travel zen on tuesday - panda & dentite in chengdu, china

restaurant review: connie and ted's (again)

In May, Martinikitty wrote about her and Mr. MK's dining experience at Connie and Ted's, a restaurant in West Hollywood (a city within the County of Los Angeles). Although Connie and Ted's is only about six and a half miles away from where I live, in Los Angeles traffic, it could take me anywhere from half an hour (if I had enough karma points) to an hour (if I pissed off someone in the universe) or to more than an hour (if President Obama was fundraising in town) to get there. So, I've taken pains to avoid it because of its location and the notorious LA traffic. 

But, one evening, Mr. Sazy Rock and I decided to brave (in the first-world-problems-kind-of-brave) the LA traffic to check out the restaurant. Was it worth the traffic headache?

Connie and Ted's in West Hollywood, California.

top 5 reasons to visit europe in the late fall and winter

Yes, I've heard it many times before that the European continent could be cold to freezing in winter (although the Southern parts and the Adriatic coast may be relatively warmer). But, I hope the following reasons will convince you to at least consider a European trip when the mercury dips.

Rovinj, Croatia - no crowds!

1. It's cheaper. Other than around Christmas, airfares to and lodging costs in Europe tend to be cheaper in the late fall and winter because most people shy away from the continent during that time. So, because the law of supply and demand means less demand = lower price, winter is the perfect time to take advantage of an affordable European trip.

York, England - no crowds!

2. It's less crowded.  I hate crowds. I really do. That's why very late fall/winter is my favorite time to travel (and particularly, late November -- see reason #3 -- where the photos on this post were taken during many different trips during that time of the year). Europe in winter could provide you with winter wonderland photo opportunities with a smaller chance of a random person photo bombing your shot. 

how to best see the taj mahal

The Taj Mahal at sunrise.

When I visited the Taj Mahal, I was blown away. It was as majestic as I imagined it to be. All the traffic, trash and feral monkeys outside the gate dissolved away and I immediately felt transplanted to a serene, special place.

There are plenty of sites that talk about the Taj Mahal so I won't rehash everything said on those sites. But, below are a few key things to know about it:

quick trip to pompeii

In the Forum area.  That's Mt. Vesuvius in the background.

(Pompeii, Italy). Ever since I was a child, I beheld Pompeii with great wonder even though I couldn't fully comprehend the archaeological and historical value of the site.  I think it was probably because I was mesmerized by Roman and Greek mythology and imagined that Pompeii somehow represented all of that mysticism and magic.  (I'm also a big Dr. Who and sci-fi/fantasy fan, so I've probably watched every silly show that was set in Pompeii.)

travel zen on tuesday - tuscan hills in greve in chianti

I serendipitously captured this moment during a morning stroll, as the mist rolled over the hills.

what to expect in hobbiton

A view of Hobbiton and the Party Tree from the Green Dragon Inn.

This post is an unapologetic nerd out moment. When I was a wee girl, I read J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit (it was a short book), and became immediately immersed in the goings on in Middle Earth. As a young lass, although I attempted to finish reading the inches thick Lord of the Rings trilogy by Mr. Tolkien, I must admit that I never got through them (I must have been distracted with a deep desire to play outside with friends). 

Several decades after I last cracked open a Tolkien book, Peter Jackson birthed The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movies. I absolutely adored all the movies so much that I watched every single movie -- in the movie theaters and the extended versions at home -- multiple times. But, this time, Mr. Tolkien's stories and the visual imagery on the screen made me hunger for more -- more stories, more Tolkien, more movies, more New Zealand.

So, during a trip to New Zealand as part of our mini round-the-world trip, I not only forced Mr. Sazy Rock to watch one of The Hobbit movies in New Zealand with me (I thought it added cinematic context), but I also insisted that we visit Matamata, a.k.a. Hobbiton, in the North Island.

Hobbiton.

There are a few things I learned about Hobbiton that you may find useful:

hotel review: hotel antiche mura in sorrento

(Sorrento, Italy).  I stayed at the Hotel Antiche Mura based on a friend's recommendation because of its proximity to the main town square, the ferry to Capri, and the train station and its quaint looking pool.  I booked a Standard Room (including free wireless internet service and breakfast buffet).  

Was it everything I thought it would be?

chilean patagonia for non-hikers

Torres del Paine National Park.

I'd like to say that I hiked all over Chilean Patagonia. But, I'd be lying. Although I had grand plans to hike the Torres (or Towers), see lots of glaciers and do parts of the famed W trek, I just ended up looking at the beautiful towers from afar with a nice glass of wine on hand.

Chile was the last country Mr. Sazy Rock and I visited during a three and a half month round the world trip. And, sadly, my body decided to shut down. The cold weather in Patagonia did not help my cause either. Hiking while sniffling and hacking up a storm was not ideal. Also, I decided that I did not want to catch pneumonia in light of the high winds and horrid weather forecasts on the trail. The video below illustrates the crazy wind during our visit.

So, what did I do instead?

sorrento - highlights, tips and recommendations

A view of Mt. Vesuvius from Sorrento.

(Sorrento, Italy).  After the hectic sightseeing, shopping and eating in Rome, Florence and Bologna, Sorrento was a nice change of pace for us.  While it is still touristy, it does feel more like a quaint beach town, and we were definitely ready for some relaxation!

What were some highlights of Sorrento for us?

travel zen on tuesday - the taj mahal

The Taj Mahal at sunrise is stunning. You can see the soft rays of the sun hitting the white marble of the Taj. At this time of day, hardly anyone is around so you can appreciate its enduring beauty and romance a whole lot more.

Did you know...

things to do in granada, nicaragua

Nicaragua is not quite on the tourist trail yet but, in recent years, many publications (see here, here and here) have been touting the country as a great place for Americans to retire due to the lower cost of living. When I heard "lower cost of living," I immediately thought that the country would be great to travel cheaply. I was not disappointed. 

On one long weekend, Mr. Sazy Rock and I ventured to Granada, Nicaragua. I found this small colonial town quite pleasant. It did not have the same cobbled stones charm of Antigua (a colonial town in Guatemala), but, it certainly still had a lot to offer (and for a little less money).

If you visit Granada, these are my recommendations:

Is it worth it to use a travel agent?

I rarely if ever use travel agents since I research my trips so thoroughly and obsessively, that I find I actually have more information about my intended destination than most travel agents can offer.  In my opinion, a truly valuable travel agent should be one who can offer:  good values, good first-hand recommendations on transportation and accommodations, and insider tips on restaurants recommendations and things to do.  In my experience, travel agents tend to only do the first and/or second, but have very little to offer in terms of recommendations on food and things to do.

In the last ten or so years, I've used travel agents a handful of times.  There have been times I considered using one for a trip but decided against it after speaking with the agent and realizing that - they didn't really know very much about the destination and was relying on tripadvisor too OR worse, pushing whatever package would give them the largest commission.  Some seasoned travel agents will do a free consultation and if you decide to proceed, they will charge a fee to create and book a package for you.  I can't say I've had amazing results when I've gone this route, because no matter how much they claim they "customize" for you and your interests, I got the feeling that they were regurgitating the same packages for almost everyone.

But I don't want to be such a downer on travel agents.  There are times when I've found them useful.  (And I'm sure there are speciality travel agents out there that I've just not had the pleasure of encountering personally who are splendid.  If you know of any, let me know!)  So when would I recommend using a travel agent?

tipping in italy

Before I go to a foreign country, I like to do some research on its tipping culture - because unlike the United States where tipping is practically mandatory even for mediocre service, most other countries don't really tip.  For example, in Taiwan, good service is simply part of the job and a tip would only be given for extraordinary service (but is never expected) or for a very specific type of service (e.g., traditional matchmaking but only when it leads to a wedding).  In some countries, tipping is actually offensive - weird huh?

The most helpful information on tipping I found were in the Frommer's Guide and this youtube video from soniastravels.  I generally followed the following guidelines:

day trip to venice

A romantic gondola - no, we didn't go on it....

(Venice, Italy).  During our stay in Bologna, we took a day trip to Venice.  It was actually quite easy to take a train from Bologna to Venice (about a one and a half hour trip), and it was entertaining to watch the scenery shift from farms and countryside to water and boats.  I really wanted my husband to see the beauty of Venice with his own eyes but I knew he would not want to spend more than a day there because he can't stand crowds and Venice can be like one big mob scene, especially during high season.

travel zen on tuesday - el castillo

El Castillo in Chichen Itza, Cancun, Mexico

getting to know the usa: idaho falls, idaho

Idaho Falls.

I must admit that I only spent a mere 24 hours in this fair city while Mr. Sazy Rock and I embarked on a business roadtrip, which we hashtagged on the interwebs as #GiveUsABedICookYouDinner or #GiveUsABedIMakeYouDinner (where strangers offered us a bed and he cooked for them in return - yes, it's like Couchsurfing but the hosts were found via Twitter or Facebook and Mr. SR cooked at least a three-course meal for our hosts). Idaho Falls was a non-cooking stop and a way for us to rest between locations. I’d like to say I got to know Idaho Falls really well but I’d be lying. Although, the little I got to know of the town was very enjoyable, and I am keen to share what I learned with you all.

The Falls

Unsurprisingly, the town of Idaho Falls actually had waterfalls that were created as part of a diversion dam for a hydroelectric project in the Snake River. A paved walking path along the river had picturesque views of the falls and other points of interest, such as information about World War II prisoners in the area, the first Mormon church in Idaho, an island in the middle of the river, etc. 

The falls as part of a hydroelectric project.

The Snake River with the first Mormon temple in Idaho in the background.

Mr. Sazy Rock and I enjoyed our stroll along the path because it gave us the opportunity to not only see the sights but to also watch locals enjoy a lazy summer afternoon. Some of them even tried to beat the heat by showing off their acrobatic skills when swimming in the river.

The dog days of Summer in Idaho Falls.

“It Ain’t My First Rodeo”

neighborhood guide- favorite lunch spots (koreatown & surroundings) p-y

Continuing on my list from last week, here are my favorite lunch spots P-Y:

Papa Cristo's - Ktown adjacent (Olympic)
2777 W. Pico, Los Angeles (cross Normandie)

This Greek market serves up the best gyro in town. Gyro consists of grounded lamb, beef or chicken slow roasted on vertical pit served with onion, tomatoes, tzatziki (yogart) sauce wrapped up in soft pita bread. Most sandwiches under $10.









Closed Mondays. Parking lot back entrance leads into the market.

hotel review: i portici hotel

(Bologna, Italy).  I had never been to Bologna but I kept hearing it was the food capitol of Italy, so as someone who loves to eat, I had to come.  I had originally wanted to book at the Hotel Metropolitan which was recommended by numerous travel guides and articles, but it was booked solid over 8 months in advance!  Can you believe it???  

Alas, I had to go with my second choice - I Portici Hotel.  Based on the photos, it seems very modern and almost sterile, but I was ultimately swayed by the fact that its restaurant (Ristorante I Portici) had a Michelin star and was mentioned in many glowing food reviews. 

We booked a Standard Double Room which includes free High-Speed Internet but did not include breakfast and parking.  I attempted to get reservations at the restaurant months in advance, but after several miscommunications, they finally clarified that I could only get reservations 10 days in advance.  Because I'm an anal person, I marked it on my calendar and sent in my request exactly 10 days in advance and got a reservation for our first night at the hotel.

So, what was our experience like?

getting to know the usa: greenville, south carolina

Courthouse Square in
downtown Greenville.

On my first visit to the Carolinas in the earlier part of Summer, I tagged along on my husband's business trip to Greenville. It was such an ordeal to get there, however. I had to fly in to Charlotte, North Carolina then drive about two hours to Greenville, South Carolina. 

On my way to Charlotte, while connecting through Washington, DC, United Airlines canceled my flight due to "weather." When I finally arrived in Charlotte - a day later and 16 hours after my original arrival time - I was convinced that Greenville would suck.  Well, I was wrong.  The town and the people were so lovely that I would like to think I made some pretty good friends.

Wikipedia states that Greenville in South Carolina has a population of just over 60,000.  Although it is a small city, it definitely had that small town feel.  Sure, the main street had big national brand stores and it appeared to have a robust performing arts scene.  But, when I visited, I met quite a few people who I then randomly met again on its Main Street.  Plus, the folks I met were so friendly -- I didn't get that feeling of distrust, distance and/or cynicism I often felt in other cities.  In fact, I stayed at a very comfortable and nice guesthouse that had an outdoor television on the deck that would have disappeared within 5 minutes of the setting sun in other cities.  When I met the proprietors of two Greenville restaurants - Larkin's (a fine dining steakhouse) and Grill Marks (a casual burger and milk shake joint) - they happily shared the amusing story of how the Grill Marks site used to be a bordello. Greenville was just that kind of place -- lots of friendly and honest people with plenty of amusing stories to tell if you engage them in conversation, a main street where one could find most anything, and a place with enough things to do to fill up a leisurely and stress-free weekend getaway.

So, if you want to get to know Greenville, and I really suggest you should, I recommend the following:

bologna - highlights, tips and recommendations

(Bologna, Italy).  I'm embarrassed to admit that the only thing I was really interested in doing in Bologna was eating.   Even though I read Frommer's Guide on Bologna which described it as "a big, working city of one million inhabitants" and "home to the world's oldest continually operating university" - none of that information seemed to enter my head at all.  Instead, my head was filled with thoughts of gelato and tortellini.

travel zen on tuesday - boats in venice, italy

On a grey misty morning in Venice before the hoards of tourists arrive.

top 10 tips for hiking mt. kilimanjaro

A view of the summit from Karanga camp.

Like many folks, I hiked Mt. Kilimanjaro because it was (and still is) very accessible compared to other hikes in the so-called "Seven Summits" (also known as the tallest peak in each of the seven continents). I didn't need any technical climbing experience, I didn't need to use a harness, and I didn't need to hike with crampons. Plus, Ernest Hemingway's "The Snows of Kilimanjaro" would likely (and sadly) soon be gone.

While its 5,895 meters (or 19,340 feet) height is not as impressive as, say, Mt. Everest, it is still pretty high up there and altitude sickness is a common affliction among hikers.  It may be an "easy" hike but the altitude could prevent you from reaching the summit.

If you plan on hiking Kili, these are my tips: