From my 19th floor hotel room, I can see a gorgeous view of downtown Manhattan. Skyscrapers glitter above and below me, and the crawl of people and cars never stop. I’ve always dreamed of working in New York City, and now I’m finally here – flying first class coast to coast, staying weekends at luxury …
Over the past few years, the matcha trend has taken the world by storm. But if you love matcha treats, there’s no place like Japan to indulge yourself in soft serve, pastries, and sweets of all kinds. If you’ve been following along for the past few weeks, you’ll know that I’ve been hopping around the …
My obsession with jiggly cheesecake began with an Insider food video that was simply mesmerizing. It showed a beautiful, fluffy, creamy cheesecake… that jiggled. It jiggled and swayed and wobbled from side to side. I was captivated and knew it was my mission to eat one of these cheesecakes. I imagined it must taste like a …
Jiggly Cheesecake Saga – How to bake a souffle cheesecake Read More »
You know in Disney movies where the princess sings and a swarm of woodland creatures come flock lovingly around her? That’s how I felt at Nara Park, except the woodland creatures were exclusively deer, and I lured them with rice crackers instead of a beautiful singing voice. This town in Japan is home to a …
1000 red tori gates line the path to the peak of Mt. Inari. Early morning sun glances off the bright red gates, packed so closely together they seem to capture you in a quiet, mystical world. Fushimi Inari shrine is perhaps the most iconic picture spot in Kyoto, Japan, and for good reason. The tori …
I’m not a last minute person. I never pull all nighters, never study the day of an exam, never work out or diet the week before the beach. If it’s not done by the last minute, I’d rather not do it at all! For my around the world trip to China, Japan, and Russia, my …
How to get your Russian visa 8 hours before your flight Read More »
What’s on your to-do list for today? Eat a donut – because it’s National Donut Day!! From the humble glazed to the artisan lavender lemon, a donut will bring a ray of sunshine to your day. Happy Donut Day! Every culture has their version of a donut – bombolone, loukoumades, beignets and America celebrates National …
Traditional meets modern luxury in the ryokan-inspired Ritz Carlton Kyoto. Coming in at $1000 per night, is a stay here worth the price tag? “Happy Birthday!” read the chocolate-scrawled message that welcomed me to my room at the Ritz Carlton Kyoto. As the concierge politely backed out of the room, I only had one question: …
Flowers blooming in mesmerizing, ever-shifting patterns, waterfalls that part at the touch, and forests of dazzling crystal lights. The Digital Museum in Tokyo marries the beauty of nature with futuristic graphics to create a breathtaking, immersive experience. Tokyo is a city that seamlessly integrates ancient shrines in the heart of a bustling metropolis and balances …
Juicy pork dumplings bursting with flavor, scallion pancakes crisp with buttery layers, sweet buns overflowing with red bean paste – fragrant smells stir Shanghai streets awake in the morning. My summer mornings in Shanghai would always begin with an important question – what to eat for breakfast? Shops and stands throughout the city would open …
Travel Diaries: Favorite Shanghai Breakfast Foods Read More »