Travels
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Oaxaca: colour and heart
Since my trip to Oaxaca City (pronounced wa-ha-ka) last Spring, several friends have planned/are planning trips to this colourful city and have asked for recommendations. B and I were lucky to meet an American (J) who had been living there for some time on our second night in Oaxaca. He introduced us to all the best restaurants and hip bars in town. Most of the places we went to were featured in season 5 of Somebody Feed Phil, which aired a few months after our trip. It was so fun to watch that episode and see on-screen all the places that we’d been to, including the little street taco vendor…
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CDMX, Te Amo
“I’m going to Mexico in December, I need to use up my holidays and I need to get some sun!” That was pretty much the main premise of my trip to Mexico. I left it super open-ended, booking a one-way ticket to CDMX. The only things I had booked in advance were my Airbnb for the first 10 days in Mexico City and a one week Español course to refresh my basic Spanish. In total, I spent almost four weeks there over December and January and explored quite a few things. The vibes and people in Mexico City are so warm and energetic. So much going on there, one of…
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Reo Rafting wilderness retreat
With the pandemic in its second year, I’ve adjusted my travel focus to more local destinations this year. Tofino, Victoria, Sunshine Coast, and the Okanagan were all on the agenda. However, with the crazy heat and fires sweeping across British Columbia, we had to pivot our Okanagan plans to avoid forest fires and smoke. Reo Rafting wilderness retreat to the rescue. About a three hour drive from Vancouver, I spent the weekend at a beautifully remote wilderness retreat, glamping, rafting, and getting my downward dogs on. As soon as we pulled into the guest services lodge, we noticed the sound of cascading water that was the Nahatlatch river running down…
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Bali Part 1: Ubud
Quiet, except for the singing cicadas. Thick air, the smell of incense heavy and slow in the steaming heat. Green leafy trays of floral offerings along the pathways. Orange marigolds, strung around the necks of Ganesha or placed on stone steps. This is waking up in Ubud. I love this “island of the gods” that is Bali and Ubud is the spiritual heart, located in the middle of the island, amidst the lush green rice fields, far from the pulsing beats of the bars at Seminyak. This is my third trip here and I can confidently offer some suggestions for you, if you’re planning a trip. Wander the charming…
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Returning “home” to Singapore
This week, I’m returning to my former “home”, Singapore. It’s been over 7 months since I left Singapore and I had been missing it so much. Returning after only 7 months is nice because things haven’t changed so much here yet that I feel like I’ve lost touch. Most of the friends I had are still here, and I’ve even been able to crash at my old flat, so I’m truly feeling like I’ve returned home. When I am in Vancouver, Singapore seems like a dream, so long ago, but back in the stifling steamy heat of Singapore, I feel like I’ve never left! But Singapore doesn’t slow down. …
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My Travel Bucket List
The good ol’ travel bucket list; who doesn’t love to dream and make a list of places they want to visit eventually? I’ve been lucky to have lived in a few different countries and have taken the opportunity to visit many others. Knowing myself, this list is always going to be a certain length because the more I see, the more I want to see! My current list, in alphabetical order… Argentina – Buenos Aires and the rest of it Belize Bhutan Boston Brazil – and catch Carnival China – a big trip Colombia – all the parts I didn’t see yet eg. Bogota, Ciudad Perdida, Salerno, Cali Czech…
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Santa Marta | Gateway to adventures in Northeast Colombia
I took the bus from Cartagena to Santa Marta, planning to use it as a base to discover what the North East corner of Colombia had in store. The town of Santa Marta itself is tiny, with a few hostels and restaurants catering to passing tourists. Hot & sunbaked, I wandered around with my camera, capturing a few sleepy moments of the golden hour. From Santa Marta, there are a number of interesting places on the backpacking trail including: Tayrona National Park, Minka, Palomino, Ciudad Perdita, and Aracataca (only of interest to…
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Las comidas de Colombia | Food of Colombia
For me, one of the best parts of travel is to taste the different foods of another culture. Colombia has not disappointed so far, and though I am not a fan of ALL the food here, I love observing and trying. Colombia is not the land of healthy green juices and salads (at least not yet, but it’s coming fast I’m sure). Tis the land of fried empanadas, platanos, french fries, fried chicken, fried dough balls, and more. If you like greasy fried food, you’ll be in heaven. Some classic Colombian food… Empanadas – corn flour “dumplings” filled with beans, cheese, and meat. Relatively easy to make! We made these…
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Aeropuerto El Dorado | El Dorado Airport
Bogota’s El Dorado airport has been a pleasant surprise. Big, modern, with decent amenities, I am impressed. I even had a chance to chill at the El Dorado lounge, thanks to my Priority Pass access and was blown away. Nicer than many Airline VIP lounges, I got a chance to snack, eat, drink, and use the WIFI at this expansive and opulently decorated lounge. Inside the lounge, there are plenty of seating areas, reclining chairs perfect for sleeping, showers, a beauty salon (no joke!), and a full on bar. Within the international wing of the airport, there is an Avianca Lounge, an Avianca and Star Alliance Diamond lounge, and a…
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Cartagena de Indias: amor a primera vista | love at first sight
I fell in love as soon as my taxi conducir drove through the narrow, balcony-shaded laneways of Cartagena’s old walled town. Charming, beautiful, cute, photogenic, insta-worthy? Si Si Si! Like a slightly bigger and busier version of Galle, a cleaner and shinier version of Zanzibar, this old Caribbean city is a photographer’s dream and oozing with beauty and charm. Back in the 1500s, Cartagena was an important port for the Spanish Empire for exporting riches from South America back to Europe. Like Zanzibar, it was also a trading post for slaves from Africa. Today, Cartagena is a popular vacation destination for Colombians and international visitors alike. The streets in the…
