Travel Letters

Every Hawaiian island has its unique characteristics. I visited Oahu and Kauai for the first time 5 years ago. Oahu was busy and lively with a little bit of everything from great shopping, food, and hiking. Kauai was a lush and quiet oasis that felt off the beaten track from bustling Oahu. Having recently visited Maui this year, I can say it felt like a blend between Oahu and Kauai. This post will mainly be split into West Maui and Northeast Maui where we spent the majority of our time. West Maui We stayed in a rental condo in Lahaina, where most of the tourists are. It is about an hour's drive from Maui airport. Before heading to Lahaina, I recommend stopping by Costco Food Truck Park, only a five-minute drive from the airport to grab a bite of Geste Shrimp Truck. Honorable mentions for food include: Tamura's Fine Wine & Liquors for the freshest poke you will ever find in Maui, Leoda's Kitchen Pie Shop for the lightest coconut pie you will ever taste period, and Lahain...

After this trip, I now understand why everyone visits Lake Tahoe year after year. The lake is a worthy and beautiful sight any season but the decision to visit during the snowy winter was intriguing for a SoCal girl who is accustomed to sunshine. We stumbled upon Eagle Lakes trailhead by accident and luckily we did because that was one of the most intense, cold, windy, snowy, and beautiful hikes I have ever done. After 2 hours of slipping through snow and navigating a snowed-in trail, we reached Eagle Lake. It was completely frozen and windy as we took in the view and ate lunch. Later in the evening, we caught the most beautiful sunsets at Lakeside Beach. The clouds and colors blended perfectly to create a sweet and blazing sunset.  Cheers, Kimberly " As it lay there with the shadows of the mountains brilliantly photographed upon its still surface, I thought it must surely be the fairest picture the whole earth affords.” - Mark Twain

It has been a bucket list item of mine to see the Bonneville Salt Flats. The salt flats is about a 2-hour drive from Salt Lake City. We arrived at the flats around 5pm, soon realizing it was a perfect time to catch golden hour and the sunset. There is so much land here that you really can pick any spot to take pictures. Highly recommend the visit here because the colors are so beautiful at this hour. The horizon looks endless.  The next morning, we also stopped by Homestead Crater Spring, about an hour drive from Salt Lake City. We did need to make a reservation online beforehand. I recommend showing up at your reserved time since your end time will still be the same even if you're late. Once you get your life vest on, you can just relax and float. If you are into scuba diving, you can also reserve time for a session too.  The highlight of the day for me was Saratoga Hot Springs. It was about an hour drive from Homestead Crater Spring. You need to park at Inlet Park and from t...

Costa Rica is lush greenery, tropical climate, and lovely people. Day 1: I traveled to San Jose on a 5 hour flight from LAX and thought it would be useful to be a SIM card. I bought a 4G Kolbi card for $10 that lasted me throughout my week trip. You can buy one at SJO, the same place where you pick up your baggage. I booked my airport transfer in advanced and arrived at Boutique Hotel Casa Las Orquideas. If you wanted to get a taxi, it would be about $25. The hotel here is about 25 minutes from SJO and is centrally located where there is a supermarket and shopping mall by 5-8 minute walk. The staff here is very friendly and offered to store my luggage because I arrive way before their 2pm check-in. Days 2-3: I traveled from San Jose to La Fortuna on a 3 hour private bus for $7. You can also take the public bus to get to La Fortuna from San Jose. Though you would be burning about 7 hours of precious vacation time instead. La Fortuna was my favorite travel destination thro...

For my first time traveling in South America, I chose Colombia for its tropical climate, colorful towns, and undeniable nightlife. There are a few questions I ask myself before I visit any country: 1. Is it safe?  The short answer is yes! Colombia was once known for being one of the most dangerous countries in the world with its drug cartel history. Despite its history, I felt safe walking around the streets both during the day and night. Why? Colombia is filled with bustling streets and locals walking left and right. The locals are also very friendly and are willing to help if you have questions. For someone who spoke basic Spanish, I had tons of questions when it came to pretty much everything. I recommend researching the Department of State for precautions and areas to avoid when traveling. Also, avoid walking around suspicious areas alone at night, and don’t carry all your valuables with you when sightseeing.  2. Is it expensive? No, it’s relatively cheape...