Festive Reading

"A new challenge is near." (fortune cookie saying) Here's how I celebrated during my much-needed break from writing over these last few weeks. I read. For fun! Sometimes I like measuring my vacations by the number of books I've read. It gives me an indication of how much lovely time I spent between the pages of a book. Also, it fuels that inner competitive streak in me. (In elementary school, I once won a reading contest hands-down--and got handsomely rewarded with a gift card to a local … [Read more...]

Joshua Tree

Who’s crazy enough to camp in a desert during the hot summer? Me, that’s who! In order to see the Perseid meteor shower (which occurs between July 17 and August 24), I ventured away from the city lights and into the desert. A quick getaway to nearby Joshua Tree National Park ended up being loads of fun. During the day, temperatures can soar above 100 degrees, so I opted to cool down inside the Palm Springs Art Museum (Palm Desert location). They had an exhibit on figures, and these were … [Read more...]

Navajo taco

Navajo taco: a taco on special bread If you recall, I went to the Grand Canyon for spring break. Such gorgeous scenery! On the way there, I swung by Cameron Trading Post, located at the edge of a Navajo Indian reservation. I had read about the delicious food served at their restaurant and had to try the Navajo taco. It has the usual fixings: ground beef, beans, green chile, lettuce, tomato, and cheddar cheese. What makes it stand out is the superior springy frybread. It’s like a … [Read more...]

Spring break

"Plan to have some fun." I was quiet on my blog lately because I was on spring break! It was nice to have some time off to relax and get away from it all. First, we checked out Page, Arizona. I took a chance to soak in serenity by visiting the Glen Canyon Dam on the Colorado River. It was so peaceful watching the sun's rays sparkle on the water. The only visitor disturbing the area was this chuckwalla lounging on a rock. Horseshoe Bend is a short distance away from Page, … [Read more...]

Vancouver Trip

"You long to see the Great Pyramids of Egypt." Sometimes it's nice to have a change of scenery. I took a short trip a few weeks back to Vancouver. Though I've been before for a whirlwind book talk, I didn't get the chance to soak in the city back then. This time around, I balanced spurts of writing (and reading) with exploration of the local area. Vancouver, to me, seems like a great mix of the natural and the urban. Here are a few highlights from my trip. From the nature side... I … [Read more...]

Wordless Wednesday: Heart Rock

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Crystal Cave

"A much needed vacation will bring a great deal of enjoyment." We wanted to cool down for the summer. What better way to do that than to go caving? Crystal Cave is a marble cavern located in the Sequoia National Park. It's a guided tour, and there's a half-mile trail down to the cave entrance. The walk is beautiful, though, and there are a number of trees and even some water trickles to admire along the way. Near the cave entrance, there's a nice waterfall area. It's like a two-for-one … [Read more...]

Yellowstone trip

"People are just as happy as they make up their minds to be." Our major summer vacation destination was Yellowstone! This trip crisscrossed across four different states: Utah, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. In Yellowstone, we got to see animals up close and personal! This bison was waiting for me outside my window. We also experienced several stops because of bison crossings. The park is known for its geothermal features. Since the Earth's internal temperature is super hot, it creates … [Read more...]

Texas Trip

"Adventure awaits you." Over spring break, I traveled to Texas. Though I expected to hear more twang, I got quite a few ma'ams and y'alls. People were very polite and hospitable there. Here are a few highlights: Spotted some longhorns:   Grabbed kolaches as snacks--there are quite a number of bakeries specializing in these Czech treats: Listened to live music: Watched bats fly out into the night: Crossed the border into Louisiana and went crabbing! Where have you gone recently? … [Read more...]

I’m a Travel Writer

"An enjoyable vacation is awaiting you." Okay, I'm not really a travel writer. However, I do have a post up on We Said Go Travel. If you haven't read my past essay about an amazing tree house in Taiwan, go ahead and peruse it. On their website, there's also a Travel Writing Award contest going on until July 28th, so enter if you've gone somewhere fabulous. Fun fact: Other international places I've been to are Canada, China, Italy, Mexico, and Spain. … [Read more...]