Weekend in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico
June 24, 2018
Hoi An, Vietnam
April 2, 2018
It's taken me ages to visit Hoi An. As a Vietnamese native, I've always wanted to stop by this little lantern town in the city of Da Nang on all of my previous trips to Vietnam with my family. Yet somehow never managed because none of my relatives thought it was worthy of a trip. I mean, who can blame them? Vietnam is insanely diverse from North to South, and everyone has their own opinions which part is best.
As a sucker for colorful and cultural places, Hoi An was not just a check off my bucket list of UNESCO sites to see.
Vietnam's history is quite complicated and long- but what made me really interested in visiting this ancient town was its rich influences from the Chinese and Japanese. From the temples to the traditional pagoda bridge, there were tons of obvious little details of Chinese and Japanese that this place is composed of to this day. Being here for a good three days with my boyfriend was quite pleasant and it's the number of days that I'll recommend you give this place if you're thinking about seeing it yourself.
Hoi An during the day versus night is two completely different atmospheres. Heck, I woke up at 6 am on one of the days to check out the market and when we got to town at 11 am, I could already felt the vibe and scenery change. It's this reason that I'm really glad I gave this spot a few days to fully soak it in.
The canal that runs through Hoi An is quite small and shallow, so I honestly didn't expect it to be anything spectacular at night - but once I got on the wooden boat and started drifting away, the view from the water with the paper lanterns made it felt super rustic - as if I traveled back in time.
Below is a mixture of photographs that Shun and I took during the trip (since we had our own cameras this time). We really loved capturing the colors of this place and the people. If you're looking to experience a bit of an old-world-charm Tangled, I highly recommend visiting Hoi An.
As a sucker for colorful and cultural places, Hoi An was not just a check off my bucket list of UNESCO sites to see.
Vietnam's history is quite complicated and long- but what made me really interested in visiting this ancient town was its rich influences from the Chinese and Japanese. From the temples to the traditional pagoda bridge, there were tons of obvious little details of Chinese and Japanese that this place is composed of to this day. Being here for a good three days with my boyfriend was quite pleasant and it's the number of days that I'll recommend you give this place if you're thinking about seeing it yourself.
Hoi An during the day versus night is two completely different atmospheres. Heck, I woke up at 6 am on one of the days to check out the market and when we got to town at 11 am, I could already felt the vibe and scenery change. It's this reason that I'm really glad I gave this spot a few days to fully soak it in.
The canal that runs through Hoi An is quite small and shallow, so I honestly didn't expect it to be anything spectacular at night - but once I got on the wooden boat and started drifting away, the view from the water with the paper lanterns made it felt super rustic - as if I traveled back in time.
Below is a mixture of photographs that Shun and I took during the trip (since we had our own cameras this time). We really loved capturing the colors of this place and the people. If you're looking to experience a bit of an old-world-charm Tangled, I highly recommend visiting Hoi An.
A Few Things To Keep In Mind:
Since this place is a major tourist destination, you'll find that most shops, restaurants and even food stalls will be able to communicate with you in basic English. However, for the most part, knowing Vietnamese or traveling with someone who does speak the language will give you an advantage as many vendors are known for taking a little advantage of foreigners and tourists.
The main dish of the area is called "Cao Lau" which is basically a dry version of a Mi Quang. I definitely recommend trying both of these dishes to compare which one you prefer - but do not pay more than 35k Dong for a bowl!
As a Southern Vietnamese, the dish "Com Ga" is very different for me. So, to try the central version was really interesting. I was able to stop by Madam Buoi's spot and it did not disappoint!
When in Vietnam, make sure you have as much Vietnamese coffee as you can. Hoi An has so many good and photogenic cafes on every corner. Some of my favorites are Cong Cafe, Faifo, Hoi An Roastery and The Hill Station.
If time allows, make a visit to Reaching Out Tea House. Go for the tea sample set or coffee set and make sure you get their butter passionfruit cookies!
Don't be afraid to try the street food and stop by the night market to eat on the side of the streets. They were some of mine and Shun's best meals.
The main dish of the area is called "Cao Lau" which is basically a dry version of a Mi Quang. I definitely recommend trying both of these dishes to compare which one you prefer - but do not pay more than 35k Dong for a bowl!
As a Southern Vietnamese, the dish "Com Ga" is very different for me. So, to try the central version was really interesting. I was able to stop by Madam Buoi's spot and it did not disappoint!
When in Vietnam, make sure you have as much Vietnamese coffee as you can. Hoi An has so many good and photogenic cafes on every corner. Some of my favorites are Cong Cafe, Faifo, Hoi An Roastery and The Hill Station.
If time allows, make a visit to Reaching Out Tea House. Go for the tea sample set or coffee set and make sure you get their butter passionfruit cookies!
Don't be afraid to try the street food and stop by the night market to eat on the side of the streets. They were some of mine and Shun's best meals.
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Camera Gear Used: Nikon D750 (body only) with 50mm F1/4 and 24-85mm F3.5 lens.
Coffee Shops and Cafes Worth Visiting in Tokyo, Japan
For a long time, I've debated on sharing my insights on Tokyo because I feel like a lot of this information have already been covered in one place or another. As someone who really loves coffee, I've always been keen on seeking out cool cafes and coffee shop to visit anywhere that I get a chance to travel to. But when it comes to Tokyo, some of my fondest coffee moments have happened here.
Having been to Tokyo several times and visiting a lot of cafes in the here - I've nailed down my top 8 for you to try if you're heading to Tokyo soon!
Having been to Tokyo several times and visiting a lot of cafes in the here - I've nailed down my top 8 for you to try if you're heading to Tokyo soon!
しろいくろ
Address: 2 Chome-8-1 Azabujuban, Minato, Tokyo 106-0045, Japan
This is one of my more recent finds. It's a cake shop who's concept came about when an architect met a coffee lover.
They both didn't like sweets so they came up with this little shop, whose cakes are fluffy and deliciously unsweetened. They accompanied their cakes with a really solid line of drinks from lattes, espresso, and drip.
They both didn't like sweets so they came up with this little shop, whose cakes are fluffy and deliciously unsweetened. They accompanied their cakes with a really solid line of drinks from lattes, espresso, and drip.
Café de l'Ambre
Address: 8 Chome-10-15 Ginza, Chūō, Tokyo 104-0061, Japan
L'Ambre is more of a coffeehouse than a cafe. There's no special latte art or anything Instagrammable - but I promise that if you're a true coffee lover, you'll be thanking me for telling you about this place.
It's just right off of the flashy street of Ginza, which gives it this old-school, hole-in-the-wall that feels like it's been stuck in time since 1945. Here you'll be served 40-year-old beans that get prepared meticulously right before you (if you are lucky enough to grab a bar seat).
Having been here quite a few times already - I've already tried many of the beans, but my favorite drink here still remains the 'Frozen Amber' which is one of the few cold drinks that they have.
It's just right off of the flashy street of Ginza, which gives it this old-school, hole-in-the-wall that feels like it's been stuck in time since 1945. Here you'll be served 40-year-old beans that get prepared meticulously right before you (if you are lucky enough to grab a bar seat).
Having been here quite a few times already - I've already tried many of the beans, but my favorite drink here still remains the 'Frozen Amber' which is one of the few cold drinks that they have.
Blue Bottle
Address: 4 Chome-1-6 Shinjuku, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 160-0022, Japan
You can never go wrong with a good drip - and Blue Bottle is one of the best, even in the States. They are also the most convenient as there are multiple locations throughout Tokyo.
In fact, they're such a staple that I've actually never really stopped to take a decent photo of one of my pours.
In fact, they're such a staple that I've actually never really stopped to take a decent photo of one of my pours.
ONIBUS COFFEE
Address: Japan, 〒153-0051 Tokyo, 目黒区Kamimeguro, 2−14−1
Aside from its aesthetically pleasing Japanese features, this place's coffee is one that I enjoy with or without milk. I love their upstair's window seat which faces a train track. If you go in the morning, the light shines in so perfect, it feels like you're in an anime.
STREAMER COFFEE COMPANY
Address: 1 Chome-20-28 Shibuya, Tokyo 150-0002, Japan
Streamers Coffee is actually quite popular in Tokyo, for good reasons of course. Visuals aside, I personally really like their 'military lattes' which is a matcha latte with two shots of espresso poured on top. You'll definitely recognize it when you see it.
Mojo Coffee
Address: Japan, 〒162-0817 東京都新宿区 米田ビル 2F
Address: 3 Chome-22-15 Jingumae, Shibuya, Tokyo 150-0001, Japan
Address: 3 Chome-22-15 Jingumae, Shibuya, Tokyo 150-0001, Japan
Of all the places mentioned on this list - this one is probably the most out of the way, but I would make the trip for their mocha, served adorably with a marshmallow on the side. They have a shop in Harajuku but I like the quieter one that's out of the way more. This New Zealand spot is quiet and is perfect for a longer stay. They also have breakfast and a selection of NZ wine for later on in the day.
リシュー (Reissue)
Address: 3 Chome-25-7 Jingumae, Shibuya, Tokyo 150-0001, Japan
Japan is known for its quirks, and this place definitely delivers that in latte forms. Here you can get a 3D latte art created for you on the spot with just a photo. If you search this place up via Instagram, you'll definitely be overwhelmed by the stuff that's been done here. One time, all of my friends got their dog's faces on all our lattes and it was pretty awesome.
Toranomon Koffee
Address: 1 Chome-1-23 Toranomon, Minato, Tokyo 105-0001, Japan
After Omotesando Koffee closed down, they moved over to the Toranomon building. The same concept is kept here with their shop design. Their coffee bean specialty is also the same and they also have some awesome alcoholic-caffeinated drinks.
If you have any favorites of your own - I'd love to know!