I went to Lisbon, Portugal twice, solo in April 2019 and with friends in January 2020. Portugal is a melting pot of cultures, with its long established trade routes in Europe, Middle East, Africa, and Asia. There are still many vestiges of this early cultural exchange when I visited. In Lisbon, there was a sandwich…
Asian Cultural Exchange in Portugal
A Peak Into French Laundry
The French Laundry // Yountville, Napa Valley, CA I've always likened myself to being a foodie, as in I enjoy eating and trying new food from across all cultures, but I've never identified myself as a fine dining aficionado. I did know of Thomas Keller and his world renowned chef status, even if it meant…
An Ode to Portland
I really should give my blog a little more attention. Sometimes, I get so caught up in the instagram faux-tography, that I forget that writing is my first love. I just came back from Portland, Oregon and it is now truly one of my favorite places in America. If you ever get the chance…
Afternoon in Amsterdam
Amsterdam has definitely become one of my favorite cities in Europe. The first time I went, I was amazed at the canals, architecture, and food. The second time I went, my eyes were opened again to something new: coffee culture, fashions, and day to day living. I haven't been to many cities twice and I…
Finding Wonders No Matter Where You Are
If you're here, you probably have the travel bug or a soul ready to wander. While traveling is more accessible these days, the reality is, it's still a costly endeavor for many. Most people travel once or twice a year. What to do when you're stuck in your town or city, but just itching to…
A Dangerous Train Ride
We were traveling from Bergamo to Verona and it was the last regional train in the middle of the night. The train that pulled up was covered in graffiti and no one was on the train, except for my friend and I. Sometime along the long train ride, a sketchy guy got on the…
Picking a Travel Partner
I started traveling in 2014 and luckily, I have not encountered horrible travel partners. I've heard the stories though! Finding a good travel partner is hard. Sometimes, your friend is a fellow traveler and you get excited. You book plane tickets together, plan an itinerary together, and finally go to the country together. That's…
Newport Beach
This is my second trip to the Los Angeles area. The first time I came, I did so many things so quickly, I barely had enough time to process my thoughts and come up with how I felt about the city. What I left with were thoughts about the superficiality, party culture, Hollywood, and close…