prairie girl musings

Tag: Asia

Hong Kong Happenings

I had contemplated an extended layover in Hong Kong for awhile. However, with the Canadian dollar being so weak at the moment, I was initially apprehensive. After two weeks in Vietnam, Hong Kong’s prices felt noticeably high. Fortunately, we were only there for a few days and managed to survive in a teeny tiny hotel room for four nights.

Hong Kong has something for everyone. It’s a hub of activity and an eclectic mix of culture and consumerism. I was dying to experience both the old and new. Travellers will appreciate the traditional diners and eateries, the vibrant nightlife, the extraordinary views, and the seemingly infinite markets of Kowloon.

Sightseeing & Activities/

The Kowloon markets are so much fun and come in all shapes and sizes. Without a doubt, the flower markets were our favourite. We spent hours perusing the beautiful blooms on display and regretted not being able to take anything home with us.

Be sure to check out the Goldfish Market and Bird Market, both are unconventional and interesting, and the Ladies Market for souvenirs.

Hong Kong is known for its shopping and nightlife, but most of the brands are similar to what you’d find in North America and Europe. With our dollar being so weak, we steered clear of the malls and ventured to the aforementioned markets. If you’re looking to drop some cash, Causeway Bay is a good place to start.

Whatever you do, make sure you hike (rather than taking the tram) up to The Peak. It’s a fantastic workout and the spectacular view provides the perfect reward.

While most tour books highly recommend day tripping to see Big Buddha, we decided to give it a miss. Natalie had already been and I was satisfied with the Buddhas we had already seen in Vietnam. Maybe one day I’ll go back!

Eat/

The food scene in Hong Kong blew me away. Traditional diners, where not a word of English is spoken, sit alongside trendy cafés and ultra modern ice cream parlours that delight both the eyes and the tastebuds.

Oddies Foodies: My favourite spot, by far, was Oddies! The tiny storefront on Wan Chai Road is usually jam-packed with locals and tourists. The Hong Kong-style waffles look as good as they taste!

Via Tokyo: If matcha’s your thing, you’ll love Via Tokyo. The matcha soft-serve here is drool-worthy. And for those who prefer soft-serve in other variations, they’ve got that too!

Mido Cafe: This timeless cafe is straight out of the movies, in fact many Hong Kong movies were filmed here. The mint interior is timeless and charming. The food isn’t anything special, but the atmosphere makes up for it.

Little Bao: I’m bao-obsessed, and this place came highly recommended by several people. After a particularly gruelling hike up to the Peak, Natalie and I were craving something a little different. She had the vegetarian bao and I had the pork belly, and we were both thoroughly impressed by both the quality of the baos and the super friendly service.

Grassroots Pantry: After all the ice cream we’d inhaled, it was time to replenish with some greens. Grassroots Pantry, with its swoon-worthy interior and plating, is the place to do it.

Hello Kitty Chinese Café: While Natalie and I were the only adults there without children in tow, all my childhood dreams came true at the HK restaurant in Kowloon. The wait is worth it for the Hello Kitty dumplings, buns, cutlery and decor.

Coffee/

After drinking way too much Vietnamese coffee (usually instant coffee with condensed milk), I appreciated the vibrant cafe culture in Hong Kong.

The Cupping Room: The tiled floors at the Wan Chai branch are as iconic as the flat whites. Breakfast here also deserves a mention!

Elephant Grounds: Another solid option for fantastic coffee. Their ice cream also looked delicious, but I didn’t have a chance to try it!

Stay/

We had a bit of drama with our accommodation (which was no one’s fault but my own) and ended up staying at Mini Hotel – Causeway Bay. While the walls are paper-thin and the rooms are smaller than my closet, the location was perfect, which is really what I’m all about.

February 25, 2016
Travel Wishlist

“If you’re twenty-five, physically fit, hungry to learn and be better, I urge you to travel – as far and wide as possible. Sleep on floors if you have to. Find out how other people live, eat, and cook. Learn from them wherever you go.”

From a very young age, my parents instilled in me a love of travel and exploration. My sisters and I were enrolled in French Immersion from age five, and spent evenings and summers learning Ukrainian. While vacations to Hawaii and Mexico are a favourite among North Americans, my parents were far more eager to take us beyond what was comfortable. My most memorable travels include visiting the remote regions of Ukraine, where we connected with our cousin, Ljuba for the very first time, exploring the sacred (and relatively tourist-free, at that time) temples in Ubud, Bali, and navigating the poverty dynamics in a nation that was re-discovering itself post-apartheid. And so, as my 25th birthday approaches, I have been pouring over travel blogs, Pinterest, and friends’ travel photos. Here are my top travel picks for 2013/2014:

1. Bolivia

A country unlike any other, Bolivia is a haven for adventurous travellers. With its arid deserts, tropical rainforests, snow-capped peaks, silver mines, and colourful inland lakes, there’s much more to this landlocked country than you’d ever expect! Not to mention, Yungas Road has been declared the world’s most dangerous road, a must for any daredevil!

2. Brazil (Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paolo)

Rio is known for its stunning architecture, abundant museums, and delicious food. I’d also like to see the massive Cristo Redentor statue in person, and visit the multitude of beaches (there are 23 just in Rio!)

I have a few friends who reside in the massive metropolis of São Paolo: my first RA at MSU is from Sãn Paolo, and four of my exchange friends are from Brazil. Latin Americans possess a loveliness and warmth that I’ve always tried to embody, the demeanour of my Brazilian friends is especially attractive to me.

3. Havana, Cuba

I’ve had a strong desire to visit Havana ever since first watching Havana Nights. I’m kidding, but I do have a soft spot for any dance film. After discussing the lively locale with one of my most well-travelled friends, I am certain Havana and I would hit it off. Katherine spent a semester in Havana during her undergraduate degree, and described it as one of the most exuberant cities she’s ever visited. Not so secretly, I plan to extensively visit all the places Ernest Hemingway frequented while he penned two of his best novels. I’d even like to spend a night in the hotel where he spent his days producing the masterpiece, For Whom the Bell Tolls.

4. Japan

There are endless reasons why Tokyo is considered the greatest city in the world. Its public transport, for one, is efficient and sophisticated and it possesses more Michelin-starred restaurants than Paris! It has taken over as the fashion capital of Asia, and the skyscrapers are remarkable! I could go on, but I’ll just say as an urbanite, Tokyo has topped my ‘must-visit’ list for awhile now. I’ve also heard wonderful things about Kyoto, Osaka, Sapporo, not to mention Mount Fuji and those cherry blossoms… Needless to say, I’ll be sure to do an extensive tour of Japan when I finally get a chance to visit!

5. Turkey

I’m aware that this may be a controversial addition to the list. As of late, many travellers have been hesitant to travel to Turkey given what’s happening across the border in Syria. While each traveller has a different level of tolerance for risk, it’s important to remember that Istanbul is a long way from Aleppo. I’ve been reading a lot about Turkey for one of my jobs, and appreciate all the work that’s being done to provide equal opportunities for Turkish women. There are many organizations dedicated to helping educate and send Turkish girls to school. The more I delve into my research, the more intrigued I become with this transcontinental country. I’ve known a few people who have studied in Istanbul, and it’s a hotbed for culture and history.

I haven’t planned any trips outside North America for 2014 yet, but I will be visiting Boston, Mont Tremblant, and New Orleans in the coming months.

Check out my Pinterest board, Travel o f t e n to see where else I’ve been (and would like to go!)

Where would you love to travel in 2014?

Need more travel inspiration? Check out National Geographic’s Tours of a Lifetime.

November 14, 2013
Tuesdays in Toronto

I’ve always liked, not loved, Tuesdays. Love is much too strong a word for Tuesday. However, I do like Tuesdays because Mondays (despite being a fresh start of sorts) always feel a bit out of sync. I’m out of routine from the weekend’s festivities, and it takes me awhile to get my groove back. By Tuesday, I’m more present and engaged. I’m a lot happier to be back at work, especially since I know what’s left to tackle for the rest of the week. I’ve been doing a lot of blogging and writing for Weddingbells, which is basically a dream come true. I’m really fortunate, both of my internships have enabled me to develop my writing skills along with my journalistic skills. My goal this week is to learn Adobe InDesign, and get a start on Photoshop. It pays to have a boyfriend who studied design and several colleagues who went to journalism school.

Usually after groggily dragging myself to the gym, (thank goodness it’s in my building) I spend a couple minutes online gathering my thoughts. Tuesdays are quote-days for me. I love reading and re-reading my favourites on Pinterest.

Today, I’ve been thinking about travelling. But let’s be honest, I think about travelling EVERY DAY because I’m infatuated with new experiences and new people. The fact that I’m settling into a regular routine so easily is quite surprising to me. 2012 as you know, was characterized by travel. Yes, I finished my degree and started a new job (internship) but those experiences were overshadowed by travel. My friend, Mary, (a Torontonian I met in Auckland) sent me this article yesterday, I urge you to have a read:

Converge Magazine: Why You Should Travel Young

Worthy advice! Without further ado, here are some of my favourite travel quotes and images:

“I was not born for one corner. The whole world is my native land.”

“Paris is always a good idea.”

“If your 22, (or 24) physically fit, hungry to learn to be better, I urge you to travel – as far and as wide as possible. Sleep on floors if you have to. Find out how other people live and eat and cook. Learn from them, wherever you go.”

– Anthony Bourdain

“Be a traveller, not a tourist. Try new things, meet new people, and look beyond what’s right in front of you. Those are the keys to understanding the amazing world we live in.”

– Andrew Zimmerin

“I love the feeling of being anonymous in a city I’ve never been before.”

“She said she usually cried at least once a day not because she was sad, but because the world is so beautiful and life was so short.”

“Once in awhile it really hits people that they don’t have to experience the world in the way they’ve been told.”

– Alan Keightley

“Because in the end, you won’t remember the time you spent working in the office or mowing your lawn. Climb that goddamn mountain.”

-Jack Kerouac

“I fell in love with the world in you.”

February 5, 2013
Southeast Asia: Bali, Indonesia

Ever since Elizabeth Gilbert released her bestselling novel, Eat, Pray, Love with a movie deal to boot, everyone’s been abuzz with the intention of quitting their day job and jet setting around the world. I’m no stranger to this philosophy, in fact, I experienced my quarter-life crisis a bit earlier than most. At the age of nineteen, I resolved to study abroad for six months, merely to escape the sensation of of being sentenced to a life in a deadbeat American town; a town that, to me, personified the expression “bible belt.” I decided on New Zealand because I already knew a handful of people who had been to Australia (Like I said, I was having an early onset of a quarter-life crisis, and determined to go someplace where I knew absolutely no one.) Plus, Australia would be a good place to escape during our two-week Easter break, with a size and mentality comparable to Canada. And that was only the beginning, upon returning to what I considered a mediocre university town, I simply couldn’t seem to get back in the swing of things.

Flash-forward to 2012: As I prepared to begin my last semester at the University of Auckland, I knew this was possibly my last opportunity for frivolous travel prior to beginning my professional life post-convocation. (Who was I kidding?) My high school education and family vacations had already taken me throughout North America and Europe several times. Fortunately, my cousin Lucia had a similar mindset, having just begun her first semester abroad in Auckland. We decided that on top of our local travels within New Zealand, (a country of four million) we would additionally benefit from a mini-vacation to Southeast Asia. I spoke of our Malaysian adventure in my last post, but before I go all Eat, Pray, Love on you, I’d like to rationalize why we decided to visit Bali.

Bali is a breathtakingly beautiful island, with several excellent tourist options available. We wanted to dip our feet in the culture surrounding Bali. We also wanted to indulge in a vibrant nightlife and relaxing retreat that recharged our batteries mid-semester. My Canadian friends, an adventurous couple, Kirsten and Steve, had both been to Bali separately, and revelled about their experiences. Steve urged us to visit Ubud, Bali’s cultural capital. Needless to say, we were not disappointed with its abundance of art galleries, culinary delights, wildlife and exotic temples. Every community in Bali has a local temple, and every family builds a more compact temple in their home. I was incredibly intrigued by this form of devotion. We also visited a monkey temple (or so we thought); our tour guide, Sudarma corrected us immediately and told us it was a regular temple, but the monkeys protected its sanctity and acted as guards of the grounds.

September 15, 2012