Summer 2025: Boston, Newport, Prague, Corfu, Albania, and Amsterdam

Hello again! I know it has been awhile. This year’s had a pretty insane start—with the LA fires, the new administration, and just life as usual. But I’m back! I had a lovely start to summer and now it’s already almost over. Visited my family in Boston, saw Hozier in concert at Fenway Park, road-tripped to Newport, Rhode Island, and bopped around Europe to places that hadn’t been on my radar before. So let’s recap. Proceed with caution. This will be a very long post.

I usually don’t travel during the summer because it’s too crowded, touristy, and expensive. Plus, LA is already a vacation destination. I usually prefer traveling late spring or early fall. And after returning from my recent travels, I am reminded of why I don’t typically travel during the summer. It’s too hot and uncomfortable walking almost twenty thousand steps a day during the summer heat. I sweated through all my clothes and had to do laundry halfway through my trip. I don’t regret it. I had the best time. It was so lovely having a fun start to the summer and actually having plans for once. But I was completely exhausted and dehydrated.

Every time I return to Boston to visit my parents, I love exploring a new part of New England. This year, I chose Newport, Rhode Island. It was a fun little getaway even though it started with some June gloom. We stayed at the Wyndham Newport Hotel. The rooms were spacious. They have a gym, indoor pool, and shuttle service into the main town center. Town center is close by but parking can be expensive, so the shuttle was a nice perk that guests really should take advantage of. We enjoyed some good food at Yagi Noodles, Giusto, and Newport Vineyards. Yagi is a good spot for ramen and other Asian bites. Giusto has delicious Italian food and is located directly on the wharf. We stopped by Newport Vineyards on the way out and it has a fun restaurant vibe, extensive menu, and great views for photos. I was actually surprised that I enjoyed the food there so much. Overall, Newport was an easy quick getaway from Boston. Some of the highlights were the Cliff Walk, the Forty Steps, and the beaches and lighthouses along the beautiful coastal Ocean Drive.

June in Boston was so lovely, but there was a brutal heatwave during part of my visit. I tried some new restaurants, including Cafe Sauvage, Little Whale Oyster Bar, and Beacon 1928. Cafe Sauvage is a French Cafe on Mass Ave in Backbay with lavender matcha (my favorite), Nutella crepes, and croissant sandwiches. Little Whale Oyster Bar is located on Newbury Street. I had a delicious lobster pasta and endive and beet salad there. Then I took my parents to Beacon 1928 for their anniversary and really loved it! Beacon Hill is such a cute neighborhood and I had never really spent much time there before. The restaurant was charming and quaint and had that old school vibe. The dishes were unexpected and so good! We ordered the red snapper ceviche, beet salad, fried cauliflower, truffle mushroom gnocchi, steak frites, and my absolute favorite dessert—sticky toffee pudding! Our server was lovely and super accommodating too, allowing me to order half portions when I couldn’t decide between dishes. I cannot wait to come back here! I think it might be my new favorite, but I’m not sure if something can be a favorite if you’ve only had it once. So I definitely have to come back!

My absolute favorite part of my Boston trip, aside from seeing my family of course, was the Hozier concert! My entire trip back to Boston was actually planned around the Hozier concert at Fenway Park. I can’t remember if I’ve ever been to Fenway Park before, but I imagine I must have because I grew up in Boston. Maybe on a school field trip? If so, I have no memory of it. Anyway, the idea of seeing Hozier in Boston in Fenway Park felt like an iconic experience I couldn’t miss. I had floor seats, but it was not close enough to the stage to see his facial expressions. I wondered if it even mattered since most of the time, I found myself staring at the big screens for his up-close shots. I wondered if the general admission pit (standing only) directly in front of the stage would have been worth it? Walking out onto the field took my breath away! And then seeing Hozier perform live was magical! I had been listening to his latest album on repeat since the beginning of the year and knew all his songs, which is rare for me going into a concert. I had been following his tour on social media since May when it began. It was an unforgettable experience and I wish I went to see him that second night he performed. Because of the heatwave, people were skipping the concert and selling their tickets online. I would have gladly sat through the heatwave again to see him perform for a second time, but I felt guilty at the thought of paying for tickets to see the same artist perform two nights in a row. But now, I regret that I didn’t do it. I was too excited and busy recording his performance on my phone that first night that I’m not sure I was fully present. It would have been 100 percent worth it to see him again! He is so amazing live. Maybe for his next tour, I’ll see him in another city.

I generally like to travel abroad every year, but I had been feeling uninspired lately and didn’t feel motivated to go anywhere, which is so unlike me. The only reason I had plans to travel to Boston was because I had bought the Hozier concert tickets in February, but other than that, I didn’t have any other travel plans and had been really feeling like I needed a change of scenery. I have a friend who lives in Prague and was looking for a travel partner for Corfu and Albania. The main flights to Prague from Boston were through Amsterdam. Since I was already going to be in Boston, it made sense to add on a trip to Europe because it was closer. So we decided fairly last minute to book the trip. These destinations weren’t places I had on my list previously, but I am happy that I got the chance to visit. I had an amazing time and was surprised how much I enjoyed all these countries. It was nice to have a trip exceed my expectations. It was a bit confusing and exhausting though, bopping around four different countries with three different currencies, and two different time zones. Even though the Czech Republic is part of the EU, they use their own currency in koruna. Corfu is part of Greece, uses euros, and is in a different time zone. Albania is not part of the EU and uses lek. I had a pretty packed itinerary during the height of the summer heat, which I wouldn’t recommend.

Since my friend lives in Prague and there were direct flights from there to Corfu, I chose it as my first European destination. I arrived in Prague from Boston after a layover in Amsterdam. I only had two days/one night in Prague before we had to leave for Corfu and Albania. After the Corfu/Albania leg of the trip, I had planned to return to Prague for another two nights/one day before leaving for the last leg of my trip to Amsterdam. Prague was quiet, old worldly, and understated. We had some really good food there. It was pretty inexpensive. Loved their muddled raspberry lemonades with soda water. Ordered this everywhere. It’s such a refreshing cooler in the summer heat. We enjoyed a really good first dinner at Alma, which I would describe as a casual, modern, upscale, and trendy restaurant. Dinner, which included a cocktail, one main each, and a shared dessert, cost less than 50 euros each, and that was considered expensive over there. Can’t get that in LA! I had the most satisfying gelato at Angelato. Loved the mango and stracciatella flavors. Enjoyed a nice lunch on the patio of Pauseteria. I really wanted to try Cafe Savoy, but it was closed for renovations during my visit. My last dinner in Prague was at a traditional Czech spot that is known for duck called U Modre Kachnicky. I love duck so I was excited to experience Czech duck. It was rich and very filling. They had a sweet version and a savory one and I think I preferred the sweet roasted one.

Another restaurant that was recommended to me was Restaurant Mlynec in Old town, but I got there too late. One thing to note about Prague is that restaurants often close their kitchen over an hour, maybe even two, before the restaurant is supposed to close. I found this odd and misleading. I stopped at the restaurant at 1pm because their website stated that brunch was served till 3pm, but was turned away and informed that the kitchen had already closed for that meal service. Another time I stopped at a restaurant for dinner at 8:30pm because the restaurant website listed that they were open till 10pm, but the kitchen was already closed. That was annoying. So watch out for this if you visit!

Shopping at mainstream stores (like Zara, Mango, and H&M) was pretty good in Prague. It was quieter and less touristy than other popular European cities and way less expensive than the U.S.—almost 30-40% less, with a better assortment and size availability! It was pretty easy to take the trams (they use the trust system so no need to swipe) all over the city. The famous castle was beautiful, but I didn’t realize you could take the tram to the back of the castle to avoid an uphill hike. So I made the hike up and down and it was exhausting! It was fun to hang out at Letna park at the top of a hill and have a beer at the beer garden while enjoying the city and river views. I also visited the astronomical clock, walked across Charles bridge, saw the Lennon Wall, and strolled along the river.

Next stop, Corfu. We flew there via Ryan Air and experienced delays during both our departing and returning flights. The seafood in Corfu was amazing! We had a delicious lunch at Rex Restaurant in Old Town. It was about 41 USD each for a seafood lunch without alcohol. Loved their fish carpaccio. They tend to use a lot of kumquat in their dishes, which was a nice complement to carpaccio. The best gelato was at Papagiorgis Patisserie. They had a ricotta with ginger, honey, orange that was incredible. Old Town is small and while it’s fun for souvenirs (like acacia wood kitchen products), small beach views (these smaller beaches in Old Town had small pebbles instead of sand, which can be uncomfortable walking on), and restaurants, the other side of the island had better beaches and cliffside views.

We spent one night/one day in Corfu before we took a ferry to Albania for 3 nights and then had planned to return to Corfu for one more night/day after Albania before catching our returning flight to Prague. A lot of my trip was like this, sandwiching destinations with the same city before and after, which made my trip extra exhausting. Half of my two-week trip was travel days, spent on the go between destinations. Midway through, I just wanted to stay still, in one place, without having to pack and catch a plane, train, or ferry!

Our last night/day in Corfu was spent on the other side of the island, a 45 min taxi drive away from the town center, at an adults-only all-inclusive resort on the cliffside called Alkyna Lifestyle Beach Resort. It was so wonderful! I wish we could have stayed here more than one night! I didn’t think I would like an all-inclusive resort, but maybe that’s because I had never been to a luxurious one before! It made everything so easy! Especially since we were so exhausted from our travel excursions and desperately needed some relaxation. The food was pretty good for buffet. Aside from the main buffet restaurant, they had only one other proper restaurant on-site that had a la carte menu options, but it was reservations only, and was already booked up when we arrived, unfortunately. The property was beautiful, but was so busy during sunset and post-dinner hours, it was difficult to find lounge seats at their rooftop terrace bar and indoor/outdoor terrace lounge. Loved our room. Loved the amenities. The beach was gorgeous and relaxing. The water was clear and generally calm. There weren’t too many people. Because it was a private beach, we didn’t have to worry about leaving our belongings on our daybed while we dipped in the ocean. It was a lot of walking to get up and down the property though since it’s hillside. If needed, you can call for a driver to come get you with a golfcart.

I would totally visit Corfu again and spend more time on this side of the island. Corfu was not a cheap destination though. It was definitely more expensive than Prague and Albania, but still cheaper than the U.S. If I was there solo, it would have been even pricier because the taxi ride to the other side of the island was about 50 euros alone and short rides from town center to the airport or to the ferry were 25 euros even though it was only a 10-15 minute ride.

The easiest way to get to the Albania Riviera is by way of a thirty-minute fast ferry from Corfu, which was why Corfu was added to our itinerary. The ferry ticket was about 36 USD each way. We stayed at the Niklas Boutique Hotel a few minutes away from the main promenade of Sarande in Albania. The promenade was too touristy and a bit grungy for me. Our room at Niklas had a minimalist aesthetic. It was clean, spacious, and had a balcony with views of the promenade and ocean. The hotel host, Alejandro, was so lovely. Breakfast was included every morning. Our first dinner was at Taverna Fish Filipi, a popular local restaurant close to the hotel. It was fantastic! And so affordable. I probably had the best crab spaghetti I’ve ever had for less than 9 USD! It was messy and a lot of work breaking through the crab shell to get the meat with my hands, but it was so worth it. The sauce was light and super garlicky. I still think about that dish. Our total meal was 39 USD for two people! That included wine, shared appetizer, one main each, and a shared dessert. We also had seafood at Haxhi on the promenade that was also good and had a more fun vibe. Restaurants on the promenade were still affordable but a little more expensive. A plate of seafood pasta might be 16-20 USD vs 9 USD. Fish carpaccio in Albania is more commonly served with passion fruit and strawberry versus the kumquat in Corfu.

We took a day trip to Ksamil for the beaches, which felt too touristy and a bit like a club with the DJs and crowds. I think if you walk past the main area, it might be quieter. But we took the bus and had to walk from the bus stop to the beach in the heat. After walking for 30 minutes, we gave up and stopped at the nearest beach club where you have to pay 12 USD for a daybed that wasn’t close enough to the water for us to feel safe leaving our belongings unguarded. Even though the waters were super clear and really calm, there were just too many people around to enjoy it. So many kids and floaties in the water. I would recommend paying for a taxi and going further along the coast. Some people we met at our hotel had recommended walking to Sea La Vie beach club, but we had walked 30 minutes and still hadn’t reached it. I also think staying in Ksamil might be worth it vs just doing a day trip. You could prob divide your trip—stay for half the time in Ksamil and the other half in Sarande. That way, you could choose a quieter location as a base and get to enjoy the beaches more.

While in Sarande, we did a group tour to Blue Eye natural springs, an old castle on top of the hill that overlooked Sarande, and the stone wall city of Gjirokastër. We also took a separate trip to Butrint National Park to see the Roman Ruins. While on the side of the coast visiting Butrint and Ksamil, we stopped by The Mussel House on the water for a late lunch. It’s a mussel farm (they also have group tours) and restaurant. Every restaurant we went to, we ordered fish carpaccio. While the food was good here, my favorite meal was at Taverna Fish Filipi. It had the best seafood, was super cheap, and had a more local family vibe. So it’s not a place you would go to for a night out, but definitely a place to check out for good food.

Overall, I really enjoyed The Albanian Riviera. Super affordable, great food, friendly people. I would probably spend less time near the promenade though, and more time exploring the towns away from the main area. After this trip, I am now curious about exploring other parts of The Balkans, like Croatia and Montenegro.

Prague, Corfu, and Albania had been about 90 degrees each day. I had sweated through all my clothes and had to do laundry at my friend’s place in Prague before I left for the last leg of my trip. I was happy that I wore every single outfit though. Made me feel like I packed my carryon luggage efficiently. Even still, I was missing some key summer staples for traveling in that type of heat. Like more shorts, linen, and crochet outfits. By the time I got to Amsterdam, I was happy for some solo chill time on my own, but I was too tired to do anything! My feet ached and I was exhausted from walking seven miles a day every day. I was dehydrated and sleep-deprived. Plus, it was so cold and gloomy in Amsterdam. In the 60s for my first two days there, which was a drastic drop from the rest of my trip. I didn’t bring any warm clothes except my airplane clothes, which I didn’t want to wear for the next three days straight. I had to go shopping to get a couple of pieces of warmer clothes to swap into. I stayed at the Kimpton de Witt Hotel by the canals near Central Station. It was an easy walk from the train station, but I feel like it was a little further away from all the places I wanted to visit. Not terribly far, as it was still in the Central neighborhood, but because I was exhausted and at the end of my trip, every 15 min walk felt far. The hotel was nice, but a bit pricey (it would have been cheaper had I booked even one week earlier) considering I didn’t have a view (it was of a wall) and we weren’t located directly off the canal. But I liked my room. It was a good size, not too small, not too big. I liked that the hotel hosted happy hour every night in the lobby. The tram stop was in front of the hotel so that was also convenient.

My favorite eats in Amsterdam were: Chun Cafe, Pat’s Poffertjes, Bakkerijwolf, and Restaurant Domenica. Chun Cafe had the most delicious toast sandwiches and matcha. I liked it so much, I came back for a second time! You may see on social media that there are long lines because it’s a popular spot, but if you go first thing when it opens at 10am, you will have no problem getting in. There are two locations and I think the one closer to Central Station might be less crowded. I loved their ribeye bulgogi and garlic shrimp toasts. Maybe the garlic shrimp toast over the bulgogi. Very filling. I also tried their banana cloud matcha and their strawberry matcha and both were such a nice sweet treat! It was about 25 USD for a matcha and a toast. Poffertjes are mini Dutch pancakes and usually come with powdered sugar, but you can add on other toppings such as nutella and bananas. These were light, soft, and delicious! You can probably get them from any vendor, but Pat’s Poffertjes has multiple locations and was easy to find. Bakkerijwolf was a cute, casual cafe in The Nine’s area. I had a great watermelon beet salad there. I wanted to try their sticky toffee pudding but completely forgot to order it at the end of my meal. Restaurant Domenica was my special treat on the last night of my trip and it was fantastic! Modern Italian food and excellent service. I had the tomato burrata salad, langoustine linguine, and bigne dessert with pecan gelato. I definitely recommend it! It was about 87 USD for three courses and two glasses of wine at this upscale Italian restaurant (they charge 20 euros upon booking and deduct it from your final check).

I was also excited to try Indonesian food in Amsterdam upon learning that there was a large Indonesian community. I went to the popular Sampura restaurant and ordered a small rijsttafel (this translates to rice table), which is basically an Indonesian table sampler adapted by the Dutch. I was expecting it to be better or maybe I didn’t go to the right spot. But for a casual solo meal, I thought it was expensive at 71 USD for just me. This included the small table sampler, a side order of noodles because I was still hungry, and one cocktail. Service was not great because they were busy and almost didn’t even let me walk-in. Even though it had good ratings, I’d probably skip this spot. While in Amsterdam, I had to try pannenkoeken, which are regular Dutch pancakes. To me, they sort of tasted like open crepes, but slightly thicker. The one I had at Dutch Pancake Masters was a bit too rich for me. I prefer poffertjes. But maybe Upstairs Pancakes would have been better? It’s a popular choice among travelers and it looks like they have more options for flavors. Another place I checked out was Zero Zero for a quick sandwich. I discovered this spot on TikTok and was drawn to the idea of a focaccia sandwich with mortadella and stracciatella. But the focaccia was not soft. It was more thin and crispy and there was not enough filling. So I wouldn’t recommend this place either if it comes up in your search.

In terms of sightseeing in Amsterdam, I visited the Van Gogh museum and did a cheese and wine canal tour. The Van Gogh museum was quite small (and if you’re looking for Starry Night, that’s at The MoMA in NYC), but I enjoyed learning more about his life and seeing his other works. The canal tour was relaxing and beautiful on the one sunny day that I had in Amsterdam. However, Flagship Viator tours were awful with communication so choose your tour wisely. They emailed me the day before my tour date to inform me that my time-slot was canceled and to choose another. I chose another and they never responded back. I emailed them again two more times asking for confirmation, but there was no response. Finally, on the day of the tour, my last day in Amsterdam, I didn’t know what to do since I didn’t have much wiggle room. I showed up for the earlier time slot that I had selected in my email back to them since my time slot was supposedly canceled. Planned my whole morning around it, only to be told that I was not allowed on that tour and that I should have known because I didn’t get confirmation. Basically, they didn’t take accountability and they blamed me. They claimed my time slot was never canceled and that I needed to wait for my time. It was a bit annoying to deal with, but I would still recommend doing a canal tour, but just not with them.

If I had more time in Amsterdam and wasn’t so exhausted, I would have wanted to check out Vondel Park, visit another museum, try more restaurants, do a daytrip to Zaanse Schans, and explore some local markets. I couldn’t visit Anne Frank’s house because it booked up months in advance. I took the tram all around the city, but still did a significant amount of walking. The neighborhoods and canals were so charming. I walked through the Red-light district out of curiosity. That was interesting. Even though I enjoyed Amsterdam and would probably visit again (it’s only about a 7 hour direct flight from Boston), I found it to be a bit pricey for food and accommodations, probably the most expensive city of this trip. I also thought the city was a little lonely solo. There were groups of friends everywhere hanging out by the canal, having coffee or beer together. It felt more like a social city, especially in the summer. I did like how easy it was to get around the city via tram (you have to swipe getting on and off which was a bit annoying especially if the tram was crowded and you need to rush off or have luggage) and to get into the city from the airport via train to Central Station (only a 15 min ride from the airport for maybe 6 euros one way). But you definitely have to watch out while you’re walking around because you could easily get hit by a cyclist! They are everywhere and moving in every direction at a fairly fast speed!

When I returned home to LA, it took me a week to recover and a month for my feet to feel normal again. My feet stayed tender for awhile and a big patch of skin on the bottom peeled off towards the balls. I was in desperate need of a body and foot massage. I’m grateful for this unexpected summer adventure, but I am also happy to be home again. Including my time in Boston, I was gone for 5 weeks total!

You know what was nice about being on vacation though? Having to get dressed up and wear make-up every day with an agenda. Working remotely and living alone in LA, I really don’t have to get dressed at all if I don’t want to. Sometimes, I don’t leave the house for days (I know, it’s terrible). It was nice being forced to present myself to the world and have a purpose each day, rather than sitting alone at home at a computer. I do miss that. I probably wore more outfits on my summer vacation than I have all year! Isn’t that crazy? My clothes just don’t get used as much anymore these days. Once back home, I bought a few more summer items that I felt I was missing on my European vacay like linen shorts, flowy linen dress, crochet outfit for the beach, bathing suit cover up, a new bikini, and a straw purse. I don’t really need these items now, but for my next vacation, I will be ready! Wherever that may be! It’s so much fun planning outfits and packing.

Maybe I need to romanticize my life in LA more and make every day feel more like vacation. I’ve tried to be more intentional about it before, but it’s easy to fall back into a routine. Life just gets in the way sometimes. Traveling reminds me that there is a bigger world out there. It inspires me and resets my soul, and every once in a while, we all just need a reboot.

Fall in Paris

France has been a huge part of my life. I studied abroad in the French countryside when I was 19. I visited my French cousins who grew up there. My first job in fashion sent me to France and other parts of Europe. After my mother’s marriage to my stepfather, I also gained three French stepbrothers who grew up in France. But it has been awhile since I’ve visited. I haven’t been back to Paris since my eldest stepbrother’s wedding in 2018. Then pandemic happened and I was weary about traveling so far abroad up until this year when I traveled to Italy and Portugal in April and decided I felt comfortable traveling again. One of my stepbrothers had a baby last month and my parents planned to visit. At the last minute, I decided to join them briefly so that I could see my French family and take my parents out to a Michelin-star dinner in Paris. They deserved it. Plus, how often do you get to take your parents out to dinner in Paris?

Prior to going to Paris, there were a lot of articles circulating about bed bugs in the city of love. This made me nervous because I booked a budget hotel in the 5th district to save money. It turned out to be basic and clean, but too small. I had a single bed and had to walk around it to get from my suitcase to the bathroom. The walls were thin and I could hear so much noise starting at 6am, the time that I would start to fall back asleep because of my jet-lag. I could never get comfortable with the thought of bed bugs in my mind. As a result, my sleep was horrible the entire trip. I was so tired and sleep-deprived, especially after walking 5-7 miles a day. I didn’t intend to walk that much. It just happened. I Ubered when I needed to, but there was so much traffic that it took forever to get anywhere.

On a positive note, I loved not having a real schedule or itinerary for this trip. I have visited Paris many times before, so there weren’t any must-see sights for me. Usually, I’m an extreme planner when traveling. This time, the only things on my list was to take my parents to Michelin-star restaurant Frenchie and to see my French stepbrothers. It was nice to have time to leisurely stroll through the city, peruse the markets, and shop. I never have time to shop when I travel! I took breaks during my long walks to stop for champagne and a snack or tea and Nutella crepes. It was lovely. However, I did not enjoy the temperature dropping after my first two days there. I am not made for cold weather.

On my first night in Paris, I decided to roam around the city and then grab drinks and dinner in the 11th district. I was hoping to wait in line for dinner at Clamato, sister restaurant of Michelin-star restaurant Septime. I had originally tried to get reservations for Septime, but it was impossible. As I waited for Clamato to open, I got drinks at Septime La Cave, their wine bar. I met an American expat who had a hookup at Septime and was able to get me a seat for dinner that night. Because I was curious about all the hype surrounding this restaurant, I immediately took him up on his offer. I was so jet-lagged though and was falling asleep at dinner. Seven courses is a lot of dishes to sit through when you’re tired. Septime had a lovely vibe, but I must say, I think it is completely overrated. The dishes were very veggie-forward, which is great, I love veggies. But I didn’t think it was worth the price tag, impossible reservations, and hype. The next night, I took my parents to the Michelin-star restaurant Frenchie. My parents and I enjoyed it very much! It was supposed to be five courses, but with all the little extras, it turned out to be twelve! The plating and presentation was beautiful. A lot more intricate than Septime. The dishes felt more elevated with a mixture of seafood, including lobster tail, duck, sauces, and multiple parts to each course. I highly recommend Frenchie over Septime.

I visited La Grande Epicurie in Saint Germain district. It’s a five floor gourmet market with artisanal food items, produce, seafood, butcher shop, wine shop, and kitchenware. It was heaven. So many goodies! I love how Europe has so many mini bottles and jars of everything. So cute! I wanted to buy everything. Definitely a must-do for foodies visiting Paris. I walked by Bread & Roses, a charming bakery/cafe, and wanted to stop there but didn’t get a chance. I would add this to my list for next time.

My youngest stepbrother hosted Sunday brunch. His wife made a feast for us. Cooking and an appreciation for food runs in our family. She loves to cook and is also a very skilled baker. She made everything from scratch. That same stepbrother and his wife also took me and my parents out to lunch at a Chinese restaurant called La Taverne de Zhao Opera that I really liked. They had great dumplings and noodles.

I can’t go too long without Asian food so I found myself seeking Asian food after only two days in Paris. There is such a thing as overindulgence and I felt that after my first two nights of Michelin-star dinners. My stomach was tired of eating and I just wanted comfort food, which for me is rice, soup, or noodles. I’m not that into bread and there are only so much tartines, croissants, and pastries that I could eat. I stopped at The Hood for Hainanese chicken and rice and Mirama for a bowl of Chinese wonton noodle soup. Mmmhmm. Just what my belly craved.

When I originally booked the trip, I felt guilty. I had already been to Europe earlier this year and I have my birthday trip planned for next month. But I had the time and time is currency you can’t get back. I’m happy that I took the opportunity to visit my family in Paris and spend more time with my parents because those experiences are priceless.

Road Trip to Montreal

Ever since my mother’s brain injury last year, I’ve been visiting Boston more often to check in on her. Things are different and will never be the same. A fact of life I have to accept. Life is short and I want to take advantage of the time I have with my mother. I thought it would be nice to take her and my stepdad on a road trip, to change up their environment and do something new, especially since the last year has been challenging for them. For all of us really. A couple years prior, I took them on a road trip up the coast of Maine to Acadia National Park. This time, I contemplated where we should go next—Cape Cod, Rhode Island, Vermont? But my mother is not a nature or beach person. Then my stepdad mentioned Montreal and immediately, I thought YES YES YES.

My stepdad is from France and he speaks French. He had been talking about Montreal for awhile now and it totally slipped my mind. I had been a couple times in my early twenties, decades ago, but had only been in the winter. I had never been during warm, summer weather. Only a 5 hour drive from Boston, Montreal was a great choice. So of course after he suggested it, my Type A side went straight into planning mode.

We spent 3 nights at the Hotel Place D’Arms in old town, located diagonally across from the Notre Dame Basilica. This hotel was in a great location within walking distance of some great restaurants and historic sights. We arrived late afternoon and started our trip with cocktails on their Terrasse Rooftop. Then we walked to dinner in the downtown area at the most special spot, a restaurant named Toque. Twenty years ago, I first dined at Toque. This restaurant has survived over two decades, which includes a pandemic. I remember it being quite fancy and impressive even when I was young. It was nostalgic to get the opportunity to revisit so many years later with my parents. Even my younger sister dined there once before upon my suggestion years ago. I have a more refined palate now and also higher expectations. Did my 20 year old self know good food back then? Apparently, YES. Lol. Toque is French fine dining with excellent service, excellent cocktails, and excellent dishes that were delicate, indulgent, and beautifully plated. As an adult with my parents, I got the chance to order a variety of cocktails, appetizers, entrees, and dessert to share. When I was in my early twenties, I went with friends and I think we only ordered one main dish each. We were simple. Even though we didn’t get to sample very much back then, I still remember being impressed. I’m still impressed. My parents were impressed. It was the best way to celebrate our first night in Montreal.

On our second day, we walked through Rue St. Paul in old town near the port, which is basically a cute cobblestone street with souvenir shops and restaurants, and across Place Jacques Cartier where there are street performers and more shops. We had lunch in Chinatown, visited Atwater Marche, saw the canal, stopped at Rue Wellington. So many blog posts were suggesting Rue Wellington, including TimeOut Mag, which stated that Rue Wellington was one of the best streets in the world. I have to STRONGLY disagree. Rue Wellington is lame. Not worth your time. It’s a promenade of outdated stores, vintage shops (but not the cool kind), what looked like old furniture stores or shops from the 50s. There may be some cool resto bars but I was not impressed at all. I also was disappointed by the canals. When I talked to a local, he said that there are parts of the canals that look dingey but other areas that are nicer. However you really have to walk awhile to find the nicer spots. But it was too hot and we didn’t have the energy to do that. Atwater market was lovely though. Lots of fresh flowers, as well as produce, and little shops selling artisanal food products. I regret that I didn’t use this day to visit Mile End and Marche Jean Talon instead. Maybe that area would have been cooler than Rue Wellington, the canals, and Atwater Marche.

At night, we dined at Iberico Taverne e Tapas Espagnole in Mont Royal. Mont Royal was really cute. Another promenade but much better than Rue Wellington. Mont Royal was lively. Lots of people. Ice cream shops, restaurants, boutiques. Plus Ibericos was so delightful. Charming little Spanish tapas bar. All of the tapas were delish. I was disappointed with the seafood paella though. I didn’t think it was that good, but I enjoyed all the other dishes.

On our 3rd day, we visited the Botanical Gardens. It was about $15 USD for a ticket to get in. It was such a beautiful and peaceful way to spend a couple hours strolling. I loved the rose garden, the Chinese garden, and the Lily pad pond. They also have an herb and vegetable garden. Great area for photos too.

For lunch, we returned to Mont Royal and ate at L’Avenue. This came highly recommended on Tripadvisor though I’m not sure why. It played loud club music. We had to wait in line for almost 30 minutes. The dishes were gigantic and just a lot of food with not much flavor. I would not recommend this place either.

On our last night in Montreal, we dined at Monarque, within walking distance from our hotel. I believe it’s a newish French restaurant that has been open for less than a couple years. It has a fun, trendy vibe in the brasserie and a more formal dining room in the back. We enjoyed our appetizers and dessert. Our main dishes were good too but not the amazing-I-want-to-lick-my-plate type good. But in general, we enjoyed the food and the experience.

All in all, we had a great time in Montreal. Prior to going, I did so much research. But it still can be hard to decide what to do and where to dine when you visit a new city because articles and blogs all come from the experience of people who may not have your same preferences. I also read so much conflicting opinions in group forums and on TripAdvisor. For myself, I think I chose a couple bad options for lunch and day activities (Rue Wellington + L’Avenue). But you just never really know sometimes no matter how much research and planning you do. But I must say, all of our dinners were excellent, especially Toque.

So glad I got a chance to take my parents on a road-trip to Montreal. They would not have done it on their own otherwise. If you want to see all the yummy food I ate, you’ll have to check out my Instagram because there are too many to post here.

Spring Break: Italy & Portugal

It has been awhile since I have written. Life can be so confusing. I think I’m going through a mid-life crisis. Is that possible? Something had been feeling off and it had been difficult to pinpoint. But I knew, I needed to change my environment, even if temporarily, to change my energy, flow, and focus. I took advantage of an opportunity to escape to Europe because my neighbor was going to be spending an extended amount of time in Italy. I had been to Italy so many times before, but it had been a decade since. Plus, I love Italian food, pasta particularly. At the very last minute, I booked a trip because nothing was really happening for me in LA and I had the time. I had been stressed. I had been overwhelmed. I had been stuck. So why not? And since I love exploring new countries, why not add in Portugal too?

Florence (4 nights): My first stop was Florence, where I joined my neighbor and her sister. This brought back so many memories. I had first visited Florence when I was 19 years old, with two friends, after we completed our summer abroad in the countryside of France. I was so young! A baby! This was pre-technology and pre-smart phones. I stayed in hostels and used guidebooks. Back then, hostels were not as nice, modern, or fun as they are today. I roughed it. I guess my curiosity and desire to explore was always a part of me and it felt good to get back in touch with that part of me again. Travel is a privilege but adventure is within you. Since my neighbor was staying in Italy for the month, she got an Airbnb a bit outside of the city. This was a little annoying because we had to walk to get to a tram to get into the city, and then walk a bunch more. If you can, stay in the city center. It will make your life so much easier. During this trip, we dined at some really lovely restaurants such as La Menagere (a little fancy and romantic) and La Giostra (charming). We did not have reservations at either. Since Europeans typically eat late, we were able to get tables without reservations because we arrived early. However, I think we got lucky. You should definitely make reservations if you want to eat at the best spots. Some of the random spots we chose were not as good, but we were sometimes desperate because we didn’t have reservations and didn’t want to wait hours. We went wine tasting in Tuscany. Walked all over the city, averaging at least 15,000 steps a day, which is anywhere between 5-8 miles. We indulged in gelato. Since I had been to Florence before, I didn’t feel obligated to wait in line to visit all of the museums. I don’t even think I have the patience now to do it. I was still very exhausted from all the walking though. We saw the Duomo, walked across Ponte Vecchio, shopped at the Central Market (bought truffle slices), climbed up to Piazzale Michelangelo for a view of the city, and explored many of the small, cobblestone streets. There were a few restaurants/bars that I wish we had time to try, such as Floreal (cool looking bar), lo Osteria Personale (small, quaint, wine-bar vibe, Michelin-rated), Gurdulu (casual, hip), and Zeb (casual, diner style, Michelin rated) in the Santo Spirito neighborhood. But I guess I’ll have to save that for next time!

Rome (3 nights): Rome was my second stop and also the first part of my solo adventure. We took the train to Rome together from Florence but then separated at the end of the day. They proceeded onto Naples and Pompeii and I decided to stay in Rome. I had not really traveled abroad solo since pre-pandemic. I was a little nervous about this when I booked the trip but once I got into my groove, I felt in my element. I stayed near the Trevi fountain at Relais 95 Trevi for one night but I would not do that again. The hotel was fine with a rooftop terrace and friendly staff. The room was small though and the area was overly crowded with tourists. The second two nights, I stayed in Trastavere, which I preferred. It’s close enough but away from the touristy sites. I stayed at Palazzo Baj, which is more like a guest house. The room was spacious and clean, but the bed was memory foam and super uncomfortable. Memory foam beds and pillows are something your body needs to get used to. It’s not something that should be offered for a random stay at a hotel. I’m surprised that they only provided memory foams beds because it’s not for everyone. I think a standard mattress would be more universally pleasing. The staff was super friendly and helpful but they were rarely to be seen on the premises. If you email the hotel in advance, it takes days to get a response. You have to make an appointment to check in. When you get your hotel confirmation, you can’t respond back to the email from which it comes from. You have to respond to the email listed at the bottom of the confirmation email. I made that mistake and waited days with no response. But even when you email the correct address, it still takes days and follow up. They didn’t provide complimentary water in the room but when I had written a review about this on Tripadvisor, the owner said that they provided complimentary water. I didn’t see it. I only saw small water bottles in the mini bar which had a listed fee. They had complimentary water in a large carafe in the lounge but they didn’t refill the bottle regularly. Since there was no staff around to inform, I couldn’t refill my water bottle from the water in the lounge and I wasn’t sure if the tap water from the faucet was safe. Sorry, don’t mean to go off about water but with all the walking, I was exhausted and dehydrated and sometimes did not get the chance to search for a market to pick up a bottle. The guesthouse was also a little isolated from the main area of Trastavere, about a 12 minute walk. There aren’t as many mid-range hotel options in Trastavere so you could also stay in Piazza Navona or Campe de Fiore or Vatican if you want something quiet. Airbnb is an option too. But I would stay away from Trevi, Pantheon, and the Colosseum.

The last time I had been to Rome was with my college boyfriend when I was 22 years old. Even a second time around, the colosseum was still mesmerizing. I took a fun cooking class and learned how to make tiramisu and pasta from scratch without a machine. I ate so much pasta and dessert. I tried Maritozza con La Panna for the first time because it’s in the windows of every pastry shop. It’s a sweet bun filled with milk cream. I enjoyed it but it was a little too much cream and bread for me. But definitely worth trying or sharing with someone! I also had Sfogliatelle for the first time. This I could handle because they have mini versions. Though I could probably eat the entire full sized version because that’s how much I loved it! But I wouldn’t say that they are made equally at every café. I had quite a few of these and only one that I really loved. Usually, they are chocolate, custard, pistachio, or jam filled. I found one that was filled with Chantilly cream and that was heaven! I loved the crispiness of this pastry. I had the best charcuterie board at Pane E Salami (tavern style) near the Trevi Fountain. They also offer sandwiches, vegetarian boards, and bruschetta. The cured meats and tomatoes are just so much tastier in Italy! I dined at Coromandel (cozy breakfast spot near past Piazza Navona) and Tonnarello (very popular, casual family style restaurant with long lines), Osteria Ponte Sisto (charming, quaint), and Mama Eat (got pizza) all in the Trastevere neighborhood. I would have loved to have had time to check out La Rosetta (for seafood in the Pantheon vicinity, expensive), Roscioli (small, Michelin Rated, in Campe de Fiori area), Gelataria Valentino (Trevi), and Feffo for pastries (in Vatican). By the end of my Roman holiday, I could not eat anymore food or drink anymore wine. I wanted to try everything and my stomach was just not big enough to handle it all! I recommend having a coffee and pastry in the morning, a very light lunch, gelato or pastry as a snack, and then pasta or pizza for dinner. The Tiber river reminds me of the Siene in Paris. Live music, couples strolling by, dim lights. Very romantic. I will definitely be back in Italy and passing through Rome again. I would love to explore Puglia and I haven’t been to the Amalfi coast. Sardinia island sounds beautiful too. So many places to explore!

Lisbon (2 nights): My next stop was Lisbon, Portugal. It was my first time in Portugal and I absolutely loved it. People were not as friendly as in Italy, but it was still a great experience. Portugal reminded me of a European version of California. The food was delicious! All my favorites—clams and prawns simmered in garlic and wine. My meals were light because it was mostly seafood, which was more my vibe. Meals were significantly less expensive than the United States and for seafood too! I loved their Pastel de Nata egg custard tarts. Crispy, flakey goodness. Lisbon was still a lot of walking, with cobblestone streets and lots of hills, which was challenging for me after I had just completed an exhausting week in Italy. I wish I had more time in Lisbon actually. I stayed at My Story Hotel Ouro for 2 nights in the Baixa neighborhood, walked around the Alfama district, lunched at the Time Out Lisboa Market, explored the LX Factory (hipster, warehouse area converted into art studios, shops, a variety of restaurants with outdoor space and live music), and got Pastel de Natas at Manteigara. Many blogs suggest going to Bairro Alto for drinks, dinner, and nightlife. Personally, I did not like this area. It’s very hilly. The little cobblestone streets are charming but the area felt very trashy to me. Spring break college drunk vibe. I wouldn’t recommend this area or maybe I’m too old for it. I wouldn’t stay at My Story Hotel Ouro again. The service was not that friendly and the hallways wreaked of their perfume. The room was tiny. On my first night in Lisbon, I felt so worn down by all the travel and walking. My allergies were acting up and my body reacted to all the cigarette smoke. So all I wanted on my first night in Lisbon was noodle soup! Not too far from my hotel, I found Boa Bao and was pleasantly surprised at how delicious the Asian food was! I ordered the most amazing pho and duck bao. It’s a fun spot with a vibe. They offer a variety of modern Asian food. In addition to Boa Bao, I was surprised at how international Lisbon was. I also had the most delicious breakfast at Dear Breakfast in Alfama. I loved Antiga Wine Bar, bordering on the Alfama district as well. It’s small and quaint but has a really good light menu. I spent a day visiting Sintra, Pena Palace, and Cascais. This was part of a tour, but I personally, didn’t think it was worth it. I would have rather spent that time exploring more of Lisbon. The tour was $70 and didn’t even included tickets into the palace so basically it was a glorified taxi ride with multiple stops and a tour guide. If you want, you could visit the palace on your own by taking a train, which is so much cheaper. It’s only 30 minutes away. But my tour was all day because of all the stops. I found the tour sort of boring so I don’t recommend it. Spend more time in Lisbon. Avenida da Liberdade is their high end shopping district. I walked though it but unless you want to do some high end shopping, I didn’t think there was much to see. There might be some fun vibey restaurants to check out in that area though if you are looking for that.

Lagos (3 nights): After 2 days in Lisbon, I took the Rede Espresso bus (I purchased them online 2 days before) to the south of Portugal to explore Lagos in the the Algarve region. The bus ticket there was only $15 euro and the return ticket was $10 euro. It’s a 3.5 hour ride and it’s fairly comfortable with wifi and a toilet on board. Remember to bring 50 cents to use the bus toilet or get change from the driver during your ride. It’s located in the middle of the bus by the side entrance, labeled WC on level with the lower steps, lower than the seat level, almost hidden. I didn’t see it the first time because I was looking at the back of the bus or an elevated bathroom. On my first ride, I held in my bladder and didn’t drink any water for fear of needing to pee. I was dehydrated. I don’t want you to make the same mistake! The only reason I noticed the toilet on my second bus ride, back to Lisbon, was because I saw someone walk out of it. Anyway, that was a learning experience. You can also take a train to Lagos but I think it’s more expensive and not direct. You’d have to take the train to Faro and then switch trains to get to Lagos, whereas the bus is direct. Both take the same amount of time. I spent 3 nights and 3 days in Lagos and it was lovely! However, I would not recommend staying at the Tivoli Resort. It was awful! The photos on the website looked way better than reality. The service was terrible. My room was like a mile away from the front desk and uphill within the resort as well, and it was completely outdated and sort of creepy. The staff members were negative, unwelcoming and almost rude, unhelpful, and didn’t even offer to assist with my luggage. It was mostly occupied by senior citizens. The location was good though. It’s near the bus station and the train station and it’s only a 10 minute (uphill) walk into town. Old town is cute with so many shops and restaurants. Although, I’m not sure you need to stay near town. Uber is quite common in Portugal and a lot less expensive than taxis. You can stay further away for a better relaxed vacation vibe and just Uber into town. Or if you rent a car, even better. Some people I met in Lagos were staying at the Belmar Spa and Beach Resort and had highly recommended it. The reason I didn’t stay as far was because I was traveling solo and didn’t want to feel as isolated. But in hindsight, solo or not, being a little further away in a nicer spot would have made my trip more relaxing. There are only so many times you may even want to walk into old town. Casa Mae and Lagos Avenida hotels also looked like great options for a hotel in town, but a little pricier.

On my first full day, I Ubered (less than 10 minutes) to Praia de Don Ana because it was a recommended beach with dramatic cliffs. It was beautiful but the water had a lot of kelp which wasn’t pleasant to be in but was scenic for pictures. Near Praia de Don Ana is Carvi Beach Hotel where Lucas Rooftop restaurant is located. After the beach, I stopped here to have more Portuguese clams (Bulhao Pato). Then I Ubered (less than 10 minutes) to Ponte de Piedade cliffs where there are a group of breathtaking rock formations. These are the same rock formations that I saw on my boat tour the next day, but from a different angle. It was a little windy in this area so you have to be careful when taking photos as you can fall off the cliff! But it was seriously so beautiful. You can actually walk a lot of the coast of Lagos stopping at all the sights via Seven Hanging Valley trail, but I did not have the energy for more walking. I walked some of the trail because the walkway/path intersected at Ponte de Piedade and Praia de Don Ana. I walked by Praia de Camilo beach (another small beach with cliffs) from Ponte de Piedade but was too tired to explore that beach. It looked like it could have been nicer than Praia de Don Ana (perhaps cleaner without kelp?). It’s located right next to Camilo Restaurant, which looks like a good stop for good food and a view. I think that in hindsight, Praia de Camilo beach and Camilo restaurant for lunch would have been a better option vs Praia de Don Ana and Lucas Rooftop because you can walk there from Ponte de Piedade (which I really enjoyed). For laying out and enjoying the beach without kelp, I really enjoyed relaxing at Duna Beach. It’s an easy, white sand beach that stretches for miles. No dramatic cliffs or rocks but super relaxing, calm, clean, clear waters. It has several restaurants on the beach, so you can also stop for food and drinks easily without having to climb up steep steps. On my last day in Lagos, I went on an amazing half day (4 hour) Blue Cruise boat tour with Blue Fleet. It was so relaxing, which was the type of tour I was looking for. It was only $55 and included snacks, lunch, and unlimited drinks while you tour the coast and caves of the south of Portugal. They also give you time to swim. The boat has a small bathroom as well. I met the loveliest people on the tour. I had originally wanted to see the famous Benagil caves but all the tours from Lagos were speedboats and didn’t allow you to disembark so I didn’t think it was worth it. And it didn’t sound relaxing. April is preseason for boat tours though so there may be more options in the summer. Plus, Lagos is a bit far from Benagil. If you’re staying closer, perhaps in Portimao, there may be better tours offered to explore Benagil. My tour went up the coast past Ponte de Piedade, which is in the other direction. I dined at Mimar for wine and tapas and Don Sebastio (Michelin rated casual seafood restaurant with large portions) for seafood rice. I would have loved to try Restaurant de Artistas (also Michelin rated but fancier, small bites) but I was saving that special meal for my last night of my vacation in Lisbon. Mar D’Estorias was a cute little shop in town that also has a rooftop restaurant with a small menu. I also wanted to try Tasca Jota, London Tiger Coffee, Taberna Da Mo, Taninos Wine & Kitchen.

Lisbon (1 additional night): On my last night in Lisbon, Portugal, and my European vacation (2 weeks), I stayed at the My Story Hotel Figueira and loved it. Spacious room, lively restaurant, great service, and a central location. It was the perfect accommodation for the end of my trip. Not to be confused with the other My Story Hotels. I stayed at the My Story Hotel Ouro during the first part of my Lisbon trip and I did not like it at all. Tiny rooms, unfriendly, rude staff, and really strong, unpleasant perfume scented hallways and rooms. Fortunately, the Figueira location was so much nicer! Still had a similar perfume scent as the Ouro location, but a lot more mild. There are also alternative boat accommodation options (The Homeboat Company) at the marina that I think could be fun to stay at. If I had more time, I would have tried that! To celebrate my last night in Lisbon, I enjoyed a special 3 hour and 11 course meal at this charming Michelin rated restaurant on a cute street in the Principal Real district Chef Louise Bourrat won the French version of Bravo Top Chef and manages a women run kitchen. I sat front row at the kitchen bar and got to watch the chefs in action but their back patio is really charming as well. There were two tasting menus to choose from, one inclusive of seafood and meat and the other entirely vegetarian, with the option to add on a wine pairing. My favorite dish was the lamb, which is surprising because I hardly ever eat lamb. The amberjack hamachi was another favorite but all the dishes were delish It was the loveliest last night in Lisbon! I wish I had time to explore more of Principal Real because it looked charming and upscale. I would have loved to have had time for drinks and a bite at Lumi (upscale restaurant with a rootop terrace with a view in the upper part of Bairro Alto, need a reservation) and ceviche at A Cevicheria. If you’re looking for coffee shops, Comoba (near Time Out Market) and Hygge (near Avenue de Liberade) were also recommended to me. In addition to the clams and prawns, tinned fish, particularly sardines, are very popular in Portugal. I don’t love the idea of tinned fish so I didn’t try any at restaurants because I didn’t have anyone to share it with and preferred to pick other dishes. But I did buy some as gifts to bring back home. They serve their tinned fish on toast. Fish croquettes are also popular but I didn’t love it when I tried it. I much preferred ordering clams, prawns, and mixed seafood rice. Whenever I ordered clams or prawns, I’d order a side of rice and pour that into the leftover garlic sauce. Portugal very much reminded me of California. It was charming with it’s cobblestone streets, hills, views, coast, and colorful buildings with beautiful patterned tiles and romantic iron balconies. It’s very international and has delicious seafood. I would love to return and visit Porto and other parts of the Algarve region. I was surprised to have met so many Americans on this part of the trip, on my tours, and when I dined solo sitting at the restaurant bars.

Some travel tips: Most places accept credit card, but majority did not accept American Express. For the most part, you can get away with not bringing cash. However, a few coins were needed for toilets in public places, such as buses, bus stations, train stations, and tourist sights. Some taxis in Portugal did not accept credit card but that was before I discovered I could Uber. I didn’t Uber at all in Italy. It was not really available in Florence and in Rome, I didn’t even bother. It didn’t occur to me because in Florence, it wasn’t an option. We took the tram, mostly walked everywhere, and called a taxi if needed. But in Portugal, I’m thankful the hotel staff recommended Uber because it was less than half the cost of a taxi. Most people in both countries speak English. A great meal in Italy and Portugal are a fraction of the cost in the U.S. and you don’t need to tip. Wear comfy shoes because you’ll be walking a lot, over cobblestone, and uphill. I packed cute shoes, which I managed to wear to Boubou on my very last night in Lisbon but only because I Ubered. Most days, I wore sneakers. I brought one pair of day sneakers for all the walking (Vans) and a pair of nicer white sneakers for dinner and going out at night, that I could wear with pants or a dress. Nice shoes will be ruined with the cobblestone. Most hotels don’t provide water. If they do, it’s a small bottle and then they’ll over-charge you 3 euro to drink their small bottled water in their mini fridge. Better to go to a market and buy a big bottle of water for 60 cent to bring back to the hotel. Europeans often are on strike. You will encounter delays with flights, trains, and traffic because of protests, which they refer to as “manifestations.” Bring allergy meds because of the cigarette smoke. People will rudely smoke next you at a restaurant. Make dinner reservations. Europeans eat late. A lot of restaurants don’t even open until 12:30pm for lunch and 7pm or 7:30pm for dinner. If you want to eat at a restaurant without a reservation, I’d recommend going on the early end when it opens. Otherwise, you might get turned down or stuck waiting. Check out my Instagram for more photos and details of the restaurants I visited and meals I ate. All vacation story recaps are in my highlights. Make sure you like them, share, and follow me!

Oh gosh. Writing this blog post makes me really hungry. It also makes me wish I was still on vacay. The wonderful thing about vacation is that my only goal each day was to explore, try some place new, decide which delicious meal I’m going to eat next, go on a new adventure, and do something that brings me joy. It was all about embracing happiness and pleasure, which can be difficult to do at home when you’re stressed and overwhelmed. I enjoyed being forced to be present and disconnect a little bit from technology, reality, people, toxicity, and responsibilities. I haven’t done that in a long time. It was GREAT! I hope I can continue protecting those boundaries now that I am back home. I hope I can hold onto the peace that I felt there for a little bit longer. I’d like to practice integrating that peace and calm into my everyday life. I think I have awakened my travel bug. Where should I go next?

Eating My Way Through Panama

I love to travel every year for my birthday and this year was no different. I decided to do a Yoga Retreat in Panama, which allowed me to check off another country from my list. My birthday was back in November but time has flown by since! Spent one and a half weeks in Panama, then returned to several of my own birthday celebrations, then Thanksgiving, and now suddenly we’re deep into December holiday parties. And this is the reason for my super late post.

Panama is very similar to Costa Rica—mountains, lots of greenery, rainforests, beaches, and a beautiful countryside. The advantage that Panama has over Costa Rica is that the capital has a lot more to do—the famous Panama Canal, Old Town, variety of restaurants, and luxury hotels. I spent a few days in Panama City and was impressed with the food. Some of the restaurants I ate at are Lazotea, Mahalo, Maito, Santa Rita, and Fonda La Que Hay. While Maito is one of Latin America’s 50’s Best, my favorite experience was at Lazotea. Lazotea is set on the rooftop of a building in Panama’s Old Town. Fun ambiance and beautiful view. The dishes were delectible and creative. Their dessert was a show in itself with fresh rose petals freeze-dried at the table and sprinkled on top of a lychee mousse. Check out the reel I made showcasing my night at their restaurant. I also really loved exploring the night life and having drinks at La Pulperia, Casa Casco, Tantalo, Pedro’s Rum Bar, Selina, and Hotel La Compania. I stayed at American Trade Hotel, which is a great hotel conveniently located in the main square of old town. However, I really loved Hotel La Compania down the street. It’s a little pricier, which is why I didn’t end up staying there, but in hindsight, it probably would have been worth it. They have great hotel bar, a delicious restaurant (I had a really good matcha latte and salad there), and a cute courtyard. To see more pictures from my trip, make sure you check out my Instagram.

Most of my time was spent in Cambutal, which is a seven hour drive from the city. Cambutal is a small beachside town north of the Panama city, with black sanded beaches and surrounded by mountains. While the town is tiny and quaint, there are many outdoor excursions and adventure options available, such as surfing, horseback riding, hiking, waterfalls, and biking. However, I had the unfortunate bad luck of rain for 5 of the 6 days I was staying at the Sansora Resort in Cambutal. Because it was the end of rainy season, I had expected rain but was thinking it would be more like spurts of rain. I was wrong. It POURED for days nonstop. Not sure if I caught a virus or if it was the constant rain and humidity, but I got sick on my third day in Panama, which made most of the trip quite uncomfortable unfortunately.

Yoga classes were intense and I definitely got a good workout in. Other than that, I didn’t do much else but rest since I was sick. Some people went surfing, hiking, and horseback riding in the rain, but timing for that was limited due to the weather. The food was amazing though. We were served three meals a day and our dinner was a 3-course production. I don’t normally eat that much. I ate very well. So of course, I returned home at least 5 pounds heavier.

The trip wasn’t as relaxing as I had hoped. In addition to the rain and being sick, my only flip flops broke at the beginning of the trip, my clothes were stinky (from the humidity at the beach), I got 20 mosquito bites, 2 gigantic pimples on my face (that lefts scars). I was happy to return home to sunny LA. It’s definitely easy to take what you have for granted. And sometimes you need to leave to appreciate what you have. I don’t think I will be doing anymore yoga retreats for my birthday. I used to love doing them. They have always been a healing and spiritual experience for me. This trip did not feel that way for me (for additional reasons I didn’t mention here). But maybe I don’t need them anymore. Maybe I’ve outgrown them. Who knows. But there will definitely be more travel in my future.

Boston Trip, Food, and Random Thoughts

So August came and went and somehow we’re in October already! I spent most of August trying to pick myself back up again post-Covid isolation. Being social helped bit by bit. I even did some retail therapy and ya know what? It worked! Lol. I hadn’t really shopped all year but treating myself to some new outfits, expensive French perfume, and a fancy facial made me feel brand new again.

I went back to Boston to visit Mom for a bit in early September. While in Boston, I had the best food! As I always do. Had so many oysters! Mom always liked oysters but even more so now because after her injury, they go down her throat more easily than other foods. She still struggles with her appetite as a result of her brain injury and hospitalization. So I’ve been taking Mom and my stepdad out for oysters and cocktails and now I enjoy it even more myself because it makes her happy and that makes me happy. My parents aren’t really motivated to go out to nice places and explore on their own so it’s sort of up to me to help bring them joy because they don’t know how to do it on their own (not that I want that responsbility, I struggle a lot with it myself). They’ve worked so hard their entire lives and have survived so much hardship. They don’t know how to indulge, enjoy life, and have fun or seek joy. How could they? It’s something I have had to learn myself. Not that I’m an expert but my generation is more open to self-care, community, open dialogue, and reaching out for support for mental health than my parents’ generation. I also cooked for my parents while I was home. I made them some dishes they have never had before like my Steak with Colombian Aji Sauce, Coconut Turmeric Chicken Soup and my Mushroom Marsala. And I couldn’t leave Boston without making Mom my version of Cambodian Kuyteav Noodle Soup.

The sun is setting earlier and it’s getting dark sooner. This time of year always starts to make me feel sad, as endings usually do. I must have inherited this from my mother. She feels this way around this time of year in the east coast, when the cooler breeze floats through her windows and she can hear the sound of crickets from her garden. And my year is almost over as my birthday is in November. As with every birthday in the last few years, I have to plan some type of trip to give myself something to look forward to. So guess where I’m going this year? To Panama! I’m going to be attending a wellness yoga retreat at an eco-friendly holistic luxury beachfront resort situated away from the main civiliation on Panama’s coast. I’m VERY excited to get away and participate in this wellness journey. This year has been tough and I could use all the healing I can get!

Upwards and onwards.

Year of the Tiger

Chinese / Lunar New Year is tomorrow! I celebrated with my friends by going out for Peking Duck at Ji Rong in San Gabriel Valley. This dish from Beijing is characterized by its crispy, thin skin, served with spring onion, cucumber, and plum sauce, wrapped in a warm, soft, thin pancake like a tortilla. It was so delish and such a special treat! Peking duck is a specialized dish and is not often found at most Chinese restaurants. Ji Rong had been on my list for years and I was so happy I finally got to try it for New Years.

When I was younger and used to live in Boston, Chinese New Year was such a fun celebration with my family, cousins, and uncles. So much food was made. We prayed to our ancesters. The adults gave us red envelopes with money. I miss celebrating with my family. It has been so long. If it weren’t for the rise of Omicron Covid cases, I would have flown home. I don’t think I have ever gotten to celebrate Chinese New Year with my family as an adult?

As I mentioned in a few posts back, the holidays were depressing and isolating because I was sick and everyone seemed to have Omicron. I think a lot of people’s plans were ruined. So for the month of January, I committed myself to going out every weekend to get myself out of my sweatpants and out of my house. I pretty much stuck to the plan and I’m exhausted! Lol. It’s tiring being out every weekend socializing. And expensive. I think I’ve gotten so used to being a homebody that I’ve forgotten how much things cost and the energy required to be on the constant go. It has been a good distraction though and I’ve gotten to wear new clothes that had been sitting unused in my closet. It does feel nice to get dressed and put on makeup and feel pretty. But I also felt a little bit guilty. The past few months prior, I had gotten accustomed to working nonstop and all weekend—on my consulting, my food blog, my brand partnerships, and my cookbook—that it felt strange taking weekends off to have fun. It didn’t feel productive and I was so used to feeling productive.

I’m still learning how to give myself grace and to not be so hard on myself. I think a part of me feels like I don’t deserve a break yet because I haven’t achieved certain goals. But I need to give myself credit for the things I did achieve and I need to allow myself to celebrate those small wins. I also need to learn how to pivot. If certain goals aren’t working out for me, maybe I need to shift my focus onto something else. Mix things up until something sticks. I think part of the reason I felt guilty for having fun this month is because I felt a little bit lost in life in terms of what I wanted to work towards next. How can I have fun if I don’t know what I want? Do I need to know what I want all the time though? Do I always need to know the next step? I could sit on my couch, in my comfy sweatpants, and dwell on my existential crisis all day, but answers don’t just come to you because you’re waiting for them. You have to keep on moving, moving forward and sometimes around in circles, and eventually it will find you. But not on the couch. Answers don’t come to you on the couch, unfortunately. At least not in my experience.

I think I finally found it though. The answers I was looking for. Or at least pieces of it. And it would not have come to me without going out, interacting and socializing with people, and having random conversations that inspire ideas. I guess the fun was productive. The ideas would not have come to me sitting at home trying to will the answers into existence in my brain. Anyway, I know I’m being cryptic because I don’t necessarily want to spell out my personal goals publicly, but I’m sure you understand what I’m trying to say and can relate.

Happy Lunar New Year my friends! Year of the Tiger. Another chance to reset. And I think I’m feeling much more prepared and ready for it this time around than on Jan 1st. Thank goodness.

Burnt Basque Cheesecake

I’m not a huge baker, but lately I’ve been enjoying trying new dessert recipes. Maybe it was the holiday season that got me in the mood. Desserts can sometimes be challenging to get right but they are pretty simple to make. It’s always nice to have a sweet treat throughout the week that you made yourself! I’ve had a Burnt Basque Cheesecake a few times in the last year even though it’s not a common dessert you find at restaurants. I had been wanting to test it out myself for a while. Although I generally like graham cracker crusts, the burnt edges of this crust-less cheesecake is different. It’s light and sort of cake-y. I thought my version was pretty good! You can freeze it too if you don’t want to eat the entire cheesecake on your own or you can even gift it.

BURNT BASQUE CHEESECAKE (serves 6-8)

Ingredients:

·       18 oz cream cheese

·       ¾ cup sugar

·       3 eggs

·       ¾ cup of heavy cream

·       1 tsp vanilla extract

·       3 tbsp flour

·       ¼ tsp salt

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

You will need a 6 or 7-inch spring form pan. Line it with parchment paper with the edges sticking out above the pan.

Mix the cream cheese with the sugar. Then add eggs and mix again thoroughly. Pour in the cream and sprinkle in the salt and vanilla extract. Toss in the flour and mix again.

Pour batter into the spring form pan. Place a baking sheet underneath. Bake for about 60 minutes. Oven times may vary. Check cheesecake at the 50-55 minute mark just in case. The cheesecake should be slightly jiggly in the middle and burnt on top. My oven requires me to bake things a little longer. I actually had to broil it for a few minutes to get the burnt crust and then I accidentally sort of overburnt it a little. Thankfully, this recipes allows room for that and it turned out okay! Hopefully, your oven won’t require you to do that! Let cool for about an hour before serving and then refrigerate the leftovers.

P.S. What dessert should I try making next?