If you're going to throw rice in a restaurant, this is how you do it... To give credit where credit is due, Anthony Bourdain hit this place first. He knows the female owner, respects her (and is possibly, sensible afraid of her), and loves sincerely all the food that … [Read more...] about Throwing Charcoal-Grilled Rice, Caramelizing Fish, and Other Brilliant Food Ideas at Com Nieu Sai Gon Restaurant
Home in District Three, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
After a gorgeous weekend in Mui Ne and a stress-inducing bus ride with an awful company (Phuong Nam—never use them! Take Phuong Trang instead), coming back to Ho Chi Minh felt like coming home. All I wanted was my bed in my apartment in residential district 3. I wanted to say hi … [Read more...] about Home in District Three, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Mui Ne, Vietnam: Local Guides and a Feeling of Home
It's about relationships, I think. Not just museums, not just experiences, not just restaurants. History, culture—it's all important, but relationships seem to bring it all together. First, a friend of a friend of a friend first put Malaysia on my travel itinerary, resulting in … [Read more...] about Mui Ne, Vietnam: Local Guides and a Feeling of Home
Coffee, Smoothies, and Shaved Ice in Saigon
The side-of-the-road plastic chair is a coveted piece of furniture in this city. Along every block little street food stalls, mobile coffee, juice, and cold drink carts and pop-up restaurants set up little plastic tables and chairs meant for people with very short legs. And … [Read more...] about Coffee, Smoothies, and Shaved Ice in Saigon
Loving Ho Chi Minh City
This just happened: The part with the rice throwing? Yes. That part. That's where I went for dinner last night, upon the recommendation of several sources, including Allison Wong, aka "Sassy Urbanite" and the incredibly helpful Joe and Hai of Eating Saigon! If you're in Ho Chi … [Read more...] about Loving Ho Chi Minh City
My Obsession with $1 Bubble Tea and Lychee Jellies
First there was Bubble Boy. One sip of my plum red tea with tapioca pearls and fruit jellies and my heart smiled and my taste buds sang. Then a lychee green tea at Ochaya with tapioca...heaven. The pearls were richer, deeper. Then a lemon-honey tea with lychee caviar at Lemon … [Read more...] about My Obsession with $1 Bubble Tea and Lychee Jellies
I’m in Bangkok, so why am I Eating (Bangkok’s Best?) Sushi at Ka Ze Fresh?
When there's a city of pad thai, tom yum, sweet-and-sour papaya salads, salt-encased grilled fish, sticky rice and wonderfully slimy okra at the tip of my tongue, why would I possibly be hunting down the city's best sushi? Because there's only so much oil, salt and MSG a girl can … [Read more...] about I’m in Bangkok, so why am I Eating (Bangkok’s Best?) Sushi at Ka Ze Fresh?
Things You Don’t Tell the People You Love
1. "I have Dengue fever" 2. "I flew Malaysia Airlines two weeks before one of their planes mysteriously disappeared" 3. There's probably a third one, but after #'s 1 and 2 I think I'll actually keep it to myself. It probably has something to do with flying to Malaysia on a bit of … [Read more...] about Things You Don’t Tell the People You Love
Becoming a Thai Massage Master, Part 2
Sufficiently confused by Thai massage, it was time to head to school. I'd had my best Thai massage experience at the Wat Pho so I figured their five-day massage class sounded like a good idea. I had my hesistations, however; would it be dumbed down for Westerners? Cater too much … [Read more...] about Becoming a Thai Massage Master, Part 2
Becoming a Thai Massage Master, Part 1
I had a great plan. I came to Thailand hoping to figure out the secrets of Thai massage. It's not like Swedish massage or deep tissue, or even Ayurvedic massages where oil drips in a long stream onto your third eye/forehead. It's rough, dry, and there's a lot of cracking … [Read more...] about Becoming a Thai Massage Master, Part 1