HOGGER & Co. Photography LLC.

New Mexico: Breaking Bad RV Tours

Smita Jacob — Wed, 25 Mar 2020 18:35:57 +0000

A MAJOR highlight of visiting New Mexico, was taking the Breaking Bad RV Tour in Albuquerque.

Especially visiting Chuck’s house and recreating this scene, with FOIL that I brought on the tour with me.

Thanks to Frank and the crew for an exceptional tour of the Breaking Bad filming locations.

TORONTO RAPTORS WIN!

Smita Jacob — Fri, 14 Jun 2019 19:03:29 +0000

HISTORY.

The kind of history where someone may ask you in the future, “So, where were you when the Raptors won the 2019 NBA Championship?”

#Raptorsin6ix

Travel Tips

Smita Jacob — Thu, 31 Jan 2019 20:47:20 +0000

The Colosseum, Rome, Italy, June 2016

The truth is, while traveling can feel quite glamorous, it can also sometimes be difficult and one should always pack a bit of patience along for the journey.

There's a lot of behind the scenes chaos that isn't often shared on social media, such as delayed or cancelled flights, weather disruptions, airport disorganization, rude personalities (whether they’re airport staff or fellow travelers), long lines, lost baggage, traveling on little or no sleep and the worst one: being sick (food poisoning or the common cold).

Weather can cause all sorts of delays :)

If you follow me on Instagram, I do share some of my airport experiences on my stories. And I thought I’d share some tips that I use while traveling, here.

Money belts:

Everyone warned about pick-pocketers and handbag-slashing in Italy, so I looked into money belts. Sure, they're not the most fashionable, (and they may not make an appearance on my Instagram, but you can see it here briefly in this video at 0.32 sec). The verdict is that money belts are super functional and reliable and there are SO many choices, but here are two I can recommend

Tarriss RFID Blocking Money Belt - Great for men or women if you're wearing jeans (so it can hide beneath a shirt or blouse). Easily fit passport, money, and even room keys. It's adjustable with an elastic waistband. My husband wore it through his belt loops, so it even functioned as a belt of sorts.
Zero Grid Neck Wallet - This was great for wearing cross body and adjusting it so that it was short enough to wear under my arm. I could fit a passport, money, my phone, a lipstick, extra SD cards, and even a couple of meds in case of headaches etc.

Airport Clearance - avoid the long line ups with these:

TSA Pre-check - $85 for a 5 year membership. Beneficial for flights departing US Airports.
Global Entry - $100 non-refundable fee upon application for a 5 year membership. You must apply through the “Trusted Traveler program website”; all applicants undergo a rigorous background check and in-person interview before enrollment. Global Entry gives you the TSA Pre-check benefit.
NEXUS - For travel into Canada, NEXUS is $50 (Canadian or US) for a 5 year membership.
Clear- at select airports in the US, is $175 per year, gets you to the front of the line

Travel size:

I like buying travel size items in almost all products if i can find them (sometimes, it’s because I get tired with the product itself). Things like shampoo, conditioner, body wash, dry shampoo, shaving cream, you can almost always find in the travel size or at least less than 100ml. Also, if you like something at Sephora, ask for a sample; chances are you can make it last the length of you trip. Once when my bags got lost en route to Vancouver, I went into a Sephora and told them what happened and that I needed samples of everything. They were kind enough to oblige :) For those empty travel size bottles, the most affordable ones can be bought from CVS or TJ Maxx/Marshalls.
I also keep a little travel pouch of medications such as Pepto-Bismol, Imodium, cough drops, and Advil, and a tiny bottle of Peppermint roll on, which I find helps with headaches and the occasional questionable odor on the plane :)

Packing:

Rolling: I ROLL all my garments into my suitcase; I find I can fit a few more things this way, and also items don’t get as wrinkled.

Carry on - I like to take a full change of clothing, including underwear, in my carry-on, an extra pair of shoes, toothbrush and a swim suit, in the event that the airline loses my luggage.

Comfortable shoes:

If you like to explore a new place by walking around, then comfortable shoes are a no brainer. Here are a variety of flats that I think look cute and are also great for walking.

Sprerry slip on sneakers - the key is to find these in LEATHER (not canvas) - very comfortable to walk in and look cute with dresses and jeans. I’ve gone through two pairs of these; and worn them in Italy (Rome and Venice), Oxford, Jasper, New Orleans, Montreal, Boston, Puerto Rico, Martha’s Vineyard I found mine at Marshalls, but it seems the “Pier View” and “Seacoast” (from Amazon) are the same shoe.
Skechers - One thing you can’t deny is that the comfort of Skechers is unbeatable! I’ve worn these in Rome and on other travels (on the plane!)
Pumas - extremely LIGHT; perfect for traveling with. You can run on the treadmill with these or outdoors and walk around in them, and you feel supported. They’re my workout shoe that I pack for trips (like Colorado)
Running shoes - my feet have started to swell on airplanes now (there was an incident once where I wore slide on riding boots on a plane, took them off during the flight and couldn’t put them back on!) so now I wear either the slip on Sperrys, Skechers or these, my favorite running shoes are these ASICS Gel-Nimus 18. And then I have them to go to the gym with.

Travel Clothing:

If you’re like me, you like to be warm on a cold plane. These are my go-to travel clothes

Leggings or anything with an elastic waist - these I found at a market in Seoul, and have never been able to replace!
Layers, I like to wear a thin long sleeve t-shirt underneath a sweatshirt or hoodie, and the zip-up North Face that I use is now discontinued, but similar style here. If the plane has a draft, a hoodie is a must.
Compression socks - as I mentioned, my feet have started swelling on long flights. I’ve found that wearing knee-high compression socks has really helped (also eating less salty things before a flight), so much so that my feet no longer swell. I got mine at Marshalls or TJ Maxx but they are easy to find at a lot of stores or online.
Eye mask + ear plugs - For long or overnight flights, I highly recommend getting a cosy eye mask (I bought this one from Typo Shop in Melbourne, although I may need this one hahaha!) and ear plugs which block out the airplane noise and helps with sleeping on the plane. Put the earplugs in before you get on the plane and then before landing. Many travel websites recommend Earplanes, so I will have to try these myself.
Neck cushion - I carry an inflatable one, just in case, but there are so many different varieties and I am looking into getting something that’s easier to travel with than a U-shaped neck pillow.

Traveling from Australia to Toronto (24+ hrs in flight)

On the plane:

Staying hydrated - I’m still working on this one, myself :) It helps with getting over jet lag once you’ve landed, too.

Being Sick: If you’ve ever had a cold on a plane, you know that the air pressure can really hurt your ears and sometimes you can’t even hear once you’ve landed :( One remedy is to use ear plugs, and suck on a lozenge like Ricola or Fisherman’s Friends, drinking lots of fluids and I also came across this article on flying with a cold.

*** This is not a sponsored post, these are all my opinions based on personal experience ***

Travel: Amsterdam Travel Guide

Smita Jacob — Tue, 29 Jan 2019 23:23:07 +0000

Tulip or not tulip….the answer is to always tulip! Visiting Amsterdam during tulip season seems like a MUST. The best time to see tulips in Amsterdam is from March - May, especially mid April, according to their tourism websites.

Unfortunately, due to an unusually cold winter, visiting at the beginning of April proved to be too early to see the rolling fields of tulips. However, Keukenhof, the world’s largest flower gardens, in South Holland, was open (from March-May) and it was the next best thing.

FOOD and DRINK:

Van Staple Koekmakerji: this is a very popular COOKIE in Amsterdam. What’s nice is that it’s warm and fresh, what I didn’t personally like was that it was very buttery/greasy and overly sweet for my tastebuds.
Vlaams Fraterhuis Vleminckx I balanced out the sweet with this savory treat: fries with mayonnaise. Delicious!
Micro brewery. Brouwerij De Prael: very cosy interior and again, packed. Great spot to rest sore feet, and enjoy the beer!
van Wonderen Stroopwafels another famous stop; but this time the line was really too long!
Zuid: beautifully plated and modern cuisine
Poppa: tasty pastas and a cute resident cat, very cosy atmosphere

Of course, one can not miss the beautiful canals of Amsterdam. There are many scenic spots to take photos.

THINGS TO DO:

There are museums aplenty, it just depends on how much time you have to spend indoors vs. outdoors.

The last time I was in Amsterdam I visited the Rijks Museum and the Van Gogh Museum and loved both. I also visited the Anne Frank House as well as Rembrandt’s House and I would highly recommend making the time to visit both.

This time, I went to see the Banksy exhibit at the Moco. While it was a great escape from the rain, I learned that the exhibit is actually not authorized by Banksy and not curated in collaboration with the artist which made the whole visit feel very un-Banksy-like.

The famous “I amsterdam” sculpture is a popular spot to take photos; and I have a tip if you’re taking selfies - check out my highlights on my Instagram.

I would also recommend visiting the Albert Cuyp Market, I bought beautiful flowers there, this red beret, as well as had a delicious chicken sandwich from one of the local vendors (I can’t remember the name!).

Bloemenmarket, Amsterdam’s famous flower market, which are flower stalls that are on barges, floating on the Singel canal.

If you get a chance to do a day trip to the outskirts of Amsterdam: Zaanse Schans: touristy but scenic, town of Edam (yes, the CHEESE!)

Bicycles galore! Don’t forget to LOOK BOTH WAYS BEFORE CROSSING, as the cyclists in Amsterdam are rather ruthless.

STAY:

We stayed in the outskirts at a hotel called Citizen M, and their morning breakfasts were INCREDIBLE!! The room itself is TINY in comparison to western hotels (after all the shower is in the middle of the room!) but it has a very comfortable bed and those breakfasts….wow! The last time in Amsterdam, I stayed at the Hilton which is much more in line with our western size of hotel.

Transit is very easy and efficient, and as in any foreign country you visit, always watch your personal belongings and always pay attention to your surroundings.

Amsterdam at night is a different type of city. Also, DO NOT take photos in the Red Light District.

This is not a sponsored post.

Travel: Downton Abbey Filming Locations

Smita Jacob — Mon, 28 Jan 2019 23:12:23 +0000

Downton Abbey fans no longer have to wait with bated breath, it's finally happening. The Downton Abbey Movie started filming in September 2018!

I had the opportunity to visit Oxfordshire, and with that came the frantic search to find as many Downton Abbey filming locations as I could. A few of these being the charming villages of Bampton (fictional Yorkshire village of Downton) and Cogges (Downton Abbey's Yew Tree Farm), but one of the more recognizable locations is Highclere Castle in Newbury, the home of the fictional Crawley family.

Take a look at my Highlights on Instagram, to get a real feel of the tour and my Oxfordshire visit.

Highclere Castle

The absolute highlight of the tour is the setting of the fictional home of the Crawley family, the real life home of the 8th Earl of Carnarvon and Lady Carnarvon who reside there in the winter.
Highclere Castle is also home to the Egyptian exhibition celebrating the 5th Earls’ and Howard Carter’s discovery of young boy Pharaoh, Tutankhamun in 1922.
TIPS:
- Photos are NOT allowed inside Highclere Castle
- It’s veeerrry busy, so be patient. You do have to wait in line to get in, but once you’re inside you are free to take your time walking around
- The grounds are worth the walk about if you have time, especially The Secret Garden (They give you a map so you can find it)
- I didn’t have high-tea at Highclere as it was very busy and there wasn’t much time but I grabbed a sandwich and a drink and had a picnic luncheon on the grounds which made my day (I made this time-lapse of the moment)
- The Egyptian Exhibition was worthwhile (no photos allowed) as it contains the actual Mummy of Tutankhamen!
- Overall, if you’re able to go to Highclere Castle on your own time, not on a tour bus, I would recommend that as it would give you more time to see everything and not feel rushed

Cogges, is a heritage site with a 13th century manor house and historic farm buildings

Used as Downton Abbey's Yew Tree Farm, host to farming scenes in series 4 and home of Mr Drewe, the tenant farmer. In series 5 the farm buildings, including interiors, featured regularly as it is here that Marigold, Lady Edith's illegitimate daughter, was being brought up
Cogges has a visual display showing the way that its buildings were transformed into 'Yew Tree Farm' for filming, a collection of photos taken during filming and some interesting Downton memorabilia, including Marigold's birth certificate!
There’s a cafe so you can have a tea before your tour bus takes off, or pick up some snacks for the ride.

Bampton was the fictional Yorkshire village of Downton, for scenes including the church, buildings used as pubs, shops, post office and homes.

The main film locations in Bampton are:

Churchgate House, the old Bampton rectory, used for the exterior shots of Isobel Crawley's house
The old Grammar School building, which now houses Bampton Community Archive, which served as ‘Downton’ hospital. The Archive has a selection of Downton Abbey memorabilia including cards, mugs, pictures and a town map
St Mary’s Church, renamed as St Michael and All Angels in Downton Abbey, has hosted a number of dramatic ‘Downton’ events including weddings, funerals, christenings and even a jilting at the altar!
Church View has appeared regularly throughout the series and is home to two fictional pubs - The Grantham Arms and The Dog & Duck - both featured in various episodes. It was also the site of Downton Fair.

This tour was not sponsored.

I booked the “Downton Abbey Filming Locations and Highclere Castle” 1 day ticket (162 pounds, which is $280CAD or $211 USD) from International Friends, and enjoyed the tour guide’s extensive knowledge of Downton.

Permalink

The Lights Fest

Smita Jacob — Mon, 10 Sep 2018 01:40:20 +0000

Certain things have made it to my bucket list solely due to Instagram. Places like, Iceland, Petra, the hot air balloons over Cappadocia, Turkey and the White Sands National Monument (crossed off!).

The Lights Festival was also one of those things.

(This is not a sponsored post)

When I found out in May that it would be taking place in Ontario on July 14, I jumped on the opportunity to buy tickets. After asking family and friends if they wanted to go, I ended up with four confirmed yeses and the mad dash to buy tickets began! Selling out quickly at the starting rate of $25, then $45, then $57 (I honestly was suspicious at the rate that these got "sold out", as they were suddenly $64 in the span of 15 minutes (with $70 tickets as the next to be "released"). A steep ticket price for a single paper lantern, wouldn't you say? But I was buying into the experience #obvi.

By the time July 14 rolled around two months later, the event was postponed by the Haldimand County Fire Department, due to elevated fire and public safety risks. An open fire burn ban had also been declared by the entirety of Haldimand, due to the dry July conditions. Disappointing, but necessary especially considering the fires in Parry Sound.

A new date of Sept 8 was provided. With that, and over the rest of the summer, the Lights Fest hype was temporarily forgotten, along with plans for picnics and route mapping.

Autumn, being the season of new beginnings and cooler temperatures, would seem the most appropriate time for firing up lanterns, Sharp-ied up with hopes, dreams and wishes and gently releasing them into the sky. But that would be the Instagram version. And I must admit, it was very magical. I would definitely do it again. BUT, there are a few fixes that need to be done.

First, the good, the beautiful, the magical, the Instagram photos and highlights....

Now, here is the REAL LIFE, reality check, the not-so-instagrammable moments that I hope organizers will address:

Weather prep: Hey, it's the weather, I get it. It changes. They did say to prepare for the weather, and we brought jackets, sweaters, blankets and socks. But, it was really cold. We even had to BUY blankets, and I sure am glad they were selling them! The ideal wardrobe would have been winter coats/toques/boots for sitting outdoors from 5pm-sunset. Lesson: be prepared for the weather.

Location: The Dunnville Agricultural grounds which was this event's location was lined with giant wind turbines, which looked super cool (and literally made for an additional source of cool wind). So, one solution could have been for organizers to install heat lamps or warming stations. There were many families with babies/kids that left before the lantern lighting started just because it was unbearably cold.

Parking: The organizers of the Lights Fest planned for early-comers (those arriving at 5pm) to park the furthest away and walk the longest to arrive on location. While late-comers parked closer, and still had their pick for spots (no assigned seating). To appease this, organizers provided a pink 'Post-it note' to say that those who arrived early would absolutely get to leave the parking lot first. Of course, they weren't fooling anyone, and by the end of the night, everyone (pink ticket or not) left at the same time and waited in the same line up of cars exiting the grounds. Lesson: no points or pluses for coming early when the weather is cold!

Lantern Lighting Instruction: They said they were expecting 5000 people, it seemed to be 2-3K instead. Still, that's a lot of people. The grounds were divided into quadrants with tiki torches at every corner of each quadrant, so people could set up camp within four tiki torches. Even though there was a stage on the far side of the field, unless you were right up at the front, you couldn't see the "host" or "musicians". Thankfully, the sound system was really good. If it weren't for that, we wouldn't have known how to light the lanterns. Each participant received one lantern, a small black marker, a rubber wristband and keychain/point-light. The instructions are on the outside of the packet, but what might have been helpful during the wait time leading up to the lighting of the lanterns is, if instructors came around and demonstrated the technique. Or if they had demonstration tents set up around, perhaps. Just before sunset, the tiki torches were lit up by staff, and would be the source of fire for the lanterns. There was one "test lantern" that the organizers lit up, and it flew away pretty quickly, due to the winds, but other than that and the microphone instruction there were no other instructions on how to accomplish the key point of the event: lighting and releasing the lantern.

Our eventual tried and tested technique:

Open your lantern package, and write on the sides of the paper lantern with the marker (be careful not to put too much pressure or puncture the lantern). Then, when you're ready to light up your lantern, there is a small black square at the bottom of it that must be lit on at least 3 CORNERS (via the tiki torch). You must have the help of at least 2-3 people: 1 person to help hold the very top of the lantern up straight, while the other two are lighting up the square. If it's windy, you have to shield the flame so that it doesn't BURN the paper and make a hole. If you get a burned hole, that's the end of your lantern. (This happened to A LOT of people). If you burn the black square for too long, the lantern will no longer fly, as it's burnt out. Once you have lit 3 corners of the black square, pull the lantern close to the ground so that it fills with air and once you feel a very slight "tug" you can release the lantern into the sky. The tug is not terribly noticeable, it's easy to miss and if you wait too long for the "TUG", the square might burn out. Also, if you do it too early, the lantern may not have enough air inside it to fly UP and away, and instead flies sideways (into peoples heads). You can purchase an extra lantern at the time of buying tickets, but I can't remember now how much it was, and you're not allowed to bring your own lanterns or matches/lighters.

Speaking of Safety: The chaos that ensued around us was at first, comical but then, a bit scary what with balls of fire flying into the back of people's heads/hair/jacket fur. Because nobody really knew what they were doing, there was a lot of lanterns that got burnt out or had holes burnt onto the sides of the paper or flew for a bit only to land into someone's head or crash land into their belongings. A potential solution for this would be to stagger the sections that release lanterns into the sky, or simply have more staff to supervise. At least, the fire department and ambulances were on hand.

Overall, it was a hugely memorable experience and I would still highly recommend it to everyone.

Thank you to my friends Anjali, Adriana and Bonny for taking the photos of me :)

I'm sure there are other suggestions that could be made, or perhaps all of the answers were already available to me, and I didn't know. Feel free to leave a comment over here.

Boston Guide

Smita Jacob — Thu, 09 Aug 2018 01:39:33 +0000

I'm always asked to share my favorite restaurants and things to do in Boston, so I thought I'd post a quick guide in case you're ever visiting Boston over a weekend.

Boston is an incredibly walkable city, and I find that you get to enjoy the hidden gems a lot better on foot. If you can't avoid taking the T, the Red line runs more smoothly than the Green line.

My favorite season in Boston is autumn, but I must admit that it looks beautiful during all the seasons. If you visit in the spring, you have to time it precisely when the cherry blossoms and magnolias are blooming. In the summer, you have access to all of the best outdoor activities, beaches and sports (baseball at Fenway). In the winter, it can be lovely post-snow storm, especially if the streets are shut down due to the amount of snow, but otherwise commuting can be a pain.

*please note that this post is not sponsored*

North End: my favorite part of Boston, and is great for the lively ambiance and food

Transit:

Haymarket T, ORANGE Line

Pauli's - has my favorite sandwich: the "Pauli-tician" with fries! I also enjoy the warm lobster roll (blog post)
Parzialie's for a square slice of pizza - it's $1.60, can't beat that price, and I prefer this pizza over Umberto's which is near by.
Cafe dello Sport - for coffee - order a "Half and half"
Giacomo's - great dinner but it's always packed with a line up
Strega and Nico are both very good options for dinner in the North End.
La Summa is a new favorite, for fresh home made pasta - get the eggplant, the chicken and sausage pasta, and the homemade sausage, also the artichoke appitzer
Mike's Pastry, I'm not a fan of cannoli's but if you are, so far those who have gone have loved the cannoli's
Modern Pastry, less of a line up and the cannoli's are just as good, if not better
Old North Church, worth the visit for the historical significance of this church

Beacon Hill: definitely a must-see for the picturesque brownstones and cobblestone Acorn street

Transit:

Charles/MGH T, RED Line

Visit Acorn St. the oldest and most photographed street in AMERICA!
Tatte Bakery - several locations but Charles St. is the one on Beacon Hill - always a line up - get the chocolate ROSES, croissants are also good ad coffee is excellent. The orange juice and lemonades are also good
The Rouvalis Flower shop is a prominent fixture on Beacon Hill, and is the perfect background for photographers.

Boston Common / Boston Public Garden:

Transit:

Charles/ MGH, RED Subway Line
Park Street, GREEN Light Rail /RED Subway Line
Arlington, GREEN Light Rail Line

If you walk down Charles St. (on Beacon Hill) you end up at the garden. Beautiful to walk through
Boston Common has this carousel I used in this shoot
Boston Public Garden is famous for the "Make Way for Duckings" Sculpture and the swans in the pond
Stop by CHEERS, just outside of Boston Public Garden, on Beacon Street - for a beer!

Back Bay / Newbury Street / Copley Square

Transit:

Copley, GREEN Light Rail Line
Arlington, GREEN Light Rail Line
Back Bay, ORANGE Subway Line

Newbury Street is known of it's fancy shopping (Valentino, Armani, DVF), art galleries, but there is also an H&M, Victoria Secret, Anthropologie, Nike)
Boston Public Library: the main library hall and courtyard are beautiful
Flour bakery -lunch time fare like sandwiches
Sweetgreen - there are 2 locations in this area - a great lunch time healthy option, but gets very busy so you can use the app to order beforehand and the pick up (*Shamless plug* the Sweetgreen at Prudential Mall also has my photograph hanging up in it!)
Top of the Hub - surprisingly good food and great sunset view of Boston but you can just go and have a drink up there
L'espalier - fancy french cuisine
Georgetown Cupcake, famous cupcakes, that are good, but not amazing (will do in a pinch if you're feeling like a cupcake!)
LA Burdicks - coffee/chocolate shop, the hot chocolate here is literally a cup of chocolate - very sweet
Take a walk down Commonwealth Avenue and Marlborough Street

Harvard Square:

Transit:

Harvard, RED Subway Line

Harvard Yard: the statue of John Harvard and the general campus
Harvard bookstore for souvenirs
Maharaja Indian buffet
LA Burdicks - coffee/chocolate shop
Border Cafe - mexican food
Alden and Harlow - higher end, farm to table
Tatte Bakery, very popular option
Sweetgreen
If you didn't make it to the North End for cannoli's you get a second chance at Mike's Pastry
Harvard Art Museums

Downtown Crossing / Chinatown:

Transit:

Park Street, GREEN Light Rail /RED Subway Line
Downtown Crossing, ORANGE Subway Line

Ogawa Cafe
Boston Ballet
Caffe Nero (two locations)
Brattle Street Book shop
Chinatown - Gourmet Dumpling House
Shopping: there's a Macy's, DSW, TJ Maxx, Marshall's, so it's great for shopping, but be careful in this area as it's still not the safest neighborhood!

Other things to do:

Fenway Park

Museum of Fine Arts

Lia Cirio photographed at the Museum of Fine Arts

Brett Fukuda photographed at the Museum of Fine Arts, Japanese Garden

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum - has a beautiful courtyard
Union Square donuts
BBQ International - for indian food - it's a hole in the wall but very good
Charlestown/ Bunker Hill Monument - you can climb up the steps of the monument for a view of the city
Charlestown: is also the site to visit the USS Constitution ship https://www.nps.gov/bost/planyourvisit/hours.htm
Charlestown, you can take the water taxi to downtown Boston from Charlestown
Quincy Market/Fanueil Hall - very touristy and extremely busy
Duck Tour - this will give you a nice overview of the history and sites in Boston - departs from the Museum of Science http://www.bostonducktours.com
Freedom trail - it goes around the city, great for a walking tour

Outside of Boston:

Provincetown- the tip of Cape Cod is a fun place to explore.

Ferry Martha’s Vineyard and or Nantucket

Rockport MA (north of Boston) has the best lobster rolls in my opinion- from Roy Moore’s. There’s both a small take away and also a full dining restaurant.

Travel: New Orleans Guide

Smita Jacob — Thu, 31 May 2018 22:32:26 +0000

No matter how you pronounce it, New Orleans is one of those vibrant US cities that I like to describe as one that satisfies the senses (taste, smell, sound, touch and sight). It's known for it's great food scene, music culture, French and Spanish architecture, famous festivities like Mardi Gras, but also has an interesting heritage and history. If you missed it: my Instagram stories in New Orleans.

If you have a few days to spend in New Orleans; here are some of my recommendations of things to do and where to eat.

Haunted History Tour: We purchased tickets for the Haunted History Tour: with Ari (Ariadne) who was an excellent tour guide.

One of the highlights of the stop is Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop built between 1722 and 1732 and known to be one of the oldest structures used as a bar.

Shopping:

Bourbon French Parfums, a fun experience choosing a fragrance, with friendly staff
Hove Parfumeur, more expensive perfumes
Roux Royale, great little shop for souvenirs, on the expensive side
Louisiana Music Factory, vast selection of music from artists both local and international

Restaurants:

Cafe Du Monde, 800 Decatur St. - famous for its beignets and coffee and they never disappoint!

Manchu Food Store, best fried chicken wings at this hole in the wall joint, where it seemed to be mostly locals
9 Roses Cafe, excellent Vietnamese food
Sucre, in the French Quarter, for tasty gelato
Carmo, Great lunch spot, with vegetarian options that are very delicious

El Gato Negro, very good mexican food
Palace Cafe, 605 Canal St., an iconic spot with outdoor seating and buffet breakfast that was absolutely delicious - (try the alligator sausage!)

Cafe Beignet, 334 Royal St., the beignets are not as good as the ones from Cafe Du Monde, but it's a cute albeit crowded place. Place your order at the counter and try to find a spot! The tables and chairs are a little bit uncomfortable and everything comes in takeaway dishes.

Arnaud's, 813 Bienville St., great ambiance and live jazz (in the Jazz Bistro), known for the famous drink: French 75 (Courvoisier VS, Sugar, Lemon Juice, Moët & Chandon), and the souffle potatoes are incredible!

French 75 cocktail: The drink dates to World War I and an early form was created in 1915 at the New York Bar in Paris. The combination was said to have such a kick that it felt like being shelled with the powerful French 75mm field gun

Steam Whistle Cafe, 2031 Charles Ave, cute little cafe in the Garden District, right next to the Pontchartrain Hotel, which has a beautiful lounge

Cochon, bustling and busy, the oven roasted gulf fish ($32) was just okay, catfish courtbouillon $19 was better and the wood fired oysters were great!

Auction House Market, a new type of warehouse food hall; it's like a hip food court, with gourmet foods to choose from

New Orleans Creole Cookery, 508 Toulouse St., classic creole food
Commander's Palace - was closed for a private event but the
Garden District is beautiful to walk around, you can see John Goodman's house (below) as well as Sandra Bullock's. Walking maps are available at Commander's Palace. The Lafayette Cemetery is also in the Garden District.

See more NOLA posts here.

Toronto: Adriana + Brian's Engagement

Smita Jacob — Wed, 08 Nov 2017 16:50:35 +0000

Adriana and I have been the greatest of friends since University, so it was such a treat to celebrate her engagement to Brian with a photography session in Toronto.

It was a cold and windy day, but when you laugh as hard as you do with these two, you warm up quickly! We started in Yorkville, enjoyed tropical temps at Allan Gardens, enjoyed a delicious lunch, continued to Osgoode Hall and finally to Le Select Bistro, where their wedding is going to be.

I want to wish these two lovebirds all the happiness in the world! xoxoxo

New Mexico: White Sands National Monument: 5 tips

Smita Jacob — Fri, 01 Sep 2017 14:58:16 +0000

The White Sands National Monument was a must-see for me while in New Mexico. Thanks to Instagram, it quickly joined my bucket list (along with Iceland!).

The itinerary I created consisted of a semi-tight schedule of things I wanted to do and see from Albuquerque (including the Breaking Bad tour - more to come!) to the White Sands, to the Carlsbad Caverns and up to Santa Fe.

Making the 3-4 hour drive from Albuquerque to the White Sands, while not terribly far, was still a little tiring after a day of exploring ABQ, and slightly overwhelming if you only have the one evening to spend at the White Sands. This is also true if you're counting on nature to provide you with the experience you dream of. As a photographer, you envision things in your head that may not happen in real life.

As we headed into Alamagordo, I spotted the rain clouds, and panicked thinking that the White Sands would be closed. Then it started to pour, and I concluded to myself that it would most definitely be closed. Luckily, it had stopped raining by the time we arrived, and it was still open.

That said, I thought I would share my top 5 tips. *Please note that my tips are based on having only approximately 1-3 hours of time to visit the White Sands.*

1. Visitor Center:

If you're tight for time, I wouldn't recommend stopping at the Visitor Center before entering the White Sands, unless you have to use the bathroom, then it's your only stop. Also, if you don't have water, this is a good place to fill up, as there is NO water on the dunes. I had read that you must sign a guest book before entering the White Sands, so that they know who is accounted for, however, this was not true on the day/time (6pm) we visited. I also thought that tickets would have to be purchased at the Visitor Center, however this is incorrect. Tickets are purchased about a mile drive after the Visitor Center, at the gate. $5 for adults.

Once inside the White Sands, it's a few minutes drive to the "sunset stroll" stop (the photos below with vegetation in them are from the sunset stroll). I would suggest that you keep driving around to the top of the loop to the Alkali Flat Trail, where you get cleaner views of just white sands (the photos you see below without vegetation are from the Alkali Flat Trail).

Here's a map for a better understanding of the various stops.

2. Sunset Stroll, 7pm (lasts 45 minutes), with a ranger:

If you only have 1-3 hours to spend at the White Sands and you've come specifically to see the clear white sands under a setting sun, please avoid the sunset stroll. Contrary to the name and description on the White Sands website, the "sunset stroll" highlighted everything but the sunset. While you do of course, see the sunset during the stroll, you are really only gazing at it longingly as it sets, while strolling through vegetation, yucca plants, learning about fossils, critters and the like. My understanding of "sunset stroll" was that it meant going to an epic, ranger-knowing, vantage point with a clear and vast view of the white sands (free of vegetation) and the sunset. They should really call this the "vegetation stroll". This stroll is not wheelchair accessible.

3. Dune sledding:

Depending on where you are staying, the hotel/motel/inn/lodge may provide FREE sleds for White Sands dune sledding, so be sure to check with your lodging before you arrive at the White Sands. Otherwise you will have to pay for the sleds at the Visitor Center and I read somewhere that it costs $20! I didn't try sledding, but my husband did, and thought it was fun, although the gypsum sand was still quite damp from the rain. I imagine it would be a smoother ride on a dryer day.

4. Safety:

While we were either in a group (sunset stroll) or close enough to other visitors without wandering too far, I had read that it's quite easy to get off track, and this is especially true if you're there ALL day, in the sweltering heat, getting dehydrated. Bring LOTS OF WATER (and food), and don't go off the posted markers/track. I read some truly tragic stories about this, so consider safety first and read all the safety tips on the website. It started to lightning storm while we were leaving (park closes at 9pm), and we still saw people dune sledding with their kids while this was happening. Also, if you haven't already acclimated to the altitude of New Mexico, then this is another thing to be aware of, and take proper precautions. Altitude sickness can make you feel dehydrated, give you headaches and a loss of appetite, so pay attention to your body.

5. Plan more time:

I would say, all in all, you would need more time to spend at the White Sands. It's quite magnificent, and if you can spare more than 1-3 hours, or come back for a visit the next day, you could really enjoy yourself. I wouldn't mind seeing the White Sands at sunrise or a different time of day, just to get a different view of it, but for now, I'm satisfied and it's crossed off my bucket list.

If you have any tips to share, join the conversation over on my Instagram, here.

New Mexico: Albuquerque, Los Poblanos Historic Inn & Organic Farm

Smita Jacob — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 16:51:14 +0000

Location: Los Poblanos Historic Inn & Organic Farm

The Los Poblanos Historic Inn & Organic Farm is a bed and breakfast and farm with 25 acres of lavender fields, cottonwood trees and gardens. Designed in 1932, by architect John Gaw Meem, the "Father of Santa Fe Style", the inn is picturesque and couldn't be in a more scenic setting.

If the tree-lined path into the inn is not welcoming enough, perhaps what will entice you to stay are the lavender fields, or the alpacas, or the peacocks, or salt-water pool, or waking up to see the sun rising over the Sandia mountains, or perhaps the delicious (and spicy) off-menu breakfast chicken burrito.

... a true frescoe by

Peter Hurd

Thank you to the Los Poblanos for the wonderful hospitality and relaxing stay.

Boston: Kristen + Bob's Engagement

Smita Jacob — Thu, 03 Aug 2017 01:28:44 +0000

Congratulations to Kristen and Bob on their engagement!

Kristen was one of the first people I befriended on Instagram, and I'm so happy for this next step in her journey with Bob.

It was truly a fun time shooting around Chinatown, Boston Public Garden and the Esplanade with these true New Englanders!

Puerto Rico: Old San Juan: A Hat Story

Smita Jacob — Mon, 31 Jul 2017 13:05:00 +0000

Shop: Ole Curiosidades

Address: 105 Calle de La Fortaleza, San Juan, PR 00901

If you want an original panama hat, visit this friendly Mom and Pop-esque shop. In about 20 minutes and for $80, they will have you fitted for a hat. You get to write your own initials in pen on a piece of leather and they will still stick it into the hat for you.

A fun piece to take home with you (be careful with it while traveling, they packed it up in a nice box for me), and to take on all your summer travels....

Puerto Rico: San Juan: Food

Smita Jacob — Tue, 11 Apr 2017 13:27:33 +0000

Cafe Manolin:

Seemed to be filled with mostly locals, enjoying the coffee and lunch menu, which is inexpensive while the portions are decent. The vibe is diner-y and you pay your bill at the cashier when you exit.

Speaking about coffee, Alto Grande is in my humble opinion possibly the best coffee. Brought some back, and wish I had bought more! :)

Mofongo (pictured above with a side of beans and fried sweet plantains) and Trifongo:

If you're a fan of plantains, in any shape or form, you'll devour mofongo and trifongo, both are made with fried green plantains mashed together with garlic and pork, however TRIfongo contains fried green plantains, sweet ripe plantains and yucca (cassava) in addition to the garlic and pork. I loved having it with a side of beans or a side of chicken curry.

La Placita de Santurce:

Great for buying fruit, and also one of the best chicken empanadas, served hot and fresh.

The best time to visit this place is not when we went (daytime and raining) but apparently at night, for the music and crowds.

Delicias, in Condado:

Starters like banana chips and homemade banana bread with fried cheese and guava jam are just the beginning of this, quite literally, "delicias" (delightful) dinner. The octopus salad with coconut arepas are a must-try. Add in the attentive service from Carlos and the expertly executed cocktails by Timmy (Jose Ortega), and you have a truly special dinner. Thank you to Josian, Carlos and Timmy for a wonderful dining experience.

Puerto Rico: San Juan

Smita Jacob — Thu, 06 Apr 2017 20:51:40 +0000

Puerto Rico has long been on my list of travel destinations, initially for the preconceived notion of being a beach vacation. Then, I read about the forts and cobblestones and the old town, but little did I know that the forts overlooked the OCEAN, and the cobblestones are BLUE, and that Old San Juan is filled with vibrantly colorful buildings and delicious foods (details coming soon!). If you follow me on Instagram, you may have seen some photos and tips already, but if you're planning a trip there, here are a few tips:

Uber vs Taxi:

Uber and taxis do not get along in San Juan. We heard stories of windshield smashing, and other disorderly conduct between the two. But there is a way, you just can't be near a taxi stand.
You have to step away from the hotel or locations where taxis are usually waiting.

La Perla:

Some research said to avoid La Perla as it's known as a high drug trafficking area, and to also avoid walking through the Santa Maria Magdalena cemetery that borders one side of La Perla. During the day there are lots of tourists in the surrounding area around La Perla, but I would imagine that at night it may be a different story. I would using your street smarts and always keeping your wits about you (and this goes for travel generally anywhere :)

El Morro + Fort San Cristobal:

A $10 ticket price gets you into both forts located in Old San Juan. There's a free open air tram that rides between the two forts, but you can easily also walk the distance between the two.

Santa Maria Magdalena Cemetery

The views from El Morro of the cemetery are absolutely the most stunning thing!

TIME Magazine's Photographer to Follow in Massachussetts

Smita Jacob — Tue, 14 Mar 2017 15:38:42 +0000

Honored to have been selected as Time Magazine's Photographer to follow in Massachusetts!

Boston: Women's March

Smita Jacob — Sat, 21 Jan 2017 16:14:00 +0000

On Boston, January 21, 2017

See more on Instagram

Visit www.womensmarch.com to get involved.

Fall in New England

Smita Jacob — Wed, 19 Oct 2016 20:06:24 +0000

There's something simply incredible about the fall color change.
Science it may be, but magical it is, more!

A drive up to Lincoln, NH proved successful for spotting of said fall color show. If you ever find yourself there, do take the Kancamagus Highway through the White Mountains. It doesn't "fall" short (tee hee) of being spectacular!

See more Fall Foliage here.

Harvard Square: The Charles Hotel

Smita Jacob — Wed, 03 Aug 2016 18:15:20 +0000

We recently checked into the Charles Hotel in the heart of Harvard Square for a staycation in the city.

The hotel has undergone some recent renovations and although I didn't experience the "before", I certainly can appreciate the "after".

The rooms are tastefully appointed with classic details such as batten paneling walls, Shaker chairs as well as Harvard chairs, however the highlight was the mirror TV in the bathroom, which, let's be honest, is the coolest thing, ever.

Bonus points for complimentary wi-fi, absolutely always a necessity.

NEIGHBORHOOD + RESTAURANT TIPS:

Henrietta's Table, farm to table with seasonal menu items and sides you can order to share (beets, squash, mashed potatoes, etc.) SHOUT OUT to the Mixed Berry Mojito (Privateer Silver Reserve Rum, Mint Leaves, Simple Syrup, Blackberries, Blueberries, Raspberries, and Strawberries) for being the most refreshing summer drink, ever!

Salt & Olive, a Harvard Square neighborhood shop with an impressive selection of olive oils and balsamic vinegars. Stop by for tastings and say hi to Mary, the owner. Obviously, we couldn't resist buying the "aged for 18 years" balsamic.
Follow the Honey, did you know this place existed in Cambridge? I certainly didn't. No need to go off to far-flung corners of the world to experience delicious honey when you can try them and even buy them here. Erin, at the store is knowledgeable and friendly and if you're not a honey fan, you'll 100% become one after trying a few of the exotic honey! They also have bees in the backyard, a space that you can also rent for private parties and events. Bonus points for the resident dog Mr. Dee Dee Ramone, who has his own Instagram account - YAAS!
Comedy Studio, local funny people. Good idea for a night on the town, with a plus being that you can order chinese food from the Hong Kong restaurant downstairs.
Noir, grab a fancy cocktail on the patio at Noir, I enjoyed the Black Dahlia and it's apparently the most popular, as well!

More photos below of my day and night at Harvard Square!

This post was created in partnership with The Charles Hotel, however, all of the opinions are my own.

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Martha's Vineyard: SUMMERCAMP

Smita Jacob — Mon, 01 Aug 2016 15:26:50 +0000

Full disclosure: I've never camped a day in my life.

Glamping on the other hand....where do I sign up?

I recently had the opportunity to stay at SUMMERCAMP on Martha's Vineyard. This Lark Hotel property has been renovated and designed as an ode to Oak Bluffs' history as a summer "camp" destination. I assure you, however, that there is nothing camp about this hotel as it is the epitome of luxury and boutique with unbelievable harbour views and amenities. It may reflect retro camp vibes with its fun game room (which includes ping pong!), but the rustic, broad veranda, open-concept and tasteful decor makes it the ultimate getaway on the Vineyard.

Major points also, for complimentary beach towels for guests, beach chair rentals at $5 and beach umbrellas at $10. It's also a short walk from the Oaks Bluffs ferry.

A plus for us, with a dog in the family, is that Summercamp is pet-friendly! Also, with a large group, there's no shortage of plush, cosy areas to lounge in, from the front porch to the canteen (bonus points for the free coffee!).

I also must mention that the beds and bedding were the ultimate in comfort! I checked, and they're "Harbor Linen's Soft Wear" only available for hospitality and healthcare providers. I guess that means that I'll have to stay at Summercamp again, then :)

QUICK ISLAND TRANSPORTATION TIPS:

If you don't bring your own car on the ferry due to the ferry reservations being full, you will have to then park your car at one of the designated parking lots (check the Steamship Authority website the morning of your travel to see which lots are empty). Then there are free shuttles from the parking lots to the ferry (again, check the schedule)
Once on Martha's Vineyard, there are island buses from town to town, they are $1.25 to each town. Most had long lineups.
You can rent a car, which makes it much easier to see the whole island, especially if you're there for a shorter time.
You can ride bikes - they have great trails
If you rent a moped, you can't drive it all around the island, due to the speed limit and safety, noise etc., Check to see where you are allowed to ride it

RESTAURANT LIST:

Sharky's Cantina in Oak Bluffs, really great Mexican food in a bar/grill setting (entrees start at about $18 - note that they charge $2 for guacamole due to an avocado shortage)
Giordano's Pizza, Oak Bluffs, not the best pizza in my opinion
Vineyard's Best Ice Cream and Coffee Co., in Oak Bluffs had great home-made bagels - but beware of the long line up
Fat Ronnie's Burger Bar in Oak Bluffs is amazing! Burgers are $10, and you can add fries or onion rings separately. You can order the beef burger according to ounces. Also note that the veggie burger includes 2 patties. They also have a fried cod fish burger. There are several toppings to choose from. However, the toppings are to be included on the burger and are NOT given out as a "side" so don't bother asking. Some burgers were made very neatly while others were sloppily put together. Limited seating.
Isola, Edgartown, really great pizza, and outdoor seating
Murdick's Fudge/Ice Cream in Vineyard Haven - the coconut is very tasty!

DOG FRIENDLY RESTAURANT LIST:

Nancy's is dog-friendly, although we didn't dine there
Offshore Ale Company has one dog-friendly table outside but it was already taken
Isola, Edgartown, really great pizza, and outdoor seating (they were very accommodating with having our dog)
Vineyard's Best Ice Cream and Coffee Co., in Oak Bluffs - dog's can be outside on the patio

Here, a few snapshots of our stay at camp and around the Vineyard...If you follow me on Instagram and Snapchat you might have seen a few more behind the scenes!

HOGGER & Co. Photography LLC.

New Mexico: Breaking Bad RV Tours

TORONTO RAPTORS WIN!

Travel Tips

Travel: Amsterdam Travel Guide

Read more about Amsterdam here.

Travel: Downton Abbey Filming Locations

Highclere Castle

Cogges, is a heritage site with a 13th century manor house and historic farm buildings

Bampton was the fictional Yorkshire village of Downton, for scenes including the church, buildings used as pubs, shops, post office and homes.

The Lights Fest

Boston Guide

North End: my favorite part of Boston, and is great for the lively ambiance and food

Beacon Hill: definitely a must-see for the picturesque brownstones and cobblestone Acorn street

Boston Common / Boston Public Garden:

Back Bay / Newbury Street / Copley Square

Harvard Square:

Downtown Crossing / Chinatown:

Other things to do:

Outside of Boston:

Travel: New Orleans Guide

Toronto: Adriana + Brian's Engagement

New Mexico: White Sands National Monument: 5 tips

New Mexico: Albuquerque, Los Poblanos Historic Inn & Organic Farm

Boston: Kristen + Bob's Engagement

Puerto Rico: Old San Juan: A Hat Story

Puerto Rico: San Juan: Food

Puerto Rico: San Juan

TIME Magazine's Photographer to Follow in Massachussetts

Boston: Women's March

Fall in New England

Harvard Square: The Charles Hotel

Martha's Vineyard: SUMMERCAMP