While in Phuket, we went on a fun speed boat tour of the very scenic Phang Nga Bay. In eight hours, we hit up six diverse stops in the Bay, including canoeing, caving, and of course beaching. Oh yes, we also did a sail-by of the famous James Bond Island, but thankfully didn’t go ashore… Read More Phang Nga Bay Speed Boat Day Tour (Honeymoon Pt. 2)
Greetings from the married side! After a magical four-day celebration in Carmel Valley, CA, we packed our bags and went to South East Asia for an 18-day honeymoon. We started with a relaxing three days at the luxurious Banyan Tree Phuket. We stayed in the Spa Sanctuary area, where each private pool villa comes with unlimited massages(!) and 6000 sq.… Read More A Luxurious Stay in Phuket – Banyan Tree Spa Sanctuary (Honeymoon Pt. 1)
In contrast to my recap of the most memorable dishes this year, it was surprisingly easy to pick my top three favorite restaurant experiences. 2016 was a weak year for new restaurants in the Bay Area, so the standouts were established, proven destinations. Excellent food was just the baseline, and what made them my favorite is a combination of uniqueness and personal… Read More 2016’s Top Three Restaurant Experiences
It seems like 2016 was a tough year for most people, including myself. World news and politics aside, it was stormy in my own life at times. But I now find myself at the end of another year, reflecting on the many positive moments. One of my favorite memories was sitting on a pebble beach near Hualien, Taiwan, watching… Read More 2016’s Most Memorable Dishes
I had a grand total of one birthday party as a kid and it was a joint celebration months ahead of my actual birthday. I’m also not one to expect extravagant gestures. Having said that, it does feel nice to be spoiled once in a while. My birthday this year was all that and more,… Read More Surprise Birthday Trip – Dinner at Alinea 2.0 and Drinks at The Aviary
Now that we are solidly in the second half of 2016, I’ve been reminiscing about the previous six months. With all the travel, change, and excitement, it feels like a full year already! One of my favorite days was a sightseeing car trip along the north coast of Taiwan. I’ve been to Taiwan about six times… Read More A day trip along Taiwan’s north coast
While planning my first ever trip to Japan, I knew I had to stay in a traditional ryokan inn. Ryokans are a good way to experience Japanese hospitality. Common elements include traditional tatami mat rooms, yukata garb (pictured above), and communal baths. Most ryokans include an elaborate multi-course dinner in the kaiseki style, as well as… Read More Experiencing a Japanese Ryokan – Ryotei Rangetsu Arashiyama
The first Bay Area location of Din Tai Fung (DTF!) opened in Santa Clara last week and lines were so astronomically bad, that DTF decided to implement their first ever reservation system. And now someone is selling reservations on craigslist for $50. Seriously?! While I appreciate the quality and consistency of their product, I haven’t been blown away… Read More Journey to the Original Din Tai Fung
2015 was a year characterized by travel. According to TripIt, I spent 115 days on the road. I sailed around the Greek islands and took three trips to Mexico. In the U.S., I explored a few cities for the first time, including Portland, Provincetown, and Tampa. I revisited New Orleans, went home to DC twice, and traveled all around California.… Read More Closing out 2015 with a Project Juice Cleanse
The first week of November, I visited my old stomping grounds in Costa Mesa, Santa Ana, and Irvine. I spent nearly one year here on a work rotation. Orange County does innovative, fast-casual well, and there seems to be an unwavering demand for new food. Many west coast outposts start in Orange County. The successful… Read More Orange County – New food in familiar places