Travel Log
A few snapshots of New Orleans, such a unique and magical city.
Photos in a nutshell: Voodoo doll for friendship and fertility (got for a friend), stayed at the Mazant, admired all the architecture-art-music, ate some damn good food and spent some time at the Sazerac House
Cannot wait to come back!
I had the chance to visit Maui for a friend’s wedding. It was a truly special time and was held at the Four Seasons, a stunning setting (where White Lotus was filmed!!) The wedding was beautiful, and I feel so grateful to have been part of such a special celebration.
Maui Jinsha Shinto Shrine
We also stopped by this Shinto shrine in Wailuku, Maui. The shrine was originally established by Japanese immigrants and has stood as a pillar of the local Japanese community for over a century.
I’ve learned that the shrine is at risk due to the aging caretakers and the structural damage to the building. I really hope that we can save it for future generations to come.
Like so many others, I have a deep love for Hawai‘i—its beauty, its culture, and the warmth of its people.
While Maui’s beauty remains undeniable, many Native Hawaiians and local families are still rebuilding post fire and fighting to protect their land and culture. (This John Oliver segment on Hawaii from August 2024 is a worthwhile watch.)
I looked around for ways to help and support. I’d love to know about any other organizations or businesses to support if you, dear reader, have suggestions.
Hawaiian organizations:
ʻĀina Momona – Environmental justice & sustainability
Native Hawaiian Legal Corp – Legal advocacy for land & water rights
Local Hawaiian Businesses:
Hoʻomau Market – Small Native Hawaiian brands
House of Mana Up – Hawai‘i-made products
All in all, I love Hawaii. It’s truly the most special place, and I’m hopeful we can all work together to ensure this sacred land is protected for Hawaiians and future generations
This poster below was at the OGG airport and I thought it was worth saving :)
Leaving a big part of my heart in Vietnam.
Now to the motherland, Korea! Thank you to my mother for making sure we were well taken care of during our stay. It was nice to see family and revisit some old places. I will always have a soft spot for Korea. I miss it already!
Got to spend some time in my fatherland- Japan! I hadn’t been back in so long so it was a whirlwind of excitement. I had forgotten what a strange, fabulous, weird, wonderful land Japan is.
Hanazono Shrine
Made a stop by the shrine to make my wish for the new year and get charms. New Years is a busy time at the shrines where people get good luck charms and draw their fortunes (omikuji) to ring in the new year.
A nice get away in Tokyo that helps you forget you are in the middle of a crazy city. This is a historic Japanese residence located in the Daikanyama neighborhood of Tokyo, built in 1919. It is generally not crowded and I consider this a hidden gem!
We also went to Sankeien Garden in Yokohama. A traditional Japanese garden with historic buildings.
Taishunken is a great spot for oden within the garden.
But nothing beats roaming around Yokohama with my dad.
This has been on my bucket list for so long! Ironically it rained during most of our stay but we made the best of it. We stayed in the most cozy yurt, and found that a fun rainy activity was exploring the caves. The Pyrenees is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been to, I can’t believe people live in this paradise!
We stayed in this little yurt, which was essentially 10/10 glamping. Despite the treacherous road to get here, we would come back in a heartbeat
We crossed over to Spain arriving in San Sebastian.
Influenced by Anthony Bourdain (he has said there is no better place to eat in Europe!) we went on a mission to eat all the pintxos and basque cheesecake we could find.
This unbelievably beautiful city has it all. The natural beauty with beaches and hills with car free Parte Vieja (Old Town) nestled in, it was truly a delight to wander around and get lost.
It was my first time exploring Basque Country. I did try learning some basic phrases in Euskara: Kaixo! Zer moduz? but I found it was best to just struggle with Spanish lol.
Amazing meal at Arzak which I had been fantasizing about since seeing Anthony Bourdain’s A Cooks Tour. It is an exquisite modern take on Basque cuisine and we even got to meet Elena Arzak whom I admire. Definitely one for the books!
