Food Friday :- Craving Bacon!

Why is it that we crave for what we cannot have??

Be it a materialistic object. Be it a lost love. Be it an emotion or exhilarating sensation. Be it a type of food.

When I was in Israel and Jordan, my craving for Bacon came out of nowhere.

Well lucky me Jewish and Muslims does not eat pork, due to their religion and beliefs. So what’s a woman craving bacon to do?

Fashion and Beauties of Vietnam

Long sleeved camera assistant in HCMC, Vietnam

On the first full day of my 20-day visit in Vietnam, I noticed something very obvious and conflicting, with my eyes while in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC).

Everywhere I go. Everywhere I look. The thermometer read +35C (95F). The heat. The humidity – oh the humidity – it was about 95%. Luckily by this time, I had started to acclimatize to the crazy hot heat of Asia – this took 1.5 months. However, it still felt like a ginormous sauna / steam room to me, every time I leave the comfort of air conditioning.

Life in Central Java, Indonesia

Sifting through my 1000’s of photos from previous travels, to look for specific photos to post with my writings often brings back fond memories… Then my mind drifts and wanders down memory lane – it is no wonder it takes me hours, sometime days to write one article!

A few times, I would start with one intention and by the time I click “Publish” – the post is about a completely different country, a different trip, a different experience all together. It is happening right now!

My intention yesterday was to write about my day trip to Borobudur in Indonesia, it is still in Draft. I have been distracted by the photos of locals, going about their daily life.

Money talks differently…

To those who know me well, I can be quite the procrastinator. Sometimes I have lame, or very lame excuses. Sometimes, it’s really a matter of priority, such that if I’ve procrastinated for 2 weeks, what’s another week when I have something that’s due today?!

Well I know I been home from my 2013 Epic Journey since end of July. I have traveled to the Canadian Rockies in August and to New York City in November. But at the end of the day, I still have not sat down and done the expense summary I started while traveling to 14 different countries.

I mean, sure, the money is spent already but to some degree I want to know what percentage of my money was spent on logistics and what was spent on fun. This way, in the future, when someone ask me how to budget their trips, I can be of assistance. Also, this way I know where my money has gone.

The next phase…

Today is one of those days that people and movies talk about – a day that made me look back at everything that I’ve done the past 38 years of my life, in this lifetime. What I have experienced. No I didn’t have a near death experience – not that dramatic. I didn’t see everything flash by – instead, I chose to journey through a highlight reel.

All because of a delicious lunch with friends. All because of running around town, trying to get some errands done. All because I had a talk with a friend that triggered a slew of thoughts to solidify. I have him to thank – Thank you Jay.

Leaving consumerism behind…

With Boxing Day, Cyber Monday and Black Friday behind us for 2013 – I believe I have stepped into a new paradigm for myself.

 

I was born in Hong Kong – the land of street stalls and high end boutiques. My whole being was exposed to and bombarded by materialism and consumerism on a daily basis. Name Brands. Celebrities. The Ultra Rich. Old Money. The Nouveau Riche. Newest designs. Limited editions. Latest craze. Newest flavor.

Looking forward…

With only a few days remaining in 2013, what would you like to leave behind?

What are you looking forward to in 2014?

Let’s set a positive intention together for 2014.

Forging ahead towards the Antarctic peninsula in early January 2013

Contemplate this…

When someone is surrounded by ‘poverty’ and ‘bleak environement’ – Can they still know happiness?

She did What!?! ~ with Doris

Single Woman Travels! (SWT) is a place to inspire and motivate women (and men) around the world to travel. She did What?! is a monthly series of Q&A – asking women around the world to share their past travel experience. From this, I hope a few more women who are on the brink of expanding their world will be inspired and motivated to turn their dreams into reality.

Bio…    Doris – living in Toronto, Canada.

SWT:    Where was the destination of your second solo trip?

D:        London

SWT:    How old were you?

D:        22

SWT:    Were you single or attached at the time?

D:        Single

SWT:    What inspired the idea?

D:        Student Work Abroad Program (SWAP).

SWT:    What was your trip style? (backpack, tour group, comfort, meetup with family/friends)

D:        Hostel and rent a flat to share with fellow SWAP mates and find work!

SWT:    What type of accommodations? (family owned, B&B, tents, if a hotel, how many stars)

D:        Stayed in a youth hostel for the first 2 nights and then with 3 other Canadian girls, we rented a flat together.

SWT:    How long was your trip?

D:        2 months

SWT:    Who looked after the logistics?

D:        If I recall correctly SWAP organized the flight, work visa (VISA holiday maker) and first 2 nights accommodation at hostel.

SWT:    If you planned and/or booked the itinerary, did you enjoy the process?

D:        SWAP organized the initial contacts and then once I was connected with flatmates we did some day trips together including Brighton Beach, Dicken’s Old Curiosity shop and I also did a few trips on my own including Bath, Leeds Castle, and a ferry from Dover to Calais with train to Paris.

SWT:    If you worked with a travel agent, how was the experience?

D:        I have interacted with a few travel agents that are absolute gems.

SWT:    Would you / have you booked subsequent trips yourself?

D:        I have booked trips online to Christchurch, New Zealand and San Diego, California with my partner (neither of us is computer savvy and the last trip we used Priceline and saved quite a bit on hotels).

SWT:    What would you do different – in hindsight?

D:        N/A

SWT:    Did you feel comfortable traveling solo?

D:        Travelling solo was fine provided I had a destination to go to especially to meet up with people.

SWT:    How much research did you do in advance?

D:        I read up the Lonely Planet guidebook.

SWT:    What was the biggest surprise on the trip?

D:        N/A

SWT:    What did you learn about yourself during the trip that you weren’t totally aware of beforehand?

D:        In the space of a few minutes I learned about what is important in life (and how easy it is to forget).

SWT:    Was there any close calls or run-ins?

D:        N/A

SWT:    Where is your next dream destination?

D:        Nepal, Turkey or Machu Picchu

If you’d like to participate, please message me 🙂

She did What!?! ~ with Christine Part 2

Single Woman Travels! (SWT) is a place to inspire and motivate women (and men) around the world to travel. She did What?! is a monthly series of Q&A – asking women around the world to share their past travel experience. From this, I hope a few more women who are on the brink of expanding their world will be inspired and motivated to turn their dreams into reality.

Bio…    Christine Belanger or @chomba on Twitter. I am a Graphic Designer living in Toronto, Canada.

SWT:    Where was the destination of your second solo trip?

CB:        Belize and Guatemala.

SWT:    How old were you?

CB:        28

SWT:    Were you single or attached at the time?

CB:        Single

SWT:    What inspired the idea?

CB:        I love to volunteer travel, and I signed up for 10 days of volunteering in a small Mayan village in the mountains of Guatemala. The flight prices surprised me when I was looking to fly to Guatemala around Christmas. I found a much cheaper flight to Belize and decided to travel down and see many sites along the way.

SWT:    What was your trip style? (backpack, tour group, comfort, meetup with family/friends)

CB:        Backpack. (My first time backpacking.)

SWT:    What type of accommodations? (family owned, B&B, tents, if a hotel, how many stars)

CB:        Single rooms in hostels and cheap hotels. (Accommodations were quite inexpensive in Central America) When I was with the volunteer group, we stayed with local families.

SWT:    How long was your trip?

CB:        24 days

SWT:    Who looked after the logistics?

CB:        I did.

SWT:    If you planned and/or booked the itinerary, did you enjoy the process?

CB:        With my trusted companion of “Central America on a Shoestring”, the entire planning process became incredibly exciting! There wasn’t the time to do everything I wanted!!

SWT:    If you worked with a travel agent, how was the experience?

CB:        N/A

SWT:    Would you / have you booked subsequent trips yourself?

CB:        N/A

SWT:    What would you do different – in hindsight?

CB:        I wouldn’t have traveled over the Christmas holiday. Flights are much more expensive and traveling the day before, and on Christmas day can be dangerous in a third world country.

SWT:    Did you feel comfortable traveling solo?

CB:        Yes and no. Other people who worried for me prior to me leaving made me even more nervous. But when you’re backpacking, and staying at the hostels, you attract travel buddies. It is amazing how fast you buddy up and connect with fellow travelers. You are hardly ever really traveling alone. Luckily I chose single rooms in hostels, and being in backpacker-like hostels made it easier to meet fellow travelers in the common areas.

SWT:    How much research did you do in advance?

CB:        I did as much as possible and the book helped a lot. I also asked friends who were from there, traveled there, and other backpackers: What do I wear to look like the locals? What are the rules on tipping? What’s the best way to pack when you’re backpacking? etc.

SWT:    What was the biggest surprise on the trip?

CB:        In Belize: How safe some of the coastal cities were. Guatemala: How everyone is curious about you (as a foreigner) and wants to try to speak to you even though you have minimal Spanish. They want to know everything possible about your foreign country, what you think of their country, etc.

SWT:    What did you learn about yourself during the trip that you weren’t totally aware of beforehand?

CB:        Most of my learning came from the volunteer portion. That is another experience unto itself. The local experience was really the best part.

SWT:    Was there any close calls or run-ins?

CB:        I had an overnight bus that broke down. Although a fancy bus, the situation made me a little nervous. I’ll avoid overnight buses from now on.

SWT:    Where is your next dream destination?

CB:        Teaching Buddhist monks English in Laos 🙂

Next time, we’ll hear from Doris who chose to travel on her own…

If you’d like to share your story, contact me! 🙂