tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20279371676027143822024-03-05T20:40:12.999-08:00PASSPORT CONFESSIONALDeanna Tinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01104621272567922863noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2027937167602714382.post-35885223558936860802012-02-26T23:31:00.004-08:002012-02-27T14:12:55.788-08:00Indelible Izmir<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">A horse-drawn carriage along the Izmir boardwalk.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">No matter how many trips you take in a lifetime, there are bound to be little things—memories—that really stick with you. At least, that’s always been the case for me. I wonder, have you felt the same way, too?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Long after I’d unpacked my bags from my visit to <a href="http://www.travelagentcentral.com/turkey/izmir-turkey" target="_blank">Izmir,Turkey</a>, in May 2011, I’m still remembering so many of those little moments. At the time, I didn’t realize how much they’d linger with me—and how fond I’d be, so many months later.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Cesme could be a stand-in for the Caribbean, no?</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Izmir is not as well known as Istanbul but, in my opinion it should be. This coastal city and province, which stretches along the Western coast of Turkey is warm and welcoming. There’s a genuine authenticity here that can be hard to find these days. What really fascinated me about Izmir was its ability to combine—ancient and modern; Greek and Turkish; beaches and cities—all into one another so seamlessly. In a single day, you could be walking through the ancient ruins of Ephesus and later lounging beachside at an ultra-modern resort. For me, however, what really sold me on Izmir was its people—their warmth and hospitality, and I think my photographs are proof positive of that.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So, here are just a few of my favorite memories of Izmir, Turkey.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The overly excitable and joyful fishmonger at the wet market in Foça: I’ve never encountered someone so happy to show off his latest catch—it included a pretty gnarly octopus—to a complete stranger.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I loved her smile--and her hair. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The dogs: There were so many adorable dogs throughout Izmir that the dog lover inside me just couldn’t resist.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Hello, Kitty, in Alcati</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The cats: Same goes for the cats. They were pretty cute—and they tended to travel in serious prides.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Turkish coffee with dessert in Alcati</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Turkish Coffee & Tea: The tea is a bit on the sweet side for my tastes, but it’s so refreshing. The coffee has the consistency of mud, but I love it.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/267685_10100649723989736_2508478_62221350_474860_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/267685_10100649723989736_2508478_62221350_474860_n.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Raki: It isn’t for everyone but man, it certainly packs a punch.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Photo (c) Jordan Dukov (an incredibly talented photographer )</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The elderly lady who sold me a handcrafted wreath of daisies: Beneath her sweet demeanor was the steely resolve of a serious saleswoman, but I was so happy with that purchase anyway.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Spirituality: During my visit, I went to a synagogue, a church and a mosque and each house of worship left an indelible impression on me.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Wall of Prayers outside the House of the Virgin Mary</span></td></tr>
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</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The food: It’s delicious, from the freshest of fish to the gummiest of ice creams.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Turkish ice cream almost defies gravity.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Breakfast is served</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Remarkable Ruins: No matter how many times I’ve traversed the sites of ancient ruins, those feelings of awe never go away. That was especially true for me at Ephesus and the ancient ruins of Smyrna.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/263995_10100649731130426_2508478_62221646_2333772_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/263995_10100649731130426_2508478_62221646_2333772_n.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Ephesus</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/264805_10100649738400856_2508478_62221820_5230046_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/264805_10100649738400856_2508478_62221820_5230046_n.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The agora of Smyrna</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The sense of national pride: I saw so many beautifully draped and displayed Turkish flags during my visit—my guess is that it probably had something to do with Youth and Sports Day on May 19. Regardless, the flags were a beautiful sight to behold.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/267655_10100649741300046_2508478_62221899_7681374_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/267655_10100649741300046_2508478_62221899_7681374_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Along the boardwalk in Izmir</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The friends I made along the way: One of the best byproducts of traveling, in my opinion. I hope you'll agree.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtPd3dqZ3kRrq1vTTTkeT7NWWF7M_AF2-YtkVxKRLenKxT4DmKz9pnnX7phNsJdRsIxskLPgBBExoSDRVD_j8OApCgFAGbtJ9Wc6GLkTjemIHfuexq5ZQRx9XOnK8obm2MVSOKMv244Iw/s1600/DSC02797.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtPd3dqZ3kRrq1vTTTkeT7NWWF7M_AF2-YtkVxKRLenKxT4DmKz9pnnX7phNsJdRsIxskLPgBBExoSDRVD_j8OApCgFAGbtJ9Wc6GLkTjemIHfuexq5ZQRx9XOnK8obm2MVSOKMv244Iw/s400/DSC02797.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Bundled up during a chilly night of outdoor dining.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Now, it's your turn. Let me know what some of your favorite travel memories are...I’d love to hear them.</span></div>Deanna Tinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01104621272567922863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2027937167602714382.post-84608108717737369732012-02-07T20:21:00.000-08:002012-02-09T23:15:39.030-08:00One Year Later<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">One year to the day, I’m back again. After what seems like a very long, overdue absence, I’ve decided to revisit <a href="http://passportconfessional.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Passport Confessional</a> because I’ve realized one thing: my hunger for travel isn’t over just yet.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Exactly one year ago, as I wrote my last post, “<a href="http://passportconfessional.blogspot.com/2011/02/canadian-roots.html" target="_blank">Canadian Roots</a>,” I was sitting in a <a href="http://www.germaincalgary.com/en/home" target="_blank">hotel room</a> in <a href="http://www.visitcalgary.com/" target="_blank">Calgary, Alberta</a>, waiting out the blast of a massive, icy snowstorm to pass through the night. Today, I’m at home, back here in L.A., looking out onto a street that, already, bears no signs of the much more miniscule Pacific rainstorm that passed through here just hours ago.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_uh4iBWXL0HY22muMbRQUCsd0wDseNEzHsos6ZW46iEkEmnlcKXF84sDHBWsE07hqLl9Lg-iF9y95MTjKlpEYSd72FW9-hlRLPvtIwr2m_QLvwx94kS5p44oI0HpIdNGXPua_yHqkG8E/s1600/FxCam_1298830436959.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_uh4iBWXL0HY22muMbRQUCsd0wDseNEzHsos6ZW46iEkEmnlcKXF84sDHBWsE07hqLl9Lg-iF9y95MTjKlpEYSd72FW9-hlRLPvtIwr2m_QLvwx94kS5p44oI0HpIdNGXPua_yHqkG8E/s320/FxCam_1298830436959.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I miss New York sometimes.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So much has happened in this past year that I don’t even know where to begin. I suppose I’ll keep things short and to the point.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I moved to New York and started a </span><a href="http://www.travelagentcentral.com/tac-author/deanna-ting" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;" target="_blank">new job</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. I loved it there, even though it could be tough (Six-floor walk-up? No sweat for me these days!), even though I really dreaded traveling on the subway in the deadening humidity of summer, and even though I pretty much lived paycheck to paycheck (Oh, the high cost of living in NYC).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I traveled to </span><a href="http://www.travelagentcentral.com/turkey/izmir-turkey" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;" target="_blank">Izmir, Turkey</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiBaM4QKHlEfS9kkIUwZ06yL59RVPU-N6zbS-ioyk_Kvic6pLc_aDihy-nZWgZCwKJnU2aJUjgIxShQyCF3XOP2o1UAFv7PLWMuXM3ps5AweeC28tv5a7ND7xzjEtrVFG7m7bQPPVPtZc/s1600/IMG_5095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiBaM4QKHlEfS9kkIUwZ06yL59RVPU-N6zbS-ioyk_Kvic6pLc_aDihy-nZWgZCwKJnU2aJUjgIxShQyCF3XOP2o1UAFv7PLWMuXM3ps5AweeC28tv5a7ND7xzjEtrVFG7m7bQPPVPtZc/s320/IMG_5095.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Please don't try this at home.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Then I traveled to Disneyland for an </span><a href="http://www.travelagentcentral.com/theme-parks/on-site-disneyland-resort-goes-under-sea-travels-a-galaxy-far-far-away-28825" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;" target="_blank">assignment</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Then I moved back to LA. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I learned how to shoot guns in </span><a href="http://www.luxurytraveladvisor.com/pacific-northwest/the-ranch-rock-creek" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;" target="_blank">Montana</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> (an experience I’m not so sure I will want to repeat). </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I traveled to </span><a href="http://www.tourismvancouver.com/" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;" target="_blank">Vancouver, B.C.</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, for the first time and discovered the joy of bacon ice cream sandwiches (no joke, the proof is on its way in a future post).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">When I had to leave my job in New York and move back to L.A., I wasn’t sure I’d still be able to call myself a travel writer, even though I continue to freelance for the NYC publications I had to leave. I struggled to define what I was without those editorial titles or frequent press trip requests. But, over time, I’ve realized that, title or not, sharing the travel experiences that I’ve had—and the ones I’ve yet to encounter—is what really defines me as a writer, as a travel writer.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So, without any further delay, I’m back and I hope to be writing about some of those trips right here again very soon. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div>Deanna Tinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01104621272567922863noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2027937167602714382.post-43309837039680469012011-02-07T22:29:00.000-08:002011-02-07T22:29:55.309-08:00Canadian Roots<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Okay, so here’s my first confession of 2011: I am a terrible relative—guilty as charged. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">For years, I’ve long avoided taking a trip to Calgary, Canada, to see some of my relatives—aunties, uncles, cousins and great nieces and nephews whose names I only knew from Christmas cards. I mean, why travel up to see them when they can travel to Los Angeles to visit us? And even if I did, I thought, what would I do? What would I see?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Well, it only took a weeklong press trip assignment to Alberta, Canada—in the dead of winter, no less— to finally get myself up here. After having to invest in a full-length, goose down parka and some toasty Sorel boots to brave the frigid winter climes, I was even more reluctant to go. But now that I am here, I’m kicking myself for not coming up sooner.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">At first, I’ll admit I was a little nervous about spending the first few days of my trip with my relatives. I’d only met a handful of them once beforehand—mostly when I was only three years old. So, even though they’re family, they were practically strangers to me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">But here’s the thing: family is family. No matter where you go, they’re going to be there for you, for better or for worse— and even if the last time that they actually saw you was when you were still wearing diapers—or better yet, never.</span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCsoNRhB-EwHPSL8iDusCxiZkroe5BRzvlmdLqq6h1_O1lZMvMRmOuZ5YPzZdNwJEvTTujYt7AKm78pPGcRVUtd5exOHjc_bYCj92D6NmgroFSgc6BoLY4_Ggn-G5qK-BgVrQ_YdHP-hI/s1600/IMG_2520.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCsoNRhB-EwHPSL8iDusCxiZkroe5BRzvlmdLqq6h1_O1lZMvMRmOuZ5YPzZdNwJEvTTujYt7AKm78pPGcRVUtd5exOHjc_bYCj92D6NmgroFSgc6BoLY4_Ggn-G5qK-BgVrQ_YdHP-hI/s320/IMG_2520.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: xx-small;">My view from Calgary Tower --serious winter boots included.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">As soon as I got off the plane, my auntie Lillian and cousin Sue whisked me away to lunch—dim sum, of course—and we were off. Soon enough, I was walking through Chinatown in downtown, peering down from the observation deck of the Calgary Tower and enjoying my very first taste of AAA Alberta prime rib beef.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The more time I spent with them and with my uncle Jimmy, the more I realized that making this visit wasn’t about seeing the sights—it was about learning about my family—and myself in the process, too.</span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg9z8TqpzaFyCA4KgEKglAczx9FP5O8gJTkBriS3lz-EJLrle9Xh2yV8XJzaThVyWj0_HHEcDVsHLJZsb8geYzV8hj0y_lF3kDXt43NVAxLuEzPm16oELalxXIXQpET2wqe7pIn607jVw/s1600/IMG_2644.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg9z8TqpzaFyCA4KgEKglAczx9FP5O8gJTkBriS3lz-EJLrle9Xh2yV8XJzaThVyWj0_HHEcDVsHLJZsb8geYzV8hj0y_lF3kDXt43NVAxLuEzPm16oELalxXIXQpET2wqe7pIn607jVw/s320/IMG_2644.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Portraits of my great grandparents that I'd never seen before. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">My first night, my auntie and cousin showed me old photos of the house that my grandmother grew up in when she was living in China. They even gave me photos of my great great grandparents and great grandparents, as depicted in the portraits that, presumably, still hang in that same house to this day. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I also had no idea that my grandfather was a boxer. And not just any boxer, but a Golden Gloves boxer. My uncle told me how my grandpa, having emigrated to the U.S. from China in the 1940s, decided to take up boxing, purely for self defense (race relations weren’t exactly the greatest back then, to say the least). But, because of his stocky build and natural ability to throw a mean punch, he actually became a sort of amateur pugilist—in addition to running his own restaurant in Wichita, Kansas, of all places. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">That restaurant is where he taught my uncle Jimmy how to cook—and in telling me that, that’s exactly when my uncle started tearing up, and so did I. I never got to know my grandpa; he died long before I was ever even born. But being able to hear these stories about him makes me feel like I do know him—at least a little bit now.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">That kind of experience is something I couldn’t get anywhere else but here. More and more, I’m starting to realize that the best type of trip isn’t necessarily about seeing the big sights, or taking in the best meals (although that never hurts). It’s about the people you meet along the way—and, in some cases, those you might not ever get to meet. And for that experience alone, it’s more than worth it—even in those below-freezing temps.</span>Deanna Tinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01104621272567922863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2027937167602714382.post-22568596478043809452010-12-31T17:31:00.000-08:002010-12-31T17:31:22.568-08:00Favorites, 2010 (Part 4, Friends)<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">What’s even better than getting to eat really well and see amazing sights? Getting to share all of that with your friends and family, of course. I was lucky enough to do just that this year …</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Margery and I have traveled together twice—first to Israel in September 2009 and most recently to the Big Island, Maui and Oahu in March 2010. During our Hawaii trip I got to know Margery so much better and together we conquered a number of firsts, including our very first helicopter ride over the volcanoes on the Big Island. That, and also having to endure my crazy rental car driving skills on the Big Island—my apologies, Margery!</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TRmE1JN375I/AAAAAAAACbA/sqwOz3P39RQ/s1600/031210_Paradise_Helicopter_Landing+%2528c%2529+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TRmE1JN375I/AAAAAAAACbA/sqwOz3P39RQ/s400/031210_Paradise_Helicopter_Landing+%2528c%2529+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This year was also the second time that I got to travel with Daniel, one of my favorite PR reps ever. This year, he and Mariela (left) hosted me and a few other journalists in Mexico’s Riviera Maya, first in Cozumel and then in Playa del Carmen. Together, we shared many a margarita, rogue ocean waves and one very scary encounter with a wayward clown. This shot was taken right before we took a snorkeling excursion just off the coast of Cozumel.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TRmE5lZPH3I/AAAAAAAACbM/edx8prPFPpk/s1600/092110_Cozumel_Snorkel_Sail+%2528c%2529+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" n4="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TRmE5lZPH3I/AAAAAAAACbM/edx8prPFPpk/s400/092110_Cozumel_Snorkel_Sail+%2528c%2529+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Leslie is one of my dearest friends—we’ve known each other since high school. So, when I had an opportunity to cash in some vacation time and hoof it over to New York to see her, I didn’t let it pass me by.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TRmE4CnFlRI/AAAAAAAACbI/JUiXbLQzP4w/s1600/091110_Leslie_and_I_at_The_Frying_Pan+%2528c%2529+2010+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" n4="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TRmE4CnFlRI/AAAAAAAACbI/JUiXbLQzP4w/s400/091110_Leslie_and_I_at_The_Frying_Pan+%2528c%2529+2010+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Reuniting with my cousin Christina and her boyfriend Coco was one of the things I most looked forward to during my recent trip to Southeast Asia. Both of them, experienced world travelers that they are, are endlessly entertaining, funny, thoughtful and insightful. I especially loved this shot of the two of them, posing for a very regal portrait at Villa Sentosa in Melaka, Malaysia.</span><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And finally, although I only traveled about 20 or so miles for this trip to the L.A. Times Food & Wine Festival, it’s a trip I’ll always remember for the company I kept with three of my closest friends—Justina, Tricia and Jennifer. I hope I’ll get to travel with them at a slightly further distance in 2011.</span><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And while it’s been wonderful looking back on my travels this past year, I’m ready to start looking ahead to the next and I hope you’ll consider doing the same. So, here’s to a new year filled with unforgettable experiences no matter how near or far you go. </span>Deanna Tinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01104621272567922863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2027937167602714382.post-69332319600927504062010-12-29T19:39:00.000-08:002010-12-29T19:39:29.555-08:00Favorites, 2010 (Part 3, Eats)<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I already feel incredibly fortunate to be able to do two of the things I love most for a living: writing and traveling. And by far, the best added bonus of that would be eating—really good eating. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This year was no exception when it came to memorable meals that satisfied my insatiable hunger for new tastes or, in some cases, a yearning for the familiar. While narrowing down my list of favorite eats from 2010, I remembered all of those flavors and, even better, the friends—both and newfound and old—that I shared them with. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">While traditional notions of afternoon tea often involve the following adjectives—stuffy, staid and proper—the two such afternoon teas that I had this past year were anything but. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The first took place at <a href="http://www.moana-surfrider.com/">The Moana Surfrider</a> in Waikiki. Afternoon tea has become a long-standing tradition at this historic hotel, which first opened in 1901. While I was there, I simply couldn’t pass up the opportunity to savor its famous afternoon tea and I’m so glad I did. My favorite part? Topping off the freshly baked raisin scone with Devonshire clotted cream and silky lemon curd. And for dessert? A soothing scoop of lime-accented green tea sorbet.</span><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The other afternoon tea that I had was truly gluttonous—but so worth it. After a winding stroll through Melaka, Malaysia, my cousin, her boyfriend and I paid a quick visit to the <a href="http://www.majesticmalacca.com/">Majestic Malacca</a> hotel, a boutique property that my cousin had previously reviewed for <em><a href="http://www.travelagewest.com/">TravelAge West</a></em>. While the hotel itself was every bit as beautiful as she’d described, I was even more intrigued by its afternoon tea menu. So, of course, we decided to give into our hunger pangs. What I loved most about this afternoon tea was its nod to both Eastern and Western traditions, from the crisp spring rolls to the buttery, flaky-crusted chicken-pot pies.</span><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Wherever your travels may take you, you should make it a point to visit the local farmers’ market. And, if you’re on Oahu, you should definitely stop by the <a href="http://kapiolani.hawaii.edu/object/farmersmarket.html">Kapiolani Community College Farmers’ Market</a> on Saturdays. Favorite eats included kimchee sausage (on a stick, no less, for easy portability), fried green tomatoes and kalua pork sliders. Just be sure to come hungry.</span><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I’ll admit: I’m not much of a biscotti fan. I usually enjoy my coffee completely unadulterated—black, or topped off with just a little bit of steamed soy milk at the very most. However, the homemade, dark-chocolate dipped biscotti that I had during a stop at the <a href="http://www.waialuaestate.com/">Waialua Estate</a> headquarters on the North Shore of Oahu had me seriously rethinking that assessment.</span><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Who doesn’t love eating a tamale, especially in the morning? My first breakfast during my trip to Costa Rica this May involved this satisfying tamale which, on the outside, seemed totally unassuming. But, once opened, it revealed slightly sweet roasted plantains, masa (corn), a fried egg and gallo pinto (rice and beans). With a side of Salsa Lizano and a glass of fresh-squeezed orange juice, what could be better? </span><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Visiting a farm gives you a greater appreciation for what you consume. After visiting a dairy farm just south of San Gerardo de Dota in Costa Rica, I definitely had a much greater appreciation for all of the hard work that goes into making cheese, especially when it’s as tasty as the ones I sampled there.</span><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This giant tostada-like shell, floating on a bed of guacamole, contained some of the most delicious ceviche I’ve had in a really long time.</span><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">If I had to pick my single most-favorite meal from Costa Rica it would be this: chorreadas (corn pancakes) topped with a dollop of sweetened sour cream and gallos (tacos) filled with a hearty helping of fried potatoes.</span><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">My nominee for best use of bacon: <a href="http://www.nickeldiner.com/">Nickel Diner’s</a> Maple Bacon Donut.</span><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">My nominee for best use of avocados: the stuffed avocado salad, also from Nickel Diner.</span><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">When I wasn’t sightseeing in Singapore, I was usually eating, and eating really well, as demonstrated by some of my previous <a href="http://passportconfessional.blogspot.com/2010/12/in-excess.html">blog posts</a>. One of my favorite meals involved Singaporean chili crab and pepper crab.</span><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Nonya, or Peranakan-style cuisine was also a highlight, from delicate kueh pie tee and spicy otak-otak to saucy giant prawns and savory beef rendang.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmsef1kSz8CCGDRhniXt9wQ2KUHlXa7G6SN-LZTEAGSqEMyLK3WgTlN9JkWQJNfKWvBIpvByxsDkPDn5KPjK2ZbaY4nkE1eUqMc0ruWPiAuyN0oLppn-sdeD15hFICOXtW6qgj6fVs_XI/s1600/102610_Blue_Ginger_4_Kueh_Pie_Ti+%2528c%2529+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmsef1kSz8CCGDRhniXt9wQ2KUHlXa7G6SN-LZTEAGSqEMyLK3WgTlN9JkWQJNfKWvBIpvByxsDkPDn5KPjK2ZbaY4nkE1eUqMc0ruWPiAuyN0oLppn-sdeD15hFICOXtW6qgj6fVs_XI/s400/102610_Blue_Ginger_4_Kueh_Pie_Ti+%2528c%2529+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Speaking of beef rendang … here’s a snapshot of my cousin, a true beef rendang connoisseur, enjoying her first <a href="http://www.burgerking.com.sg/">Burger King</a> beef rendang burger. She opted for the double.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TRmGjOTd9XI/AAAAAAAACgQ/uAeTy4m1Cw4/s1600/110110_Burger_King_Rendang_Burger+%2528c%2529+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TRmGjOTd9XI/AAAAAAAACgQ/uAeTy4m1Cw4/s400/110110_Burger_King_Rendang_Burger+%2528c%2529+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The Indonesian-style beef rendang at <a href="http://www.minang.sg/">Rumah Makan Minang</a> was also delicious—and filling.</span><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">A standard-bearer for all future hotel welcome gifts, from the <a href="http://www.fullertonbayhotel.com/">Fullerton Bay Hotel Singapore</a>: I especially loved the kueh lapis (nine-layer cake), made with alternating layers of butter, eggs and sugar.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">My nominee for best way to enjoy a beer: from the luxury of a rooftop infinity pool.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">My nominee for best lamb chops ever: the ones I had at <a href="http://www.suntecsingapore.com/restaurant/prp.htm">Pearl River Palace</a> at the Suntec Singapore Convention Centre, glazed with a wine reduction sauce.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TRmGlDzwKaI/AAAAAAAACgU/yvQXI-2QMTk/s1600/110210_Suntec_Pearl_River_Palace_Dinner+%25284%2529+%2528c%2529+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TRmGlDzwKaI/AAAAAAAACgU/yvQXI-2QMTk/s400/110210_Suntec_Pearl_River_Palace_Dinner+%25284%2529+%2528c%2529+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">My nominee for best use of chicken: chicken rice from <a href="http://www.tiantianchickenrice.com/">Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice</a> in Singapore.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TRmGaZVHaII/AAAAAAAACfw/LWlKksy7VGE/s1600/102910_Tian_Tian_Chicken_Rice+%2528c%2529+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" n4="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TRmGaZVHaII/AAAAAAAACfw/LWlKksy7VGE/s320/102910_Tian_Tian_Chicken_Rice+%2528c%2529+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">If I could alternate between eating <a href="http://www.yakun.com/">kaya toast</a> and roti canai/prata, or maybe even <a href="http://www.dintaifung.com.tw/en/index.asp">xialongbao</a>, for breakfast every day, I’d be a really happy—and most likely overweight—travel writer.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TRmGmLs6QFI/AAAAAAAACgY/-MsDSS8_B6U/s1600/110410_Madras_Cafe_Roti_Canai+%25282%2529+%2528c%2529+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TRmGmLs6QFI/AAAAAAAACgY/-MsDSS8_B6U/s400/110410_Madras_Cafe_Roti_Canai+%25282%2529+%2528c%2529+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">My nominee for best noodle dish this year: the char kway teow from Tang Fong food court in Melaka.</span><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Lots of laksa: Nonya-style laksa from <a href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/malaysia/peninsular-malaysia-west-coast/melaka/restaurants/malaysian/donald-lily-s">Donald & Lily’s</a> in Melaka and asam-style laksa from the Chinatown Night Market in Melaka.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TRmGpaCQF4I/AAAAAAAACgk/tZ43UB94ij0/s1600/110510_Melaka_Chinatown_Night_Market_Dinner+%25286%2529+%2528c%2529+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TRmGpaCQF4I/AAAAAAAACgk/tZ43UB94ij0/s400/110510_Melaka_Chinatown_Night_Market_Dinner+%25286%2529+%2528c%2529+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And last, but not least, the roast duck rice from Mei Wua, also in Melaka, made an ideal last dinner during my stay. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9C7_dnmrIAxg6pyQqfE61hkKxSevtKOI09PsWV6HqtL7r_98TLB0BJImhq2lxZoshJsAjM-Fx_bDmtTJglBLSr-iiYX-Ah0q-hpj8fJWUOSyB_qpsLDXYF0TP3CTgPmm37Q7yVSJuXv0/s1600/110610_Mei_Wua_Roast_Duck+%2528c%2529+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9C7_dnmrIAxg6pyQqfE61hkKxSevtKOI09PsWV6HqtL7r_98TLB0BJImhq2lxZoshJsAjM-Fx_bDmtTJglBLSr-iiYX-Ah0q-hpj8fJWUOSyB_qpsLDXYF0TP3CTgPmm37Q7yVSJuXv0/s400/110610_Mei_Wua_Roast_Duck+%2528c%2529+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I can only hope for more amazing meals in the year to come. Until then, it might be time for me to hit the gym, just to prepare.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Next up, my favorite photos with friends …</span>Deanna Tinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01104621272567922863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2027937167602714382.post-78815722738814602372010-12-28T15:57:00.000-08:002010-12-30T11:07:11.661-08:00Favorites, 2010 (Part 2, Scenes)<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The more I pored over my photos from 2010, the more I realized that my most memorable scene photos often involve the following: animals (especially dogs), clothing and motor vehicles, strangely enough. Anyway, here are a few of my favorites form the past year …</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">"B19" is the name of the adorably cute—and lazy—Hawaiian monk seal that we encountered during a kayaking and snorkeling adventure on Hawaii’s Big Island, near the Captain Cook Monument.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TRmGuj2sRmI/AAAAAAAACgw/L5dG9HSJc_M/s1600/031310_Big_Island_B19_1+%2528c%2529+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" n4="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TRmGuj2sRmI/AAAAAAAACgw/L5dG9HSJc_M/s400/031310_Big_Island_B19_1+%2528c%2529+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I love the lava-rock beaches that you find on the Big Island. They might not be ideal for sunbathing but they’re certainly beautiful to admire.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Same goes for this fragrant gardenia bloom that I found on the Big Island.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Sunset at the Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Just-caught mahimahi that I spotted during a stroll in Lahaina, Maui</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Hanging ukuleles, also in Lahaina</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Two of many motorbikes I’d photograph this year, first in Lahaina …</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">… Then in Melaka, Malaysia. I couldn’t get over the brightly colored walls.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZkdyo7rq8aiMFP0TYQZ9BfcV7Z66ZExcCZwr5Os91feFzwscKoy62s5MUr7tRdWrlc_Wtp6KPamF6qkZoJRWIzezAAyvC5dFQsTbTdmYoBk3LxDosqW5taWUgMYq7Yqeg0nkqHX9GV9A/s1600/110610_Melaka_Bukit_Cina_and_Little_India+%25284%2529+%2528c%2529+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZkdyo7rq8aiMFP0TYQZ9BfcV7Z66ZExcCZwr5Os91feFzwscKoy62s5MUr7tRdWrlc_Wtp6KPamF6qkZoJRWIzezAAyvC5dFQsTbTdmYoBk3LxDosqW5taWUgMYq7Yqeg0nkqHX9GV9A/s400/110610_Melaka_Bukit_Cina_and_Little_India+%25284%2529+%2528c%2529+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The Royal Hawaiian is just one of those hotels that makes you feel instantly transported to another time and era. I especially loved this glossy hallway.</span><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Jasmine from the North Shore Cattle Co.—so lovable</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">More scenic shots from the North Shore Cattle Co. I loved how red the dirt was.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Hanging work clothes from Twin Bridge Farms on Oahu’s North Shore</span><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">A chic dress from one of the numerous boutiques that line Haji Lane in Singapore.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Birds swooped right above our heads during a visit to the Bolsa Chica Wetlands in Huntington Beach, Calif.</span><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This old-school typewriter reminded me of the one that my mom used to teach me how to type.</span><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Dantica Cloud Forest Lodge & Gallery in Costa Rica was simply stunning for a lodge in the middle of the rainforest. Can you believe this is the gallery/lobby area?</span><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">During an early (very early) morning quetzal-spotting excursion, a group of horses unexpectedly ran past us on the same dirt road that we were standing on. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Also in Costa Rica, I got to see hummingbirds up close at Trogon Lodge …</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">… As well as meet the lodge’s resident canine.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Arenal Volcano was simply breathtaking to see, both at night …</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TRmHSeYdo1I/AAAAAAAACiM/2_TOFKz6WBg/s1600/052010_Costa_Rica_Arenal_Volcano_at_Night+%2528c%2529+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TRmHSeYdo1I/AAAAAAAACiM/2_TOFKz6WBg/s400/052010_Costa_Rica_Arenal_Volcano_at_Night+%2528c%2529+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">… And in the morning.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The cat rescue center at The Springs Resort in Costa Rica was home to some ferocious …</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">… And playful cats. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TRmHV6X0DaI/AAAAAAAACiU/l6UksC0Z1WQ/s1600/052110_Costa_Rica_The_Springs_Cat_Rescue_Center_Lena_the_Ocelot+%2528c%2529+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TRmHV6X0DaI/AAAAAAAACiU/l6UksC0Z1WQ/s400/052110_Costa_Rica_The_Springs_Cat_Rescue_Center_Lena_the_Ocelot+%2528c%2529+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The High Line in New York City’s Meatpacking District was a highlight.</span><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I loved nothing more than to kick off my flip flops and lounge in my personal hammock during a press trip to Cozumel in Mexico.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TRmHb8MU5mI/AAAAAAAACig/L3IH1Hcj5NY/s1600/092110_Iberostar_Cozumel_Hammock+%2528c%2529+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" n4="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TRmHb8MU5mI/AAAAAAAACig/L3IH1Hcj5NY/s400/092110_Iberostar_Cozumel_Hammock+%2528c%2529+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Likewise, this cat felt the same way, albeit in the comfort of a wooden bench, along Singapore’s Haji Lane.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TRmHkONB-HI/AAAAAAAACi4/DxPgq3truUs/s1600/102610_Kampong_Glam_9_Haji_Lane+%2528c%2529+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TRmHkONB-HI/AAAAAAAACi4/DxPgq3truUs/s400/102610_Kampong_Glam_9_Haji_Lane+%2528c%2529+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">During a nighttime bum boat ride along the Singapore River, I snapped this shot of the brand-new Marina Bay Sands. Sort of resembles a spaceship, no?</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TRmHfJUXAKI/AAAAAAAACio/xC7uT-jtHv0/s1600/102510_Bum_Boat_3_MBS+%2528c%2529+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TRmHfJUXAKI/AAAAAAAACio/xC7uT-jtHv0/s400/102510_Bum_Boat_3_MBS+%2528c%2529+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Later, during my stay at the Marina Bay Sands, I took in its amazing Sands SkyPark with a view of the city.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TRmHdVE8XDI/AAAAAAAACik/e5oeCJqFxyc/s1600/102510_MBS_SandsSkyPark_2+%2528c%2529+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TRmHdVE8XDI/AAAAAAAACik/e5oeCJqFxyc/s400/102510_MBS_SandsSkyPark_2+%2528c%2529+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">No matter where I go, I always find that Chinatown is filled with colorful scenes, from crimson-red lanterns …</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLXpOaY970Z9MpvpbwE2O5Jgy6ik0jCClTxS8xu6zuMWsJS2jU__bReY6AWwaMZO_sCyvg-OK_UUcGTLdPUoy6u0RPjrPPslzpE2WO3bxGDvmm1Gc6SQOjRe7ytj7SMyYdyJKj2c4KKg8/s1600/102610_Chinatown_2+%2528c%2529+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLXpOaY970Z9MpvpbwE2O5Jgy6ik0jCClTxS8xu6zuMWsJS2jU__bReY6AWwaMZO_sCyvg-OK_UUcGTLdPUoy6u0RPjrPPslzpE2WO3bxGDvmm1Gc6SQOjRe7ytj7SMyYdyJKj2c4KKg8/s400/102610_Chinatown_2+%2528c%2529+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">… to tchotchkes.</span><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It was actually difficult to spot graffiti in Singapore (big surprise, huh?) so I loved finding this one in an alleyway near Haji Lane.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TRmHnnLt1AI/AAAAAAAACjA/b6Hk4MVTDzI/s1600/103010_Kampong_Glam+%2528c%2529+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TRmHnnLt1AI/AAAAAAAACjA/b6Hk4MVTDzI/s400/103010_Kampong_Glam+%2528c%2529+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Singapore’s Boat Quay at night</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TRmHpNjNi_I/AAAAAAAACjE/hliV54YBCa4/s1600/103110_Boat_Quay+%25282%2529+%2528c%2529+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TRmHpNjNi_I/AAAAAAAACjE/hliV54YBCa4/s400/103110_Boat_Quay+%25282%2529+%2528c%2529+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I loved that this chandelier, from the lobby of Singapore’s Wanderlust hotel, was made with actual vintage Campari bottles.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TQcYotBq-XI/AAAAAAAACYM/k1Hm3B1qj0g/s1600/IMG_1241.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" n4="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TQcYotBq-XI/AAAAAAAACYM/k1Hm3B1qj0g/s400/IMG_1241.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Melaka is particularly known for its outlandish buggies—and their equally eccentric styles. This one was outfitted with Barbie dolls.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TRmHsQk3dnI/AAAAAAAACjM/uqRbuHTLtyQ/s1600/110310_Melaka+%25286%2529+%2528c%2529+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TRmHsQk3dnI/AAAAAAAACjM/uqRbuHTLtyQ/s400/110310_Melaka+%25286%2529+%2528c%2529+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Melaka is also home to rundown, but still standing, fortresses, like this one.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKxyNdlEvem9_efqvNbdG0HwNGfHUB6EfQG-oSciaZSnff3vWQxmGgANauXdoHMeKF5inP82h69-j1uKsdkYp5Ns2Q9KOvShqhRLRfIVjq9cCZcuzPsLD-0R_ahsnOJBw4Kv-mczcQWnM/s1600/110510_Melaka+%25284%2529+%2528c%2529+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKxyNdlEvem9_efqvNbdG0HwNGfHUB6EfQG-oSciaZSnff3vWQxmGgANauXdoHMeKF5inP82h69-j1uKsdkYp5Ns2Q9KOvShqhRLRfIVjq9cCZcuzPsLD-0R_ahsnOJBw4Kv-mczcQWnM/s400/110510_Melaka+%25284%2529+%2528c%2529+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And where else but at Changi International Airport can you waste time in the airport’s very own butterfly garden?</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-XnAI8IL6yLBbT-dsrJ69obm5ce6Wk4MiqpozCaLz52MB4zaOw8dxVBAphgBo1QBtWjrvmWHOPhjxil1FQLqWtvxvhGszxWEk6cQpSvDG3BM-hfPY9jb3IJksRcL5DvxuGW7Wmn6MHvE/s1600/110710_Changi_Butterfly_Garden+%25283%2529+%2528c%2529+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-XnAI8IL6yLBbT-dsrJ69obm5ce6Wk4MiqpozCaLz52MB4zaOw8dxVBAphgBo1QBtWjrvmWHOPhjxil1FQLqWtvxvhGszxWEk6cQpSvDG3BM-hfPY9jb3IJksRcL5DvxuGW7Wmn6MHvE/s400/110710_Changi_Butterfly_Garden+%25283%2529+%2528c%2529+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Next up, favorite foods from 2010 …</span>Deanna Tinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01104621272567922863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2027937167602714382.post-72627668576805808582010-12-27T23:37:00.000-08:002010-12-27T23:37:16.216-08:00Favorites, 2010 (Part 1, People)<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Looking back on all of the travel experiences that I’ve had this past year, it was difficult to just choose a few photos or memories that stood out as my favorites. So, I decided to break them up into favorite categories, from the people I’ve met along the way and the scenes I’ve captured, to the many (many) foods I ate and the friends I got to share my travels with.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">When you travel, you never know whom you’re going to meet—which could be a really good thing or, in some cases, a not-so-good-thing. Lucky for me, I’ve encountered some truly amazing people this past year. For me, each one reminds me of some of the best experiences and stories I’ve had this year …</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Take, for instance, Leo from Skyline Eco Tours in Kaanapali, Maui. The man saved my life—well, sort of. When I got <a href="http://www.travelagewest.com/travel/hawaii/Info/Hanging-Tight-on-Maui-With-Skyline-Eco-Adventures/">“stuck”</a> on the sixth zipline run, Leo bravely came to my rescue, which involved a rather embarrassing straddling maneuver that I wish not to reenact anytime soon. Oh well, to Leo, I am eternally grateful even if I was utterly mortified for the rest of my zipline tour that day.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9RkYvXU8knXGLWjRVBND5P7mxRf9leWDaLQ9VxhqyywyHchMGJusqIoX3r42sXa6r244YGj6v-A7aVNBDKLd6z_Ko6sWJFxuCpoME3MjDuR33qUSc7KBV7h0MmsgxDGEUzSifumi1tbg/s1600/031410_Skyline_Eco_Tours_Maui_Leo+%2528c%2529+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9RkYvXU8knXGLWjRVBND5P7mxRf9leWDaLQ9VxhqyywyHchMGJusqIoX3r42sXa6r244YGj6v-A7aVNBDKLd6z_Ko6sWJFxuCpoME3MjDuR33qUSc7KBV7h0MmsgxDGEUzSifumi1tbg/s400/031410_Skyline_Eco_Tours_Maui_Leo+%2528c%2529+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I had the luck of meeting Mary and Kevin during a Westin Maui Resort & Spa luau. It was clear to all of us at our table that they possessed a honeymooners’ glow but it was only after talking to them that we found out about their remarkable love story—falling in love years ago in high school only to part ways for years and then find each other once again after facing some challenges—and tragedies—along the way. Seeing them so happy that night, dancing just after the rain had fallen, was truly memorable.</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TRmFHg1b31I/AAAAAAAACb8/oLsUDiqLxow/s1600/031610_Westin_Maui_Luau_Mary_and_Kevin_%2528c%2529+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" n4="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TRmFHg1b31I/AAAAAAAACb8/oLsUDiqLxow/s400/031610_Westin_Maui_Luau_Mary_and_Kevin_%2528c%2529+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Bruce Shimabukuro gave us an impromptu ukulele performance one morning while strolling through the lobby of the Sheraton Waikiki.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TRmFJE3TIpI/AAAAAAAACcE/8a9YMGcZdPI/s1600/031810_Sheraton_Waikiki_Bruce_Shimabukuro+%2528c%2529+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" n4="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TRmFJE3TIpI/AAAAAAAACcE/8a9YMGcZdPI/s400/031810_Sheraton_Waikiki_Bruce_Shimabukuro+%2528c%2529+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">During that same press trip, I witnessed a moving <a href="http://www.travelagewest.com/travel/hawaii/Info/New-Cultural-Treasure-at-The-Royal-Hawaiian/">art dedication ceremony</a> in honor of Iolani Luahine, one of Hawaii’s most revered and respected hula masters. This was a photo I snapped of Danny Kiaha and Leimomi Mo’okini Lum during the ceremony as they blessed John Charlot’s charcoal portrait of Iolani Luahine which now hangs in the Royal Hawaiian’s lobby.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">We got a taste of fresh-from-the-earth asparagus during a tour of various North Shore farms on Oahu. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TRmFPu5R-VI/AAAAAAAACcU/HNdXYg2eaXQ/s1600/031910_Jennifer_at_Twin_Bridge_Farms+%2528c%2529+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" n4="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TRmFPu5R-VI/AAAAAAAACcU/HNdXYg2eaXQ/s400/031910_Jennifer_at_Twin_Bridge_Farms+%2528c%2529+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And on our last day of that trip, thanks to Candice, we feasted at the Kapiolani Community College Farmer’s Market …</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">... And we weren’t alone. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Just the day before, we saw the same little boy hanging out on the farm at the North Shore Cattle Co.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj618UKboTfTFjrF4CySsimM6UiGgbM3m1PdHZvVLuJRHOvDKPp6igsSPsc6lEpKOXgFfNjZQO1g2IWW__jYpnV3JSdfD2TbMArxUze-pW7bM9oNeqRmiGNfF4vCcj9lClOF30VWGhAONQ/s1600/031910_North_Shore_Cattle_Co+%2528c%2529+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj618UKboTfTFjrF4CySsimM6UiGgbM3m1PdHZvVLuJRHOvDKPp6igsSPsc6lEpKOXgFfNjZQO1g2IWW__jYpnV3JSdfD2TbMArxUze-pW7bM9oNeqRmiGNfF4vCcj9lClOF30VWGhAONQ/s320/031910_North_Shore_Cattle_Co+%2528c%2529+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">… Along with meeting the employees who worked at Twin Bridge Farms, purveyors of that delicious asparagus …</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">… And lots of potatoes.</span><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">In Costa Rica, I visited the preserved home of Dr. Alexander Skutch at Los Cusingos Bird Sanctuary. It was amazing to see how much reverence and respect that the folks at Los Cusingos still had for Dr. Skutch and his beloved wife.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TRmFYWLSQiI/AAAAAAAACcs/WG-1TZAjK5s/s1600/051710_Costa_Rica_Los_Cusingos_Alexander_Skutch+%2528c%2529+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TRmFYWLSQiI/AAAAAAAACcs/WG-1TZAjK5s/s400/051710_Costa_Rica_Los_Cusingos_Alexander_Skutch+%2528c%2529+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I totally fell for the amazing handicrafts from this family of artisans in Costa Rica, too.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And how could I forget Valentin, the dog with a heart-shaped mark on his back, and his equally adorable owner?</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TRmFbeKsxNI/AAAAAAAACc0/Zmri87FvjVQ/s1600/051810_Costa_Rica_Valentin_the_dog_with_his_owner+%2528c%2529+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" n4="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TRmFbeKsxNI/AAAAAAAACc0/Zmri87FvjVQ/s400/051810_Costa_Rica_Valentin_the_dog_with_his_owner+%2528c%2529+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I also saw lots of cute kids with dancing talent, first in Costa Rica…</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TRmFgKwzQDI/AAAAAAAACc8/_d_xVa0EwSI/s1600/052110_La_Fortuna_Costa_Rica_Girl_Dancers+%2528c%2529+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TRmFgKwzQDI/AAAAAAAACc8/_d_xVa0EwSI/s400/052110_La_Fortuna_Costa_Rica_Girl_Dancers+%2528c%2529+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TRmFeHQPCxI/AAAAAAAACc4/F8xwqrZTvvQ/s1600/052110_La_Fortuna_Costa_Rica_Girl_Dancer+%2528c%2529+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" n4="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TRmFeHQPCxI/AAAAAAAACc4/F8xwqrZTvvQ/s320/052110_La_Fortuna_Costa_Rica_Girl_Dancer+%2528c%2529+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TRmFiG8DWgI/AAAAAAAACdA/n-n3NIo_IdI/s1600/052110_La_Fortuna_Costa_Rica_Boy_Dancer+%2528c%2529+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" n4="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TRmFiG8DWgI/AAAAAAAACdA/n-n3NIo_IdI/s400/052110_La_Fortuna_Costa_Rica_Boy_Dancer+%2528c%2529+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">… And then in Melaka, Malaysia.</span><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Like a kid, I played in the mud, as did one of my fellow travel journalists in Costa Rica.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TRmFlBVtGRI/AAAAAAAACdE/l5DBq2s__io/s1600/052210_Las_Hornillas_Costa_Rica_Mud_Bather+%2528c%2529+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" n4="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TRmFlBVtGRI/AAAAAAAACdE/l5DBq2s__io/s400/052210_Las_Hornillas_Costa_Rica_Mud_Bather+%2528c%2529+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And we also made the best of a rocky and rainy cruise to nowhere thanks to the high spirits of my fellow travelers.</span><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I loved our short, unplanned visit to the Sri Veeramakaliamman temple in Singapore’s Little India…</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSy2C8VVCsuXGDq0B53LmIwMmrmYOwfY9mZ1f3zpHHRlB6UOJXLT6b0mG7LwPkMGXeK97VOxQkPZjvUuPPWVeEzA2EqaNwXGki8iVova58rBNAZMfgMtwHhlDPvlF87qKAALCx3TtZsUs/s1600/102610_Little_India_9+%2528c%2529+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSy2C8VVCsuXGDq0B53LmIwMmrmYOwfY9mZ1f3zpHHRlB6UOJXLT6b0mG7LwPkMGXeK97VOxQkPZjvUuPPWVeEzA2EqaNwXGki8iVova58rBNAZMfgMtwHhlDPvlF87qKAALCx3TtZsUs/s400/102610_Little_India_9+%2528c%2529+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">… Along with stumbling onto one of the few shops that sells curry by the kilo…</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">… And later walking into the bustling commotion of the covered wet market in Singapore’s Chinatown.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">In Geylang, also in Singapore, I loved sharing a meal of durian with my fellow travel journalists, even if they didn’t wind up loving durian so much.</span><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">They did, however, love Ya Kun Kaya Toast.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkW6KHWEVUjLjd88tLpkq6hsVhNXNNHhijztIVf1btiW5LwHIIqIBrXKmHhyphenhyphenAMEJqm9LHwOBp9E8zeckHJubFmNRjG2PLQpmlyd0i-pxEEv7VUsjX62OejhZLj8TDxx-j9U7ARm7i9WTU/s1600/102910_Ya_Kun_Kaya_Toast+%25282%2529+%2528c%2529+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkW6KHWEVUjLjd88tLpkq6hsVhNXNNHhijztIVf1btiW5LwHIIqIBrXKmHhyphenhyphenAMEJqm9LHwOBp9E8zeckHJubFmNRjG2PLQpmlyd0i-pxEEv7VUsjX62OejhZLj8TDxx-j9U7ARm7i9WTU/s400/102910_Ya_Kun_Kaya_Toast+%25282%2529+%2528c%2529+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And I have a feeling this little boy was a little in love with my camera—or my food—during lunch at Rumah Makan Minang in Singapore.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TRmFxuLaN5I/AAAAAAAACdo/JaBxs9bWbg4/s1600/103110_Minang+%25284%2529+%2528c%2529+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" n4="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TRmFxuLaN5I/AAAAAAAACdo/JaBxs9bWbg4/s400/103110_Minang+%25284%2529+%2528c%2529+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Also feeling the love was this rock-star senior citizen, performing at the Chinatown Night Market in Melaka, Malaysia.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjeH9fdYIMwv9YTSbyffmvbSJWRGK0ohIHzzU6hoP9VjfUBx-WaOlfhy4uChDqdfJjyNN-N0qIJUCPJUk-VLTSZMlzNyaQs2-vK3yupn0Vu6liKQN4jAHYNBxfKusbUTLZTYDTUaaXi8I/s1600/110510_Melaka_Chinatown_Night_Market+%25283%2529+%2528c%2529+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjeH9fdYIMwv9YTSbyffmvbSJWRGK0ohIHzzU6hoP9VjfUBx-WaOlfhy4uChDqdfJjyNN-N0qIJUCPJUk-VLTSZMlzNyaQs2-vK3yupn0Vu6liKQN4jAHYNBxfKusbUTLZTYDTUaaXi8I/s400/110510_Melaka_Chinatown_Night_Market+%25283%2529+%2528c%2529+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Last but not least, one of my favorite encounters this year was with Abdul Rahim Haji Hashim (shown here with my cousin Christina) at <a href="http://www.travelagewest.com/travel/asia/Info/Not-According-to-Plan/">Villa Sentosa</a> in Melaka, Malaysia. Not only is the man an excellent historian and tour guide but he can also analyze your handwriting—and he’s eerily exact in his assessments, too.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TRmF2HRl6sI/AAAAAAAACd0/apGCxiqIAq4/s1600/110610_Villa_Sentosa+%252811%2529+%2528c%2529+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TRmF2HRl6sI/AAAAAAAACd0/apGCxiqIAq4/s400/110610_Villa_Sentosa+%252811%2529+%2528c%2529+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Next up, my favorite scenes from 2010 … </span>Deanna Tinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01104621272567922863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2027937167602714382.post-8746515461784423442010-12-25T10:34:00.000-08:002010-12-30T11:46:10.376-08:00Home for the Holidays<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Around this time last year, I was away from home for the first time during the holidays. Instead of spending Christmas and New Year’s with my family in Los Angeles, I decided to travel to Japan and then to South Korea for the holidays.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1XGfjgqfuzZlL1NoEioUBV7VObrL8Ta0_o1m32b7Mc0NF9gukZx_XHtRFucAKHOH5TCbsRZIbcrDJfiHdzJIim_E4-yj4zXBFbBVgX-CfmEB68HnOGvvBmv0ZkcYMIsDbscr3PuQzQmM/s1600/IMG_5036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1XGfjgqfuzZlL1NoEioUBV7VObrL8Ta0_o1m32b7Mc0NF9gukZx_XHtRFucAKHOH5TCbsRZIbcrDJfiHdzJIim_E4-yj4zXBFbBVgX-CfmEB68HnOGvvBmv0ZkcYMIsDbscr3PuQzQmM/s200/IMG_5036.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">At first, I thought I’d be fine. I figured I certainly wouldn’t miss the agony of having to sing another Christmas carol at our family’s annual Christmas Eve dinner get-together. Also, that I would be all right with not cooking Christmas brunch with my auntie and cousins, even though it was always one of my favorite traditions.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And you know what? For a while, I really was all right. I was feeling overwhelmed by all of the amazing sights— and tastes—that I was experiencing. From the bustling lights of Tokyo to the, ahem, <a href="http://passportconfessional.blogspot.com/2010/04/april-foods.html">blowfish</a> “gentleman bits” that showed up on my dinner menu, I was so busy taking in all of my trip experiences that I didn’t even realize Christmas was coming up.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">But, inevitably, it hit me. It was Christmas Eve and, even though I was spending it in Tokyo with a loved one, I was a little sad. I actually longed for the traditions—even the torturous ones—that I had grown up with. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">All this wishing for the familiar got me to thinking: Isn’t the ability to experience new things and to make new traditions of our own one of the main reasons why we travel? It’s sort of the age-old traveler’s conundrum: You want to be daring and try new things, to force yourself out of your comfort zone every once in a while but, at the same time, there are times when all you really want is to curl up by a fireplace and sing Christmas carols horribly off-key with dozens of your relatives—all of whom are actually good at singing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">In a way, that’s how I felt about my trip last year: I was yearning for something entirely different from what I was used to and, even though I got what I wanted, my response wasn’t exactly what I had anticipated.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">But you know what? It got better. Touching down in Seoul on Christmas night, watching snow dust the wings of our plane, it started to feel a lot more like the holidays. And spending time with good friends—both old and new—helped a lot, too. By the end of our trip, I was so elated, but I also couldn’t wait to see my family.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">That’s the thing about the holidays, I suppose. No matter where you are, you just want to spend them with the ones you love—all of them. That’s why we’re more willing to endure crazy TSA security screenings and long drives on the road this time of year. And, if you can’t be there with them in person, you want them to know that you’re thinking of them—and likewise. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This year, I stayed put. Miraculously, I made it through the talent portion of our annual Christmas Eve dinner without having to perform (thank you very much, Melissa!). And I managed to keep up my longest-standing Christmas tradition: stuffing myself with tons of good food, of course. But a part of me couldn’t stop thinking of last Christmas, either. I’ll confess: there's a part of me that misses that Christmas, too. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So, I suppose being home for the holidays doesn’t mean having to be literally “home.” In fact, it doesn’t matter where you are exactly. Just as long as you’re with true friends or family, that’s all you really need, passport or not. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">As for me, I’ve been lucky enough to spend all of my Christmases thus far with the ones that I love—definitely the best Christmas present you could ever get, no? And that’s exactly what I’m hoping each of my friends and family will have this Christmas, too. </span>Deanna Tinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01104621272567922863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2027937167602714382.post-41035743677168509102010-12-07T22:54:00.000-08:002010-12-21T12:42:56.056-08:00In Excess, Part 2<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">A follow up to my last post … with even more reasons for packing a pair—or two—of eating pants …</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Laksa</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Noodle soup is a pretty universal comfort food but, if I had to pick my all-time favorite kind, I think it might have to be laksa. I love how it combines all the characteristics of my most-loved noodle soups—warmth, plenty of noodles and an assortment of garnishes—with a kick of spice. </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TODcjk_dsdI/AAAAAAAACOY/kDYTaP5VNYc/s1600/102710_Straits_Kitchen_Laksa.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TODcjk_dsdI/AAAAAAAACOY/kDYTaP5VNYc/s400/102710_Straits_Kitchen_Laksa.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Curry laksa from StraitsKitchen</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Of the three times I consumed laksa during my trip (I wish it could’ve been more), I was able to try two of the three main varieties: Nonya-style and Asam-style (I missed out on trying Sarawak-style laksa, unfortunately).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Which was my favorite? That’s just too close to tell. Nonya-style laksa is creamy, thanks to a base made with copious amounts of coconut milk and curry. Asam-style laksa, on the other hand, is hot and sour, made from a base of mackerel and lit from within with the addition of spices such as tamarind, lemongrass and chilli. My take on both varieties? If you want something that’s wholly comforting and a little more soothing (meaning not as spicy), go with the Nonya-style laksa. If you want something that’s a little sour and really spicy, go with Asam-style laksa.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I had Nonya-style laksa twice—once in Singapore and once in Melaka, Malaysia. In Singapore, I had it as part of a huge buffet dinner at StraitsKitchen at the Grand Hyatt Singapore, which is located just a block or two from Orchard Road, the main shopping thoroughfare. StraitsKitchen is ideal for diners who want to try a variety of local specialties from all different cuisine styles—Chinese, Indonesian, Indian and Malaysian, to name a few—all in one convenient—and highly air-conditioned—place.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">In Melaka, my cousin Chris and her boyfriend Coco took me to Donald & Lily’s, located in Chinatown. We had originally headed to Donald & Lily’s for the sole purpose of trying their often sold-out Friday special: chicken rendang nasi lemak. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Throughout our entire trip, Chris and Coco had implored me with tales of the deliciousness of this particular dish and how they could literally eat it every day, for every meal, for the rest of their lives. But, as my luck would have it, because of the Deepavali holiday, Donald & Lily’s didn’t make any chicken rendang nasi lemak that day. Oh well. The laksa was really good, which makes up for it (I hope).</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TODdNsbmY5I/AAAAAAAACQY/0Y5l93mq6VQ/s1600/110510_Donald_and_Lilly%2527s_Laksa.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TODdNsbmY5I/AAAAAAAACQY/0Y5l93mq6VQ/s400/110510_Donald_and_Lilly%2527s_Laksa.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Nonya-style laksa from Donald & Lily's in Melaka</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Later, that same day, we went to the Chinatown Night Market where I got to try Asam-style laska which I also loved. It was so much spicier—and sour—than the Nonya-style laksa I had already eaten earlier that day, but totally satisfying. We each had it with a side of oyster omelet, otak-otak and, for dessert, cendol.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TODdP2sh4UI/AAAAAAAACQk/ASuwpXQ0uo8/s1600/110510_Melaka_Chinatown_Night_Market_Dinner+%25286%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TODdP2sh4UI/AAAAAAAACQk/ASuwpXQ0uo8/s400/110510_Melaka_Chinatown_Night_Market_Dinner+%25286%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Asam-style laksa from the Chinatown Night Market in Melaka</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Where to Get It</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Chinatown Night Market in Melaka</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><a href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/malaysia/peninsular-malaysia-west-coast/melaka/restaurants/malaysian/donald-lily-s">Donald & Lily’s</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><a href="http://www.restaurants.singapore.hyatt.com/straits/straits_intro.html">StraitsKitchen</a> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Mangosteen</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">If durian is the “King of Fruits,” mangosteen is his queen, and often eaten right after consuming the aforementioned durian. Unlike durian, mangosteen is sweet and a little tart, and not at all reminiscent of rotting garbage in its scent. I picked up some mangosteen during a long walk through Melaka and loved it.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TODdVjhSpFI/AAAAAAAACQ4/xAWP2pXA0Y0/s1600/110610_Melaka_Bukit_Cina_and_Little_India.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TODdVjhSpFI/AAAAAAAACQ4/xAWP2pXA0Y0/s400/110610_Melaka_Bukit_Cina_and_Little_India.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Mangosteen</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Nasi Lemak</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I love food that comes in packages and nasi lemak is no exception. While it isn’t always served in a neatly-wrapped package, this rice dish is often wrapped in banana leaves or paper and eaten as a quick bite—an ideal meal on the go, especially for breakfast. It’s a fairly simple—but rich—dish, made with rice cooked in coconut cream, dried anchovies and sambal (hot spices), in addition to other various garnishes. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TODec82rwlI/AAAAAAAACSc/-qVZhWsCMRs/s1600/110710_Madras_Cafe_Nasi_Lemak.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TODec82rwlI/AAAAAAAACSc/-qVZhWsCMRs/s400/110710_Madras_Cafe_Nasi_Lemak.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Nasi lemak, wrapped in brown paper</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TODdYac2XlI/AAAAAAAACRA/t9eYGc7d3xI/s1600/110710_Madras_Cafe_Nasi_Lemak+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="266" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TODdYac2XlI/AAAAAAAACRA/t9eYGc7d3xI/s400/110710_Madras_Cafe_Nasi_Lemak+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And inside...coconut rice, a hard-boiled egg, sambal and dried anchovies</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Otak-Otak</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Growing up, I used to love it when my mom made fish cake/paste for dinner. If you’re not used to it, you might find the texture a little rubbery—or just plain strange—but if, like me, you’ve grown up with it, you’ll most likely love otak-otak, too. Otak-otak is made up of fish paste and various spices and, like nasi lemak, it’s almost always wrapped up in a banana or pandan leaf and then steamed or grilled. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TODc30oxFmI/AAAAAAAACPU/04iaa0GToP4/s1600/102610_Blue_Ginger_8_Otah.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TODc30oxFmI/AAAAAAAACPU/04iaa0GToP4/s400/102610_Blue_Ginger_8_Otah.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Otak-otak from The Blue Ginger in Singapore</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Where to Get It</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><a href="http://www.theblueginger.com/">The Blue Ginger</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Oyster Omelet</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">In college, my go-to dinner usually consisted of an omelet, meaning eggs and basically whatever I could find in my fridge and pantry at the time. Now, having had oyster omelet, I regret not keeping some oysters in stock at the time. Oh well … it’s not like my rendition would ever be as good as the ones I had during my trip—first at the Maxwell Hawker Centre </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">in Singapore and then at the Chinatown Night Market in Melaka. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TODcqD61vtI/AAAAAAAACOs/vrFf3QVHkQw/s1600/103010_Maxwell_Oyster_Omelet.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TODcqD61vtI/AAAAAAAACOs/vrFf3QVHkQw/s400/103010_Maxwell_Oyster_Omelet.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Oyster Omelet from Maxwell Hawker Centre</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TN4tdG_X4eI/AAAAAAAACKo/CSoJs8kyYBM/s1600/110510_Melaka_Chinatown_Night_Market_Dinner+%25284%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="266" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TN4tdG_X4eI/AAAAAAAACKo/CSoJs8kyYBM/s400/110510_Melaka_Chinatown_Night_Market_Dinner+%25284%2529.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The master oyster omelet chef from the Chinatown Night Market in Melaka</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJcnE-oCSlBhwyxgw7MWQD9QdmMNgpJn8fCdcGkx2ZOBnTDCNdfrpf8uX2X_trsD3PlVyEgHdzuCbma3jMI57TzODouNmJlVFvgiO4e36-SdsjLj5SsLxAp8ILhDZcUevsG6aVE0Q9ppY/s1600/110510_Melaka_Chinatown_Night_Market_Dinner+%25285%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="266" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJcnE-oCSlBhwyxgw7MWQD9QdmMNgpJn8fCdcGkx2ZOBnTDCNdfrpf8uX2X_trsD3PlVyEgHdzuCbma3jMI57TzODouNmJlVFvgiO4e36-SdsjLj5SsLxAp8ILhDZcUevsG6aVE0Q9ppY/s400/110510_Melaka_Chinatown_Night_Market_Dinner+%25285%2529.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Just a hint of lime and chili sauce made it taste even better.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Popiah</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">When we think of spring rolls in the U.S., we often think of those tiny, deep-fried egg rolls that come in a waxed paper package whenever we order Chinese takeout. That, or Vietnamese-style spring rolls that are translucent and filled to the brim with rice noodles, shrimp and basil and topped off with peanut sauce.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TODdDsHBw5I/AAAAAAAACP4/2SplsvZAfxY/s1600/103010_Maxwell_Popiah.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TODdDsHBw5I/AAAAAAAACP4/2SplsvZAfxY/s400/103010_Maxwell_Popiah.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Popiah from the Maxwell Hawker Centre</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Popiah, on the other hand, isn’t usually deep-fried, and it’s not see-through in its appearance. The spring roll skin is more like a crepe or pancake and inside, there are tons of veggies, including jicama, turnip, bean sprouts, carrots and the like. Emphatic salad enthusiast that my cousin Chris is, she described it as one of the closest things she could find to a salad in Southeast Asia, since most places prefer to serve cooked vegetables as opposed to raw ones. Knowing that made me feel just a little bit better whenever I ate some—not by a lot, but just ever so slightly.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Pineapple Tarts</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Melaka is famous for this sweet treat and I can definitely understand why—these Nonya pineapple tarts possess a near-perfect balance of rich, decadent butter and sweetness. While you can buy them as rolls or little tarts, I preferred the tarts simply because I thought they looked cuter. Either way, they’re delicious.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TODdSTL_xyI/AAAAAAAACQs/h0W8vBKJxXg/s1600/110510_Melaka_Chinatown_Night_Market_Dinner+%252810%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TODdSTL_xyI/AAAAAAAACQs/h0W8vBKJxXg/s400/110510_Melaka_Chinatown_Night_Market_Dinner+%252810%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Nonya pineapple tarts, fresh out of the oven</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Roast Duck </strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I never pass up an opportunity to have roast duck and when Chris and Coco told me they wanted me to have roast duck rice as my final dinner in Melaka, I did not raise any objections. What sold me even further on the idea was that the restaurant was literally next door to the Old Town Guesthouse where we were staying. Apparently, the exact recipe for the roast duck is so secret that not even the owner’s wife knows what it is. After trying it, I can see why. </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TODdW2QlioI/AAAAAAAACQ8/ByZU7J718eM/s1600/110610_Mei_Wua_Roast_Duck.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TODdW2QlioI/AAAAAAAACQ8/ByZU7J718eM/s640/110610_Mei_Wua_Roast_Duck.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Roast duck rice, with bean sprouts and hard-boiled eggs as accompaniments</span> </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Where to Get It</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The restaurant next to <a href="http://www.melakaguesthouse.com/">Old Town Guesthouse</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Roti Canai/Roti Prata</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Fat-infused (ghee-filled, to be exact) flatbread that’s grilled in oil and served with curry? Umm, yes, please. Needless to say, I really loved eating roti canai (as it’s known in Malaysia) and roti prata (as it’s known in Singapore), especially for breakfast. You can get roti canai/roti prata most anywhere, especially in hawker centers. </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TODcwQdhKFI/AAAAAAAACPA/eEk7n0qyyxI/s1600/110410_Madras_Cafe_Roti_Chennai.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TODcwQdhKFI/AAAAAAAACPA/eEk7n0qyyxI/s400/110410_Madras_Cafe_Roti_Chennai.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Roti canai from Madras Cafe in Melaka</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Twice, my cousin and I had it at the Madras Cafe in Old Town Melaka and, each time, my eyes were transfixed on the chefs making it on the grill—I couldn’t believe how they could just pick up the roti canai with their bare hands, off a steaming-hot grill slathered in oil. Guess it’s true what they say about real cooks not having working nerve endings in their fingertips. </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TN4tIHSwisI/AAAAAAAACJ8/d6TbZNWmrZM/s1600/110410_Madras_Cafe_Roti_Canai.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="266" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TN4tIHSwisI/AAAAAAAACJ8/d6TbZNWmrZM/s400/110410_Madras_Cafe_Roti_Canai.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">These dudes have no fear when it comes to their roti canai grilling.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Where to Get It </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Madras Cafe in Old Town Melaka</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Singapore Sling</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Okay, I’ll be honest: I don’t really enjoy cocktails and I didn’t really love the Singapore Sling, either, mostly because it was a little too sweet for my taste. Nevertheless, it’s worth trying one, especially when you’re in Singapore and even more so when you’re sitting at the bar where it was invented, seated next to the Raffles Hotel Singapore’s resident historian who’s literally worked there for longer than you’ve been alive. </span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TN4qrp6iwbI/AAAAAAAACDQ/vvvQtXkgci4/s1600/102910_Raffles_Hotel_Long_Bar+%25286%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TN4qrp6iwbI/AAAAAAAACDQ/vvvQtXkgci4/s400/102910_Raffles_Hotel_Long_Bar+%25286%2529.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The Singapore Sling</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">At the Long Bar, we even saw a demonstration on how the Singapore Sling is made, which also gave me a greater appreciation for it. Why? Because it involved a lot of ingredients—gin, brandy, pineapple juice and tons of other liquors—too many for me to even recall.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TN4qomsP7wI/AAAAAAAACDI/IA1Uf2GLN3M/s1600/102910_Raffles_Hotel_Long_Bar+%25284%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TN4qomsP7wI/AAAAAAAACDI/IA1Uf2GLN3M/s400/102910_Raffles_Hotel_Long_Bar+%25284%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Making a Singapore Sling involves a lot of ingredients--and arm strength.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">What I enjoyed even more than the Singapore Sling, however, was the ability to snack on roasted peanuts and toss the shells on the floor while at the bar. At first, our group was a little hesitant to do so in such a venerable and historic setting, but as soon as we saw that Mr. Leslie Danker, the historian, discard his peanut shells on the floor without any qualms, our fears subsided and we followed suit. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Where to Get It</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><a href="http://www.raffles.com/EN_RA/Property/RHS/Restaurants_Bars/Long_Bar.htm">Long Bar, Raffles Hotel Singapore</a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Tiger Beer</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">One alcoholic beverage I did very much enjoy during my trip was beer, especially Tiger Beer since it was so ubiquitous wherever we went. It was especially nice to have when lounging by the infinity-edge rooftop pool at <a href="http://www.fullertonbayhotel.com/">The Fullerton Bay Hotel Singapore</a>. </span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TODdCudJceI/AAAAAAAACP0/4EpYDeSlLQk/s1600/102910_FBH_Rooftop.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TODdCudJceI/AAAAAAAACP0/4EpYDeSlLQk/s400/102910_FBH_Rooftop.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">At the rooftop pool at The Fullerton Bay Hotel Singapore</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">... Or with friends and family. </span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TNUuGyglNpI/AAAAAAAABc0/xsG-CUCkIZw/s1600/IMG_1048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TNUuGyglNpI/AAAAAAAABc0/xsG-CUCkIZw/s400/IMG_1048.JPG" width="266" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Coco and our round of Tiger Beers</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Xialongbao</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Xialongbao (soup dumplings) are one of my favorite kinds of dumplings (although I have yet to find a dumpling that I don’t like) and Din Tai Fung, a Taiwanese proprietor of xialongbao, is probably one of the best places to try it. While there’s a Din Tai Fung in Los Angeles, the one that I went to in Singapore was better—not sure exactly why, but it just was. I shared some during a late-afternoon lunch with my fellow press trip writers, along with a side of deep-fried vegetable wontons.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TODco9hXEjI/AAAAAAAACOo/qEPra4cGhW4/s1600/102910_Din_Tai_Fung_Xialong_Bao.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TODco9hXEjI/AAAAAAAACOo/qEPra4cGhW4/s400/102910_Din_Tai_Fung_Xialong_Bao.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Fried wontons (left) and xialongbao (right) from Din Tai Fung</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Where to Get It</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><a href="http://www.dintaifung.com.tw/en/">Din Tai Fung</a> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Memorable Meals</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">While all of the many meals that I had during my trip could easily qualify as a favorite, one of the most memorable would have to be the special five-course banquet that my cousin, Coco and I enjoyed at the <a href="http://www.suntecsingapore.com/restaurant/prp.htm">Pearl River Palace Restaurant</a> in, of all places, the <a href="http://www.suntecsingapore.com/">Suntec Singapore Convention Centre</a>. Most convention centers serve some of the most awful—and sad—food I’ve ever had but that is definitely, definitely not the case here.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And for anyone who is likewise skeptical about the existence of “fancy” or elevated Chinese cuisine, I would also suggest they take a look at the following pics, even though they don’t really do justice to the amazing meal that we had. </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TODeTXTH6TI/AAAAAAAACSA/70kV2PXsbww/s1600/110210_Suntec_Pearl_River_Palace_Dinner+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TODeTXTH6TI/AAAAAAAACSA/70kV2PXsbww/s400/110210_Suntec_Pearl_River_Palace_Dinner+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">To start: jellyfish, spring rolls, shumai and shrimp</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TODeUXamXmI/AAAAAAAACSE/ntLQqoOGV-Y/s1600/110210_Suntec_Pearl_River_Palace_Dinner+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TODeUXamXmI/AAAAAAAACSE/ntLQqoOGV-Y/s400/110210_Suntec_Pearl_River_Palace_Dinner+%25283%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Followed by soup</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TODeVugjuUI/AAAAAAAACSI/v2oS6sk0LI4/s1600/110210_Suntec_Pearl_River_Palace_Dinner+%25284%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TODeVugjuUI/AAAAAAAACSI/v2oS6sk0LI4/s400/110210_Suntec_Pearl_River_Palace_Dinner+%25284%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The best lamp chops. Ever.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TODeWsl_l4I/AAAAAAAACU0/qMYGhzmtrDI/s1600/110210_Suntec_Pearl_River_Palace_Dinner+%25285%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TODeWsl_l4I/AAAAAAAACU0/qMYGhzmtrDI/s640/110210_Suntec_Pearl_River_Palace_Dinner+%25285%2529.JPG" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">A giant prawn with noodles and black truffles</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Hp1dy6Kyxe7GM_Ne990pt4Hxj6mZvfA_XYi4Ek9dJL9hWUp0J2oOnaWUqszx-pyrgzp1lrpfjA955fOFh5WyNTZ1fa5M0o6Mt4svfmrqAyEZHdqIiDQEX-mqXoel4mIymg-ArAsI5h4/s1600/110210_Suntec_Pearl_River_Palace_Dinner+%25286%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Hp1dy6Kyxe7GM_Ne990pt4Hxj6mZvfA_XYi4Ek9dJL9hWUp0J2oOnaWUqszx-pyrgzp1lrpfjA955fOFh5WyNTZ1fa5M0o6Mt4svfmrqAyEZHdqIiDQEX-mqXoel4mIymg-ArAsI5h4/s400/110210_Suntec_Pearl_River_Palace_Dinner+%25286%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And lastly, dessert</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Here’s to many more such memorable meals—and trips—in the future … let me know what some of your favorites have been, too.</span>Deanna Tinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01104621272567922863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2027937167602714382.post-58340317392341323592010-12-05T23:12:00.000-08:002010-12-05T23:59:03.326-08:00In Excess, Part 1<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">If I had to sum up my recent trip to Singapore and Melaka, Malaysia—or my recent Thanksgiving holiday meal—I think that “excess” would be an appropriate theme, especially when it came to all of the sights, sounds— and foods—that I took in. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Before my trip, I assumed that a lot of eating would be involved. I mean, I’ve seen enough episodes of “<a href="http://www.travelchannel.com/TV_Shows/Anthony_Bourdain">Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations</a>”—and read enough of his interviews— to know that Singapore is home to some amazing foods and cuisines. I just didn’t anticipate how good all of that food would be—or how many pounds I would pack on in the process. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">(A brief note to any travelers headed to Singapore or Malaysia: pack your “eating” pants. That is, any and all pants/shorts/skirts with easily expandable waistbands. Ladies: invest in some flowy dresses.)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Aside from the fact that I am a naturally voracious eater (you don’t earn the nickname “trash compactor” for nothing) and there might be <a href="http://www.npr.org/2010/12/01/131698228/overeating-like-drug-use-rewards-and-alters-brain?sc=fb&cc=fp">scientific evidence</a> for my ravenous appetite, the real reason why I ate so much was simple: this food is hard to find, even in L.A. Oh, and it was really delicious, too. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">What also helped? Sage advice from friends and family members. To them, my stomach and I are eternally grateful—and overly stuffed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Here are just a few of my favorites … and where to find them: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Beef Rendang</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Beef rendang is similar to your favorite beef stew, only better because it’s made with coconut milk and/or paste and simmered with tons of savory spices. True meat lovers that we are, my cousin and her boyfriend, Coco, and I made numerous attempts to eat beef rendang whenever—and wherever—we could, even Burger King.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TODcsSK1uwI/AAAAAAAACO0/JQ5gwZCxx_Y/s1600/110210_Burger_King_Rendang_Burger.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TODcsSK1uwI/AAAAAAAACO0/JQ5gwZCxx_Y/s400/110210_Burger_King_Rendang_Burger.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Tasting my first BK Rendang Burger</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The Burger King Rendang Burger is no ordinary burger. <em>Travel + Leisure</em> named it as <a href="http://www.soshiok.com/article/5677">one of the world’s best burgers in 2009</a>. So, of course, we just had to try it. I ordered a single which was good, but not life-changing (I think I prefer my animal-style Double Double from <a href="http://www.in-n-out.com/">In-N-Out</a>, to be honest). Chris and Coco both ordered the double which is a much better value, since it comes with more beef rendang sauce.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TODeB8CGz_I/AAAAAAAACRs/LhZ8yFteeCM/s1600/102610_Blue_Ginger_9_Beef_Rendang.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TODeB8CGz_I/AAAAAAAACRs/LhZ8yFteeCM/s400/102610_Blue_Ginger_9_Beef_Rendang.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Beef rendang from The Blue Ginger in Singapore</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">If you’re really hankering for beef rendang, it’s best to look for it at Peranakan or Indonesian eateries. Peranakan-style beef rendang, like the one I had from The Blue Ginger Restaurant in Singapore was a little saucier than the Indonesian-style beef rendang that I had at Rumah Makan Minang, also in Singapore. Either way, though, it was pretty delectable. </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TODcrqefBjI/AAAAAAAACOw/AJ6FbH_cFkI/s1600/103110_Minang_Indonesian_Food.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TODcrqefBjI/AAAAAAAACOw/AJ6FbH_cFkI/s400/103110_Minang_Indonesian_Food.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Beef rendang (far left) from Rumah Makan Minang in Singapore</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Where to Get It:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><a href="http://www.theblueginger.com/">The Blue Ginger Restaurant</a></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><a href="http://www.burgerking.com.sg/">Burger King</a></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><a href="http://www.minang.sg/)">Rumah Makan Minang</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Cendol</strong></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TODc6P0WrKI/AAAAAAAACPc/DKN8R67E10E/s1600/102610_Blue_Ginger_11_Cendol.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TODc6P0WrKI/AAAAAAAACPc/DKN8R67E10E/s400/102610_Blue_Ginger_11_Cendol.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Cendol from The Blue Ginger</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">If you’re a fan of Hawaiian shave ice, you’ll enjoy cendol. Cendol, like shave ice, is made with (you guessed it) shave ice, but it also comes with a heaping helping of coconut milk, palm sugar and tapioca-like rice flour toppings. While the cendol that I had at the Blue Ginger was a little prettier than the one that I had at the Chinatown Night Market in Melaka, Malaysia, I liked the one in Melaka much more, simply because of the use of sweet-but-not-too-sweet gula melaka (palm sugar from Melaka).</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TODdQ55tyBI/AAAAAAAACQo/jT-Wz8gUDws/s1600/110510_Melaka_Chinatown_Night_Market_Dinner+%25289%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TODdQ55tyBI/AAAAAAAACQo/jT-Wz8gUDws/s400/110510_Melaka_Chinatown_Night_Market_Dinner+%25289%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Cendol from the Chinatown Night Market in Melaka</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Char Kway Teow</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I take my noodle dishes pretty seriously and, I have to say that the char kway teow (stir-fried rice noodles) that I had in Melaka was probably one of the best that I have ever had. Maybe the best. It wasn’t part of a special meal or outing; it was simply something that my cousin had recommended on the way back from one of our grocery shopping trips.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TODcyOAf4gI/AAAAAAAACPE/u4FMJY5IHqc/s1600/110410_Melaka_Char_Kay_Teow.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TODcyOAf4gI/AAAAAAAACPE/u4FMJY5IHqc/s640/110410_Melaka_Char_Kay_Teow.JPG" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This char kway teow was indescribably good.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Famished— even though we’d already eaten a huge breakfast of roti canai—we stopped off at the food court located directly across the street from the Old Town Guesthouse where we were staying. We ordered from the only stall that was still open—the kind where they basically cook up whatever it is you want on the spot, to order. The wait, however, was agonizing. As each dish came out of the kitchen, I eyed them with envy, hoping they might be mine since everything looked—and smelled—so good. And finally, when my noodles came, I couldn’t help myself but dig right in. I honestly don’t know exactly what made the noodles so good—maybe it was the heat, my hunger, the heavy-handed use of dark soy—but whatever it was, it was simply amazing. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Where to Get It:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Tang Fong Food Centre (located across the street from the <a href="http://www.melakaguesthouse.com/">Old Town Guesthouse</a>)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Look for the stall at the very right of the food court.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Chicken Rice and Chicken Rice Balls</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Chicken rice is pretty self explanatory—it’s chicken and rice, with some broth and chili sauce on the side. But when done properly, this rather simple dish is the perfect example of minimalist comfort food at its very best. I ate a lot of chicken rice during my trip, but my hands-down favorite was the chicken rice from the Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice stall at the Maxwell Hawker Centre in Singapore’s Chinatown. </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TODclXAFNqI/AAAAAAAACOc/M0C86MbMlNM/s1600/102810_Tian_Tian_Chicken_Rice.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TODclXAFNqI/AAAAAAAACOc/M0C86MbMlNM/s400/102810_Tian_Tian_Chicken_Rice.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">My second favorite rendition was in Melaka, at Ee Ji Ban Restaurant, where I had Melaka’s unique variation on chicken rice: chicken rice balls (the main difference is that the rice is formed into rice balls).</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3C0Pmn2q0o262YOdwGonK8XW8-tXT3jNWNMhVH1WH8jha3UAS3ZQfXo8FggPTe9bgdSQuDIMhPL8NNGP1-E2xbDNizF9SKrn2q6mNLRwa-96OMATi_LYm1ZxBdhmT1hTFWt0BUEmHT6c/s1600/110310_Melaka_Chicken_Rice_Balls.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3C0Pmn2q0o262YOdwGonK8XW8-tXT3jNWNMhVH1WH8jha3UAS3ZQfXo8FggPTe9bgdSQuDIMhPL8NNGP1-E2xbDNizF9SKrn2q6mNLRwa-96OMATi_LYm1ZxBdhmT1hTFWt0BUEmHT6c/s400/110310_Melaka_Chicken_Rice_Balls.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Chicken Rice Balls from Ee Ji Ban in Melaka</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Where to Get It:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><a href="http://www.melaka88.com/main/food/41-chinese/89-ee-ji-ban-chicken-rice-ball.html">Ee Ji Ban Restaurant</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><a href="http://www.tiantianchickenrice.com/">Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Chili Crab and Pepper Crab</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Crab eating, by nature, is a hands-on activity that involves patience and fortitude. For that very reason, a number of my friends (Coco being one of them) wouldn’t normally order crab for fear of having to use their fingers to extract just the tiniest pieces of meat. Not worth it, they’d be thinking. </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TODchuoA57I/AAAAAAAACOQ/oTCXfFMo1vc/s1600/102510_Jumbo_Seafood_Chilli_Crab.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TODchuoA57I/AAAAAAAACOQ/oTCXfFMo1vc/s400/102510_Jumbo_Seafood_Chilli_Crab.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Chili crab</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr1fMS_5Acu1V4r395-Hj6_A6Oz9v3OiZnjNiVY8nWfrYLjpjRYKBdK7V8_HCHYL_bKRV8BJro5SWcW0eXB1UqGaczbdmFovDWEjEoZZFxT37pFIJ_py5gKlCDQs342sXy2jjNfLTh0sU/s1600/103110_Jumbo_Seafood_with_Chris_and_Coco+%25284%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr1fMS_5Acu1V4r395-Hj6_A6Oz9v3OiZnjNiVY8nWfrYLjpjRYKBdK7V8_HCHYL_bKRV8BJro5SWcW0eXB1UqGaczbdmFovDWEjEoZZFxT37pFIJ_py5gKlCDQs342sXy2jjNfLTh0sU/s400/103110_Jumbo_Seafood_with_Chris_and_Coco+%25284%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Pepper Crab</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Well, after tasting chili crab and pepper crab for the first time in Singapore, I think Coco’s changed his mind. It’s just that good. The sauce for both preparations is what makes both dishes so good—and so worth all the extra effort. And when you’ve got piping-hot, fried mantou (Chinese bread) to sop it all up, it makes it even better.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Where to Get It:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><a href="http://www.jumboseafood.com.sg/">Jumbo Seafood</a> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Durian</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Durian might be known as the “King of Fruits” but I also know it for another reason: for being one of the few things on this planet that <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75vm9ik5pjo">Andrew Zimmern</a> from television’s “Bizarre Foods” simply cannot stomach. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TODcmrlXbLI/AAAAAAAACOg/ZIiver2Ct1A/s1600/102810_Geylang_Durian.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TODcmrlXbLI/AAAAAAAACOg/ZIiver2Ct1A/s400/102810_Geylang_Durian.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Durian, aka the "King of Fruits"</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I’ve had durian before in ice cream form in the States and didn’t think much of it, but when I had a chance to taste the actual fruit in Singapore I was surprised to find out how much I actually loved it. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TODeHijpyuI/AAAAAAAACR4/hpvhpcdyHfQ/s1600/102810_Geylang_Durian+%25289%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TODeHijpyuI/AAAAAAAACR4/hpvhpcdyHfQ/s640/102810_Geylang_Durian+%25289%2529.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Who knew? It’s certainly not for everyone—the smell is awfully pungent—but I think that once you get over that initial repugnance, it’s really not so bad. And who knows? You might actually enjoy it, like I did. At least, I think, it’s definitely worth the try.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Ice Cream Sandwich, Singapore Style</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Here in the States, when we normally think of an ice cream sandwich we envision vanilla ice cream sandwiched between two soft chocolate cookie wafers. Well, in Singapore, an ice cream sandwich is a little more literal: it's a block of ice cream, sliced from a thick slab, and wrapped around sandwich bread, most often sweet pandan bread.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcrF2e-krIkl95Xk8XVZX5f-qQM7KzQYfr0g66JR8-mFwHy9IA6-rSdiaP1JSTW1H14AwqS2BVyiyXZXhnLzBxdurYAu7B1PdVUlc5rLAvV8EH9RXDSZb1QBGo1tCbbomdK-bqn9yXHyM/s1600/110110_Ice_Cream_Snadwich.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcrF2e-krIkl95Xk8XVZX5f-qQM7KzQYfr0g66JR8-mFwHy9IA6-rSdiaP1JSTW1H14AwqS2BVyiyXZXhnLzBxdurYAu7B1PdVUlc5rLAvV8EH9RXDSZb1QBGo1tCbbomdK-bqn9yXHyM/s400/110110_Ice_Cream_Snadwich.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">An ice cream sandwich from Singapore's Orchard Road</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">You can buy these ice cream sandwiches almost anywhere in Singapore, especially when strolling down busy pedestrian thoroughfares like Orchard Road. I decided to try an ice cream sandwich combo that involved sweet corn ice cream, which, not surprisingly, tasted a lot like creamed corn.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Kaya Toast</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">When deciding on what souvenirs to bring back for family and friends, I didn’t opt for T-shirts, jewelry, silks or traditional tchotchkes. Instead, I bought out one woman’s entire supply of homemade kaya jam from the daily wet market in Melaka. </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TODcn-BUm0I/AAAAAAAACOk/QoCGCSPnsX8/s1600/102910_Ya_Kun_Kaya_Toast.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TODcn-BUm0I/AAAAAAAACOk/QoCGCSPnsX8/s400/102910_Ya_Kun_Kaya_Toast.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">A kaya toast set from Ya Kun Kaya Toast</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Kaya jam is basically made up of eggs, sugar, coconut milk and pandan leaves (which give it its unique green coloring). It’s a little on the sweet side and, when paired with butter on a simple slice of toast, it’s really delicious. It gets even better when you have it with a cup of kopi (coffee with condensed milk) and a bowl of runny, soft-boiled eggs mixed in with sweet dark soy and a sprinkling of white pepper.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI-NVK83cm0uKtLhuxMHHYoIECbVtXNeLDeuI9zHyu5BmOvp83oyzNLPgqJxwZ1J3SmFgK_z5UrdOJsAb1CnJGQrHPc5jP-Gd18yzGRrfPGtHrxL_tHxMppQkbLWiwSdauTfL4xnSHymQ/s1600/IMG_0983.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI-NVK83cm0uKtLhuxMHHYoIECbVtXNeLDeuI9zHyu5BmOvp83oyzNLPgqJxwZ1J3SmFgK_z5UrdOJsAb1CnJGQrHPc5jP-Gd18yzGRrfPGtHrxL_tHxMppQkbLWiwSdauTfL4xnSHymQ/s640/IMG_0983.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Fellow press trip writer Kim enjoys her first taste of kaya toast, too.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">In Singapore, my favorite place to order kaya toast was from Ya Kun Kaya Toast. A close second was Toast Box. (If you opt for Toast Box, it’s worth ordering the chili crab toast set for a heartier breakfast meal.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Where to Get It:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><a href="http://www.breadtalk.com/toastbox/">Toast Box</a></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><a href="http://www.yakun.com/">Ya Kun Kaya Toast</a> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Kueh Pie Tee</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">If it’s true that we feast with our eyes first, kueh pie tee would be one of my top picks for a dish that’s both beautiful in its presentation and mouth-watering in its taste. These bite-size Nonya appetizers are made up of a crisp, fried-flour “top hat,” filled with shrimp, jicama, carrots, shallots and other garnishments. And yes, these kueh pie tee from The Blue Ginger really were as delicious as they were pretty to look at.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TODd-rzBeaI/AAAAAAAACRg/QuGF-h1pU_I/s1600/102610_Blue_Ginger_4_Kueh_Pie_Ti.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TODd-rzBeaI/AAAAAAAACRg/QuGF-h1pU_I/s400/102610_Blue_Ginger_4_Kueh_Pie_Ti.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Kueh Pie Tee from The Blue Ginger</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">More favorites to come later ...</span>Deanna Tinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01104621272567922863noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2027937167602714382.post-19195536604235197612010-11-16T20:51:00.000-08:002010-11-17T20:26:51.328-08:00No Good With Faces<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I have to fess up: Sometimes, I can be terrible at remembering people’s names and faces. I can’t help it. I try my best but sometimes, I just can’t place a name to a face or vice versa.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Having just written up a blog about an unexpected detour in Melaka, Malaysia, for <a href="http://www.travelagewest.com/">work</a> (“<a href="http://www.travelagewest.com/travel/asia/Info/Not-According-to-Plan/">Not According to Plan</a>”) got me to thinking, though … about all of the people I’ve met through each of my trips. I might not always remember their names, but I’ve certainly remembered their faces and the experiences I’ve shared with them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">If you happen to be one of my Facebook friends, your news feed has probably been inundated lately with photo albums of all the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2823733&id=2508478&l=f7fdbeade3">food that I ate</a> while recently in Singapore and Malaysia. And not just once, but <a href="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2828456&id=2508478&l=976807e928">twice</a>. And while I certainly savored all of the many—emphasis on many—amazing meals that I had, I think that what I really loved most were all of the experiences that I shared with friends, both new and old, and family, many of them over a good meal, too. Just take a look …</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">When you travel on a press trip, it's crucial that you have a good group of fellow journalists. Otherwise, it could easily wind up being a press trip from hell—or at least one with a lot of funny stories to tell afterward, I suppose. Lucky for me, our group was great, and we bonded easily over pints of Tiger Beer.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TOMM50qzqfI/AAAAAAAACTo/TPZnWUdk7aQ/s1600/102510_Jumbo_Seafood_Group_Shot.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" px="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TOMM50qzqfI/AAAAAAAACTo/TPZnWUdk7aQ/s400/102510_Jumbo_Seafood_Group_Shot.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Another group bonding experience took place when we traveled to Singapore's Geylang district to try the ultra-pungent durian. Much props to Nick (below) and Kim who braved the smell to give it a taste, even if they didn't become fans of the "King of Fruits" afterward, like I did.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TOMM7KHTtFI/AAAAAAAACTs/AZJE19RpBrs/s1600/102810_Geylang_Durian+%25287%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" px="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TOMM7KHTtFI/AAAAAAAACTs/AZJE19RpBrs/s400/102810_Geylang_Durian+%25287%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Taking care of us throughout our trip was our guide, Toon Hee, who also happens to be a busker on Orchard Road in Singapore. His speciality? Juggling. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TOMNAPrUV6I/AAAAAAAACT8/Ff3v5OKnO7A/s1600/110110_Toon_Hee_at_Orchard_Road.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" px="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TOMNAPrUV6I/AAAAAAAACT8/Ff3v5OKnO7A/s400/110110_Toon_Hee_at_Orchard_Road.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Sometimes, just the smallest encounter can leave a big impression, too. Like when this little boy ran up to me as soon as I sat down to eat lunch one day in Kampong Glam, in Singapore. I think he might've been enamored with my food or my camera but, either way, my unexpected dining companion didn't leave my side until his parents dragged him home.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TOMM-Vl8QqI/AAAAAAAACT4/D_UwUkrLxX0/s1600/103110_Minang+%25284%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" px="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TOMM-Vl8QqI/AAAAAAAACT4/D_UwUkrLxX0/s640/103110_Minang+%25284%2529.JPG" width="425" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I've said it <a href="http://passportconfessional.blogspot.com/2010/05/perfectly-pura-vida-part-2.html">before</a> and I'll say it again: dancing kids are adorable. These kids in Melaka, Malaysia, were performing for the Deepavali holiday at a local mall. So cute, aren't they?</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TOMNGeCvDTI/AAAAAAAACUM/bM8pteFG7lE/s1600/110510_Melaka+%25285%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" px="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TOMNGeCvDTI/AAAAAAAACUM/bM8pteFG7lE/s400/110510_Melaka+%25285%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">What's even better than dancing kids? It might be senior citizens who like to rock out, like this man who literally stole the show at the Chinatown Night Market in Melaka. True rock star status, I tell you.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TOMNJjBEBUI/AAAAAAAACUU/DHubSEV_c6g/s1600/110510_Melaka_Chinatown_Night_Market+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" px="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TOMNJjBEBUI/AAAAAAAACUU/DHubSEV_c6g/s400/110510_Melaka_Chinatown_Night_Market+%25283%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">No matter where you go, nothing compares to reconnecting with family and friends that you haven't seen in quite some time. Seeing my cousin Christina again, following her whirlwind travels around the globe for English First's <a href="http://study.englishfirst.com/MarcoPolo/index.html">Marco Polo Project</a>, was so much fun. I'd forgotten how much I missed traveling with her ...</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TOMNEhbygGI/AAAAAAAACUE/wTdSi379FFA/s1600/110310_Melaka+%252810%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" px="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TOMNEhbygGI/AAAAAAAACUE/wTdSi379FFA/s400/110310_Melaka+%252810%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">... and with her boyfriend, Coco. Together, the three of us basically ate a lot—and often.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TN4r3JTaZUI/AAAAAAAACGY/4GF2s8nclp8/s1600/103110_Jumbo_Seafood_with_Chris_and_Coco+%25286%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" px="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TN4r3JTaZUI/AAAAAAAACGY/4GF2s8nclp8/s400/103110_Jumbo_Seafood_with_Chris_and_Coco+%25286%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TN4sXhJcvjI/AAAAAAAACH4/1tkiDDDREhc/s1600/110210_Best_Fries_Forever+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" px="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TN4sXhJcvjI/AAAAAAAACH4/1tkiDDDREhc/s400/110210_Best_Fries_Forever+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">We even got to meet the chef who prepared an elaborate, five-course dinner for us at Suntec Singapore's <a href="http://www.suntecsingapore.com/restaurant/prp.htm">Pearl River Palace</a> restaurant. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjqP3A6SlCB0YbYV4pERoU3u9DDYBDFgbrJ23qqkD21ldEnWp_A2QL7mDb5-V0rKhwGXv3-g-8KfbBkVF2dAg6Lhy2V7FXb_BurB-wWHPdA62iJZHUsczH7rpE26W_vnMqUSprmUCEB5k/s1600/110210_Suntec_Pearl_River_Palace_Dinner.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjqP3A6SlCB0YbYV4pERoU3u9DDYBDFgbrJ23qqkD21ldEnWp_A2QL7mDb5-V0rKhwGXv3-g-8KfbBkVF2dAg6Lhy2V7FXb_BurB-wWHPdA62iJZHUsczH7rpE26W_vnMqUSprmUCEB5k/s400/110210_Suntec_Pearl_River_Palace_Dinner.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">While in Melaka, we literally stumbled onto <a href="http://www.travel.to/villasentosa">Villa Sentosa</a> during a long walk. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Abdul Rahim Haji Hashim (below left), the owner of the house, was nice enough to give us a tour, and to analyze my handwriting (and personality) in the process. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLlmiQ-j-Aumwrtb3f76jCq_vs1depB-CDwiEn7Dd7pzDv1X9jn08pnDOk7SoKMLBKa1dbAWtAI-2KxGe3YAfd_z-v2AFnwfHghkn5UPQ1ijGfWiGcM8xzyC-Ur32PaWqMqeclYopN4h4/s1600/110610_Villa_Sentosa+%252811%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLlmiQ-j-Aumwrtb3f76jCq_vs1depB-CDwiEn7Dd7pzDv1X9jn08pnDOk7SoKMLBKa1dbAWtAI-2KxGe3YAfd_z-v2AFnwfHghkn5UPQ1ijGfWiGcM8xzyC-Ur32PaWqMqeclYopN4h4/s400/110610_Villa_Sentosa+%252811%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I've also realized that, whether or not you travel with family, you eventually learn to make your own along the way. At least that's how I felt with Christina and Coco's dear friends, Li Sun and Christophe and their daughter, Sahra, at their <a href="http://www.melakaguesthouse.com/">Old Town Guesthouse</a> in Melaka. They were so kind, and so welcoming, that I truly felt at home. And isn't that exactly the kind of hospitality you hope to find when you're so far from home? </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TOMNHzfFdBI/AAAAAAAACUQ/k74Zt1d3a1w/s1600/110510_Melaka_Chinatown_Night_Market_Dinner+%25287%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" px="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O8giQlzAuF8/TOMNHzfFdBI/AAAAAAAACUQ/k74Zt1d3a1w/s400/110510_Melaka_Chinatown_Night_Market_Dinner+%25287%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUCCY_UAWjeldBLTIKg1BXcqL7JFefg0D6yRXHnGZ8IMxwMj4-054eyxI1iulWQpuICiRb24wDoO5q9mf6eij3UONSUrZ1M9JJOlLVW9Rc-XatGFpTAgwL6gzGR8Hse9CLEynE_RK2x5g/s1600/110710_Sweets_for_Breakfast.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUCCY_UAWjeldBLTIKg1BXcqL7JFefg0D6yRXHnGZ8IMxwMj4-054eyxI1iulWQpuICiRb24wDoO5q9mf6eij3UONSUrZ1M9JJOlLVW9Rc-XatGFpTAgwL6gzGR8Hse9CLEynE_RK2x5g/s400/110710_Sweets_for_Breakfast.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Deanna Tinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01104621272567922863noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2027937167602714382.post-45189643934665029352010-11-09T21:45:00.000-08:002010-11-15T17:06:10.915-08:00A Wonderful Town<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">As much as I travel to seek out new places and to try new things, there are a few spots that I’ll gladly return to time and again. <a href="http://www.iloveny.com/">New York City</a> is just that place.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Just the other day, a business acquaintance told me she was headed to New York, asked me if I’d been before, and if I had any suggestions for what to see and do. I spent the next 45 minutes, over an endless <a href="http://www.fairmont.com/singapore/GuestServices/Restaurants/Prego.htm">hotel breakfast buffet</a> of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nasi_lemak">nasi lemak</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaya_toast">kaya toast</a>, describing in detail all the things I loved about New York. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">For one thing, the food’s amazing—no argument there. Secondly, some of my closest friends are there and, thirdly, the city never fails to surprise me with something new and different.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY0TtWDrRcRCwurDX8mNcVWEJG7-r0eZcRYOaoecGWiPDyBgWRVvx2emW8e64R5rJ8ORETDuTARUyXFmQRG-dL53DAHKKIfnnOIeAXSdBr3jF2T7UbC8fjmAtU7Q3Ig_SztL-MfImJ4Lc/s1600/091110_Leslie_and_I_at_The_Frying_Pan+%2528c%2529+2010+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY0TtWDrRcRCwurDX8mNcVWEJG7-r0eZcRYOaoecGWiPDyBgWRVvx2emW8e64R5rJ8ORETDuTARUyXFmQRG-dL53DAHKKIfnnOIeAXSdBr3jF2T7UbC8fjmAtU7Q3Ig_SztL-MfImJ4Lc/s200/091110_Leslie_and_I_at_The_Frying_Pan+%2528c%2529+2010+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: xx-small;">Leslie and I take in The Frying Pan.</span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Take my most recent trip this past September: As much as I felt at home strolling through the East Village or visiting my favorite museums, I still found myself feeling like a first-time visitor when I discovered new spots and sights. Thanks, in large part, to the suggestions of my dear friend (and converted New Yorker/devoted <a href="http://utterlysmitten.wordpress.com/">blogger</a>) Leslie, I stumbled onto two new favorites: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Taking </strong><a href="http://www.thehighline.org/"><strong>The High Line </strong></a></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
On a long walk from my <a href="http://www.gansevoortpark.com/">hotel</a> on 29th and Park Avenue to the Meatpacking District, I took some time to explore The High Line. At first, when my friend Leslie described it, I had no idea what to really expect from it—a formerly derelict railroad track with a park on it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Well, it is just that—and a lot more. I didn’t think I’d be totally bowled over by The High Line but I was. Maybe it was the perfect end-of-summer weather, or the fact that I was so exhausted and slightly dehydrated that The High Line seemed like some magical oasis in the middle of an urban jungle. Whatever the reason—I just loved it.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAXg5H_8wnbAyaIOQiJRx18uI4IYXcTbODv4fTsY6KJlsy6jZ9mTRw0qBEGeMiYmLF6ocIcAZRkPuhwbJ1Ik2Mkevobl9yOd90nlFjdZpav4C-CQsWf33Ea-j3sjOP6Ah49BiHKIvcSTg/s1600/090810_The_High_Line1_%2528c%2529+2010+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAXg5H_8wnbAyaIOQiJRx18uI4IYXcTbODv4fTsY6KJlsy6jZ9mTRw0qBEGeMiYmLF6ocIcAZRkPuhwbJ1Ik2Mkevobl9yOd90nlFjdZpav4C-CQsWf33Ea-j3sjOP6Ah49BiHKIvcSTg/s640/090810_The_High_Line1_%2528c%2529+2010+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="419" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;">I love that you can literally walk right under this building.</span></div></td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJxRaMufYBsoa7snH8y4ZGBfhlF5rzufsMHui8MqSsZJR1QOvQG9Y6-hmmh_TdfnP8Ln9Ory25o76SjrccMJJU_tGhD7MBZosiH034xiz1oWqa9-4KaYprautV8_O9ewxibwPQm-MeLlI/s1600/090810_The_High_Line2_%2528c%2529+2010+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJxRaMufYBsoa7snH8y4ZGBfhlF5rzufsMHui8MqSsZJR1QOvQG9Y6-hmmh_TdfnP8Ln9Ory25o76SjrccMJJU_tGhD7MBZosiH034xiz1oWqa9-4KaYprautV8_O9ewxibwPQm-MeLlI/s400/090810_The_High_Line2_%2528c%2529+2010+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgflKr9tDpdJkmRPkXtzQ9Ut-VIlyDE4Etph3DMwmfxKbmVb2d0ryBUkEGKyrsRObh_s5FXYcXMUsctPsAlMs3Ll3X4fzTrNYlbpU_4pokb6dLlPEfaluP7yqH6D_WzvvsnmhEIFpn4vSM/s1600/090810_The_High_Line3_%2528c%2529+2010+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgflKr9tDpdJkmRPkXtzQ9Ut-VIlyDE4Etph3DMwmfxKbmVb2d0ryBUkEGKyrsRObh_s5FXYcXMUsctPsAlMs3Ll3X4fzTrNYlbpU_4pokb6dLlPEfaluP7yqH6D_WzvvsnmhEIFpn4vSM/s400/090810_The_High_Line3_%2528c%2529+2010+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>If You Can’t Take the Heat, Head to </strong><a href="http://www.fryingpan.com/"><strong>The Frying Pan</strong></a><strong> </strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">A dingy, craggy, formerly sunken ship docked off Pier 66 Maritime near New York’s Chelsea Piers might not sound like the most appealing of venues, but the Lightship #115 Frying Pan more than makes up for its outward appearance with plenty of free-flowing draft beers, burgers and amazing sunsets.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">According to its website, the ship spent three years stuck at the bottom of the Chesapeake Bay before being restored in 1989. What’s even better is that the Frying Pan doesn’t even try to hide its previous rough-and-tumble history—it practically basks in it. Even the interior of the ship boasts barnacles, and musty, salt-tinged smells infuse every nook and cranny on the inside. I mean, who doesn’t love a dive bar that has literally taken a dive before? </span></div> <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO5DQLLHlPwZQ6nbUgY6i051R8PMnMiUvqehWJOTbweJJCP5JyNRVh1I90-XqKyXzMYAbNdGTFfvruDiGWpiQFybAnN25hiGX1_viNsp5F4RMxxi6LD5FOPzZRYYtdh4nWQA7DIcfz1nM/s1600/TheFryingPan+%2528c%2529+The+FryingPan+and+NYMag.com.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO5DQLLHlPwZQ6nbUgY6i051R8PMnMiUvqehWJOTbweJJCP5JyNRVh1I90-XqKyXzMYAbNdGTFfvruDiGWpiQFybAnN25hiGX1_viNsp5F4RMxxi6LD5FOPzZRYYtdh4nWQA7DIcfz1nM/s320/TheFryingPan+%2528c%2529+The+FryingPan+and+NYMag.com.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;">A really outdated photo of The Frying Pan, but I think it (sorta) captures it charm. Guess you just have to see it for yourself. // (c) The Frying Pan/NYMag.com</span></div></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Now, that’s my kind of bar—and my kind of New York.</span> <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">What’s yours?</span>Deanna Tinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01104621272567922863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2027937167602714382.post-30554684185732233542010-09-22T14:49:00.000-07:002010-09-22T14:49:30.878-07:00Comfort Food (& Wine)<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">While there are many reasons—and passions—for traveling, I think I’ve finally realized what my top motivator is: the food. No matter where you go, the food you smell, hear, taste, see and eat is one of the first things you either (1) love or (2) love to avoid. I almost always fall into group number one … well almost. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">One of my most embarrassing travel food memories involves the notoriously <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stinky_tofu">stinky Chinese tofu</a>. Although I’d eaten it before back home, I never quite realized just how pungent its stench was until I went to Shanghai. Rounding a corner in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuyuan_Garden">Yuyuan Gardens</a>, I took in a big whiff of the aforementioned tofu and immediately turned to my guide and asked, “Is there an open sewer nearby?”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“Uh, no,” he said. “It’s just the tofu. I thought you said you were Chinese.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Ouch. (But totally well deserved.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Anyway, aside from my occasional cultural cuisine gaffes, what I really love about learning about new foods when I travel is how food and all of its accompanying rituals reveal a place and a culture to you so instantaneously. From the utensils that you use to pick it up to the company you keep when eating it, food, to me, is the ultimate—and universal—common denominator.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Another great thing about food is its ability to, quite literally, bring people together. And, in the process of doing that, it also helps you get over even some of the roughest of times, no matter where you are. That was that case for me when my friends and I decided to spend part of our Labor Day weekend at the inaugural <a href="http://events.latimes.com/foodandwine/">L.A. Times Food & Wine Festival</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">One of my friends was initially on the fence about going. Too much hot weather and too many people, she thought. In retrospect, yes, it was pretty toasty—so much so that I bailed on my friend Justina during a “<a href="http://www.bravotv.com/top-chef">Top Chef</a>” panel discussion in order to satiate my hunger and fend off an impending heat stroke. My self-prescribed cure? Red velvet chocolate chip pancake bites from <a href="http://buttermilktruck.com/">The Buttermilk Truck</a>. (Sorry, Justina!) And yes, there were lots of people—the event sold out.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">But even with the crowds and the heat, I’m so glad that we all went and truly relished our holiday—and all those thousands of calories, too. A part of me sort of wishes that I were exaggerating the total calorie counts, but I’m not (trust me, I have three other witnesses/accomplices to back me up). The other part, well, it doesn’t regret anything in the least bit. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Nevertheless, here are just a few of my favorite items from our veritable smorgasbord …</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">In the time that it took us to wait for our tacos and basil-mint lemonade from the <a href="http://nomnomtruck.com/">Nom Nom Truck</a>, we also sampled ice cream (strawberry buttermilk and salted caramel flavors), seafood gumbo from <a href="http://www.ragincajun.com/">Ragin' Cajun</a> and <a href="http://www.wahoos.com/">Wahoo’s</a> tacos, and even tried to win a free T-shirt from a bean bag toss (only Justina succeeded). Yeah, we tend to roll like that.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsjIGD2neF0_4ROVTTRoK71_Bx0BBeCJupddIwJr9_KoqF_StN5LcqmguCGFXcV2_e8A2eMLXYxiTHe_7DJBcOcn4FS4eAercX1CwRyahs1zx4HefZDhsyy71EFwgHABAUCFgqNyP6Cu8/s1600/090510_Jen_Tricia_Nom_Nom_Truck+(c)+2010+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsjIGD2neF0_4ROVTTRoK71_Bx0BBeCJupddIwJr9_KoqF_StN5LcqmguCGFXcV2_e8A2eMLXYxiTHe_7DJBcOcn4FS4eAercX1CwRyahs1zx4HefZDhsyy71EFwgHABAUCFgqNyP6Cu8/s400/090510_Jen_Tricia_Nom_Nom_Truck+(c)+2010+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">What I loved most about the free samples of Greek yogurt were the cute bamboo dishes in which they were served.</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVRk2b9ywyoSQ19VUXeMucgybfakXDy6LFtitpC-fdzF13klbRl6PTAtODdPT6sQLSEiMyalr57qnBBGaSfAxzGwg7qKoXTwjXbO3QMVjcsPJKFfvvG-XX_dnDxyfPcUu8dWDPji0Cr4c/s1600/090510_Greek_Yogurt_(c)+2010+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVRk2b9ywyoSQ19VUXeMucgybfakXDy6LFtitpC-fdzF13klbRl6PTAtODdPT6sQLSEiMyalr57qnBBGaSfAxzGwg7qKoXTwjXbO3QMVjcsPJKFfvvG-XX_dnDxyfPcUu8dWDPji0Cr4c/s400/090510_Greek_Yogurt_(c)+2010+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Although I ate tons of <a href="http://kyochon.com/2009usa/index.asp">KyoChon Chicken</a> in Seoul last winter, that didn’t stop me from partaking in more of it here …</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_qLmw58QdC4uvSz3WLqNxV9N-XviItyLHqGWR4l6AnzUdux5Z2Zl2aqnZJHcTGDC3qe8788FTgIJGgTTK2Wowk8IyyXRToqD3BicGkDClUUDhvM9vYT3vbkZPTJYpy0rtKUIvN5uKfWw/s1600/090510_KyoChon_Chicken+(c)+2010+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_qLmw58QdC4uvSz3WLqNxV9N-XviItyLHqGWR4l6AnzUdux5Z2Zl2aqnZJHcTGDC3qe8788FTgIJGgTTK2Wowk8IyyXRToqD3BicGkDClUUDhvM9vYT3vbkZPTJYpy0rtKUIvN5uKfWw/s400/090510_KyoChon_Chicken+(c)+2010+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">… Or from taking a spin on its makeshift wheel of fortune. Hey, I got a free tissue box and tape flags from it so please, don’t judge.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhufgl9Rhh7Uf6PSo8Uv4zAGAX3DiaOyZ-L0CgSBb0S_L8efuvQGTi6Py-Pr3_bWo175pMcsfss4WOdMww9TO8zh6k70SF3rUaGnwXpxJ04CdLbsmVIFVkjCYfqLaO6t2xXPuzfy5ogQh8/s1600/090510_KyoChon_Wheel_Game+(c)+2010+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhufgl9Rhh7Uf6PSo8Uv4zAGAX3DiaOyZ-L0CgSBb0S_L8efuvQGTi6Py-Pr3_bWo175pMcsfss4WOdMww9TO8zh6k70SF3rUaGnwXpxJ04CdLbsmVIFVkjCYfqLaO6t2xXPuzfy5ogQh8/s400/090510_KyoChon_Wheel_Game+(c)+2010+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">A savory duck slider from <a href="http://www.campanilerestaurant.com/">Campanile</a> was filling.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTpgJuZ12QWRxfV6pK9sUqOHmCI1-v4i8T1cwrfubTP0ugZxTKBzg9yVFdLtYry3gNsMadKOBVXsxOo5bmdsPRBC8waLYDntHDHLYpSRe9gMM3EeIYAzAWfQtD103qC5p8tuf8A4ZElWw/s1600/090510_Campanile_Duck_Slider+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTpgJuZ12QWRxfV6pK9sUqOHmCI1-v4i8T1cwrfubTP0ugZxTKBzg9yVFdLtYry3gNsMadKOBVXsxOo5bmdsPRBC8waLYDntHDHLYpSRe9gMM3EeIYAzAWfQtD103qC5p8tuf8A4ZElWw/s400/090510_Campanile_Duck_Slider+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">As was the dosa (a South Indian crepe-like sandwich) from <a href="http://www.dosatruck.com/">DosaTruck</a> that Jen and I shared. Her portion was sweet potatoes; mine was curried potatoes.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZjxMpWLWiEJ4e-AeZm3clRqRFsDg61o1YKA6NQ5rB0cPngvIRgQ5BEk1WGGq1BRNw60WQS9vWmyuArb5Us06ZjVo9-oH_yJ9f-mvptA2gYIvjKMX1hlddAy_Ge3Gvueane8VUi5HmWrc/s1600/090510_Jen_Dosa_Truck+(c)+2010+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZjxMpWLWiEJ4e-AeZm3clRqRFsDg61o1YKA6NQ5rB0cPngvIRgQ5BEk1WGGq1BRNw60WQS9vWmyuArb5Us06ZjVo9-oH_yJ9f-mvptA2gYIvjKMX1hlddAy_Ge3Gvueane8VUi5HmWrc/s400/090510_Jen_Dosa_Truck+(c)+2010+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I discovered a new multitasking talent: balancing brownie bites and wine in the same hand.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMfKZfqYCF7BhYHG75GCezXSdN4NsWoWmUS6VI9QcWIh9yFkNXCor3BK6XppeVBvTNnFSYhnbKjK0gEJZZYCE2H7dhUpW61RQrZ8Vfe__WNlYOrNU1qbZt444XN7FKit5kUtEs4ZTjVX8/s1600/090510_Brownie_Bite_with_Wine+(c)+2010+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMfKZfqYCF7BhYHG75GCezXSdN4NsWoWmUS6VI9QcWIh9yFkNXCor3BK6XppeVBvTNnFSYhnbKjK0gEJZZYCE2H7dhUpW61RQrZ8Vfe__WNlYOrNU1qbZt444XN7FKit5kUtEs4ZTjVX8/s400/090510_Brownie_Bite_with_Wine+(c)+2010+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I also rediscovered one of my favorite donut varieties: the Italian <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeppole">zeppole</a>, from <a href="http://rosasbellacucina.com/">Rosa's Bella Cucina</a>. So did my friend Tricia.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj76vO5a7nWoa7h_n-ggIhQ_qecnQ7ClJ-_z6MYRoeD4Nawyg7JiFB6CvBT0o_h9fB9_IddAnfPPFcRsaUZeHiLKPWchnJOWaEAfAYDyFT0EmZr3k3VuTOQFvXGHg6__ca80KuLtx2PHtw/s1600/090510_Zeppole+(c)+2010+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj76vO5a7nWoa7h_n-ggIhQ_qecnQ7ClJ-_z6MYRoeD4Nawyg7JiFB6CvBT0o_h9fB9_IddAnfPPFcRsaUZeHiLKPWchnJOWaEAfAYDyFT0EmZr3k3VuTOQFvXGHg6__ca80KuLtx2PHtw/s400/090510_Zeppole+(c)+2010+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And, luckily, my friends finally got to taste the red velvet chocolate chip pancake bites at the end of the festival.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Hrnos_4d_3Qcu2pYv6qFiv23p_xzmDlSY8GmfGfwsGJXZk8tVxzLXyy5zzh1N8s08pxaai1FKqAoutGBJIyfxJtFgsHC_A6XvgtaSSlvBRFp5BjHhiQyRRwo58tSJhTaqHUvGP2KEts/s1600/090510_Buttermilk_Truck_Red_Velvet_Pancake_Bites+(c)+2010+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Hrnos_4d_3Qcu2pYv6qFiv23p_xzmDlSY8GmfGfwsGJXZk8tVxzLXyy5zzh1N8s08pxaai1FKqAoutGBJIyfxJtFgsHC_A6XvgtaSSlvBRFp5BjHhiQyRRwo58tSJhTaqHUvGP2KEts/s400/090510_Buttermilk_Truck_Red_Velvet_Pancake_Bites+(c)+2010+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Although I ate—and drank—exceedingly well that day, what I’ll savor most was being able to spend that time—and all of those meals—with my friends. That entire day, for me, was the absolute best way to indulge in some much-needed comfort food (and wine). </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjnvtl9PhatqPuD-2oU-C7TXYX6pUVr20xM_EPpA6wW6Byh2Sdfu-jk9w2ARhp02EXQgrQiZb1SEDtfr-Hh-zXUoWuw6C3SX8FQjK7_9ogkOOGmhQzWnUikPqxe6ZWGMmZcXjhNl0b6Z4/s1600/090510_NYC_Street_Justina_Jen_Tricia+(c)+2010+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjnvtl9PhatqPuD-2oU-C7TXYX6pUVr20xM_EPpA6wW6Byh2Sdfu-jk9w2ARhp02EXQgrQiZb1SEDtfr-Hh-zXUoWuw6C3SX8FQjK7_9ogkOOGmhQzWnUikPqxe6ZWGMmZcXjhNl0b6Z4/s400/090510_NYC_Street_Justina_Jen_Tricia+(c)+2010+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Those kinds of experiences and memories just can’t be bought, and there aren’t any recipes for crafting them together. It’s a little bit like when you travel, I suppose—there’s no magic formula for putting together the perfect trip or experience, no matter how far—or close—you go. But here’s a little tip: a heaping helping of good food never hurts. </span>Deanna Tinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01104621272567922863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2027937167602714382.post-19503785353731138222010-08-10T22:12:00.000-07:002010-08-10T22:12:09.634-07:00Travel With a Passion<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">If you really love to travel, you have to have a passion either for it, or behind it. Being on the road or in the air on a constant basis can be tough—umm, just ask <a href="http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2010/08/jetblue_flight_attendant_grabb.html">Steven Slater</a>, my new hero. (BTW, people who stand up out of their seats right after the plane lands are as contemptible as people who constantly kick the chair in front of them, and people who don’t understand the concept of personal space—ewww. Feel free to share some of your top travel annoyances, too.) </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Anyway, that’s why I really admire people who pursue travel, even for the most obscure of reasons or passions, simply because (a) they love to travel or (b) they want to do something with their travels. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Doing something doesn’t have to necessarily be something like stopping world hunger and finding a way to bring peace to the Middle East—although those two passions would definitely bump up your chances of winning a Nobel Peace Prize. You could be like the guy who travels around the world, just so he can say he’s eaten at every McDonald’s on the planet. (On second thought, maybe I’ll take that one back since that’s actually a little sad). </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Or you could be like <a href="http://www.jeffdeck.com/">Jeff Deck</a> and <a href="http://www.benjamindherson.com/">Benjamin D. Herson</a>. They took their love of proper English grammar, punctuation and style to the streets—literally—traveling cross-country in an attempt to correct misspellings, typos and bad subject-verb agreement. Eventually, of course, they turned this into a <a href="http://greattypohunt.com/">book</a>, <i>The Great Typo Hunt</i>. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqxRKRjnjGTRBJwvxXQbTVnTujDaugemqs6n8p-E1_joEEbETNj7RbYuF6yP0F0Me5NGkNKDHxDxQ_eVfK2vMWxzeaFR8t3KE5WfqSFdAeyculgXPfuZZXmDZCAnqWcE3bOhmQ2h5LXNU/s1600/benjamin_herson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqxRKRjnjGTRBJwvxXQbTVnTujDaugemqs6n8p-E1_joEEbETNj7RbYuF6yP0F0Me5NGkNKDHxDxQ_eVfK2vMWxzeaFR8t3KE5WfqSFdAeyculgXPfuZZXmDZCAnqWcE3bOhmQ2h5LXNU/s400/benjamin_herson.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">When I found out about their endeavor earlier today, I had the following immediate thoughts: (1) Good lord, there <i>really</i> are other people out there who are as obsessed with good grammar and style as I am, people who probably still have tattered copies of <i><a href="http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Elements-of-Style/William-Strunk/e/9780486447988/?itm=2&USRI=the+elements+of+style+original+edition">The Elements of Style</a> </i>on their bookshelves and must always repress their urges to correct other people’s bad writing and/or speech; (2) I’m not alone!; (3) Was the use of “its” vs. “it’s” the most common error that they encountered on their travels?; and (4) Geez, why didn’t I think of this? (Photo (c) Benjamin D. Herson)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">In thinking about my own reasons or passions for travel, however, I was sort of at a loss. I couldn’t identify one single thing about travel that I loved most, or one single motive for traveling that I held near and dear. After sorting through all of those reasons, however, I think I came up with a common denominator, of sorts: I travel because I want to learn. That, and eat—really well.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">It’s one thing to open up a book and read about something. By the end of it, you might be knowledgeable enough about the subject to win on “Jeopardy!” but, the truth is, you don’t really know it firsthand. Even though some of the personal experiences that you get from traveling might be universally shared—who can forget the first time they see the Eiffel Tower or the first time they ever boarded a plane, for example?</span><span style="font-size: small;">—</span><span style="font-size: small;">your individual experience of that travel is always different—it’s always your own. And what’s more, you always learn something from it. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">So, for whatever reasons you may travel, whether for work or leisure, or because of a highly developed intolerance for misspellings or an insatiable hunger for Big Macs, keep on doing it. </span></div>Deanna Tinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01104621272567922863noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2027937167602714382.post-87780092145099607362010-07-22T23:37:00.000-07:002010-07-22T23:38:10.739-07:00Maple. Bacon. Donut.<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">If you were to ask me what my most memorable—and delicious—part of last weekend was, it would be this:</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcJZG-9M9PQAqyWX8CAHNX3uIM9_E7Al3Yi3aPwMs_uUu41R6ZUlMMcFtGDOdjB6huIl4Ehsth7IS-83HPgtSj-r3kb72yItD_rnnbKMwst5FfQ2b9VKYx1809XiP2WjNHcAsFlSCybzc/s1600/071710_LA_Nickel_Diner_Maple_Bacon_Donut+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcJZG-9M9PQAqyWX8CAHNX3uIM9_E7Al3Yi3aPwMs_uUu41R6ZUlMMcFtGDOdjB6huIl4Ehsth7IS-83HPgtSj-r3kb72yItD_rnnbKMwst5FfQ2b9VKYx1809XiP2WjNHcAsFlSCybzc/s400/071710_LA_Nickel_Diner_Maple_Bacon_Donut+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Yes, friends, a <a href="http://www.nickeldiner.com/">maple bacon donut</a>: a deep-fried piece of buttery dough, topped with a glaze of sweet maple frosting and savory, hickory-smoked bacon bits. It was, in a word, heavenly.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Second to that might be what I ate after consuming the aforementioned donut:</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQbCrBfkLUKd1Hptz7FpNAN5eO_l1hIFiLWC7jRut8bBuzNXdLQd_dcnjWRp7DRYWTLfwHTkkqT-LAUA2Kz1yxTgfY9zqkxlnYnTqthDPsKIeHTeBS2mNcaMnY2coWusQHvlVrWNw5uxk/s1600/071710_LA_Nickel_Diner_Stuffed_Avocado_Salad+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQbCrBfkLUKd1Hptz7FpNAN5eO_l1hIFiLWC7jRut8bBuzNXdLQd_dcnjWRp7DRYWTLfwHTkkqT-LAUA2Kz1yxTgfY9zqkxlnYnTqthDPsKIeHTeBS2mNcaMnY2coWusQHvlVrWNw5uxk/s400/071710_LA_Nickel_Diner_Stuffed_Avocado_Salad+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">A whole avocado, stuffed with an old-fashioned salad of chicken, pickled pink onions, apples and walnuts.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Last weekend, I played tourist (and gastronome) yet again in my own hometown. Only this time, it was in <a href="http://discoverlosangeles.com/guides/neighborhoods/downtown/">downtown L.A</a>. </span><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">If you’re a native Angeleno like I am, or have lived here for at least 20 years or more, you probably remember downtown as I do: as a run-down metropolis of seedy parking lots and old brick buildings with crumbling facades, as well as home to one of the worst freeway interchanges in the entire U.S. (well, in my opinion, anyway). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Until a few years ago, downtown wasn’t much of a destination at all for tourists—or locals for that matter. It was where you went strictly to work, to have <a href="http://www.empresspavilion.com/">dim sum</a> or <a href="http://www.daikoku-ten.com/">ramen</a> en route to a <a href="http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=la">Dodgers</a> game, to give into a craving for <a href="http://www.philippes.com/">Philippe’s</a> French-Dip sandwiches, or to score some authentic faux-designer duds (thank you, <a href="http://www.thesanteealley.com/">Santee Alley</a>).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Now, however, a lot of things have changed. People actually live in downtown again—and in fancy, overpriced <a href="http://www.loftlivingla.com/">lofts</a>. There’s a <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/ralphs-los-angeles-24">grocery store</a>. There are <a href="http://www.barkavela.com/">dogs</a>. There are babies in strollers. There are <a href="http://www.edisondowntown.com/">beautiful bars</a> and <a href="http://www.ludolefebvre.com/ludobites/gram-papas">eclectic restaurants</a>. There is <a href="http://www.downtownartwalk.org/">art</a>. And there are maple bacon donuts.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">What brought me downtown (aside from the donuts from the <a href="http://www.nickeldiner.com/">Nickel Diner</a>) were the two newest hotels to open there: The <a href="http://www.lalivemarriott.com/">JW Marriott Los Angeles at L.A. Live</a> and<a href="http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/LosAngeles/Default.htm"> The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles</a>. It was the first time I had seen them since the opening of the JW Marriott way back in March. Before that, I toured the hotels on a hard hat tour, in preparation for a <a href="http://www.travelagewest.com/namer/article_ektid37160.aspx">cover story</a> that I wrote last year for work. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">While I’ll save my formal review of the hotels for work, I’ll say this: Both properties—which happen to share the same building—are worth checking out, especially if you happen to be headed to the <a href="http://www.staplescenter.com/">Staples Center</a> or the <a href="http://www.nokiatheatrelalive.com/">Nokia Theatre</a> or anywhere connected to <a href="http://www.lalive.com/">L.A. Live</a>. And, for my <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macaron">French macaron</a>-loving friend, Tracy: The macarons in The Ritz-Carlton’s Club Lounge—offered in strawberry, lemon and pistachio flavors—are really addictive. (I regret not taking some home for you to try.) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And even though I was only a few miles away from home, the weekend still felt like a mini break—and that of the best variety: one filled with good food, good drinks, good views and a good friend.</span>Deanna Tinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01104621272567922863noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2027937167602714382.post-66632441055334511202010-06-27T13:44:00.000-07:002010-06-27T13:58:34.152-07:00To Market, To Market<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Nearly every Saturday—if I can actually manage to wake up in time—I make it a point to walk to my nearby <a href="http://www.ci.torrance.ca.us/Parks/6620.htm">farmers’ market</a>. My boyfriend and I lace up our shoes, grab Odie’s leash and head off toward the park for our weekly walk. It’s become one of my favorite rituals. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi93ANPngnLFQV444PQb_KTPAD8Lvk3lp2EXeYJxWGcLceHJh1bLnJoI7OfwyfHdx-ulCZzEXtLHwIrmp8y_SWN4OEE8-C9WAjkJJvI9zbR2bIqkRLy7gdQ4O-jMRMOeCvS4iDZUSV9Jko/s1600/100309_Odie+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi93ANPngnLFQV444PQb_KTPAD8Lvk3lp2EXeYJxWGcLceHJh1bLnJoI7OfwyfHdx-ulCZzEXtLHwIrmp8y_SWN4OEE8-C9WAjkJJvI9zbR2bIqkRLy7gdQ4O-jMRMOeCvS4iDZUSV9Jko/s200/100309_Odie+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Once we’re there, it’s hard for me to peel myself away from all of the stands and, well, mainly, the food. And as guilty as I feel for having Eliot and Odie wait for me outside the market (dogs aren’t allowed in the main shopping area), I can’t help but want to take my time—which, much to their chagrin, I often do. It gets even tougher when Odie looks like that (see above right). I love examining each and every vegetable in season, tasting the free fruit samples, gawking at all of the fresh flowers and deciding what to buy for our brunch, from pupusas and tamales to currywurst and chocolate croissants. (What can I say? It’s a pretty eclectic farmers’ market.)</span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It’s no different when I travel. If anything, my desire to visit local markets only grows—and not just because I love to shop and eat. Visiting the market really does give you a better understanding of the destination you’re in by introducing you to that culture, and in the best ways possible—through your senses. I’ll never forget that first whiff of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stinky_tofu">stinky tofu</a> that I mistook for open sewage in Shanghai. Or how Tokyo’s <a href="http://www.tsukiji-market.or.jp/tukiji_e.htm">Tsukiji Market</a> was the only place in Japan where people were actually sort of impolite, cursing under their breath at the ignorant and dumbfounded tourists (ahem, me) standing in their way of a much-needed sale. In <a href="http://www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/attractions/kln-jade-market.html">Hong Kong</a>, I was a total sucker for beautiful jade necklaces and silks that were cool to the touch—so much so that I nearly tipped the baggage weight limit on my way home. In Tel Aviv's <a href="http://travel.nytimes.com/travel/guides/middle-east/israel/tel-aviv/27506/carmel-market/shopping-detail.html">Carmel Market</a>, I was awestruck by the rich colors of so many different spice stands. And in <a href="http://www.travelagewest.com/hawaii/article_ektid41332.aspx">Honolulu</a>, I blissfully ate my way through the <a href="http://www.hfbf.org/farmersMarketKCC.shtml">Kapiolani Community College Farmers’ Market</a> which, <a href="http://www.starbulletin.com/business/20100407_Farmers_market_gets_more_exposure_on_blog.html">not so secretly</a>, is my favorite farmers’ market thus far.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">No matter where you travel to, there’s always something new to discover at the market and, with that, here are some of my favorite discoveries…</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I never knew squash blossoms could look so pretty until I saw them at the market in Amsterdam.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbE0dFNzQrNG34SdbvCkYjgfdtU-eCjNEYi2zr6OZgHpcUuKRjYnNlyRFpWFqo0ly1lLSU-ujfX8lM2uwFZ682LAI-3Ux69rnE4HdvU0xtOC6NDMBcSfk32EyKJFSOK8w2eoHHwM5OI1o/s1600/080609_Amsterdam_Squash+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbE0dFNzQrNG34SdbvCkYjgfdtU-eCjNEYi2zr6OZgHpcUuKRjYnNlyRFpWFqo0ly1lLSU-ujfX8lM2uwFZ682LAI-3Ux69rnE4HdvU0xtOC6NDMBcSfk32EyKJFSOK8w2eoHHwM5OI1o/s400/080609_Amsterdam_Squash+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Even the tiny little farmers’ market in Hoorn, the Netherlands, was bustling on an early Saturday morning.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoh4kwaq70h9PCD5x90uy3FEfKGYmA9kHhVtJPt33V9mY0zBzCx8Vt7v9LiE0xoBPg1YaySIQFoLlPFlHqvBwiFUpc0trJtSMZ9StqpMHk0GASjdf9XzhYih10L4pIutlBJtQWZ0w72JM/s1600/080709_Netherlands_Hoorn_Market+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoh4kwaq70h9PCD5x90uy3FEfKGYmA9kHhVtJPt33V9mY0zBzCx8Vt7v9LiE0xoBPg1YaySIQFoLlPFlHqvBwiFUpc0trJtSMZ9StqpMHk0GASjdf9XzhYih10L4pIutlBJtQWZ0w72JM/s400/080709_Netherlands_Hoorn_Market+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I seriously doubted whether or not this man would be able to fit into his mini mobile bakery.</span><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I loved how locals in Strasbourg, France, toted their dogs wherever they went, especially at the market…</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6eI9oC5kYZI4Ob4rD8qp4Vq4U23mSXk0Tv9pK48ZL8qjEM5LWVXu5PtA6oygXysgDQ7HPMvmC0cSn9KHTmzunN3XSStOlDwg3mbtvYNpfFAlavaBsqbNzK7R1t8nXpWRKX8TTYqYLaFU/s1600/081309_France_Strasbourg_Dog_at_Market+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6eI9oC5kYZI4Ob4rD8qp4Vq4U23mSXk0Tv9pK48ZL8qjEM5LWVXu5PtA6oygXysgDQ7HPMvmC0cSn9KHTmzunN3XSStOlDwg3mbtvYNpfFAlavaBsqbNzK7R1t8nXpWRKX8TTYqYLaFU/s400/081309_France_Strasbourg_Dog_at_Market+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And how you could even buy Asian specialties there, too, from beef and curry-filled samosas to…</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRdz93JBH2xOYDyl1achAY8DY_uUM-epbp5Fu2bdaID3jUZkSUE4yGWDBF7XDG5fhB5dPqj2m3AAhz6uJBjPRdElfvUXoWDebjokCOrecy8aVKKI9i1Ndvi_FvRSt2aci5mLHKcGbWUSU/s1600/081309_France_Strasbourg_Market_Asian_Food1+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRdz93JBH2xOYDyl1achAY8DY_uUM-epbp5Fu2bdaID3jUZkSUE4yGWDBF7XDG5fhB5dPqj2m3AAhz6uJBjPRdElfvUXoWDebjokCOrecy8aVKKI9i1Ndvi_FvRSt2aci5mLHKcGbWUSU/s400/081309_France_Strasbourg_Market_Asian_Food1+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">…Chicken egg rolls. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4-BeV2rSwCOCMvc_N-iQ8jCcTGmtooYs_UbW9a2KkMZzvceGTt5X4ryf6UdiARr0YDT81bzZxl56_9XsOwSbazPBV30hDgupNcAl3gYebi6Zfm9sKTetamnDjqFWWN4VTTrAsf5iVLcs/s1600/081309_France_Strasbourg_Market_Asian_Food2+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4-BeV2rSwCOCMvc_N-iQ8jCcTGmtooYs_UbW9a2KkMZzvceGTt5X4ryf6UdiARr0YDT81bzZxl56_9XsOwSbazPBV30hDgupNcAl3gYebi6Zfm9sKTetamnDjqFWWN4VTTrAsf5iVLcs/s400/081309_France_Strasbourg_Market_Asian_Food2+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Also, who doesn’t love a bouquet of fresh flowers?</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg75zy-PXAW_mzWRSFp4M9Ch2xHlAIHVOolnSzsz-F3_-A6DaLQM1RDaYIeE2rvY3GGtJJRMepidXfvkMl5rzrG_3zoQeZWEfQUBPGM1fcZzLaMlUDgUu0Mtb8DMMZGB5x5KXc4xBQNML0/s1600/081309_France_Strasbourg_Market_Flowers+(c)+Deanna+Ting+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg75zy-PXAW_mzWRSFp4M9Ch2xHlAIHVOolnSzsz-F3_-A6DaLQM1RDaYIeE2rvY3GGtJJRMepidXfvkMl5rzrG_3zoQeZWEfQUBPGM1fcZzLaMlUDgUu0Mtb8DMMZGB5x5KXc4xBQNML0/s640/081309_France_Strasbourg_Market_Flowers+(c)+Deanna+Ting+(2).JPG" width="480" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">In Tel Aviv, I was reminded that I was in the land of olives…</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH15CwHkXkl96hCzyNlB9ThyphenhyphendM0F-LxUqSvTZSASOVXaryAagF86qedviT0Swcj3yUG7QbFzKNWTEGqnbscxHSNoJ6rjMuF2WuTEpn3aRMV5sMm4HI8nM5bAm8vfeWdk1FX9EV4pyUK4E/s1600/091609_Israel_Tel_Aviv_Carmel_Market_Olives+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH15CwHkXkl96hCzyNlB9ThyphenhyphendM0F-LxUqSvTZSASOVXaryAagF86qedviT0Swcj3yUG7QbFzKNWTEGqnbscxHSNoJ6rjMuF2WuTEpn3aRMV5sMm4HI8nM5bAm8vfeWdk1FX9EV4pyUK4E/s640/091609_Israel_Tel_Aviv_Carmel_Market_Olives+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="427" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">…spices...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc2mlCzCWyR7BttEcE26ADZz-krtbzBRqYVCW-jyfjV5RRuYJFgIbTxuPtVb6b7FbvmtCqC6If8yHcZJWsQJqnOIbo62rcgtjH_8UFMNoyZnbQNPfhkZYMG_3ppnCGaXGIMaDvz-pGeIo/s1600/091609_Israel_Tel_Aviv_Market_Spices+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc2mlCzCWyR7BttEcE26ADZz-krtbzBRqYVCW-jyfjV5RRuYJFgIbTxuPtVb6b7FbvmtCqC6If8yHcZJWsQJqnOIbo62rcgtjH_8UFMNoyZnbQNPfhkZYMG_3ppnCGaXGIMaDvz-pGeIo/s400/091609_Israel_Tel_Aviv_Market_Spices+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">...and gummy candy—lots of gummy candy.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw7Q8saKGxCRfan61cx0VFGnzRLIDwaBn-Rs-Cl-SzMgEcje3P2X5GPiaQucdju-zogj_aBsF5Z5vXjIqRJA1_J-WquZ0gQtxVNtol0Hn1tGZawfhi2Sbspw5TrwHGkbfV7V_PG-PMoRI/s1600/091609_Tel_Aviv_Market_Gummy_Candy+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw7Q8saKGxCRfan61cx0VFGnzRLIDwaBn-Rs-Cl-SzMgEcje3P2X5GPiaQucdju-zogj_aBsF5Z5vXjIqRJA1_J-WquZ0gQtxVNtol0Hn1tGZawfhi2Sbspw5TrwHGkbfV7V_PG-PMoRI/s400/091609_Tel_Aviv_Market_Gummy_Candy+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I also realized I wasn’t the most inconspicuous of photographers.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6gkQot6ZagIccvWcaGEaOQ-RTBFnlP2RmHnpxmTmYiYBLs-NaravH6pLY3cRgR0OqSgou4jtUW_jU4zA2U4fRHPQeGzvA_SpqwGLI_ENxKKa-JBZUWNG7FTSWNEsfLoCSAuluHVgYYWA/s1600/091609_Israel_Tel_Aviv_Market_Vendor+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6gkQot6ZagIccvWcaGEaOQ-RTBFnlP2RmHnpxmTmYiYBLs-NaravH6pLY3cRgR0OqSgou4jtUW_jU4zA2U4fRHPQeGzvA_SpqwGLI_ENxKKa-JBZUWNG7FTSWNEsfLoCSAuluHVgYYWA/s400/091609_Israel_Tel_Aviv_Market_Vendor+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And I was perplexed by this silly and hideous-looking—yet intriguing—contraption: a visor with built-in shades that retract up and down. (Photo © Cindy Sosrotuomo)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzOU7q0Gt_SKHYZjw8FJetFt0W06wArWUhYm7KapsirnLAni4tNO_8Nol_GyGDLsqfqZDldiq4x4agygOhxbN2pd6YsfDzSEn-bYlLSDHQZprohYOQMkerrXiOcXXVOtl0XjIafaI89Rg/s1600/091609_Tel_Aviv_Market_(c)+Cindy+Sosrotuomo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzOU7q0Gt_SKHYZjw8FJetFt0W06wArWUhYm7KapsirnLAni4tNO_8Nol_GyGDLsqfqZDldiq4x4agygOhxbN2pd6YsfDzSEn-bYlLSDHQZprohYOQMkerrXiOcXXVOtl0XjIafaI89Rg/s400/091609_Tel_Aviv_Market_(c)+Cindy+Sosrotuomo.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Another realization: Infomercial sales strategies will work pretty much everywhere.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPoFdlcOLrKQyMdovCYNF4LeT_fto7yylmqHTg5O4eLYDRuFTGbtxA1e7jY-ISkgSaGkwOabA_LIagaZ7vsE1Av5o7euuA2i7oTDpMgiX4eQ2NR_qNm_1e8pzO9aQ8vzOu7ge7QD5coSg/s1600/091609_Tel_Aviv_Market_Infomercial+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPoFdlcOLrKQyMdovCYNF4LeT_fto7yylmqHTg5O4eLYDRuFTGbtxA1e7jY-ISkgSaGkwOabA_LIagaZ7vsE1Av5o7euuA2i7oTDpMgiX4eQ2NR_qNm_1e8pzO9aQ8vzOu7ge7QD5coSg/s400/091609_Tel_Aviv_Market_Infomercial+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Kyoto’s <a href="http://www.pref.kyoto.jp/visitkyoto/en/theme/amusement/downtown/nishiki/">Nishiki Market</a> is another favorite market: I loved seeing so many different types of vegetables and snacks on display…</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQVqpE0orIq2SDBsi0GmTJZPTJz1b8MCaRjYsEXd7u-NMkcXsXLlN_K1rV2BzK6pwoXWTPInDjqmlh_sVD19mYt28aAs2bv9-DkxbwAw8S5-pyYL7I2o1h-MKUcS8hG0dMyB4beU2C5mk/s1600/122009_Kyoto_Nishiki_Market_Food+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQVqpE0orIq2SDBsi0GmTJZPTJz1b8MCaRjYsEXd7u-NMkcXsXLlN_K1rV2BzK6pwoXWTPInDjqmlh_sVD19mYt28aAs2bv9-DkxbwAw8S5-pyYL7I2o1h-MKUcS8hG0dMyB4beU2C5mk/s400/122009_Kyoto_Nishiki_Market_Food+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Watching folks pounding fresh mochi…</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghTKNZmhpLHFUagGfUvqVBo7si-r16KD0TcWq8KNjzOKnTH3pf8ZGJTEqtr3Pl2Zcd2ii1zQA8D5AtFzAtI87aNplPt9TJb1eKkoSCGEx6mkKIfK3q5-cLhFmXilAaRe_R83ZnpI44JeE/s1600/122009_Kyoto_Nishiki_Market_Mochi_Pounding+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghTKNZmhpLHFUagGfUvqVBo7si-r16KD0TcWq8KNjzOKnTH3pf8ZGJTEqtr3Pl2Zcd2ii1zQA8D5AtFzAtI87aNplPt9TJb1eKkoSCGEx6mkKIfK3q5-cLhFmXilAaRe_R83ZnpI44JeE/s400/122009_Kyoto_Nishiki_Market_Mochi_Pounding+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">…and taking in the aroma of freshly roasted chestnuts.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtvuwciTrUEEsWkAXpkmqX7Rj5nZj5PjMjxQL4Vq6fo_W_hOPsCsTxWNjjiQrL4IXjWngR9EKfUDUorPc5tEBpyM2mcg1p6eMqf3ImMxE0h2h4Q6CmoMZV1Ydi_WljGAoP_WRsXxnOWVQ/s1600/122009_Kyoto_Nishiki_Market_Roasted_Chestnuts+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtvuwciTrUEEsWkAXpkmqX7Rj5nZj5PjMjxQL4Vq6fo_W_hOPsCsTxWNjjiQrL4IXjWngR9EKfUDUorPc5tEBpyM2mcg1p6eMqf3ImMxE0h2h4Q6CmoMZV1Ydi_WljGAoP_WRsXxnOWVQ/s400/122009_Kyoto_Nishiki_Market_Roasted_Chestnuts+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">However, I didn’t even want to guess what these might be, but I have my suspicions.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2fhZb3nkq3wUoAjTq6RBpsW1HwbXOiDfjRdn6ntWAoF8nkdcqA122L7pAZ6wfYvkO8J2lmb8yyCrjiIitmFus9MmvTrkqzr-iW6TRvZEId_ju8k849C6wEejhh1bN9u7UYPILkxdsHDE/s1600/122009_Kyoto_Nishiki_Market_Blowfish_Shirako+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2fhZb3nkq3wUoAjTq6RBpsW1HwbXOiDfjRdn6ntWAoF8nkdcqA122L7pAZ6wfYvkO8J2lmb8yyCrjiIitmFus9MmvTrkqzr-iW6TRvZEId_ju8k849C6wEejhh1bN9u7UYPILkxdsHDE/s400/122009_Kyoto_Nishiki_Market_Blowfish_Shirako+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Tokyo’s Tsukiji Market was overwhelming, but in a good way; I’ve never seen so much ahi before in my life.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsQdhTdM2H1uoOFf0bz0SD8fBDkGo3CcNfD4-WtLBzSSoJyzG3XKTlTkknxs7Mu5sDcfh2jrip-VZLWeVdiA0GZIVC0ERczCC5xtCSIaaGoAcQMiq9SOeXxi-UqYzOi8TN4zOoCCUCw84/s1600/122409_Tokyo_Tsukiji_Ahi+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsQdhTdM2H1uoOFf0bz0SD8fBDkGo3CcNfD4-WtLBzSSoJyzG3XKTlTkknxs7Mu5sDcfh2jrip-VZLWeVdiA0GZIVC0ERczCC5xtCSIaaGoAcQMiq9SOeXxi-UqYzOi8TN4zOoCCUCw84/s400/122409_Tokyo_Tsukiji_Ahi+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And although the tuna auction was closed to the public on the day that I went…</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdFEJFacUjazgQ2_PSwT2H7HnBFHQToFJJ4ilhTUy8cPe9pc5hJ8UT8_lkbGaAGamFbrfMJsstjtDpYwzeFwNG61EaxnjJsLfjXGM3j4ol_lce3_a7kFr9Ao4qR0FiyHqheeX5_Ma-YoY/s1600/122409_Tokyo_Tsukiji_Market_Tuna_Auction+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdFEJFacUjazgQ2_PSwT2H7HnBFHQToFJJ4ilhTUy8cPe9pc5hJ8UT8_lkbGaAGamFbrfMJsstjtDpYwzeFwNG61EaxnjJsLfjXGM3j4ol_lce3_a7kFr9Ao4qR0FiyHqheeX5_Ma-YoY/s400/122409_Tokyo_Tsukiji_Market_Tuna_Auction+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I still saw plenty of big tuna throughout the market.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEte7OfdS5FGe3lvciElyUZXE5jEAXsF88YIXz1p2rdwcikhLX-BxAMUXlVVbZ9XeSzrsyABOj6JD54GwLTslApH5jJs5sb0DZxfAEcH6I0rLTXBEioNuX1DmQx0MsCaUjtmbE6Pcxl8o/s1600/122409_Tokyo_Tsukiji_Market_Big_Tuna+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEte7OfdS5FGe3lvciElyUZXE5jEAXsF88YIXz1p2rdwcikhLX-BxAMUXlVVbZ9XeSzrsyABOj6JD54GwLTslApH5jJs5sb0DZxfAEcH6I0rLTXBEioNuX1DmQx0MsCaUjtmbE6Pcxl8o/s400/122409_Tokyo_Tsukiji_Market_Big_Tuna+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">But, if there’s anything I’ve realized about what I love most about markets, it’s not only discovering new things—but savoring them on the spot—just like my fellow travel writer, Margery, did when she two-fisted a fried-green tomato with a Portugese sausage in Honolulu. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPYN9bHNLeKi9j_ZOl-KxGF4jYpNWeE5xaU8L8WYnpucBMTSlSHrBhu88EF0f785aUw6zb6WnYl5rtJcwWOyGLWDBK4tPV3lEtFmLk1R7SICiOysFmLftS71xiodEhp4D9pccm7Sbu0pY/s1600/032010_Honolulu_KCC_Farmers_Market_Margery+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPYN9bHNLeKi9j_ZOl-KxGF4jYpNWeE5xaU8L8WYnpucBMTSlSHrBhu88EF0f785aUw6zb6WnYl5rtJcwWOyGLWDBK4tPV3lEtFmLk1R7SICiOysFmLftS71xiodEhp4D9pccm7Sbu0pY/s640/032010_Honolulu_KCC_Farmers_Market_Margery+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Now that’s a market experience with traveling for, don’t you think?</span>Deanna Tinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01104621272567922863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2027937167602714382.post-45880780815604085182010-06-15T21:20:00.000-07:002010-06-15T21:21:33.126-07:00Should I Stay or Should I Go?<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">These past few weeks I’ve had to wrestle with some tough decisions about where I should head to next. Normally, I don’t really hesitate to accept my next travel assignments. These last two potential trips, however, were tough ones to consider and I’m still wondering if I made the right decision. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguXqbLtkgjPr8ZQUjo2YsKUpyLA2LcrGjOzERNzN1Pg2ME_Wxh5khXz5lSDwajMSgy7ZhCDsG7erDC5mYQ2ULmWSKM4zFGBMyfYDjm6QTCHkxFw3lyn9orSC0q6LDtyc-Zaj8EuNAZ-V8/s1600/Machu_Picchu_(c)_NationalGeographic.com.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguXqbLtkgjPr8ZQUjo2YsKUpyLA2LcrGjOzERNzN1Pg2ME_Wxh5khXz5lSDwajMSgy7ZhCDsG7erDC5mYQ2ULmWSKM4zFGBMyfYDjm6QTCHkxFw3lyn9orSC0q6LDtyc-Zaj8EuNAZ-V8/s200/Machu_Picchu_(c)_NationalGeographic.com.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The first one: <a href="http://www.visitperu.com/">Peru</a>. I’ve always wanted to go to Peru. In fact, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machu_Picchu">Machu Picchu</a> is near the top of my list of sites I want to see before I leave this Earth (this topic will also most likely reappear in a future post, I’m sure). And the food: On my rare weekdays off (as my boyfriend can drudgingly attest to), I beg for us to eat at our favorite Peruvian restaurants (I have a total of three faves) just for their lunch specials. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lomo_saltado">Lomo saltado</a> is practically a staple of my diet. (Photo © NationalGeographic.com)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So, when I was invited to go on an all-expenses-paid trip to Lima, Peru, I didn’t hesitate to say yes, well, in my head. Unfortunately, though, due to reasons I won’t really get into, I’m not going. Oh well. Some day. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh-RylC2PpbqWiwkslv054y5TaFA7tXqTsVAeZF9htb956oqbf9z0fgV-8f_CB9SpRXxCNH70PsVwlggC-Ic6N_n3MHIQHqArUQkaDTONlec6Dah1_W-IbMC2PMlperJxfJGQPsSxoRiQ/s1600/Chiang_Mai_Elephants_(c)_Tourism_Authority_of_Thailand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh-RylC2PpbqWiwkslv054y5TaFA7tXqTsVAeZF9htb956oqbf9z0fgV-8f_CB9SpRXxCNH70PsVwlggC-Ic6N_n3MHIQHqArUQkaDTONlec6Dah1_W-IbMC2PMlperJxfJGQPsSxoRiQ/s320/Chiang_Mai_Elephants_(c)_Tourism_Authority_of_Thailand.jpg" width="216" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The second trip: <a href="http://www.tourismthailand.org/">Thailand</a>. Thailand, like Peru, is another one of those destinations that I’ve always longed to travel to. Nearly every travel writer I’ve met who’s been to Thailand before has sung its praises as a destination that can’t be missed. Oh, how I would love to hang out with elephants in <a href="http://www.thaifocus.com/elephant/">Chiang Mai</a>. Unfortunately, though, with the political violence that has been taking place in Thailand—especially in the capital city of Bangkok—I wasn’t so sure whether it would be safe—or prudent—for me to go. (Photo © Tourism Authority of Thailand)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I only had a single night to ponder my decision, so I asked those closest to me for their advice. While my family members didn’t explicitly say no, they didn’t exactly give the trip a resounding endorsement. Other travel industry professionals told me it’d be fine, and that things were totally back to normal. Still, I wasn’t quite sure what to decide.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Here, I thought, was a unique opportunity to actually see what Thailand is like, especially in the wake of what’s happened these past few months. If I went, I could really report on how the government’s current state of emergency is affecting tourism and overall daily life in the city—you know, the kind of stuff that a hard-hitting, in-the-know travel journalist ought to write about instead of fluffy spa day visits or overly opulent luxury hotel reviews (not that I'd turn those down anytime, however).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">After much mulling, though, and after talking it over with my editor-in-chief, we decided it was probably best for me not to go, at least for now. A future trip to Thailand might still be a possibility but just not right now.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I think that, if I’ve learned anything from this, it’s that with travel, as with most things, a lot of variables are simply out of your control. And, sometimes, you really have to think more about how your choices will affect the people who matter most to you than looking out for just yourself. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So, instead of packing my bags up and heading off this summer, I’ll most likely be staying at home this year. I’m a little bummed but I'm staying optimistic. Besides, the weather’s been pretty nice lately and well, I can’t wait for summer to officially arrive. So, until then, I’m content to stay. </span>Deanna Tinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01104621272567922863noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2027937167602714382.post-18860215020951040992010-06-07T20:42:00.000-07:002010-06-07T20:42:27.611-07:00Typical. Just Typical.<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">If you walk or drive around Costa Rica on an empty stomach, soon enough you’ll notice plenty of establishments with the catchphrase “La comida típica.” Translated loosely into English, this becomes “typical food.” </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The English translation doesn’t sound at all a bit sexy or unique. Worse, it doesn’t do justice to the types of flavors and techniques that exemplify Costa Rica’s traditional, homestyle cooking—never too spicy or hot but always multilayered with tastes that are both comforting and savory. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Here are just a few examples—both typical and some not-so-typical—that I loved from my trip last month:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Costa Rican <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamales">tamales</a> make for a satisfying desayuno (breakfast), opening up to reveal a carefully assembled package of plantains, ground cornmeal, a fried egg and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gallo_pinto">gallo pinto</a> (rice and beans).</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2-2ogQZGFofxwUcCPnOP4NaJ5i634dkvcg7YwYyF6ZA8wpqfskHZRMxrKal3zC7HEQer6RX2QaCmIUfVeFlUnIfhMQQtypwV9gSt2_202C5rS0LzYPu7f5KNEJ6wsMv6mhQNKf3M_QrE/s1600/051710_Perez_Zeledon_Tamale2+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2-2ogQZGFofxwUcCPnOP4NaJ5i634dkvcg7YwYyF6ZA8wpqfskHZRMxrKal3zC7HEQer6RX2QaCmIUfVeFlUnIfhMQQtypwV9gSt2_202C5rS0LzYPu7f5KNEJ6wsMv6mhQNKf3M_QrE/s400/051710_Perez_Zeledon_Tamale2+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">A typical casado (lunch) consists of meat, plantains, salad and rice, although this one’s missing the plantains.</span><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">At <a href="http://www.cct.or.cr/english/red_pequenas_reservas/cusingos.php">Los Cusingos Bird Sanctuary</a>, I got an introduction to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bactris_gasipaes">pejibayes</a>, a starch-like fruit that tasted like a slightly sweet potato, only a lot starchier.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU5IoZBfaYWzP6T91nC_LIxHQj4WOXiJaTs7bWvkaftLu9SAT7QQQX2LL96L8p-L1RaxjSIJt4I3re-K1TpcNBziGhE7gR6R9WSutAWl93utFu5C3iSnQacoW1oEKs7XlMek0xvFGL4HQ/s1600/051710_Los_Cusingos_Pejibaye2+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU5IoZBfaYWzP6T91nC_LIxHQj4WOXiJaTs7bWvkaftLu9SAT7QQQX2LL96L8p-L1RaxjSIJt4I3re-K1TpcNBziGhE7gR6R9WSutAWl93utFu5C3iSnQacoW1oEKs7XlMek0xvFGL4HQ/s400/051710_Los_Cusingos_Pejibaye2+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ-BEm9nhe0GDlR4SVYJ6drI6S9l0gxUPCdAQuk-NGkteFpLnZAcGY5OKiqEViH7nuGOlZtI57jSz51dTfo3uGSIILwpfkAndlUxasnA6H84nwZXI6azs4Vgxkxl4AWMswaCFjVUOiRSM/s1600/051710_Los_Cusingos_Pejibaye3+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ-BEm9nhe0GDlR4SVYJ6drI6S9l0gxUPCdAQuk-NGkteFpLnZAcGY5OKiqEViH7nuGOlZtI57jSz51dTfo3uGSIILwpfkAndlUxasnA6H84nwZXI6azs4Vgxkxl4AWMswaCFjVUOiRSM/s400/051710_Los_Cusingos_Pejibaye3+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYTt8BgLGeOG_CPQ1zyiPwRQOszAtEAeA5oJjFCjJGaNgSeX-bWes2cZo1hv_AVTjtYKBWgdLr_ZMUQqvnpTycDTkW3290jYdyjAHcw7UqQa_XtcMZGIjux8sj25L4E8ugYtMNKZEaMfw/s1600/051710_Los_Cusingos_Pejibaye4+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYTt8BgLGeOG_CPQ1zyiPwRQOszAtEAeA5oJjFCjJGaNgSeX-bWes2cZo1hv_AVTjtYKBWgdLr_ZMUQqvnpTycDTkW3290jYdyjAHcw7UqQa_XtcMZGIjux8sj25L4E8ugYtMNKZEaMfw/s400/051710_Los_Cusingos_Pejibaye4+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I’ll never turn down an opportunity to savor pastries, especially during a PowerPoint presentation.</span><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">While visiting the <a href="http://livingincostaricablog.com/2010/03/18/weekly-feria-farmers-market-in-san-isidro-de-el-general-costa-rica/">San Isidro Farmers’ Market</a> in the off hours, we were treated to some authentic dips and desserts, including this delicious one, made with tuna.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR129BAuCLWCL0s-lop-JBW2p7D9WQjrxMD8kOaH0urUASTlVtm6YWoDYtFiXviv9aJ2FkuSC34VWH72nANdE2qb0nwUjUgTg8bITcqyuxjPHtykNW18nPS_pYV0wVkoQ7ckxKi1T2sIg/s1600/051710_San_Isidro_Farmers_Market_Tuna_Chip_Dip+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR129BAuCLWCL0s-lop-JBW2p7D9WQjrxMD8kOaH0urUASTlVtm6YWoDYtFiXviv9aJ2FkuSC34VWH72nANdE2qb0nwUjUgTg8bITcqyuxjPHtykNW18nPS_pYV0wVkoQ7ckxKi1T2sIg/s400/051710_San_Isidro_Farmers_Market_Tuna_Chip_Dip+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Ahh, the breakfast of champions, from <a href="http://www.rancholabotija.com/indexi.php">Rancho La Botija</a>: fresh papaya, bananas and pineapple…</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL0OXetZaXCGfzW6Z83tXLGdaBo65wegVOJIWpiHy8V4RajDWZGqy7iy1EtR8N1PCiOoYuvYd8s3NSPxNl4B2-XyZ9CfTNF9nQ83Hw-2rrYU0utZb64SvQmJP-tMrW_mce6GlxqQeKfNk/s1600/051810_La_Botija_Fruit+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL0OXetZaXCGfzW6Z83tXLGdaBo65wegVOJIWpiHy8V4RajDWZGqy7iy1EtR8N1PCiOoYuvYd8s3NSPxNl4B2-XyZ9CfTNF9nQ83Hw-2rrYU0utZb64SvQmJP-tMrW_mce6GlxqQeKfNk/s640/051810_La_Botija_Fruit+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="428" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">…Gallo pinto with scrambled eggs and fried plantains…</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYgma3-j17fKffJZB0riBt1ZapAFHEQM2A0EwP8GA04w8qIBK34RZ1X7U9ZGXWzUXQCXUM5R-Yl_SkBo4NMsrmohUY_FkO0SaKk7oqHiiyLJZDWaT8c2mVZD_fZJm7BR9l26_smM6skpI/s1600/051810_La_Botija_Breakfast+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYgma3-j17fKffJZB0riBt1ZapAFHEQM2A0EwP8GA04w8qIBK34RZ1X7U9ZGXWzUXQCXUM5R-Yl_SkBo4NMsrmohUY_FkO0SaKk7oqHiiyLJZDWaT8c2mVZD_fZJm7BR9l26_smM6skpI/s400/051810_La_Botija_Breakfast+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">…Served with corn tortillas, kept steaming hot thanks to this adorable little tortilla warmer.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgWm9ewuxkm1gcqZ8sNHVIDmgY4mz7kfUvqBRhdPCQ3UMOUYKTP5elawTCKcY9z6674WNQkCSE3yQd_bw0F9AbcA8RHHAK5PiVGh-_Beqy0sOqRRbRFuZYqkfFUncJFmxsDAU1DxuLOCI/s1600/051810_La_Botija_Tortilla_Warmer+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgWm9ewuxkm1gcqZ8sNHVIDmgY4mz7kfUvqBRhdPCQ3UMOUYKTP5elawTCKcY9z6674WNQkCSE3yQd_bw0F9AbcA8RHHAK5PiVGh-_Beqy0sOqRRbRFuZYqkfFUncJFmxsDAU1DxuLOCI/s400/051810_La_Botija_Tortilla_Warmer+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I love it when pastries come with a welcome message.</span><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Say cheese: We also visited a small, family-owned cheese farm just south of San Gerardo that specialized in making artisan Swiss-style cheeses.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHN1l_OuuWMrdmDpsPMx54tBcJZMfeaduVP7SfN1P705KWqWW5bI4MpeiTZXv46U8UdQtwVTtSAmphfpI9zk_Fv_PyXKlmrfKOBj5OVsekJ2uTe2iqVGEhjoS2xs8jh7x5A9TXRJ5jHuQ/s1600/051810_San_Gerardo_Costa_Rica_Cheese_Farm_Sign+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHN1l_OuuWMrdmDpsPMx54tBcJZMfeaduVP7SfN1P705KWqWW5bI4MpeiTZXv46U8UdQtwVTtSAmphfpI9zk_Fv_PyXKlmrfKOBj5OVsekJ2uTe2iqVGEhjoS2xs8jh7x5A9TXRJ5jHuQ/s400/051810_San_Gerardo_Costa_Rica_Cheese_Farm_Sign+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The cheese in this room…</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBy0YFiX1wJdY5ZYaeDJSEm8cMovGnEZryk2JxoH4TwwLwLKYq1XWDv2gCXugahTk7Cr_z_my8LqFek0jfybk_cBSr0x5mu-EeyFRiKTNaQWRVJjKVvF0Iw2kSH4iJa88kudk1KLfEKWY/s1600/051810_San_Gerardo_Costa_Rica_Cheese_Farm+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBy0YFiX1wJdY5ZYaeDJSEm8cMovGnEZryk2JxoH4TwwLwLKYq1XWDv2gCXugahTk7Cr_z_my8LqFek0jfybk_cBSr0x5mu-EeyFRiKTNaQWRVJjKVvF0Iw2kSH4iJa88kudk1KLfEKWY/s400/051810_San_Gerardo_Costa_Rica_Cheese_Farm+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">…Came from these cows.</span><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Time for tasting: from left to right, Swiss, Mozzarella and Peppery Swiss.</span><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">At <a href="http://www.dantica.com/">Dantica Lodge & Gallery</a>, we snacked on delicious biscuits filled with cream and blackberry jam.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Lunch (err, dinner) at <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g309290-d1071923-Reviews-Los_Lagos_Cottage_Inn-Province_of_San_Jose.html">Los Lagos Lodge</a> was delicious—and long overdue—but totally satisfying: pescado frito (fried fish).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Worthy of an <a href="http://passportconfessional.blogspot.com/2010/05/perfectly-pura-vida-part-2.html">encore blog appearance</a>: <a href="http://www.costaricaguides.com/articles/recipes/chorreadas.html">chorreadas</a> (corn pancakes) topped with sweet sour cream and <a href="http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1216/is_n5_v184/ai_9035747/">gallos</a> (tacos) filled with fried potatoes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Okay, so <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceviche">ceviche</a> is really more of a Peruvian dish, but I’ll always order it when I have the chance to, especially when it’s as good as this one was from <a href="http://www.thespringscostarica.com/">The Springs Resort & Spa</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Organic took on a whole new meeting after a visit to <a href="http://www.ranchomargot.org/">Rancho Margot</a> in El Castillo, not only for its sprawling and beautiful grounds but also for its tasty, farm-fresh fare, including roasted pork topped with a blackberry sauce and accompanied by black beans, rice and lettuce—all produced on location.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The last meal: At Leda’s, a seafood restaurant in Caldera, I took fellow journalist <a href="http://www.christopherbaker.com/">Christopher P. Baker’s</a> advice and ordered the pescado al ajillo (fish with garlic) and I wasn’t disappointed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And, to top it all off, a slice of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tres_leches_cake">pastel de tres leches</a> (cake soaked in three different milks).</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTr727HNtsik30Jtaz4sTaE3_cyY2LVUmFXjmMh1CKrF78Bbyk4_TUAorACNQZWSc3rJtURJs0imDUe-zj2Ru_TUSAeUgKKPb7l_4C9M9H7azjbrNYx_KioK6d3PzE6uMGcnI0Xaxg6e4/s1600/052310_Caldera_Leda_Pastel_de_Tres_Leches+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTr727HNtsik30Jtaz4sTaE3_cyY2LVUmFXjmMh1CKrF78Bbyk4_TUAorACNQZWSc3rJtURJs0imDUe-zj2Ru_TUSAeUgKKPb7l_4C9M9H7azjbrNYx_KioK6d3PzE6uMGcnI0Xaxg6e4/s400/052310_Caldera_Leda_Pastel_de_Tres_Leches+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So, given the choice between la comida típica or some fancy, nouveau style of Costa Rican fusion cuisine, I’ll always opt for the typical. Just the typical, por favor.</span>Deanna Tinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01104621272567922863noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2027937167602714382.post-61397908705484949672010-05-28T22:27:00.000-07:002010-05-28T22:29:50.667-07:00Perfectly Pura Vida?, Part 2<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Sorry for the delay. Here’s the continuation of what I learned from my most recent trip to Costa Rica:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">15. Spanish really is my default foreign language. Guess those four years of high school Spanish classes weren’t a complete loss! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">16. You really can find Chinese food anywhere. This entire San Jose shop is devoted to my favorite sausage: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_sausage">lop cheong</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">17. …Along with all of your favorite American fast-food brand names.</span><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">18. If you think that what you’re hearing is the little pitter patter of tiny rodent feet in the space between your ceiling and the roof, it probably is.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">19. Never feel guilty about going back for seconds at a buffet, especially when it’s as good as this breakfast was at <a href="http://www.parquedellago.com/">Parque del Lago Hotel Vivo</a> in San Jose. (I had already taken a bite when I remembered to snap my photo.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">20. This is especially true when <em>chorreadas</em> (corn pancakes with a sweet sour cream topping) and <em>gallos </em>(tacos, I suppose) are involved.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">21. Tacky—and questionably offensive—souvenirs are here to stay.</span><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">22. Oh, and as long as the pile of shit is just near the top of the waterslide and not actually in the waterslide, you’re cool.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">23. A volcano view beats an ocean view any day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">24. Even though I’m more of a dog person, I thought these cats were pretty cool.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqaZMWPQjfJSy57IqXWcbJggJILv3Urgva8krzZnYKnvy8dMJ_rHra25Rad2y8IYH-A2cQBG78JqtdEjjrDVMOYu9JcqKOF-ouN6p5Cd0-yg6MVkjhpVSdBkiwZCX7xmNY-NqJKbcFCNw/s1600/052110_Costa_Rica_The_Springs_Cat_Rescue_Center_Lena_the_Ocelot+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqaZMWPQjfJSy57IqXWcbJggJILv3Urgva8krzZnYKnvy8dMJ_rHra25Rad2y8IYH-A2cQBG78JqtdEjjrDVMOYu9JcqKOF-ouN6p5Cd0-yg6MVkjhpVSdBkiwZCX7xmNY-NqJKbcFCNw/s400/052110_Costa_Rica_The_Springs_Cat_Rescue_Center_Lena_the_Ocelot+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">25. Kids are cute, but dancing kids up the cuteness quotient tenfold.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3-14KofBiWwNNV8BIzSLz3BbeVmVa8sL1u8Lg_algZ55q9GeRtZY2Hroxxvjbe8-U6wt4VUrE0G5ctagNaFf2yCzMM-EuEJBYNEo8SgxmNaJxEkKD5IP3vhLKWEyyBUvnWkwk8sKgfKs/s1600/052110_La_Fortuna_Costa_Rica_Boy_Dancer+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3-14KofBiWwNNV8BIzSLz3BbeVmVa8sL1u8Lg_algZ55q9GeRtZY2Hroxxvjbe8-U6wt4VUrE0G5ctagNaFf2yCzMM-EuEJBYNEo8SgxmNaJxEkKD5IP3vhLKWEyyBUvnWkwk8sKgfKs/s640/052110_La_Fortuna_Costa_Rica_Boy_Dancer+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="428" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">26. I love it when I see <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/I-Love-It-When-I-See-Faces-In-Inanimate-Objects/201078317940">faces in inanimate objects</a>.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUfSP0MWZuwAOqsPDX0EoXN0vYpdwbjQFeHLVxO9z7nE2dAclNOPWuziXM8F3eFK7ZfxoyzQ8191S91AFGTSm0_EWycFRy0JtHVas7asQZNFmioMMI_xw7E6MsLjnsVNZG2sm65HIILO0/s1600/052110_Costa_Rica_Rancho_Margot_Lester's_Hat+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUfSP0MWZuwAOqsPDX0EoXN0vYpdwbjQFeHLVxO9z7nE2dAclNOPWuziXM8F3eFK7ZfxoyzQ8191S91AFGTSm0_EWycFRy0JtHVas7asQZNFmioMMI_xw7E6MsLjnsVNZG2sm65HIILO0/s400/052110_Costa_Rica_Rancho_Margot_Lester's_Hat+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">27. Sexually charged sculptures aren’t always considered tasteless; to some people, they’re akin to fine art. So, don’t be a hater.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZfzfieFY8LGN_4peHVtRb4sQU6pJEXB01mb2XUQ9BSzvuqATqxUSonOxZ3YnDL2pIBn34fXrD6lTLYI5JBISdJk4s-cF86vCxBJx_rAa3Y0WXNr1Sevf-bNxp9TwETFEFqcwifYTnVKo/s1600/052210_Las_Hornillas_Costa_Rica_Showers+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZfzfieFY8LGN_4peHVtRb4sQU6pJEXB01mb2XUQ9BSzvuqATqxUSonOxZ3YnDL2pIBn34fXrD6lTLYI5JBISdJk4s-cF86vCxBJx_rAa3Y0WXNr1Sevf-bNxp9TwETFEFqcwifYTnVKo/s400/052210_Las_Hornillas_Costa_Rica_Showers+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">28. Everything tastes better with a side of Salsa Lizano (top left).</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGWMZwt7A4gTF-C3ENOCqQeAD37wJ0tHiRzztNuszgk6ITLoJiIPXpimWCdrrOyItXkZqTxhno3EmgXbCxxVHLq9nX9TLkefZbrcejVjfSYdHyz0-ITw1ETfgyc08XIF37kq80umqDB8M/s1600/052310_Costa_Rica_Eco_Playa_Breakfast+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGWMZwt7A4gTF-C3ENOCqQeAD37wJ0tHiRzztNuszgk6ITLoJiIPXpimWCdrrOyItXkZqTxhno3EmgXbCxxVHLq9nX9TLkefZbrcejVjfSYdHyz0-ITw1ETfgyc08XIF37kq80umqDB8M/s400/052310_Costa_Rica_Eco_Playa_Breakfast+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">29. Dancing makes everything better—even a cruise to nowhere in particular.</span><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">30. And, last but not least, we’ll always have <a href="http://www.thermomania.net/">Thermooooo ... Maaaaania</a>—always.</span>Deanna Tinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01104621272567922863noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2027937167602714382.post-12888519331616677082010-05-26T21:42:00.000-07:002010-05-27T11:21:43.625-07:00Perfectly Pura Vida?<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I’ve just returned from a weeklong press trip to Costa Rica and, while I’m grateful for the amazing experiences that it afforded me, I must admit that I’ve never been happier to be home from a press trip. I even had a hard time keeping it together after spotting the 405 while I flew into LAX. This, I think, has a lot more to do with how the press trip was organized by the <a href="http://www.visitcostarica.com/">Instituto Costarricense de Turismo</a> (ICT), or Costa Rica Tourism Board—not with how Costa Rica itself, as a destination, really is. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Shady accommodations (with the exception of <a href="http://www.thespringscostarica.com/">The Springs Resort & Spa</a> and <a href="http://www.grupomawamba.com/trogon_lodge/index.php">Trogon Lodge</a>), 5 a.m. wake-up calls, painfully long bus rides, 6 p.m. lunches and 9 p.m. dinners preceded by long-winded PowerPoint presentations were the main culprits. (I’m not alone in my assessment, either; Christopher P. Baker, a fellow journalist on my press trip and the author of many, many Costa Rica guidebooks also <a href="http://www.moon.com/blogs/cuba-costa-rica/christopher-p-baker-films-costa-rica-latineyes-tv">agreed</a>.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">But even though this trip may have had a disproportionate amount of downs compared to ups, I didn't exactly see it that way. I’m still glad I went on it and grateful for the opportunities that I had to see so much of Costa Rica. I also know that the ICT really had good intentions; they just didn't execute them in the best way sometimes. In fact, I’d still want to go back to Costa Rica in a heartbeat: I love its rich culture, its super-friendly people, its deliciously wholesome and hearty food and its breathtaking nature and wildlife. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And, as the saying goes, what doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger, right? Or it just gives you a really bad chest cold like the one I have right now. Luckily, blog writing doesn’t require me to get up out of bed at all—or actually try to use my voice. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Another bonus from this trip? I got to know an amazing group of fellow travel writers, photographers and videographers from the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil and even Uruguay. Together, we muddled through somehow and I know that those shared memories are ones that we’ll always look back on with fondness and laughter.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Those memories and the lessons that I learned from this trip are truly invaluable to me now. More than the bags of <a href="http://www.cafebritt.com/">Caffé Britt</a> coffee or bottles of <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lizano-salsa/56535291574">Salsa Lizano</a> that I lugged home, these are the things that I will treasure most. Not to sound cliché, but it’s true: we might travel for many reasons but no matter where or why we go, we always learn something from the experience, especially so when things aren't necessarily perfect. So, in no particular order, here are the things I learned from my Costa Rica trip:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">1. The ability to sleep on long bus rides is crucial when you have days that start at 5 a.m. and end at midnight. Lucky for me, I can fall asleep on any bus ride, even more so when it’s for three of four hours at a time on unpaved roads.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">2. You’re never too old—or young—to play in the mud.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb_XplztyYp7H-xQDNxK-Ftep5B1qWCgAO6Li13N0EvDMKhsuYwFKHDxnfrOrdUt1cB1yX7Pm_2PwgbLv0yG-AHLtGdwBZW3Yb5eoGogU-bQWka3HWt77H64-NP22tCjDczC09DE66a-Y/s1600/052210_Las_Hornillas_Costa_Rica_Mud_Bathers+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb_XplztyYp7H-xQDNxK-Ftep5B1qWCgAO6Li13N0EvDMKhsuYwFKHDxnfrOrdUt1cB1yX7Pm_2PwgbLv0yG-AHLtGdwBZW3Yb5eoGogU-bQWka3HWt77H64-NP22tCjDczC09DE66a-Y/s400/052210_Las_Hornillas_Costa_Rica_Mud_Bathers+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">3. Off! Light & Fresh scented towelettes might smell better than the Deep Woods ones, but the Deep Woods ones work 10 times better. Trust me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">4. For that matter, bring a spray-on bug spray, too, and don’t forget to douse the bed sheets with it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">5. If the bathroom reeks of raw sewage and you’re being attacked by crickets while you sleep, resort to a makeshift shower of Charmin wipes, followed by the aforementioned Off! Deep Woods towelettes.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjpqJ_oqbo4Hyq0G0l1CgmDdAESxDdO9iX8l7BJovEHxttLU8RrPVy5h9B8K0utpo1dtVmZYa7aZ8WzffRdKESKiZytjWdWdQtUEajrb19uJfcWIapCXqbQCp7qbI8Z-MgkBn1afB-3Is/s1600/052210_Costa_Rica_Thermo_Mania_Shower+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjpqJ_oqbo4Hyq0G0l1CgmDdAESxDdO9iX8l7BJovEHxttLU8RrPVy5h9B8K0utpo1dtVmZYa7aZ8WzffRdKESKiZytjWdWdQtUEajrb19uJfcWIapCXqbQCp7qbI8Z-MgkBn1afB-3Is/s400/052210_Costa_Rica_Thermo_Mania_Shower+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">6. No matter how hard you try, you will never be able to make zipline gear look remotely fashionable.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDZ6Mk7FM_EQLqYpTjn3RP3iNPb7yaL8VjIIlIneh6hrJOWTHgSnKTLC-hvV1VRudFTMwXz08eBwgURP1WXD9Ix_5BM_nYW7Ne4Lp74-hBpBdeNhIxDh2TrH7PqgiA9KvNG1ba73y9nC4/s1600/051610_El_Mirador_Zipline+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDZ6Mk7FM_EQLqYpTjn3RP3iNPb7yaL8VjIIlIneh6hrJOWTHgSnKTLC-hvV1VRudFTMwXz08eBwgURP1WXD9Ix_5BM_nYW7Ne4Lp74-hBpBdeNhIxDh2TrH7PqgiA9KvNG1ba73y9nC4/s400/051610_El_Mirador_Zipline+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">7. Before you take a sip of your vodka tonic, check to make sure there’s no cockroach at the bottom of the glass. To paraphrase Mr. Baker: "If Mexico is known for its tequila worm, does that mean that Costa Rica should be known for its vodka cucaracha?"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">8. If I wanted to build my tropical dream house, I’d hire the owners of <a href="http://www.monteazulcr.com/">Monte Azul</a> to do it for me.</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYg2ICcekVzXtTvMIMZIklQ-Tp33V3PF-VdBu9Jfp9uWVNGsI6RjlkX7CDNgBCoBTKnVOg4LBexqDvsfXfUwZtcXjw-iUJxrKDu3Y-dCeasAPHxFoVYfpUdor6SrLsHGdwyrQKsB2FF5w/s1600/051810_Costa_Rica_Monte_Azul_Guestroom+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYg2ICcekVzXtTvMIMZIklQ-Tp33V3PF-VdBu9Jfp9uWVNGsI6RjlkX7CDNgBCoBTKnVOg4LBexqDvsfXfUwZtcXjw-iUJxrKDu3Y-dCeasAPHxFoVYfpUdor6SrLsHGdwyrQKsB2FF5w/s400/051810_Costa_Rica_Monte_Azul_Guestroom+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">9. I’m a sucker for handicrafts…</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI1oKjZyoYMzVhfzaSB0Fw3W2SpeWDQO7vExdsIxBXiDTOfphI-fW6zhzG0oXh7B2wPd8rOq6Y6-pDCIp9Zx3fqsYSFjGKbfCI6NHXMqrOrXX6GMxPJ6GZ83FcNCheeLP0R9kiNTN90V4/s1600/051810_Costa_Rica_Handicraft+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI1oKjZyoYMzVhfzaSB0Fw3W2SpeWDQO7vExdsIxBXiDTOfphI-fW6zhzG0oXh7B2wPd8rOq6Y6-pDCIp9Zx3fqsYSFjGKbfCI6NHXMqrOrXX6GMxPJ6GZ83FcNCheeLP0R9kiNTN90V4/s400/051810_Costa_Rica_Handicraft+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">10. …and baby animals.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzDLnz-lrMSjgD0lVHoSY24ARLpJuLrRETXCqN-KB3HXLlKobyudeQ6XTMabqB8P_035C2lBHm7NsPZpc9hurofTUWUeiTypyD_qiCJzQB0a5aAQIJYTiaKgxwV9TNMjaFNZPETkrOzMw/s1600/051810_Costa_Rica_Baby_Cow+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzDLnz-lrMSjgD0lVHoSY24ARLpJuLrRETXCqN-KB3HXLlKobyudeQ6XTMabqB8P_035C2lBHm7NsPZpc9hurofTUWUeiTypyD_qiCJzQB0a5aAQIJYTiaKgxwV9TNMjaFNZPETkrOzMw/s400/051810_Costa_Rica_Baby_Cow+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1GFFChMrpr9aV1j6GAg9WJuGOI8tpAHFP1FGCs22mDNP2r7aGkdDJ9K3yBhteFyGeBO61BbKnNaJwcG-mnfri0w_IAy0Z6diqVQQc7tcngQ4cHpcLt2Zc2eqI_T6WgH3WcmYFBaAHonk/s1600/052010_Costa_Rica_Baby_Birds+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1GFFChMrpr9aV1j6GAg9WJuGOI8tpAHFP1FGCs22mDNP2r7aGkdDJ9K3yBhteFyGeBO61BbKnNaJwcG-mnfri0w_IAy0Z6diqVQQc7tcngQ4cHpcLt2Zc2eqI_T6WgH3WcmYFBaAHonk/s400/052010_Costa_Rica_Baby_Birds+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMiXEvG6KGYB49LVSSgaz22DAKaI_QUGb2CEUlS3CYjplHHiKURsnXc2KJTNlZvBzE2gVa0TtL8jOhfeoalWmCVwjTVjMg6uGC0axMHB1plFuKdaEbWE9xYoQsWHwcH1kHQ12xYJwRUVk/s1600/051810_Costa_Rica_Valentin_the_dog_with_his_owner+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMiXEvG6KGYB49LVSSgaz22DAKaI_QUGb2CEUlS3CYjplHHiKURsnXc2KJTNlZvBzE2gVa0TtL8jOhfeoalWmCVwjTVjMg6uGC0axMHB1plFuKdaEbWE9xYoQsWHwcH1kHQ12xYJwRUVk/s640/051810_Costa_Rica_Valentin_the_dog_with_his_owner+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="428" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">11. I really need to upgrade my camera and get a better lens. This was my best shot of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quetzal">quetzal</a> we spotted in the forests of San Gerardo de Dota. It's pretty awful.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBy_z4-VzMHUs9eEaO8cXxesIbYoNr-PqYNHgWwmHZGz4sC34J3fLSRMwghzSO47a082vEc-X8DwlpXI7iJn9FnM4jl4RVvKoxvgHXcxVGlW_gkbgtZJIB4gBYiBM7bjTbvLmfJ_NtS2g/s1600/051910_Costa_Rica_Quetzal+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBy_z4-VzMHUs9eEaO8cXxesIbYoNr-PqYNHgWwmHZGz4sC34J3fLSRMwghzSO47a082vEc-X8DwlpXI7iJn9FnM4jl4RVvKoxvgHXcxVGlW_gkbgtZJIB4gBYiBM7bjTbvLmfJ_NtS2g/s400/051910_Costa_Rica_Quetzal+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">12. This is a postcard of what the quetzal actually looks like.</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWybj75e6aZkWQPKgaV4OJz8Wy9uHDPk8hFiWkWFpEH8oJTjgTYiF0Vd6OKCIvvl4319Sv9h_tgZ8G-qqlErL-Jv1mHtQNHhzGWnmaNbXZ9Fq3jHQIJ-72OQheZdvdGO9bu1Lh7eAmWV0/s1600/051910_Costa_Rica_Quetzal_Poscard_from_Savegre+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWybj75e6aZkWQPKgaV4OJz8Wy9uHDPk8hFiWkWFpEH8oJTjgTYiF0Vd6OKCIvvl4319Sv9h_tgZ8G-qqlErL-Jv1mHtQNHhzGWnmaNbXZ9Fq3jHQIJ-72OQheZdvdGO9bu1Lh7eAmWV0/s640/051910_Costa_Rica_Quetzal_Poscard_from_Savegre+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="427" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">13. I know some people detest it, but I love papaya.</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDy3YL2wGDu8b7iCOEUlQF7S6-sSlhKRwrfDivzu7P7F14xVmI-8aMjSAJ0QRu9QmGkTw73j-CiuZvQcpxZvJgZOO5R9Vy5603a6-szatvgmo0j3_0SPf_If_P-dK-e_50StDJr9P8FT8/s1600/051910_Costa_Rica_Trogon_Lodge_Papaya+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDy3YL2wGDu8b7iCOEUlQF7S6-sSlhKRwrfDivzu7P7F14xVmI-8aMjSAJ0QRu9QmGkTw73j-CiuZvQcpxZvJgZOO5R9Vy5603a6-szatvgmo0j3_0SPf_If_P-dK-e_50StDJr9P8FT8/s400/051910_Costa_Rica_Trogon_Lodge_Papaya+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">14. Hummingbirds never cease to amaze me.</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-i-9NRjBcwas_BT67tZK-Wj0DZt68QK-VS5blkbth_6dVM-ObelYy6Qjx0eHvKH9r4D3UJPrhHHtLXQb8rOCqL6BLlh-ORKvk9TtQQzZK64jP7SBAho2chxMlpY5FFjFNPH3Q3I9DwI8/s1600/051910_Costa_Rica_Trogon_Lodge_Hummingbirds+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-i-9NRjBcwas_BT67tZK-Wj0DZt68QK-VS5blkbth_6dVM-ObelYy6Qjx0eHvKH9r4D3UJPrhHHtLXQb8rOCqL6BLlh-ORKvk9TtQQzZK64jP7SBAho2chxMlpY5FFjFNPH3Q3I9DwI8/s400/051910_Costa_Rica_Trogon_Lodge_Hummingbirds+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">More to come later… </span></div>Deanna Tinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01104621272567922863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2027937167602714382.post-69805334345904688652010-05-21T05:09:00.000-07:002010-05-21T05:20:12.153-07:00Wish You Were Here<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This is what I woke up to this morning:</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH_c-kEssIzEmfpk1f8lyHJl-jOMd1RzBSweAbcrMXufEaaowJUMiUjjGOJAZICllaB5pPsawwrNgIwWnf9qayknrlcE3fl-_1_2-W7X6nh23KB2sloLD99Vef0XmiMWcXtif7Ovwsd4c/s1600/052110_The_Springs_Resort_Arenal_Volcano_(c)_Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH_c-kEssIzEmfpk1f8lyHJl-jOMd1RzBSweAbcrMXufEaaowJUMiUjjGOJAZICllaB5pPsawwrNgIwWnf9qayknrlcE3fl-_1_2-W7X6nh23KB2sloLD99Vef0XmiMWcXtif7Ovwsd4c/s400/052110_The_Springs_Resort_Arenal_Volcano_(c)_Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Not a bad view, huh? Ocean views are definitely nice, but how often can you say you’ve booked a room with a volcano view? </span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Right now, I’m in Costa Rica, near the Arenal Volcano, on a press trip with a group of travel journalists from North and South America. We’re staying at <a href="http://www.thespringscostarica.com/">The Springs Resort & Spa</a>, which—I can assure you—will be added to my updated list of <a href="http://passportconfessional.blogspot.com/2010/04/get-room.html">favorite hotels</a> ever. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It’s absolutely stunning—natural hot springs can be found throughout the resort; the food is excellent (I highly recommend the ceviche); and the views, well, they’re simply breathtaking. Not only that, I’ve got hot water, a hair dryer, a telephone, a clock and complimentary hair conditioner. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Normally, I’d take the above items for granted but I was, in some instances, taken by surprise a few times on this trip. You see, the majority of the hotels I’ve stayed in prior to this one haven’t always included those amenities. In fact, one in particular reminded me of my European hostelling adventures back in college—albeit this one included lots of dead bugs. (Please see below for the photographic evidence.)</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijUzkpG0bE-o-Avj7Q7-gzwHDuhn9I0KNj0lmMX4LAAv9i7xdQJl9tcjJ-zn9G9edMgMraV4Dkq041BQFVhl3zY7i5UgTMPuqu53RWhEs31OBD6r34Z5GwRrLIia_zGYWX3SSbZnN1AiE/s1600/051710_San_Isidro_Costa_Rica_Hotel_Bug_(c)_Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijUzkpG0bE-o-Avj7Q7-gzwHDuhn9I0KNj0lmMX4LAAv9i7xdQJl9tcjJ-zn9G9edMgMraV4Dkq041BQFVhl3zY7i5UgTMPuqu53RWhEs31OBD6r34Z5GwRrLIia_zGYWX3SSbZnN1AiE/s400/051710_San_Isidro_Costa_Rica_Hotel_Bug_(c)_Deanna+Ting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Nevertheless, I remained an optimist and, thankfully, it looks like that sunny outlook has finally been rewarded.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">But although this place is really spectacular, it’s not exactly perfect. Even though I’m here, I really wish I could spend today someplace else, with someone else, instead. I’m not saying that my fellow journalists are incorrigible or unbearable—it’s quite the opposite, actually. But, truth be told, I’d rather be waking up to this volcano with my best friend by my side, or watching him blow out the candles on his birthday cake back at home. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">If there’s one thing that’s not ideal about being a travel writer, it’s that you don’t always get to spend these kinds of moments with your closest friends and family. Sure, I can whip out my camera and show off my pictures, but it’s just not the same as sharing that actual moment with someone you truly care about.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Even though I can’t be with Eliot today, I know that in just a few days, I’ll see him once again. He’ll be the first to hear about my <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quetzal">quetzal</a> sightings; about the zipline rappelling course where I was put into a very compromising position with one of the guides (I still don’t understand why they told me I wasn’t heavy enough to go down by myself); and about the hot springs waterslide that made me feel like a little kid all over again. I can’t wait. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Until then, I’ll just keep wishing. </span>Deanna Tinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01104621272567922863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2027937167602714382.post-56200737479416219322010-05-10T23:13:00.000-07:002010-05-10T23:13:28.374-07:00Oh, The Places You’ll Go<span style="font-size: small;"></span><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">During Mother’s Day brunch, while my family and I were gorging ourselves on the feast that my brother, boyfriend and I had cooked up for the occasion—<a href="http://tastingtable.com/entry_detail/chicago/1122/Branch_27s_morning_pasta_is_a_savory-sweet_brunch_ideal.htm">pasta with butternut squash and kale in a brown butter sauce</a> , a <a href="http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/spanish-omelet-10000001150818/index.html">Spanish-style omelet</a> and <a href="http://www.thekitchn.com/thekitchn/breakfast/recipe-fluffy-ricotta-pancakes-048085">fluffy ricotta pancakes with lemon curd</a>—I started thinking seriously about my mom—and my dad.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Both of my parents aren’t frequent fliers or travelers in the least bit. Since leaving China in the 1950s as young children, they haven’t set foot outside North America, not even to go back to China or Hong Kong. Growing up, their families didn’t have much money, so the furthest they’d go might be to take a camping trip in the forests near Princeton, N.J. (where my dad grew up), to drive down to Texas (which was just a little south of where my mom grew up in Wichita, Kan.) or to drive up north to Canada (to visit relatives on my mom’s side).</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Growing up, the most exotic place we’d traveled to together as a family—grandma included— was to Hawaii, followed by San Francisco, San Diego, Lake Tahoe and Las Vegas. These weren't exactly faraway places but they still remain, in my memories, as some of the best trips ever. </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The thing is, however, that I don’t think my parents have stayed put by choice. Extenuating circumstances and obligations, including caring for my grandmother (for 22+ years, no less) and helping to put my brother and me through college, would be some of the biggest reasons. </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">They don’t talk about this much, but I can tell. I can especially see it every time my mom turns on the TV and tunes into her favorite Spanish-speaking shows on Telemundo and Univision in an attempt to keep her Spanish skills intact (strange, I know, but she majored in Spanish in college, hoping to one day work as a U.N. translator and is almost fluent). Or when my mom petitioned my dad to apply for a passport with her a few years back. Or whenever my dad takes the time to print out extremely detailed maps of the airports where I’ll be flying into, just to make sure I don’t get lost and miss any connections (that one really gets to me). They both yearn to travel abroad—but they just haven’t had a chance to.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">And here I was, bummed from missing out on a trip to Germany when I’ll be headed to other trips (most likely) in the next few months, anyway. It’s pretty pathetic. Far too often, I forget how fortunate I've been to be able to go to so many places.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGlsr_2shMSx4ZwlPEJAvxXrhXmey-H_EV7J_iiHKSNIFluRZKKoJsuoeCuINIPXH8yke3Duy8ggXZBHYCTDltXZXyPyLFHPx-F3UIywUkHcfaogZe4aT8aaO3ybg2n6W2FTlatbt2uEk/s1600/Passport_pages_with_stamps_(c)_OpenTravelInfo.com.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGlsr_2shMSx4ZwlPEJAvxXrhXmey-H_EV7J_iiHKSNIFluRZKKoJsuoeCuINIPXH8yke3Duy8ggXZBHYCTDltXZXyPyLFHPx-F3UIywUkHcfaogZe4aT8aaO3ybg2n6W2FTlatbt2uEk/s200/Passport_pages_with_stamps_(c)_OpenTravelInfo.com.jpg" tt="true" width="200" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So, if there’s just one thing I could wish for this year, I wish that my parents could finally pack their bags and go on a trip somewhere—anywhere (just not within the continental U.S.). Perhaps they could head to Spain, so my mom can finally practice her Spanish, or maybe even to China or Hong Kong, so they can try to piece together what fragments they can still remember from growing up there. Wherever it is, I just hope they get to go and that they get to—finally—fill up those pages in their newly minted passports. (Photo (c) OpenTravelInfo.com) </span></div>Deanna Tinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01104621272567922863noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2027937167602714382.post-13467172820860574742010-05-04T22:01:00.000-07:002010-05-05T08:47:03.066-07:00A Vacation With Staying Power<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Some of us might associate a “<a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/staycation">staycation</a>” with the following terms: “cheap,” “budget” and/or “value-oriented.” (Yes, you know who you are.) For some travelers, the staycation is a byproduct of hard times—it’s an ugly neologism for having to stick it out at home instead of logging more stamps into the pages of your passport. It’s almost as vile in its origins, some might argue, as the phrase, “<a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=dining+al+desko">dining al desko</a>,” which, sadly, is something I practice on a near daily basis. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Well, you can call me an optimist (or a fool), but I like to think of the staycation in a much more positive light. For me, the staycation is more of a mini-break; it’s a short holiday where I don’t have to fret about baggage fees or airport traffic and one where my internal clock won’t go out of whack. Looking back, I’ve covered a lot of staycations for work in the past two years. From <a href="http://www.travelagewest.com/namer/article_ektid41118.aspx">Torrance</a> (my hometown), <a href="http://www.travelagewest.com/namer/article_ektid29498.aspx">Bel-Air</a>, <a href="http://www.travelagewest.com/namer/article_ektid33176.aspx">Rancho Bernardo</a> and <a href="http://www.travelagewest.com/namer/article_ektid42388.aspx">Palm Springs</a> to <a href="http://www.travelagewest.com/namer/article_ektid25670.aspx">Del Mar</a>, <a href="http://www.travelagewest.com/namer/article_ektid36334.aspx">Manhattan Beach</a> and <a href="http://www.travelagewest.com/namer/article_ektid36710.aspx">Long Beach</a>, I’ve been lucky enough to recharge my batteries for much-needed and short—but entirely relaxing—weekend stays. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1wNaOTUk_O2W_CaGF6k1mzml_Kfm6xrj3XWXijds3zho5govQ_Cx-fcGSLR4meVVBa8Vl7zumiahyRoQ1z5a4Nfb8yOyRBeIIkwXoucNAqoZo0Ssy4C57iyHp1_i-afPlLU2s2mdyHFc/s1600/043010_Huntington_Beach_(c)_Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1wNaOTUk_O2W_CaGF6k1mzml_Kfm6xrj3XWXijds3zho5govQ_Cx-fcGSLR4meVVBa8Vl7zumiahyRoQ1z5a4Nfb8yOyRBeIIkwXoucNAqoZo0Ssy4C57iyHp1_i-afPlLU2s2mdyHFc/s200/043010_Huntington_Beach_(c)_Deanna+Ting.JPG" tt="true" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This past weekend, I visited <a href="http://www.surfcityusa.com/">Huntington Beach</a>, aka Surf City USA. Although I’ve lived in Southern California for the entirety of my life, I’ve actually never been to Huntington Beach. So, it was definitely a treat to be able to stay there for two nights at the <a href="http://www1.hilton.com/en_US/hi/hotel/HUBWHHF-Hilton-Waterfront-Beach-Resort-California/index.do">Hilton Waterfront Beach Resort</a> and to explore its charming downtown with 20 or so other fellow journalists and their plus ones. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It was also — in a funny way — somewhat strange to feel like a tourist in a city that’s only about 20 miles south of your home base. Our group of 24 even packed ourselves into the <a href="http://occruiser.com/home.html">O.C. Cruiser</a> at one point. Serenading us with the entire anthology of Beach Boys songs in the background, our tour bus dropped us off at the <a href="http://bolsachica.org/">Bolsa Chica Wetlands</a> and dog-friendly <a href="http://www.dogbeach.org/">Dog Beach</a>. Later, on a walking tour of downtown, we certainly fit the part of tourists from elsewhere or, at least I did with a gigantic camera hanging around my neck. It also didn’t help that when we stopped by the <a href="http://rmcf.com/CA/HuntingtonBeach50149/">Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory</a> for a fudge-making demo, the proprietor of <a href="http://www.zackshb.com/index.html">Zack’s</a> mistook me for a Japanese tourist, clasping his hands together while bowing and exclaiming, “<em>Konnichiwa</em>.” (Almost makes you wonder how they’re going to enforce that immigration bill in Arizona. Perhaps I should start carrying my passport with me if I cross state lines.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">No matter; I still had a blast posing as a semi-tourist in my own backyard. In fact, I think we don’t often appreciate our own local neighborhoods as much as we should, whether or not we’re mired in an economic recession. For evidence, feel free to take a look:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Our day of touring began with a ride aboard the O.C. Cruiser.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The first stop? The Bolsa Chica Wetlands where we got up close and personal with the resident birds.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3cAwmTG_Yi99wr_Tmuesu-TaVsCYvLDVo5xfHJDqoZrcKHZGEzL8BZgXeAmxDFK4WW1kUmoanuGMQltZ8s1v2hDYv4C7eGMoPyPyiq5I2pN7W3E4Uleh1ExdWLVDBzyi7XuWG9qtPe2g/s1600/043010_Bolsa_Chica_Wetlands_(c)_Deanna_Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3cAwmTG_Yi99wr_Tmuesu-TaVsCYvLDVo5xfHJDqoZrcKHZGEzL8BZgXeAmxDFK4WW1kUmoanuGMQltZ8s1v2hDYv4C7eGMoPyPyiq5I2pN7W3E4Uleh1ExdWLVDBzyi7XuWG9qtPe2g/s400/043010_Bolsa_Chica_Wetlands_(c)_Deanna_Ting.JPG" tt="true" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Next stop: Dog Beach. I <em>need</em> to take Odie here one of these days. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">This pug was so cute.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQt5wAqQsFFQVNxQj6uQS6N93MzNrQAUtYDEZ5jSdyHj_g0nM168sw4J1AIJ4zrXEeAUDeQTkmUkU05iTmjjkE6RSRpZPrOiy0RjvgCW9uMyWT1SnSK71-V_vMXcTIX9d2fc8UY9ag79E/s1600/043010_Huntington_Beach_Dog_Beach_Pug_(c)_Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQt5wAqQsFFQVNxQj6uQS6N93MzNrQAUtYDEZ5jSdyHj_g0nM168sw4J1AIJ4zrXEeAUDeQTkmUkU05iTmjjkE6RSRpZPrOiy0RjvgCW9uMyWT1SnSK71-V_vMXcTIX9d2fc8UY9ag79E/s640/043010_Huntington_Beach_Dog_Beach_Pug_(c)_Deanna+Ting.JPG" tt="true" width="427" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Speaking of dogs, I love how there are "Doggie Walk Bags" everywhere, and they even come with instructions, too.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEfLOI0t_pc_oJ8g-TlqKt7F3_Bx_itID6y8d5kOzbw48NW1ueXLQYsOUZNRx5mF1FNClPbBt0iIoWn0JV30DgF33wN1USw8EP-N2TfZ5HNJTvqGzR8NCt7JQcErAGFc_elicjzMPFe1Q/s1600/043010_Huntington_Beach_Dog_Bag_Instructions_(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEfLOI0t_pc_oJ8g-TlqKt7F3_Bx_itID6y8d5kOzbw48NW1ueXLQYsOUZNRx5mF1FNClPbBt0iIoWn0JV30DgF33wN1USw8EP-N2TfZ5HNJTvqGzR8NCt7JQcErAGFc_elicjzMPFe1Q/s640/043010_Huntington_Beach_Dog_Bag_Instructions_(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" tt="true" width="428" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Moving on, we headed to the International Surfing Museum where even the doormats are shaped like surfboards.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Then, it was time for lunch at </span><a href="http://www.fredsmexicancafe.com/"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Fred's Mexican Cafe</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> where I had one of my faves: mahimahi tacos.</span></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitGseaIERbTHbyyflbyiNFaNoKV7iuSrtgK-qLypeaCupyM_gvJWL3KpaUaDAQiZ6g1q6xSzu3WwS4G1rORGKNPQJ9qwhkcJAezKBXN56Qi6qDing8ZF8jH4WCjFphmwZC3Bu1tt6Hw7E/s1600/043010_Huntington_Beach_Fred's_Mexican_Cantina_Mahimahi_Tacos_(c)_Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitGseaIERbTHbyyflbyiNFaNoKV7iuSrtgK-qLypeaCupyM_gvJWL3KpaUaDAQiZ6g1q6xSzu3WwS4G1rORGKNPQJ9qwhkcJAezKBXN56Qi6qDing8ZF8jH4WCjFphmwZC3Bu1tt6Hw7E/s400/043010_Huntington_Beach_Fred's_Mexican_Cantina_Mahimahi_Tacos_(c)_Deanna+Ting.JPG" tt="true" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Later, our downtown walking tour took us to an antiques shop ...</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOtIRrtQB5mV8d5GTZE4w_XqDJRylM1lYvCxYKEw13N_3WXpwU1kiCvfx1H65zpA_0nHj0sHjIBUBZKGkoIzlkUedDgQ5n2BaIZJU-YwIP4tqHNj3FSgc7eq-inET6sujLmZQ3nnIdSrk/s1600/043010_Huntington_Beach_M.E._Helme_Antiques_Shop_(c)_Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOtIRrtQB5mV8d5GTZE4w_XqDJRylM1lYvCxYKEw13N_3WXpwU1kiCvfx1H65zpA_0nHj0sHjIBUBZKGkoIzlkUedDgQ5n2BaIZJU-YwIP4tqHNj3FSgc7eq-inET6sujLmZQ3nnIdSrk/s400/043010_Huntington_Beach_M.E._Helme_Antiques_Shop_(c)_Deanna+Ting.JPG" tt="true" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">... where you can buy your own set of Rockem Sockem Robots.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcjTNmax99ttryQ65_ntxMMqI4rn44GoObC0JqgyClgCIS0P2_pgnpkRRv7AHfrWhsbYpFwIz0YYqIWXGmroOhbfaaXdaRPn7VdhshWGhRzSlWCV6fs6qm8ea5XCUlin0kXmOkHwn8KTs/s1600/043010_Huntington_Beach_M.E._Helme_Antiques_Shop_Robots_(c)_Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcjTNmax99ttryQ65_ntxMMqI4rn44GoObC0JqgyClgCIS0P2_pgnpkRRv7AHfrWhsbYpFwIz0YYqIWXGmroOhbfaaXdaRPn7VdhshWGhRzSlWCV6fs6qm8ea5XCUlin0kXmOkHwn8KTs/s400/043010_Huntington_Beach_M.E._Helme_Antiques_Shop_Robots_(c)_Deanna+Ting.JPG" tt="true" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And even though downtown has a lot of stores that you might find elsewhere, like a gigantic <a href="http://www.forever21.com/Default.asp?cookie%5Ftest=1">Forever 21</a>, it still has a lot more character than some other beach cities along the coast, I think.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV9CuGO-CVXf9pUNBoQwqGyGKByiYpn9tt0kKxCwH9qrupedmaDj1k5qN50jBIoy5j7NYlSf1zg5RgV-LlV4cJhRK2lDo7yanrvyUOcojHFqX71w23g0qhJxj4Sco9ZQ1IWs0lh2aG9_c/s1600/043010_Huntington_Beach_Beach_Cruisers_(c)_Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV9CuGO-CVXf9pUNBoQwqGyGKByiYpn9tt0kKxCwH9qrupedmaDj1k5qN50jBIoy5j7NYlSf1zg5RgV-LlV4cJhRK2lDo7yanrvyUOcojHFqX71w23g0qhJxj4Sco9ZQ1IWs0lh2aG9_c/s400/043010_Huntington_Beach_Beach_Cruisers_(c)_Deanna+Ting.JPG" tt="true" width="400" /></a></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">But, of course, no matter where you go, food and drink will play a major factor in whether you want to come back or not. So, in the name of good journalism, we just had to stop for a Guinness Milkshake from <a href="http://www.25degreesrestaurant.com/huntingtonbeachhome.html">25 Degrees</a> ...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw_BzZ-_z1LEG6C7_wJfVGZslbsN1lJDQAovngKU4xmKGr63480iu971EB7nIoiMF8dd9yiONQ6M117IliBc0-wobF0-0PL-u4PPBEaOh_Fu38kjr7nAd8d7FV0lN91lLtVZ0JmDs8s3Q/s1600/043010_Huntington_Beach_25_Degrees_Diners_(c)_Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw_BzZ-_z1LEG6C7_wJfVGZslbsN1lJDQAovngKU4xmKGr63480iu971EB7nIoiMF8dd9yiONQ6M117IliBc0-wobF0-0PL-u4PPBEaOh_Fu38kjr7nAd8d7FV0lN91lLtVZ0JmDs8s3Q/s640/043010_Huntington_Beach_25_Degrees_Diners_(c)_Deanna+Ting.JPG" tt="true" width="428" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">... and observe a fudge-making demonstration at the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, where we discovered that making fudge is tough—but delicious—work.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMfhMJSQDB6-6S8d04lOhrBBPBCpYumaA1c0MeB37AfdgWKC6Z9fd69MEbT-26kArqabE8EMB9qOqFI0pDdcZOkDqaRu8-ys0yxTV5plqDZEPeayJkzUOrubBEAXuXRHaEZYszT4eGr30/s1600/043010_Huntington_Beach_Rocky_Mountain_Choc_Factory_Fudge_(c)_Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMfhMJSQDB6-6S8d04lOhrBBPBCpYumaA1c0MeB37AfdgWKC6Z9fd69MEbT-26kArqabE8EMB9qOqFI0pDdcZOkDqaRu8-ys0yxTV5plqDZEPeayJkzUOrubBEAXuXRHaEZYszT4eGr30/s400/043010_Huntington_Beach_Rocky_Mountain_Choc_Factory_Fudge_(c)_Deanna+Ting.JPG" tt="true" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWrdPEeiRFfe2vNaUYtuekghJvLpKa3zmdCtzaR37j3gAjbW23QAgUdyKOvNe9bwIl_wgdFuc0cnu-91jPOi7aKad7hB0-NIdmCYa4RnvdAW-sLSJ0SxR-tYTKbwSTSdM58n_YwiZnv1I/s1600/043010_Huntington_Beach_Rocky_Mountain_Choc_Factory_Fudge_(c)_Deanna+Ting+(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWrdPEeiRFfe2vNaUYtuekghJvLpKa3zmdCtzaR37j3gAjbW23QAgUdyKOvNe9bwIl_wgdFuc0cnu-91jPOi7aKad7hB0-NIdmCYa4RnvdAW-sLSJ0SxR-tYTKbwSTSdM58n_YwiZnv1I/s400/043010_Huntington_Beach_Rocky_Mountain_Choc_Factory_Fudge_(c)_Deanna+Ting+(3).JPG" tt="true" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC9RHzILf9O_x9d72jYYcvR0FTePKu9_KFC5Bv9QRLjQIzj7AA63xtZwShPELgIpa5w3bBHA7MnIrybYZ1Gvo3w1xcEelEsCBdHnxSz2MmZ3HFJG1k-dhqtuNBHS5qwwMJutJpCsYO8mY/s1600/043010_Huntington_Beach_Rocky_Mountain_Choc_Factory_Fudge_(c)_Deanna+Ting+(4).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC9RHzILf9O_x9d72jYYcvR0FTePKu9_KFC5Bv9QRLjQIzj7AA63xtZwShPELgIpa5w3bBHA7MnIrybYZ1Gvo3w1xcEelEsCBdHnxSz2MmZ3HFJG1k-dhqtuNBHS5qwwMJutJpCsYO8mY/s400/043010_Huntington_Beach_Rocky_Mountain_Choc_Factory_Fudge_(c)_Deanna+Ting+(4).JPG" tt="true" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDw9QXn_Jauy8qnLudWiWRG78bPYFH_kj-5tQTUO1Oa0wfx7WMzlkEFT6C0ToFT-VR0lGxbqd_ehvauSoHWfgFbuCu0XwkalOQ6CLMm1zR_w5EM4PDjU4rPeLCmKP3Wa6J4i61vF8l_a0/s1600/043010_Huntington_Beach_Rocky_Mountain_Choc_Factory_Fudge_(c)_Deanna+Ting+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDw9QXn_Jauy8qnLudWiWRG78bPYFH_kj-5tQTUO1Oa0wfx7WMzlkEFT6C0ToFT-VR0lGxbqd_ehvauSoHWfgFbuCu0XwkalOQ6CLMm1zR_w5EM4PDjU4rPeLCmKP3Wa6J4i61vF8l_a0/s400/043010_Huntington_Beach_Rocky_Mountain_Choc_Factory_Fudge_(c)_Deanna+Ting+(2).JPG" tt="true" width="267" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Later, we'd indulge in dinner at <a href="http://www.dukeshuntington.com/">Duke's</a> where Eliot and I felt compelled to polish off this entire mud pie (Yes, we can, and we did).</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiklpsxTbjzZ_kniR_9vochfmjVYeKh16XVTLNCZemzsM9xJy7LyEjztESYcKsUJZTsbkiELjI9EESBUeozDSMIIVdkmjVYQefXArOj3tyIA7lz08m0h7ox6F9Kt1F1QLqkO1JUGsjAY1g/s1600/043010_Huntington_Beach_Duke's_Hula_Pie_(c)_Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiklpsxTbjzZ_kniR_9vochfmjVYeKh16XVTLNCZemzsM9xJy7LyEjztESYcKsUJZTsbkiELjI9EESBUeozDSMIIVdkmjVYQefXArOj3tyIA7lz08m0h7ox6F9Kt1F1QLqkO1JUGsjAY1g/s400/043010_Huntington_Beach_Duke's_Hula_Pie_(c)_Deanna+Ting.JPG" tt="true" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And the next morning, we'd enjoy my favorite meal of the trip: breakfast.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpV04gv2dy48BlAngICBtQAPAjYNZX0caY_ISCoVkVWSoEsc_J2-pfE2J5-L96MN5spIjlc_qjHtnLNFT_z7ewFxgUmnode4AIQl7qp9d3-40p5X2NB2H9DFnr1I_9bECfMqWCh_2aKEU/s1600/050110_Hilton_Waterfront_Beach_Resort_Room_Service_Breakfast_(c)_Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpV04gv2dy48BlAngICBtQAPAjYNZX0caY_ISCoVkVWSoEsc_J2-pfE2J5-L96MN5spIjlc_qjHtnLNFT_z7ewFxgUmnode4AIQl7qp9d3-40p5X2NB2H9DFnr1I_9bECfMqWCh_2aKEU/s400/050110_Hilton_Waterfront_Beach_Resort_Room_Service_Breakfast_(c)_Deanna+Ting.JPG" tt="true" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So, wherever you’re headed this summer—or in the near future—I hope you’ll take the time to take in your surroundings, even if they’re only a car ride away.</span>Deanna Tinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01104621272567922863noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2027937167602714382.post-21819870626666521822010-04-26T19:44:00.000-07:002010-04-27T10:12:14.495-07:00Get a Room<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">While you might not spend as much time in your hotel room as you would spend on exploring the city, hiking that mountain or chugging your pint(s) of beer, the place where you lay your head at night can make a big difference in the quality of your travel experience. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">A terrible hotel experience stays with you—and not in a good way. My friend, Tricia, recently told me how she found someone’s pair of dirty socks inside her bed sheets—ick. My worst hotel experience was when I waited three hours for my room, only to find that it hadn’t yet been cleaned when I finally got to it. This was most evident in the fact that my toilet seat was, for lack of a better description, smeared with feces. So much for that supposed five-star rating.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">These types of hotel stays have inspired some of the most vehemently colorful and detailed reviews to be found on <a href="http://www.yelp.com/">Yelp</a> and <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/">TripAdvisor</a>. They also, more often than not, deter travelers from ever making a return visit to that destination, let alone that particular property.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">A good hotel, however, gives you peace of mind when you’re far from home—it gives you a place to store your bags, take a shower and get rested. But a truly great hotel does so much more than that. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">An amazing hotel stay is intimately tied to your entire travel experience: When you look back on your trip, you can’t help but remember that place; it’s as much a part of your trip as your first walk along the beach or your impromptu shopping trip through the night markets.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I’ve been lucky enough to have had some of those unforgettable hotel stays. Each one enhanced my trips in ways that I never could have anticipated or imagined and, when I look back on those memories, I can’t help but recall how much I loved being there, and being able to call these places my home away from home.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So, here they are, my favorite accommodations thus far. And yes, I’ll admit that my list is somewhat skewed more toward “luxury” than “budget,” but what can I say? It’s just another great perk—for which I am very grateful—of being a travel writer.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><strong><span style="color: black;">No. 8: </span></strong><a href="http://www.encorelasvegas.com/"><strong><span style="color: black;">Encore Las Vegas</span></strong></a></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia;">Why: It's My Kind of Vegas</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I'm not much of a Vegas person at all: I don't gamble, I don't really have a desire to go clubbing every night and I hate not knowing what time of day it is when I'm cooped up in the casino 24/7. What I do love about Vegas, however—mainly the gastronomic and retail offerings—can all be found here at <a href="http://www.travelagewest.com/lasvegas/article_ektid31810.aspx">Encore Las Vegas</a>, along with the nightclubs and gambling, of course. I love the fact that the casino has floor-to-ceiling windows that reveal the outside, overly manicured gardens and pool area. And the spa (see the photo below) is just insane: it'</span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">s practically gilded in gold. Sure, it's all a bit gaudy and excessive, but isn't this what Vegas is supposed to be like when it's done right? (Photo (c) Russell MacMasters for Wynn/Encore Las Vegas) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span style="color: black;">No. 7: </span></strong><a href="http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/LagunaNiguel/Default.htm"><strong><span style="color: black;">The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel</span></strong></a></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Why: The View</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">When I think about my favorite rooms with a view, this one is almost always near the top of the list. Having lived in Southern California all of my life, I’ve often taken the ocean for granted. Staying here, however, reminded me why so many people live—and love to live—in Southern California: it’s just so beautiful, especially if you can afford to pay for such a view.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_q3GXm7hBx5shsmcPm5yBWQ0t3dpWXcUAOO4PQxcpXngHDALvNhwtmEBUOsGJ_mqArXhNwNakH-jh3Q0DLTSEPC6ZyNpwzsLC6W35T3B2UqtM4nqAIFefrIyEwwjAou-uV_LyEAqScLY/s1600/040409_Ritz-Carlton_Laguna-Niguel_Eliot+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_q3GXm7hBx5shsmcPm5yBWQ0t3dpWXcUAOO4PQxcpXngHDALvNhwtmEBUOsGJ_mqArXhNwNakH-jh3Q0DLTSEPC6ZyNpwzsLC6W35T3B2UqtM4nqAIFefrIyEwwjAou-uV_LyEAqScLY/s400/040409_Ritz-Carlton_Laguna-Niguel_Eliot+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" tt="true" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span style="color: black;">No. 6: </span></strong><a href="http://www.innoftheanasazi.com/"><strong><span style="color: black;">Rosewood Inn of the Anasazi</span></strong></a></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
Why: The Ambience</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Staying <a href="http://www.travelagewest.com/namer/article_ektid41112.aspx">here</a> felt like being holed up in a cozy lodge in the woods—albeit one with a nightly turndown service of shortbread cookies and water and a retractable (and sizable) flat-screen TV. I stayed at the inn during my very first visit to Santa Fe, N.M., last winter and immediately fell in love with the hotel’s welcoming and cozy ambience, complete with a kiva fireplace and a balcony overlooking the Santa Fe Plaza. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Mb5Y4GE5egLuO09GYj6IMwx4snH7oFk2qvHzPUH4rF0B_S9Iyn4yiss2wJC46UcUdS4Qgl-OAjaR8KQrVOEsX9axvykjwnystUnQT7qlrVnzIHr7ib6Ueeb081fXd51f0QHGbFcLAuA/s1600/120109_Rosewood_Inn_of_the_Anasazi_Room+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Mb5Y4GE5egLuO09GYj6IMwx4snH7oFk2qvHzPUH4rF0B_S9Iyn4yiss2wJC46UcUdS4Qgl-OAjaR8KQrVOEsX9axvykjwnystUnQT7qlrVnzIHr7ib6Ueeb081fXd51f0QHGbFcLAuA/s400/120109_Rosewood_Inn_of_the_Anasazi_Room+(c)+Deanna+Ting.JPG" tt="true" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong></strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>No. 5: </strong><a href="http://hongkong.langhamplacehotels.com/en/"><strong><span style="color: black;">Langham Place Hotel</span><span style="color: black;"> Hong Kong</span></strong></a></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Why: The Amenities</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I stayed at the <a href="http://www.travelagewest.com/asia/article_ektid35192.aspx">Langham Place Hotel Hong Kong</a> for a week and loved it for many reasons. For one, it was smack dab in the middle of Mongkok, Hong Kong, where all the good markets are located (an absolute plus for a shopaholic like myself). And secondly, it was just, well, cool. From the moment I pulled up to the porte cochere and saw that sculpture by Jiang Shuo (see photo), I knew I’d like it here. It was also extremely hi-tech: the in-room safe could even charge your laptop while you were out for the day. And although the Langham Place encompassed a sprawling 42-story building, I never felt lost; it was like my second home for that entire week. (Photo (c) Langham Place Hotel Hong Kong)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span style="color: black;">No. 4: </span></strong><a href="http://www.fourseasons.com/marunouchi/"><strong><span style="color: black;">Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Marunouchi</span></strong></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Why: The Bed</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I know that you’re supposed to spend most of your time on the go while on vacation, but I’d never before been so tempted to stay in as I was when I stayed here. The bed at the Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Marunouchi was the epitome of everything I’d ever want in a bed: ultra-soft, but not too soft, and covered in Egyptian cottons and plush pillows. It was torture getting up in the mornings—especially so when we set our wake-up call at 4:30 a.m. to make it to the <a href="http://www.tsukiji-market.or.jp/tukiji_e.htm">Tsukiji Fish Market</a>—but it was pure bliss just to drift off into sleep at night. (Photo (c) Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Marunouchi) </span><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span style="color: black;">No. 3: One of the campgrounds at </span></strong><strong><a href="http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/camping.htm"><span style="color: black;">Yosemite National Park</span></a></strong><strong><span style="color: black;"> (I can’t remember which one, sadly)</span></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Why: The Company</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I can’t even remember which campground it is that I stayed in with my boyfriend, Eliot, and his two best friends. But I do remember how freezing it was, even in the middle of the summer, and how one of his friends nearly scorched the bottom of his feet in an attempt to warm himself by our makeshift fire. Nonetheless, this reminded me that, even when your accommodations are nowhere near five-star (or even at a hotel for that matter), they can still feel like they are if you’ve got the right company with you. The entire trip was filled with episodes of hilarity: we woke up too late to make it to Half Dome in time and we didn’t bring enough blankets or clothing to keep warm at night. Even so, we had a blast and for that, it’ll always be one of my favorite camping trips. </span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>No. 2: <a href="http://www.peninsula.com/Tokyo/en/default.aspx#/Tokyo/en/"><span style="color: black;">The Peninsula Tokyo</span></a></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Why: The Welcoming Committee</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><a href="http://www.travelagewest.com/article_ektid42012.aspx">The Peninsula Tokyo</a> was the very first hotel that I stayed at during my trip to Japan last December and it set the bar high—very high—for the rest of my trip. We had just arrived at night from Narita, still groggy from our 11-hours-long flight but, as soon as I stepped into the hotel, I felt immediately at home—if only my home could be as luxurious and opulent as The Peninsula Tokyo was. In fact, it felt just like my dream home, complete with a huge walk-in closet (with a built-in nail dryer), a multi-functioning printer/fax machine/copier (yes, that kind of thing matters to me), and even a digital clock embedded into the bathroom mirror so you're never late for an important meeting. And waking up the next morning to a traditional Japanese-style room service breakfast was, for me, the best part. </span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>No. 1: <a href="http://kyoto.hoshinoya.com/en/"><span style="color: black;">Hoshinoya Kyoto</span></a></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Why: The Experience </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Have you ever stayed somewhere and just felt like you were living in a different time and place—as though you really were on vacation from your everyday life? That's exactly how I felt when I got to spend two nights here. At first, it might seem strange to describe the Hoshinoya Kyoto as a modern ryokan (traditional Japanese-style inn) but that's exactly what it was in every sense of the word. It still had all of the modern amenities that travelers expected (including those frighteningly intelligent Japanese toilets) but all of it was housed within the confines—both physical and metaphorical—of an historic ryokan. It was, simply, a magical stay from the very start: to even get to the Hoshinoya, you had to hop on a boat to travel down the river. And my room wasn't even just a room—it was like a small house, complete with a tatami-floored living room (where we had a room-service breakfast of nabe; see below), a separate bedroom and a separate bathroom. If I ever go back to Kyoto (which I hope I do), I hope I can stay here once more.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Eliot eagerly anticipated our room-service breakfast of nabe (Japanese hot pot).</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This was a hallway from one of the other buildings on property.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And this was the view of the river from our room.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Now that I’ve shared some of my favorite hotels, I’d love to hear about some of your favorite—and not-so-favorite—stays, too. </span>Deanna Tinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01104621272567922863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2027937167602714382.post-35275625908651008152010-04-22T21:21:00.000-07:002010-04-22T21:23:23.355-07:00Favorites, 2009 (Part 4, With Friends)<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">As I’ve said before, one of the least favorite things about being a travel writer (if there is such a thing) is having to travel with people that you would never—ever—want to travel with. On the flip side, however, I consider myself to have been very lucky. Last year, I traveled with some of my dearest friends—and even made some new ones along the way.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">In the midst of the H1N1 scare, my brother, Matthew, and I embarked on our first cruise ever, sailing from Long Beach, Calif. to Victoria, B.C., on the <a href="http://www.carnival.com/cms/fun/ships/carnival_splendor/default.aspx?shipcode=SL">Carnival Splendor</a>. We still had fun anyway, even if it was a lot rainier and cloudier than it would have been in Puerto Vallarta. (May 2009)</span><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">My friend, Jennifer, whom I’ve known since the second grade, was my travel buddy on my first-ever river cruise, sailing down the Rhine with <a href="http://www.avalonwaterways.com/Product.aspx?trip=0WAZ&source=AW_Cruises_Rhine">Avalon Waterways</a>. We snapped this photo in Heidelberg, Germany. (Photo (c) Jennifer Eriguel; August 2009)</span><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Cindy and I cast a shadow on the shores of Achsiv Beach in Israel. (September 2009)</span><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And, on the first night of our trip to Japan and Korea, my boyfriend, Eliot, and I enjoyed a feast at The Peninsula Tokyo’s <a href="http://www.peninsula.com/Tokyo/en/default.aspx#/Tokyo/en/Dining/">Peter</a> restaurant—just one of many great meals we savored throughout both countries. (December 2009)</span><br />
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