When you look at the Shanghai skyline towards the Pudong District, along the Huangpu River, you will notice a tower dotted with spheres. That spherical tower is the Oriental Pearl TV Tower. This tower was the tallest building in China from 1994 until 2007, when the Shanghai World Financial Center was built.
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Tag Archives: travel
Porfirio’s
When people suggest going to nice, fancy Mexican restaurants, I always balk because, to me, Mexican food should always be cheap, greasy, and come from a hole in the wall type of establishment. Of all the fancy Mexican places I’ve been to, I find they are too commercialized and don’t hold that authentic flavor you find from the cheaper places. Porfirio’s, a gourmet Mexican restaurant in Cancun, was recommended to me by the hotel concierge at the Westin Lagunamar. Since this recommendation was coming from a local, I went against my judgment and decided to give it a try. Boy, did it not disappoint!
The decor of this establishment was perfect for a romantic date. The indoor seating is lighted with candles and dim lighting to set the mood. Outdoors, they have seating on the patio next to the water fountains and dock.
To start the night, I tried the Josefina de guayaba (guava) and mango. These drinks were made with mezcal, which is distilled from an agave plant. The liquor definitely showed through the mango but not the guava one.
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Navigating the World of Japanese Snacks
When I travel, my favorite souvenirs are food. Wherever I travel, I will no doubt come back with cases of snacks. I love to try snacks from different countries because what’s unusual in one country is the norm in a different country. Plus, it allows me to experience different flavor combinations I would never think to go together i.e. butter flavored chocolate.
I tried my best to taste all the snacks, amongst all the meals I ate, but it was a hard feat since there was such a large variety. Japan takes their snacks seriously. Chips, chocolates, and cookies in every flavor combination possible. And then there’s the matcha; it is not JUST matcha. There’s Uji matcha, sakura matcha, matcha with soybean powder, etc. It’s like snacks on steroids. The ones I didn’t have time to try, I brought home to savor. Below is a picture of all the snacks I bought.
Yes, I fit all the snacks above, 1.5 weeks of clothes, and a bottle of whiskey all in ONE carry on suitcase. I know I’m nuts, but I LOVE my snacks. Here is a breakdown of the snacks I think are worthy of trying:
Gott’s Roadside
Now that summer is in full swing, I love spending my weekends wine tasting in Napa. My first stop before drinking commences is fueling up at Gott’s Roadside. The original is located off of the 29 in Saint Helena on the way to the wineries. However, they also have one in the heart of Napa, at the Ferry Building in San Francisco, and Palo Alto.
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Hiking Up Echo Mountain
“Let’s go hiking,” they said.
“OK,” I said.
“2.5 miles. 5 miles round trip,” they said.
“No biggie,” I said…….
That was until about mile 1, I started to feel the impact of the steep hike on my unfit lungs. This hike, located on the bottom of Angeles National Fores, starts at the intersection of East Loma Alta Drive and Lake Avenue in Altadena. Parking is available on the street but check the signs. The Sam Merrill trail head starts at the Cobb Estate gate.
The hike is a steep 2.5 miles upward climb. About half a mile in, you will start seeing the LA skyline.
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The Pie Hole
Many years ago, I went to the Pie Hole and didn’t think much of it. I must have ordered the wrong thing because the earl grey pie here is AMAZING! One bite in and I was in heaveeeennn. Let me introduce you to heaven: flaky crust layered with chocolate cream, earl grey custard, whipped cream and chopped pistachio. Our one slice, amongst five people, was gone in 10 seconds flat.
The pie is cut into six equal slices, and one slice was not enough. I wish I bought the whole pie instead. I highly recommend you do so if you are an earl grey fan because the earl grey custard is to die for. The flavor is strong but the custard and whipped cream makes this pie light and airy. When you try this pie, you can thank me for showing you the way to heaven.
Locations : 714 Traction Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90013
6314 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028
59 E Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91105
177 N Glassell St, Orange, CA 92866
Garret Popcorn
Located off of Magnificent Mile, Garret Popcorn offers multiple varieties of popcorn made fresh daily flavored in caramel, cheese, and butter. I grabbed a few bags of these as gifts and they stayed fresh for a few days. Don’t forget to send some my way!
Location: There are various locations but I went to this one
625 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611
Giordano’s
Chicago is famous for their deep dish pizza, which consists of a layer of bread, topped with cheese, topped with meat, topped with cheese, and another layer of meat. If you love cheese, then Giordano’s is for you. Sadly I am lactose intolerant so I found it to be mediocre. However, between Lou Malnatis and Giordano’s, I preferrred Giordano’s. I found the cheese to meat/ sauce ratio to be better at Giordano’s.
Location: There are various locations but I went to this one.
1340 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60605
Chicago Architecture Foundation River Cruise
When my friends decided to go on a boat tour of Chicago, I didn’t think much of it but ended up loving it. If you love architecture, I highly recommend this. There are several boat tours companies along the river. The one I went on was Chicago Architecture Foundation River Cruise. The boat brings you down the river and highlights all the architecture built along the river. This is a quicker way of admiring the buildings than walking around the city by foot. You also get a view of where the Chicago fire started.
Below is Marina City, my favorite buildings.
Location: Southeast corner of Michigan Avenue Bridge at Wacker Drive
Chicago Water Tower
Check out the old water tower that houses a large water pump drawing water from Lake Michigan. Admission is free.You can spot it easily along the Magnificent Mile.
Location: 806 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611
YUMTRAVELS 