A closer look: Chinatown!

Happy late-night blogging from Central Florida.

I'm up late updating my blog primarily for my little sister, Jaclyn, but also because I made a note that I'd do it earlier today. Sidenote: The King's Speech was a gorgeous film. I'm thinking about doing an Oscar movie post in the near future, so I'll save my reviews and comments for later.

I thought it would be fun to share a few snapshots from my trip out to the west coast. Seeing as I'm updating my blog for my little sister, it is only fitting that I discuss Chinatown. She loves Asian cultures and wants to marry a Chinese man, so she was especially jealous that we got to run over to that part of Los Angeles on the evening we landed in CA. (She was also jealous that we got to meet Ellen Pompeo of Grey's Anatomy while we were in Hollywood, but that's another story for another time, Grey's fans.)

At the recommendation of some of our friends from or Haiti trip, Jess and I decided to check out Foo Chow. Turns out Jackie Chan has put this restaurant on the map. Actually, once you're inside, you can easily recognize scenes from Rush Hour. It's pretty funny.

Hot green tea soothed my throat and warmed me up after a long day of airports and airplanes.

All in all, our visit to Chinatown was more eerie than experiential. Since we arrived so late, all the cute little stores were closed for the evening and many of the lights dimmed. However, we were still excited to have visited, and our dinner was seriously killer. Jess and I ordered sweet and sour shrimp and mixed veggies and tons of white rice. (I could eat rice daily.) She was happy to cross visiting Chinatown off her bucket list, but I'd still like to return and find that cute, kitschy raincoat I'm dreaming of. Maybe next time.

Have any of you visited a Chinatown? I've been to them in both NYC and Los Angeles, but my friends say the one in San Francisco is wonderful as well.

Have a great night!
K

Beverly Hills / Chinatown / Hollywood

Hey everyone!

My coworker Jess and I are chillin' in coach, sharing a coke, snackin' on pretzels, and finding ways to entertain ourselves on this 4+ hour flight from Cincinnati to LA. It's been a day of early flights, long layovers and some quality girl time. I really enjoy trips with Jess. She and I have very similar travel habits so it's always a breeze. That's important when you travel with someone a bunch; whether it's Haiti or Los Angeles, we've got this.

We don't have to hit up any meetings until early tomorrow morning, so we're going to meet some of our friends from our Haiti trip and head down to Chinatown for delicious noodles and red lanterns galore! I'm also really hoping to find a cute Asian-patterned raincoat. Cross your fingers one's waiting for me with a friendly street vendor.

(Image found here.)

I really love traveling. Sitting in airports all day inspired me to begin drafting a post about handy travel tips I've learned over the past year and a half. I feel like I'm far from what some may call an "expert traveler," but I do know my way around. However, my post may be majorly one-upped by this month's extra-interesting edition of ReadyMade. There are some awesome packing/snacking/planning tidbits for those already itching to travel this spring. 

Harbor and I are beginning to plan a majorly fun trip up to the DC / Richmond area this spring (if we can pull it all together). Anyone else planning a great little getaway in 2011?

More later. Have a happy start to your week. 

K