written by Betty Nguyen Planning an unforgettable winter trip to northern Norway is possible with an open mind and some patience. Bear in mind, with limited light and frosty cold weather, your experiences will be different than in the summer time. From Olso, you…
Why You Need to Visit Tijuana, Mexico Now
written by Betty Nguyen Ask any native Californian about Tijuana decades ago (aka “”TJ”) and they would mention crime, prostitution, and drugs. Painted zebras brought back notions of the mythical “donkey shows” and a “what happens there stays there” attitude. But the Great Recession…
Travel Guide: 48 Hours in Kanazawa, Japan
written by Betty Nguyen We’ve been to Kyoto and Nara already and we wanted to visit different parts of Japan. So after some research, we decided to include Kanazawa as one of our slow-travel stops, also known as the old…
Travel Guide: Mexico City, Colonia Roma
written by Betty Nguyen After several Mexico City visits, we discovered our favorite neighborhood: Colonia Roma. It was originally a wealthy ‘burbs just west of the city center where the Spanish erected beautiful colonial homes. After the 1985 earthquake, the broken…
Reykjanes: The Perfect Iceland Layover
written by Betty Nguyen With low-budget airlines flying to and from Reykjavik, it’s the perfect connecting gateway to Europe. If you have more than 6 hours to spare, add an activity in the nearby Reykjanes and make the best of your time in…
Guatemala Guide to Supporting Women Weavers
written by Betty Nguyen In the heart of beautiful Guatemala lives a community of indigenous women who weave traditional clothing, handbags, shawls, and other products unique to their regions by Lake Atitlán. We were able to take a boat from…
Practicing Self-Care Is Important: Easy Habits To Get You Started
written by Betty Nguyen We’ve all been there — sitting in the office at work. It’s busy and stressful, juggling different projects and timelines. Endless business meetings about meetings and priorities are all over the place. No time for the gym,…
Travel Guide: Weekending in Joshua Tree
written by Betty Nguyen Joshua Tree is one of the most interesting and beautiful places in California (and the country, I think). Most people from Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Diego have visited here. However, I was quite surprised to learn that…
Road Trip Guide: Salvation Mountain
by Betty Nguyen My traveling partner, Carly and I planned a spontaneous road trip from Los Angeles to Salvation Mountain, located in the lower desert of Southern California in Imperial County just east of the Salton Sea and about a hour…
Travel Guide: Our Favorites in Cartagena
written by Betty Nguyen The Caribbean coastal city of Cartagena has all the makings of a perfect getaway: cobbled streets, palm-treed plazas, and colorful colonial buildings. If you’re looking to create a little bit of romance, Cartagena will do all the work…
Travel Guide: 48 Hours in Valle de Guadalupe
by Betty Nguyen Venture further south of Tijuana and hit the newest and hottest emerging wine region in the world: Baja’s Valle de Guadalupe. An hour and a half south of the border, the Valle features a couple of the most…
Travel Guide: Todos Santos
by Betty Nguyen One of Mexico’s “pueblos mágicos,” or “magical towns,” Todos Santos, a bohemian getaway about 48 miles up the Pacific Coast from Cabo San Lucas, offers a nice escape from the latter’s crazy party scene. We were on our way to Magdelena…