Philippines, Tagaytay

On my second trip to the Philippines,  I finally had a chance to get outside of Manila.   Just 35 miles away from the capital city, Tagaytay offers beautiful views of Taal Lake and Taal Volcano.  An active volcano nestled inside a serene lake is something I've never seen before.  This alone was worth our trip.  

There are countless restaurants and roadside food shops to stop in along the way, each with their own vantage point.  This picture was taken next to a Starbucks parking lot, maybe if Starbucks in New York had views like this,  I would actually go in despite of their bad coffee.   

Make it a Destination?

Being passionate travelers, A and I naturally expected to have a destination wedding. Even our engagement took place in Munich, followed by celebrations in Budapest and Prague.  We would love to say "I Do" in a far away land by the ocean.  However, we want everyone we love to be able to attend, and after all this wandering, maybe getting married in our home town is just what we need?

So we started looking at New York City wedding venues, but when temperatures in May hover around the 50's, we dream of getting away for a tropical wedding.  Selecting a country to get married in, is the first and foremost decision we have to make before any other planning can begin.  But how to decide?

A brought home these gorgeous roses Friday, after I've had an especially eventful week at work. I love my Fiance!

F21 Tank,   AE BF Jeans,   F21 Necklace Worn as a Bracelet,   Old Tie Back Bandeau Bra, F21 Shoes.  

My first shoe purchase from F21!  I've been apprehensive about their shoe quality,  but with a wedding to save for,  I have to alter my spending habits very, very drastically.  At less than 30 bucks, these were worth taking a chance with.  Speaking of cost cutting,  I literally took these jeans out of my donations pile,  giving them a second try. 

Ippudo, Ramen so Good It Makes U Cry

Ippudo serves, among other things,  Ramen ( not the kind you douse with hot water ).  Silky, flavorful Tonkotsu broth and al dente noodles are their specialty.  When I lived in Midtown,  I had Ramen at unhealthy frequency because the only eateries near my apartment were Sushi shops, tourist traps, and Ramen houses.  Eating Sushi everyday would have cost me my rent, and nobody in their right mind should eat at Friday's in New York City,  so Ramen became my friend.  

Ippudo's Tonkotsu Ramen is one of the best in the city,  and in my opinion, even better than Momofuku's.  Its tasty broth is the culmination of simmering pork bones for as long as 18 hours.  Speaking of long periods of time,  prepare your self for ridiculous waits during peak dining hours, quite ironic since Ramen is supposed to be a fast food.  Ippudo is located on Fourth Avenue at Ninth Street.

Glow

Bright color for a dreary day. 

Fluorescent Tee( F21 ), Charcoal Leggings ( UO ), Cuff ( F21 ),

Manic Weekend

Had one of those weekends :  no sleep, had to be everywhere and do everything at once, exhausted.  But we got through it together, and were blessed with glorious weather,  so no complaints can be made.  I am lucky to be in love with my best friend.

F21 Maxi Dress, Tiffany Earrings,  Kenneth Cole Bag, Old Navy Flip Flops.  Click on picture for detailed view.

Hong Kong, Cake

In a little makeshift shack on the corner of Mosco and Mott, there once was a Hong Kong Cake Lady, known to everyone who frequented New York City's Chinatown.  For close to two decades, Mrs. Tam worked under an awning that said only "Hong Kong Cake",  making mini custard cakes to order for a dollar per bag.   The cake batter made of humble ingredients like egg, sugar, and flour, was poured into a honeycomb shaped cast iron mold,  then baked on a tiny stove top burner.  The taste was a heavenly mix of fresh baked Madeleine, custard, and really great waffles.  Even in the deep freeze of winter, A and I would endure long lines, shivering while we deeply inhaled the sweet scent wafting from her shack.  We don't know exactly when she stopped showing up,  but the Hong Kong Cakes we grew up craving have not been made in that shack for years.  Imitators mushroomed all over Chinatown, but no one makes them as good as Mrs. Tam.

Fast forward to 2009, we land in Hong Kong.  Our first order of business?  To find Hong Kong Cakes.  Except, we weren't actually sure that Hong Kong even had Hong Kong Cakes. And if it did, surely they were not called Hong Kong Cakes?  Perhaps just,  Cakes? Some expert googling in our hotel lobby taught us that in Hong Kong, these snacks really do exist!  Locals call them Gai Dan Zai, or little eggs. Google also said that the most popular HK Cakes are made by North Point Gai Dan Zai. After trekking back and forth across town, and with help from newly made friends, we finally hunted down the infamous NP Gai Dan Zai in their only location with late night hours. Boy, they were worth the trouble.  Crispy outside, lightly sweet and tender inside, NP Gai Dan Zai were shaped and flavored a bit differently from New York HKCs, but scrumptious nonetheless.

The rest of our Hong Kong food binge :


From street food, to afternoon tea at the Peninsula.

Dim Sum,  of course.

Bar hopping in Knutsford Terrace.

Late night snack of Hong Kong style spaghetti, fish cake and rice noodle soup.

Neon and Black

F21 Grey & Lime Pocket Tanks,  Alice in the Eve High Waisted Skirt, J Crew Tights. 

This tank is actually a neon lime green color, but somehow looks yellow in these pics :(  It reminded me of Gatorade.   This weekend was finally warm enough for tank tops,  then the party ended when Monday came, I walked to work in forty degree weather, covered in wool... 

Don't think I can ever get sick of black dress and pearls.   This version was made Safe For Work by a crew neck cardigan.  The dress is actually big on me,  but I think it cost fifteen bucks so alterations are probably not worth it. 

F21 Shift Dress, Nine West Leopard Print Pumps, Ivory, Pink, and Peach Pearls - Can't remember where I got them.

Rediscovering

Trying to bring some pieces in my closet out of retirement.  I actually don't have much old clothing.  Since I loathe clutter,   clothes are rigorously donated each year.  Here are some remnants of wardrobes gone by.  

Warehouse of London Faux Fur Jacket ( circa 2001 ), Miss Sixty Boots ( circa 2005 )

F21 Slub Tunic, French Connection Wool Blend Tights.

Hong Kong, why don't we have this?

View from Victoria peek through dense fog.

Hong Kong had that urban, electric buzz I love.  We were surrounded by delectable food, beautiful views, vibrant night life...  But I really fell head over heels, for In Town Check-in.  

We saw some airline counters in a metro subway station and discovered to our amazement that we can check-in our bags in town, then be luggage free all the way back to New York!  A and I simultaneously said, "Why don't we have this?"  After a city check-in, we traveled to the airport without burdens.  Amazing.

Cafes and shops on Victoria Peak.

Bus ride to the tram for Victoria Peak.

Sobaya

Hot soba noodles with grilled duck slices ( Kamonan ).

Chef Morimoto once said that if he could pick his last meal on earth, it would be soba. I don't think buckwheat noodles would be my choice for a last meal, but when it snows in April, like today, I want something hot, comforting and delicious.  Sobaya never disappoints.

Our favorite Soba restaurant in New York used to be Honmura An on mercer.  We alternated between the two establishments for over five years.   Honmura An was pricier but served more al dente noodles;  Sobaya offers impeccable broth and better desert.  When Honmura An closed their doors two years ago, we were really glad to still have Sobaya to fall back on.  

Soba noodles hand made daily on-site.

Trio of simmered vegetables : squash, lotus root, Japanese yam.

Soba with fried tofu, spinach, and fish cake.

Milk tofu ( or what I call Japanese Panna Cotta ), black sesame Ice cream.

Sobaya is located on 9th between 2nd & 3rd.

Comfort Food, Comfort Outfit

What I wore for eating soup and dancing, because I like to be dressed comfortably for both activities. Tulip shaped skirt,  pleated waist, tieback ribbon; but basically a comfortable t-shirt with pockets. Gotta love that.

Silence & Noise Boatneck Tunic
Chinese Laundry Suede Boots
F21 Leggings
F21 Necklace

Just Woke Up From Nap Hair

Tulips of a different sort.  Got these pale pink beauties from A,  just to say that he loves me.  I'm happy.  

Hong Kong, a city lover's city

View of HK Island from Kowloon

We had a hotel room with pretty views in Hong Kong, but spent less than three hours in it. There was so much to explore, to taste, in a very short period of time. Sleeping was out of the question.

Hong Kong, is all about the view. It seems that every restaurant, every bar, even every washroom tries to outdo one another with breathtaking views, despite heavy fog and clouds.

Random Office Building


Ferry Ride to HK Island

Me likes pockets

Still battling temperatures in the forties and low fifties,  in April.   I'm sick of wearing a coat. And sick of complaining about wearing a coat. 

AE oversized cardigan

French Connection Dress

Barneys Co-op Pumps

Wore this dress with a button down shirt for work, then ditched the shirt for a cardigan to go out to dinner. Pockets are awesome, lately everything I'm buying has a pair.

Spring, have you met New York?

Taking a short break from travelogues to say: despite proclamations of spring, it's still COLD in New York. I just can't take it anymore. I like distinct seasons, but must winter be six months long?

Still dressing for chilly weather :

American Apparel black long sleeve tee

Insight high waisted flannel skirt

Sisley wool leg warmers

Cairns, the Bat Show

Look closely at those black dots in the sunset, they are not birds. Every evening in Cairns, thousands of enormous bats fly to the mountains. In day time, they hang upside down from trees in the middle of town, loudly screeching and shaking. Quite a scary sight.

Outdoor drinking on Ba8's patio, with Marina views :

The Lagoon at night :

Cairns, Crocodiles and Kangaroos, Oh My...

A and I have an "All Time Favorite Restaurants" list spanning multiple continents.   In Cairns, Ochre cruised right into this category with inventive usage of indigenous Australian ingredients.  We had a quiet, memorable celebration here. I could not have wished for a better evening :  Ochre's lovely space painted in colors reminiscent of the Outback, tropical evening breeze, beautiful food, intoxicating drinks, and most importantly, the love of my life.

Wattle Seed Damper Loaf, Peanut Oil and Native Dukka :

Wattle Seed has a nutty, almost coffee like flavor.  The loaf was delivered to our table warm, to be dipped in oil and Dukka, a cripy spice blend.  Simple and delicious.

Salt and Native Pepper Leaf Crocodile and Prawns, Lemon Aspen Sambal :

Crocodile was very mild,  I think even more so than chicken.  It is a white meat that basically tasted like the sauce it was cooked in.  This version was tangy and slightly spicy.

Char Grilled Kangaroo Sirloin – Quandong Chilli Glaze – Sweet Potato Fritter and Bok Choy :

Kangaroo meat can be tough, but Ochre's version was perfectly seared and tender.  It tasted like dry aged steak.  This whole dish was wonderful.

Fresh Barramundi Fillet Lemongrass Beurre Blanc, Cassava Chips and Wasabi roe :

Barramundi is a very mild and meaty Australian fish.  Ochre's version had a light sauce which did not overpower the fish, but enhanced its fresh sweetness.  

Roast Duck Breast, Confit Leg – Asian Green Salad - Davidson Plum and Sambal Sauce :

Desert Plum Sorbet, Lime Sorbet, Seasonal Tropical Fruits : 

My favorite sorbet!  Intense plum flavor, not too sweet, perfect. 

Cairns, All in a View

In Cairns, I seriously questioned my quality of living back in New York City.  I'm not referring to income, real-estate, or ownership of any other material goods. In travel, you observe how lives are lived elsewhere in the world.  Sometimes, it makes you appreciate your place of dwelling, but always, you find a way in which your own well-being can be improved.

In New York, you work, a lot.  Not because you want to, but because you feel you need to. Perhaps, you don't?  While hard at work, you may miss what matters in this very short life : family, love, relationships, positively impacting other lives, and sunshine... You do not need a six, seven figure salary for any of these.  Cairns was not the first time I came to such a realization, but I definitely, needed a reminder.

The Lagoon - a public infinity pool filled with families, located in Cairns' Central Business District, right on a city block.  People on their way to and from can just jump in to cool-off.  There are no gates, memberships, or fees...

View of Cairns from a distance :

Sometimes procrastination can get you amazing deals :

Plush lodging for little money due to recent stormy weather :

View from our balcony :