A Nibble Bit

Ever since I was young, I have always wanted to travel to Hawaii. Even though Hawaii is part of the United States, it seems like such a faraway land, with its palm trees and majestic beaches unbeknownst to the rest of the mainland. I had the fortune to visit Hawaii with my boyfriend recently, and had such a wonderful time!

We chose meticulously which island we wanted to see for our first visit. After much deliberation, we decided to visit Kauai, also known as the "Garden Isle". The Garden Isle is named as such for its lush scenery and green mountain backdrop. Everywhere we went, there were trees, mountains, oceans, and tall grass as far as the eye could see. All the drives along the highways were extremely beautiful.



Kauai is also known for being less touristy and remote, which was something we wanted for our trip. We were interested in outdoor activities and exploring nature, and Kauai fit the bill.

One thing I especially liked during our visit was how laid back the island lifestyle was! Hailing from San Francisco, I am used to busy bodies staring at their smartphones nonstop and rushing from place to place. The residents of Kauai know how to appreciate life; they are not clutching their phones 24/7, road rage is seemingly nonexistent, and everyone is - gasp- friendly! All the locals chatted with us in restaurants, making genuine conversation and providing helpful tips when we asked. Sitting alone to eat a meal in Kauai is by no means lonely. One of my fondest memories is sitting outside a shaved ice shop and gazing at the gorgeous mountains while I stuffed my face with delicious shaved ice. The girl next to me was doing the same thing, and neither of us had a phone in sight. It makes me ponder how, even in a city as big as San Francisco with so many people, it is easy to feel alone. Kauai, with its small population, made me feel the complete opposite.

Another thing that I enjoyed about Kauai was that there are plenty of things to do. We stayed for one week, and our days were packed with activities and beach time. Here were some of my favorite adventures:

1. Kayak Wailua
Cost: $50+/person for a 4 hour tour
Website: kayakwailua.com



We kayaked through the Wailua River bright and early at 8am, and it was definitely one of the funnest things I have ever done. We kayaked 2.5 miles one way down the river, hiked one mile to a gushing waterfall (and swam in the swimming hole), and kayaked back 2.5 miles. Being the fitness enthusiast I am, I was very pleased that a lot of activity was involved.

Kayak Wailua was very pleasant to book through, and our tour guide Dontaz (spell check?) was friendly and knowledgeable. He made some recommendations on restaurants, which ended up being our two favorite restaurants on the island!

2. Kauai ATV - Waterfall Tour
Cost: $150+/person for a 4 hour tour
Website: kauaiatv.com



ATV-ing was something else. We also did this tour early in the morning, and our day kicked off with much exhilaration. Kauai ATV takes you through some of the prettiest spots in Kauai, including a waterfall and a movie spot where many famous movies were filmed (yes, Jurassic Park!). In the process, you ride through muddy puddles, resulting in a messy but fun adventure. They also provide lunch, which was nice.

3. Kauai Sea Tours - Napali Coast Dinner Cruise
Cost: $150/person for a 5 hour tour
Website: kauaiseatours.com



My boyfriend was less enthusiastic about a dinner cruise that we went on. He gets really bad sea sickness, and even his two pills of Dramamine did not prevent his nausea while on this tour. I do recommend this tour for those who can handle the motion of the ocean,  as the boat gets really up close and personal with the famous green mountains known as the Napali Coast. I was very pleased with myself that I shot some gorgeous pictures on my DSLR!



And, as you can see in the above picture, we got to see DOLPHINS. Swimming at the front of the boat (dolphins like to ride the currents of the boat, isn't that just adorable?)
 4. Waimea Canyon
Cost: Free (except for rental car and gas)
More information: here


5. Smith's Family Luau
Cost: $78/person (all you can eat! all you can drink!)
Website: smithskauai.com/garden-luau/



Being that we were in Hawaii, there were many luaus to choose from. We didn't know where to go until a local recommended Smith's Family Luau, citing it as the "best luau on the island"! I saw that the cost of the tickets were far lower than the other luaus I had been researching, so we went for it.



I do think that we went to the best luau on Kauai. The gardens were amazing (and I daresay that perhaps not every luau has gardens), the buffet food surpassed my expectations, and - I repeat - all you can drink alcohol! We ended the evening with a lovely show.



One great thing that I had on my trip to document my excursions was my faithful GoPro. Since the GoPro has waterproof casing available, I was able to strap on my GoPro for kayaking, ATV-ing, swimming, etc, to take pictures and videos. I highly recommend a GoPro for those of you who like to travel a lot, but find it irksome to carry a heavy DSLR or camera with you all the time. It's also very helpful to have when you are traveling with just your significant other, because it gets wearisome to constantly approach strangers for their aid in picture taking. It's also less risky, as you never know if you are handing over your camera to a friendly stranger or potential thief.

Dining in Kauai

While Kauai may not be as much of a foodie island compared to Oahu or Maui, some restaurants did deliver a meal where we groan in pleasure every time we relive the memory.

1. Hukilau Lanai 
Website: hukilaukauai.com

Our tour guide from Kayak Wailua recommended this place, and he lauded it as "one of the best restaurants in Kauai". Every time we had previously trusted a local's recommendation, we were not led astray, so we went to Hukilau Lanai that same night. And boy, were we impressed! The food we ordered was top notch, especially the poke nachos they served. Yes, you read that correctly. Poke nachos. Poke.

5. The Bull Shed
Website: bullshedrestaurant.com

The second recommendation from our tour guide at Kayak Wailua was The Bull Shed. He described himself as a huge steak lover, and The Bull Shed was THE place to get the best steak. Following his advice, we again were not disappointed. We ordered the top sirloin, shrimp, and lobster tail. The steak was marinated and cooked perfectly, seafood fresh, and bread and salad a wonderful complement. The service was nice and friendly as well.

6. Hamura Saimin
Website: yelp.com/biz/hamuras-saimin-lihue

I was told by many Hawaii forums to try Hamura's famous saimin. Saimin is essentially Hawaiian-style ramen. I could tell that many a locals came to Hamura's all the time. It was one of my favorite places on the island because of its mom and pop store appeal. The ramen tasted delightfully homemade, and it was priced reasonably at $9 for an extra-large bowl. And oh - what I loved even more than the ramen was their famous lilikoi chiffon pie. To die for.

7. Jojo's Shaved Ice
Website: jojosshaveice.com

I was never a fan of shaved ice in California, mainly because it consisted of chunky ice with overly sweet syrups. Hawaiian shaved ice in no way resembles that, and I had the best shaved ice I've ever tried at Jojo's. The ice was smooth and melted in my mouth, accompanied by flavors such as lychee, macadamia, coconut, and mango. I finished my whole cup, even though the serving was bigger than my head!

And thus completes my quick summary of my trip to Kauai. I hope that if you ever decide to visit this lovely island, that you found this blog post helpful! I hope to be back to visit the other Hawaiian islands soon.

-Mina

A picture of the lovely Golden Gate Bridge taken on my iPhone

Despite having been born and raised in the Bay Area (albeit a brief stint in Southern California where I obtained something small called my Bachelor of Science), I've never really explored San Francisco outside of the touristy spots. I've gotten the opportunity to spend more and more time in San Francisco lately, and have been pleasantly surprised by some restaurants.

Yes, I know that finding good restaurants in San Francisco should be unsurprising since many regard San Francisco as a mecca of good food; however, I've always perceived SF with nothing more than a "meh" attitude. Atrociously high rent, smelly streets reeking of bodily fluids, long waits for mediocre restaurants...the city just doesn't sing to me. BUT, there are some exceptions to the rule. Read on for some of my favorite places to eat in the city of fog!

The famous ferris wheel at Coachella

April 2014 marks my first time at Coachella.

My experience was unforgettable, and currently, I am still suffering severe withdrawals. I finally understand the hype surrounding the annual music festival! I had so much fun, from camping on-site with friends, waking up to incredibly hot (sometimes unbearable) weather, and having three whole days of languidly lying around and listening to music acts of all genres. To be honest, I was incredibly worried about using porta-potties and the public showers, but it was all very bearable - luckily, the porta potties were cleaned on a daily basis and the showers were fairly nice, all things considered.

The famous EPCOT ball

Though there are four Disneyworld parks in total, we opted to only go to EPCOT and Animal Kingdom. We have two Disneyland parks in California (Disneyland and Disneyland's California Adventure) which are very similar to Disneyworld's Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios.


EPCOT is particularly exciting in that it features a "World Showcase", with parks that imitate select international countries! Each park is built with the country's characteristics and unique landmarks; for example, the France pavillion has the Eiffel Tower, and Japan with bonzai trees.



An even more exciting fact was that each of these parks offered cuisine and beverages unique to its own country. As such, visitors to EPCOT have the option to play "Snack Around the World", or the more adult but entertaining, "Drink Around the World". I did not eat from every country, since California has such great Japan, Chinese, and Mexican food already, but I did try enough food that I was full throughout the whole day. The best part about the food in EPCOT is that everything was very affordable and my bank account did not suffer too much.

I am a regular visitor to the city of Las Vegas, Nevada. I attended college in Southern California where the drive to Vegas was only a few hours. As a result, weekend trips to Vegas were frequent and often in between. I know the Vegas strip like the back of my hand. In fact, I went so often that bouncers at some clubs recognized me!

And contrary to what I initially believed, moving back to Northern California has not impeded my trips to Vegas. Thanks to the Southwest Rewards Premier Credit Card, I am able to easily accumulate Rapid Reward points to fund my travel. (Sign up for the card here!) 

Part of the reason I love Las Vegas so much is that it feels like a new experience every time - maybe because I don't remember most nights? ;) But in any case, there are a plethora of things to do in Vegas: casinos, shopping, shows (I HIGHLY recommend the Boyz 2 Men show at the Mirage hotel!) and most importantly - food!
In addition to the Michelin-acclaimed, fancy pants restaurants, there are some great spots on and off the Strip. 

I had the chance to dine at some praise-worthy places during my Sin City visit this past weekend. Click below the fold to see where!

As a working professional, I'm always seeking easy and nutritious recipes. I enjoy working out daily and eating meals high in protein to ensure I stay in shape despite having a full-time desk job.

I also gear towards the lazier side of things - I do not try to follow complicated or time consuming recipes. As a result, I like to brainstorm new meals based on what is already in my kitchen.

I came up with this Short Rib Avocado Basil Wrap when debating what to eat after my morning run today. It's extremely easy to make and - surprise! - all the ingredients can be found at Trader Joe's.

Two of my friends traveled to Portland, Oregon recently (shoutout to Anna and Brian!) and they made the mandatory tourist pitstop to Voodoo Doughnut. For those of you who are unfamilar with Voodoo, it's a quirky doughnut place with unconventional menu items. For example, they have a"Cock-N-Balls" doughnut, and the "Maple Blazer Blunt" doughnut, which is shaped like a marijuana blunt. You can see all the doughnuts they have available on their menu.