There's No Crying in Croatia

With the departure of Laura and Neka, I found myself a bit depressed. I returned to Split as they headed out on their road trip to Bosnia and Montenegro and realized that I was, once again, alone. After almost 72 hours of being holed up in my apartment, due both to being slightly depressed and feverishly trying to catch up on work from the TWO DAYS I took off, I finally put on my big girl pants and decided to make the most of my final couple weeks here.

Toe-tally missing my girl squad

One night, I found myself joining a bar crawl of mostly 18-24 year olds. It was mostly out of a “Screw it, what else am I gonna do tonight?” attitude, but I will say that it was an enlightening experience to say the least. Watching the youths live their best lives without a care in the world, with their biggest worry being what country they could move to next and impressing the guy/girl next to them, and hopping into the sea at 4 am (yes, I made it that long; no, my body did not appreciate it) really made me appreciate where I am in life. I was definitely one of them at one point, but I am perfectly happy doing all those dumb things during daylight - that’s what adulting is, right? Day drinking so you can go to bed at a reasonable hour and making drunken travel plans?

Meangirls Amypoehler GIF from Meangirls GIFs

I did finally get a chance to explore my home base of Split more, which was fantastic. A very hungover morning later, I headed to a local farm for a tour and olive oil tasting, which was phenomenal. We picked ripe figs, plums, and almonds straight off the tree, then got to sit down to an amazing spread of homemade bread, charcuterie, wine, and liqueurs. I even became buddies with an awesome Irish couple on their honeymoon and had drinks with them afterward - and may have invited myself to visit the in Dublin in the future.

Pretty sure I ate my weight in figs.

Krka Falls was next on the list, and it did not disappoint. The vistas were awesome, but the highlight was swimming right under the falls. I earned my role as honeymoon crasher once more, befriending another awesome couple, and apparently earning myself an invite to Minnesota in the winter (Earned? Punished with? Time will tell…).

I swam in there!

The following weekend took me a bit further out of town. Saturday was a day trip to Plitvice Lakes, a hike with tons of lakes, waterfalls, and stunning vistas. The water color was seriously unreal, and was 100% worth the minimal amount of hiking I had to do for it. The one thing I could do without were the crowds around photo spots (my elbows became weapons), but overall, it is a definite higlight of my trip.

Still can’t get over this water.

Not to be outdone, Sunday brought a day trip to Bosnia & Herzegovina. At the prodding (or yelling) of my friend to explore more of the area, I booked this trip, and I did not regret it at all. It is crazy to see how much they’ve built up the town after the war, but there are still ruins and rubble next to fully rebuilt buildings. Stari Most, the famous bridge, was the star - we made it just in time to catch one of the divers jumping off the bridge (yay!), but it was crazy to watch and HEAR when he hit the water.

Watching that man jump was both awesome and terrifying.

My final ode to Croatia was one last island hopping adventure. We went to private beaches on Brac, Hvar, and Solta, and even got mojitos from a guy on a boat! It was all the relaxation I needed before I take off into my next few crazy weeks of work and travel. Hvala, Croatia - hope to be back soon!

One last dip in this crystal sea…

Hot Summer Croatia Nights

My first week in Croatia has been nothing short of amazing, largely due to the arrival of two friends and travel buddies, Laura and Neka! We overlapped for a brief day in Berlin, but the party really started when they showed up in Split. 

We started with a couple nights in my home base for the next month - Split. One day was spent exploring the Old City, complete with ruins at every turn. The most interesting thing about it though is how commercialized they’ve made everything within the ruins - personally, it ruined the history and magic of it a bit, but it was still damn cool to be walking through alleys that are centuries old. 

Touching the famous toe for good luck after many beers. (Can you tell?)

The next day was spent lazing about at a nearby beach, where we had our first dip into the crystal clear Adriatic Sea. It is the most stunning blue, and the fact that you can see everything so clearly underneath is absurd. Also, it is SO SALTY and makes you super buoyant, which is the greatest feeling in the world. 

A nearby Split beach, complete with a congregation of Euros in Speedos

After a couple nights running around Split and seeing just how strong the ancient walls are, we headed to the party island of Hvar. An unanticipated hike around the island took us to Robinson’s Beach, a tiny beach that had no more than 30 people on it. We drank beer, ate the best calamari I’ve ever had (freshly caught that day and grilled in their open fire oven), and promptly took a well deserved swim and nap. We did partake in the nightlife, albeit tamely, but we were pretty proud of our 2 am bed time after the day we had had. 

When on the party island of Hvar, one parties.

We left Hvar and then sailed on to Korcula, a tiny island and the home of Marco Polo. I confirmed that biking is not my thing, but did meet Laura and Neka for our winery tour through the island. They are famous for their GRK wine, a cool 16% wine that is quite tasty as well. We even visited a “winery” that was essentially an old man’s garage project. Long story short, the views are amazing, the wine flows aplenty, and it is worth a one night stay for sure. 

I survived my 1 km of biking in Korcula.

Finally, we ended up in Dubrovnik, the Jewel of the Adriatic. It was by far the most crowded and touristy, and dodging cruise ship tourists became a sport. The first day was spent wandering around the city and climbing up endless amounts of steps in search of shade and any semblance of a cool breeze. We went to a bar that is literally through a hole in the Walls of Dubrovnik to catch the sunset, then headed to the city for dinner. By far, the best discovery of the night was a women-run charcuterie restaurant. The meats and cheeses were incredible, and the house wine from tap was one of the best I’ve had. 

Our summer girl band was pretty awesome.

Our final day together included a beach morning, with plenty of swimming and floating in the sea. Our afternoon was sweaty and filled with a GOT tour and walk around the walls, followed by a ride up to the highest view of Dubrovnik for some incredible panoramic and sunset views. 

Old Dubrovnik looks so small from up top!

Thanks to Laura and Neka for reminding me what regular social contact feels like and for being incredible travel partners. Despite endless amounts of sweating, I wouldn’t have changed a minute of it. Split feels a little lonely now, but I’m so happy to have had the opportunity to discover this country with such fabulous friends. 

I’ll miss our motley crew!

The next few weeks will be a lot of work, but I’ll be doing my fair share of exploring in Croatia, which I am super excited for. Stay tuned!!

It’s Berlin, Baby!

After a whirlwind month back packed with reunions, wedding, new babies, and work life in North America, I resumed my world tour with leg 2: Europe!

I kicked off this leg in Berlin, arguably one of the main catalysts for this year’s Sinventure. Berlin is a city I immediately connected with when I visited back in 2015 for the first time. There’s order, but an underlying rebellious spirit that I love. It’s very much a city, but there is a ton of natural beauty throughout it. I knew I wanted to spend more time in the city, and thankfully, my work life has allowed me to do so this past month!

Brandenburg Gate at sunset. Pretty spectacular, no?

Perk #2 is having a buddy here - my work buddy Will is based in Berlin, and it was nice to have a friend to meet for drinks, workout, dinners...and even some work days in between. Added bonus: he serenades me all the time and is SO INSANELY talented. (I’m his new manager, so contact me for bookings.)

The Berlin Baes: Will, Alex, Manu

Berlin has given me beautiful riverside walks, fantastic architecture, lots of delicious meats and beers, and even a voguing ball!! I could easily live in this city - except for the fact that German is so incredibly difficult to learn, and my brain can’t handle that (google the german word for five).

Best part of this view? It’s all over the city.

I was able to take a few day/weekend trips while out here, adding 2 more countries to my list. They were:

Schwerin: A little town about 2 hours west of Berlin. The main driving force behind this choice was...(drumroll please)...a castle DUH. Well, more of a palace, but I’ll allow it. The palace is surrounded by a ton of lakes, so it was a natural photo op from every angle. 

Schwerin Castle. Wouldn’t mind living here.

Durstein/Vienna, Austria: A list of top 50 wineries in the world came out. My first move? Pick one close to me and get there ASAP. And that’s how I ended up in Durstein, Austria, a little fairy tale town along the Danube River, just outside of Vienna. It checked off a number of requirements: a new country, wine, and a castle! (In ruins, but still amazing - also where Richard the Lionheart was held captive!) Walking through this town, I kept singing “This Provinicial Life” from beauty and the beast (wrong country, I know, but you get the picture). I did make a quick pit stop in Vienna  as well - the architecture was stunning, and I’ll definitely be back sometime to explore it further. 

I mean, if this is the view Richard the Lionheart had while captured, it wasn’t all bad, right?

Szczecin, Poland: A charming little Polish town just 2 hours east of Berlin. It had beautiful architecture and pierogis - not bad for a 20 euro jaunt to another country. 

Szczecin, Poland

And now, my bags are packed again. I’m headed to CROATIA! I’ll be based in Split for the next month. Get ready for the most basic photos and posts - island hopping, boat trips, and wine tastings will be happening aplenty. #sorrynotsorry ✌🏽

The #mamasin Chronicles

Coming back from Bali was understandably a rough transition, but I did not have too much time to wallow as I prepared for the eminent arrival of the one and only #mamasin. Part of my penance for being away for a year was to gift her a 2-week holiday to come see me during my travels. We settled on my final week in Singapore and a week back to the motherland, Seoul.

I should note that #mamasin’s international travel has been largely limited in the last 15 years, with her last outing being our trip to Portugal in 2017.  I made bets in my head about the percentage of luggage that would be snacks versus clothes (roughly 40/60 split) and the number of people she would knock over with her backpack because she hadn’t worn one in so long (the mini-backpack this trip kept her to 3 people instead of her record of 20).

#mamasin’s mini-backpack of destruction makes its debut. 🎒

For Singapore, I saved most of the obligatory tourist sites for #mamasin’s visit. This included the Botanical Gardens, Gardens by the Bay, and the Singapore Zoo. #mamasin is happiest when surrounded by greenery, so she was like a pig in sh*t for most of that week. We explored most of the city on foot so we could walk off the copious amount of food and beer we consumed each day.

I have about 847292874 photos like this.

We then made our way to the motherland, Seoul, Korea. While I had planned to spend the whole week eating and exploring, it got somewhat hijacked by family/friend time. I guess that’s what happens when it’s been 25 years between visits!

1995 | 2019

Seoul was incredibly clean, modern, and easy to navigate (as long as you’re not using Google Maps!). The palaces were amazing – given my obsession with castles, this shouldn’t be a surprise. I’ve been thoroughly impressed by the city and am sad I don’t have more time to explore all the neighborhoods (and nightlife, let’s be real). It’s interesting being in a place where I actually look like the majority (is this what it’s like to be white?). However, I guess I’m different enough that it’s been a 50/50 split as to whether people speak to me in English or Korean – I blame my dark skin (most think I’m from Hawaii lol). I’m definitely motivated to come back soon though, and see a bit more of what the motherland has to offer!

Supporting Seoul’s tourism revenue. ✌🏽

As much fun as it’s been with #mamasin, I’m looking forward to riding solo once more. Now it’s time for a brief jaunt back home to LA. In n Out and tacos, HERE I COME!!!!

Sin’s Picks

Singapore

KEK Seafood: The chili crab here was absolutely, insanely good. It was sweet and spicy and rich with umami – I couldn’t stop licking my fingers!

Everything was great, but the chili crab was undoubtedly the star!

Man Man: This was recommended by my LA bud Michelle, and it did not disappoint! This was probably some of the best unagi (eel) I’ve ever had. It came with pickles, dashi (broth), and fresh wasabi that you grated for yourself. Also, we got there right when it opened, but by the time we left, the line was at least 30 people deep!

I wonder if it’s called Man Man because MAN! IT’S DELICIOUS!

Seoul

Gwangjang Market: Thank goodness for Netflix’s Street Food that came out recently. I went hunting for the gae jang (raw soy marinated crab) and knife cut noodles featured in the Seoul episode, and they were both amazing. On top of that, the owners of both stands were the most gracious, lovely humans. There’s also a million other stands with every other type of street food possible – you can sample just about everything from Korea in here - do not miss these places!

Bet you won’t feel CRABBY after eating this! 🦀

The broth was the real MVP here! 🍜

Noryangjin Fish Market: The most special thing about this crazy place is that you pick your fish and seafood downstairs in the markets where there are endless stalls of fish. Then you go upstairs, and they send your seafood up to be prepared as sashimi, stews, grilled – whatever your pleasure! The price point was also so incredibly cheap - #mamasin and I feasted on about $500 worth of seafood for $100!

From this…

…to this!

Original Jangchungdong Grandmother’s Place: Believe it or not, there is an entire street in Seoul dedicated to braised pork trotters. It is braised in a soy marinade for a long term, until the meat is tender and the fat melts into the meat, with enough of a layer to smack on your lips as you eat it. There are a million options on this street, but this restaurant really impressed both me and #mamasin.

#mamasin and I got piggy with it 🐷

Putting the Sin in Singapore (and Jakarta. And Bali.)

The last two weeks have been full of plane rides thanks to my arrival in Singapore, then a work jaunt to Jakarta and mini holiday for myself in Bali. 

Singapore has been a nonstop eating fest - even more so than Hong Kong and India, if you can imagine. My first night was aggressive with a late night work drink outing at a rooftop bar which escalated and ended at 4 am. My (hungover) first morning was not exactly pleasant, especially as I was desperately seeking food in the hottest, most humid place I’d been to yet. Thankfully, the payoff was bak kut teh, a pork rib soup with endless broth refills, aka the elixir of life post-jager shots and no sleep. 

Saturday Night Lights from a Singapore rooftop bar

Compared to all the other places I have been, Singapore is markedly sterile and orderly, but I don’t mind this too much. It’s great to have clean streets, good public transportation, and to feel safe walking the streets at any time. The distinct neighborhoods and hawker centers are amazing, and the waterfront is gorgeous. Outside of the cost of housing, Singapore seems relatively cheap, despite all the warnings I had heard about the place. (Of course, I suppose living in LA can skew my general sense of “cheap”). The food is dynamite, the people are nice, and the city is SO GREEN. Despite the heat, I’ve been walking everywhere because it’s so beautiful (and maybe also to counteract the 30,000 calories I am consuming per day).

So much greenery everywhere in Singapore!

Jakarta, on the other hand, feels a bit like a cultural desert. There’s not too much to see by way of historical landmarks/sightseeing, and the main activity is to go to these extravagant malls they have everywhere. I’ve now been in a mall more times in a week than I have in the last 5 years at home. The food is good, but I think I’ve been spoiled for choice in Singapore, where it has the best of all of Southeast Asia to choose from. I did book a tour of the old town, which came with nice photos, so at least I got something to make mom happy? 🤷🏼‍♀️

“Act natural”

And of course, Bali. Bali has always been a bucket list destination for me, and the fact that it is so accessible during this trip makes me super grateful for this opportunity. I splurged a bit, booking a villa with a private pool ALL BY MYSELF. The number of shocked and confused faces did start to annoy me when I said I was traveling here alone - everyone keeps calling my trip an “Eat Pray Love” moment (which I’ve never seen, but if that makes me Julia Roberts, cool). All I know is that the views are unreal and this place is magical. I spent one day traveling the island and exploring and the next camped out on a day bed at the Potatohead beach club with endless cocktails and food. I ended my last night in Bali with a dip in my private pool, a soak in my bath tub, and a full 12 hours sleep. Not too shabby.

Bali has it all! Jungles…

…waterfalls…

…and beaches!

Now back to reality, which for now, is Singapore. This R&R weekend was amazing though, and I can’t wait to be back in Bali someday!

Sin’s Picks

Song Fa Bak Kut Teh

Not only is this soup peppery and delicious, they give you endless broth refills! Clutch during a hangover

Tian Tian Chicken Rice

Bourdain’s (RIP) fave chicken rice, and for good reason. Perfectly cooked rice, tender chicken, delicious gravy, and a hot sauce to dream about.

So simple, but so good. 

Tan Yu

This was a work lunch, and I was not expecting to like it this much! It was a whole fish stuffed with peppers and spices in a broth. So damn delicious!

She doesn’t look like much, but she packs a punch. 

Glutton’s Bay Hawker Center

Went here at the behest of my good friend Travis, and it did not disappoint! It’s a smaller, more curated hawker center by one of Bourdain’s old Singapore friends.

Don’t miss the chicken wings from the bbq place - so damn crispy and moist at the same. Damn. Time. 

Bye, bye, Mumbai 👋🏽

If you couldn’t tell from my last post, Delhi was not exactly my favorite location. While the food and culture were stellar, I couldn’t quite get past the density of people and dust. My exploration of the city was very deliberate, going from point A to point B - wandering the streets was not really an option. The people I did meet were great and so friendly, but I’m happy to be out of the land of a thousand stares every time I stepped foot outside my door. 

As I landed in Mumbai, I almost immediately felt a sense of relief. Maybe I’m just too much of a coast/beach baby, but the air felt so much cleaner (though the humidity is AGGRESSIVE - preparing me for Singapore, I guess 😞) and knowing that I was near a body of water was comforting. The neighborhood I stayed in (Bandra) is cute, walkable, and a welcome change from the previous 2 weeks. 

Another bonus: my buddy Kilian was in town for work! Seeing a familiar face from home was a relief after my socially stunted couple weeks in Delhi. 

A familiar face in Mumbai - Kilian aka Silver Fox

K organized a dinner with some of his local friends, and I suddenly had a mini-Mumbai squad. Score! Of course, we had the unfortunate luck of getting together during a dry day. During the Indian elections, they have days where NO ALCOHOL is served or sold - and 4 days of my first week were dry. 😑 Nevertheless, we had a great time and just used this as an excuse to get together at a later time to actually have drinks. 

I’ve done a small amount of exploring - the Gateway of India, Leopold’s, the Causeway for shopping (though haggling still gives me anxiety and I can’t be bothered to do it). For the most part though, I’ve been spending my time eating my way through this city’s awesome restaurants. This is largely in part to my new friend Pretti (thanks, Kili), who loves eating as much as I do! I’m becoming a pro at eating with my hands - garlic naan (extra garlic, please) and malabar parotta (so flaky and delicious) are my utensils of choice. 

New friends in Mumbai! 

Mumbai was a lot of fun, but I’m ready to see what Singapore has in store for me. Paved roads and brushing my teeth with tap water will be a treat - the little things, right? Ready or not, here I come, Singapore!

Sin’s Picks

O Pedro 

By far my favorite meal in Mumbai. Goan food, which has a ton of Portuguese influence. The service and staff were incredible too!

This red snapper ceviche was 🔥🔥🔥🔥.

Bombay Canteen

The sister restaurant of O Pedro, and another fantastic tasting menu. The way they balance spice is amazing. 

This duck curry was stellar, but the star was this egg appam it came with.

Tanjore Tiffin Room

A Pretti restaurant, where they bring a tasting tray of curries and rices for you to try before ordering. Genius!

All the curries and all the rices. The best!

Hot Nights (and Days) in Delhi

New Delhi: where lanes are a suggestion, car horns are your daily soundtrack, and personal space is a luxury, not an expectation. 

Not gonna lie - this city has been intimidating to explore, especially on my own. It’s hot, dusty, and there’s no shortage of stares as soon as you walk out into the street. The density of people here is ridiculous, and weaving through them, whether on foot or on some form of wheels, is an essential life skill.

Thankfully, I found some great guided tours for street food (no Delhi belly for me, thankssss), and of course, a day trip to the Taj Mahal! I’ve also treated myself to a couple splurge dinners as well, and they have also been exceptional. While the city may not be my favorite, my belly and taste buds have enjoyed these couple weeks.

Delhi highlights are as follows:

Cool rooftops and temples (courtesy of my Old Delhi tour guide)

Look for me in the Indian kite-flying circuit

Street food (No Delhi belly yet, thanks to the tour guides)

From top left, clockwise: aloo tikki, tandoori momos, potato samosa, kulfi faluda

Bukhara and Indian Accent

Two of Delhi’s top restaurants - had to go all in with tasting menus at both. If you smothered me in the dal Bukhara, I’d die a happy woman.

The (one person) spread at Bukhara. 

This soup from Indian Accent floored me. Was like an Indian Tom yum soup with the sweetest lump crab. 🤗

Taj Mahal

I wasn’t about to leave Delhi without a day trip to Agra and seeing the Taj Mahal! I had an awesome tour guide that also played personal photographer for me. Money well spent, I think!

The building is amazing, and the detail and symmetry of the everything is every OCD person’s wet dream. The Agra Fort was also pretty cool though, but the Taj Mahal took the cake for me.

Embracing my inner basicness at the Taj Mahal. 

Goodbye, Hong Kong. Hello, India.

When I initially planned this trip, I thought that 4 weeks in a place sounded like the longest time ever. Weirdly, though I feel like I had been there long enough to feel almost like a local, it felt like it had blown by by the time I left.

Hong Kong brought me back together with a number of old friends I hadn’t seen in forever, which was amazing. I ended up spending the most time with my friend Elaine - a former rugby teammate and forever good friend. She is a HK native, and going around town with her made me feel like Turtle from Entourage. There was no walking down the street or going into a bar/restaurant without seeing someone she knew - is that what going through LA is like with me? (LOL jkkkkk)

Turtle and Vince aka me and Elaine

I Big Buddha’d, I hiked Dragon’s Back (and if you know how much I hate hiking, you know what an accomplishment this is), saw HK from a variety of rooftops, visited Lamma Island, met new random friends, and of course, got to attend the Rugby Sevens in person!

Big Buddha (my head is not to scale) / peak of the Dragon’s Back hike

One of many rooftops with my old friend Heather!

My view from HK Sevens (no, not the South Stand) / The gorgeous Lamma Island

Hong Kong, you were good to me, but it’s time to move on. I’ve packed up my bags and made the trek over to New Delhi, India, which has been a HUGE shift from Hong Kong. The first couple days here have been extremely overwhelming, but I’m determined to eat my fair share of food and am really looking forward to seeing the Taj Mahal next week.

Sin’s Picks - My overall HK faves

Kau Kee - Special brisket - the line is long, but it moves quickly, and is most definitely worth it. If you have the appetite, I also recommend the beef tendon and noodles in curry (which also comes with some brisket!).

Curry noodles with tendon up top / Kau Kee’s special brisket in broth

Baked - Some of the best sourdough you’ll have in the city, with delicious brunch, great coffee, and a pretty damn cool head chef/owner. Tell Zahir I sent you.

Curry mince on sourdough (and avocado, duh).

Yat Lok - Eat all the goose. Just. Eat. It.

Roast goose and noodles

Hello, Hong Kong

My plane took off from LA late Sunday evening. One overweight bag fee, 15 hours, and 4 movies later, I woke up in Hong Kong airport on Tuesday morning.

I was particularly excited to begin my travels in HK because I have a few friends that live in the area. Additionally, some of my Santa Monica Rugby family happened to be visiting HK during my first week, so it gave me some buddies to explore the city with. (Of course, this also meant that my liver would be taking a much more aggressive beating than it originally anticipated after beginning its jetlagged journey.)

Getting into the city from the airport was relatively painless, but the saga from exiting the train to getting to my buddies’ hotel room (since my airbnb wasn’t ready until the afternoon) was just that…a saga. First, I did not anticipate so many damn hills in the city, and limited amounts of the sidewalks were paved, so I was the obviously out of place, sweaty foreigner trying to lug 100 lbs of luggage over cobblestone-y hills and steps down the street. There are also apparently multiple Butterfly hotels in HK (good to know), so it took two stops and roughly 45 minutes for me to make what should have been a 10 minute trip.

Thankfully, my buddies Taylor and Jess offered to let me shower in their room and leave my luggage there while we explored the city a bit and grabbed lunch. We settled on ramen nearby their hotel, then decided to take a walk down to the Harbour (look how British I am with my spelling already) and take a ride on the Star Ferry. It was super cool to see the different types of buildings around the city, though the bamboo scaffolding horrified Taylor, our resident construction expert. We also encountered the ultimate #couplegoals on the boat (the grandmother later thanked us with some HK candy, and of course we accepted candy from a stranger because we live on the edge).

The ultimate #couplegoals, HK edition. Star Ferry ride.

My airbnb is located right off the famed escalators in Central, which is fantastic in general…except for the fact that half of the escalators were down or under construction. This, in addition to the extremely unhelpful taxi drivers, meant that I got another cool 45 minute workout consisting of a fully uphill/upstairs walk with a 60 lb farmer's carry on one arm and 40 lb rack carry in the other. (Shout out to 34 North for getting my body ready for this unanticipated physical challenge.)

We then met up with our other fellow ‘Phin brother, Pat, who has been living in HK for the last couple years. Put a rugby brother behind the bar, and it is not hard to imagine how the nights escalated quickly.

SMRC Phins reppin’ hard in HK. Missy Ho’s.

Sightseeing for me was limited because the days were largely spent recovering from the night before and working. However, we did do a night time do-over ride of the Star Ferry for the famous light show, which was amazing and definitely worth the double ride.

Nighttime Star Ferry ride. Now with more lights!

I’m looking forward to seeing more of what HK offers, especially as I settle in a bit more. I’ve finally unpacked my luggage, so it’s beginning to feel more like home. We’ll see what adventures come my way in the next few weeks. Also, I think I will be documenting my weekly “best ofs” at the end of each of these posts. If there are any places that I still haven’t visited, please do let me know so I can be sure to add it to my to-do list!

xo,

Sin

Sin’s Picks: Fave eats and drinks of the week

Missy Ho’s - Pat’s bar aka Ground Zero for the SM Phin crew.

Tim Ho Wan - Dim sum (and then some). Despite the rushed service and weird underground location in a mall/train stop, the bbq pork buns made everything worth it. The buns were a sweet savory cross between biscuits and cornbread and we were THERE. FOR. IT.

The infamous baked bbq pork buns of Tim Ho Wan.

Yardbird - This much-hyped yakitori restaurant did not disappoint. The meatball was my fave of this trip (I say this because I plan on going back and eating my way through the entire menu/bird). Also, order a mezcal mule and maitake tempura. You’re welcome.

The egg yolk dipping sauce just put this meatball yakitori over the edge. Yardbird.

Little LAB - Really inventive, fun cocktails that I had never tried/heard of before. Standout was a jasmine tea infused gin mixed with some sort of apple concoction that was delicious.

Mak’s Noodles - Light, springy wonton noodles in a soul fulfilling broth. I got mine with brisket and beef tendon, which I dipped in a mix of the tableside condiments (some form of spicy, fermented bean paste, vinegar, and soy - do not skip these).

These wonton noodles did not disappoint. Look at that glossy beef tendon there too. 😍 Mak’s Noodles.

Cheung Hing Kee Shanghai Pan Fried Dumplings - I’ve been on a neverending quest to find the same dumplings a friend first introduced me to in Shanghai, and I’ve finally found them! The pork and shrimp ones were hands down my favorite. I’m also eternally grateful to my friend Rose for teaching me how to properly eat them, especially as I watched two Korean people next to me burn their faces off while eating their first soup dumplings. Skip the truffle one - stick to the pork or pork and shrimp ones (the latter were my faves).

Front to back: truffle and pork, pork, shrimp and pork soup dumplings. Cheung Hing Kee Shanghai Soup Dumplings.

Goodbye, LA.

You know when you’ve been talking about something for such a long time that it doesn’t seem real?

Well, it’s here. I’m flying out to Hong Kong tonight to begin my 9 month jaunt around the world. I’ve packed my life into one checked bag, one carry-on duffel, and a work backpack and will be embarking on what will undoubtedly be one of the craziest years of my life.

You can call me the pack master. 

In case you need a refresher, here’s my updated itinerary:

• Hong Kong 🇭🇰

• Delhi, India 🇮🇳

• Mumbai, India 🇮🇳

• Singapore 🇸🇬

• Seoul, South Korea 🇰🇷

• (Brief trip back to LA)

• Ontario, Canada 🇨🇦

• Berlin, Germany 🇩🇪

• Dubai, UAE 🇦🇪

• Amman, Jordan 🇯🇴

• Croatia 🇭🇷

• London, UK 🇬🇧

• Milan, Italy 🇮🇹

I think my fingers cramped typing this list out.

Thanks to all my friends that showed up last night for my sendoff party and to all those that have reached out to wish me well. I’m excited, nervous, a little terrified, but mostly just READY to do this.

I guess the real question is: world, are you ready for some Sin in your life? 😏💁🏼‍♀️

A Dedication...

As I get ready for this trip, I cannot help but think back to a year ago when I received some devastating news. My friend Matt Palazzolo (MG) had passed away.

Matt was one of the most radiant, effervescent humans in this world. He found beauty in everything and encouraged everyone to live life to the fullest. His generous spirit and enthusiasm was infectious, and you could not help but smile when you were around him.

He passed while hiking in Australia. It was unexpected and tragic. But what is amazing is that his presence is felt as strongly now (maybe even more) as it was before.

MG made the most of his time on this earth. He was an activist, the most positive force, and his impact will be felt forever by everyone that came in contact with him.

I shared these last year at his passing, and I think it’s worth sharing again. Here are the lessons I learned from MG:

• Live unapologetically

• Love without limit

• Whoever you may be, be the best version of yourself

• Find joy in all the little things

So while I’m on this trip, I’ll be thinking of you, MG. Like you, I’ll be open to experiences, embrace the uncomfortable, and strive to leave everyone I come in contact with smiling.

Sin's Going on an Adventure!

You know when you’ve been thinking about something for years, and it finally happens?

It happened.

I’ll be based internationally for the bulk of 2019 for work beginning in March and calling the following places home through December:

• Hong Kong (mid March - mid April)

• Delhi, India (mid April - beginning of May)

• Mumbai, India (beginning of May - mid May)

• Singapore (mid May - mid June)

• LA/Domestic break (conference/appeasing Mama Sin)

• Berlin, Germany (end of July - beginning of September)

• London, UK (September - November)

• Milan, Italy (November - December)

While I’ve traveled extensively throughout Europe for work (and a smidge in Asia), it’s usually been no more than 2-4 nights in a city before moving on. This time, I’ll be in each city/country for about a month at a time, which will make this a totally different experience. I’m excited to feel like I’m part of each city’s pulse, rather than an outside observer.

It’s going to be a huge adjustment for this LA girl that has only been based outside of this city one other time in her life (shout out to UEA in Norwich, UK, 2002-2003). It’s exciting, nerve-racking, and terrifying, but at the same time, I feel like my whole life has led me to this next chapter. The what-ifs are endless, but I am approaching this much like the catchphrase of Iron Chef (preferably the old school Japanese version, but the American one is cool too): with an open heart and an empty stomach.

I’ll be updating this blog leading up to my travels and, of course, while I am traipsing around the globe. In the meantime, if you have any suggestions on food, side trips, adventures, or anything really in regards to picking up and moving your life for 9 months, please comment here or message me about it! Can’t wait to overshare my stories with you as I embark on this adventure!

Side note: I was originally going to write some nonsense justifying using my sinskitchen.com website for a travel blog (something about the world being my kitchen, perfecting recipes through experience, etc.), but the truth is that is cheesy AF, I am too lazy to do that, and this is FINE. Also, 2019 is officially the year of “I do what I want”, so here I am.

xo,

Sin