrable in Neon Lime by Jesús Rafael Soto, and you will be more than convinced that adult museums can be fun for children too.

8. Getty Villa & Center

Much like the LACMA, Getty Villa (Malibu) and Getty Center perched on top of the Santa Monica Mountains provide hours of fun cultural experience for children and adults alike.

The Family Forum in Getty Villa is a space filled with hands-on activities designed to encourage children and families to explore, play, and learn together. Children can step into a scene from an ancient vase in the shadow-pose area, where they can dress up and transform themselves into an athlete, musician, or even a monster and act out their own stories. There is an area where you can learn all about the world of ancient Greek vases and how they were made, decorated, and used. You can rub patterns off designs inspired by ancient examples or draw on life-sized replicas of ancient vases, and learn about vase shapes by experimenting with three-dimensional puzzles that allow you to construct different vase forms by piecing together building blocks.

The Family Room at the Getty Center features five activity coves and treasure-hunt walls that surround the room. It's bursting with cool things to see and do, where kids can decorate a giant illuminated manuscript, build a tube sculpture, and pretend to be in a parade scene in a painting, or play with camera lenses and a wall of mirrors. Also, the art treasure hunt for kids throughout the museum will keep your little ones entertained as you stroll through the 20th century’s greatest artists.

9. Hollywood Walk of Fame

Spanning 2.4 miles, the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Hollywood Blvd. and Vine St. encompasses more than 2,400 stars made of terrazzo and brass, and everyone who is - and was anyone in Hollywood is immortalized there. No matter how touristy it is, I absolutely adore walking down these streets seeing the names of some of the greatest artists, actors/actresses, musicians past and present. And the best part of the trip is to see the excitement in our little boy face when he finds the names he recognizes!

Then, we also like to stop by Grauman's Chinese Theater to see the handprints of the stars – our boy’s favorite being the ones of the Star Wars characters at the entrance.

10. Peterson Automotive Museum
If your child can't wait to get a driver's license, head over to one of the worlds largest and most beautiful automotive museums. You'll see hot rods, Model-T's, custom vehicles, motorcycles, celebrity cars, and even the former LA trolley system's Red Cars. The third floor of the museum is geared specifically toward kids with hands-on exhibits designed for them to climb up into the driver's seat. This 300,000-square foot museum will fascinate young children and their parents alike.

Be sure to check out Johnny Rockets for lunch, as their tasty milkshake, burgers and hotdogs will surely satisfy even the hungriest little ones.

Los Angeles vs. San Francisco, Tale of Two Cities

2014-04-09T08:57:00.000-07:00

Comparing San Francisco and Los Angeles is like comparing apples and oranges – a proverbial saying, I know. Nevertheless, they are two very different cities with their own unique culture and environment; so much so that after spending a significant amount of time in both cities for the past 7 years, I can honestly say that the two cities have as much in common as NYC and LA – gasp!

So, I decided to compare SF and LA to see how they fare in my book.

1. The Weather
Hands down, LA has San Francisco beat!

Every time I’m in Los Angeles, no matter what time of the year it is, it’s always been sunny and perfectly warm. Not that we don’t have beautiful sunny days in San Francisco, but even after living here all these years, it’s hard to predict what the weather will be. It changes on daily, even hourly basis, and you can experience literally ALL four season in one day.

Therefore, you can never plan your days, much less an outdoor activity, and you would have to lug around a suitcase full of cloths just for safe measures. Hence, the native San Franciscans have perfected the layered (aka. HOBO) look.

The only constant element of San Francisco’s weather is THE FOG, and at some point during the day, you will encounter the fog. And you better have your sweater, jacket or coat with you, as the fog can bring in the siberian chill.

2. Beaches
There are stunning beaches in both cities, but the beaches in San Francisco are mainly for dog walkers and surfers, as it’s hardly ever warm enough for people to hang out much less swim in the ocean even with a bodysuit.

3. Traffic & Walkability
The traffic in LA is a notorious nightmare! If you’ve ever been stuck in a standstill traffic on LA freeway, you would know why Michael Douglas’ character in “Falling Down” had a meltdown and went on a violent rampage throughout the city.

Then again, Los Angeles is a huge city, and in comparison to condensed square mileage of San Francisco, LA is spread out. It usually takes 40 minutes to an hour to get anywhere in the city, and even if your GPS indicates you’ll be at your destination in 20 minutes, you should always add at least 20 minutes to the time of arrival.

On the other hand, although the traffic in San Francisco can be irritating at times, it’s fairly easy to get around the city. However, finding a place to park is one of the most difficult things to do in San Francisco – not to mention, expensive. Therefore, although you may arrive at your destination on time, you may end up spending half an hour driving around looking for a space.

As far as public transportation is concerned, both cities are pathetic in comparison to the extensive and efficient public transportation system in the Northeastern cities. Actually, it’s shameful that a state that prides itself as being the leader of renewable and alternative energy still doesn’t have a workable intercity public transportation.

You need a car to get anywhere in LA – period. However, LA is not the only city in the US that’s not conducive for walking, as most (large) cities in America are not designed for pedestrians; some don’t even have sidewalks. On the other hand, although it’s not one of the best walkable cities in the country, NYC and Boston being ideal, walking around some neighborhoods in San Francisco can be quite pleasant, especially with the breathtaking overview of the city and the Bay.

4. Scenic and charm
Hands down San Francisco has LA beat!

Although I’m impressed by some of Art Deco architecture in LA and love the night view of the city from top of the Griffith Park, I’m always blown away by the beauty of San Francisco. Every time I walk outside my apartment, it’s as if I’ve stepped into a postcard.

5. Culture

Culture in terms of ethnicity, both cities are home to a great mixture of people from all over the world, and along with it, a wonderful melange of communities, cuisines, languages and customs.

However, in terms of Arts, this is an area that’s seriously lacking in San Francisco. I’m not really sure where all the supposed culture in San Francisco is that everybody keeps talking about, but after living here for 7 years, I have yet to discover such cultural hot spot. The city has a handful of mediocre museums, with exhibits rotating once in a blue moon, and cultural institutions that are stuck in a bit of a time warp and that cater mainly to elderly patrons.

Los Angeles, on the other hand, has some of the world class museums: LACMA, MOCA, Getty Center, just to name a few, topnotch opera company and two symphonies: LA Philharmonic and LA Symphony. The Exposition Park, a 160-acre public space, houses two major institutions, California Science Center and Natural History Museum, and there are numerous smaller museums and art galleries throughout the city.

Then, there is Hollywood, and although art snobs may thumb their noses at this billion dollar industry, there’s no disputing the monumental impact that Hollywood has had on American culture and worldwide, and visiting Los Angeles without seeing some glimpse of this industry is like visiting Paris without seeing the Louvre.

6. Food & Restaurants
San Francisco has better Chinese food; K-town’s Korean food is far superior! Both have great Mexican food – Cali Mex, that is, and the rest is pretty even.

7. Sports Team
San Francisco dominates with 49ers and Giants … nuff said!

8. For Children
Yes, I realize LA has Disneyland. However, I believe that the real mark of a truly child-friendly city is not places where you have to spend hundreds of dollars to entertain children but the resources that are available to every child at no cost.

Griffith Park is pretty awesome, but San Francisco is a city made for children and families. Golden Gate Park versus Griffith Park? Hands down, Golden Gate Park. Also, San Francisco has managed to hold on to its small town atmosphere, and unlike Los Angeles, there are relatively few tall buildings and vast number of recreation areas and parks – also, parks in general are just more beautiful in San Francisco.

9. Lifestyle
LA isn’t as glamorous as everyone thinks. After all, the entire 4,752 square miles (12,308 km²) of Los Angeles County made up of 88 incorporated cities, including 2 islands, can’t all be Beverly Hills. LA, like most big cities in America, is comprised of a diverse group of people from all walks of life, and like most people, not every Angeleno can afford to have Rachel Joe as their stylist; therefore, must succumb to dressing and inevitably, looking like the rest of us.

San Francisco isn’t as bohemian as we like to think. Long gone are days of flower power and hippy movement, and what remains is a high tech-industry driven yuppieland. Especially with housing prices for 2 bedroom condos averaging $800K to $1 million, who can afford to live la vida BOHO here?!? We may walk around in flip flops and hoodies, but make no mistake; San Francisco is bohemia no more.

10. Cost of Living
Lastly and most importantly, the cost of living in Los Angeles is reasonable in comparison to the insanely high prices in San Francisco. People can actually afford to rent and own homes in LA, whereas the cost of living in San Francisco is ridiculously high and growing by the minute. So much so that after living here for past 7 years, almost everywhere else, even NYC and Paris, seems like a bargain.

Nevertheless, I love living in San Francisco, and I enjoy visiting LA. I love the small town charm of San Francisco, but being a bona fide city girl, I take comfort in knowing that LA, a bustling metropolis, is only an hour flight away – certainly worth a quick getaway for some of the best Korean food outside Korea.

What I love about Los Angeles:

Great restaurants and cuisine from all over the world
K-town (aka. Koreatown)
World-class museums, especially LACMA and MOCA
Seeing Space Shuttle Endeavour at California Science Center
Gorgeous beaches, Santa Monica being my favorite
Watching the sunset from Griffith Observatory or Getty Villa
A glimpse of old Hollywood – I still get a kick out of Hollywood Walk of Fame
Rich history and Art Deco architecture of the city

What I love about San Francisco:

It's one of the most beautiful cities I've seen. The view of Golden Gate Bridge and the bay still takes my breath away.
It's a very child friendly city!
All the one of a kind stores in Japantown and Mission District
All the beautiful parks, outdoor spaces, and breathtaking hiking paths
Watching the sunset over the Pacific Ocean
The best dim sums outside of China
It’s so eclectic and unpredictable – like the weather.
You can go to a 5-star restaurant wearing flip flops.
Skateboard is a form of transportation.

These are some of my favorite things. (Part 1)

2014-03-18T11:54:00.001-07:00

These are some of my favorite airlines, hotels, restaurants, etc that make traveling even more enjoyable.

Favorite Airline:
In all the years of my travel, only one airline stands out from the rest, Singapore Airlines. From the moment I boarded my first flight from NYC to Frankfurt almost 20 years ago, Singapore Airline has consistently provided excellent customer service. Every time I board one of their air crafts, no matter what class seating I’m in, I know that I will be embraced by their friendly and courteous staff for the duration of the flight.

Furthermore, in the world of airline mergers and cutbacks, Singapore Airlines is one of the few companies that still provide little perks reminiscent of the glory days of travel. Every international travel starts with a friendly greeting from the flight attendants, hot towels to wipe your hands, and even a goodie bag for children including a colorful headphones and toys.

Also, there are over 100 channels of latest released movies, Vegan/Vegetarian Meal upon request, and flight attendants who come by regularly with all your favorite snacks and drinks.

With airline industry being so lackadaisical about customer service or in some cases, completely lacking, I find Singapore Airline’s continuous striving to provide excellent service noble and commendable, and I for one am their number one fan.

Favorite Airports:
Most often, your first encounter at the airport sets the mood of your trip. If you arrive at an airport that’s chaotic and in pandemonium, the chances are, the rest of your trip will follow suit. However, there’s nothing better than arriving at an airport that is clean, well-organized, and welcoming, and Incheon International Airport (ICN) in South Korea provides a great start or a great ending to your travel experience.

As South Korea’s largest airport, Incheon Airport, in my opinion, is the best airport in the world. Year after year, it has received a five-star rating from Skytrax and has been selected by the Airports Council International as the world's best airport in air service quality; however, you only have to step foot in Incheon Airport to experience its awesomeness.

It’s not only the cleanest, the most organized and architecturally spacious airport I’ve seen, but it has some of the best selection of restaurants and shops, comparable to any restaurants in Seoul. The airport is easy to get around, has great multilingual signage and staff, and the every staff member I’ve encountered were friendly and helpful.

Also, the airport offers free internet access and laptop computers, and there are not only great rest areas but seven gardens to help you relax while waiting for your flight. There’s even a Korean Culture Museum in the airport and a spa, complete with a sauna, showers, private sleeping rooms, meeting rooms and a snack bar, and customers are free to lounge around the facilities as long as they like. And as this is South Korea after all, one of the shopping Meccas, the world-class shops at Incheon Airport offer some of the best and finest duty-free items in the world.

Aeropuerto Internacional Madrid-Barajas (MAD) is one of the main international airports in Spain, and unlike the airports in other European hubs, MAD is located within the city limits of Madrid, less than 10 miles from the center. It also has a great selection of food choices, especially the tapas bars, and much like the city of Madrid itself, the airport offers a great variety of retail and entertainment stores.

The ground floor showcases fashion, retail, multimedia equipment, supermarket and everyday needs; the first floor is designed entirely for personal goods shopping, and the second floor is designed for leisure, cafes and restaurants. Although I didn’t get around to all 200 stores, as advertised in the airport website, I’ve had some of the best shopping experiences at this airport.

Going through the airport is one of the most difficult aspects of traveling with children. 10-15 minutes of wait in line can seem like an eternity when you have a toddler who has just learned to walk, and he or she wants to explore their immediate world at that very moment as you are heel-to-toe in line with hundreds of strangers. Then, the thought of being confined in a tiny space of an airplane for 12-hours on an international flight with that same toddler can deter (m)any parents from traveling all together.

That is until you arrive at San Francisco Airport (SFO). In my opinion, San Francisco Airport is one of the best airports for one simple reason; it is the most child-friendly airport in the world.

From spacious lounges and waiting areas to the award-winning museum program, its great variety of eclectic food and beverage options to unique Kid’s Spots and play areas, SFO provides an array of entertainments for your little ones to expel their energy before a long flight – so much so that every time we fly out of San Francisco Airport, our little boy is more excited about being at the airport than the flight or the destination.

It is also one of the cleanest and most elegant airports I’ve seen, and SFO offers plenty of kid-friendly amenities. There are Family Lanes at the Security Checkpoint, and almost every airline offers early boarding privileges to those traveling with children – who needs a first-class ticket when your child gets you a rock star treatment at the airport?

Favorite Hotels:
Sheraton D-Cube City (Seoul, South Korea)
I’m not one of those people who can sleep anywhere. It doesn’t have to be a 5-star accommodation, but it has to be unique, charming and most importantly, has to provide impeccable service.

The moment I walked into Sheraton D-Cube City in Seoul, I knew I’d hit the jackpot, as it surpassed all my expectations of what a great hotel should be.

First and foremost, the hotel is situated in an ideal location directly on top of a subway station, Sindorim. As in all cosmopolitan megapolis, it’s not necessary to stay near the tourist sites or in the center of the city when you have a good access to public transportation. What’s more important is staying near a subway station; so that you can have easy access to getting around in the city, and Sheraton D-Cube, situated on the 40th floor of a commerce building directly above a major subway line, provide a convenient access to all the sites in the city.

The hotel and all its amenities are topnotch; comparable to any 5-star I’ve stayed in, but what makes the Sheraton D-Cube stand out from the rest is its staff and their level of customer service. Even in South Korea, a country well-known for hospitality and generosity of its people, Sheraton D-Cube’s staff is exceptional. Even before arriving at the hotel, the professionalism and the timeliness of the correspondence was excellent, and my questions and requests were handled with care.

Then, once we arrived at the hotel, we were blown away by not only the stunning architecture and the beautiful design of the building, but also the impeccable customer service. From the moment we entered the building we were greeted and treated by every member of the staff as if we were VIP’s. It was the most unforgettable experience I had while traveling.

Lutétia Hotel (Paris, France)
I’m a sucker for historical places, and as with the reality of life, history is filled with good and bad. Staying at a hotel where the German army stationed themselves during WWII may seem morbid, but I must admit, I was fascinated by the history of Lutétia Hotel long before I arrived in Paris. So, when my company decided to have our quarterly meeting at the Lutétia, I was absolutely delighted at the prospect of spending a week in this historical monument.

The Hotel Lutétia, located in the Left Bank of Paris, is one of the best-known and one of the most historical hotels in Paris. It was built in 1910 in the Art Nouveau style to designs by architects Louis-Charles Boileau and Henri Tauzin, and it has always been one of my favorite buildings in the city. Its location is absolutely ideal, as it’s convenient to walk to some of my favorite attractions in Paris, most of which are in the Left Bank. And although the rooms are a little small in comparison to other hotels at same price point, its charm and the friendliness of the staff more than makes up for it.

Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion (Georgetown, Malaysia)
No country embodies a wonderful diversity in landscape, culture and people of Asia like Malaysia. It has everything that one can hope for in vacation destination, a great mixture of cultures, history, people and some of the most delicious food I've had in SE Asia! Also, one of my favorite travel experiences was staying at the beautifully restored Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion, which was like staying overnight at a living museum.

Favorite Restaurants & Meals:
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that some of the best meals I’ve had were in France. Then again, I don’t expect anything less than greatness from cuisine that has been deemed by the UNESCO as being an intangible cultural heritage.

Many people mistakenly think French cuisine is extremely rich and sophisticated, and while some French cuisine does fit this bill, the food of France is diverse in both flavor and complexity. Regional French cuisine can range from peasant-style dishes to upscale haute cuisine or from simple Salade Nicoise to Coq au Vin pairing wine with meat, and at its heart, French cuisine reflects a long tradition of treating food and cooking as a fine art to be mastered and taught to others.

The region of Bourgogne is well-known for its haute cuisine. Although most of the restaurants offer reasonably priced, well-prepared tasting menus, our favorite meal was at Le Fleury in Beaune. You can sample some of the region’s specialties as well as the staples of French cuisine that we know and love, such as Escargots, Boeuf (Beef) Bourguignon, and Confit de Canard. Also, the impeccable presentation as well as the lovely ambiance of the restaurant made our dining experience unforgettable.

On the other hand, provincial cooking is the backbone of French cuisine, as many gourmet recipes in haute cuisine were adapted or have evolved from provincial foods. Therefore, great French meals don’t have to be upscale or “fancy” – and most often, are not. I’ve always enjoyed the more provincial meals or down home cooking in France, and some of the best I’ve had were in the central area known as the Massif Central.

As the highlands of Massif Central are ideal for raising cattle and other livestock, the meals in this region tend to be hearty and filling, and consist mostly of meats – Vegetarians beware. The specialties such as Cassoulet, Potée and a variety of saucissons and saucisses sèches (dry sausage) rely heavily on beef, pork and lamb, and the cheeses such as Roquefort tend to be richer.

Lastly, my favorite meal in Vietnam wasn’t in a restaurant. It was on a junk (ship) in Ha Long Bay, Vietnam. Ha Long Bay is a breathtaking UNESCO World Heritage site situated about 170km (3 ½ hour drive) north of Hanoi, and it is without a doubt one of the most spectacular natural sites I have seen in my life. This densely concentrated zone of stone islands is world famous for its spectacular scenery of grottoes and caves, and resembles a geographic work of art, and the best way to get around and see it all is by a boat.

During our visit, my husband and I rented a private boat, which gave us the option to sail around the bay at a more leisurely pace and choose the course we wanted to go. And the biggest highlight of our trip was the freshly prepared meal we had on the boat, which turned out to be one of the most delicious and memorable meals we’ve had during our travels.

Favorite Events:
dOCUMENTA (Kassel, Germany)

Every 5 years, the art world gather in Kassel, Germany to celebrate dOCUMENTA, one of the most important art exhibitions in the world that showcases the latest in modern and contemporary art.

For 100 days (usually starts in June) over 150 artists present a wide spectrum of contemporary art, paintings, photographs, sculptures, videos, performance art, etc, from 55 countries. It’s a spectacular event that turns much of this industrial town into a walking museum, and there are displays of art works and exhibits throughout the center of the city, including the Orangerie.

Documenta is not one of these art shows that focus on marketing and sales. It’s not about finding “art work” to display in the new office or that goes with the livingroom sofa. There are no glitz and glam, and most of the exhibits displayed are true reflections and interactions of the world around us. It’s definitely art for art's sake.

For almost 60 years, it has remained true to intentions of the original curator Arnold Bode, discovering and celebrating modern art, which was banished and repressed during the cultural darkness of Nazism, and it continues to enlighten and enrich the world with its own unique voice.

Weihnachtsmarkt, Christmas Markets (Germany)
There’s no better way to experience the festivities of the holidays than Christmas markets (Weihnachtsmarkt) in Germany. The markets take place usually in the center of the town, and you'll find all manner of stalls selling a wide array of crafts and tasty regional delicacies, sweets, cakes, food, mulled wine (Glühwein) and other delights. Especially, if/when there’s snow, the atmosphere is absolutely magical.

Farolito Walk (Santa Fe, New Mexico)
One of my absolute favorite events in the world is the Canyon Road Farolito Walk, a beloved holiday tradition in Santa Fe. On Christmas Eve, thousands of holiday revelers come out to stroll, admire and sing carols around the displays of farolito lights, lovely little lights made out of paper bags with and tea candles that burn brightly into the night, and the entire neighborhood turns into a beautiful block party. There are also bonfires on the streets where people gather around to warm themselves up, and plenty of vendors who sell hot chocolates and holiday treats. It’s joyous event that I have always loved, and this year, it was even more special being there with my little boy. He was so excited and told me that it was like being in a “winter wonderland”, and indeed, it was!

NYC Marathon (NYC, New York)
One of my favorite events in NYC is the NYC Marathon, which takes place annually on the first Sunday of November. It’s the largest marathon in the world with 42.195 km (26.2 miles) course that runs through all five boroughs of New York City.

It is a spectacular event that attracts not only tens of thousands of professional competitors and amateur runners, but also spectators from all over the world, as the entire city and its five boroughs turn into a giant block party.

More importantly, it is an event that brings together people from all walks of life in celebration of the human strength and perseverance.

Skiing & Snowboarding
Sure, I love lounging on a white-sand beach, but nothing beats the feeling of cold wind on my face as I swoosh downhill, waves of powder snow parting like feathers, blue mountain sky beaming above, and of course, the spectacular scenery that surrounds you when you’re on top of a ski slope. And some of my most memorable vacations have been skiing or snowboarding in the midst of the majestic mountains, where the hills truly are alive with snow – lots and lots of snow.

Favorite One of a Kind Experiences & Places:

These are some of my favorite things. (Part 2)

2014-03-18T11:54:00.000-07:00

These are some of my favorite airlines, hotels, restaurants, etc that make traveling even more enjoyable.

Favorite Museums:
As with fine dining in France, there is an abundance of excellent museums in Germany, and to select a few favorites is as difficult as trying to narrow my list of favorite meals. However, Brücke Museum and Jüdisches (Jewish) Museum in Berlin, Germany stand out as being the most memorable.

Located in the neighborhood of Kreuzberg, Jewish Museum is an architectural masterpiece. Its complexity in design and the poignancy of the content makes this museum a must sees in Berlin.

The Brücke Museum, whose collection is entirely devoted to the works of Expressionists, exhibits around 400 paintings and sculptures as well as several thousand drawings, watercolors and prints from all creative periods of the Brücke artists. Founded by renowned artists Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Fritz Bleyl, Karl Schmidt-Rottluff and Erich Heckel, the Brücke art movement demonstrates the birth of modernism in a unique way and is an important part of German history. This movement, apart from its artistic achievements also came to express a new awareness of life and freedom from rules and oppression by bourgeois society, and it had an enormous effect worldwide.

Housed in the former Korean Supreme Court building, Seoul Museum of Modern Art

(서울시립미술관) is a beautiful space perched up on top of a hill behind Deoksugung Palace. The interior space is great for contemporary exhibitions, and temporary installations include works by artists from South Korea, Asia, and beyond. It is not only one of the most innovative museums I have been to, but also it happens to have a wonderful little cafe on the 3rd floor that has a beautiful view of the city – not to mention, a great cup of coffee as well.

Favorite Architectural Wonders:

Jewish Museum, Berlin, Germany

The Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao, Spain

Favorite Outdoor Markets:
Without a doubt, Annecy is one of my favorite towns in France. Situated about a 1½ hours outside of Geneva, Annecy and the lake that surrounds it, Lac d'Annecy, is as picturesque as they come with a breathtaking view of the lake and the French Alps.

However, my favorite thing about Annecy is its open air market. The Annecy (Sunday) market is located on the cobbled streets around the ancient part of the city, known as vielle ville and is spread out throughout the loveliest part of the medieval city. Although I have been to a lot of wonderful open air markets in France, after wandering through the colorful stalls in the winding streets of this idyllic mountain town, I have to say, the market in Annecy is one of the best.

Situated in our favorite neighborhood, Prenzlauerberg in Berlin, the outdoor market on Kollwitzplatz offers some of the best delicacies and local produce from the region. As you stroll around the leafy, cobblestoned streets, admiring the refurbished Altbauten, you can sample and purchase a great selection of seasonal fruits and vegetables, organic meats and fish, hand-made pastas and a variety of home-made oils, jams and other local specialties.

Also, Kollwitzplatz is one of the most attractive squares in Berlin, and it happens to be city’s mecca for young families. Around the market, there are playgrounds, multitude of family-friendly cafes and restaurants, and plenty of ready-made food and drinks that will surely satisfy all foodies.

Favorite Parks:

What more can I say about Central Park that hasn’t been said. It’s FABULOUS! Immersed in lush and wild nature with a massive skyline as a backdrop, it’s truly an urban oasis that defies all logic.

For most New Yorkers, the park is a sanctuary. Especially for me, it was a place where I’d retreated to whenever my life in the city got too much, and I needed to regroup and recuperate. Also, some of the best and most memorable experiences I’ve had were in the park – like serendipitously meeting my husband.

It’s a place where we always go back to reminisce about our wonderful past lives in the city as well as creating beautiful new ones with our son who absolutely adores every corner of the park.

After all the places I’ve seen in NYC, I can honestly say that the Highline (from Gansevoort St to West 34th St, btw 10/11th Ave) is my favorite. It epitomizes the city that is constantly evolving and recreating itself. Not only the design and the atmosphere of the park unique and innovative, it has transformed a neighborhood which was formally known as the “Death Avenue” into a trendy, upscale, and more importantly, family friendly area.

As the park expands from lower Manhattan to 31th Street in Midtown, it provides some of the best views of the key monuments, the Empire State building, Chrysler Building, and on a clear day, the Statue of Liberty.

There's an eclectic mix of art installations as well as tasty food carts, art vendors and musicians, and the great thing about the Highline is that it enables you to have and enjoy an urban experience in the midst of (man-made) nature.

Jardin de Luxembourg is absolutely mesmerizing, and even after all these years, it remains to be my favorite place in Paris, and each time I’m there, I'm enchanted by it as the first time I was there.

La Place des Vosges is one of the loveliest outdoor spaces in Paris filled with quaint cafes, shops and galleries, and especially on Sundays, it’s one of the few places in Paris where the stores are open.

Favorite Places for Children:
San Francisco is a great city for people of all ages, but it is especially a wonderful place for children. Mainly because throughout the years, San Francisco has managed to hold on to its small town atmosphere, and unlike other larger cities, there are relatively few tall buildings and vast number of recreation areas and parks.

Also, there are tons of activities and things to do with children, so much so that if you spent a month in San Francisco, there are enough activities to fill up each day with different things. It's a place where you can linger for hours in a quaint neighborhood cafe surrounded by breathtaking views, kick back on one of the many picturesque parks, or hangout in a children’s museum which happens to have the best view of the city, and unlike many metropolises where children are treated like nuisance, in San Francisco, almost every activity, restaurants and even cafes are catered to the needs of families, making children feel as comfortable as the adults.

In all the years my husband and I’ve been traveling with our son, we have never been to a place like Seoul, South Korea where children are embraced and cherished by almost everyone we met.

There’s really no better way to experience the generosity and kindness of the locals first hand. No matter how crowded the street gets, people will literally get out of your way if they see a stroller; strangers will vacate their seats for you on the subway or elders will tell the people sitting next to them to get up to make room for a child; people will offer to help you carry your shopping bags or help you carry the stroller up and down the stairs when you go through the subway station or the underground walkway. It’s a country where the people take to heart the proverbial saying that “It takes a village to raise a child.” and throughout our stay, we experienced so much kindness from everyone we'd encountered.

Also, the city is full of fun museums and activities for children, and best of all, the admission to most of these places are FREE of charge. In fact, there were so many wonderful places to see and things to do with children in Seoul that we couldn’t cover all the places that were recommended to us by friends. We’ll definitely have to return to Seoul soon to see them all.

Favorite Wine Regions:
Bask in the beauty of the Santa Ynez Valley, Foxen Canyon Road is not as well-known as Napa and Sonoma, but the scenery around it is absolutely breathtaking. Also, nearby towns offers a great selection of restaurants and wineries, and my favorite thing to do is to stroll through the charming little town of Los Olivos, sampling wines and checking out the galleries and shops along the way.

Every wine connoisseur is familiar with the name Saint Emilion as being a producer of some of the finest wines in the world, but I'll always remember it as being one of the loveliest towns in France where I had the pleasure of spending the day just strolling and having some of the best meals of my life. Also, as the town itself is not well-known, my husband and I were one of the few tourists in the city, and there’s something wonderfully enchanting about being in a medieval city that is nearly deserted.

Although there isn't a shortage of great wine wineries in France, Alsace wine route located in the far Northeastern corner of the country is one of my favorite. This region not only produces some of the finest (white) wines in the world such as Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris, and Muscat, but also is home to some the most picturesque villages and scenic countryside. You can also find charming B&Bs, often run by the vineyards themselves, excellent cuisine that is distinctive, and multitude of wine cellars offering tastings. Alsace is, as the French say, the terre de fête, the wine-tourism hot spot, geared to serious eating, amazing drinking and good times.

I’ve been told that every village or town in Veneto, Italy has 7 churches and 7 vineyards, referring to their passion for religion and wine, and although I appreciated the beauty of the churches and their commitment to religion, I must admit, I enjoyed the wine more.

These are some of my favorite things. (Part 1)

Museums of Germany

2014-02-23T09:29:00.000-08:00

Porsche, Oktoberfest, bratwurst, and fairytale castles – these are some of the things that come into mind when we think of Germany. However, what is less-known but more significant is that Germany is home to some of the best museums in the world.

Hailed as the cultural capital of Europe, Berlin was one of Europe’s most influential economic, cultural and political center since it's origins as a trading post in the 13th century, and at the turn of century, Berlin enjoyed a period of unprecedented prosperity and creativity.

However, after WWI, the German economy collapsed, and as Hitler and the Nazi party came into power, Germany became the center of one of the most infamous regimes in history, and remained so until 1945.

Sadly, during this period, much of Germany’s arts and culture were annihilated. All modern style of art were considered as degenerate and were banned or confiscated. The only type of art that was promoted were paintings and sculptures that promoted extreme patriotism and nationalism.

It has taken almost half a century for Germany to shed its torrid past, and after the fall of the Berlin Wall, Germany has once again reestablished itself as the cultural capital of Europe. Liberal and socially progressive atmosphere has helped to attract artists of various venues from all over the world, and Germany has once again become one of the top cultural destination.

Berlin

The Museum Island/Mitte:

Denkmal für die ermordeten Juden Europas
Deutsche Guggenheim
Deutsches Historisches Museum
Stiftung Brandenburger Tor
Pergamon Museum

In Moabit:

Hamburger Bahnhof (Invalidenstr. 50) Museum of the Present, with exhibits of contemporary art

Near the Sony Center:

Film Museum
Neue Nationalgalerie (Potsdamer Str. 50)

In Friedrichshain:

East Side Gallery

In Kreuzberg:

Deutsches Technikmuseum

Jüdisches Museum (Lindenstr. 9-14) – an architectural masterpiece, as well as one of the most poignant museums I’ve ever visited

In Charlottenburg:

Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche – a destroyed church that stands as a reminder of the atrocities of the war
Museum für Fotografie, Helmut Newton Stiftung

In Dahlem:

Brücke-Museum

Cologne (Koln)

Museum Ludwig
Roy Lichtenstein's M-Maybe, Andy Warhol's Brillo Boxes and George Segal's Restaurant Window, all icons of American Pop Art, had all just been completed when in 1969 they arrived as a loan at Wallraf-Richartz-Museum. The works come from Peter and Irene Ludwig, who had put together the largest Pop Art collection outside of the USA. The Museum Ludwig is devoted to modern art from the beginning of the 20th century.

It's also the home of one of the world's largest collections of the works of Pablo Picasso, equaled only by the Picasso museums of Barcelona and Paris. The museum's collection was beefed up when Irene Ludwig, widow of the late German art patron Peter Ludwig, who donated 774 works of Picasso to the museum.

Darmstadt

Mathildenhohe
The Artists’ Colony Mathildenhöhe is considered the most beautiful Art Nouveau/Jugendstil complex in Germany. It provided impulses toward reform in the areas of architecture, landscape art, interior design, and arts and crafts.

Frankfurt

Nacht der Museen (Night of the Museums) takes place usually in May/June, and it is one of the most festive events in Frankfurt, as more than 50 museums and exhibition houses open there doors, appropriately enough, at night from 6pm - 2am. It's an opportunity to enjoy art in all its diversity, and musicians and dancers produce temporary works of art in unique settings to lighten up the night. There's also music, readings, performances, food stands and parties throughout the city.

German Film Museum – explains how pictures took their first steps pictures and how film tricks work
Goethe House and Goethe Museum
Museum of Modern Art – My personal favorite museum in Frankfurt that houses art from 1960 to the present day, including Pop Art, object art and room installations.
Natural History Museum Senckenberg – One of the large Natural History Museum in Germany, NHM makes the development of our planet and the diversity of life easy to understand.
Schirn Kunsthalle – Top-quality exhibitions with constantly new aspects from art and society attract a broad spectrum of visitors to the Schirn.
Städel – The internationally renowned Städel Museum on the Main riverbank exhibits masterpieces from 7 centuries – a must for anyone visiting Frankfurt.

Hamburg

Hamburger Kunsthalle
The leading art museum in northern Germany, the Kunsthalle is one of the most important in Europe, with some 3,000 paintings in its treasure-trove, along with some 400 sculptures. Some of its rare treasures date from the 14th century, including works by Bertram, the leading German master of the time. One section of the gallery also displays modern works, including pieces by such artists as Andy Warhol, Joseph Beuys, and Picasso.

Herford

MARTa Herford
Who would have thought that an architectural masterpiece by Frank Gehry would stand in the middle of vast farmland in Northern Germany?

Nevertheless, the idea for the museum formed in 2000, drawing from Herford's status as a German center of furniture and home furnishing production, reflecting on its name MARTa is an acronym for Möbel (German for furniture), ART (simply art in English), and Ambiente (ambience). Then, Frank Gehry put his distinctive touch on the brick and stainless steel structure in 1998, and built both a unique design and a signature building that obviously is of Gehry’s artistic mind.

The museum has a nice collection of contemporary art; however, the building itself seems to be the main attraction.

Kassel

Documenta

Every 5 years, the art world gather in Kassel to celebrate the dOCUMENTA, one of the most important art exhibitions in the world that showcases the latest in modern and contemporary art.

For 100 days, over 150 artists present a wide spectrum of contemporary art, paintings, photographs, sculptures, videos, performance art, etc, from 55 countries. It’s a spectacular event that turns much of this industrial town into (literally) a walking museum, and there are displays of art works and exhibits throughout the center of the city, including the Orangerie.

Documenta is not one of these art shows that focus on marketing and sales. It’s not about finding “art work” to display in the new office building or that goes with your livingroom sofa. There are no glitz and glam, and most of the exhibits displayed are true reflections and interactions of the world around us. It’s definitely art for art's sake.

For almost 60 years, it has remained true to intentions of the original curator Arnold Bode, discovering and celebrating modern art, which was banished and repressed during the cultural darkness of Nazism, and it continues to enlighten and enrich the world with its own unique voice. There is also an extensive program of lectures, seminars, congresses, films, and poetry readings, as well as a writers’ residency and programs initiated by dOCUMENTA participants.

I have visited Kassel to see Documenta for the past 15 years, and every time, I leave with new knowledge and new perspective of the world.

Munich

Alte Pinakothek – Close to Munich's English Garden is a unique ensemble of three museums, each of them highlighting a different period in European art. Start with the Alte Pinakothek, home to over 800 European masterpieces from the Middle Ages to the end of the Rococo.
Galerie im Lenbachhaus und Kunstbau – The Lenbachhaus is very close to Propyläen and Glyptothek at Königsplatz which are must sees on your Munich visit. So you might as well take a glimpse into what once was the homa of a famous portraitis of the late 19th century. Also, there's a collection of paintings of the "Blauer Reiter" on display. The Munich based "Blauer Reiter" ranges among the moste important art movements of the 20th century. Among the artists is Kadinsky who is one of the founding fathers of abstract paintings and modern art.
Haus der Kunst – At the southern side of the "English Garden" (Englischer Garten). The building with its row of Greek pillars in front of the facade was constructed in the year 1932, i.e. one year before Hitler and the Nazis took power in 1933. The building became known when the nazis used it to show their exhibition "Entartete Kunst" which was the starting point of the persecution of intellectuals and artists in the "Third Reich". Nowadays, there is a vernissage of an exhibition of very avantgardistic modern art.
Neue Pinakothek – The Neue Pinakothek features art and sculpture from the late 18th to the beginning of the 20th century. Highlights include German art of the 19th century with paintings from romanticist Caspar David Friedrich and the private art collection of King Ludwig I. There is also a fantastic collection of French impressionists including Monet, Degas, and Renoir.
Pinakothek der Moderne – The Pinakothek der Moderne, completed in 2002, is the largest museum for modern art in Germany. The vast gallery complex unites four collections under its roof: The State Graphic Collection with more than 400,000 prints, drawings and works on paper; the State Museum for Applied Arts; the Museum of Architecture of the Technical University of Munich, the largest specialist collection of its kind in Germany; and the State Gallery of Modern Art which showcases stars such as Picasso, Magritte, Kandinsky, Francis Bacon, and Warhol.