Author: Tippi

What Truly Makes a Trip

Picturesque places, check. Historic monuments, check. A bit of shopping, check. Foodie tour, check. A little culture, a lot of silly fun, check, check. In the end, however beautiful the sights, great the shopping, or delicious the food, what truly makes a trip wonderful is the company. Being with friends and people you truly enjoy is like adding that extra dollop of chili and squeeze of lime to an already mouthwatering bowl of pho–it just makes you want to come back for more! 🙂 Sailing through Halong Bay with Jarie, Rima, Mary Faye, Babylyn, Anne, JR, Gerry, Jeanette, VJ,...

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Hanoi: Asian Flavor, French Twist

The thing that was most interesting to me about Hanoi was its wonderful mix of Chinese and French influences which could be noticed everywhere, from our favorite corner midnight snack, bánh mi (grilled pork slices on a crusty French baguette), to the prevalent café culture with the delicious Vietnamese coffee, to the very picturesque architecture seen all around, and even to the pretty Vietnamese girls all dressed up on their bicycles and scooters. The way that cultures merge and mix, evolve and grow, has to be one of my favorite aspects of traveling 🙂 What’s most memorable to you...

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Hanoi: Life in the Old Quarter

In direct contrast to the relaxed, peaceful atmosphere in our hotel, life in the Old Quarter was bustling, hectic and oftentimes downright chaotic. After a big, buffet breakfast on our first day there–I had fresh fruits, muesli, homemade yogurt, flaky croissants & omelet plus two bowls of pho (oink, oink!)–we set off on foot to explore the area. Lined with arts & crafts shops (showcasing silks, embroidery, silver & lacquer wares) and hole-in-the-wall restaurants (that specialize in only one dish like Bún cha, Cha Ca Thang Long, Bún bò Nam Bo), the Old Quarter comes to life early everyday…...

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Fun, Food & Friends

Sorry for not posting over the past week, Ito and I just spent the last five days on a very fun jaunt to Hanoi with a big group of our friends. It was Ito’s and my first trip to Vietnam, so we really didn’t know what to expect (save for looking forward to hanging out with good friends and enjoying bowls and bowls of our favorite pho), but Hanoi turned out to be such pleasant surprise. Quaint and chaotic with its crumbling façades and faded colors, this city charmed us with its crazy back streets and wide, tree-lined boulevards, its highly-refined crafts and delicious down-to-earth flavors, and of course, its wonderfully hospitable–and insane scooter-driving–people. Can’t wait to share a few more pics and stories of our trip with you! Checking into our boutique hotel in the middle of the bustling & historic Old Quarter in Hanoi with friends Gerry, Jarie, Babylyn, Rima, Mary Faye, Jeanette, Triccie, Anne & JR (and, of course, Ito who snapped the pic!) 🙂 Bookmark on Delicious Digg this post Recommend on Facebook share via Reddit Share with Stumblers Tweet about it Subscribe to the comments on this...

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Inspirational Photo of the Day

This week went by in a blur of fashion, friends and, of course, family–the trifecta that my life revolves around–and I haven’t had much of a chance to catch my breath, much less make a proper post. However, no matter how crazy things get in our little corner of the world, there are always moments that stop us in our tracks, still our minds, and remind us of the greater world at large and the wonders that constantly surround us. This was one of those moments which happened midweek, and which literally stopped us in the middle of the road–we were out of town with my family and Ito had to pull the car over just so we could take pics. I’ve always looked out for silver linings since my grandmother first told me, when I was a child, that every dark cloud had one, but rarely have I seen one this distinct, this dramatic, and this literal (this photo I took is unfiltered). The outline was really glowing bright silver with rays coming out from behind the dark gray cloud. Talk about reminding us to look at the brighter side of life 🙂 What are some of the small, but unexpectedly awesome, moments you’ve come across recently? Bookmark on Delicious Digg this post Recommend on Facebook share via Reddit Share with Stumblers Tweet about it Subscribe to the...

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