Itineraries

Seven Magic Mountains Outside of Las Vegas

Seven Magic Mountains Outside of Las Vegas

Seven Magic Mountains is a colorful art installation located off Interstate 15 (I-15) in Nevada. It is free and open to the public. The seven vibrant towers reach up to 35-feet above the rocky desert ground. These boulders are “locally sourced” and painted bright colors. According to the artist, Ugo Rondinone, “the location is physically and symbolically mid-way between the natural and the artificial: the natural is expressed by the mountain ranges, desert, and Jean Dry Lake backdrop, and the…

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Product Review: Trazy South Korea SIM Card

Product Review: Trazy South Korea SIM Card

Hello, all! I wanted to share my experience with Trazy, as I ordered a SIM card through them for two separate trips to South Korea. Having a SIM card with unlimited data allowed for effective public transportation and street navigation, as well as staying connected while out and about. Please note that this product review for the Trazy’s KT SIM Card is not sponsored and is limited to my experiences. About Trazy Trazy is a “one stop travel booking site where…

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Favorite Spots in Seoul, South Korea

Favorite Spots in Seoul, South Korea

Seoul is one of my favorite cities in East Asia with its colorful spaces, delicious food, and mix of modern and traditional. There are tons of neighborhoods to explore for days on end, as well as thousands of cafes and hidden places to check-out. Without further ado, here’s a list of several of my favorite spots in Seoul, South Korea. Cafes Cafe Onion: Cafe Onion seems a tad out of place upon first glance, as the surrounding streets are lined with…

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Independent Coffee Shops

Independent Coffee Shops

I’ve been to a fair amount of coffee cafes and shops in cities such as Los Angeles, Seattle, Denver, Portland, Singapore, Seoul, and Tokyo. I love the vibe of independent shops, especially when they purchase, roast, and grind the beans themselves. I wouldn’t consider myself a coffee expert by any means, but I do love a good cup of coffee and the relaxed atmosphere coffee shops offer. Recently, I visited a small shop in Fujieda, Japan. It’s owned by an…

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Tea Picking at Greenpia in Makinohara, Japan

Tea Picking at Greenpia in Makinohara, Japan

Many tourists flocks to Japan’s major cities—Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka, Kyoto, and Hakone to name a few (click on the cities to view my travel guides!)—for obvious reasons. After my family’s visit to Japan, I realized that many visitors feel overwhelmed from spending a majority of their time in the larger urban areas and could benefit from a couple days in lesser-frequented regions of the country, such as Shizuoka, Nagano, and Yamanashi Prefectures. Hiking, fruit picking, and tea picking are all…

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Washing Money for Good Fortune in Kamakura, Japan

Washing Money for Good Fortune in Kamakura, Japan

Zeniarai Benten Ugafuku Shrine is a popular shrine in Kamakura, Japan where people visit to wash their money. This 800-year-old shrine is quite unique, as it is completely surrounded by high rock walls and is totally invisible from the outside—a tunnel must be used to access it. 800 years ago Yoritomo Minamoto ordered the shrine’s construction after a god appeared in his dream. The god recommended that he build the shrine to bring peace to the country. Minamoto’s dream occurred on the…

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Why Spring is the Best Season in Japan

Why Spring is the Best Season in Japan

#1. Sakura: What makes spring special in Japan are the cherry blossoms, known as “sakura” in Japanese. The sakura start blooming in the south in Okinawa and make their way north to Hokkaido between February through May. #2. Spring flavors: Many restaurants, bakeries, and patisseries feature special sakura-inspired menu items to celebrate the season. Sakura ice cream, manju, Pocky Sticks, and more can be found across Japan. Be sure to sample some of these seasonal treats! #3. Weather: Spring is…

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A Day in Halong Bay, Vietnam

A Day in Halong Bay, Vietnam

Halong Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for having over 1,600 limestone island formations amongst teal blue waters. The region is home to an impressive range of biodiversity as well as host to outdoor activities like scuba diving, rock climbing, and hiking. Through a tour with Cát Bà Ventures, I spent a day out in Halong Bay admiring its natural beauty, including kayaking on the water and seeing a traditional fishing village. Halong Bay via Cát Bà Island…

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