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New Orleans, LA: The Big Easy

New Orleans, LA: The Big Easy

It was a rainy day for a road trip, but that did not stop us from driving 5.5 hrs to New Orleans. We even had one busted front light that had to be changed midway of the trip because auto shops are closed on Sundays (which was the next day). But all these things are part of the adventure, just have to be positive!

And then we arrived just in time for lunch at Oceana Grill. We’re hungry!

They…

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Las Vegas, NV: The City and Beyond

Las Vegas, NV: The City and Beyond

When we hear Vegas, we often think of casinos and the night life. But that doesn’t mean those are the only things you can do in and nearby the city. Read along to see what I’m talking about…

The hotels are destinations of their own. And one of the hotels I enjoy visiting is the Bellagio. They have an indoor garden that they decorate depending on the season. The last time I’ve been here was…

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Waco, TX: Fixer Upper Roadtrip

Waco, TX: Fixer Upper Roadtrip

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London, UK: A Visit to the Royals

London, UK: A Visit to the Royals

I have always been fascinated with history, which is why I like to visit World Heritage Sites. We only have a day to see London. So I made a list of the “must see” places catered to us. And first on the list is the Tower of London or Her Majesty’s Royal Palace and Fortress of the Tower of London.

It is my first time to see a real castle. It was so widespread you can probably spend a day in…

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Leavesden, UK: For the Love of Harry Potter

Leavesden, UK: For the Love of Harry Potter

When we were planning for the trip, London was not on the list. But my Mom really wanted to go, and so we added it at the last minute. I wasn’t too excited about it until I realized I could go see the Harry Potter Studio! Growing up with Harry Potter, I had to go even if it’s the only place I get to see for this trip. It’s actually outside the city. We were supposed to use the train to get to…

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Rome, IT: the Capital of the World

Our last whole day in Rome. We decided to do a DIY and see the other sites that weren’t included in the guided tours. First stop of the morning was the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore, which was just a few blocks away from our hotel. It is the largest Catholic Church in Rome that is dedicated to the Virgin Mary. There’s a security check prior entering, but it was a brisk. The inside was…

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Rome, IT: All Roads Lead to Rome

Do you ever wonder where the phrase ‘all roads lead to Rome’ came from? It was actually rooted from the Appian Way, the most important highway of the empire. It literally connects Rome from the distant settlements in the West. And it’s also the oldest road still in existence, which was built in 312 BC! While waiting for our tour to start. We walked around the area and saw the Arch of Constantine.…

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Vatican City, EU: Home of the Catholic Church

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Positano, IT: Along the Dreamy Coast

Positano, IT: Along the Dreamy Coast

One of the reasons that got me excited to visit the south of Italy was this breathtaking Amalfi Coast. It’s always a surreal feeling to see top destinations in real life than on a computer screen. Positano is a perfect place if you like the beach, but also like the mountains. Plus the colorful layer of houses added to the beauty. It’s called the most photogenic town in the Amalfi Coast, and I can…

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Pompeii, IT: A City Frozen in Time

One of the reasons I wanted to go to Italy was to see the ruins of Pompeii. A thriving Roman city that was completely buried in ashes after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. It sounds horrific, but fascinating at the same time. After the rediscovery in 1748, explorers found out that the city has remained mostly intact. This gave way to discoveries of how the ancient people lived. And it’s…

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Pisa, IT: the Square of Miracles

History is definitely one of my favorite subjects. I find the past interesting and I’m always ecstatic to see historical structures that I’ve only read in books. Pisa is about 1.5 hour from Florence by road. And whenever I hear Pisa, the Leaning Tower is the first thing that comes into mind. But I was surprised that the Tower is actually situated in a square and is really a bell tower. After…

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Florence, IT: the Birthplace of the Renaissance

During an ESL class, we were asked by our professor where we want to be if we could go back in time. And my answer was during the Renaissance period because I want to meet all the great artists of that era. It was our first day in Rome, and we had to wake up early for our trip to Florence and Pisa. I booked a semi-private tour in Viator. We could have taken the train to Florence and spend more…

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Denver, Colorado: Mile High City and the Rockies

Denver, Colorado: Mile High City and the Rockies

It’s been a while since I had a 3-day off (without requesting). Combine this with an itch for the mountains, I booked a less than $100 roundtrip ticket to Denver. It was such a great deal I couldn’t pass it up. And I’ve always wanted to go to Colorado. With just a backpack (which is a first), I made my way to the Mile High City. After getting lunch in downtown, I went to the State Capitol. I’m…

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Taipei City, Taiwan: In With The Old

Taipei City, Taiwan: In With The Old

Despite being a city, Taipei didn’t overly looked like one since it’s surrounded by luscious mountains. And I think that’s the country’s charm. It offers a bit of both worlds just by driving an hour from the city center. But did you know that there’s two Taipei cities? The New Taipei City, which is the most populated city in the country, covers the north and surrounds (old) Taipei City. But the…

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New Taipei City, Taiwan: Spirited Away in Jiufen

New Taipei City, Taiwan: Spirited Away in Jiufen

Taiwan wasn’t in my bucketlist. But after watching a travel show episode showcasing Taiwan, I got interested to visit the country, especially Jiufen. If you’ve seen the Japanese movie Spirited Away by Hayao Miyazaki, then you might recognize this quaint, little town situated in the mountain. Jiufen is about an hour away from the international airport. I arrived on an early morning, and was picked…

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Tokyo, Japan: A Blend of Old and New

Tokyo, Japan: A Blend of Old and New

When I think about Tokyo, I picture a bustling city with sky-high buildings and hustling people in suits coming on and off the train. And while we did experienced getting dragged by the crowd during rush hours, I’m amazed to see centuries old temples and parks in the middle of the metropolis. Despite the country being technologically advanced, I see how the Japanese people respect their culture.…

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Tokyo, Japan: Sushi, Ramen and Mario Go-Karts

Tokyo, Japan: Sushi, Ramen and Mario Go-Karts

MariCar tour guide: What’s the first thing that comes into your mind when you think about Japan? Me: Sushi! And they laughed. Well, food is life in my book! 😀 We finally bid goodbye to Kyoto and made our way to another city very early in the morning. We decided to just buy breakfast at the convenience store so we can catch the 7am shinkansen to Tokyo. I love their onigiri! Surprisingly, the train…