If you ever go to San Gabriel Valley, you will find many delicious restaurants typically targeted towards a Chinese demographic. One of the restaurants that I recommend is 101 Noodle Express, known for its beef rolls, hand-stretched noodles and a variety of delicious dumplings which Read More …
Located in Monterey Park is HOOSHIK KOREAN DESSERT CAFE. As I have covered various snow ice locations throughout California and most of them being Taiwanese-owned, in Southern California, while I have raved about a few Korean Dessert Cafe’s in Korea Town, this time around, we Read More …
For those looking to stay near Downtown Long Beach, definitely check out The Varden. Restored in 2014 by co-owners Larry Black and Charles Knowlton, many people passing by will notice the name “Dolly Varden” on top of the building. From what I have read, Dolly Read More …
One of the scariest things that many travelers (on a budget) always want to make sure is to not go over the maximum weight for their checked bags. If traveling internationally, you will want to find out what the maximum weight limit your airline will Read More …
One of the first stations I had the opportunity to visit during my first time in Japan was Harajuku Station. A well-known railway station located in Shibuya, Tokyo and operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East), the station’s beginnings go as far back as Read More …
In San Luis Obispo County is the community of Avila Beach. The name of the location is derived from Miguel Avila, the owner of Rancho San Miguelito (a Mexican land grant in present-day San Luis Obispo County). The land grant given by then Governor Juan Read More …
If you are a student at Kanagawa University or living near the area, the place has restaurants, shops, pachinko…probably within that area is where you’ll see a lot of foot traffic. One of the things that people will find the shopping area in “Rokkakubashi Shopping Read More …
Omotesando is best known for an area lined with trees and luxury shops but near Omotesando crossing is a small shrine (jinja) that is not hard to miss. Known as Akibajinja (note that the shrine is not located in Akihabara), the history of this small Read More …
In Shibuya, right near the station, thousands of visitors come each year to visit and take pictures of the statue of Hachiko. For those not familiar with the story, Hachiko is an Akita dog and the pet of Professor Hidesaburo Ueno, who worked at the Read More …
My chill out spot for brunch/lunch when I’m traveling to the West Hollywood area is Joey’s Cafe (http://www.joeyscafeweho.com/). Joey’s Cafe is one of those spots to kick back, indoor or outdoor, order a sandwich or a drink and just enjoy your breakfast, brunch or lunch. Read More …
In Japan, there are many restaurants that serve curry. But there are a few that have managed to create a brand that has done well for the company and had allowed companies such as Curry House and CoCo Ichibanya but another curry restaurant that has Read More …
When it comes to restaurants, one that I have eaten at countless times in Monterey and San Francisco is the Bubba Gump Shrimp Company Restaurant & Market. Inspired by the 1994 film “Forrest Gump”, the first Bubba Gump restaurant opened in Monterey back in 1996 Read More …
Nakano Broadway, the otaku shopping area of Nakano (a special ward in Tokyo). A ward that epitomizes Showa era (1926-1989) and the bubble economy, back in 1960, the construction of Nakano Broadway building was created. The goal was to create a 10-story shopping and apartment Read More …
Having stayed at several hotels in the Long Beach area, this time I decided to stay at the Comfort Inn & Suites near Long Beach Convention Center. What was surprising was it was located near where I lived in Long Beach as a teenager. This Read More …
Snow ice. It’s a popular dessert that you can find in areas with a high Asian population in California. But I wanted to introduce family who had never tried snow ice for the very first time. As I posted about Salju Dessert earlier in the Read More …
Right on 7000 Hollywood Blvd. and a short walk from the TLC Chinese Theatres is the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. An iconic hotel which hosted Hollywood cinema legends such as Charles Chaplin, Carole Lombard, Clark Gable, Marilyn Monroe and many more. And while events still happen Read More …
When traveling in Shibuya, you will see an interesting restaurant with a cute yellow chick character featured on its sign. The location that I visited is located at: 25-3 Udagawacho, Shibuya, Tokyo Prefecture The chick is the mascot for Kin-no-Torikara, a spot that originated from Kyoto Read More …
Are you a frequent flier who often takes flights on Japan Airlines (JAL)? I would definitely take advantage of the JAL Mileage Bank card when flying to destinations around the world. Just book your flight provide your JMB membership number when making your flight reservations, checking Read More …
The first city that I slept overnight (back in 1999) for the first time in Japan was in the city of Kawaguchi. Located in Saitama prefecture, in the central Kanto region of Japan, Kawaguchi is the 9th most populated city in Greater Tokyo and the Read More …
While I no longer peruse the bakery as I did prior to August 2015 and went for a more healthier lifestyle, once maybe every 4-6 months, I will be open to having one or two delicacies. And my sister, who has a big craving for Read More …
Possibly the biggest question I receive from friends, family and acquaintances is how I am able to travel. First and foremost, if you dream about traveling and you want to travel, you just have to do it. I did not grow up in a wealthy Read More …
NOTE: This “reminiscing” travel post features the crappiest photos taken with my digital camera used at the time. Let’s go back in time. The year was July 2000 and I had the opportunity to travel to Phoenix, Arizona and St. Louis, Missouri. While staying in Read More …
While the majority of the buildings you find around Yokohama’s Minato Mirai 21 are modern, you will find hundreds of people near two red brick warehouses known as the Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse. The buildings no doubt sticks out in the location and perhaps that Read More …