Do you like Sanrio?

Originally written on January 24, 2025

It’s been about 30 hours since I landed back in America and what I love and savor the most (beyond the amazing and fresh food) was how effortless it was to make friends with the foreigners and locals I met along the way.

It’s hard to believe that I started my travels back in mid October in India. My time there was colorful and restful and I was surprised how much we loved it there and how quickly we thought about our return trip. Andy got to meet his coworkers and spent genuine time with them. I loved my time there, seeing the sights and tasting new flavors, and all the new friends we made.

My time in Indonesia is always special. I love spending time with my Oma, aunts and uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews who are so curious about who I am, and what it was like visiting Indonesia when I was younger. It’s fun remembering all my past travels to Indonesia through the eyes of my family there.

Thailand was an absolute dream. The food, people, nightlife, shopping, it all blew me away. Im grateful for the time to explore the country solo and with parents.

Spending nearly 3 weeks in Bali was such a gift. I always feel at home on that island and it feels like the people there really welcome me. I’m grateful for all of the new friends I met along my travels there.

Coming home to Guam was unreal. It had been 25+ years since I’ve been on the island and the homecoming was warm and full of good family time. There’s a lot I need to catch up on but I’m glad to have made the effort to go somewhere that seems so far away. 

The day trips in Manila were a bonus I didn’t realize I’d love so much. It was so easy to sightsee and I’m grateful for our new friend Denden who drove us around and showed us his favorite sites.

And my 11 days in Japan were beyond unbelievable. The people, the nature, art and food all continue to reinforce my love for the country. I’ll remember all the delicious meals, wandering the streets, and the miles walked each day despite the chilly weather.

At the end of 98 days of travel, my greatest souvenir are all serendipitous human interactions I experienced. Whether it was someone sitting next to me at a restaurant, a new person I met during a tour, or even the girls I met while taking photos, I collected another handful of wonderful memories.

Despite me not knowing Indonesian, Hindi, or Japanese fluently, I made an effort to show gratitude and my appreciation for travel each day.

I discovered that people in my cooking class in Phuket live near my parents’ house in Dallas and that we shop at the same Korean supermarket. Or the drivers I met in Bali who are now friends with me on social, who occasionally send messages and well wishes. To the girlies I met in Japan who took photos of me while at beautiful locations, or shared an afternoon of sightseeing because we were both single women exploring a town with nothing to do but enjoy our time. I am forever grateful for humanity and its kindness.

Having these conversations reminded me how I would get to know someone as a little kid. I’d ask this new playmate about their hobbies, if they liked things I liked — all in effort to find common ground that would spark conversation.

I found myself asking people about their favorite food, their favorite cities, and even their favorite Sanrio characters.

This first struck me while I explored Uji, a quaint town near Kyoto. I first approached Kurumi when she was standing near the entrance gate to a small Shinto temple. The sunset lighting was so perfect and I knew I needed a photo there too.

I offered to take her picture and in turn she offered to take mine. We started to talk about where we were headed and what else there was to explore in the area.

“You absolutely must stop for matcha ice cream while you’re here, you just have to!” Kurumi pleaded with me when I told her I thought it was too cold for ice cream.

We eventually followed each other around the temple and took photos, I said goodbye and headed out back to main street for some snacks and shopping. I ran into her again on a bridge and asked where she was headed.

I asked if I could join her for some tea and dessert and she excitedly said of course. The moment just felt right. 

We sat together, had some green tea and ice cream with each other and talked about our travels. She had been staying in Kyoto for two months and shared her stories and best photos. I told her about my time in Japan as we got to know about each others while eating matcha parfaits and drinking tea.

Soon we left the tea house in search of something more and ended up walking into a Daiso. I was looking for some treats to bring home and she was happy to follow along.

While we walked the aisles, she asked me if I liked anime. I didn’t really, but knew of some references. 

“Do you like Sanrio?” I asked her when we passed the Hello Kitty display. Of course she did and we pointed out our favorite characters.

That’s when I got transported back to the playground and remembered asking new friends what they were into.

“Do you like cats or dogs?”

“What’s your favorite food?”

“What movie have you seen recently?”

“Who do you think is cuter, Zack Morris or AC Slater?”

All of these silly questions were asked so we could get to know the human standing in front of us a little more. It was like a light bulb turned on and it was a beautiful moment I will think of often.

We eventually exchanged Instagram accounts and said our goodbyes. Even today we still chat with each other through the photos we post. 

I love making friends while traveling. It’s not everyday you can take time away from your normal life to see the world. I cherish this time, even though it takes me away from my partner, my family, my dogs, and other life responsibilities. But these magical moments sharing time and space with strangers make up for it. Whether or not we can understand the words we’re saying, the feeling of connectedness is still there, even if we won’t see each other again. I cherish these moments and it’s one of the reasons I love to solo travel. I choose to believe that magic will show up if you know where to look.

Now that I’m back at home for a bit, we’re planning our return trips to Japan, Indonesia, and Guam. I don’t we’ll stop traveling any time in the future. It’s part of our lives and I will continue to be grateful for the health and energy I have to do it.

Lucky Girl

(Originally written on December 11, 8:34am)

I’m sitting at the writing desk inside my bungalow at Villa O’Hea in Ubud, Bali.

I just woke up. The windows and doors are open, and my view outside is unbelievable. My bungalow is next to my parents’ and I can hear their morning routines of making coffee and watching the news.

It’s windy outside and the leaves are rustling about. It just started to rain. I see flags and Bali’s version of a scarecrow in the rice paddies below starting to shift about.

—

“You’re a very lucky, girl you know,” Tante Yanthi said as soon as we left the King’s side yesterday.

“Oh, I know,” I said.

“This was all meant to be,” my aunt continued. The Gods of Bali are showing their approval the way this happened all so easily.”

—

I found our wedding venue yesterday. Even though I don’t have final a guest count, our date, or even a budget, I’m confident that the Royal Pita Maha will be the amazing destination I’ve been dreaming of.

The first time I came to Royal was almost exactly 10 years from today.

Tante Yanthi, her daughter, my mom, my brother and I came to Bali for the first time in July 2014. We’d spend a week hanging out at beach clubs, eating delicious food, shopping and chilling out.

One of my favorite memories (and maybe the one that sparked my love for travel writing) was our one-night stay at Royal. Tante Yanthi pulled out all the stops and we had the amazing opportunity to stay at the King’s most exquisite property.

I fell in love with the intricacies of the stone sculptures and the nature surrounding the property. We slept in one of the honeymoon suites above the Ayung River, the holy waters, and trees older than all of us combined. I look back at the photos I posted and I’m still amazed by the hundreds of places to get lost and soak up the scenery.

Even 10 years ago, I knew in my heart I’d get back to this magical property.

We’d spend the rest of our time in Ubud exploring museums and marketplaces before visiting the Puri, or Palace, where the King and his family lived.

Two courtyards in the palace are open to the public for photos and a nightly legong show. But Tante Yanthi took it another level and arranged for us to meet Tjokorda Putra Sukawati, the King, himself.

To our amazement, we were invited inside to have tea with him and chat about Ubud, the Gods of Bali, local art and culture, and all of the reasons we needed to come back for another visit.

I never forgot about that amazing afternoon and I mention it often when people ask me about traveling to Bali.

—

Yesterday was full of surprises. Tante Yanthi joined us again in Bali and we met up in Ubud. I scheduled some wedding site visits this week and she came early to stay with us before an event. From the moment we met up with her, our time together was full of laughter and serendipitous moments.

After our first dinner together, she took us next door to one of the King’s other hotels. As soon as she walked in, she was greeted warmly by the staff who had seemingly known her for years. She wanted to show us a few of her favorite hotels as wedding venue inspo, and I knew in the back of my mind that the Royal Pita Maha would come up.

She made arrangements for us to come back to the hotel the next morning for breakfast and I told her I wanted to show mom and dad Royal as a potential venue option. The hotel manager alerted the event coordinator at Royal about our tour request.

The magic was already beginning.

After a delicious breakfast, I ended up rescheduling my appointment at a nearby Marriott hotel. (Spoiler alert: I never made it to any of the appointments I originally scheduled ;)) We packed up, hiiighly caffeinated with local kopi, and made our way to Royal. Magically, they could squeeze us in for a visit in 30 minutes.

We arrived at the lobby at Royal, which was tucked off the major thoroughfare. Surrounded by trees and a gigantic statue, the sense of familiarity took over.

Mom waited in the restaurant overlooking the rainforest while the rest of us toured the hotel with Swetha (my new best friend ;)).

There was another small wedding happening as we walked by the waterfall. We found cover from the rain in a venue space right above the river and watched river rafters float by until we found umbrellas.

I got to see their glass house (where we’ll eventually get married), the reception area, our dance floor, and where we’d have our first dance. I saw where we could have breakfast the following day.

At our venue

It all felt right, effortless, and as if it was all pre-planned. I left Royal with the biggest smile and shift in energy.

“It has to be the Royal Pita Maha,” I told mom when we got back to the lobby. “It’s set, no other venue could even compare to this one.”

With a rush of adrenaline, we left the property and made our way to one of the other hotels within the King’s portfolio. Tante Yanthi wanted to show us where our guests could stay since it was just a mile or two down the road. The manager took us around the space and my mouth dropped when I saw their amazing jacuzzi and cold plunge pools at the spa, along with the villas where our friends and family would stay in.

After a sweat-drenched tour, I went to the bathroom to freshen up. As I walked back up to the restaurant, the staff was whispering about something. Tante Yanthi told me the King just arrived at the hotel. The word “shocked” isn’t a strong enough word and doesn’t even explain the sensation that came over me.

“Did someone tell him that you were here?” I asked my aunt. Nope.

Lo and behold, there he was in an unassuming outfit sipping on some tea. I greeted him while Tante Yanthi gave him a warm embrace. I told him that it had been many years since our first meeting. I told him we met at his palace more than 10 years ago. I pulled up my old Facebook photo archive and our photos with him instantly popped up. He laughed and commented on how silly he looked back then.

We chatted for a bit at the cafe and my parents eventually came over to say hello. He shared lots of stories with us; I told him how much I loved Royal Pita Maha and that I wanted our wedding there. I even showed him my phone’s wallpaper, which was a photo of me and Andy at his palace last year during our Bali trip.

“You’ll be the first one I send an invitation to,” I told him, half jokingly.

“Even better, I will be a witness at your wedding,” he said.

The King and I

I was floored and I could tell my mom and my aunt were low-key freaking out next to me.

And that was it. It was settled.

We left the King to find some dinner and let him move on with his day. I have photos of my mom and Tante Yanthi walked to the car after that moment. They look like little school girls with their big eyes, laughing in disbelief.

“You’re a lucky girl, you know,” Tante Yanthi told me.

And boy*, do I know it.

—

(Please know that I subscribe beyond the “boy and girl” spectrum, and this play on words is for comedic purposes only. I love all of you, and your gender identities <3)

Inside the Palace, and just missing my brother

The end

The liminal spaces in between

(Originally written on December 4, 2024)

Location: above the sanctuary at Tanaman restaurant potato head. 

Setting: I just finished the vibration sound therapy in the Sanctuary. It smells like rain here and fresh flowers.

I just got out of the sanctuary feeling sleepy and like I took a nap filled with lucid dreams. 

Where did I go that last hour?

Laying on a waterbed with lights and sounds taking over the space, I leave the physical world if only for a few moments.

The physicalness of my being starts to wither away, my itchy skin, I notice the twinge of the “pins and needles” the teacher mentioned before we started. The soreness from yesterday’s pilates class all seem to fall into the floor below me.

The shamanic teacher takes us to another place with her sounds, the songs of birds, Oms, primal noises bellowing from her belly.

Lights start to flicker about, and soon I realize what she meant when she said it could be jarring for people who are sensitive to light.

And yet, I still lay there waiting for “something” to happen. 

As others wiggle about to find comfort, I hear the sounds of the water beds sloshing about. I find my eye mask and get more comfortable as my body adjusts to the floating sensation.

I go deeper. And from that point forward, time seems liminal.

The combination of feeling weightless paired with sound and vibration take over me. I rest into it, moving away from the thoughts in my mind to just let them be where they lay.

Without force, my soul seems to float into another space. There’s no destination, I’m not the one driving this time. But I guess when you look at it closely, there is still a part of me that knows where to lead us.

I’m not really sure what happened in that room. Some of the visuals made sense at the time, some will be left and forgotten in the room with the hope that they come back later in life as a little signal.

It’s hard to find the words to explain the places your mind goes to when you’re guided with meditation and allowed the freeness to just be. Quiet the mind, let what comes up to rise to the surface. Just for it to slowly fade away when the teacher invites you to come back to your body.

Those moments of separation from mind and body, those are the ones that people liken to chasing that silly dragon. 

You can’t recreate it, but when it happens, you know. And you embrace it as much as humanly possible. 

Some people use vices to get back to the dragon, only needing to ingest more to meet him face to face again. 

But sometimes, it’s easy to get back to that space in between by just laying there and letting it find you.

It is a sanctuary for a reason, a place far from the sounds of the street, people yapping about, and a safe haven away from your thoughts.

The entrance fee varies, whether monetary, spacial, or through sweat and tears.

I always want to go back to it as soon as I feel it once again. Like an old friend you see so seldomly, who welcomes you home with the deepest of hugs and most insightful of memories.

I will see you again, dear dragon. Hopefully soon. But if not, I totally understand. 

Be there for yourself

(Originally written December 2, 2024)

The theme of my first week in Bali was to “be there for yourself.”

I guess you could say I’m here for business, a bit of work. But I always feel a certain way when I’m in Bali. This is now my fourth time on the Island of Gods. I’ve been here with family a few times and took Andy here last year to celebrate my birthday.

Next week I’ll be knee deep in wedding venue hunting, running all over the island. But this week offers a lot of down time.

Nothing to do but hang out, enjoy the town, and reset. I’ve been going non-stop since our trip to India. I’ve made an effort to see as many family members before and after our trip to Thailand. I’ve done it all. 

But this week, I magically filled each day with a wellness class, whether it be a yoga class above a rice paddy field, Pilates, or a somatic breath work class with reiki.

Today is the first day of wellness week and I went to a yoga studio that my teacher in Jakarta recommended, Serenity Eco Guesthouse.

I started following them on Instagram when she told me about them and was so excited to find them on ClassPass.

I poked around their website and signed up for their sunset flow right before reading that they’d be holding a somatic breath work and reiki workshop. 

Take my money, I didn’t even think twice about it. And I’m so glad I did it.

My latest mantra is that life is too short. Just do the thing you’ve been thinking about, without any regrets.

I showed up at Serenity a bit before class. I was with family earlier in the day and I was ready for some alone time. Not that I needed a break, I just needed some stillness.

I walked to the beach and said hello to the waves before walking past an awesome coworking space, some coffee shops and restaurants.

There’s just something about how Bali integrates nature with its living spaces that makes me want to live here.

I got set up in yoga class; the studio was lovely. It was perched above some trees, along with the pool and some guest rooms. There was a garden that explained the medicinal properties of Bali’s native plants.

The yoga sequence and flow were great. I worked on my handstand and got some personalized assists and tips from the teacher. It started to rain nearly the moment the class started. There’s something so magical about taking a yoga class outside, or just simply outside of a room of mirrors. 

I forget the moment the instructor said it but what I remember most was when he said “Be there for yourself.” It might have been when he was guiding us through inversions or during the abs set.  But something about his statement stuck with me.

Be there for yourself. 

I had some downtime before the breath work workshop so I shopped a bit in their lobby and took a shower.

I met Nicole, the breath work teacher. I’ve taken a few breath work classes in San Diego and always felt more alive after them. This class would be coupled with sound healing too so I knew I’d be in good hands.

Nicole led us through multiple rounds of breath while my body sank into the ground and seemed to float away the deeper I got into the rhythm of breath she set for us.

It started to rain again. 

I drifted off somewhere during the class. I’m not really sure where I actually “went” but I know that when I returned back to my mat, back into the yoga studio perched above the trees, I had gone “somewhere.”

I laid still for a bit, trying to soak in all of the feelings and visions of where my brain took me. I pulled an oracle card from the deck Nicole laid out. The card was all about my spirit guide.

“Your spirit guide is the personal spiritual teacher who was with you before you came to this world and began your current journey. It is the spirit who watches over your life and directs the lessons you must learn in order to grow and expand before you return to the spirit world with all your new knowledge.

“Even if you don’t know it, you have made a contract with this spiritual friend and mentor to learn together in a procession of life after life in order to add more experiences to your soul group and higher self…

“Even when your head is overfull with thoughts, your guide will still speak, this time to your heart, and you will receive a feeling that will let you know that your guide has answered you.”

I left the breathing session entranced, wanting to linger a bit longer before returning back to the world and the sounds of life. I eventually walked to one of my favorite restaurants and just sat and watched the world go by.

The next day, I signed up for a yoga class at Jiva Yoga, a studio I found on ClassPass that was just a few minutes away from our villa. I met Vena, the instructor, in the coffee shop downstairs, not realizing I showed up almost 30 minutes early to class. We chatted the entire time, getting to know each other, asking each other about our concurrent wedding plans, and sharing stories from our cultures.

The outdoor studio space was new, a covered deck that overlooked a rice paddy field below. The studio was at someone’s property so there were lots of trees and dogs to greet me when I arrived.

I was the only student who signed up for class that day, and let me tell you, that is one of my favorite surprises. I love signing up for a group yoga class just to find out I’m the only person in attendance. It happened the first time when I took a class at CorePower with my teacher friend Brooke. The attention and adjustments you receive are so special.

Vena was an amazing teacher and adjusted me often. She moved my body around so I could go deeper. Her sequence was in flow with my body and I came out of that class drenched in sweat and fully aligned. I ended up taking another class with her the next day because I loved the vibe so much.

After freshening up and meeting my parents for a quick snack, I hopped on a motorcycle to Potato Head. My aunt told me about a light, sound and vibrational therapy offered at the wellness space within Potato Head.

I arrived at Potato Head early so I could grab a juice and enjoy the property for a bit. It started to rain so I was happy to find some cover inside the Sanctuary.

The experience was other worldly. I walked into the room lined with soft curtains, musical gongs and instruments. The smell of incense filled the room ever so delicately. We all laid down on individual spaces which included a water-bed mattress of sorts, hooked up to a vibrational machine. Prismatic lights would shine above us in sequence and color that matched up with sound therapy.

Like other sound healing sessions, I’m not really sure where I went. Yes, my body was physically in a room with strangers and strange machines. But my mind. That went somewhere unknown. The experience is so hard to explain because I don’t really think you can put into words how you feel during the session. (Check out this piece I wrote right after the sound healing session.)

After our hour-long experience was over, I lingered at the restaurant awhile, really not wanting to enter back into the hustle of the Balinese streets. I ended up eating the most amazing vegan nasi campur, before eventually leaving and finding my way to a hair salon to wait out the rain.

Bali feels like home to me for some reason. Even though I’ve only been here four times, it feels like I belong here. The ability to practice movement, sound therapy, and breathwork is one of my favorite things. And to experience it on the Island of Gods makes everything that much more magical.

My hope is that I’ll always be able to come to Bali to experience new things and meet new people, even if those new people are within myself.

Travel Agent by day, Travel Writer by night

It’s November 18th and I’m sitting at The Coffee Club in Old Town Phuket. I found this bright and airy coffee shop via my best travel friend, Google Maps. I’m sitting upstairs in a glass box overlooking big bushy trees and quiet traffic below.

The coffee shop seems young, with its hip-looking people working behind their computers and Taylor Swift and Sabrina Carpenter playing (read: blaring) in the background. My server is a sweet, demure Thai boy who I could just gobble up.

One of many plates of noodles I devoured in Thailand

The cafe vibe feels oddly familiar. Somehow I always find myself going for a quick bite and a refresh at a comfy cafe. I just finished a bowl of shrimp Pad Thai after a long walk through Old Town and up to Monkey Hill.

I could travel like this forever. No real schedule other than showing up on time for my tours. Lots of exploring by foot, putting my nose up to the air to smell the delicious things cooking around me, popping into adorable boutiques and chatting up employees who compliment my outfit or tell me I look like a local. Some of my favorite travel memories are the conversations I have with strangers.

Why do I feel most at peace when I’m traveling the world? Of course, I’d stick Andy in my front pocket and take him around for the adventure ( I love that scene in “Her”) but he’s staying home and tending to the house and our lives back home.

One of the many things I love about Andy is that he has some of the best ideas. When our forces and powers combine, we are that power couple everyone loves and admires. But even more, one of his best, most recent ideas was that I learn to be a modern-day travel agent.

I mean, it’s so obvious. Why didn’t I think about it first?

With Fora Travel, I’m learning all the ways to book hotels, private villas, flights and activities while I, too, travel the world. I signed up the other day, used myself as my first client, and had a wonderful, personalized stay at the Sheraton Jakarta Soekarno Hatta Airport Hotel before I flew out to Bangkok.

I found it thrilling to set up my profile, start some trainings, and price compare properties. I was so excited to check into the hotel and see what extra special treatment I would get as a “VIP client.” The staff at the Sheraton was super sweet and I had lovely conversations with the manager at check in and later again after dinner. The upgrades were awesome and I got many travel-well wishes from the staff. (I mentioned my travel plans in my emails to the reservations team and was surprised when a couple people on staff mentioned my upcoming flight to Bangkok!)

I get so much joy out of finding the best hotel and location in each city we travel to. I think about the people I’ll be traveling with and all the things we want to do and the meals we want to have, and all of that is considered when I book my travel.

Becoming a travel agent won’t feel like “work” and I’d actually be taking advantage of something I really enjoy doing. I love a good deal, collecting points, and finding the most comfortable bed to lay my head down after a full day of running around a new city.

Being a travel agent may not pay me the six-figure salary I’m used to getting in the corporate world, but at least I’d still feel free.

If you’re reading this and absolutely detest searching for hotels or activities to do while you’re traveling, hit me up! I’d love to help you book travel to your next adventure!

Awakening my tastebuds in Thailand

It’s 7:19pm on Saturday, November 23. I’m writing this while flying back to Jakarta with my parents across the aisle from me.

We’re 30,000 feet in the air, watching the sun set over Malaysia. I just spent ten days traipsing around Thailand. This trip came together because a family member offered us her family’s timeshare. The available dates coincided perfectly with my dad’s birthday. Thailand wasn’t really on our radar, but I’d always wanted to go.

The opportunity and the timing was right so we booked our flights a few weeks ago. I’d spend two extra days in Bangkok before my parents arrived so I could run around town and explore on my own. I knew of some attractions in Thailand through friends who’ve visited before. I knew about its white sand beaches, amazing food, and fun shopping. I’ve had many aunties tell me to go with a nearly empty suitcase because there’d be so much fun stuff there to buy.

But what I’ll take most from our Thailand trip are the flavors. 

One of the reasons I love traveling internationally is how my tastebuds light up when I try new flavor combinations.

Nothing gets me more excited than when I travel to Mexico and Latin America and have the best tacos or ceviche of my life. To see the dozens of different types of corn and potatoes, or avocados the size of your head. Those are the memories I still hold onto.

Or when we get to visit friends in Vancouver and Montreal. Nothing tastes better than red wine and steak with friends at one of the many fancy restaurants, or a late-night poutine after drinking too many martinis. Our recent trip to India opened my eyes to incredible spice blends, chutneys, and sweet milk cakes that I still dream about. Food seems to taste better when a passport stamp is part of the journey ;)

The flavors, textures, colors, and smells of Asian food are in a league of their own. Obviously, living in America, I have my favorite places for legit Cantonese dim sum, or Thai noodles from the local place we’ve been going to for years.

Thai Tea concoctions purchased at the source. Nothing gets better than sipping on some cold tea on a hot day in Bangkok.

But nothing compares to going to the birthplace of these dishes to make your mouth and soul light up.

The November weather in Thailand was no joke. To think that we we’re going during a time when it’s less hot and humid was nearly unnoticeable. It rained a lot while we were there, like monsoonal torrential rain for one to two hours each day. The rain was actually a relief, briefly cooling down the city before the heat returned. Most days we stayed inside during the peak heat, oftentimes finding ourselves wandering luxury malls, inevitably ending up in the basement food court or buzzing restaurants.

One of the many snippets from the night markets in Bangkok

I can honestly say I never had a bad meal in Thailand. From mall bakeries and street food to oceanfront seafood markets and Michelin-starred spots, everything I ate was unreal. I knew that there were a lot of award-winning restaurants in Bangkok, and I was eager to book a reservation, but I found just as much joy walking through its bustling streets, snacking along the way.

Skewers of meat, fresh fruit, seafood, noodles, curries, and rice dishes—my Asian-bred tastebuds were in heaven. I took small bites everywhere, essentially turning every day into a progressive meal. Thai teas, delicate pastries, endless noodles, and curries became my routine.

Sweet little bites from the food court in Bangkok

I’m fairly certain I took at least a half dozen photos of every meal I had. I tasted all of the local favorites and took 500+ photos of food alone.

My camera ate first at every meal, of course. It’s an unspoken rule among foodies, especially Asian Americans like me. There’s something so beautiful about food—the composition, colors, and steam rising from a dish—that begs to be photographed before even knowing what it’ll taste like. My phone now holds a gallery delicious reminders of every bite imprinted on my phone just to show off later.

It’s a weird concept, but this photo gallery is absolute food porn for people like me.

As an Asian American, I think I’m the only person in my friend group who snacks just about every three hours. I’m excited to plan my next meal, and I’m even more excited to think about what I’ll cook next.

Since traveling the world so much these last few years, I’ve grown to love learning how to make my favorite Asian dishes once I’m home. I’ll get hyper fixated on a dish I’ve eaten while traveling, and then learn how to cook it with all of the special sauces and spices I’ve brought back.

In Phuket, I had the genius idea to take a cooking class. I wanted to meet some locals, check out a market, and learn to cook Thai dishes.

Taking a cooking class while traveling might be my new favorite thing to do. I found Phuket Thai Cooking Class with VJ through my Marriott Bonvoy app. I was looking for a class that offered a market tour to see where some of the ingredients were sourced.

I arrived at VJ’s and waited for the rest of the class to arrive. We hopped in the van and drove just a few minutes down the road to a local market where we learned about herbs and vegetables we’d use during class. We tried local fruit (I had the best pineapple and longan there) and I bought some local chili oil, which would be the base of many dishes to come.

Our guide showed us around the market a bit before we went back to the classroom to start prepping Tom Yum Soup, Shrimp Pad Thai, Red Curry, and Mango Sticky Rice.

We put on our aprons and learned about the herbs and vegetables we’d use. Kaffir lime, galangal, and lemongrass were never things I cooked with before so I loved how our teacher walked us through how to prep each item.

Cooking with a wok—now at the top of my shopping list—made everything lightning fast. We started prepping shallot, garlic, and other aromatics, along with chili peppers picked up from the market.

I was never a huge fan of Tom Yum Soup back at home, but after making it from scratch, I’m a convert. From the fresh kaffir lime leaves to the lemongrass stalks, now that I know how it’s supposed to taste, I totally get it. The American version of the soup always tasted too sour for me, but now that I know that tamarind, fishy chili oil, and coconut milk are the main components, I know how to make it the real way.

The soup turned out amazing and took no more than five minutes to make. We started prepping the sticky rice for dessert we’d have later, just before prepping the ingredients for our Pad Thai.

I’m normally a Pad See Ew kind of a girl, and leave it up to someone else at the table to order it, but now that I’ve cooked fresh Pad Thai on my own, I absolutely cannot wait to try and cook it once I’m back home.

From the charred-flavored meats and tofu, to the perfect mix of tamarind, fish sauce, oyster sauce, palm sugar, pickled radish, and chilis, I totally understand why this is the most popular noodle dish to come out of Thailand. 

The rest of the afternoon was spent drinking Chang beers, while swapping stories with other students about their travels. The cooking class attendants were fantastic, even helping me when I didn’t get my curry paste to the right consistency (probably because I was taking too many pics instead of grinding out all of the ingredients). I had such a blast and would 100% recommend everyone take a cooking class while traveling abroad.

My tastebuds feel alive again—call it a culinary awakening. I don’t know about my other fellow Americans, but not only has food gotten stupid expensive, but it just doesn’t taste all that good. It feels uninspired.

Grocery-store produce has started to look a little sad lately, and our local restaurants have been disappointing. Armed with new recipes, I can’t wait to show off my new knowledge.

My mom will be the first one to tell you that I never liked Asian food when I was a kid. She’d work a whole day at the office, come home and make a giant bowl of stir fried noodles and a saucy chicken to go with it. And I’d be the idiot who’d say she’d prefer fettuccine alfredo and garlic bread instead. 

Times have changed. I’m fully embracing my roots. Even Andy is getting so much better and using chopsticks and upping his spice level.

We’re about 45 minutes away from landing back in Jakarta where we’ll celebrate my dad’s birthday. Next week we’re headed to Bali for a couple weeks to catch up with family and friends. I’ll also be wedding venue hunting!

It hasn’t fallen short on me that I’m so incredibly lucky to have this free time to travel right now. My home country is a little rocky right now and I’m so happy to be here in Asia spending time with family and experiencing things from my mom’s home country. The holidays are right around the corner and I’m looking forward to a tropical, even monsoonal Christmas.

Me in my happy place. Sorry, shrimpie

If I have it my way, our holiday dinners will feature my Pad Thai and Tom Yum Soup.

Do you believe in destiny?

A story about lights, love, and unexpected surprises in Jaipur, India

It’s November 1, and I’m writing this on the airplane from Jaipur back to Hyderabad. Our trip to Jaipur was one we’ll remember forever. Lots of serendipitous moments happened on our trip to the Pink City.

Traveling to India wasn’t on our radar this year. The fact that Andy was invited to India was a complete surprise —while one that we gladly accepted— and we more than managed to make the most out of every moment.

Andy’s trip to Hyderabad was full of meetings, excursions, late nights, and laughter all around. My week in Hyderabad was full of cultural tours, people watching, and lots of chai.

One of the many painted nooks at the Amber Fort in Jaipur

We could have been like everyone else on his trip and flown back to America as soon as his meetings were over. But how could we leave and not explore this magical country?

Every moment in Jaipur had a bit of mystery and surprise around the corner. Other than a couple tours and the knowledge that we’d spend Diwali in one of the best places in the country, we kept our days free and open to possibilities.

And that’s exactly what happened.

First off, our hotel was absolutely magnificent. Between the pool below the pink limestone buildings, nightly cocktails in their lavish bars, and the amazing hospitality we experienced, the ITC Rajputana was such a gift.

The beautiful lobby at the ITC Rajputana in Jaipur

We lounged around the first day, knowing we had a full-day tour the following day. Andy and I have been engaged for more than a year so we were hoping to take some beautiful photos on the tour to include in our wedding announcement.

Choosing the right tour was a little tricky. We knew of some temples and palaces we wanted to see. Other than that, we just wanted to go where the dusty wind would take us.

There was a moment when I second guessed the tour I originally booked. A few Jaipur tours advertised a day full of Instagrammable locations with a professional photographer.

But alas, I kept our original reservation which advertised a full day excursion with stops at the most touristed temples and attractions.

My new favorite matching outfits from Jams World in Oahu, Hawaii

Pawan picked us up Tuesday morning from our hotel. I was already making Andy pose for photos in our beautifully ornate lobby. Andy and I wore matching outfits I picked up during my recent trip to Oahu. (shout out to Jams World!)

Pawan whisked us away to his large van and we took off toward our first stop, Hawa Mahal. The crown of Jaipur, a facade colored in delicate pink with hundreds of honeycomb-shaped windows. The wind palace was on my brain since we first started planning the trip. I was so excited it would be our first stop.

After learning more about the people of Jaipur, its royal heritage, and its natural resources, we took a few photos and hurried on our way to next stop.

We stopped at Amber Fort and the Anwar Stepwell. We marveled at the age of each structure, admired its beautiful curiosities, and took in all of the details and knowledge Pawan shared with us.

The little girl next to us was *not* a paid actress

There are no words to explain the beauty of Amber Fort. There are hallways, courtyards, gardens, and common areas that glitter with mirrors and 400-year-old murals painted with natural dyes.

Pawan shared his love of photography with us. After learning his own tricks and picking up others along the way, we were in awe of the angles and composition of the photos he took of us.

“I think you just took the main photo of our wedding invitation,” I told him after looking at one of the dozens amazing photos of us.

While walking out of the fort, we mentioned our love of animals and that we considered seeing elephants or tigers while in India. Moments later, he told us an elephant sanctuary was right around the corner from the main road we were on.

And just like that, we pulled into Elephant Village. We were amazed at not only how easy it was to manifest that experience, but how effortless it felt.

We made our way past the gate and approached four Indian elephants. Each elephant was a female with a Hindu name.

The attendant laid out two tables of sugarcane and bananas. We squealed at each other as we fed treats to our new gigantic friends.

As I watched Andy live out one of his lifelong dreams, I couldn’t help but notice the force of these animals, their strong trunks, enormous feet and toes. I hugged an elephant by its trunk trying to hold on to the memory of being so close to such a gentle giant.

We didn’t want to leave. We were in heaven. As we gave away our last banana, we said dhanyavaad to each elephant and thanked them for their time and friendship.

We then walked into an enclosed area where we were greeted by one of the elephants.

We were taught the commands of “walk” and “turn” and we held onto her necklace while we walked side by side with her.

“Agat agat” Andy called out as we walked through the grass. She mozied through the grass with us, dragging her trunk and making muffled sounds in her throat.

“Holy crap, we’re walking an elephant. It’s just like walking the dogs back at home,” I squealed.

We took photos with her, told her a couple elephant jokes, and led her back to her other giant sisters.

We honestly could have ended the tour there. We were exhilarated.

But Pawan had a few more stops in store for us. We saw the water palace, the UNESCO World Heritage astronomy park, and a local textile factory. He even took us to a local jeweler where we got to see why India is so well known for its rubies, sapphires, and emeralds.

We made friends everywhere we went with Pawan and our driver, Bhupendra. We couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day.

At Jantar Mantar, the UNESCO World Heritage Astronomy Park

Our tour ended up going well into the evening. So much so that we got stuck in the main city for a bit while encountering many road closures, which allowed pedestrians to get their goods for the holiday.

We finally said goodbye to our new friends, knowing fully well we’d see them again on our next tour to Jaipur.

—

The next night, we had a walking tour through the local bazaars. Again, we met our guide at the Hawa Mahal and navigated the busy streets by foot, tasting local treats along the way. The tour was much shorter this time around, and we saw what a home looked like in the old city, and learned about their famous shopping alleys and roads.

A walking tour led us to the courtyard inside a local home

The market area was getting busier by the hour, so it became difficult to flag down a car back to our hotel. Our guide put us into a tuktuk (our first one of the trip) and led us to a less busy intersection near a museum.

We stumbled on the beautifully lit Albert Hall museum, which was full of coins, clothes, and jewels older than America’s constitution— and even a mummy. We enjoyed the nearly empty museum while the rest of Jaipur was getting ready for the holiday.

As we exited the museum, we tried ordering an Uber to get back to our hotel. The area was so insanely busy that road closures were preventing any of our drivers from getting to us.

Just then as the third driver cancelled on us, a young man approached. He first started talking to me in Hindi, and I had to tell him I was actually a foreigner. (A surprising amount of people thought I was Indian. From my long black hair, flat nose, dark skin, and big eyes, people were convinced I was from their country. It’s a blessing I didn’t know how much I’d love.)

His name was Ayan and he approached us because he could tell Andy was a foreigner. He told us he was just getting into the tourism business and asked us how we planned to celebrate Diwali the next day.

We hadn’t really thought about how we’d spend the day, so we were surprised when he invited us on a private tour and even back to his family’s home to celebrate the holiday.

Normally, Andy and I would be shy to accept such an offer, but there was something about Ayan’s gentle soul. He hailed down a tuktuk and effortlessly negotiated a better price for us. We agreed to text him the next day and said our goodbyes.

Before we even reached our room, we knew that going on a tuktuk tour with Ayan would be much better than our original plan of just lounging around at the hotel.

When else could we experience such a festive day seeing Jaipur from a local’s eye and be invited into someone’s home to participate in Puja? We knew we had to take the leap of faith. After arranging a meetup time, our Thursday was booked.

Ayan shows us his hometown in the best mode of transporation

Ayan met us the next day in a decked out tuktuk.  He asked what we’d seen already to get an idea of where to take us. Eventually we drove a windy path to see a factory where textiles and clothes were made.

We got the royal treatment at Pink City Heritage Textiles & Carpets

We watched as four humble men sheared wool to create intricate designs on a massive rug. One of the owners of the factory showed us how they block printed designs on organic cotton, which would then turn into amazing bolts of fabric.

I was completely in awe when he told us they exported their goods to Anthropologie and Hermes. We loved the vibe of the business so much that we ended up picking out several fabrics and got fitted for some custom made clothes.

After a couple hours of picking out our new favorite shawls, clothes, and bedding, we made our way to Ayan’s family friend’s jewelry store.

We arrived late in the afternoon so many of the men were already preparing for Puja and other Diwali traditions. We spent some time in the store, laughed with Ayan’s friends, and enjoyed chai while trying on some amazing jewelry.

Ayan eventually dropped us off at our hotel so we could get ready to meet his family later. We’d visit his aunt’s house to watch Puja rituals and then his own home to enjoy some dinner.

Once we arrived at his family’s home, we met his relatives, nibbled on some sweet treats, and spent the evening chatting and watching his nephews light firecrackers in the road. We met Ayan’s wife and new baby, and shared a meal before he drove us back at our hotel.

We had an amazing day with him and told Ayan how much of a joyful surprise the day turned out to be. We expressed our gratitude and told him we’d stay in contact. He lovingly referred to us as his new sister and brother. We told him we’d always remember him and were so happy he approached us in front of the museum the night before.

“Do you believe in destiny?” Ayan asked us during our ride back to the hotel.

We definitely do believe in destiny, and know that the days we spent in Jaipur were a gift from the universe. We would have never experienced the week in Jaipur we did had we not leaned into what opportunities presented themselves.

Not only are we believers of destiny, but we made some true friends in Jaipur. Brothers and family even.

The people of India have been so welcoming. We’d never guess this country would be so impactful on us. We’ve collected memories and friends we’ll think of often.

Andy and I will part ways after this trip. He’ll be at home and I’ll visit my family in Indonesia for a bit. Now it’s time to open up to receive more adventures, auspicious opportunities, holiday time with family, and the wonders of the world.

Namaste and dhanyavaad 🙏🪔

Exploring Crystal Crane Hot Springs in Burns, OR

It's crazy to think that just a few weeks ago, my man and I were on our four-day road trip across three states that I've never really explored before. Our journey from Salt Lake City to Washington had three rules:

1. No driving for more than six hours a day.
2. Leave all of life's stresses at home and let the wide open road try and soothe all of our adulting pains.
3. Hand holding. Lots of hand holding.

This trip could not have come at a better time. My man decided on a route and I just showed up for the ride. There was nothing to do but just sit, look out the window, and be with each other.  

The Pond before sundown.

One of my many favorite moments from the trip was our overnight stay at Crystal Crane Hot Springs. Leave it up to my man to find a totally rustic camping resort of sorts with a massive hot springs pond constantly heated to 100 degrees. The resort itself is in the middle of nowhere and attracts roadtrippers, campers, hikers and people on the natural hot springs tour throughout the region. Though the one great thing about the remoteness of Crystal Crane's location is that it's hard to get to and there really aren't that many people out there. The second best thing? The stargazing was absolutely stunning.

Sunset in Burns, OR at Crystal Crane Hot Springs.

My man reserved the resort's 5th Wheel for the night and I'm so glad he did. Our rental was better than glamping! Our RV was stocked with a kitchenette, dining area, TV, queen-sized bed, and full bathroom. We chatted it up with other travelers and be-friended dogs in the common living area and we grilled up sandwiches in the communal kitchen. The place was definitely quirky and I loved all of the personalities we ran into along the way.

In case you didn't bring your own tent or RV, you can rent a teepee at Crystal Crane!

The pond...The pond was magical. Small pebbles of what looked like lava rock lined the bottom of the huge pond. The water contained minerals like calcium, magnesium, potassium and silica.The spring water came out at nearly 160 degrees at the water fountain source and kept the entire pond a hot 100 degrees throughout the day and night. We took our first dip in the early evening and the hot water was amazing. There were small groups around us but we later found out that the pond closes to the public at 9 pm and only resort guests had 24/7 access. We came back to a quieter pond after dinner and soaked under the stars and clouds. And we didn't even mind the chilly and crisp high desert air after soaking.

We decided to take advantage of the resort's private cedar-enclosed bathhouse the next day. We figured before we headed out for another day of driving, we might as well treat ourselves one last time. And for $15 per person/per hour, it was a bargain. We packed up the truck and spent our last moments in a private bathhouse. The tub was at about 101 degrees but we were able to heat it up and cool it down as we pleased. We got hooked up with our host's favorite tub and we soaked and steamed before hitting the road again. Our tub was huge and the lounge space around the tub was even bigger so I could lay around when the tub got too hot.

Maybe it was the mineral water or the high desert air. Maybe it was the stargazing. But I definitely felt more relaxed and rejuvenated after leaving Crystal Crane. If it wasn't in such a remote part of Oregon, I'm sure we'd visit more often. 

A day trip to Bainbridge Island, WA

Since my boyfriend moved up to Washington, I’ve looked for all kinds of excuses to explore the Pacific North West. We’ve driven up to Vancouver, Canada and explored the treetops at the Capilano Suspension Bridge. We walked out to the Dungeness Spit and looked for lavender farms in Sequim. We’ve eaten the best food, smoked the best pot, and saw the hippest strippers in Portland ☺.

That being said, one of the coziest, quaintest, totally #PNW neighborhoods is a 45 minute drive from my man’s house. If you know Grey’s Anatomy, you’ve heard of and seen Bainbridge Island. And apparently Vogue.com calls this place the Nantucket of the Pacific Northwest.

So much delicious seafood coming out of Harbour Public House on Bainbridge Island.

The trees during Spring on Bainbridge Island.

The town is teeny, it has some serious seafood, its homes are addddorable, and it makes for the perfect day trip. We first visited Bainbridge Island in the thick of Spring last year and it was beautiful outside. We took the ferry from Seattle, got some seafood from The Harbour Public House, and walked and shopped under the perennial blooms.

Heading out to Winslow Way on a beautiful fall day.

While my man had to work a weekend recently, his housemate and I, who I absolutely love, went on a wild Bainbridge autumn adventure. Matt and I were packin’ and brought along one of my favorite edibles, a mint chocolate dipped Korova cookie. With a latte, about 25mg THC entering our system, and a joint in our hands, we took Winslow Way by storm.

One of our first stops was Hattie Rose, a super feminine boutique that’s oozing French chateau and Bohemian boudoir vibes. Matt and I must have chatted with owner, Liz, for 30 minutes admiring her wares and collectively gasping at how warm and ethereal that October day was turning out to be.  

Inside Hattie Rose on Bainbridge Island.

Sunkissed corners of Liz's adorable shop, Hattie Rose.

Matt and I puttered around a little more before stumbling into the Calico Toy Shoppe. There were so many things to get our paws on and it seriously felt like I was Tom Hanks in the movie Big. A few blocks down, the stunning hunks of amethyst and rose quartz at Gilbert Thomes nearly blinded me. For someone who loves having little crystals around and on her, this place was absolutely insane and I wanted to buy everything in sight.

One of the coolest finds of the day was the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art (BIMA). Admission was free, our edibles were kicking in real nicely, and we got to spend some time admiring all kinds of photography, sculptures and paintings.

Window displays at Gilbert Thomes

Outside on the sundeck at BIMA.

We definitely managed to goof off for a few hours while my man was away working. Bainbridge Island is so stinking close to Seattle, yet such a different scene. If you Seattlites are looking for a day trip, don't forget about Bainbridge!

My first home delivery with Eaze

Between my move to Oakland, weekend adventures, visitors from near and far, and work, I can safely say that I overdid it in September and October. For as long as I can remember, I've made it a mission to utilize all of the usable hours in the day. From running to a workout straight after work, to somehow managing to be away every weekend for the past six weeks, I've been completely exhausted.

It was just a couple days before my man was coming into town and I realized that I didn't have enough flower to get us through the weekend and I didn't have any time to bike over to my local dispensary for a pickup. And then I remembered I was still holding onto a business card I got at the 420 Games from the guys over at Eaze.

Perfect! I'll just set up a home delivery in between the three other things I was trying to do at the same time!

Goodies from my first Eaze delivery.

I started shopping their deals, created my account and uploaded my recommendation. I was a bit nervous that they'd take too long to review my information and that I'd have to wait to place an order. But just as I was picking out my last joint, I got a notification that my account was active and that I was free to make an order. The turnaround was amazing and a total time saver.

Eaze had some awesome deals on flower that day so I got a couple extra goodies and submitted my payment. What I love about Eaze's interface is that you can actually see the status of your order and when it's en route. I got a text message from my driver asking if there were any special delivery instructions and that she was headed over.

The delivery was so easy and my driver was super friendly. The joints were a perfect travel companion for our adventures. 

Life can be super crazy. And when I have those days where I just want to sit and focus at home, Eaze makes it all the better -- for the busy blogger to the average smoker just wanting to chill indoors.

We did, we totally did...