Uhhh…I Wouldn’t Eat There If I Were You

The world over is full of amazing places to go, adventures to take and awesome meals to partake in. I for one am a firm believer that you the true way to get the flavor of any place is to try its food. I’m no sissy eater, is what I’m trying to say. I’m willing to try anything once and I go by the saying that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. However, when I heard about these umm, shall we say…weird restaurant names, I found myself faced with hesitation. A man, a real man, mind you, has got to know when to draw the line. And I draw the line at these weird sounding restaurant names and for the disturbing thoughts and ideas that go in my head upon hearing of them. Here are my top 5.

1. The Elegant Dump- This restaurant in Nantucket was supposedly open for years! Why? I don’t understand! When I hear the word dump, I think of number 2, the toilet, relieving myself, or whatever you want to call it! I don’t want to eat in a place that I associate with shitting, thanks very much!

2. A place in Memphis that sold hot dogs was called…Doggy Style Hotdogs. Umm, Maybe on a drunken night with my friends I would consider grabbing a bite, but not when I’m with my innocent little nieces and nephews, or my proper parents! I don’t know who’d die first of embarrassment!

3. Cheezus Crust- This place supposedly serves Pizza..with what I might ask? Some scripture and a Virgin Mary Martini on the side? I’ll take my religion in the church please, and not in a pizza parlor.

4. Chewy Balls- God only knows what they sold in this restaurant in Houston! This is not funny people! It makes horrible, painful nightmares about someone cutting off my personal lower region and enjoying them for break fast all too real! Nooooo!!!! The name just makes my lower areas hurt!

5. This is the last and my absolute favorite! Has anybody ever gone to Dirty Dick’s? You’ll never believe what they serve too…Crabs!!! Can you imagine the conversation? I got crabs at Dirty Dicks! They were soo good…Really hit the spot! Sounds appealing right?…Wrong..The only thing this sounds to me is itchy, gross and oh, did I mention wrong?.. just plain wrong!

So, the next time you want to go somewhere, don’t randomly consult some know-it-all bozo for the best place to eat. Do your research, go online and maybe get some genuinely good travel tips . And when you end up in a really nice, really classy 5 star restaurant, don’t forget to think of me, and say a silent prayer that you didn’t end up having dinner in possibly nasty and absolutely questionable Chewy Balls instead!

Cheers!

Surf’s up: 5 random surf spots

I had nothing to do all afternoon, I was bored and during really slow times the mind tends to think about more interesting things. What was on my mind the whole time, was what to do this summer. Then it occurred to me… Learn how to SURF! thats right! Surfing! being stuck to a board and riding waves!

Hmm but where am I going to learn? I don’t want to go to any old boring place. I want to go somewhere different and some place interesting. So using my Google magic, I tried to find some interesting surfing spots around the globe. This search brought me to a great site called, wannasurf.com. This site had some great surfing locations and had details about the terrain, amazing pictures and what times of the year have the best conditions.

So after perusing this site for a while, here is my list of five random surfing spots:

1. Avalanche, South Africa: This spot is extra intense as it is a well-known fact that o many sharks roam S. Africa’s open waters!2. Canngu, Indonesia: There’s more to Bali than a laid-back vacation, there are awesome surf spots for the adventurous too!3. Stimpy’s, Philippines: Tucked away in the Southern Philippines is this spot. It’s slowly becoming more and more popular as surf afficionados find easier ways to get there.4. Veules les Roses, France: Who knew that the formal French have a love for surfing too?!5. Campeche Rights, Brazil: Not only do they Brazilians know how to dance, they apparently know how to surf too!

And there you have it. My top picks for awesome surf spots. I better get in touch with a travel agent because I definitely want to hit these places up soon!

Kiss and Make Up, or Hit the Road, Pal!

It seems like all the flurry of the month has gotten into my traveling buddies.

I point to something of interest (in the hopes that they would see that a particular architecture, painting, or scenery is majestically divine). I show them the latest traveler deals that I’ve managed to get my hands into (thinking that they might find the information helpful to them).

But, it seems futile.

Why?

Mainly because they see RED everywhere.

Meaning, they notice that there are actually lots of vendors selling bunches of RED roses. They see numerous cakes and other sweet stuff which are mainly adorned with RED decorations instead of noticing the other delicacies. To them, everything else seems to surround our world with this color.

They say that love is everywhere.

Well, I see RED, too.

But, in a different way.

I see the chaos of the world, and I wonder when this will ever end. (Mind you, I’m not trying to put up a peace crusade or something.) The world that I’m referring to is at one’s humble dwellings, or in one’s love life.

Thing is, it’s funny when females have this sort of PMS’s when it’s one of the most romantic months in the calendar.

Just when men feel a rush of those hormones, or they would like to touch their sensitive side and be as thoughtful as they can be, females like to declare war. And they think that they have every right to do so since the RED flag is up.

Makes me wonder if one would still like to pursue things because of that. Or, would it be better to have a peace treaty for awhile, or seek for personal refuge?

Give the gift she’ll never forget: The Art of Blitz-Gift-Giving

If there’s anything I’ve learned in the art of gift-giving, 3 times out of 5, the best gifts I’ve ever given are the ones that took effort to make, or orchestrate. In the art of gift-giving, it’s not enough to know what someone wants, it’s what you do with that information.

For preparing gifts for that special someone, we only have to have 2 things in our checklist.

• First, basic knowledge of the other person. This could be knowing her favorite piece of art, favorite song, or even an inside joke that only the two of you know.

• Second, be discrete. She doesn’t need to know that you’re cooking up something. When a birthday is coming up, these things are obvious: constant absence, taking private phone calls, (to conspire, of course) and her friends being weird. You don’t need that, she’d start feeling alienated or she’d think you were having an affair or something. Plan your gifts or schemes months in advance, and only let tight-lipped friends (a mix of yours and hers) know if you need their help. Now that we’re all set, here are a couple of sweet, creative ways to show your appreciation!

The bottle – (a bottle, a ton of m&m’s) So your honey’s having a hard time at work or she’s been ill recently — this is the perfect gift to give! Take a bottle of her (or your) favorite sports drink, empty it, peel off the labels, wash it thoroughly and leave it to dry. Then, carefully open a pack of m&m’s and pick out her favorite color from the bunch and start filling up the bottle. As much as possible, do this in an airconditioned room, and use a utensil to separate the colors. You don’t want the candy shell melting now, would you? As an added twist, get a nice ribbon around the bottleneck, or insert a nice little message in between the m&m’s that she’d have to look out for.

The fishbowl – (a small fishbowl, or, if this isn’t possible, a small box may suffice, a ton of paper) Having words of encouragement from a loved one is always nice for that natural high — the fishbowl is something that would take a lot of knowledge to make, and it is also a really sweet gift. Cut out a lot of strips of paper, this could be assorted, made from different colors or materials and could be just about any size. Write down sweet little encouragements on the strips of paper, or quotes from her favorite author, throw in a little picture of you, or you both, add some confetti, then dump them all in the fishbowl. Now when she needs to feel good about herself and you’re not in the vicinity, she could just pull out a folded or rolled strip from the fishbowl!

The sexy kidnap – (cooperative friends, a consent for leave, a surprise getaway) There’s nothing sweeter than playing hooky with your loved one. This one needs an elaborate plan to orchestrate. (Failing to plan = planning to fail) You may need to enlist the help of your friends, her closest friends, her boss (for consent) and a lot of ingenuity.

First off, ask her boss if it would be okay to drop by her office at some time during midday, plus if he’s fine with her leaving early. (proceed to A1) If a boss isn’t as nice or understanding, you could wait for her to get off work, or leave a note for her. (Done by copy-pasting different font letters to make up the message, kidnapper style. Proceed to A2)

• A1: If her boss is okay with it, enlist her friends to wearing some silly disguises like fake mustaches then have them gesture pointy-fingers, (because toy guns, even fake-looking ones, are frowned upon in most buildings) make them go to her office at a specified time, “kidnap” your loved one (she’ll know it’s her friends anyway), blindfold her to take her to an unspecified location. (This could be the airport of your place.)
  
• A2: An option would be to leave a note wherever she keeps her toothbrush that says, “I’ve kidnapped your toothbrush, a special getaway would be accepted for ransom.” She’ll be more than willing to pay that ransom.

Mr. Jones-ish Adventures

So our favorite archaeologist/adventurer’s making a comeback this May, and if you think about it, are there any more adventure movies being made? If you were to star in your own adventure film, would it involve: a.) the raiding of tombs of any sort, b.) being chased by boulders in narrow passages c.) having to deal with wild animals like snakes d.) train cab chase scenes e.) taking various artifacts and taking them home as souvenir?

 

What of the adventures that Indy himself hasn’t covered in the films? (It’s actually hard thinking about this one.) Today, when life experiences can be virtual, there are still those who indulge in activities like wallclimbing to recapture some of that lost magic. I can’t think of any better way to re-live adventures than by doing them yourself, Indy or no Indy, you are, after all, not a fictional character who goes off to fictional adventures. Think of it like this, you’re in a reality tv show, and you’re the star! (Well, minus the tv and show really, just reality, where you could get hurt, but the triumphs are that much greater.)

Raiders of the Last Reserve

Safari – Has Indy ever been in Kenya? You could throw on a pair of khaki shorts and a pith helmet (a la Hunter S. Thompson) and ride around jeeps in the desert. Throw in a pair of binoculars to spot those critters. Optional to going on safaris is doing some big-game hunting. (Take note, not all places allow the hunting of certain animals. I think the Mkuze Falls Private Reserve allows this.) If you’re in Africa, there’s the Big Five, the five most elusive animals to hunt on safaris, which include the lion, the African elephant, the African buffalo, the black rhinoceros and the Leopard. Of course if you’re not into that sort of thing, you could opt to just watching a tiger try his luck at catching some lunch.

The City of Doom

Nothing says adventure like throwing yourself into a random flight into random city and walking around. When you throw yourself in situations outside your comfort zone, you tend to find out quite a bit about yourself, plus, there’s the added factor of the language barrier and potential street scams on every corner. Why not ask friends to set some GPS-blessed scavenger hunt? Eat food you’ve never tried before, walk around brand new towns to check out the architecture and whatnot. Pack a bull whip, of course, to fend off potential trouble – just don’t whip it out at random and people might mistake you for trouble.

The Underwater Crusade

Scuba diving – Yes, the geek that I am, I know that there’s an Atlantis-themed Indiana Jones game, but that doesn’t count as canon. Has Indy ever donned some scuba gear? There’re tons of beautiful places to go to for some underwater adventure, and I’m thinking for a twist, why not dive into a shipwreck? See if there’re any remnants of treasure (good luck) that treasure hunters haven’t chanced upon yet. Or, better yet, try going face to face with whale sharks, giant squids or giant jelly fish, if you happen to chance by one.

Overlooked Travel Must-Haves

Traveling is fun, although, there are some things that make that little trip into a vacation — things that have been overlooked, but when remembered provide that added comfort.  Here’s a little checklist of overlooked travel must-haves, for when you’re an on-the-go person.

First-aid kit, check.  You never know what manner of wounds or injuries you might get from cave adventures to running barefoot on the beach.  Make sure your kit has band-aids, antiseptic wipes, pain relievers, antihistamines, antacid, gauze, anti-diarrheals, cough drops, eye drops, bug bite spray and some hand sanitizer. 

 

Rolls of toilet paper, check.  Again, you never know when you’re gonna need a roll, but remember, this could also serve to clean up tons of other kinds of messes.  For maximum convenience, there are rolls that actually DON’T have the little cardboard rolls in the middle.  This is a great way to maximize space for when you’re packing.

 

Plastic bags, check.  You’ll never know when you’re going to need a plastic bag.  You may need it to store some sticky souvenir, or, for when you’re disposing of some unneeded clutter from your pack.

Journal, check.  There’s nothing worse than coming home from a vacation and blogging about your trip with missing details!  Always keep a journal in check to write in the little stories that happen on your trip.

Seoul: Soul Food for Travelers You Will Miss

While designer boutiques and cafes spring up in Seoul, I will share with you my travel experience with some sections of Seoul. This capital of South Korea offers silk worm snack foods and street jazz.

The place. It was a clear spring evening, outside Tongdaenum stadium, west of Seoul. Hundreds of teenagers mill around waiting for the clock to strike 8 p.m. I wonder if it is not a soccer match or a pop concert they have come to see. Their excitable chatter would lead me to believe otherwise.

Oh I see! The big attraction lies across the road at the Migliore department store. 14th floors of thrifty glamour fashions and the latest arcade dance machines. Or maybe a guest pop group appearance awaits the crowd. Migliore’s night-owl business hours (8 p.m. to 5 a.m. daily) have made it a beacon for Seoul’s restless and hip-to-the-groove youth. And at 8:06 p.m. the first transactions are rung though. Less than eight hours after Migliore closes its doors, another hive of shopping opportunity will abuzz on the other side of the city.

We inched our way up the base of the imposing Mount Namsan, Myong-dong district, a new face of Seoul. Here we saw sleek office complexes rise over bustling local markets, Eastern and Western fashions. Coffee is the beverage of choice.

The food. Commerce is certainly the force driving the capital these days. But I find it’s worth noting about our travel to Seoul is when dinner time approaches. All our wheeling and dealing, haggling and bartering, suddenly stops. We and the citizens of Seoul get down to the very serious business of eating and drinking.

I believe that there is a growing demand for traditional home-cooked food that has created an enormous range of dining possibilities for travelers and visitors to Seoul. I find it the most challenging part of dining out in Seoul is where to pull up a seat at hundreds of food stalls, restaurants and even street kitchens.

We sit down at one of these stalls and found out our fellow diners could be a mechanic chewing thoughtfully on a pig’s trotter. I saw a group of immaculately-dressed office ladies tucking into a fish head stew. I find the aromas of their dishes excite, and at the same time, completely confuse my senses. I’m still curious, odors fill the night air along the north side of Jongno Street back towards the Seoul’s city center. Oh! It’s peondaegi, or boiled silkworm larvae, wafting from dozens of street carts.

Outside Danseonsa Theater, I spied elderly women spooning steaming critters into paper cups and selling them to passers-by for US$0.95 (1,000 won). I speared them with the toothpick provided and I swallow it as quickly as possible. It is at the back of T’apkol Park that I finally found an antidote for the powerful silkworm aftertaste. There are a handful of stores specializing in traditional medicine, called hanyak. Clusters in the alleys to the north, are easily recognizable by the bell jars of snake wine in their windows.

Together with dried reptiles, exotic-smelling herbs and animal parts, snake meat soup called paem t’ang (don’t know if I spelled it correctly), and snake wine, called paem sul. At Cheung Jin Ok restaurant, opened in 1937, located in Jongno district my problem was solved. There is only one dish to choose from, hae jang or the coagulated cow’s blood broth served with extra spicy kimch’i.

Did you know? Kimchi is an absolute necessity in every Korean meal and can be made from one or more kinds of vegetables including Chinese cabbage, radish by seasoning and salting them with garlic, scallion ginger, chili and fish sauce.

My Natural Getaway!

I’ll Go Natural!

Hectic in San Francisco? Over-crowded in San Diego? I’d rather go to a tranquil place that provides the ultimate balm – an environment that is relaxed combined with a great dives and white sand for a luxury feeling but with a cheap price for a natural getaway.

I love to go for a cheap but first rate dive spots. Behold and enjoy dolphin and whale sightings. In addition to an experience to see hammerhead sharks that shoal around the clear waters. Cool!

 

For a nature communing activities on the luxury island that link me to natural attractions and natural activities like hiking, trekking, camping and mountain biking. It’s like am caught in the web of time travel. That is part modern and part tradition. Here, the people are so kind and accommodating. That is why time has been kind to its people too. People assimilate what we urbanites are enjoying without disregarding or without destroying the old, the luxury link to nature and tradition.

 

Gosh! Of all my travel, this is my first time to see a 16^th century coral stone church. With an interior that has life-like murals painted on the ceiling. It’s awesome! With a well that can still be seen in the church. This is the main source of water for the people in the church vicinity and for those on a travel.

 

This is the real magic that is a link to nature or should I say a link to natural luxury.