Piece Lio El Nido was a last-minute splurge hotel booking. My daughter and I had been staying in a closet of a room at JBoutique Hotel in El Nido, and I couldn’t stand it. I felt we deserved a little luxury, so while she slept off her exhaustion from our island-hopping tour, I booked us…
Once a month Padmanadi Edmonton hosts a buffet at it’s Chinatown location. All vegan. The food is from Indonesia with other Asian influences. I saw this as my chance to try out even more of their fantastic menu. Padmanadi is legendary in Edmonton for their creative and delicious vegan dishes. I’m very serious when I tell…
I have an exciting announcement. Some of my Live Self Happy travel articles are now on GPSmyCity! Have you ever read a travel article, made notes, and then forgotten where you put them? I have. When I plan a trip, I save screenshots and Instagram posts, Google Maps pins, notes on my phone and in…
South Palms Resort Panglao in Bohol, Philippines, is the type of property that takes your breath away. I like to have at least one splurge accommodation whenever I travel, preferably with an infinity pool. South Palms Resort Panglao has infinity pools galore. My daughter found the listing on Expedia. She was excited but hesitant to…
Happy Lamb is a new hot pot buffet tucked into the backside of the South Park Shopping area on Gateway Blvd. It’s a chain restaurant that finally got an Edmonton location. I was looking for a late night spot for a last minute family gathering to celebrate my son’s birthday. After calling ahead, Happy Lamb said…
Mr Bun’s soup dumplings are becoming legendary in Edmonton.. Filled with delicious meats and hot broth it’s easy to get addicted to them. Mr Bun is a Shanghai Dumplings and Noodles restaurant that popped up on Whyte Ave a couple of years ago in the same location Top Dim Sum briefly occupied. I went when…
Sang Seoul Table Dining offers all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ, sashimi and sushi in downtown Edmonton. The location used to be Pampas Brazilian Steakhouse, so gluttony has been a tradition at this location for some time. The price at Sang is slightly higher than other nearby all-you-can-eat Korean places, but after visiting, I could see the value. …
BB2 Korean BBQ at West Edmonton Mall claims to be the largest Korean BBQ buffet restaurant in Western Canada. I have never had buffet-style Korean BBQ, and starting by trying the biggest one was too tempting to pass up. My partner and I. The entrance to BB2 is on the second floor of West Edmonton…
For my return to Manila, I grabbed a last-minute reservation at the City Garden Grand Hotel Makati for my daughter and me. I chose a superior twin room and booked through booking.com. There are several similarly named hotels nearby, including City Garden Suites and City Garden Hotel, which were not rated as highly. This review…
You have 1 day in Manila; how are you going to spend it? By following this 1 day in Manila Itinerary, it will be delicious! You’ll start by basing yourself out of Makati, Metro Manila’s hip and stylish hub of restaurants, bars, coffee shops and malls. Kick off the day with a traditional Filipino breakfast….
The best apps for the Philippines will help you smoothly enter the country, understand the exchange rate, find places to stay, and travel between islands and cities with ease. Travel in the Philippines can be challenging. There are ferries to book, a megacity to navigate, and Islands to hop. Luckily, your phone has access to…
Lampara Poblacion is an Asian Mexican fusion restaurant in Makati, Manila that takes comfortable dishes and turns them into flavourful works of art. I wanted to start my Philippines vacation off with an outstanding meal, and Lampara, a Michelin Bib Gourmand recommendation, seemed perfect. The menu is both affordable and elevated, and when I saw…
Kyoto during the Cherry Blossom season is magical. The streets along the river and the canals are lined with blossoms in shades of pink and delicate whites. Spring is in the air, and the temperature is just right. Throngs of tourists and locals alike fight for the best cherry blossom viewing in Kyoto. Lines form…
Travelling is an amazing opportunity to try new food, immerse yourself in another culture and have adventures. Kudos to you for stepping out of your comfort zone. The thing about adventures, though, is that they come with challenges. ATM’s run out of money, flights and buses run late, and sometimes that bag of souvenirs gets…
It’s a 17-hour flight from San Francisco to Jakarta, and taking it was the longest plane ride of my life. These are called long-haul flights, and taking them comfortably requires some preparation. Nobody looks forward to sitting on an airplane for 6 – 20 hours. But if you pack the right carry-on essentials, it doesn’t…