Tag: travel

Are you a McDonald’s Snob?

Leave a comment

I have to admit, I once was. I had this notion of why eat an American fast food chain when you are in Italy, Philippines, or Korea and have other local options to choose from.

I agree…there are endless places to eat at…but there is something about discovering new items internationally at McDonald’s that you will not find in your local McD’s.

For example, I discovered the Shrimp Burger (or Ebi Filet-O) in Japan! It’s just delicious and I got a whole meal for $5.76!

That price is almost unheard of now at ALL fast food joints! This price included my Shrimp Burger, Medium Fries, and a Drink. The Ebi Filet-O had real shrimp in it and shredded lettuce. Everything about it was delicious and for the price…you can never go wrong.

In conclusion, don’t be a McDonald’s Snob. You might just be missing out on something absolutely delicious and affordable.

Ebi Filet-O
Ketchup

Limited Time Offer: Potato & Beef Black Pepper Cream Cheese – Get the Ebi Filet-O instead! This was a 3 out of 5. Side note: My dad loves his Japanese Milk…he drinks it everyday! 😀

Portland Edibles

Leave a comment

In Spring of 2023, I packed a carry-on and went on a weekend trip to Portland, Oregon. The main reason for going was because when my mom was still alive, I had been convincing her to hang on a bit longer so that I could take her to see the beautiful tulips at the Tulip Festival in Oregon. She didn’t last past winter. So in remembrance of her, I went to see the tulips.

Portland, however, isn’t just known for its tulips, beautiful waterfalls, and hikes. They are also known for some delicious eats and good coffee.

Below are the few food highlights during my quick trip.

For Burgers and Sliders, I highly recommend PDX sliders. Everything we ordered was delicious. Because they do have quite a few choices…I’d go with sliders so that you can try a few different options. I had the Hawthorne which consisted of beef, bacon, goat cheese, strawberry preserves on brioche bun. My next slider was the Morrison, which was an herb-marinated chicken, bacon, pesto, baby arugula, aioli on a ciabatta.

For Donuts and Chai, try Pip’s. Because the donuts were little donut holes, it didn’t feel like a crime to order a dozen between two people. So we ordered a dozen and tried every flavor, including the seasonal flavor: Pear Butter. I wasn’t too crazy about the Pear Butter and much preferred their traditional flavors, like the cinnamon sugar and the raw honey & sea salt. Also, the Chai flight was the best thing we did because I love Chai and couldn’t decide which to get. In the end, I narrowed down my favorites to: King and I & Heart of Gold.

For an Intimate Date Night Out, I do suggest trying a local favorite like Papa Haydn…it’s been around since 1978! The soup, salad, and entree were all delicious but I think the main event really belongs to the dessert. We had the Boccone Dolce…which was exquisite and a must try for everyone.

There you have it…a place for the person-on-the go, a place for the sweet tooth person in you, and a place for a dressier date night.

Fields of Tulips

Pip’s reminding you to EAT
PDX Sliders
Pip’s

Road Trip to Coos Bay, Oregon

Leave a comment

Back in October of 2021, Winfred and I decided to go on a road trip to Oregon to visit my aunt and uncle. This aunt and uncle hold a special place in my heart because they were the ones who welcomed me into their home when I decided to leave Guam and spread my wings and try it out in California. They sold their home a few years ago in Sacramento and purchased a retirement house in Coos Bay, Oregon. Since they moved, I haven’t been able to visit them and I figured that the three day weekend in October might just be the time to visit them. I gave them a call and they said, “Come on over!” Below, I’ll be sharing and recollecting our 4 day itinerary in Coos Bay, Oregon.

Day 1: We took Highway 5 all the way into Oregon. It wasn’t our first choice route, but because we picked up a tag-along passenger in Stockton, it soon became our preferred route. The drive on the 5 all the way north was actually pretty breath-taking. We passed an endless amount of trees and greeneries. There was also a majestic mountain that took my breath away…I tried to research the name of the mountain and it may have been the Siskiyou mountain.

We stopped at Rogue River, Oregon for a late lunch at FLIP, flippin good burgers. Then dropped off Brutus at his boardinghouse called Howl-a-Day Inn. And, finally, made it to my aunt’s house. It was quite an adventure!

Day 2: This was our adventure day! We went out and rented a Utility Terrain Vehicle (UTV.) Oregon Dunes is one of Coos Bay’s claim to fame. The Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area extends for 40 miles along the Oregon Coast from Florence, OR to Coos Bay, OR (https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/siuslaw/recreation/recarea/?recid=42465)

It was Winfred’s dad first time in a sand dune and let alone in a UTV. Winfred and I have visited Pismo Beach a couple of times and have driven All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) a handful of times. However, we were all excited, especially Brutus because he got to ride with us!

That evening, we enjoyed dinner at the Portside Restaurant. The view from the ceiling to floor windows were spectacular! You can see the sun setting and the calm waters. A nice way to end a perfect day!

Day 3: We took this day slowly. We stopped by the Shore Acres Gardens again as we had been kicked out the day before because they were closing. The ranger on duty that day was kind enough to let us come again the second day without charging us a fee ($5/day-cash only!) So we came back and enjoyed everything else more thoroughly.

Day 4: Left Coos Bay and headed to Crater Lake. Will share more on a future post of Crater Lake.

One thing I will remember to do the next time I visit Coos Bay…BRING A COOLER! We regretted not bringing our cooler with us for this trip as there was so much fresh seafood! From oysters, to crab, and to fish! If you love seafood, you will definitely enjoy Coos Bay. I hope to return again one day to the Bay Area of Oregon, Coos Bay.

The Flower Fields at Carlsbad, CA

Leave a comment

Last weekend, the husband and I decided on a whim, to drive down to SoCal to pay a visit to the Flower Fields in Carlsbad before they close out for the season. It was a nice drive because we barely hit any traffic and the weather was warm and inviting. (We did a detour in Los Angeles but more on that later). We gave our friends a one day notice and just hoped they were free. Thankfully they all were!

We stayed one night at our friends home in Oceanside and another night at the Carlsbad by the Sea Hotel, which was conveniently located right across the Flower Fields (IG story to be shared shortly).

I purchased our tickets for the Flower Fields on April 29 for a May 1st visit. Surprisingly, there were many tickets available throughout the day, however, I decided for the last entry (5PM-5:30PM) so that we can enjoy our Sunday meeting, have a nice lunch, and have time to check in at the hotel and relax before heading to the Flower Fields. It sounded like a nice plan in my head, but little did I know, we would have an unpleasant experience later that afternoon.

Here is the hard lesson I learned: On their website it has 9am-6pm listed on their home page and no other disclaimer about adhering to strict operational hours. However, on the purchase ticket link, you can purchase tickets for the last entry from 5:00PM-5:30PM for the same price of $22. Which means, those who purchase the last entry only received one hour or 30 minutes of exploration time. I couldn’t help but feel gypped when, 15 minutes before closing, majority of the employees were telling all the paying visitors to exit the fields. We left feeling very frustrated.

Anyhow, the next day, I had to speak out for others and myself…that the Flower Fields should not charge the same price for the last entry and that they should, at the very least, not have tickets from 5:00PM-5:30PM if the fields close at 6PM. They understood my frustration and were very accommodating.

Because of this experience, I share with you this new knowledge:

  1. Do NOT purchase the 5:00PM-5:30PM tickets. (The 30 min window from the ticket means you can arrive between 5PM-5:30PM.)
  2. Do purchase tickets that allow at least 1.5 to 2 hours of exploration time. If you come with kids, allow for more time to enjoy the kiddie activities like the Sweet Pea Maze, collecting stamps at each location, having snacks, and the Wagon Ride (Additional $6/per adult and $3/per child).
  3. Tickets are $22/per adult, $20/per senior 60+ or military, and $10/per child (3-10 years old).
  4. If you do not wish for your feet to get dirty and dusty, wear closed toe shoes that are comfortable to walk in.
  5. The Flower Fields typically close on Mother’s Day weekend but this season has been extended to May 15, 2022. Tickets are also half off now! ($11/per adult, $10 per senior 60+ or military, and $5/per child).

Overall, it was a solid experience! A field of more than 50 acres of ranunculus, gladiolas, and even sunflowers…leaving me with a delightful memory and a lasting feast for my eyes.

Roadtrip Essentials

2 Comments

One of my most favorite things to do, since I moved stateside, are roadtrips! Recently, we embarked on a 10 hour drive from northern California to North Bend, Oregon. We started our journey at 6:30AM, made five stops along the way, and arrived at our destination just a few minutes before 6PM. The MVP (Most Valuable Passenger) has got to be the driver! In our case, it was the hubby who took on the challenge and agreed to do the entire drive himself. He was a champ throughout because I was expecting him to pass me the keys at least once, but he took his responsibility seriously and embraced it. Granted, his dad was with us, for the first time ever, and maybe this compelled him to be the pilot at all times. Whatever the reason, I was glad he did it and he did a great job at it. While he was driving, I thought it would be nice to put together a list of essentials for our next road trip…so here it is!

  • SNACKS AND WATER. Eventually, you’d get thirsty or its Who-Knows-How-Many miles until the next store, restaurant, or fast food joint…and you are Starving and Hangry…snacks and water or other beverages will be a lifesaver!
  • A GREAT PLAYLIST. What’s a road trip without rockin out?
  • DRAMAMINE. Windy roads make me so dizzy and nauseous that dramamine is a close companion of mine during road trips.
  • A WARM BLANKET. Something to keep you wrapped up and cozy for those cat naps.
  • FIRST AID KIT. You hope to never use it. 🙂
  • MAP or G.P.S. Has anyone embarked on a roadtrip without a map, G.P.S., or their phone with Waze? Sadly, I’d never make it to my destination without my phone,
  • PHONE CHARGER. Using Maps or other apps on the phone will drain your battery fast, so be sure to have a car charger set up and ready to plug your phone in before its completely dead.

Also, because it Covid-times, I always carry hand sanitizer, alcohol wipes, disposable masks in my bag or glove compartment. What are your roadtrip essentials? And why?

My Part 1 Color Factory Experience

Leave a comment

Let me just start by saying this:  In order to have a Color Factory experience, you must first sign up for their newsletter. The newsletter will alert you to any upcoming ticket sales and when to purchase the tickets. This will allow you to mark your calendars and set a reminder (that is what I did.) Please note, this is a very important step! If you miss the date (let alone the hour) these tickets go on sale…you can just kiss that experience of yours good-bye.

An hour before the ticket sales, I consulted with my friends to choose our dates. I recommend having a few dates in mind because, more than likely, your first choice will be sold out! I didn’t really have a plan on who would be going with me, but I just sent out a mass text and waited to see who would reply amongst my friends. A few of them did…and I ended up going with Sarah. THANKS Sarah! (Please note: at least one name has to match the tickets purchased and they do check ID’s twice.)

Knt+t+WySAG6VBpYc1vNEw.jpg

IMG_4215

Green with Envy because the marker is taller than ME.
You Look Good in Pink…Oh, yes you do!

I had my credit card and computer ready…and I was pumped! Five minutes prior to ticket sales start time, I had the site up and just continually refreshed. Once I was in…I waited until I was next in the queue. Once I was up, I went directly to the dates I had in mind, but all the weekends were taken. Also, the most you can purchase is for four people. But, even with that option, you’re better off looking for tickets that can accommodate at least two people. I was able to secure a spot on January 19, a Friday, at 12 noon.

So, as you can see, securing tickets was a whole big task on its own. You’ll have to plan ahead and follow through. Some ask, is it worth my $35? In my opinion, I say absolutely, YES! I don’t even remember the last time I was in a ball pit…actually, I do. It was probably when I was 8 years old and my parents took me to the McDonald’s in Harmon, Guam. The McDonald’s was still new at that time…and I remembered how fun it was! Now, as a grown person with responsibilities, I crave that freeness I once had as a kid. So, if I have to pay $35 to be a kid again (in an adult body,) and take all the crazy non-sense pictures for my IG…i’d do it! As an extra perk, you do get a few snacks along the way: macarons, charcoal lemonade, and a small soft serve in the end…so, tell me…WOULD YOU GO TO the COLOR FACTORY?

I also did an insta-story the whole time so if you’d like to see Part 2 of my Color Factory experience, please check out my IG account. The whole experience and all the rooms we entered were captured on my Instagram Highlight Stories. Please follow my Instagram @islanderinheels.

 

 

Nightmare Flights

Leave a comment

Have you ever experienced a flight or airline/airport crew gone wrong? And it went wrong not because of your own doing. Well, a while back on my NOLA post, I mentioned the nightmare of a flight we had on our way to New Orleans. I didn’t elaborate then…so this is my follow up post on what I’ve learned and what I would recommend in the future.

  • For starters, I recommend flying direct to your destination. (Flying back home on a connecting flight is not so bad…after all, I’d rather start a vacation quickly and end it slowly.) There’s nothing worse than starting your trip on the wrong foot. That flight we booked to New Orleans had a connecting flight in Salt Lake City, Utah. However, because the grounds crew or the airline crew didn’t want to shut the airplane door, we waited on the tarmac for more than an hour. Then, the door was finally shut, we pulled back a little, but as unusual as this was…we pulled back to the gate and stayed there for another 45 minutes! At this point, I was already getting anxious and upset simultaneously. I had a feeling we were going to miss our connecting flight and NOT make it to our dinner reservation that evening. Thankfully, our story had a semi sweet ending…We did miss our connecting flight, however, I was able to push back the dinner reservation and  we made it to GW Fins.
  • Check the reviews on flights and airlines. Do their planes typically have mechanical problems? Are they known for always being delayed? What’s their reputation as an airline as a whole? Certain airlines have received a great deal of bad press lately, however, some rightfully so.
  • Choose the lesser of the two evils. How much money do you want to save by booking a connecting flight? Are you using mileage and don’t have much options in choosing which airline to fly with? Is it really a big deal if you miss your dinner reservation? These are things to consider.
  • Lastly, file a complaint. I am one to say that I dislike complainers (especially petty complainers), however, when NONE of the events that transpired were due to your inexperience and/or ignorance on your part AND you paid a fare (pun intended) price, then you ought to speak up. Some airlines are generous in compensating their clients for their mistakes, others are not. You win some, you lose some. But, you can’t win any if you don’t speak a plenty.

How about you? What did you learn from your nightmare flights and what can you recommend to me?

 

Viva Las Vegas

4 Comments

Las Vegas, a place where you can travel the world, yet remain on a strip. This past September (which was perfect weather), I accompanied my parents, and their friends, for a four day getaway.

We did NOT rent a car, but we did take advantage of the shuttle services, monorails, lyft or uber (whichever wasn’t surging at the moment…,) and the occasional taxi cabs.

We stayed at the Rio, which wasn’t as I remembered it to be, but it did OK. Every morning, we took advantage of the overpriced coffee at the Starbucks downstairs because there was no free coffee in the room (also, they charge you $0.75 for iced tap water!) The Rio isn’t on the strip…but isn’t too far away either. At that time, Rio provided a free shuttle every 30 minutes that drops you off to the strip. However, we didn’t have the time or the patience to wait each time…so we would either grab a cab or a lyft.

What parts of the world can you reach from the strip? Well, lets start at the U.S. You can go to NYC, and see the Brooklyn Bridge, have a bite of their famous burgers in Shake Shack, ride their roller coaster, and then head over to Europe. You can get a piece of these European cities: Paris, Venice, and Rome. Then head to Africa by going to the Luxor and feeling like you’re in Egypt. By the time you’ve ventured through at least three of these countries, you’ll feel exhausted and would want to retire to the comfort and coolness of your hotel room.

If you desire to venture off the strip, there is the Hoover Dam, that is about 50 minutes away. Hoover Dam has been featured in many movies such as San Andreas, Transformers, and Fools Rush In with Salma Hayek and Matthew Perry. Definitely worth checking if you’re tired of the same scene.

Another advantage to Vegas is, it’s also not too far off from the West Rim portion of the Grand Canyon. The West Rim belongs to the Hualapai (WALL-uh-pie) tribe, and isn’t part of the national park. That being said, the West Rim is still a beautiful and unique experience. We were able to see Eagle Rock and get on the Skywalk. It was truly a Magnificent experience! (I can share more about the details of the West Rim on a separate blog post.)

Overall, Vegas is a great thrill! You don’t have to be into gambling or casinos to enjoy the place…because no matter what you like, you’ll find something for yourself in Vegas!

Processed with VSCO with s2 presetfullsizeoutput_6604fullsizeoutput_6580IMG_3123IMG_1311IMG_31639Q100573323_M_191IMG_3178IMG_3197Processed with VSCO with e1 presetIMG_3252

 

A weekend in a Yurt

Leave a comment

A few weeks ago, we enjoyed a short trip to Napa Valley and stayed in one of the large yurts in Bothe Napa Valley State Park.

Per Wikipedia: a yurt is a portable, round tent covered with skins or felt and used as a dwelling by nomads in the steppes of Central Asia. The structure comprises an angled assembly or latticework of pieces of wood or bamboo for walls, a door frame, ribs (poles, rafters), and a wheel (crown, compression ring) possibly steam-bent. 

I don’t believe our yurt was covered in skins or felt, but rather in canvas. The lattice work was indeed a part of it, however, I don’t recall seeing a wheel.

The Yurt was large enough to fit six people with one full size bed and four cots. At night, it would get really chilly and dark (no electricity!) in the yurt, and during the day it’ll feel hot like a sauna. The sun will hit directly on your face around 6am forcing you to wake from your slumber; it was nature’s nice way of providing you an alarm clock.

Yurt 22
Letting some light in

We came to love our lil home for the past two days we were there. The only down side to it is that there are no keys given for each yurt. You can lock your door from inside the room before you sleep, but we couldn’t lock it from the outside to protect our personal belongings. So, I suggest not bringing anything of high value and leaving only minimal things in your yurt while everyone goes hiking, swimming,  or wine tasting.

If I happen to be in the Napa area in the future, I would definitely like to stay in a yurt again.

 

Sweet Treats from NYC

Leave a comment

Part II of my list of food places to try in New York are sweet treats. Whether it be doughnuts, cookies, or rice pudding…here are my faves:

  • Momofuku Milk Bar. Who thought someone can be so happy with cereal and soft serve? Its like comfort food on another level. And, don’t even get me started on their crack pie…
  • Doughnut Plant. I’ve always been a fan of tres leches and theirs is a must try! A few others to add to your box: Peanut butter and banana cream, vanilla bean, red velvet, crème brûlé, Peanut butter and blackberry jam…heck, just try everything!
  • Rice to Riches. If you grew up with a Filipino mom, you know what chocolate rice is. Rice to Riches is just that… but better! There are other things added to the rice other than chocolate. They have rum raisin, french toast, mascarpone, banana coconut, and the list goes on and on… Sample a few to taste what you like because it is filling and not so cheap. Then reward your belly with some yummy goodness!

I hope you get to try at least one of these three places, and let me know what you think. I have other places I want to try that I have not ticked off…such as, Levain Bakery, Cookie Dō, and others. Always gotta have a reason to come back to NYC.