I’m back to the adult world of bills and errands. And it’s raining. I’m trying not to be too sad about it, and part of me is genuinely glad. I can now do socially acceptable things like sleep, buy a Starbuck’s latte for under $4, and re-hydrate. Despite my previous post on what to bring to Vegas, I found myself failing to heed my own advice. Yes, ibuprofen was needed. Did I bring some? Of course not! I would also like to add that, should one be spending anytime poolside, remember to bring a hat and a lip balm with SPF protection. My scalp and lips are somewhat dry today, to say the least. I somehow forgot that Las Vegas is in the middle of the desert, and is therefore very hot and dry.
Unfortunately, this go-around my good friend Susie came down with appendicitis right before she was scheduled to leave. While we were incredibly sad to have not been able to see her this last weekend, we were so relieved that she was with her family, had access to a hospital and could get the best treatment possible. In other news, this means another trip to Las Vegas is being planned for the year. While I would very much like to respect the age-old adage that “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas,” some things are too exciting to not share. Rachel and I are two peas in a pod when it comes to our social life in the Bay Area, but we have somehow not ever made it to Vegas together. I was glad we could finally remedy that, and took a few nice photos to document our trip. Meanwhile Rachel, who always thinks on her feet, took some blackmail-worthy photographs and videos of yours truly. Which is now why I must always remain friends with her. We had one hell of a time, to say the least.
This was my Monday, world. I did get a bit of a sunburn, despite re-applying sunscreen incessantly.
The infamous Chandelier in The Cosmopolitan.
Because where else would you find Liberace’s bejeweled car in the lobby of a hotel?
Fantastic chocolates at Jean Philippe Patisserie at the Aria. The more elegant side of Las Vegas.
It isn’t a vacation if you don’t have Pinkberry. On mine, you will find an assortment of children’s cereals. I’m never growing up!
This is, unfortunately, what happens when two girls have an entire hotel bathroom to themselves. Like a makeup bomb went off. Slightly embarrassing.
Did I mention that we saw Avicii DJ at XS Nightclub? Because we did. And it was amazing.
Also, Saturday night was the night that my other shoe broke while dancing. I hobbled around for the rest of the night, but it was worth it.
Today, I wanted to continue on with Part Two of my New Zealand adventures. Enjoy!
…
The only evidence of Hot Water Beach. Where we parked. Too bad we were having too much fun to take pictures!
Wild hydrangeas. Everywhere. Lining the highways!
Beautiful McClaren Falls.
Our first campsite! By the river.
One of my favorite memories of the trip has to be just following loading up our van with all of our camping equipment. Maren, Aaron, and I piled in the car (Aaron was the most fearless when it came to driving on the “wrong” side of the road, so he drove first), waving goodbye to Maren’s parents. Just before pulling out of the “car park,” Maren turned to us and said:
“Does anyone else think that we somehow aren’t old enough to be doing this by ourselves?”
Agreed. Who allowed this without parental supervision?!
And the adventures began! One of the first things I’ll admit to loving when traveling abroad is visiting local grocery stores. There’s something about seeing all the popular food items and observing everyone going about their regular routine in another country that just fascinates me. It’s possibly the least tourist-y thing you can do, but, to me, is just as exciting as touring more famous sites. We picked up a ton of food and drinks for our trip: lamb (the cheapest meat available!), local beer, a box of wine, Tim Tams, fresh fruit, and cheese. You can see a lovely snapshot of the wine we chose above. I almost cried from laughing so hard, when I realized we picked up something called “Merlot Cabernet.” Are we a blend? Or just confused?
Our first stop of the day was Hot Water Beach, a natural phenomenon on the coast of the Coromandel Peninsula. This had to be one of our favorite stops on our trip. No where on earth will you come across a beach, littered with grown adults armed with shovels, digging their own spas in the sand. Only possible when the tide is out, we stopped by rather late in the day, and attempted to find an abandoned pool. Convinced it was a total hoax after coming across only cold water, we stared at all the people contentedly sitting in their pools. It didn’t make sense, until we happened to come across a pool so piping hot, we had to keep swirling the water around to prevent ourselves from getting scalded! Sitting in a steaming bath a few feet from the very cold ocean is something I will never forget. Groups started to clear out as the tide came in, washing the hot water away. In one of the more hilarious moments of our trip, we watched an entire family of Pakistani tourists take over an unwitting couple’s pool. The two still sat in their swimsuits while surrounded by fully clothed people, standing, soaking their feet and chatting, completely oblivious.
Following the beach adventures, we quickly headed out to find a campsite for the night. Driving around the nearby summer town of Tapu, we found that all the motor camps and campsite were almost fully booked. After a brief stop to admire an odd freedom camp by the side of the road, we set up a makeshift camp off-road, and cooked a delicious meal. This was no beenies&weenies, but lamb chops with garlic mashed potatoes. I was a camping convert. The next day, we made our way in the direction of The Shire (and yes, it’s listed on maps as “The Shire”) and happened to make a pit stop at McClaren Falls. Should I ever go back, I would love to revisit this lovely, well-maintained park along with the beautiful falls. It had a little bit of something for everyone, kayaking, horseback riding, picnics, you name it! I highly recommend stopping by, should you ever be in the North Island.
Have a good weekend everyone and stay tuned for the next episode!
Happy first day of Spring! I’m celebrating by flying to Las Vegas this Saturday for a girls’ adventure. While in the midst of packing, I thought I would put together my own little guide for the perfect Vegas weekend getaway. I’m afraid my tips as to what to pack are directed solely at the ladies, because, well…I am one. Let’s begin with:
10 Things You Must Bring with you to Vegas:
Inappropriate shoes. And by inappropriate, I mean bring your highest, biggest, most glitter-encrusted ridiculous pairs of shoes. Yes, pairs. I chastised myself once for bringing multiple, complete outfits for one weekend, but my many options came in handy when one of my shoes broke in the lobby of the hotel right as I was leaving. Be prepared, ladies.
Dresses. Now is the time to wear all your summer sundresses (for the daytime), and bust out your slinkiest cocktail dress at night. Preferably in the brightest colors you can find.
Swimsuits! I also find options helpful here, as you definitely want to take advantage of the lavish pools and day clubs many hotels on the strip have to offer. If your dream is to pull off an itty-bitty bikini, now is the time.
A sarong, or beach cover-up. Bring something stylish and colorful to throw on top of your suit to and from the pool. Because, let’s be honest, the trek from your room on the 30th floor of the Mandalay Bay to the pool outside takes 20 minutes.
Sparkles. Ladies, bring all your fun gems along for the trip. Break all the rules. Wear your bejeweled watch and earrings and a necklace and all your bracelets. And rings. There are no rules here.
Makeup. A no-brainer. But I’m not just referring to your everyday makeup. Remember that ridiculously neon coral lipstick you bought? Bring that. Oh, and that glitter eyeliner you wore for new years? That too.
Eyelashes. It’s not often that I sport the fake ones, because they feel more costume-like on me than anything, but why not?! Grab those rhinestone eyelashes from the drugstore and apologize to no one.
Adult refreshments. If there is room in your suitcase (or your friend’s suitcase, for that matter) BYOB. I’ve heard the cautionary tale of the $9,000 bar tab. It’s just not worth it!
Snack. Grab a few little snacks: granola bars, crackers, anything! I highly recommend a few packs of instant oatmeal. It’s easy to make and nutritious, especially when you just need something quick to sustain you in the morning and don’t feel like paying $40 for a breakfast buffet.
Ibuprofen. Or, as I like to call it: I-Be-Broken. Just in case you have too much of a good time.
10 Things to Do in Vegas!
Pool time. Pool time. Pool time. Where else in the world can you bask at a fake beach or slide on a water-slide through a shark tank?!
The Bellagio Fountains. Possibly my most favorite “show” to stop and oggle on the strip. Both beautiful and fascinating to watch; a great opportunity for photos as well!
Buy a drink the size of your arm. Because where else is this socially acceptable?! No where. It doesn’t matter that half-way through it you’re going to feel ill. It sure is fun to carry around.
Play the penny slots. I’m not much of a gambler, so this is perfect entertainment for me. I play them in slow-motion and try to get the eye of a cocktail waitress in the meantime. Remember to tip them well!
Clubbing. Las Vegas is home to some of the most ridiculous, over-the-top clubs in the world. Even if it’s not entirely your cup of tea, go! It makes for some good people watching and will provide you with some stories to tell your grandchildren when they’re older. The kind of stories that prove you were a cool kid, back in your day.
Treat yourself to a fabulous dinner. I highly recommend Red Square, in Mandalay Bay. If you’re young and on somewhat of a budget, keep an eye out for Happy Hour deals. Eat well and enjoy.
The Botanic Gardens at the Bellagio. For a bit of nature in Vegas, visit the Bellagio. They change their displays according to season, and they’re always spectacular to see.
The Chandelier in the Cosmopolitan. Where else can you have innovative cocktails inside a lavish, multi-story chandelier. It’s absolutely on my to-do list for the weekend.
Shopping. You can find everything here. If you’re looking for more high-end, I recommend Crystals at the City Center. The architecture alone is something to see- I also swear that they pump Viktor and Rolf’s “Flowerbomb” perfume in through the air conditioning. Another great alternative are the Forum Shops at Caesar’s Palace, with a little bit of something for everyone.
Jump on the bed. You heard me. Do it. You’ll be in a fabulous hotel (hopefully with spectacular views of the strip), what have you got to lose? I do this every time I’m in Vegas, usually from sheer excitement. The world is your oyster- jump on the dang bed!
10 Things NOT to Do in Vegas
Don’t. Tattoo. Anything. Just don’t.
Impulsively buy bottle service. A co-worker of mine once had to sell some stock in order to pay his ridiculously large tab. Because buying a bottle of Kristal at 2am will sound like a good idea. Don’t do it.
Keep your shoes on. Ladies, this one is for you. I’m usually a staunch supporter of keeping ones shoes on, at all times. But you also need to know when to admit defeat. I once had a girlfriend who insisted on keeping her heels on all night, and could not walk the next morning because the balls of both her feet were giant blisters.
Don’t accept those cards people on the street are handing out. Do it once, and you’ll see why.
Abandon your friends. Keep the buddy system going, because someone will always need you to tell them when something isn’t a good idea. And, you’ll be happy the next morning when your friend kept an eye out for you.
Jaywalk on the Strip. Do you want to die? This is a city that has built pedestrian bridges for a reason.
Don’t forget to drink water. Lots and lots of water. All that walking around on the strip can be really draining, especially in that desert sun. You’ll need your energy with all that fun you’re having.
Go to the pool without ID. For all the 30-and-under crowd, there is nothing more infinitely frustrating than being turned down when trying to buy a beverage. Don’t ask me where to put your ID in your bikini, just make sure you bring it along.
Pay $17 for a well cocktail. I’m talking to you The Bank at the Bellagio. That’s just absurd. And the only thing that will make this OK is if my cocktail comes with a solid gold straw. Or $8 cash back.
Walk through the casino the morning after, if you can help it. I’m not sure who thought this was a good idea, but the combination of bright lights, cigarette smoke, obnoxious electronic dinging, and a hangover makes for the definition of cruel and unusual punishment.
I’ve had quite a doozy of a day so far. Then again, any day will seem like a doozy if it’s preceded by the following during the night:
Attacked by mosquitoes. Two flew in to my ear as I was sleeping. Have bite on my face.
A noisy, middle-of-the-night duck fight (outside my window, no less)
Loud neighbors (having a chat, outside my window)
Upstairs neighbor strikes again. In heels.
So, forgive me if I’m a little out of sorts.
Let me preface this by saying that this will be the first installment of my little photo diary. I saw so many amazing things and had such lovely experiences, the thought of relegating it to one post is incredibly daunting. So, why not many? I also have to explain myself. Some of you know that my New Zealand adventures took place in January…so why wait this long? Well, dear reader, I can attribute it to one thing: the minute I start summarizing my trip and unpacking my bags- it’s over. And I’m somewhat inexplicably clinging to that “just back from vacation” feeling as long as possible.
Why New Zealand? I’ve been wanting to visit New Zealand for the last 10 years of my life, if not more. I’ve dreamt of its summers during our winters, and imagined its beaches and rolling hills. When I was 15, I decided the ultimate revenge for misbehaving parents would be to threaten going to college to New Zealand. I had the brochures in my little hand, and would brandish them about like a weapon (If you’re curious, my school of choice was University of Cantebury in Christchurch). My dream was to literally move as far away from home as possible. But, I digress. On January 1st of this year, I grabbed my little carry-on suitcase and headed to the airport.
(My lovely little Hawaiian Airlines plane all set to take me to Oahu on the first leg of my journey.)
(I’m an aisle seat person. I also have a Dance Arts Project tank on, but you unfortunately can’t see the logo.)
I get asked a lot about the duration of the flight, and, having once spent 14 hours on a plane non-stop, my flight to New Zealand felt incredibly reasonable. I spent five hours flying to Hawaii, had a small layover, and then another eight from Oahu to Auckland. I was so excited and nervous when I arrived- having never traveled outside of the country on my own, I had concocted all sorts of worst-case scenarios that I might have to get myself out of. I’ve also heard that going through customs in New Zealand is quite the process. I walked through, almost completely alone, and somewhat confused as to where to go, because there were no crowds of people to follow. Possibly the oddest customs experience of my life. What was odder, however, was the fact that the plane was fumigated upon landing. While all the passengers sat there. Much like you would Febreeze a cabin, they sprayed us with pesticides. I don’t really want to think about the health repercussions, but if anything it was amusing. Once free of customs, I enjoyed the lovely humid night while I waited for my friends to meet me. I can’t really describe the feeling of seeing a good friend of yours skipping up to you half-way around the world. I was so utterly relieved she had found me, and we promptly bear-hugged. I would be staying with my good friend Maren, her boyfriend Aaron, and her parents on their sailboat for the next two days before we took off on our official adventures. But everything about this trip felt like an adventure to me: adventures to the bathroom, adventures to Countdown (the New Zealand grocery chain), adventures trying to find the boat among all the other boats in Half Moon Bay.
I was standing on the bow of the boat, Pacific Coast Highway, when I took this photo. I was also letting my hair air-dry, sipping some coffee and reading in the morning sun. Now it was a vacation.
The lovely Half Moon Bay in Auckland. I can now say I’ve been to two of them, in Auckland and in California!
I’m on a boat, ladies and gentlemen. And no, I did not get seasick!
After my arrival, we sailed through the Hauraki Gulf to drop anchor just outside of Rangitoto Island. Relatively undeveloped and uninhabited, you can access Rangitoto by ferry from Auckland, or, in our case, just take the dinghy in. I took a little video on my phone below of our view just outside the island. New Zealand weather is awfully temperamental, from searing hot, to overcast and cloudy; that particular day it was also incredibly windy. I apologize in advance for the shoddy camerawork, hopefully I don’t make any of you nauseous. I love that you can see all of our hiking boots all lined up post-hike, pre-beer. If you listen closely, you can also hear me contentedly humming in the background.
Tui- a local beer. Not only was it delicious, but if you looked under each bottle-cap, you would find a trivia question. We had quite a fun happy hour, to say the least. Maren’s parents make a fantastic team and were such amazing, generous hosts. Both obviously avid sailors, they are living the dream. Sailing around the world, they’re spending hurricane season in New Zealand before heading to their next location. Before New Zealand, they were in Tonga, and at one point, their rudder fell off five hours out to sea. They jerry-rigged a new steering system using plastic buckets. I still don’t know how that works. You can read more about their experience here. Crazy amazing.
Me at the top of Rangitoto! You can see the outskirts of Auckland in the background.
We hiked all the way to the top of the inactive volcano, and even stopped to explore some of the lava tubes along the way. I’ll admit that I was apprehensive crawling through narrow dark caves, but with both Maren and Aaron leading the way, I felt incredibly safe. Thanks to their bringing a headlamp, we even took some fellow tourists through the caves we explored. Now I can say that I’ve been cave spelunking! Amazing!
Well, that’s a quick recap of my first days in Auckland. I can say one thing for certain: if you get the opportunity to go to New Zealand, GO. It was the trip of a lifetime, and, even better, I made it happen along with one of my dearest friends.
You may not be the biggest, brightest, or most diverse city in the world, but I like you just the same. When I was younger it was my dream to get to know you better, and I have. Even after all these years, there’s still so much to learn about you. There’s always new sights to see, neighborhoods to discover, and delicious things to eat.
(A beautiful view of Downtown from Potrero Hill)
(Infamous Mission Dolores Park)
I like that I can take my parents to meet you, and that you almost always make a good impression on my friends. We do need to talk about how grossly expensive your rent is and how smelly you get sometimes. Your hygiene could be improved, and some of those tech guys you hang out with can be a real pain-in-the-ass.
But I really do love your cooking. You make the best coffee and donuts around. I’m glad I don’t live with you, or else I would weigh 500 pounds.
(Dynamo Donuts! Chocolate Rose, Caramel de Sel, and Strawberries and Cream)
(Bombolinis with cream filling at the Ferry Building)
You have some of the best people watching around, and I enjoy how accepting you are of everyone from all walks of life. You can be a little rough around the edges, but you’re full of hidden gems. I love all your different neighborhoods- it’s like twenty little cities in one. If I feel like shopping all day, I can meet you downtown. In the Mission, I can find the best food: Cuban, Italian, Mexican, French, fusion. The people watching and the coffee is always fantastic there. I go the Marina when I want to surround myself with young people, beautiful neighborhoods, or maybe some of the finer things in life. The Haight is colorful and entertaining to explore, and I can find my favorite hot toddy in the Castro, along with the most beautiful views of the city.
So maybe you could call me sometime? Or I could call you? There are other cities for me to explore, and so many things for me to see. I would hate for you to miss out.
Welcome to a special edition of ‘Five Things!’ As many of you know, I spent a bit of time browning myself and enjoying summer in the Southern Hemisphere at the beginning of this year. Armed with my journal, I had every intention of documenting the details of my trip. Instead, what I ended up with was two entries, written either on the plane or in the airport, word-vomiting all of the highlights that I could remember. Yes, you will be privy to this information as soon as I can make sense of my notes (involving many arrows) and chicken scratch. I did, however, manage to play the tourist, and get some lovely snapshots of the things I saw. I confessed to my travel buddy that one of my favorite things to do in a foreign country is to eat all of the strange foods I can find, and to peruse the supermarkets for unnecessarily long periods of time. After running up and down the aisles of Countdown (the Kiwi equivalent of Safeway) the very first time, I created an edible bucket list that I dreamed of fulfilling as quickly as possible. And I did. So, here you go!
Five Things….That I Ate in New Zealand
(Kiwi-style Chicken Burger in Tauranga)
One of the first things I learned about cuisine in New Zealand is that they like to top their burgers with big slices of beetroot. This was a very good surprise to a girl that has loved beets since before she can remember. Another variation includes a fried egg and some bacon. Yum! Enjoyed this lovely meal at TOI, a cafe adjacent to a climbing gym by the name of “Vertical Assault.” Semi-awkward gym name, if there ever was one.
(Tip Top Ice Cream, Boysenberry on the left, Candy Floss on the right)
To say that I liked the ice cream in New Zealand would be an understatement. Let me be frank and say that all of their ice cream tasted like butter. Yes, very distinguishable butter flavor. Who doesn’t like their butter with a little sugar? I also enjoyed the variety of unique flavors that they had: Candy Floss (aka Cotton Candy), passion fruit, orange chocolate chip, tropical, something called “Gold Rush,” raspberry lemon fizz, lime swirl, and Hokey Pokey. “What’s hokey pokey?” You might ask. The explanation on the carton was: hokey pokey flavored ice cream, with hokey pokey pieces. Make sense? After a taste test, we found out it was just sugary sweet toffee.
(Lattes at One2One in Ponsonby)
This might fall in to the “Things I Drank” category, but I just had to share. After living off of instant coffee while camping, nothing is better than real espresso with nice, thick foam. We wandered in to this lovely cafe in Ponsonby while visiting Auckland. Not only was the coffee lovely, but so was the beautiful garden patio out back. Despite the fact that the garden was filled with the most massively aggressive little birds I’ve ever encountered, we enjoyed some much needed down time here. Remember, just because the birds are small, doesn’t mean they won’t pull your cookie right out of your hand as you eat it. Defend your pastries, everyone.
(CHEEZELS.)
Pardon the blurry car photo, but I had to share. If a cheese puff and a Cheez-it had babies, they would be Cheezels. And also amazing. I first purchased this treat from a gas station in Matamata on our way to the Shire. Everyone was silent until we finished the bag, refusing to get out of the car until the last Cheezel was consumed. I brought two bags back with me, but alas, they are already gone.
This, ladies and gentleman, is a photo of myself, in the car, eating ice cream for dinner.
As many of you know, being an independent adult, I have made it my mission in life to do and/or eat all the things my parents told me not to. That is how this photo came to be. I am clearly very excited. But, who wouldn’t be a pint of cinnamon-and-cream flavored ice cream with donut pieces and raspberry jam swirl in your hands? I dare you not to be thrilled. And, yes, Hawaiian Airlines, this is the reason why I did not want you to wake me up and serve me dinner at 1am. I was full. Thank you very much.
I hope you had as lovely of a Thanksgiving as I did.
I ate all the things.
Most of you know that I’ve spent the last 4 years’ Thanksgiving celebrations down in the lovely city of San Luis Obispo, with some of my favorite ladies. It’s a trip I look forward to every year. Also known as “Orphan Thanksgiving,” it’s our own version of the holiday, and we do it right. This year we even had a centerpiece…wait for it….with pumpkins from the garden out back. We also had 3 different kinds of homemade pie. One of my favorite things is adding to the tradition every year. So far, this includes horrible made-for-TV holiday movies and a post-meal parade around the block. Our latest celebration featured the newest member of the tribe, Mr. Ewan, in his own Thanksgiving day attire. I’d like to think that he enjoyed the sweet potatoes as much as we did, at least the ones that made it in to his mouth. In other news, congratulations are due to the lovely Perisho family, and their newest member: Cooper James. I was obsessively attached to my phone, awaiting the news of his arrival most of the weekend. I see a trip to Seattle in the near future I can’t wait to meet him! Cheers to many, many things to be thankful for this year, and to good friends.
Watch Me Juggle 
