Where to start?  I met this girl when we were in 7th grade, barely 13, and just trying to make our way around gym class, conquer our first 10K runs, and partake in other carefree middle school activities.  

Since then, every day has been an adventure.  

We made it through high school together.  We rocked as Key Club and Cross Country/Track duo at Granada.  We worked hard, played hard, college came, and college went.  How does one summarize the past 11 years in a Tumblr post?  So many memories…

Anyway, during our time apart in college.  Maeve has been a busy traveler while I have been oh-so-envious!  Somehow she picked up the Chinese language to an incredible degree of fluency, explored the UAE, hiked Everest and Kilimanjaro, volunteered in Uganda, and most impressively (to me at least)…saw some hippos!

Clearly, we are long overdue for an adventure.

I got tired of playing “where in the world is Maeve?” The time has finally come for us to take a trip of our own — to Vietnam!

We have a whole South-to-North 10-day itinerary planned.  I can’t wait to experience what this country has to offer!  A fresh culture, the bustling cities, the stunning waterways, and of course THE FOOD.  

Most importantly, I am looking forward to spending time with one of my best friends. :)

I’m packed and ready.  Cheers to spontaneity!

Once again, summer is just around the corner and the weather is warming up in the Bay Area.  The sunshine is fueling my sense of adventure!

In April 2012, I moved to a lovely neighborhood in San Francisco, Glen Park.  I describe it as a quaint, charming piece of the bustling city.  It almost reminds me of the village in Beauty and the Beast.  ”Little town, it’s a quiet village…everyday like the one before”  There’s the library, the local organic supermarket, the farmer’s market, the bakery, the cheese shop, the pet store, the yoga gym, the parks, the vistas, the friendly neighbors, and of course…the coffee shops.  All of this is within walking distance.

In some ways, it is the polar opposite of living in San Jose.  Contrast with super Silicon Valley tech businesses, department stores, franchise restaurants, backed-up highways, and an overall lack of local flavor.

While many people seek comfort in the convenience of the suburban living, at this point in my life (and post Berkeley), the need for constant discovery is something that I crave in my backyard.  I’m very fortunate to be living that dream.

I was recently INSPIRED by a solo discovery run to Glen Park Canyon.  A 1 mile downhill jog from my apartment led to an exciting adventure into this parcel of land.  On my so-called “discovery runs,” the path unfolds before you.  Round a corner and you might find a breathtaking view.  Head down the slope into the dark thicket of trees and hear the sounds of a hidden creek.  Shall I take the fork towards higher ground or keep to the marked path?  When you’re running alone, it’s tough to battle this feeling of uneasiness when venturing through unpopulated, unknown territory.  However, taking this calculated risk can be so incredibly rewarding when you discover something that takes your breath away.

I have not been inspired by a run since Sept 2007 when I discovered the Berkeley Fire Trails for the first time.  In a Xanga post that I hope you will never find, I wrote:

I glanced at the time and found that I had already been running for over 30 minutes.  I should turn around soon.  Curiosity kept me wanting to keep going.  Midterms encouraged me back home.  I resolved my debate when I ran into a woman walking down the trail.  She told me the trail continues up for another 2 miles, and I knew that it probably wouldn’t be worth it.  I almost turned around when she interrupted, “but you’re missing out on an amazing view of Oakland right past that house.”  “Right there,” I asked?  It didn’t take that much convincing and when I reached the house on the edge of the cliff, the bay glistened in the afternoon sun.  It twinkled before my eyes and I simply gazed at the wonder before me.  It was so beautiful.  It was so worth it.

Almost 5 years later, I can still relate to this post.  I am amazed that my own two feet can show me many treasures, whether in a foreign country or in my own neighborhood, that strike me with a sense of wonder.

So!  I decided that I am going to go to a beach at every country that I visit.  Two down, three to go.  Guess what?  I am already several shades darker…

Singapore’s Beach:  Sentosa
Sentosa is actually a small vacation island adjacent to Singapore.  There’s a Universal Studios theme park, beaches, hotels, fun things to do/see!  Every vacation island is a tourist trap so be careful how much you spend.  As budget travelers, we picked three activities:  the Merlion tour (SGD $8), 1 ride on the luge (SGD $12), and chillin’ at the beach club (free).  We got the best of the island with these three!  

The Merlion (a cross between a mermaid and a lion) is Singapore’s mascot.  At this attraction, we saw a gorgeous view of the city, and got a free souvenir!  The luge was a cross between a go-cart and a sled aka action packed fun.  At the beach club, several pools, a jacuzzi, beach access, lounges, and a bar made for a comfortable afternoon.  The water was warm and a swim was much needed.  On a Wednesday afternoon, the beach was all ours. :)

Hong Kong’s Beach:  Repulse Bay
Repulse Bay, on the southern part of HK Island, was a nice escape from the city.  Only a short bus ride away from HK Central island, this beach attracted tourists and locals alike.  We found a very diverse crowd, and even *some* good lookin’ guys.  Lifeguards are plenty at Repulse Bay so I even had the guts to swim far out onto a floating dock to find schools of fish!  FREE WIFI on the beach.  I recommend Repulse Bay for a day trip.

Travel Wisdom #4:   No matter what country you’re from, there’s a universal love for the beach.  It’s awesome to see people splash, swim, and relax like they do back in California.  The only thing that’s different is that Asian women cover up like no other.  I think they fear sun…

Next stop:  Thailand.

I finally got myself to a computer!  This is my first time in China and so far, I’m loving it.  So far, we explored:

- Kowloon, living at a hostel in the Mirador “Mansion,” a non-glamorous high rise
- Watched the Symphony of Lights and walked the Avenue of Stars
- Partied HARD on a Friday night at Lan Kwai Fong.   I think we hopped into almost every bar/club, danced the night away, got free drinks.  I also learned that Chinese “clubbing attire” is far different from those in America.  Expatriate areas attract the best parties.

On Monday, we made our way to Victoria Peak, otherwise known as “The Peak.”  Hong Kong skyline from the harbor is fantastic, yes, but at the highest point in Hong Kong, this skyline tops as my favorite!  I recommend catching the view at night when the lights from the city sparkle. 

Today was an adventurous day!  We decided to go to New Territories region, which is far from the central Hong Kong.  First, we viewed the Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery.  Next, we went to the Tai Po Market and walked around a treasure of a city!

This city had soooo much character.  It’s the “China” that I’ve always imagined, streets bustling with people, food on every corner, markets with the most colorful, fresh produce and meat that I could see.  It was magical.  Upon escaping the market scene, a whole other world was unveiled.  The waterfront welcomed bikers and runners, young and old, to enjoy the weather.  I found the ecological garden areas to be quite fun (though i got eaten alive by mosquitos).  Reveling in the lush sub-tropical areas of Hong Kong makes me super excited for our next stop, Thailand.  But first, we need to sing our hearts out til 5am at the local karaoke bar. :P  Hehe signing off!

Travel wisdom 4: Don’t go to Macau.

So ive been told that macau is like vegas, (you know, with the gambling, prostitutes, and all) but not as great. I can barely compare the two.

Lets just say that its 5am and we spent an exhausting hour trying to catch a cab back to our hotel. So many kept passing us. It was ridiculous!

Previously, we spent 11pm-3am in search of a nightclub for dancing. All we found were bars! It was a saturday night without a party. :-( Wound up watching the soccer championships with 2 friendly irishmen. Better luck next time I suppose.

Two nights ago, I was chatting with an archaeologist professor and a French Law student at our hostel.  Perhaps I should just end my post here because that is already pretty cool!  

The professor asked, “what is your ‘aha’ moment since you arrived in Singapore?” Being the sustainable urban planning nerd that I am, I responded, “seeing everything I learned in class come to life.”  By that, I mean that the public transportation system here is pretty sick.

Travel Wisdom #3:  All other country’s transit systems > U.S. Transit system.  Singapore’s MRT and Buses run seamlessly.  I already feel like a local!

To use the CA Bay Area’s BART/MUNI system as a reference, here are the striking differences
- MRT boarding system is super efficient.  Passengers leaving the train do not clash into those entering it.
- MRT boarding has glass walls between the platform and the tracks aka no suicide jumps that mess up the commute!
- Every MRT car has a visual way to track which station you’re at. 
- Singapore’s system loves its aircon
- In Singapore, everything runs so often!  

Okay, I’ll stop being nerdy.  Third day was a chill day.  We spent the first half of the day planning accommodations for Taiwan.  Otherwise, Nina and I completed the last of our city sightseeing at Singapore Chinatown, the Marina Bay (casino), and concluded with the Night Safari.

All made for good pictures.  Boba milk tea and shoe shopping in Chinatown <3  Nina gambled for the first time!  We saw some badass animals on the Safari.  

Sorry for the text-y posts.  I get 30 minutes of internet at the hostel to type this as fast as possible.  My pictures never get to surface!

Travel Wisdom #2:  Rockin’ the fanny pack, backpack, and taking pictures of every little thing makes you stand out as a tourist.  That’s okay.  Just be a smart tourist and don’t let anyone take advantage of you.

Today, Nina and I ventured to three neighborhoods:
1)  Little India
2)  Kampong Glam (Malay/Muslim neighborhood)
3)  Katong/Joo Chiat (the neighborhood proximal to our hostel)

To sum it all up, cheap, totally foreign, but DELICIOUS food.  We walked into a vegetarian Indian restaurant for masala dosai and onion uthapparin and tried the murtabak in the Kampong Glam.  This whole day taught me how to “sniff out” the tasty food.  So far, my nose has not let my stomach down. :P

I should also mention the wonderful sites that we saw today.  Per Dmitriy’s recommendation, we went to the Sultan Mosque (gorgeous!) and the Mustafa 24 hour shopping center (I describe this as a department store on steroids. Thousands, upon thousands of shoes…).  We checked out the narrowest street in Singapore, the Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple, and the Sri Sengpaga Vinayagar Temple.  It was a lot to take in.  I experienced bits of so many different cultures/religions in one day.  Unfortunately, I was unwilling (and probably unable) to visit the religious sites due to my lack of appropriate dress.  Oh well!

The evening stroll around our hostel neighborhood of Joo Chiat was enlightening. KTV karaoke bars and small street shops were common sites, but a short walk down the street revealed a whole new character!  I loved seeing the “entrepreneurial” restaurant ideas; one was called “Everything with Fries”.  Joo Chiat also has everything from Hong Kong Cafes, Japanese Shabu Shabu, Korean eats, American pubs, Filipino food, Chinese bao shops, and delightful bakeries.  I’m loving this city already.

Walked an incredible amount today.  I am so proud of my feet for making it through, mauled by my new Rainbow flip flops and all.  Day 3 looks like a beach day. :)

Hey there, world!

Just 24 hours ago, my flight landed in Singapore and dang, what a day it has been. It’s crazy to think that so many “firsts” have been checked off my list:

First…
- Trans-pacific flight (17 hours, baby)
- Time staying in a hostel (it’s like dorm life, but better)
- Time exchanging my currency for foreign notes!
- Time wandering around the city without an itinerary (hehe, all is well)

I feel so worldly already :)

Here’s my first travel wisdom:  Sleep.  A long flight will definitely wear you out.  Do yourself a favor, wear yourself out before you hop on the plane.   You’ll knock out instantly. By the time you land, you’ll be ready to sleep again!  Sounds silly, but this time change to nothing on me.

My first day in Singapore -

The day started off with a complimentary breakfast of toast and spread provided by our hostel.  I woke up at a decent hour so that we could figure out our itinerary! The day was hot, humid, and I could feel the sun beating on my brow.  Let me tell you that being in a state of perpetual sweatiness makes you feel unattractive.  I cherished the airconditioned moments on Singapore’s MRT (rail system) and buses.

A journey led us to the Jurong Bird Park off the Boon Lay MRT stop.  Dmitriy recommended it (thanks!).  It was an experience walking around, feeding bananas to ostriches for $2 Singaporian dollars, seeing a bald eagle for the first time, and gaping at colorful lories.  I definitely had a great time afternoon exploring the park.

 That was all pretty exhausting.  A hot meal at the Boon Lay shopping plaza was exactly what we were looking for.  Singapore is the definition of east meets west.  On one side of the mall, you can find Asian cafes, dumplings, noodles, milk tea, but on the other, you could find Wendy’s, Burger King, Long John Silvers, etc.  Haha  

After, we hit up more shopping on Orchard Rd.  ”Look, don’t touch.”  Lets just say we saw 3-4 Prada stores in a row!

Our final stop was at Raffles Place.  Water front vistas were the main attraction here.  We stopped at Harry’s Bar for a quick drink…which turned into many drinks thanks to the help of our kind host!  Blue 52, Flaming Lamborghini, Safura, Kamikaze, Brain Hemmorage, Jaeger bomb, and a beer.  -_-  $30 for 12 drinks.  That’s our advantage for being ladies :)

Ended our night with delicious chili crab and chicken Singaporean rice.  I loved the sites at night!  Singapore is definitely a safe spot to check out and the best transition from the U.S. to Asia!

[ Pictures to come! ]