Here is a comprehensive list of every singe blog post I’ve ever written. Happy Reading!
Life Lessons from One Year of Saigon Living
In college, a four-month study abroad trip was life-changing. In my 30s, living in a new country for a year is a mere warm-up. Celebrating one year of living in Saigon has felt somewhat anticlimactic. In so many ways, I feel we’ve only just arrived in Vietnam. We seem to…
Things to Do in London for the Non-First Timer
London holds a special place in my heart. It’s the city that really kicked off my desire to live a global life. I’ve lived in the city three different times, totally nearly two years. The first time, on a semester abroad program, living in a dingy basement flat near Earl’s…
Things to Do in Paris for the Non-First Timer
One of the perks of having a French partner is the privilege to visit Paris on the regular. The luxury of being in a city not for the first time is the zero pressure to check out top sites. I’m free to roam the streets and do as I please….
The Practical Guide to Saigon Living
It’s taken me over a year of living in Saigon to finally feel like I have a decent grasp of life in this chaotic city. Even still, I’m learning about new spots that make life just a tad easier every week. I am paying it forward here with a list…
Saigon City Break: Cat Tien National Park, Nha Trang, Ho Tram, and More
In the 15 months that I’ve lived in Saigon, I’ve only managed a handful of weekend trips outside of the city. Mostly because during the first six months, we were still recovering from our year-long around-the-world travel and wanted to stay put. Saigon is chaotic and full of energy. A…
Back to the Motherland: Goodbye Saigon, Hello Taiwan!
What a wild year 2020 has been! I rang in the new year in Taichung, Taiwan, helping my parents settle back into our home after 20 years of living in the United States as immigrants. The homecoming was bittersweet for them, and I was grateful to be there as emotional…
Relaxing Three-Day Stay at La Vie Vu Linh Ecolodge
The first stop of our Northern Vietnam tour is Vu Linh, a village half way between Hanoi and Ha Giang. We had decided to stop here as a way to break up the long 8+ hour drive. A quick search led us to La Vie Vu Linh, an eco-lodge on…
International Move Without a Moving Company
Over my life thus far, I’ve made nearly a dozen international moves. I’ve never hired a moving company. Like many adults in their 20s, I used to leverage my parents’ basement as storage. My parents also moved and sold our family home over the years, meaning that option no longer…
Surviving Taiwan’s Mandatory COVID-19 Quarantine at Aloft Beitou
Upon making Taiwan the next move, our first hurdle was figuring out paperwork and the mandatory two-week Quarantine. The Taiwanese border is still closed at this time (October 2020). Only Taiwanese passport-holders or those with a special permit are allowed entry. Fortunately, my Taiwanese passport saved the day, and we…
2020 Year-in-Review: Be Intentional
Last year, in the 2019 year-end review, I wrote about how time went by slowly in the best possible way. And then, 2020 happened. The year felt exponentially longer. Fortunately, it hasn’t all been bad. There had been many challenges for sure, but overall, I’ve been very lucky and was…
IVF Journey at Lee Women’s Hospital in Taichung, Taiwan
It’s been a quiet few months here on the blog, and it’s because I’ve been occupied with Project Baby since moving to Taiwan. Pursuing fertility treatment was one of the significant factors of our relocation. The journey has been a total emotional roller coaster. For what it’s worth, I’m sharing…
Five-Day Car Tour to Discover Vietnam’s Ha Giang Region with YESD
While researching our journey in the Ha Giang region in Northern Vietnam, motorbike tours appeared popular. Yet, some friends who’ve visited the area recommended against motorbike tours, citing frequent accidents. My research led me to YESD, a social enterprise focusing on responsible tourism that provides tours in the region. The…
In Search of Pregnancy Bliss
I spent my entire pregnancy searching for that elusive pregnancy bliss. Instead of joy, I hated nearly every minute of being pregnant. Pregnancy blues was the dominant feeling. And then suddenly, my pregnancy ended at 31 weeks via emergency c section. My twin babies are so far healthy, albeit incredibly…
One Week of Hiking and Relaxation in Sapa, Vietnam
After a breathtaking five-day tour of Ha Giang, our journey through Northern Vietnam continued in Sapa. We would do some hiking with Sapa O’Chau, followed by some much-needed R&R at Sapa Clay House. Night Bus Ride from Ha Giang to Sapa We boarded a rather uncomfortable night bus in Ha…
2021 Year-in-Review: Be Patient
Somehow, we are on the last day of 2021. This year, I’ve done nearly no traveling, both due to COVID but also because I embarked upon another wild adventure – motherhood. I spent most of the year waiting – waiting to become pregnant, waiting to get through my pregnancy, waiting…
