day 4 in tokyo: private tour guide (asakusa, senso-ji temple, ueno, ginza), amazing sukiyaki at iman bekkhan, best sushi ever and drinks at golden gai

(Tokyo, Japan).

The best pancake treat ever - why doesn't the 7-elevens in the U.S. have this magical treat???

I woke up to very heavy rains which was a bit depressing.  But I was quickly cheered up by my 7-eleven pancake breakfast.  I don't know how they make these things but they are amazing!  There's literally butter and maple syrup hidden inside these pancakes, and even though they are obviously pre-packaged, they are shockingly and addictively tasty!  (I think I had 5 of them during my trip this time and I was wanting more...)  My husband didn't believe how good they were until I forced him to taste one, and then he kept trying to eat my pancakes - argh.

yangon drinks: wines

The wine display at Governor's Residence.

In one of those "who knew" moments, Mr. Sazy Rock and I ended up doing an impromptu Burmese wine tasting at the Belmond Governor's Residence in a tony part of Yangon. I am unsure about the state of the Burmese wine industry but it appears that they are definitely trying to establish a premiere one in Southeast Asia.

The wines we tried were all from grapes grown in Myanmar's Shan state. I was told that the area is cooler due to its elevation and that grapes are grown at over 1,000 meters above sea level. It also appears that French and German winemakers, along with locals, have had a hand in developing the wines.

travel zen on friday: the first christmas tree

Happy Christmas, everyone! Do you know where the first Christmas tree was erected?

restaurant review: sushisho masa in tokyo - best sushi i've ever had!

(Tokyo, Japan).

The chef's selection of the day's catch.

I absolutely love sushi and I've been lucky to try a lot of great sushi places.  Some places I've been to before and enjoyed include Urasawa, Hama Sushi (in Little Tokyo), Sushi Gen, Sugarfish, Nozawa Bar, Nobu, Matsuhisa and Echigo in Los Angeles; Sushi Yasuda and Jewel Bako in New York; and Sukiyabashi Jiro in Roppongi Hills ... However in my recent trip to Tokyo, the place that rose above them all was Sushisho Masa in Tokyo.  

yangon drinks: cocktails

Gimlet from the Strand Hotel.

In my short but memorable time in Yangon in November 2015, I did not see any discernible cocktail bar scene. I'd like to say it was a robust scene as what we found in Japan in February 2015, but alas, I cannot. We did, however, find a few watering holes in the city. 

To be honest, I was a bit wary about cocktail drinking because I was unsure about the purity of the water used to make ice. For the most part, I drank a lot of Myanmar beers but, I did go for a cocktail (or three) at reputable establishments.

First, we visited the Strand Hotel. I am told that the hotel was once owned by the same folks who owned the iconic Raffles Hotel in Singapore and the E&O Hotel in Penang, Malaysia. As an aside, I felt a sense of closure now that I have drank at all three iconic hotel bars (the dreadful Singapore Sling at the Raffles and a refreshing Gin & Tonic at the E&O). 

travel zen on friday: bourbon street in new orleans

New Orleans - you'll always have a special place in my heart.  See you soon!

day 3 in tokyo: shibuya crossing, hachiko, yoyogi mark, meiji shrine, tenmatsu tempura and ebisu yocoho

(Tokyo, Japan).  On our first full day in Tokyo I was a bit ambitious and had a jam-packed schedule!  
 

Yummy Westin Tokyo breakfast buffet.

I was obviously still suffering from jetlag and decided to work out at 5am with all the other zombie-like travelers in the Westin Tokyo gym.  Then I replenished myself at the hotel breakfast buffet with some tasty congee, eggs and green juice.  Somewhat energized, we walked through the Yebisu Garden Place to the Ebisu station where we bought our SUICA cards (a reloadable card for public transportation and vending machines in Tokyo) and took a quick subway ride to Shibuya.

Yebisu Garden Place - there are lots of restaurants, shops, including Mitsukoshi Department store, and a beer museum.  Yebisu (or Ebisu) is a premium beer in Japan.

sazy rock's top 10 tastes of 2015

The tuna auction in Tokyo, Japan.

I have spent most of 2015 traveling to eat in Italy, Japan, Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, Thailand, Myanmar (formerly known as Burma), and in 20 states in the United States. In fact, after this post goes live, I will be off to Israel and Jordan. Although a few bites have been disappointing, for the most part, it has been a very delicious year (and I suspect will continue to be delicious during the remaining two weeks of 2015).

A memorable lobster dish from Azurmendi in Bilbao, Spain from 2014.
Yes, I still think fondly of this dish to this day.

I've been fortunate to eat an array of food from so many different parts of the world - some I have written about (click on the name and city of the restaurant to get the link to the post) and some I have not. Although I could easily list more than the 10 below, I had to force myself to be disciplined. My list could also change tomorrow. 

travel zen on friday: bagan pagoda

The Ayeyarwady River cuts through the country before it splinters off in the South. The pagodas of Bagan look amazing amidst its still waters. Happy Friday, everyone!

Sunset in Bagan.

gift ideas for a female traveler

I've been on lots of trips and there are a few things I rely on heavily when I'm on the go.  As Christmas is coming upon us quickly, I thought I would list some of my favorites, which would make lovely gifts for the (female) traveler in your life. 

yangon eats: lahpet, balachaung and so much more

Fried fish with balachaung.

I must admit that I did not really know much about Burmese cuisine. Prior to our trip, I've only eaten at a Burmese restaurant once. Now, after returning from our trip, although I cannot say that I am an expert, I can definitely say that I am an enthusiastic supporter of the local cuisine.

Our first stop was Yangon, a big city that is likely the entry point to the country for most people. Mr. Sazy Rock and I would like to say we ate everything but we only had two stomachs between us. We tried though. We really did.

Below are my top tastes that are absolutely worth a looooooooong journey from the US:

travel zen on friday: kyoto imperial palace

A very zen bike rider on the grounds of the Kyoto Imperial Palace.

Tip!  While the grounds are open to the public, advance reservations are required to enter the compound and buildings.  Reservations can be made online or at the Imperial Agency Office.

hotel review: westin tokyo on starwood points!

(Tokyo, Japan).  I was fortunate enough to have hoarded enough Starwood points to get 9 nights at the Westin Tokyo for free!  And on top of that, as a Starwood Gold member, I got free Wi-Fi (approximately $13 USD per day) and an upgrade to a larger room with a gorgeous city view.  (The lesson here is to maximize your rewards points - whatever they may be.)

The front of the hotel.

Obviously getting all this for free was AWESOME, but how was our actual experience?