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? 

Explore the world with me

2013 Summer at Jimbaran Beach, Bali, Indonesia

I remember writing an essay titled “I want to be… when I grow up” when I was in elementary school. My second grade fantasy was to become an air hostess because they looked so beautiful and elegant. Most importantly, air hostesses get to travel the world for free. Whether it’s international or domestic, I’ve always loved traveling. I’ve been to China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Italy, France, Switzerland, Austria and many cities within America. I enjoy spending time in a foreign country and exploring their cultures. I had the privilege to travel to these countries over the past years because I believe that traveling can open my eyes to the world. I am lucky that my parents agree with me too. Indeed, I’ve learned so much from traveling. I am more open-minded to a different culture and custom than my own. I’ve learn that one’s ethnic background and experiences shape one’s characteristics.

Over the past few years, I fell in love with the Travel Channel show called “Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern”.  The host of the show, Andrew Zimmern, travels around the world to eat things that most American would not dare to touch. Some of the “bizarre” foods that he had included bats, worms, all types of fermented fish, and the list go on. His motto is “If it looks good, eat it.” Zimmern inspired me because he was willing to step out of comfort zone to try foods that he would not eat normally. I’ve learn that eating is a “universal language” and it is a great way to learn about other cultures. For example, Indonesians use their hands to eat but Chinese people use chopsticks to eat. After watching this show, I’ve become more adventurous when it comes to eating. When I went to Korea with the mindset of “Eat everything and no regrets,” I sampled some moving octopus tentacles. Surprisingly, it was so bad after all. I don’t want to “judge the book by its cover” anymore because I want to try eating something that I would never eat in America. My stomach has become nearly invincible from traveling. I rarely get sick from unsanitary food now. I can practically eat anything and everything anywhere I want. 

I’ve always shared photos of my trips via social media but I’ve never thought about starting a blog. I never knew that I can start writing my own blog until I was assigned with blog writing in my second year English class at San Francisco State University. Finally, I have a place to share my thoughts and experiences. I plan to share traveling tips, shopping guides, sight-seeing guides, food adventures, and airline reviews.  I have made so many wonderful memories traveling with friends and/or family. I am super excited to share these memories with the world.

As French novelist Marcel Proust once said “the real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.” Are you ready to embark on this journey with me?