All posts by Ashley

Travel

Saigon: a City of Scooters, Culture and War

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While living in Hong Kong from 2010-2012, I traveled to many different countries around Southeast Asia and wrote about a few of them in my then-blog, Ashley’s HK Experience. I’m reposting my piece on Vietnam (my trip was in October 2011) to my new blog as a travel piece. 

I’ve just returned from a 6-day/5-night trip to Ho Chi Minh City/Saigon in Vietnam.  What you call this city depends on where you’re from: Saigon if you’re from the south of Vietnam or Ho Chi Minh City if you’re basically from anywhere else.  Saigon was the official name until 1975 when the north and the south merged together, renaming this city Ho Chi Minh City after a famous leader from the north.

Scooters

Upon arrival to Vietnam, my friend Orlando and I were bombarded by the torrent of scooters flanking all parts of the city.  While there may be rules of the road here, they typically aren’t followed with motorbikes going both directions on 1 side of the street, families of 4 people riding on 1 scooter, people texting and talking on their phones, and having conversations with other motorists.  There are 5 million motorbikes in HCM; with a population of about 10,000,000, that’s 1 scooter for every 2 people!!  The population of motorists isn’t linked to one subset of people either: from grandmas, to 12 year olds, to sleeping babies, to business men in suits, and women in high heels and socks.  Scooters are everywhere!

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Dating

Can you See my Scars?

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Eight years ago, I had a birthmark removed. I still have a dark, bumpy scar where the incision was made. My knees and feet are pocked with marks from topples I’ve taken over the years. I have a prominent scar on my brow from when I was a preschooler with chickenpox. My body is physical proof of a life lived: the tumbles, the mishaps, and the decisions I’ve made.

My now-ex, Harry (yes, the “nice guy” and I broke up since he wasn’t as nice as I thought he was originally), told me as we were breaking up that he felt I held my past against him, that I came into the relationship with a grudge against every guy I’ve dated, but that I was taking all of my grudges out on him. He said that I didn’t start him with a blank slate, instead it was as if he came in holding my baggage. Continue reading Can you See my Scars? →

Travel

Asia Adventure: Luang Prabang, Laos

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In December, I went on a 3-week trip to Southeast Asia, including 2 weeks in Cambodia, 5 days in Laos, and 2 days in Hong Kong. Overall, the trip was really fantastic – I met a lot of great people, got to meet up with friends from Hong Kong, saw amazing historical sites, had fun travel buddies, and ate yummy food. So as not to overwhelm, I’m breaking up my posts by city. Today’s adventure: Luang Prabang, Laos.

Part of a former French occupation, Luang Prabang, Laos proudly boasts Parisian cafes with cafe au lait and pain au chocolat. Fringed by two rivers, the town is almost as romantic and dreamy as Paris itself. Luang Prabang is an idyllic city for lovers and I was in love…

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Travel

Eat, Pray, Love at Shreyas Resort, Bangalore, India

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When I was living in Hong Kong in 2012 and writing for Sassy Hong Kong, I was commissioned to write a piece on Shreyas Resort. I’m reposting it to my new blog as a travel piece.

Not only did Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert inspire my journey to Hong Kong, it has also been the guide to how I’ve tried to live my life while here.  I’ve taken many of Gilbert’s words and experiences to heart and set my own path to happiness.  One such experience is the recent trip I took to Bangalore, India to partake in a yoga retreat at Shreyas Resort. Forget hello, forget handshakes or kisses on the cheek, you’re now submersed in the world of Namaste, head nods and downward facing dogs.

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As I stepped out of the airport, I was greeted by a prim, well-mannered driver whose car was equipped with a refreshing lemon-scented towel and cool water bottle.  Through the winding and bumpy roads, we journeyed for an hour in order to reach the Shreyas Resort (to/from airport, round trip for 150USD and booked through the resort).  We drove through villages and past a set of unassuming gates, only to be enveloped by serene beauty: polite staff, cobblestone pathways, bamboo and frangipani clusters, as well as lots and lots of nature.  I don’t think I’m in Kansas (Hong Kong) anymore!  Except for the fact that I was awakened by roosters crowing at 5:30am…which proved to be the perfect way to wake up because my first class was at 6:30! Continue reading Eat, Pray, Love at Shreyas Resort, Bangalore, India →

#RestaurantforTwo, Chicago

Restaurant for Two: Bella Bacinos

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Restaurant for Two: a feature where I bring a friend to a restaurant and we write a review together. Coworker and new friend, L’Oreal, and I rode the Italian train at Bella Bacinos! She’s a blogger, too, so she helped contribute to this post. 

Chicago is known for its Italian food…deep dish pizza and Little Italy, anyone?! So when L’Oreal and I went to Bella Bacinos, we had high expectations. Can the pizza be as good as the famous Lou Malnati’s? Will the pasta rival its competition? By the end of a seven course meal, we were officially stuffed, satisfied, and completely sure that this restaurant was delizioso!

Appetizers

Seasonal Bruschetta

“Love at first bite” is a real thing, especially when it comes to the seasonal bruschetta. This isn’t your basic bruschetta. With slices of prosciutto and balsamic drizzle, L’Oreal would have gladly eaten an entire plate of this delicious appetizer to herself, though she’d have to fight me for it.

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Travel

Outdoor Adventure: Seattle

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Seattle is amazing! Maybe it was the fantastic weather we had (a sunny 70s and 80s everyday with NO rain), my travel companion (go DAD!), or the fact that Seattle has so much to offer, but I loved this trip. So much so, that I even started looking at jobs out there! (Don’t worry, Mom, I’m not leaving anytime soon…)

Day 1

Unlike most of my travels, we had a rental car, so it was easy to get to Snoqualmie Falls from the airport. We parked at the top of the falls and walked the trail down to the bottom. It is quite steep, so we wore our tennies not knowing there was a the parking lot at the bottom.

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