Category Archives: Travel

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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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 →

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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Travel

48 Hours in Portland, Oregon

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Only have a short time in Portland, OR? Here’s a guide for 48 hours in this quirky, beer-soaked, hipster city.

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Day 1: Way Up High

Washington Park is the place to be! Complete with a Japanese Garden, Rose Test Garden, Pittock Mansion, Hoyt Arboretum, Children’s Museum and the Portland Zoo, you really can spend the whole day up here. Take the train up from downtown to the Washington Park exit. A free shuttle bus will take you to all of the sites (during summer hours only!) or you can take a city bus (check the hours it’s running first). The city bus is $5 for a day pass so it’s definitely worth it and you can get them on your phone using an app called TriMet. Continue reading 48 Hours in Portland, Oregon →

Hong Kong, Travel

Hong Kong: Sights to See

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From 2010-2012, I lived in Hong Kong working as an elementary school teacher. Anytime someone I know travels there, I always forward them the same copy-and-paste email, but haven’t – until now – put into words why I love all of these great places in Hong Kong.

If you’ve done your Hong Kong research, you’ll know that Hong Kong is made up of many islands, the largest being Hong Kong Island, and an area called Kowloon which is attached to mainland China. I’ve separated the best attractions in HK by area.

Kowloon

  • Ten Thousand Buddhas is my #1 choice for sightseeing in HK! It is a hike up the mountain, but along the way there are these amazing statues in all sorts of positions and facial expressions. If you go to Hong Kong and you don’t go here, you’re missing out. Check it out for FREE!

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