Travel Tuesdays-Cambodia

Just a little something to cure your wanderlust for the week.

via

“Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

On another note. I found these little pictorials (information is always better when provided in picture fashion) on how to beat jet lag and tips for long flights. I love these tips and hopefully can use them next time we travel!

all images found via

Linking up with Lisette, Rolled Up Pretty and Shanna

Let PARIS Put a SPRING in Your Step

“I love Paris in the spring time, I love Paris in the fall, I love Paris in the winter when it drizzles, I love Paris in the summer when it sizzles!” – Ella Fitzgerald


No one said it better than the legendary Ella Fitzgerald in I Love Paris, and for as long as I can remember I too have had a long love affair with Paris and everything French. There’s something so magical in the air – the beautiful architecture, the world famous cuisine, the fine wine, the glorious landscapes, the perfumes, and let’s not forget French haute couture.

Paris can be enjoyed year round, but my favorite time to visit the City of Light is in the spring. Is there anything more lovely than springtime in Paris? Spring is when outdoor life resumes and a feeling of rebirth can be felt throughout. Sidewalk cafés fill up with chic Parisians and sunshine, flowers begin to bloom, and a sense of romance fills the air.

Her seductive charms are legendary and in spring Paris’s charms are as potent as ever. There’s no better time of year to stroll through the streets and visit gleaming boutiques, world-class museums, terrace-cafés and renowned restaurants.

If you’ve never visited Paris, I suggest you book a ticket and go. Whether you choose to stay in the dazzling Marais District or the luxurious Saint-Germain-des-Prés, a fabulous hotel or a chic B&B, you’ll love Paris!   

The Open Road

For our last adventure in Chiang Mai, we decided to follow a friends advice and take a motorbike ride around the mountains surrounding the city. Renting a motorbike in general was one of the best decisions we made during our stay in Chiang Mai. For just 200 baht a day (roughly $7.00) we could rent a motorbike, versus taking taxis or tuk tuks which often came in around the same price per day if not higher. The advantage of the motorbike was that we saved money and we also saved the hassle of having to track down transportation and then haggle with them about a fair price.

Samoeng Loop

We left early in the morning and planned to spend the whole day making our way around the Samoeng Loop and also making pit stops along the way at local attractions. Along the trip we:

Saw elephants! Ok, this was my favorite moment by far. You know how much I love elephants. Well, when we were riding along, I looked over and spotted elephants from a distance. I may or may not have yelled in hubs ears that I saw elephants and that we should pull over. I blame the road noise, I had to yell. It seemed like we had stumbled upon the back entrance to one of the elephant conservation parks where they kept the momma elephants and new babies.

We made sure to keep our distance but the curious little one kept getting closer and closer. As tempted as I was to see how close he would get, I did not want to see how fast the momma elephant could rip through her chain, so we left. 

We headed back up towards the road to sit and watch as one of the workers hosed down both mom and baby. 

Enjoyed the gorgeous roadside views.

Found a pumpkin house. I'm slightly jealous of whoever lives here. 

Played in the Mae Sa Waterfalls. This place was awesome to spend a few hours hiking and swimming in some of the waterfall pools. There are a series of around 10 different waterfalls, all on the same inclined hiking path. The lower ones are safe for families to swim in while the higher ones just offer great views but faster moving water. Notice how hubs shorts are wet? Yea, that's what happens when you're not careful on slippery rocks.

Found some choice words at local temples

Saw old and new collide. TIP: the red truck is a mix between a taxi and bus. In the back there are just two long benches where people pile in and it makes pit stops along the route dropping people off. It can take longer depending on who else is in there with you and where they are going but can save money.

We're so glad that we rented a bike for our stay in Chiang Mai. We loved the ease of it (even though there were times when the driving and traffic were a little scary!) and also being able to see so much more of the city and the country side. It was the perfect end to our favorite city.

Linking up with Molly, Meg, Leann, Logan, Carissa, Rachel

An Expat Q&A

Today I'm linking up with Belinda and The Hemborg Wife for an Expat to Expat Q&A about my favorite season in my current residence of South Korea!

Ok, a bit of my expat background: After getting married, hubs and I decided that we didn't want to settle down quite yet. So we found jobs teaching English overseas and the rest is history! We currently live on a small island on the very southern tip of South Korea but hubs and I are both originally from Tulsa, OK. We have lived here since February of 2011 and are planning for a few more years abroad!

1. What was your favorite season back home and is it the same now; why or why not?

My favorite season back home was definitely spring and it's still the same here! We actually have very similar weather in Tulsa compared to where we live now in Korea and couldn't be happier about it. Very mild winters, humid summers but spring and fall are to die for. 

2. Is there a place you would want to move to based solely on the weather?

New Zealand. We were able to visit on our honeymoon over two years ago and the weather was fantastic. Another bonus is that no matter what the weather is, there's still so much you can do outdoors!

3. What is a piece an article of clothing that you had to buy for your new home due to the weather? i.e. galoshes, winter coat, etc

Rain coat and rain boots! I had these back home but it was never a necessity to use them. But here during rainy season, if you aren't prepared, you can be soaked in seconds!

4. Have you found the weather stereotypes of your new home to be true?

Yes yes yes! We were told that there wasn't much snow (true), rainy season you would be soaked and to always bring an extra pair of clothes with you (true) and in summer you would be dripping with sweat when you walked out the door (very unfortunate, but true).

5. Is there somewhere you would never live based solely on the weather?

This one breaks my heart because we have heard so many outstanding things about the country, but I just don't think I could bear the cold of winter in Norway. We look forward to visiting someday though! We're just going to make sure it's during summer. 

6. What are you looking forward to most this spring?

Being outside again! Winters are horrible here and being close to the water, it brings bitter cold winds. We're looking forward to beach days, camping, and lots of bike rides.

7. Where you live, what is your go to outfit for spring?

Jeans, Toms shoes, a tshirt and scarf.

8. What is one thing or event that you miss that happens back home at this time of the year?

Barbecue get togethers! I miss being outside in a backyard (most people live in apartments here) full of friends and family and having the grill going. 

9. If your hubs could bring home a bouquet of any type of flower, what you pick?

Anemones. They've always been a favorite of mine and our wedding was covered in them! Luckily I've seen them here too!

10. What does your perfect Saturday look like?

This last Saturday was hard to beat. Waking up and making breakfast together (crepes are a favorite in our household) then hiking up with our hammock. Setting it up in the trees overlooking the water and napping or reading books. 

Bonus:  Are there any special holidays in your new country in the month of May?

Yes! And we're so excited for some time off! It's Buddah's Birthday the middle of May and we're looking forward to hopefully making the most of the three day weekend and taking a trip somewhere.

Letters/51

Dear Hubs, the other day when it was pouring down rain, you drove from across town just to pick me up and take me to class so I didn't have to walk in the rain. It's the small things that make me fall in love all over again. Dear Sunshine, so nice of you to finally join us. Stay a bit won't you? 

Dear Zeke, you have this new habit of whenever hubs and I argue, you run from the other room and sit on my lap. This could either mean a) you're telling me I'm too loud and need to calm down or b) you're taking my side. I choose to believe the latter.

Excuse the blurry photo. He likes to sit sideways in his basket and rock back & forth.

Dear Jjimjilbang (Korean bath house), after avoiding you for two years, a few friends and I finally braved the awkwardness of being neked in front of a bunch of Koreans and went to the bath house. Best.thing.ever. (more details to come!) Dear Friend, I'm so excited that I actually get to use my fashion major this weekend! Can't wait to play stylist in your closet! Dear Readers, I really want to answer back to each and every one of your sweet comments but I can't reply to some because you're no-reply commentors. Dear Friend, the day before you left Korea you let me and another friend cut and buzz all of your hair off. You're my hero. I think every woman has been tempted to do this at one point or another and you actually did it! And might I add, you look like a bad-a.

Happy weekend friends! Hope the good weather sticks around so we can enjoy the outdoors and possibly go relax in our hammock to soak in the sun!

Linking up with Ashley, Jean, Lauren, Kerry, Chrissy, Kenzie

A Place to Rest Your Head & Stuff Your Face

Those are the two most important things on a trip right? While hotels don't make or break a trip for us, it's always an added perk when we actually look forward to going back to our room at night (because trust me, we've had many a times in our budget traveling that we tried to spend as much time out of the room as possible). Thankfully Chiang Mai was not one of those times.

We typically gravitate away from large chains when we travel and instead look for small, locally run boutique hotels. We feel that we can get to know the hotel staff more personally and not be as segregated from the culture of the country we are visiting. In Chiang Mai we really lucked out in this department because Qi68 was by far my favorite hotel we have stayed at. The owner Qi really makes this place stand out. He goes out of his way to help the guests make the most out of their stay in Thailand by helping find unique restaurants in the area and help book local day trips. And that's not even the best part. Qi also makes some of the best breakfasts I have ever eaten. Every morning, hubs would turn to me and ask if I could replicate it back home. The answer was always 'I wish, dear.' because each dish served every morning was so unique and different. I wish I would have grabbed some photos of them but it was gone before the thought ever crossed my mind!

This six room guesthouse's ambiance is so peaceful and every element and piece of furniture was handpicked by Qi and his father when they built it. Staying here was one of the many highlights from our trip to Chiang Mai and we wouldn't hesitate staying there again when we visit.

Another one of our favorite things about Chiang Mai was the food! No surprises there. We loved walking around the small backstreets and deciding where we would try next. The only trouble was deciding where to eat since the streets are often lined with unique little spots.
Among our favorites was the outdoor stands located at the night bazaar (good food to give you energy for some good bargaining). We went around from stand to stand collecting little parts of a meal (pad thai, Thai tea, dumplings) before we sat down at the little plastic tables in the middle of the square and dug in.

Here are some more of our favorite restaurants to try and what we loved there:
Rachadamneon-Green Curry
Ms. Cornery-Fish and Chips
The Corner Restaurant- Banana Egg Rolls (our favorite dessert along with the roti pancakes!)
The Good View- this was our favorite restaurant. It's located just north of the Nawarat Bridge. Not only was the food great but the views of the river were spectacular and they even had live music at night. I recommend getting the green curry and the Thai tea.

What was your favorite hotel experience? Or better yet, any horror stories out there?

A Guide to Falling in Love with New York City

“I was in love with New York. I do not mean ‘love’ in any colloquial way, I mean that I was in love with the city, the way you love the first person who ever touches you and never love anyone quite that way again.” 

- Joan Didion

My lovely followers often write me for advice on what to see, where to eat, or where to stay when going away, in particular to New York. So when a lovely couple I met in Amalfi wrote to ask my advice on their upcoming trip to New York, I could not help but write this long overdue post.

I’ve had the good fortune of visiting this fascinating city many times, each experience gifting me with new and exciting memories. I first visited NYC when I was 10 years old and vividly remember seeing the lights of Times Square for the very first time. Even then I could feel the city’s energy pulse through me, awestruck by the enormity of it all, lost among skyscrapers, yellow taxis and sidewalks filled with fascinating people.

Since then I’ve returned to New York several times to enjoy a romantic carriage ride through Central Park, shopping on Fifth Avenue and delicious dinners at some the city’s finest restaurants. 

Though I usually prepare a small list of things I’d like to see or do before going away, my adventure generally ends up being about where the day takes me. Holidays are one of the only times we can truly be free to do what we want when we want, so I like to live vicariously in the moment.

That being said, my favorite thing to do in New York is stroll the streets and let the city guide me, but if you want to make sure you capture the important landmarks, here’s my breakdown for you.

LANDMARKS

• Walk the streets of SoHo, Greenwich Village, Chelsea and the Meatpacking District to find all kinds of stylish boutiques, music stores, hip restaurants, etc.
• Visit the Upper East Side and see the stunning multi-million dollar townhomes. I love art, so go visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Guggenheim Museum!
• Central Park is obviously a must-see. Go for a walk, jog or just sit and enjoy the beauty. If you get the chance, take a carriage ride. I know it’s a bit touristy but it’s a lovely way to see the park and a bit fairy-tale like, and let’s face it, what woman doesn’t like a fairy-tale :)  
• Go to Battery Park and watch the sunset over the Hudson River. It’s truly stunning!
• Take a stroll along Madison Avenue and Fifth Avenue, the designer window displays are beautiful and all the make-up counters will apply your make-up for free. I did mine a few times when I was not up to doing it myself. (Professional makeup application for my pictures).    
• You can’t go to NYC and not visit the infamous Canal Street in Chinatown where everyone purchases their cheap knockoffs. I had a laugh going into their private rooms to see their collections. They also had a lot of perfume at great prices.
• Though packed with people and tourists, everyone should see Times Square's bright lights at night. All the Broadway theaters are also close by, so if you like the theatre book to see a show. I had the good fortune of visiting the David Letterman set. I sat at his desk and stood before the mirror where the celebrities stand before going on set. It felt surreal to say the least.
• Visit the Empire State Building and enjoy a great panoramic view of the city.   
• The famous Art Deco NYC landmark – Rockefeller Center – is also a must, especially if you go in the wintertime when the Christmas tree is lit up and everyone is out skating. So lovely! 

FOOD

New York has some of the best restaurants in the world and though the city’s vast culinary landscape offers something for every taste and budget, selecting a restaurant can feel overwhelming, so here are my suggestions: ABC Kitchen in Gramercy; Babbo Ristorante and Enoteca or Bobo in the West Village; Dragonfly in the Upper East Side; 15 EAST, Daniel or Del Posto in Manhattan; Jean Georges in Central Park West. My advice is to look into restaurants and make reservations to the ones you really like because they can be very difficult to get into once you’re there.

There’s also Little Italy for Italian food or China Town for authentic Chinese/Cantonese, but note that it’s not like the amazing Italian food in Italy! (Nothing is for that matter).

Gourmet dining is wonderful, but during the day I always enjoy a warm pretzel with mustard, sandwiches at Dean & Deluca, and cupcakes from Magnolia Bakery.

Regardless of whether you go to New York City for the Broadway shows and museums, or the great shopping and restaurants, this vibrant city will cast her magic spell on you and have you falling in love. 

Perspective Series- To London

This week I'm happy to introduce Kotryna from the blog Girl With a Movie Camera for the next installment of the Perspective Series. This is a series about expats sharing their experience of living and traveling abroad and how it inevitably changed their outlook and perspective on life. 

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Hey there y'all! I'm so happy to be here! Lost in Travels is probably one of my favorite blogs and it's a great honor for me to be a part of these series.My name is Kotryna and I blog over at "Girl With A Movie Camera". I've been an expat for almost 4 years now. I'm currently studying in Amsterdam, but my heart is still in UK I'm here to tell you about my first year as an expat in London.My boy and I were madly in love at the time (oh and we still are, even more, probably) and we wanted to do something exciting together. We were both just starting our lives from our parents and we decided that going abroad will give us the best experience. This is how we found ourselves in the capital of England, trying to start our independent life together.

It was pretty tough at first as not only we were in a new country, trying to look for our (almost) first jobs ever, but we also didn't really have a place to stay there. This is how we ended up squatting a house in South London together with some really bright people that will always have a special place in our hearts. 

My love was really quick in finding a job there and it took around a month or two for me to get mine and just before Christmas we were lucky enough to find a beautiful house up for rent in Norht London. I was really surprised how well we were doing on our first months. Honestly, London is probably the best place to start ones expat experience. The city is so multicultural, friendly and open to foreigners that it just makes it more than easy for people from other countries to settle down over there.

 As for us- we are still trying to settle down and this might take quite a few years. As I mentioned  above I'm currently on the semester abroad, but will be getting back to UK in a couple of months. My love is currently living in Brighton and I'll be finishing my studies over there from this coming autumn. However, I'm not sure if we are going to stay living in UK after I graduate. I know this country has so much to offer, but sometimes I catch myself thinking that it's just not my place. We've been living in UK for 3 years and I actually feel more like at home here, in Netherlands, even though I'm staying here just for once semester.

London will always be one of my favorite cities though and I know for sure that I will always be getting back for a pint of beer in Camden Town or a cup of coffee in those lovely coffee shops around the Hampstead Heath.It was a great pleasure to be a part of this expat series. Being an expat is a big part of who I am and I believe that we all should have this experience at least once in our life. If you guys are planning to move to UK anytime soon- feel free to drop me a line, I'd love to help you out with some questions you might have!

Thanks so much for writing Kotryna! Be sure to stop by her blog and show her some love!
You can read more of the Perspective Series here.
Linking up with Rolled Up Pretty and Shanna, Rekita, Melissa

Travel Tuesdays-Cambodia

Just a little something to cure your wanderlust for the week.

Angkor Wat

“For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel’s sake. The great affair is to move.” – Robert Louis Stevenson

Linking up with Lisette