If you know me, you know I love bubble tea. It’s the Starbucks of the Asian-American community. I grew up indulging in this drink. My mom introduced me to it. I remember my mom would occasionally take my sisters and I to Oasis in Chinatown and order 3-4 drinks for us to share. She'd always order the classic taro and strawberry milk tea. It was always a treat and still is in my adult life. The only differences is that now, I buy it for myself, there are waaaay more bbt cafes, and it’s a whole hype. I mean, I recall when in middle school, one of my classes walked down to Chinatown for a field trip, and I had one of my non-Asian friends try bbt for the first time. She could not understand the texture of the boba and thought it was the grossest thing. It is slimyyyyy. And chewy. And back then, pretty bland. Fast forward 13 years, bbt is now BOOMING and is a trend.

As a Seattle native, I’ve witnessed the evolution of the city, which naturally involves a sudden growth of bubble tea cafes to match the population growth and diversity. There are now soooo many that exist — chains and independent stores alike. Now that I’m funemployed, I’ve made it a mission to visit as many as possible...mostly the independent ones because let’s be honest, they need the love. I might order from a chain here or there — just to fully live out my bbt joy, but will try to focus on lesser known ones. I promise none of this is sponsored. It’s for fun! And because bbt gets me through tough times...like being laid off.

Since bbt has SO much sugar, I need to watch myself. I will limit myself to 1 bbt drink a week (max), so new additions to this blog will be added overtime. And to keep it consistent (you know...reduce variables 🤓), I’m gonna order the “Signature drink” from every cafe with the same amount of sugar and ice where possible. Follow oolong!

Cafes on my list
✅Ding Tea
Timeless Tea
Sip House
Mi Tea
Don’t Yell At Me
​Mai Chi Lin
​
​​
​Ding Tea (chain)
Signature Milk Tea - $3.75
Boba - $0.55
​25% sugar, normal ice, regular size

Ok, I know I said I'd stay away from chains, but I was already in the U-District and decided to check out Ding Tea since I'd never been 🙈. Ding Tea is a Taiwanese chain, but not as widely known in the Seattle area as others like Sharetea and Kung Fu Tea.

My take: 8/10 rating
​Ding Tea had a bit of a wait (15 mins post order) because they had to prepare the tapioca pearls (aka "boba"). Bubble tea isn’t bubble tea without the boba, so we opting into waiting. I was a bit surprised when I saw the drink because the boba was golden brown instead of black. I wasn’t sure if it’s because I had waited too long and perhaps the boba lost its color...so I asked why it’s brown and indeed, that’s how it just is! My guess is that the tapioca is house made. The first sip of the drink was perfect — not overly sweet, just the right coldness, obvious classic milk tea flavor, and perfect chewiness from the boba. The boba wasn’t bland. It was a tiny bit sweet, which was perfect to balance the lessened sugar of the drink. I wish the drink had more boba and the milk tea flavor was a tad bit more potent. 

It's easy to look back at 2020 and remember all of the terrible things that happened. After all, this is the year that Kobe, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Chadwick Boseman, RBG, and 1.42 million (and counting) covid-infected patients died, Biden & Kamala narrowingly won the election, and fires ravaged through Washington and Oregon. In some ways, 2020 feels like the fastest yet shortest year -- the year where days quickly blended into dark months (literally) and in a blink of an eye, it's the holiday season.

Despite all of the losses of 2020, there was a lot to gain as well. Career-wise, I got a new gig at Dropbox where I get to work with brilliant folks on challenging projects. Health-wise, my skin has improved and my back hurts less.  Relationship-wise, I've deepened meaningful connections. And with quarantine, I've had the chance to see sooooo much of Washington's beauty.

This Thanksgiving week, I had the week off and another chance to explore locally. What started out as an idea to drive my personal car turned into renting a 19 ft campervan to road trip down to Portland and up the coast of Oregon with Ellen and Courtney. We slept, ate, and drove in this van; which limited our interactions with outsiders. It was good food, company, and sights the entire way. I'm forever grateful for their friendship and willingness to take a covid test without judgement. Scroll below for pics and our route.

Yeah...I don't know how we had the energy to do all of these activities on this one day. Thankfully, all of these sites were super close to one another, but still, wow!

Most of this day was spent on the road. The rain was heavy this day. Our original plan was to visit Black Sand Beach, buy some snacks for the road, and visit Papakolea Beach (Green sand beach) at the southernmost point of the USA on our way back to Kona. Unfortunately, because of the flash floods and road closures, we had to take a FAT detour back to the northern part of the island. Needless to say, a 2h 30m drive ended up taking ~5h. 

Not much of these two days were documented. We just reaaaally enjoyed the amenities of the resort, soaked in the sun, and embraced the time.

Japan has been on my travel bucket list for as long as I can remember. Advanced technology, clean streets, high fashion, Michelin restaurants, cherry blossoms, and the list goes on. These are the things I think of when I think of Japan, and these are exactly the reasons I was inspired to visit the beautiful country.

With sakura season set for late March, Courtney and I each bought our flight tickets nearly 6 months in advance for ~$680 USD for a direct, round-trip flight. Sakura blooming is considered peak season, so I believe we got a good fare deal. Courtney and I budgeted $3000/person for our 2-week, self-guided tour of Japan, which included 5 major cities: Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, and Hakone. We planned and booked everything by ourselves, which involved staying at 5 different hotels and heavily relying on the JR Train Pass to navigate the country. Our budget included airfare, lodging, transportation, food, shopping, and everything else in-between. ​

Immediately after arriving at the Narita airport in Chiba, I found myself amazed by the hospitality of the staff who work at the airport as well as the animated colorful machines, which were covered with cute characters and playful sound effects. The lines at customs were uniform and quiet, and the staff were extremely gentle and helpful. After existing the airport, Courtney and I quickly located the bullet train that would take us into Tokyo. While waiting on the platform, I couldn't help but think, "WOW. THE TRAIN IS MOVING SO FREAKIN FAST." 

An hour later, we arrived at the Shin-Okubo station, but it was no easy feat to de-board the sardine-packed train without knowledge of the Japanese language. With our bulky backpacks and luggages in-hand, Courtney paved the way as she pushed and shoved Japanese men in suits so that we wouldn't miss our station. In this moment, I realized that neither of us knew how to say basic things like "excuse me" and it made me feel so helpless and rude. I'd done research prior to our trip to determine if we can get by without knowing the Japanese language, and found many sources that said it's totally navigable. But in that moment, I felt more mute than I'd ever felt before. I felt a sense of what my parents must go through every day while they try to navigate America without knowing the language, and I became determined to learn how to say "excuse me."  "Sumimasen" truly carried us through the rest of our trip.

For our first two nights, we stayed at the 9-Hours Capsule in Shinjuku. I'm so glad we stayed here in the beginning of the trip because we didn't have as much luggage to deal with. As you can imagine, there's no space for luggage in the sleeping pods. Each person is assigned a locker, which is the size of your typical gym locker. We had to constantly visit our lockers to retrieve belongings and gather things for a shower or a snack.

Upon arrival, the first thing the staff gave us was a set of PJs, slippers, and shower essentials. We were required to wear this outfit in the pods. My guess is that it has to do with cleanliness. Everyone wore the same outfit and in a way, it felt like a prison cell. The pods and lockers were so close to one another. However! Everywhere is very, very quiet...the pods, locker room, bathroom, etc. 

One of the best things about staying at the 9-hour Capsule were the toilets. My goodness! Upon entering the private bathroom stalls, the toilet seat would automatically open as if it were smiling and greeting me. The interior of the toilet bowl lit up in color and a gentle, and calming music began to play. There were many controls available on the toilet including audio volume adjustment, nature sounds, and various spray settings. After finishing, the toilet bowl auto-flushed and released a puff of fragrance. It. Was. Amazing. ​

Would I do this again? No, because it's really just a one-time, check-off-the-bucket-list type of experience. I would also recommend staying here for only a night because to be honest, it was very suffocating and claustrophobic in the pods. There was no good air circulation and it was so quiet that I felt like I couldn't even sneeze. It also made it hard to hang out with Courtney because I couldn't talk out loud. I didn't even hear anyone attempt to speak in a whisper voice... that's how quiet it is. There was a lobby and hang out room, but still, not as comfortable as being able to talk as loud as you want in a comfortable, private setting.

The first meal we ate in Japan were Korean-style cheese hot dogs from the streets. That was probably a good practice meal for us because boy, were we confused about how the heck to order food! Similar to the hot dog stand, Ichiran Ramen, which was our second meal, had a vending machine where you order food. If you don't read Japanese (like us), then you have to hope that the pictures are enough to describe the meal. ​

After waiting in a long line for about 20 mins, we were led downstairs to another line. The second line was for the machine. It was super confusing how to use this and not intuitive how to insert the cash in. Much help was needed, but luckily, the staff at hand were extremely friendly and understanding. Afterwards, we get back in line with our receipt which has our order choice on it. We wait back in line until we see green dots light up on a seating board. Green means that there are seats available. 

Once inside the eating area, we each sat at our individual stalls, but right next to each other. We hand the receipt to another staff through a small window. They close the window. Literally no human interaction at all leading up to this point. There's even a tap water dispenser at each stall for you to serve yourself. There's also a button on each stall for you to call for assistance if need-be, but really, I didn't see anyone use it. 

After about 8 minutes, the cook behind the window opened it up and delivered the bowl of ramen, only a few seconds of interaction before again, closing the window. The whole experience had very limited human interaction and somehow, the service was one of the most spectacular I've ever had. Everything was timely, organized, and easy. 

For our very last meal, we tried to experience 1 Michelin star ramen at Nakiryu, but by the time we arrived, they sold out of broth. Courtney and I walked over a few blocks and found a fusion ramen restaurant...it was quite interesting. I can't remember what it was called, but they served Italian pasta with a Japanese twist. 

We ordered the carbonara ramen and a tomato-based ramen. They weren't bad, but for our last meal in Japan, I think we could've ended with something a little more memorable. 

There are so many interesting bars and cafes in Tokyo. Hedgehogs, vibrators, maids, owls, etc. We tried them all. The most expensive one that we experienced was the maid cafe in Akihabara. We ordered two cups of dessert which came with one headband, a choice of song for a performance, a picture with the performers, and some stickers. This costed us nearly $60 USD. At the maid cafe, we had to mimic our server's gestures in exchange for our desserts. For example, Courtney ordered a bear-shaped dessert. When the server came to deliver it to her, Courtney had to say, "bear bear, roar!" It was an interesting experience, and definitely one for the books!

We spent 6 nights in Kyoto. During this time, our home base was at The Grand Japaning in Omiya. 24 hours before check-in, we received an email from the hotel with instructions on how to check-in. The instruction included a key-in code, which we had to enter on an external key pad to enter the hotel. We discovered that the numbers and letters on this key pad shifted orders every time, which helps to prevent strangers from following and entering the hotel. Once the code is entered, the glass door automatically slides open and stays open long enough for us to get through. Then, it immediately shuts.
​
To our surprise, there was no actual person at the reception desk. There was an iPad and a scanner device to copy identification documents. After checking ourselves in, we received another key-in code, which gave us entry into our actual hotel room. For the entire duration of our stay, I did not once encounter a human staff. Granted, housekeeping serviced our rooms, but we were always out exploring during the day, so we never actually got to see them. 

All in all, we had an incredible experience staying at the Japaning. The entire experience was completely automated, and extremely efficient. It made me wonder how much technology could really replace the workforce. I'm still grappling between whether this is a good or bad thing...but I have to admit, it was a pretty darn cool experience.

The best place to go souvenir shopping is at Don Quijote. There are literally so many Don Quijote locations all over Japan. My favorite was one in Kyoto. Here, Courtney and I spent 2 hours shopping for souvenirs. Everything from mochi and Tokyo Banana to pens can be found here. Even cosmetics and ointments. 

The Japaning hotel was about a 15-minute walk away from the Nishiki Market entrance. Nearly everyday, we walked through the market. It mostly is a touristy shop, but that didn't stop us from going there. There are plenty of food stalls and shops that sold all types of knick knacks. 

During one of the nights in Kyoto, Courtney and I separated to do our own thing. I went to get a massage (really needed one after walking miles every day) while Courtney went to shop for souvenirs. I can't remember the name of the massage facility I went to, but they specialize in sports therapy. It was amaaaazing. They really took the time to knead all of my knots while making sure that I wasn't in pain. 

I learned about the kichi kichi omurice from a friend's Instagram story. Months before our trip, I made reservations for this restaurant, which is extremely limited and competitive. The chef that you see in these photos became famous after he aired on Buzzfeed and YouTube. His restaurant seats only a handful of customers...maybe 12? So, if anyone is able to snatch a seat, they are considered lucky! 

Our reservations were for lunchtime and we made sure to arrive a little early in case our seats were given away as I remember reading in an article about this happening to other customers before. Since the omurice is their most well-known dish, Courtney and I each ordered one. One of the excitements of eating at Kichi Kichi is the show that comes with the chef preparing the omurice. The chef was so animated and enthusiastic, I could feel his energy without understanding what he was saying. 

I wish I could say that the omurice itself lived up to the hype, but in my opinion, it did not. The texture of the omlette was extremely soft and fluffy, and I could taste yolk in every bite. However, the rice and gravy didn't settle well with my taste buds. The rice was a bit mushy, and I think it was because it was fresh rice. I personally fried rice with day-old rice as it adds a tough, chewy texture. The gravy was a bitter, and I could not remove the bitter taste from the rest of the dish.

All in all, Kichi Kichi was a fantastic experience as I'd never eaten or seen such a perfectly formed omlette before, but in terms of taste, I've had better omlettes before...

One of my favorite days in Kyoto was when we went to Arashayima. This was an all-day adventure for us. I remember us having to take a train and bus to get to Arashayima. And along the way, there were lots of Japanese families also headed to Arashayima, so I believe that this is a popular for tourists and locals alike. 

Visiting the monkeys requires a small hike up to a mountain. There was a small fee required to enter. The hike is well-maintained and there is enough space on the path for rests. However, there were some stairs and steep slopes involved, so I would not recommend for those with limited mobility or difficulty breathing. 

Not too far from the monkeys was the bamboo forest which had free admission. This place was extremely crowded, which made it hard to enjoy. If I were to visit the bamboo forest again, I would aim to come early in the morning. 

There were a lot of working photographers pushing around traditional Japanese rickshaws and tourists crowding the forest. Quickly into the forest, we realized pretty quickly that it wasn't worth the struggle to snap the perfect picture, so Courtney and I really tried to embrace the experience. We visited in March and it was really cold. I highly recommend layering up if you plan to visit Japan during this time of the year.

It's hard to go to Japan and not visit at least one shrine. In fact, shrines are everywhere and you would have to be intentionally avoiding them to miss them. Shrines are a sacred place for people to pray for good fortune and pay their respect. Since they are a sacred place, visitors are expected to behave in a respectful way. There is a proper way to shrine which includes cleansing your body at the water pavilion right before entering the main shrine. The most popular, touristy shrines will have directions on how to use the ladle to cleanse yourself. The general rule of thumb is to scoop up water with the ladle using your right hand and pour it over your left hand over the drain. Do not pour the water back into the water tub. Then, switch hands and wash your right hand. Finally, take some water in your left hand and rinse your mouth, but don't swallow! Spit it out into the drain. Rinse the ladle with the remaining water. Voila! You may now enter the shrine.

To be honest, after a while, the shrines that we visited began to feel very similar. We planned to visit more than we did. ​ When I go back to Japan, I'd visit 1-2 shrines and call it good. There are so many sights to visit in Japan, that I wouldn't scope too many shrines. For example, I wish we'd done more of was attending local festivals and taste testing tea! ​

We were fortunate to have visited Japan during the Sumo tournament dates. I was thrilled to have gotten tickets to one of the sumo events because securing tickets seemed to be as competitive as the actual match itself! Each ticket allows all-day entry for the date purchased. Courtney and I purchased the bleachers level, but since we arrived fairly early, the auditorium was practically empty. This gave us the opportunity to sit closer to the action and at one point, we sat on the blue mats. 

Quickly into the first match, I started to feel queasy. I could hear the loud breathing from the wrestlers and see blood being being shot out here and there. I realized pretty quickly that I don't like watching people get hurt and although that's not the intended goal of a sumo match, wrestlers surely do get injured from the sport. 

The judges are dressed in a black robe and are seated at each side of the stage. I presumed that they were previously sumo wrestlers themselves. There were referees who would rotate after every few matches. They were dressed in traditional Japanese attire and heard announcing comments. I could not understand them, but it was very rhythmic and rehearsed. The entire auditorium was quiet besides the vocals of the referee and the loud breathing of the wrestlers. 

Although a touristy location, I observed many local Japanese visit the Cup Noodle Museum as well. In fact, there were groups of young children visiting the museum--it looked as though they were on a class field trip. Oh how I wish I got to go on such a field trip growing up! Visiting the Cup Noodle Museum was personally one of the highlights of the trip. With free admission, we got to learn about the history of Cup Noodles and make our own Cup Noodles for a small fee. I believe it costed $3 USD per cup? Possibly less. We toured the museum and also noticed that they was a kitchen for a cooking class. Unfortunately, the cooking class was full, but it looked like so much fun.

I decided to make Cup Noodles for two of my sisters whose birthdays are in March. After decorating their cups, I got to choose the seasoning and toppings for each cup. The options were endless. They were seafood, pork, veggies, and more. Above is a sequence of photos that demonstrate how my cups were sealed. So cool!

We didn't really do much in Nara besides visiting the deer park. By this point in our trip, we were both exhausted and feeling a bit homesick. I think 10 days may have been too long for us as we found ourselves repeating some events like visiting shrines and shopping. We did lots of shopping! To get ourselves back on our feet, we decided to take a day trip to Nara from Kyoto. At the deer park, you can buy thin crackers to feed the deer. They're very accustomed to the smell of these crackers and the moment I had them in-hand, they came rushing towards me. Deer are harmless animals, but I still freaked out because there were so many of them and only one of me. Since it was so cold that day, Courtney and I didn't stay too long at the park. We walked around the nearby food stalls and got ourselves some warm tea. 

Japan has stolen a piece of my heart that I can't fully describe. Everything about this beautiful country is gravitating--the train station malls, ramen, wagyu, neon lights, onsens, surrounding mountains, and more. I am so grateful for the opportunity to visit and will surely be back in no time. Huge shoutout to Courtney for being one of my dearest travel buddies and friend. This trip wouldn't have been the same without you :) Until next time, Japan! 

One night, I was checking my emails when I came across a deal that was too hard to pass up. $279 round trip tickets to Belize 😱. Lucky enough, my sister, Tran, and friend, Carolyn also had the #yolo mindset. We ended up getting 3 tickets for the price of the average 1. I didn't know much about the country at the time, but I'd heard great things from friends who had visited. All I knew about were the barrier reefs.

After researching the country a bit more, I learned that it's incredibly easy for Americans to visit because 1) The flight is relatively short 2) No visa needed 3) English is the primary language and 4) the country interchangeably uses the USD and Belize dollar. Since USD is accepted, we didn't exchange any currency. $1 USD = $2 BZD.

I stumbled upon the cutest cabanas at Green Valley Inn in Unitedville, Belize. The top three things that drew me to this property were 1) affordable 2) hands-on host who accommodated us in every way possible 3) convenient to attractions. Prior to the trip, we worked with the host, Peter, to create an itinerary that met all of our interests including jungle adventures, caves, canoeing, waterfalls, etc. Considering that we were only on mainland for 2.5 days, we decided to go with a relaxing day, ATM cave, Xunantunich Mayan Ruins, and Canoeing on Barton Creek for the fullest experience. All of this costed a flat rate of $350 USD which also included breakfast, private transfers, admission, and private tours. This was a great deal because transfers alone costs ~$60 USD per person one way from Belize City to the jungle area.

Upon arrival to Green Valley Inn, we were all astonished by the beautiful surroundings and thoughtfully decorated cabanas. My favorite part about the cabanas were the outdoor showers, which had warm-running water. On our first night, the moon was full and bright orange. I'm sad that I didn't shower later that night because I'm sure I would've been able to see the stars from the outdoor shower.

Once we settled in a bit, we decided to walk a few blocks away to Jack's Shack to get some food. This is where we had our first freakout moment. After walking up a gigantic unpaved road, an aggressive rotweiller began to bark and charge at us. I was lucky to have Tran and Carolyn there to calm me down as we stood still, huddled around each other. Then before we knew it, 2 more rotweillers started charging at us. Once all three had arrived, they started circling us and I was scared to death that one of them would attack us. Thankfully, the owners came out to retrieve the dogs. Although Jack's Shack was closed, David, one of the neighbors, insisted on giving us a tour of the acreage and explained all of the beautiful plants and trees that surrounded the place.

After calming down a bit, we went back to the lodge to ask Peter to drive us a bit further down the road because we were too afraid of the large stray dogs everywhere. It was embarrassing, especially since we had just met Peter a few hours ago, but he was extremely kind and understanding. He dropped us off at a Chinese restaurant, which seemed to be the only restaurant open on a Sunday afternoon. I was a bit disappointed because I was really hoping for some chicken, rice, and beans, which is the local staple. After going to a nearby Chinese store, we decided to walk back to the Chinese restaurant, but funny enough, they ran out of Chinese food and were only serving fried chicken and burgers. So this was our first Belizean meal .

I didn't take any photos of the Chinese stores and restaurants in Belize, but here's what they typically look like. While on the road, I learned that over 95% of the grocery stores in Belize are owned by Chinese. The first Chinese arrived in the country from south eastern China in the late 1860s. I was a bit taken back by this because it seemed like such a niche pocket of residents in a seemingly unexpected region. About a week before our arrival, there was a strike between the Chinese and Belizeans after a Chinese businessman was killed after many incidents of harassment towards the Chinese population. The tension arose from the Chinese taking over local business. Many angles can be interpreted, but one that I've heard is that there could be a question of Belizean loyalty to their own stores, which price items at a few cents more.

On day 2, we went on an all-day tour through the ATM Cave. Unfortunately, cameras were recently banned after several tourists dropped their devices on skeletal remains and damaging the sacred artifacts. This cave is an archeological site where Mayans once lived and performed human sacrifices. It's ranked by the National Geographic as one of the most sacred places of a lifetime. If you're in Belize, go to the ATM cave!

Before the trek, we got suited with life jackets, helmets, and headlights. After a short walk, we dove into the first river crossing which was more like a swim for me 😅. This went on a few more times before we finally entered the cave, which was incredible. Our tour guide ranks the ATM cave a 3/5 in terms of danger and righteously so. I would not recommend this tour to people with asthma, claustrophobia, disabilities, or fear of water because there is a lot of swimming in deep water, blindly walking over rocks and puddles, climbing rocks, and squeezing through narrow cracks. It's humid with very little circulation. However, if you do make it, you will learn so much about the ancient Mayans and witness a magnificent piece of history.

We spent about 1.5 hours at this site with our private tour guide. Since we arrived in the early morning before the crowd, we practically had the ruins to ourselves. Like the ATM cave, there is so much history that comes along with the ruins. Xunantunich is considered the second tallest tower in all of Belize. Crazy, right?! We saw Guatemala from the top of the ruins, which wasn't difficult too climb. We opted for Xunantunich instead of the other nearby ruins because of its vicinity to our lodge. Given more time, I'm sure we would've gone to Caracol, which I've heard is even more magnificent. I thought Xunantunich was incredible, so I can't imagine what an even greater site is like.

I was initially hesitant to visit Barton Creek Cave because we had just visited the ATM Cave the previous day, but I trusted Peter's judgement in recommending that the experience is unique enough to check out. I'm glad I listened. Since we went canoeing, Barton Creek Cave felt a lot more relaxing and calm. We took two boats. Peter and the tour guide paddled one of each while us girls just sat, listened to the history lesson, and absorbed the sights. For this reason, Barton Creek Cave felt a lot more majestic while ATM was packed with adventure and physical challenge. In both caves, there is evidence of Mayan traces. 

On the way to/from Barton Creek Cave, we saw Mennonites, which led to a great history lesson from Peter. They were easy to identify because of their traditional clothing - women with bonnets and long dresses and men with overalls and hats. Mennonites in this region produce everything that they need for shelter, food, etc., so it was quite neat to see a glimpse of their life. Peter kindly asked us not to take photos of the Mennonites to respect their privacy. Pro tip: the ride was to/from Barton Creek really bumpy, so I recommend bringing motion sickness medication for those who may need it.  

We each spent $38 USD for roundtrip water taxi ferry tickets from Belize City to San Pedro. The ride was 90 minutes each way. The boats arrived and departed on time and were much cleaner and orderly than I had imagined. I have bad sea sickness, but was perfectly fine on the boat. Granted, I had seasick bands on and had taken a dramamine beforehand. But typically, even after preparing myself, I can get sick, so the fact that I didn't while on the water taxi reinforces how sturdy and smooth it is.

What's a girls trip without a photo session? Right across the street from our Airbnb was this amazing dock. We spent countless hours on it - just reading and relaxing. Due to the geography of Belize (something about it being surrounded by far-out reefs), there aren't much sand on the islands. In exchange, there are docks that stretch far out into the ocean. I actually prefer the docks because they're cleaner and attract less sand flies, which we were warned are actually a thing. Luckily, none of us got bit badly, but still, they were evident.

Our Airbnb host set up a snorkel tour for us to check out Hol Chan and Shark Ray Alley. For $60 USD per person, I'd say we paid a bit more than you would if you were to purchase tours from a local tour stand along the beach. However, the way I justify it is that we got a private tour and flexibility. We were able to easily postpone our tour back a day due to strong winds after a local told me that strong winds can cause water to go into the snorkel gear. I'd gone snorkeling a few times before, but this was Tran and Carolyn's first time, so I didn't want them to not enjoy it. 

On the day we took the boat out, it was still windy - enough to cause the current to ripple. Hol Chan wasn't as great as I had imagined - the water was clear but there just wasn't as much diversity in the ocean and the current was so strong that Tran, Carolyn, and I kept getting pushed towards each other by the water. We were literally swimming face-to-feet. I wished our tour guide, who was our host's son, better explained the different fish that were swimming around, but maybe it was hard to do that with the strong current. 

Next, we went to Shark Ray Alley. The guides fed fish to the sharks to attract their attention while Carolyn and I jumped into the ocean. The sharks were freakishly huge and we were both hesitant to go in, but #yolo. I was afraid because I had some open wounds from the ATM cave tour and thought that the sharks would recognize the scent. Fortunately, they did not. 

For $55 USD a day, we rented golf carts to drive around town for 2 out of the 4 days we were on the island. Even if you don't intend to use it all day, it's worth the cost just to experience it because literally everyone drives a golf cart in San Pedro. The carts come with a lock, so it's perfectly safe to drive it from point A to B and park it before returning to point A. I was surprised to learn that the golf carts also comes with a small storage unit in the back, which is also lockable. We mainly needed the golf cart to get across the bridge because that's where Secret Beach, the truck stop, Ak'bol, and many other tourist attractions are. Since we stayed closer to town, most stores and restaurants were a walk away, so renting the golf cart for only 2 days was perfect.

In case you're wondering...I'm 4"10' and was able to drive it perfectly. Be warned that there are speed bumps all around town, so you will be getting a free massage while driving the golf cart.

On Thursday nights, you can bet where a chicken will take a shit. To play, you pay $1 USD and get a random number on a grid in a chicken coop. When the game starts, a volunteer from the audience will bless the chicken by rotating it around in circles and blowing air into the chicken's ass. S/he will then drop the chicken into the coop. For an extra small fee, some people buy corn to feed the chicken in hopes that it'll poop on their number. The crowd continues to cheer while the DJ cranks up the music. The game ends when the chicken poops. If it poops on your number, you win! 

The jerk chicken at Robin's Kitchen was the best thing I ate in Belize. For $14 BZD, you get a quarter chicken, rice, and some veggies. I shared with a friend and still felt satisfied with the portions. I highly suggest going early in the day because they sell out...quick! While eating, somebody stopped by to order 10 jerk chicken meals. After that, there were only 4 jerk chickens remaining for the day. It was only 12:30 pm at this time. Right next door to Robin's Kitchen is a fruit stand which sold me 4 oranges for $2 BZD.

Other than jerk chicken, I can't say that Belizean cuisine is mouthwatering to the point where I'd want to repeat eating it. It's possible that I fell for tourist traps and didn't go to the right local restaurants, or maybe the locals only cook and eat at home, but the food I ate in Belize wasn't that great. It didn't seem like Belizeans are keen about cuisine. The local food I ate such as chicken/rice/beans and pupusas were bland. I don't think shrimp ceviche counts at Belizean food, but that was really delicious. The shrimp portions were extremely generous.

I don't know about you, but when I go a week without doing yoga or working out at least once, I feel imbalanced. While driving to the Truck Stop in San Pedro, I spotted Ak'bol signs and made it a mission to check it out at least once. Unfortunately, it rained almost every morning, and the yoga sessions are only at 9 am on weekdays. On the last day, I woke up from the sounds of heavy rain dripping down the roof and I thought to myself, "If I don't check this yoga spot out, I'm gonna really regret it." So, my sister and I took the golf cart and drove it north of the bridge. The 1 hour class costed $15 USD with mats, blankets, and bricks provided. It was everything like I imagined. Every downward dog presented the unfathomable sight of palm trees and every supine spinal twist gave me a fresh scent of ocean air and turquoise clear views. Yoga's never going to be the same.