See you later!

          This semester of English class is coming to an end. I enjoyed this experience and I love sharing my traveling tips. I don’t think I will ever stop traveling. This summer I plan on staying in the U.S rather than traveling to another country. I will definitely travel around the state. I am going to Los Angeles and Lake Tahoe in August. I am looking forward to that even though I’ve been to both of the cities before. I love revisiting places because it always brings back the good memories and provides me the opportunity to explore again. I have so much I want to write about but I didn’t have time. This will not be the end of my blogger life. I will continue writing whenever I have time.

            I never liked writing in English class but this time was different. Writing about something that I am passionate about motivates me to strive for better writing skills. I’ve learned how to write annotated bibliographies, in-text citations, and the importance of using noun phrase appositives and corroboration. I also learn how to write in an inviting tone so that the readers will feel welcoming.

            Lastly, I want to thank my readers and my professor, Ms. Wong for the opportunity. Thank you for an amazing semester.

See you somewhere around the world and keep traveling everyone. 

Let's go to Venice!

            Venice, Italy, the city of water, I don’t think I can ever forget about this place. The Venetian Hotels in Las Vegas, Nevada and in Macau SAR, China merely served it justice.   I personally prefer Venice over Rome because I found Venice more romantic and more relaxing. I respect the beauty of both cities but Venice had that magical power that captured me.

Enjoying coffee at Cafe Florian 

-A cup of 15€ coffee. I loved enjoying coffee at Café Florian, the oldest coffee house in Italy. Café Florian was established in 1720 at the St. Mark's Square (Piazza San Marco). While a small cup of cappuccino cost a steep price of 9 Euro (12 USD), I enjoyed every sip of it. I was also sitting at the outdoor seats and listening to a live orchestra performance. Café Florian adds a 6 Euro (8 USD) music fee to your coffee. So this cup of cappuccino cost 15 Euro (20 USD). I didn’t mind paying for this cup of coffee because the environment and service was worth every penny. I enjoyed this experience so much because as I get older, I have less time to sit down and simply enjoy life.

-Gondola Ride. Despite the fact that the water didn’t smell inviting on a hot summer day in August, nothing was more perfect than traveling through this city on a Gondola. I remember the difference of riding a Gondola in Vegas and in Venice. There’s really no comparison. You will see the vibrant colors on the house, a taxi on water, flowers hanging from the balcony, and the intricate designs on bridges.

a small shop near the St. Mark's Square

-Getting lost. You should try putting away the GPS and step into the neighborhoods in Venice. There’s magic and beauty everywhere. Take the time to explore the city and you will find amazing view. I love explore the ordinary alleyways and take pictures. I also enjoyed standing in front of the displace windows of Masquerade mask shops to look at masks.

-Venice is sinking. Similar to the Maldives in the Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea area, Venice is sinking. In the news article posted on NBC News website, the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California stated that Venice is sinking at a rate of up to two millimeters (0.08 inches) per year. Venice is also tilting at a rate of 1 or 2 millimeter eastward per year. It is likely that Venice might disappear in the near future if the Italian government doesn’t act on it fast.

            Venice is a place full of magic and romance. You can find interesting things everywhere you go as long as you give this city the respect it deserves. I wish I can grab my bags and go to Venice right now. Will you come with me?

Bali, Indonesia or Oahu, Hawaii?

Hula Dancer 

It’s almost summer time and I would love to go on a relaxing vacation in a tropical paradise. For Americans, we like to go to Hawaii but for Australians, they like to go to Bali, Indonesia. Of course, traveling from US to Indonesia costs a lot more than traveling to Hawaii. For you, fellow Americans out there, you will need to get a passport and purchase a landing Visa at the Indonesian embassy or at the Indonesian airport upon arrival. I’ve been Kuta area in Bali and Waikiki Beach in Oahu. Even though airfare is more expansive to travel to Indonesia, I would pick Bali over Hawaii because everything is cheaper at Bali.

Here is a simple budget for an adults (flying from San Francisco in early June)

	Waikiki, Oahu, Hawaii	Kuta, Bali, Indonesia
Airfare (round trip)	$620+tax (Hawaiian Airlines)	$1500+tax (China Airlines, stop at Taipei)
Baggage Fees (2 baggage)	$17	$0
Hotel	Hilton Waikiki Beach $189/night	Sheraton Bali Kuta   $159/night  (newly open in 2012)
Meals	~$40/day	$10/day

At a glance, Bali, Indonesia seems a little more expansive to travel to but here is why you should travel to Bali instead of Hawaii.

1. Daily spa at Bali. For the ladies out there, you can get a quality 2-hour traditional Balinese Lulur Spa for only $80, tips included. I enjoyed the spa so much and it was extremely relaxing. First, a masseuse will give you a full body massage for an hour, and then she will place a layer of exfoliating scrub on your body. After 15 minutes, she will rub off the dried scrub. For the last 30 minutes, you will soak into a scented flower petal bath. Lastly, they will offer you a cup specially blended herbal tea. A similar 2-hour spa in Hawaii will cost up to $180+tips. That’s 3 times the price! You can have spa for 3 consecutive days in Bali with $180. (That’s what I did.)

Grilled corn on the beach at Bali

2. Food is cheaper. Food in Hawaii is crazy expansive because they put tax on it. In Bali, you can enjoy a decent meal with seafood and drinks on the beach for $10. There are also a lot of inexpensive street foods available. My favorite is the grilled corn with a sweet glaze from a vendor on the beach. It cost only 50 cents.

3. Water sports at a low price. You can do parasailing for $9(100,000 IDR). That’s never heard of in US. It costs up to $60 to parasail at the Waikiki Beach. Other water sports such as Banana Boat and Jet Ski cost less at Bali.

I love both of these places because they have their own unique cultures. Both islands have amazing weather during the summer time. I have to admit; I like Bali a little bit more because it is less expansive to indulge in luxury there.

Where do you want to go? Bali, Oahu, or another tropical paradise? 

Hong Kong [2]

Many of you might know that there is a Disneyland in Hong Kong. Comparing to the Disneyland in California, the Hong Kong Disneyland is very small. In fact, it is the smallest Disneyland in the world (only 68 acres). From personal experience, the attractions were very limited and there were no thrilling rides like the ones in California’s Adventure in the California Disneyland. I suggest that you skip seeing Mickey Mouse and join me for an eventful day. I’ve planned a day-to-night tour for you to experience Hong Kong’s beauty to its fullest. The tour is suitable for family and people of all ages but I will also include some tips for the night owls. We will be travelling using the MTR and feet so be sure to wear comfortable shoes and have enough of Hong Kong Dollars (HKD).  

For breakfast, we are eating at Lin Heung Tea House, one of the oldest dimsum restaurant in Hong Kong. Located in 160-164 Wellington Street, Central, it was established in 1926. Their specialties include Siu Mai (pork and shrimp dumplings) and Malay Cake (thousand layer cake). 

After some delicious breakfast, walk to Shang Wan Station and take the MTR to Central Station. Next Stop we are going to see Hong Kong from the Peak. Exit the J2 exit at

The View from the Peak

Central Station and walk down Garden Road towards Lower Albert Road. Along the way, you will see famous landmarks such as the Bank of China Tower, Citibank Tower, and St. John’s Cathedral. Then, you will arrive at the Peak Tram Terminus Station. For 80 HKD ( ~11 USD) roundtrip, you will take the 120 years old Peak Tram up to the highest 360° viewing platform in Hong Kong.

You all must be hungry now! Do you want to try Cha Chan Teng with me? Cha Chan Teng is sort of like your neighborhood restaurant that serves western influenced Cantonese style food. It serves things from French toast, club sandwiches, chicken wings, to instant ramen and noodle soup. Hop onto the Train to Tsuen Wan Station on the Tsuen Wan Line and get off at the Prince Edward Station. Exit the B2 exit and walk down to Bute Street. You will see the Kam Wah Café. Their signature dishes are pineapple bun with butter, chicken wings, milk tea, and egg tarts. 

Take the Tsuen Wan Line towards Central and get off at Mong Kok Station. You’ve arrived at one the busiest shopping district in the Hong Kong. Mong Kok is one of my favorite places to go for shopping.

Ladies' Market at night

There are so many malls around. You can find clothes, shoes, and accessories in all price ranges. One of the most famous street in Mong Kok is the Tung Choi Street aka Ladies’ Market. It stretches over 1km (~0.6 miles) with over 100 stalls. It is a great place for you to buy clothes, souvenir, and practice your bargaining skills. There are many great restaurants in Mong Kok and you can find almost any cuisine there. For me, I usually eat street food such as curry fish balls, egg puffs, drink tapioca milk tea in the evening and eat one of the restaurants at Langham Place (mall) right above the Mong Kok Station when I shop.

Lastly, you can sum up the day at the Victoria Harbor to see the amazing city lights and Avenue of Stars. Every night at 8pm, you will see the multimedia show called “A Symphony of Lights”. This show is named the “World’s Largest Permanent Light and Sound Show” by Guinness World Record. You can get there by getting off at the Tsim Sha Tsui East Station exit J.

2012 Beer Fest with my cousins

Finally, tips for the night owls! The club and bar district is located near the Central Station. It is called Lan Kwai Fong aka LKF. Remember that the MTR stop service at around 12 midnight and you will have to take taxi back to your hotel. Also the drinking age is 18. I’ve been to LKF during Beer Fest in July of 2012. It was so packed but I had so fun with my cousins and friends. It was an experience like no other. 

 I hope my guide was helpful. Enjoy your stay at Hong Kong!

Hong Kong [1]

In my previous post, I talked about choosing which airline to travel to Hong Kong. I know the differences between Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines very well because I travel to Hong Kong almost every year. I go to Hong Kong because I have many relatives there. I always stay at their houses in the summer and explore by myself. I am fluent in Cantonese therefore navigating around isn’t difficult. Even if you can’t speak or read Chinese, you have nothing to be afraid of. All of the public signs are in both Chinese and English and most of the people are bilingual in Chinese and English.

Victoria Harbor

I love everything about Hong Kong except for its hot and humid weather. The average temperature in June is around 82° F. In July and August, the average temperature can exceed 90° F. Hong Kong’s summer is also characterized by the thunderstorms and tropical typhoons. In the September of 2013, a super typhoon named Usagi hovered over Hong Kong. It reached the wind speed of 160 mph! I remember stepping outside of my cousin’s house during a typhoon when I was little; I almost got blown by the wind.

Excuse the crazy summer weather and let’s talk about public transportation. EWWW! Public transportation? Trust me, public transportation is the way to go. Getting around Hong Kong is fairly cheap and easy comparing to many major metropolitan cities in the U.S. such as San Francisco and Los Angeles. Hong Kong’s Mass Transit Railway (MTR) system connects all the major districts. There are ten rail lines (Island, Tsuen Wan, Kwun Tong, Tseung Kwan O, Tung Chung, West Rail, East Rail, Ma On Shan, Disneyland Resort, and the Airport Express). The MTR system is highly efficient because some of the lines have trains come every two to three minutes. There are also buses and minibuses if the MTR doesn’t reach your destination. I am not very fond of taking buses in San Francisco but I like it in Hong Kong because most of the buses are double deckers. So you don’t like public transportation still?  It’s okay! You can take the taxi. For the first 2 kilometer, it costs HK $22 (which is 1.2 miles for US $3). Then for every 200 meters (0.1 miles) or every 1 minute of waiting time, it cost HK $1.6 (US $0.22) for fare meters below HK $78 (US $11) and HK $1 (US $0.15) for fare meter over HK $78.

In my next post I will tell you where to eat, shop, play, and more! Get Ready!

Hong Kong, here we come. 

Why Cathay Pacific over Singapore Airlines?

Every time I travel to Hong Kong from San Francisco there are only few airlines that provide nonstop flights, therefore my choices are limited. It is important to choose the airline that provides the best service because airfare from San Francisco to Hong Kong during the peak season can costs up to $1,700 for round trip economy seats. Its either United Airlines, American Airlines, US Airway, Cathay Pacific, or Singapore Airlines. I’ve personally experienced Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines. I prefer flying with Cathay Pacific rather than Singapore Airline because Cathay Pacific offers two flight times, afternoon and midnight, from San Francisco to Hong Kong but Singapore Airlines only offers midnight flight time.

Basic Facts

Cathay Pacific

- 139 aircrafts

- Serves 182 destinations in 42 countries

- Loyalty program: Asia Miles (over 500 partners in nine categories, including 21 airline partners)

Cathay Pacific Boeing 747-400

Singapore Airlines 

- 102 aircrafts

- Serves 65 destinations in 34 countries

- Loyalty program: KrisFlyer (170+ non-airline partners and 26 airline partners)

Singapore Airline SIA 747-412

Awards and Rankings

According to the 2013 Skytrax World Airline Awards, a prestigious award for the airline industry, both Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific Airways were in the Airline of the year award. Even though Singapore Airline was named third while Cathay Pacific ranked sixth, Cathay Pacific has the Best Staff Service in Asia and the overall best cabin staff.

	Airline of the year	Best Inflight Entertain-ment	Economy Class Catering	Best Economy Class Cabin	Best Economy Class Seats	Best Staff Service (Asia)	Best Cabin Staff
Cathay Pacific	6th	3rd	7th	6th	Not on top 10	2nd	1st
Singapore Airline	3rd	2nd	3rd	3rd	4th	3rd	5th

Safety

            According to planecrashinfo.com, the last fatal crash for Cathay Pacific was in 1972, more than 41 years ago. As for Singapore Airlines, the last fatal crash occurred in 2000. Flight SQ006 to Los Angeles from Singapore via Taiwan crashed on the runway of Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport. This incident killed 83 people.  

Why Cathay Pacific?

            From my personally experiences, I like Cathay Pacific because they offer two flight schedules. The afternoon flight is more convenient than the midnight flight because I don’t have to keep myself awake until 12am to board the plane. Both Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airline’s loyalty program allow you to use the miles collected to dine, shop, and even fly. Cathay Pacific has more partners in this program which makes collecting miles easier. Most importantly, it is easier to find a ticket cheaper because Cathay Pacific has more flights to Hong Kong than Singapore Airlines.

Have you travel with these two airlines? If not, can you tell me your favorite airline?

Hokkaido [2]

Attention foodies! Hokkaido has the freshest seafood you can find in the Asian pacific, authentic ramen noodles, world class dairies and mouthwatering fruits. I am giving you a warning right now. You might want to buy a plane ticket right away after reading about the food adventures in Hokkaido. 

The crab is bigger than my face

Besides hot springs, this island is known for their crabs. The crabs draw many people outside of Hokkaido because the crabs are fresh, delicious, and inexpensive. The four types of crabs in Hokkaido are the Hanasaiki crab, hairy crab, snow crab, and king crab with Hanasaki crab as the crown jewel of them all. Other well-known fresh seafood includes sea urchin, scallop, salmon roe, and squid. I prefer eating seafood in Japan because you can eat the seafood fresh at the two-story market complex. You choose your food on the first floor of the market and they prepare your food right away. You can find a seat on the second floor of the market and enjoy the seafood you bought fifteen minutes ago in sashimi style or soup style. 

Ramen scoreboard at the Ramen Alley

When you visit Hokkaido, be sure to visit the Ramen Alley in downtown Sapporo, capital city of the Hokkaido prefecture. Dating back to 1951, there are a total of seventeen ramen shops lining side by side on the both sides of the alley. You can’t choose which place to eat at? Don’t worry! There is a scoreboard posted in the alley which gives each restaurant ratings. These ramen shops are holes in the wall. Each shop can seat about ten people and expect to lose your space bubble. Remember to slurp when you eat ramen. Sounds weird, but yes, it is considered polite to do so in a ramen shop. It shows that you are enjoying the noodles. That bowl of ramen from one of the shop called Aji no Karyu (味の華龍) completely changed my views on ramen restaurants in America. No fancy ramen restaurants in American can compare to a bowl of ramen from a hole in the wall restaurant in Japan.

Hokkaido supports half of Japan’s dairy products. About 60% of the milk produced is used for drinking. The rest is processed into butter, cheese, yogurt, and ice cream. You can buy soft serve ice cream at around every corner of popular attractions. I prefer plain milk flavor then the melon flavor because there is a distinctive milky taste that will leave you craving more. The milk flavor tastes so rich and the ice cream is extremely creamy. You will probably eat as much as possible until you get a stomach ache like I did. I can never forget that taste. Every soft serve ice cream I have tried outside of Hokkaido fail to impress my taste buds. (If you happen to go to flower farms in Furano, check out the lavender flavor soft serve ice cream too).

Pricey melons 

The Hokkaido summer is the season of Yubari melons. Yubari melon is considered as one of the high-end fruits in Japan. Many people buy Yubari melons as a gift for friends and family. In May of 2013, a pair of Yubari melons was sold in an auction for $15,700 USD. Without $15,700 in your pocket, you can still try the Yubari melons. It will cause you around $50-$100 depending on the grade of the melon. The melon is as sweet as sugar syrup. It is super juicy and it has a fresh after taste. When you cut open the melon, you can see the juicy racing out. You can’t find another melon like this anywhere in the world. In my opinion, you will regret if you don’t try it. 

I went to Hokkaido, Japan with an empty stomach and left feeling satisfied. There are so many places that I wanted to try but I didn’t have the time or the space in my tummy. I will definitely visit again for the amazing food and experiences. Hope to see you there! 
Do you want to travel to Hokkaido and why?