Costa Rica is a popular vacation spot for Americans and Europeans - most of the travelers I met came from Germany or France - as this tropical gem offers natural wonders ranging from volcanoes and hot springs to cloud forests and beaches, as well as adventurous activities like white-water rafting, canyoning, and ziplining. The best … Continue reading Ten Days in Costa Rica – Arrival
If you’ve read my previous story, you would have known that I took advantage of my layover time in Mexico City, catching a glimpse of the vibrant town at night and trying their national beloved spirit, mezcal. In this recount, I would talk about how I spent my last few hours in the city around … Continue reading Explore Mexico City in 24-Hour Layover (AM)
Mexico was never in my plan when I was drafting the itinerary of my Cuban adventure. Not until I booked my return flight from Santa Clara to Hong Kong did I realize I needed to transit in Mexico City with a layover time of approximately 24 hours. As spending overnight in the airport was obviously … Continue reading Explore Mexico City in 24-Hour Layover (PM)
January is usually the coldest month in New York but this year the city has experienced some brutally cold weather that made Trump showed his craving for Global Warming on twitter, which then drew heaps of attention explaining the differences between weather and climate. When I was thinking if the American president was trying to … Continue reading New York: Wintertime Fun
At first, I felt that my right thigh was burning, and then the sensation and pain progressively intensified. I had to run back into the water to cool off my irritated skin. The chilly water soothed my pain a little but didn’t stop those disgusting, swollen rashes spreading over my leg. That’s the time I … Continue reading I thought I Might Lose My Leg in Cuba
Many have said that to get to know a city on a deeper level, one should make friends with the locals. But it’s not easy for everybody, especially for those who are brought up in a society that's brainwashed with the idea that strangers are not to be trusted. Even for a rebel like me, … Continue reading Trinidad: How to Be Friends with Cubans?
When planning my trip to Cuba, I spent a lot of time thinking how much time I should allocate to Cienfuegos as many online reviews labeled it as a boring city that could be explored within a few hours. Considering it’s a 4.5-hour drive from Havana, I decided to stay for a day and a … Continue reading Cienfuegos: A Cuban Town with French Air
“How much do they charge you?” the Hungarian couple sitting at the back of the car asked when the driver got out to look for another passenger. “20CUC. How about you?” I replied. “Don’t mention it. They ripped us off and we’ve changed cars several times already.” Before they finished the story, a French girl … Continue reading Viñales: Visit Cuban Attractions on Two Wheels
What do you think about the idea of traveling alone in Cuba? I believed it'd be an exciting adventure until the day before my departure; I started questioning if I was out of my mind. Where did my courage come from when I decided to be on my own for 13 days on a far-flung … Continue reading Havana, ooh na-na: First Day in Cuba
When I knew that my friend would also be in LA during my stay, Universal Studio was the first thing that popped up in my mind. But instead of texting me a thumbs-up, she sent me a list of Instagram photos, each featuring a young, pretty, fashionable 20sth posing in front of a colorful, distinctive … Continue reading Los Angeles: Photo Spots Hunt
Crystal on the journey 