bit by the travel bug

i took the bullet train to kyoto from tokyo to get outside the city and visit another part of japan. and i'm so glad i did! kyoto was beautiful, quieter, and i got to experience more like local japan life. i am traveling alone this trip. i haven't solo traveled for pleasure since i was transitioning between ventura and san francisco in 2013. back then i headed to the maldives, where i missed beau and was excited to start my life in sf. while solo travel can be challenging, it's nice not to have to make any decisions with anyone else and truly do what you want to do. no arguing over directions, deciding where to eat or feeling guilty about wanting to go to bed (story of my life). i spent my days wandering the streets, walking 10+ miles and trying lots of different foods. kyoto is FILLED with matcha everything. so many sweet treats and fun things to try. i definitely recommend matcha or black sesame ice cream and trying the foods from the food stalls and/or nish...

see hawaii as hawaii sees hawaii. with no leis, no luaus, no high rise hotels. just, plain, beautiful hawaii. molokai is absolutely stunning. and empty, which makes it feel like we're the only ones here. we flew in a 9 person plane over oahu to the tiny island of molokai. molokai is only about 40 miles long by 4 miles wide. it has very red soil and only one main "highway" that runs the entire distance. only 7,000 people live on the island. and while people say it's the unfriendly island, it's nearly the opposite. the town has been frozen in time... the buildings and storefronts are very old and inside are random stores filled with the weirdest shit, and the nicest people. there's like 7 restaurants on the whole island. stores close at 8. there's no zip lines here. no atv's. no swimming with dolphins. just land to explore. each beach with a different personality. either vast beaches with less than 10 people to be seen in either direction. or a s...

Tulum is awesome. It still has a small, beach-town feel and feels safe and authentic. There aren't huge resorts and you can get to a lot of cool nature near by. TO EAT : Tres Galeones El Camello Jr. (super good fish at reasonable prices)  Helado Buena Estrella (vegan ice cream truck - super unique and good) Celti (dinner) Kitchen Table (dinner) Ki-bok (for breakfast/tea/coffee) Pollo Bronco (some of the best chicken I've ever eaten in my life) Any street food  Burrito Amor (very gringo) El Tio taco truck  Matcha Mama (in town and at the beach)  TO DO : Dos Ojos Cenotes (cave water hole cenotes) Cenote Escondido (you can jump off the rock into the water) Gran Cenote (good for laying out, more a of a community pool vibe) Calavera Cenote (know for it's holes... looks scary but super fun for jumping) Cenote Azul (further from town but great rock jumping, beautiful water/greenery)  Mayan Clay Spa (expensive but SO worth it... get the mud m...

in 2016 i had the opportunity to go to seoul, south korea to test airbnb's next thing:  airbnb trips . what an opportunity, right? i brought along my bff, chris white, for some work and fun in a city i knew little about but had heard amazing things! in 2018 i got to go back as part of my 4 month asia adventure to spend 2 weeks in seoul. i really love it here. the energy is electric, people are so warm and there's a lot to do. the city is huge but the public transportation is amazing and there is really great hiking. i fell in love with this city and hope to spend more time here (and with the people) in the future! things to experience:  mangwon market  - great local's food market mapo agricultural & marine products market (next to world cup stadium)  - VERY local. buy a crab (or other seafood) and have them cook it; enjoy it in the secret restaurant upstairs hongdae neighborhood for lots of shopping, street performers, local college scene bukcheon ne...

people always ask me for travel tips. want to live like a local? check out san francisco, new york and some of our other market locals for local host's recommendations on what to see and do. airbnb - live there (things to do and see in some major cities)

i love asia. i love the people, i love the food, i love the vast difference in culture. #iloveasianshit japan has been on my list for a long time and lucky for me i got to combine it with a work trip to singapore. even more lucky, my coworker/friend/travel buddy belinda got to come along!  i spent a week in japan... the first day i was meant to be alone but i got connected with friends of friends and had a blast.  here's some things to do and places to eat in tokyo:  kushiyakimonjirou  (really amazing skewers. recommend this menu )  tsukiji fish market  - yummy fish market, local finds, nom zekkocho teppen (絶好調てっぺん) - super interesting and awesome dining experience. kind of like japanese bbq. delicious fish and don't miss the butter rice.  sun and moon yoga  (gotanda)  harajuku for bright colors, fun, weird photos, candy, crepes and lots of treats taketora  (shinjuku) - delicious ramen fanabashiya  (shibuya) - don't ...

all my travel updates here:  #WhiteHotSouthAmericanSommer CUSCO/MACHUPICCHU/PERU inca trail 4 day/3 night hike to machupicchu: highly recommend wayki  tour group. here are some tips:  book far in advance bring a legit pancho like this one:  pancho bring clothes to just wear at night bring 4 pairs of socks hire a porter bring a day pack with camelpak earplugs super warm jacket waterproof rain jacket bring shorts/capris or convertible pants toe warmers waterproof boots aclimate in cusco before you go on the hike:  airbnb listing:  https://www.airbnb.com. sg/rooms/3641220 restaurant: cusquenita go to  sacsaywaman go to the public mercado (also the mercado near the airbnb above) BUENOS AIRES/ARGENTINA stay in soho palemo our airbnb: https://www.airbnb.com.sg/rooms/14222 restaurants: cafe tortino don julio tufic ice cream (don't miss) burger joint shopping in palermo hang in the parks San Telmo Sunday market (st...