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Category: Asia

  • Long Layover: Shanghai Edition

    Long Layover: Shanghai Edition

    [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]While I have some recommendations and tips for a long layover in Shanghai, I have to admit, it didn’t make it on the favorite places list. Perhaps Shanghai requires a longer stay in order to truly appreciate it (and I must admit there were places I had on my list of things to do and see that I didn’t make it to) but I tried to make the best of my long layovers anyhow![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

    Customs:

    The negative experiences really started as soon as I got off the plane. I bee-lined it to the 144-hour visa line and luckily there were only about 10 or so people in front of me. Piece of cake, right? Wrong. I’m not sure what was going on with the couple at the front of the line but we just didn’t move. They finally opened up a second line for those of us staying in Shanghai for under 24 hours (although I’m really not sure why this would be a requirement to be in one line over another) and that cut the number of people in front of me down to 5. The line started to move but it still took me about an hour to get through customs.

    As a side note, on my way back through Shanghai on the way home this entire process took less than 15 minutes.

    Tip: make sure you have proof of your flight that will be taking you out of Shanghai within the 144-hour visa. I also had the name of the hotel I was staying at but they didn’t inquire.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”676″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

    Cash:

    Once through customs, I made my way to the ATM. It didn’t work. A woman working at a car service desk told me it only worked with domestic cards. To be honest, I have no idea if there was another ATM in the airport that would have taken international cards because at this point I just wanted to get to my hotel. I paid for the car service with credit card and after a few minutes wait I was on my way. The car ride was about 40 minutes and cost $65.

    You’re probably thinking, “she showed up in China with no cash?” and you’d be right. Aside from being the crazy cash girl in Cuba where I knew I would have to bring all of the cash I needed for the entire trip, I’ve never had an issue using the ATM at any airport so yes, I showed up in China with $3.

    Luckily I knew it would be easy to find an ATM once I was in the city. The only problem was it was a Saturday evening and there seemed to be only banks lining The Bund with no outdoor ATMs. When I finally came across an ATM it was in Chinese and there didn’t seem to be an English option. Hopefully, you don’t find yourself in this bind, but if you do, the Waldorf Astoria (on The Bund) has an ATM near reception.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

    Stay:

    Due to my limited time I chose a hotel on The Bund. I picked Les Suites Orient as they were reasonably priced (and I could use Chase Sapphire Reward points). The hotel room was very nice and I took the below picture after just walking across the street from the hotel. It was on the more southern end of The Bund but near restaurants and Yu Yuan Garden.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”686″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

    Eat & Drink:

    Another issue I had was finding a place to eat dinner that Saturday evening. By the time I had gotten settled, took some skyline photos and was ready for dinner, it was after 9pm. I had a few spots written down that were close to the hotel (since I was cash-less at this point I knew a taxi was off limits) and both were closed when I went to eat. What kind of restaurants are closed before 9:30pm on a Saturday night right on The Bund in a city of 23 million people?! I still don’t understand.

    After my unsuccessful attempts at scoring some Chinese food I settled for Pop, a rooftop bar restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating. It was a rather warm (and humid) night so I choose to enjoy my yummy almond curry outside. At least I had a pretty view of skyline and was eating some sort of Asian food?[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”684″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][vc_column_text]Luckily, on my way back through Shanghai I did make it to Shanghai Grandmother Restaurant which had been on my list of restaurants to try. We had a noodle soup (I was freezing that day, but it honestly didn’t have much taste) and some chicken with peanuts and rice that reminded me of a Kung Pao chicken. Our waiter did not speak English much at all but the menu was filled with photos which made things a lot easier.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”677″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Cloud 9 in Hyatt Jin Mao – after attempting to go to the Shanghai Tower, realizing we had to buy tickets in advance, and seeing how smoggy it looked from the camera up above, we settled on drinks at the bar on the 87th floor of the Hyatt Jin Mao. We went between tea time and dinner time so we had the bar area we were in mostly to ourselves and enjoyed $15 glasses of wine before heading to the airport to make our way home.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”678″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

    Do:

    With my first layover primarily being overnight, I didn’t have time to do much besides wander around The Bund and take photos of the skyline (especially considering I had no cash to get anywhere very far). In my opinion walking along The Bund is a must at some point in your trip.

    On our daytime layover, we did try to make it over to Yu Yuan Garden. It was a cool area to walk around, but it was a Sunday so it was packed. We took a few photos but never actually made it into the garden – maybe if you can, save that for a weekday!

    If I went back I’d definitely want to check out the French Concession neighborhood and try to make it to the top of Shanghai Tower (if the weather was agreeable).[/vc_column_text][vc_media_grid grid_id=”vc_gid:1482290783318-bf1e7f45-f1f7-5″ include=”682,679,681″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

    Additional Tips:

    On our second layover in Shanghai we bought roundtrip tickets on the Maglev (the fastest magnetic levitation train in the world) and it took about 8 minutes to get from the airport to the city. Once you get to the city you are still a taxi ride away from anywhere you are probably looking to go to.

    Once you get in a taxi, make sure you have a taxi card for your hotel, or wherever you are going translated into Chinese – otherwise there seems to be a decent chance your taxi driver will have no idea what you are saying – even if you try to show him on a map.

    Have cash! We paid for taxis in cabs and some food as well. Of course, the hotels will take credit card but it’s definitely more of a cash society than most other big cities I’ve been to.

    Enjoy! While Shanghai wasn’t my favorite city, there were still good experiences during both layovers and now I’ve finally gotten to experience mainland China, if only for a short amount of time![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

  • I’m on a Boat…In Coron, Philippines

    I’m on a Boat…In Coron, Philippines

    [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]When we decided to go to the Philippines we knew we would only be able to pick one place to go due to time constraints. We would be coming from Hong Kong and it seemed no matter where we wanted to go we’d have to fly through Manila to get there.

    After chatting with some friends that had been to various islands, reading countless blog posts, and considering travel times, we chose Coron.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”635″ img_size=”500x” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]So why did we choose Coron?

    1. Once we got to the airport in Busuanga we were only a 45-minute van ride from town.
    2. We could fly Cebu Pacific, a more budget airline, which helped keep costs down.
    3. The beautiful limestone cliffs and formations on Coron Island. While I’m sure you can’t really go wrong with any of the touristy islands in the Philippines, we live at the beach and wanted something a bit different.
    4. Boats! Again, while the water in San Diego is nothing like the water in the Philippines, we can lie on the beach most months out of the year and the different boat tours Coron had to offer interested us.
    5. Scuba Diving. If you’re into diving (or even snorkeling) there are many wrecks in the area which you can’t necessarily find everywhere else that scuba diving is popular.

    Have I convinced you to go yet? Here’s where we stayed, where we ate and what we did:[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

    Stay

    We chose Corto del Mar – walking distance to everything in town but away from the busy, loud streets (however, there are roosters nearby). The hotel was nice, there is a pool and large jacuzzi (that wasn’t hot the one time we went to take a dip) and a good breakfast was included. I originally stumbled upon the hotel looking through my Chase Sapphire Rewards Points but found a great rate on agoda.com so opted to pay for our stay.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”622″ img_size=”540×360″ alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

    Eat

    Sinugba sa Balay – located near the center of town, this outdoor eatery serves up great local food – we ended up having dinner here two of the four nights we were in Coron. From chicken to fish and shrimp, to noodles and rice, smoothies and local beers, we enjoyed everything we tried here.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Altrove – if you need a break from Filipino food, Altrove is the place to grab pastas and pizza. It’s located up on the second floor, so we actually missed it the first time we walked by. We had their pesto pasta which tasted so fresh and delicious, and a thin crust pepperoni pizza.

    Asia Grandview Hotel – one downside of Coron is that you can’t really just sit on the beach and enjoy the sunset. We ended up choosing to have some post-boat tour drinks and appetizers at the Asia Grandview Hotel, located above the harbor with excellent sunset views.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”623″ img_size=”540×360″ alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

    Do

    Get on a boat! If you don’t want to spend your days on boats, I probably wouldn’t recommend that you come to Coron. We had three full days in Coron and spent the better part of every day on a boat.

    Calamian Tours – we actually ended up with Calamian Tours because when we arrived to Coron it was sunset so we decided to just book a tour through the hotel. We did the Coron Island Ultimate Tour which I’d recommend. Kayangan Lake was beautiful, and it was cool to swim through the Twin Lagoons and check out snorkel spots, beaches and a shipwreck. Lunch was included, and while alcohol wasn’t they are totally happy with you buying beers or rum before starting the day![/vc_column_text][vc_media_grid element_width=”6″ gap=”10″ grid_id=”vc_gid:1481082046726-2e4b3190-5ea5-4″ include=”624,625″ css=”.vc_custom_1481081588893{border-radius: 5px !important;}”][vc_media_grid element_width=”6″ gap=”15″ grid_id=”vc_gid:1481082046729-b03685a6-244f-9″ include=”626,627″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Scuba Diving – I don’t actually dive (I hurt my ear in a Discovery Dive in Bali in 2009 and have been a baby about it since) but Toby does and I went along for the ride (luckily two of the three stops were shallow enough that I could actually snorkel around and see fish, coral and one of the wrecks. We used Reggae Dive Center (or Rocksteady Dive Center – they were in the middle of rebranding to Reggae when we were there) and they were great. Lunch was included, as well as a post-scuba beer.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”628″ img_size=”360×540″ alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Rent a Private Boat – on our third day we decided to sleep in a bit and then just wander down to the docks to see if we could get a private boat for the afternoon. We walked about 10 feet out of hotel when a tricycle driver asked if we wanted a ride and made it his mission to help us find a private boat for the afternoon. Once we found a boat we went to the market by the water and chose a fish, rice, veggies and some items for cooking so that they could make us lunch while we were out. We chose three beaches we hadn’t visited in our previous tour and they boated us around and let us stay as long as we liked. It was a wonderful, relaxing, romantic way to end our trip in Coron.[/vc_column_text][vc_media_grid grid_id=”vc_gid:1481082046730-57c0e5d3-799b-5″ include=”629,630,631″][vc_single_image image=”632″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][vc_column_text]

    What to Bring

    You’re heading to the Philippines – of course, you already know to bring your bathing suits, shorts, and sundresses, but here are a few of our favorite things that we brought along:

    • Bug Spray! One option I like is the Repel 100 bundled with the mosquito wipes.
    • Patagonia Black Hole Duffel Bag 45L – some may opt for the larger, 60L size but 45L has gotten Toby through trips lasting up to a couple of weeks!
    • Exofficio Underwear – not just for traveling, but awesome quick-dry, moisture wicking fabric that Toby swears by.
    • REI Traverse 48 Pack – they make larger versions, but being that I’m pretty small, I opted for a smaller backpack and I’ve been able to make it work for trips up to a couple of weeks long with no problem!
    • REI Expandable Packing Cubes – no doubt these guys help keep us organized and make packing in smaller duffels and backpacks just a little bit easier. I really like that these are expandable too!
    • Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones – whether it’s for a long flight, noisy hotel neighbors or to get you through a boring layover, I haven’t taken a trip without my Bose since 2011.
    • Longchamp Tote Bag – a favorite of mine since back in 2009, this tote weighs nothing and the material is very durable – my tote has been on countless trips with me! It also folds up to be quite small so you could also bring it as an extra bag for day trips during a trip or if you find yourself buying too many souvenirs and need an extra bag to carry them all on the trip home.
    • Cabeau Evolution Cool Memory Foam Neck Pillow – Toby’s new favorite accessory for long flights – no more neck pain after falling asleep on the plane!
    • Inflatable Travel U-Pillow – I, on the other hand, have had my trusty inflatable neck pillow for a couple of years and am perfectly happy with it. I’m also short enough to use the tray table as a place to lay my head and tend to use the shape of the neck pillow like a massage table.
    • Kindle E-Reader – Yes, I know, I could read on my iPad, but I like my Kindle. Plus, while I’m reading my Kindle I’m not using my iPad’s battery. Of course it does take up a little bit more space in my carry-on, but I always bring it on longer trips.
    • Apple iPad Air – while many long haul flights come with a seemingly never-ending library of movies and tv shows, some do not. Before flying to the Philippines we flew China Eastern over and I was glad to have options on my iPad – and, while I’ve only found myself watching tv on vacation when I had food poisoning, it’s always a nice backup option to have!

    [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]As most places I’ve been in Southeast Asia, I completely fell in love with the sleepy little town of Coron. I only wish I had had more time to explore other islands in the Philippines – but I guess it just means I’ll need to go back one day!

    Have a favorite island? I’d love to hear your recommendations![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

  • A Hong Kong Weekend

    A Hong Kong Weekend

    [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]I loved Hong Kong. It reminded me a bit of a cross between New York City and San Francisco, in Asia. My “weekend” in Hong Kong was actually parts of two weekends but it makes up a Friday night through Monday morning, on both Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, in the humid sunshine and cooler rain, so I feel like I got a wide range of experiences in.

    Do

    I arrived midday on a Sunday and was staying in Kowloon. My hotel was close to the harbor and Nathan Rd., so it was easy to wander around for awhile snapping photos and taking it all in.

    Shop – I didn’t fly halfway around the world to go to the mall, but if that’s what you want to do you don’t have to travel too far to find one! I ended up eating lunch in a mall one day and that was enough for me.

    Nan Lian Garden – a bit farther away, but completely free and while a little crowded, it was peaceful. It appeared that you could have tea there, but I just wandered around and took in the pretty sights.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”605″ img_size=”medium” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Temple Street Night Market – I didn’t end up making it here and I’m not sure if I’m disappointed about that or not. If you haven’t been to a lot of markets and bazaars I’m sure it’s worth going to – but I didn’t really feel the need to haggle over DVDs and things I just didn’t need.

    Lan Kwai Fong – if you find yourself on Hong Kong Island (or hop on the ferry or train and head over) this area is full of bars and people drinking on the streets. We had fun wandering around and people-watching until 3am (when we got tired, but it didn’t seem like anything was dying down yet).[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Victoria Peak – unfortunately, the day we planned to do this started out a bit foggy with drizzle. We waited until things appeared to be clearing up and halfway up to the peak it started raining. And raining. And raining. How we even managed to get a picture this good is beyond me. If I go back to Hong Kong (which I hope I do one day!) I’d like to go up at night, and maybe again during the day if it’s sunny! Tip: if the line for the tram is long, take a taxi – it’ll be a similar price and you won’t be waiting in line. However, the lines to leave were tremendously long. I’m not sure if this was due to the weather, but we ended paying surcharges to get an Uber back to our hotel – well worth it since we were tired and it was cold and dreary out.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”606″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The Light Show – at 8pm every night you’ll see a light show from Kowloon. I was up on a rooftop bar so I had a great view, but apparently, there is also music you can hear if you are closer to the harbor.

    Star Ferry – ridiculously cheap and why not? We took the ferry from Hong Kong to Kowloon one morning, but I’m sure taking it at night during the light show would be great.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”615″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

    Eat

    Tim Wan Ho – Three words. BBQ Pork Buns. Yes, this is the cheapest Michelin star restaurant in the world. Yes, it is a chain. Yes, it is as good as people say. The two of us spent less than $20 on lunch, ordered more than we meant to, and enjoyed every single bite. Get the BBQ Pork Buns, perhaps two orders (and when the menu says “bun” understand that means three will come in your order.

    Din Tai Fung – another chain that you can even find in the United States, but we don’t have one in San Diego and I had never been. There was one around the corner from my hotel in Kowloon so I grabbed a quick lunch there (across from a Ruby Tuesday in a mall).

    Kin’s Kitchen – described as upscale Cantonese, we found ourselves feeling like some of the only tourists in the restaurant on a Saturday night (making us feel that we had made the right choice). We had one of their signature dishes, the smoked half chicken, which was delicious (and appears that the chicken has been cut right down the middle – head and all), some BBQ pork (no bun here) and some fried rice. Everything was delicious.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Budaoweng Hot Pot Cuisine – this was my first hot pot experience and my waitress was really helpful with showing me what to do and helped me make a sauce. I’d definitely recommend checking this place out and the more people the merrier! It’s also on a high floor in the Tsim Sha Tsui neighborhood so if you sit near a window you’ll have great views of Hong Kong Island. Afterward head even higher up to Eye Bar which has indoor and outdoor seating.[/vc_column_text][vc_media_grid grid_id=”vc_gid:1480482818496-6d77115a-30b1-10″ include=”608,609,610″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

    Stay

    Due to the fact that our “weekend” in Hong Kong was spread over two weekends, we opted to spend the first part on the Kowloon side of the harbor and the second part on the Hong Kong side.

    Hotel Pravo – located in the Tsim Sha Tsui area of Kowloon, this hotel was close to the harbor, Nathan Road, and the MTR, making it easy to get around. The hotel itself was rather dark, but the bedroom was a decent size with a couch and the bathroom was nice. For the price and location, I’d stay there again.

    Metropark Hotel Wanchai – I think they may be very soon changing the name of this hotel to Kew Green. The hotel was in a decent location on Hong Kong Island in the Wan Chai neighborhood, a close ride to Central, to get to the Peak or the ferry. The room smelled of stale smoke, though, so if possible I’d request a non-smoking room or floor.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

  • Exploring Phu Quoc Island by Motorbike

    Exploring Phu Quoc Island by Motorbike

    When we were planning our two week holiday in Vietnam, I did a lot of reading about traveling south to north, top places to stop and visit, and so on.  Phu Quoc didn’t make it onto many travel blogs or lists.  It wasn’t until a friend suggested it that we started researching and decided it would make a perfect end to our trip.

    Long Beach in Phu Quoc
    Long Beach in Phu Quoc

    Phu Quoc is located off the coast of Southern Vietnam and is actually only about 15 miles away from Cambodia.  We had both been to islands in Thailand and Indonesia and knew Phu Quoc would be a little more undiscovered.

    After 13 days of traveling we collapsed on the beach at our resort (we stayed at Long Beach Resort – I’d certainly recommend it) and barely moved for a couple of days.  Here are our recommendations when you can finally get yourself off the sand:

    Rent a motorbike.

    Sao Beach
    Sao Beach

    After surviving being a pedestrian among the motos in bigger cities, we decided it was time to take one for a spin. We were able to rent one right outside of our hotel and off we want.  We had checked out maps and there really aren’t a ton of roads in Phu Quoc, so we set off in the general southeastern direction towards Sao Beach.  We had read mixed reviews and we got what we expected.  On the eastern side of the island, the beach had a different feel than where we had spent the last couple of days.  There weren’t many people, more greenery, and yes, there was some trash.  We snacked at Paradiso Beach Club that was full of pumping music with food and drinks.  Nearby, there was a swing on a tree that gave tourists the opportunity to take pictures like the one here.

    After a couple of hours there it was time to head back.  The main “highway” cuts through the middle of the island but I could see on Google Maps there was a road that cut straight across – if we took this we could drive up the coast while the sun was setting.  This sounded like a great option until we spent 18 of 21 kilometers on mud and dirt roads filled with giant holes and moguls.  We did, however, survive, and got some pretty amazing photos on the way.

    IMG_1022
    A pearl farm in Phu Quoc

    Tip: on our dirt road journey we saw huge InterContinental and Novotel properties being built so perhaps when you get out there to visit there will be more paved roads to make your trip a bit easier!

    Eat!

    IMG_0963
    A selection of seafood at the night market

    Dinh Cau Night Market – while this market has a little bit for everyone – souvenirs and snacks, the main reason to come here is delicious fresh seafood. We spent hours hopping from stall to stall, trying scallops here, a grilled lobster there, all while strolling around sipping on Tiger and Saigon beers.  The market is open daily at 5pm, so make sure you check it out at least one night!

    Winston’s Burgers and Beers – I know, I know.  We are in Vietnam and we are suggesting you go eat a burger.  But after two weeks of traveling and one terrible night of food poisoning, a burger was just what we needed.  Winston is an ex-pat and the burgers do not disappoint.  If you need a short break from the local fare, I’d highly suggest checking this place out!

    Itaca lounge art

    ITACA Resto Lounge

     

     

    Drunk’n Monkey

  • Finding Relaxation in a Chaotic Vietnam

    Finding Relaxation in a Chaotic Vietnam

    Before we went on our trip to Vietnam I did a lot, I mean A LOT of research on the best way to spend one or two weeks in the country – where to go, what not to miss.  After all was said and done, here is where we ended up:

    Day 1: Saigon

    We arrived in Saigon late night. If you do Visa on Arrival be prepared that it could take a little while to actually get your Visa.

    Day 2: Saigon

    After a lot of travel and a crazy night, we spent our first full day in Saigon at the pool and with massages before going on a motorbike food tour at night (DO IT! I promise it’ll be one of your favorite things you do on your trip!)

    Day 3: Saigon

    Checked out the War Remnants Museum.  We were also lucky enough to have a friend of a friend who was an ex-pat living in Saigon and he spent the afternoon showing us around other parts of Saigon. Of course we just scratched the surface – there are so many things to do and delicious places to eat in Saigon!

    Day 4: Hoi An

    Fly to Da Nang, taxi to Hoi An.  Hoi An was another favorite part of the trip for me. It’s a quaint little town and if you want to get any custom clothes made, well this is where you do it.  We spent the afternoon wandering the streets, in and out of tailors until we found Yaly Couture which had been recommended to us.

    Day 5: Hoi An

    We hired a car and visited the My Son ruins in the morning. Imagine a mini-Angkor Wat meeting Indiana Jones.  For a half day trip I’d say it was worth it.  We then spent the remainder of the day in and out of Yaly, Toby getting custom suits and shirts while I was fitted for dresses, rompers and shoes.

    Day 6: Hoi An & Da Nang

    We headed back to Yaly one last time that morning. We had been there enough we were given complimentary (morning) mojitos while we waited.  Then we were off to Da Nang for New Years Eve.  Da Nang is a bit bigger of a city on the beach but the weather in December on the central coast of Vietnam isn’t necessarily beach weather.  I don’t think it’s a necessary stop but I thought a big city would provide more options for New Years Eve.

    Day 7: Da Nang & Hue

    We checked out the Mother Buddha in the morning – a short drive from downtown Da Nang and then our hired drive came to drive us to Hue.  I chose this option instead of flying because of the Hai Van Pass.  It was beautiful.  However, the roads get pretty windy so if you get carsick at all, or decide to make the drive on New Years Day, you may want to rethink your decision.  Luckily, I survived.  We spent the rest of the day exploring the Imperial Palace in Hue.  It was cool to see but if I had to do things again I would have probably gone straight from Hoi An to Hanoi.

    Day 8: Hanoi

    We flew to Hanoi and wandered the winding streets in the Old Quarter, getting lost in the chaos.  We checked out the Hanoi Hilton where John McCain (and so many others) had been held prisoner of war.  And then… the most terrible stomach virus/food poisoning set in and I was out of commission for the rest of the night. Although we didn’t get as much time to sightsee here as we had hoped, here is a list of things to love about Hanoi!

    Day 9: Ha Long Bay

    After Toby made a trip to the pharmacy and managed to get me all of the antibiotics I needed, I was as ready as I could be to sit in a van for 4 hours to make our way to Ha Long Bay. From there we hopped on our junk boat for the remainder of the day and night.  Ha Long Bay was unbelievably beautiful, and peaceful, especially after being in Hanoi.  We spent one night there (you can spend two) and I think that was enough for us. Want a more indepth look at Ha Long Bay? Read on here.

    Day 10: Ha Long Bay & Hanoi

    After lunch on the boat we made the four-hour journey back to Hanoi and checked back into the hotel we had been staying in previously (many hotels are used to this so you can leave a bigger bag with them if you’d like).  We walked around Hoan Kiem Lake and then made our way to the beer corner in the Old Quarter for some 15 cent beers on child-sized chairs. At some point in your stay in Hanoi, I’d definitely recommend making your way there – cheap beer, street food and free entertainment!

    Day 11: Phu Quoc

    After a crazy 10 days (more if you include our time in Tokyo) we were finally on our way to relax.  We took a two hour flight from Hanoi to Phu Quoc and had our butts in the ocean by lunchtime.

    Day 12: Phu Quoc

    A lot of walking from the lounge chair, to the ocean, to the bar. By nighttime we were ready to check out the Dinh Canh Night Market which I highly recommend – especially if you’re a seafood lover!

    Day 13: Phu Quoc

    We decided we should see a bit more of the island and rented a motorbike for the afternoon and made our way to the east side and Sao Beach.  After an adventure to get home we had a nice dinner and got some rest before our long journey home.

    Day 14: Saigon

    We flew from Phu Quoc back to Saigon in the morning and checked into a hotel for the day, until our flight at 11pm.  This time we had chosen a hotel near Pham Ngu Lao Street, famously known as Saigon’s backpacker area.  We spent the day getting our last tastes of Vietnamese food and beer before a quick shower and repack of our backpacks and then it was back to Tokyo… then Seoul… then finally Los Angeles.

    For more detailed information on what we did, where we stayed and what we ate in Vietnam, check out the rest of our Vietnam posts:

    Boats and Clothes in Hoi An

    Exploring Phu Quoc by Motorbike

  • Tokyo: The Short Layover Guide

    Tokyo: The Short Layover Guide

    [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The title of this post is a bit misleading – while we did make it to Tokyo on our way to Vietnam, our layover on the way home was only about 6 hours.  Not long – but enough to get out of the airport if you wish!

    We hopped on the train and in about 10 minutes we were in the town of Narita.

    What To Do:

      1. Wander down Narita’s Omotesando, or shopping street.  We didn’t have any sort of agenda besides getting some last tastes of authentic Japanese food so we slowly meandered down the 800 meter road.
      2. Visit Naritasan Shinshoji Temple and Naritasan Park.  The main road will lead you here and you’ll get to check out the temple and wander around the park.
    Narita Shinshoji Temple
    Narita Shinshoji Temple
    1. Buy custom chopsticks! Okay, this is definitely not a must, and does not have to be done in Narita, but we picked some of these up from one of the stores on the main road.
    2. Eat! There are lots of different street vendors or places where you order at the window, take your food and go.  We ordered some random things from a window until we eventually found a place serving ramen and beer.  I have no idea what the name of the restaurant was that we landed in, but I have to imagine you’ll get some pretty good ramen wherever you stop.
    Street food in Narita
    Street food in Narita

    And…that was it.  While Narita is nothing like Tokyo, if you want to get a tiny taste of Japan outside of the airport walls but don’t have the time to venture all the way into the city, Narita is definitely worth checking out!

    Have a longer layover at the Narita Airport? Make sure to read our blog post about actually heading into Tokyo for the night![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

  • Boats and Clothes in Hoi An

    Boats and Clothes in Hoi An

    [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]While planning our itinerary for our two week trip in Vietnam, Hoi An kept coming up as many people’s favorite place on their trip – and also the spot to go to if you wanted custom clothing made. It seemed a like a stop we couldn’t pass up and I’m so happy we didn’t – it ended up being one of our favorite stops during our two-week trip and we left with a lot of custom clothing![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”451″ img_size=”500x” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]After the chaos of Saigon (or Hanoi) Hoi An was a breath of fresh air. It’s a pretty small town with a river separating the old town from the rest of town. The old town, or ancient town, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site so I don’t believe there is any place to stay within those walls but anywhere else is just a few minutes walk away.

    What To Do

    Wander around Ancient Town – lots of little restaurants, cafes, a few bars and lots and lots of tailors. You’ll also find it hard to miss the Japanese Covered Bridge (pictured below).[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”454″ img_size=”500x” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Take a half-day trip to My Son – My Son is a set of ruins from the ancient Cham Empire. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was mostly destroyed during the Vietnam War.We hired a car for relatively cheap and the driver waited for us while we walked down the road to the ruins. You can also do a more organized tour but normally that’s not our jam. It was definitely cool to check out and I think worth a half-day trip if you’re in Hoi An.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”455″ img_size=”500x” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Get Custom Clothes Made! But seriously…if you have any interest in getting some custom clothes made – this is the place if you’re in Vietnam. There are tons of tailors – big shops to small – it’s hard to choose! We were given the recommendation to go to Yaly Couture which is where we got 95% of our clothing made, but if that place isn’t your style there are plenty of recommendations on TripAdvisor or just walk into a store that has something you like! Having an idea of what you want is probably a good idea, but not necessary. Toby knew that he wanted some suits and ended up getting some custom shirts as well. I had no idea what I wanted and ended up buying some nicer dresses, a romper, and a pair of pumps! They have a bunch of mannequins dressed in custom clothing and endless binders and fabrics to give you ideas.

    Tip: if you want to get some custom clothes made, I’d plan to be in Hoi An for a few days as most of the shops are busy and you’ll have to go back for a fitting (or a few).

    We read stories of people renting bicycles and riding around the countryside and heading to the beach but between our trip to My Son, just wandering around, and numerous fittings for clothes we didn’t have time to do either of those.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_media_grid element_width=”6″ gap=”10″ grid_id=”vc_gid:1470237371184-998c17a6-40d2-1″ include=”457,458″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

    Where to Eat

    Before we talk about where to eat, let’s talk about what you need to eat in Hoi An. White Rose is their signature dish. What is white rose, you might be thinking. It’s a little dumpling, usually of minced shrimp or pork in rice paper. Delicious!

    Green Mango Restaurant – this was our first food stop in Hoi An. We had lunch there but I’m sure it would be a great spot for dinner as well. It’s also right near Yaly’s if you need to kill time between fittings.

    Morning Glory – this restaurant is pretty popular so if you can, make a reservation. We didn’t but didn’t have to wait too long. We sat upstairs and after reading some reviews, it seems like we got a better (cooler) spot.

    White Marble – right in the heart of Ancient Town, we got a table on the second floor next to the window overlooking the street. We sampled all sorts of delicious Vietnamese appetizers and since it was the only wine bar we found ourselves in on this trip we made sure to order some wine.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”462″ img_size=”500x” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Whatever you do while you’re there and wherever you eat – just make your way to Hoi An during your trip![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

  • Tokyo: The Long Layover Guide

    Tokyo: The Long Layover Guide

    [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]When we booked our flights to Vietnam we were lucky enough to build in a 21-hour layover in Tokyo into our itinerary.  I quickly started to research what we should do, where we should go, with less than 24 hours in such a large city.  Some people recommended just staying in Narita, much closer to the airport, but if you have 21 hours you have PLENTY of time to get yourself into the city, check out a few neighborhoods and eat a bunch of delicious food.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”306″ img_size=”500x” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded” css_animation=”top-to-bottom”][vc_column_text]

    Where to Stay

    We made the decision to stay in Shinjuku. Why? We could take the Narita Express directly from the airport to Shinjuku Station. We had read that there were lots of restaurants and nightlife, we were a stone’s throw from Golden Gai and a quick train ride to Shibuya.

    We used Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card points and stayed at Citadines Central Shinjuku Tokyo.  The hotel was nice and clean, included breakfast, and the rooms were tiny, as per Tokyo.

    What to Do

    1.     Eat! It was dinner time by the time we settled into the hotel (not that our bodies had any idea what time it really was) so we set out in Kabukicho and quickly found some sushi and beer.

    2.     Shibuya Crossing – the largest crosswalk in the world, it was a pretty crazy site to see.  It also happened to be Christmas Day and there seemed to be some sort of SantaCon going on which made everything that much more entertaining.  We wandered around, found Hachikō, checked out the giant Starbucks and then found ourselves a little ramen bar (perfect for 40-degree weather!)[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”302″ img_size=”500x” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded” css_animation=”top-to-bottom”][vc_column_text]3.     Golden Gai – a neighborhood of six alleyways lined with hundreds of tiny bars. Take your pick! Most were full and full of smokers, but a completely different experience nonetheless.

    4.     Meiji Shrine – after getting a few hours of sleep we hopped on the train again and got off at Harajuku and walked around the Meiji Shrine, which is actually quite a large area.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”292″ img_size=”large” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded” css_animation=”top-to-bottom”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”293″ img_size=”large” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded” css_animation=”top-to-bottom”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]After spending the morning at the Meiji Shrine we made our way back to the hotel, grabbed our bags, and back to the airport we went. Our next destination, Vietnam.

    Have a shorter layover at the Tokyo Narita Airport?  Make sure to read our blog post about spending the afternoon in the nearby town of Narita-san![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]