Mexican Food in Nepal

In researching our hotel in Pokhara, we were so excited to read that Mexican cuisine is a specialty at Mike's, the hotel's restaurant. My best friend and I met in high school in California - so, of course, we both like Mexican food.

Chicken enchiladas, a sausage burrito, and the beautiful lakeside. While not completely authentic, the flavors were familiar and so fresh, perfect for a blue sky day.

The slide show here runs on Flash. If you can't see it, check out my Flickr album: Mike's Pokhara

Escape to Pokhara!

Time to escape from the city, and fast! How about for a 30 minute flight for fast?

Flying high, near, and nearer to the Himalayas. Blue skies and the snow capped Himalayas in the nearby by distance. This is a sight I never thought I'd ever see in my lifetime. Stepping off the plane, only one word can describe that moment - breathtaking.

Pokhara is the second largest city in Nepal. It is known as the trekkers' stop as it's right below the Himalayas. While we didn't trek the mountain tops, we did enjoy the natural setting of the hills and the lakes around us.

4 days and 3 nights in Pokhara was the most peaceful and scary times of the trip. We found peace away from the bustle with the fresh mountain and lake air.

Our hearts raced when we kept getting lost on our way hike down the hill, 2 hours away from our hotel. Climbing down the hill soon felt like the height of the Himalayas as sunset became darkness.

The beats in our chest came back when the airport closed on the day of our departure. We had 8 hours before our flight to Kathmandu. Our only option was to take a local bus (more like a public minivan) for a 6 hour ride back to the capital, all for $6.00. The 12-seater van somehow fit 23 people.

Pokhara was an amazing adventure. It was a necessary getaway into nature. And it was a challenging adventure that tested our survival skills. It's great to be home.

The slide show here runs on Flash. If you can't see it, check out my Flickr album: Pokhara

Feasting on Newari Cuisine

One last night in Kathmandu before our flight to Pokhara called for a celebratory dinner with our new local friends.

We were taken to a gem of a local spot, Bhumi, to feast on Newari cuisine. Newari food is a type of Nepali cuisine.

We started the night with shots of Aila, the local liquor. The taste reminded me of gin with the feel of vodka.

The food was memorable! Grilled, seasoned, and filled with so much flavor. I highly recommend this restaurant if you ever make your way to Kathmandu.

Place your cursor above "Notes" below to read the captions for each photo.

The slide show here runs on Flash. If you can't see it, check out my Flickr album: Bhumi Newari

Momos in Nepal

A mid day break from touring and sight seeing - Food time!

In our local friend's hometown in Kathmandu, we relaxed with snacks and momos in a neighborhood restaurant, Le Trio.

These momos were some of the best we had in Kathmandu. It's the traditional momos drowning in delicious spicy, rich soup. After eating these bowls, I was addicted and looking for momos every chance I could get.

Chinese steamed dumplings with bold, spicy Indian flavors. The India-China influence of Nepal can totally be summed up in these dumplings.

Place your cursor above "Notes" below to read the captions for each photo.

The slide show here runs on Flash. If you can't see it, check out my Flickr album: Trio - Patan

Taking a Break from Local Cuisine

Escapism appeared to be the theme this trip. Escape from our home cities. And now escape from the city we were in.

As much as I love exploring local cuisine, the chaos of the city had us wanting for a taste of something familiar.

American cuisine, jazz music, and the sight of white people were such warm, comforting images at New Orleans Cafe.

Mulled Wine heated up the chilly night. Fried Chicken and fries brought back familiarity among the foreign chaotic overload. Tandoori Chicken and Roti reminded us where we were. And the Apple Pie capped the night of escape.

Place your cursor above "Notes" below to read the captions for each photo.

The slide show here runs on Flash. If you can't see it, check out my Flickr album: New Orleans Cafe - Thamel

More Thakali Eating in Thamel

After our quick bite of papad and momos, we met up with my best friend's college friend for lunch in Thamel. And we also were introduced to the Thakali set.

The set is a complete meal and it's the best way to fill up until you're absolutely stuffed. It includes daal (black lentil soup), achar (pickles vegetables and spices), green vegetables, potatoes, fresh raw vegetables, yogurt, and rice --> All Unlimited.

The mutton curry is the additional non-vegetable choice (which is not unlimited). Aside from rice, you can also order roti to sop up the liquids and the spices.

Every bite is mixed and eaten with rice. This set meal truly filled you up and satisfies your tastes buds with all the salty, sweet, sour, spicy, and bitter flavors. This is definitely a complete meal.

Place your cursor above "Notes" below to read the captions for each photo.

The slide show here runs on Flash. If you can't see it, check out my Flickr album: Himalayan Restaurant - Thamel

Thakali Eats in Kathmandu

I think it should be an absolute requirement to taste the local cuisine when you travel anywhere.

Our first and last meals in Kathmandu were local bites in the same restaurant near our hotel in the Thamel district. Thakali Chef's Bhanchha Ghar features roof top dining - a popular feature in restaurants in Kathmandu. It's a great way to enjoy a drink or meal while taking in the sights of the city. It's also a great escape from the chaos below.

Place your cursor above "Notes" below to read the captions for each photo.

The slide show here runs on Flash. If you can't see it, check out my Flickr album: Thakali Roof Top

Bhaktapur, Nepal

Bhaktapur is another ancient town in Kathmandu Valley and the third old kingdom. It was formerly the capital of Nepal in the 15th century.

Just a 20 minute taxi ride from Patan and we arrived at the entrance of the old royal kingdom.

Bhaktapur is known as the ancient Newari town. It is also known as the City of Devotees and the City of Rice, as rice is one of the staple agricultural products in this city.

The city is now a UNESCO World Heritage site filled with temples, crafts and culture.

The slide show here runs on Flash. If you can't see it, check out my Flickr album: Bhaktapur

Patan, Nepal

Patan is the third largest city after Kathmandu and Pokhara. It is located in the Kathmandu Valley and was once one of the 3 old royal kingdoms in Nepal (Kathmandu and Bhaktapur comprise of the other 2 kingdoms).

The city is filled with temple, rich culture, and handicrafts. The crafts include wood and stone carvings, metal statues, and ornate and intricate architecture. The architecture is all around the temples and buildings highly inspired by Buddhism and Hinduism.

The slide show here runs on Flash. If you can't see it, check out my Flickr album: Patan

Namaste, Nepal!

I'm a city girl. I need to see high rises and people.

But, sometimes city life can get routine and overwhelming.. Enter, vacation time!

Usually vacation is to another city or to nature. This time my best friend and I needed something COMPLETELY different.

Namaste, Nepal!

Kathmandu is one of the most dense and overwhelming places I have ever been. It is also one of the most culturally dense cities. You can feel the influence of India and China, its neighboring cities. At the same time, they have their own unique features, traditions, and culture.

Aside from the beautiful pictures that drew us to this trip, we also were comforted by the fact that my best friend's college friend is a local. A local guide to show us the city!

We staed in the tourist district, Thamel, is filled with vendors, trekkers, locals, cars, rickshaws, and what seems like everything else. The bustle is endless!

The city and the surrounding cities are so rick with culture and history. So much so, the temple and squares in the valley are UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Kathmandu did not provide us the getaway from our respective cities (Manila and Hong Kong), but it definitely took us worlds away.

The slide show here runs on Flash. If you can't see it, check out my Flickr album: Kathmandu

High Quality, Local Eats in Hangzhou

24 hours in one city. Every meal counts. Every bite counts.

Lunch was already pretty good, so I was hoping dinner would be similar. I was wrong.

Dinner at Jin Sha, also at the Four Seasons, was so much better. It was the highlight of the trip.

We ordered all the local specialties, like the Beggar's Chicken which was brought to our table with a mallet. My brother had the opportunity to hammer it open. Fun!

Even the vegetables, which were so simple, were so packed with flavor while still making the taste of the vegetable the star. And the highlight of the night was the pork buns! The pyramid layered presentation was beautiful and so creative. Pork buns in Asia are to a higher level of ridiculously deliciousness.

Place your cursor above "Notes" as some of the pictures have captions.

The slide show here runs on Flash. If you can't see it, check out my Flickr album: Jin Sha

WLB - West Lake Bistro at the Four Seasons Hangzhou

After the train ride into Hangzhou, we were ready for a late lunch. The hotel bistro seemed like the perfect place.

WLB, West Lake Bistro, is one of the restaurants at the Four Seasons Hotel where we enjoyed our overnight stay. The bistro has a variety of International and Local menu selections.

The main reason, aside from convenience, that we chose the restaurant is that the menu offers Dong Po. Dong Po and Zhang Yimou's show are the only 2 reasons why I wanted to take my family to Hangzhou.

Dong Po is pork belly braised with soy sauce, sugar, and Chinese wine. It's named after its creator, Dong Po, who improved on the traditional recipe while exiled in Hangzhou.

We learned about this from a National Geographic special and tried the recipe at home. So melt-in-your-mouth good! Then we had it in Taipei and Hong Kong, ridiculously good!

So the Dong Po in its originating city has to be amazing, right? Well, this definitely did not disappoint.

The slide show here runs on Flash. If you can't see it, check out my Flickr album: WLB

Four Seasons Hotel in Hangzhou

A family trip to anywhere. The requirement? A nice hotel.

In researching accommodation in Hangzhou, I was really excited to see a brand new Four Seasons in Hangzhou, which opened in October of 2010. Perfect!

The property is located along the Westlake. It combines traditional Chinese architecture on the outside and a modern minimalist Chinese look on the inside. For a getaway location, I was hoping for a more thematic setting and atmosphere. The interior felt a bit impersonal, as though we were in a business hotel.

Nonetheless the stay was clean and comfortable. The best part of the hotel was the restaurants, which will be featured later this week.


Here are pictures in and around the property:

The slide show here runs on Flash. If you can't see it, check out my Flickr album: Four Seasons Hangzhou

Visiting the Historic West Lake in Hangzhou, China

After a sight and sound spectacular in Yangshuo, I had to see more of Zhang Yimou's Impressions' shows throughout China. If you found the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony impressive, I highly recommend seeing at least one of those shows in your lifetime.

When my family planned a trip to Shanghai, I included Hangzhou into our itinerary just to see Zhang Yimou's Impression of West Lake.

A short hour high speed train ride, and you're there. Hangzhou is a big city that has a historic lake. At the end of the 13th century, Marco Polo had declared Hangzhou to be "the City of Heaven, the most beautiful and magnificent in the world."

Away from the bustle of the city and the crowds of tourists, a boat ride on the lake is a relaxing retreat (and authentically mainland CHina with our spitting boat driver).

The Zhang Yimou show is another impressive production. We sat in the VIP boat seats, but I would actually recommend sitting in the middle of regular seats to enjoy the center point of view of the show.

The lights, the thematic colors, the cast, and the number of them are all sights to see. Zhang Yimou continues to succeed in his craft.

From big cities to rural, China is filled with so many cities and towns to visit. They are all so different with unique natural or metropolitan settings.


Here are some pictures from my trip to Hangzhou. In the days to follow, I'll feature our hotel and, of course, a couple of the memorable meals.

The slide show here runs on Flash. If you can't see it, check out my Flickr album: Hangzhou Fall 2011

Thank you, 2011. Hello, 2012!

Happy New Year!!

2011 was another fantastic ride. I hope you all enjoyed my entries from the year.

Here's to 2012 - May the new year bring you all memorable travels and satisfying eats.

In the weeks to come, I'll be posting entries from my travels to Hangzhou and around Nepal. Can't wait to share them with you.

Until then, make every meal count!