Sixteen Hours on a Direct Flight
When I was trying to figure out the most cost effective flights to get the hubs and I from NYC to the other side of the world, none of the online travel websites that I normally use could get me to all of the places I wanted to go for less than $5,000 per person. Unfathomable! After some hits and misses, I opted for a direct round trip flight to Taipei and short, one-way flights within Asia. After the first leg of our trip, we finally arrived IN THE FUTURE!
Taipei: 7-Eleven Mural, Taoyuan Airport 
Taipei: Donation Box, Taoyuan Airport 
Taipei: Charity, Taoyuan Airport 
Taipei: Taoyuan Airport 
Taipei: Mural, Taoyuan Airport
With a six hour layover in Taipei, we got to enjoy breakfast and lunch before boarding for the next flight to Bangkok. On the way to the food court, we met a new robot.
Taipei: Breakfast, Taoyuan Airport Taipei: 7-Eleven Mural, Taoyuan Airport 
Taipei: Lunch, Taoyuan Airport 
Taipei: Lunch, Taoyuan Airport 
Taipei: Tray Retrieval Robot, Taoyuan Airport
Bangkok, Thailand
We spent the next five days taking in the sights on the way to delicious food in Bangkok. We soaked up so much art. We shopped small and local. We enjoyed beautiful sights. And, most of all, we relaxed. I even got to use the majority of the broken Thai I learned growing up, all of which was from listening to my mother try to keep my brother actively speaking Thai. The conversations mostly consisted of parental grilling: “Did you eat? What did you eat? Was it edible? Where are you going? When will you be home? Why don’t you call home more? How much money do you need?” This is the vocabulary I had on hand while in traveling around Bangkok, and it came in handy, surprisingly so.
Bangkok: Landing, Thai Airways 
Bangkok: First Night @ iSanook Residences 
Bangkok: On the Way to the Pool, iSanook Residences 
Bangkok: Pool View, iSanook Residences 
Bangkok: Juxtaposition between Old and New Architecture 
Bangkok: Infamous Traffic 
Bangkok: Covered Walkways 
Bangkok: Three Layers of Traffic – Vehicules, Pedestrians, Metro 
Bangkok: Tokyu Department Store Holiday Cheer 
Bangkok: Bangkok Art and Culture Centre 
Bangkok: Spectrosynthesis II – Exposure of Tolerance: LGBTQ in Southeast Asia Exhibition, Bangkok Art and Culture Centre 
Bangkok: Spectrosynthesis II – Exposure of Tolerance: LGBTQ in Southeast Asia Exhibition, Bangkok Art and Culture Centre 
Bangkok: From the Free IconSIAM Ferry to Get Across the Chap Phraya River 
Bangkok: Mural Entering Mazu Shrine, Lhong 1919 
Bangkok: Walking to Mazu Shrine, Lhong 1919 
Bangkok: Entering Mazu Shrine, Lhong 1919 
Bangkok: Mazu Shrine, Lhong 1919 
Bangkok: Shops and Artist Workshops @ Mazu Shrine, Lhong 1919 
Bangkok: Plain Language Instructions on How to Worship @ Mazu Shrine, Lhong 1919 
Bangkok: Mural through Doorway @ Mazu Shrine, Lhong 1919 
Bangkok: Mural through Doorway @ Mazu Shrine, Lhong 1919 
Bangkok: Mural @ Mazu Shrine, Lhong 1919 
Bangkok: Mural @ Mazu Shrine, Lhong 1919 
Bangkok: Mural @ Mazu Shrine, Lhong 1919 
Bangkok: Mazu Mural @ Mazu Shrine, Lhong 1919 
Bangkok: Tiffany & Co. Christmas Tree upon Entering IconSIAM 
Bangkok: SookSiam @ IconSIAM 
Bangkok: SookSiam @ IconSIAM 
Bangkok: SookSiam @ IconSIAM 
Bangkok: Escalators, SookSiam @ IconSIAM 
Bangkok: SookSiam @ IconSIAM 
Bangkok: Wat Hua Lamphong วัดหัวลำโพง by Night 
Bangkok: Nature Taking Back a House on Si Phraya Road 
Bangkok: View from the Ferry 
Bangkok: View from the Ferry 
Bangkok: View from the Ferry of Wat Rakhang Khositaram วัดระฆังโฆสิตาราม 
Bangkok: View from the Ferry of the Temple of the Emerald Buddha วัดพระศรีรัตนศาสดาราม 
Bangkok: Temple of the Emerald Buddha วัดพระศรีรัตนศาสดาราม 
Bangkok: Temple of the Emerald Buddha วัดพระศรีรัตนศาสดาราม 
Bangkok: Wat Pho วัดโพธิ์ 
Bangkok: Temple of the Emerald Buddha วัดพระศรีรัตนศาสดาราม 
Bangkok: Street and River Closed for Royal Visit
We ate so many delicious things, including temple snacks and junk food. I even got to use a little Burmese to order lunch.
Bangkok: Dry Ginger Ale, Thai Airways 
Bangkok: Travel Condiments, 7-Eleven and SookSiam @ IconSIAM 
Bangkok: Fried Chili Shallot Garlic Sauce Potato Crisps, 7-Eleven 
Bangkok: Sushi Flavored Waffled Potato Crisps, 7-Eleven 
Bangkok: New Flavor – Milk Tea KitKat, 7-Eleven 
Bangkok: Marketing Everywhere, 7-Eleven 
Bangkok: Salted (Duck) Egg Yolk Potato Chips, 7-Eleven 
Bangkok: Sweet and Spicy Fish Snacks, SookSiam @ IconSIAM 
Bangkok: Korean Style Corn Snack Rings, 7-Eleven 
Bangkok: Basil Chicken Flavored Potato Chips, 7-Eleven 
Bangkok: Crab Curry Flavored Potato Chips, 7-Eleven 
Bangkok: Honey Lemon Fanta, Tops Market, MBK Mall 
Bangkok: Boop Card, Bog Food Court, MBK Mall 
Bangkok: Laphet Thoke (Pickled Green Tea Leaf Salad), Burmese Stall, Big Food Court, MBK Mall 
Bangkok: Three Sides (Fried Pork, Mushrooms, Chinese Kale) with Rice and Soup, Burmese Stall, Big Food Court, MBK Mall 
Bangkok: Late Dinner @ Harmonique 
Bangkok: Ginger Chicken and Mushroom Coconut Milk Soup Set @ Harmonique 
Bangkok: Mussamam Curry and Homemade Garlic Toast @ Harmonique 
Bangkok: Mussamam Curry Closeup @ Harmonique 
Bangkok: Pandan Custard Buns, Thai Coffee and Iced Tea, Purple Sweet Potato and Coconut Sticky Rice Cakes @ Plearwanpanich เพลินวาน พาณิชย์ สาขา ล้ง1919, Lhong 1919, Mazu Shrine 
Bangkok: Khao Soi, Food Republic, IconSIAM 
Bangkok: Stir-Fried Morning Glory @ Markintiny 
Bangkok: Seafood Kueh Teow @ Markintiny 
Bangkok: Deep Fried Pork Meatballs Wrapped Noodles, Wat Pho วัดโพธิ์ 
Bangkok: Tod Mun Pla (Thai Fish Cakes), Wat Pho วัดโพธิ์ 
Bangkok: Street Noodles, FestiWow Pop-Up, MBK Mall 
Bangkok: Tom Yum Gai (Thai Hot & Sour Chicken Soup), FestiWOW Popup, MBK Mall 
Bangkok: Tom Yum Gai (Thai Hot & Sour Chicken Soup), FestiWOW Popup, MBK Mall 
Bangkok: Thai Iced Coffee and Thai Iced Tea, Mango Tree, Bangkok Airport 
Bangkok: Boat Noodle Soup, Mango Tree, Bangkok Airport
Singapore
After five days of eating and walking, we got on a short flight to Singapore. The last time I was in Singapore, I was all of 15 years old on a trip with my relatives. What I remember from that trip was amazing, futuristic convenience stores, a whole neighborhood with my name Sophia plastered everywhere, amazingly clean everything, and no chewing gum allowed into the country. After watching Crazy Rich Asians, the hubs really wanted to see and eat everything in Singapore, and I was more than happy to oblige. Peranakan architecture and culture, the view from the top of the Marina Bay Sands Resort, the Gardens by the Bay, and all of the hawker centres full of delicious and amazingly affordable food – we hit up almost everything from the movie except for mahjong. I was pleasantly surprised by how into Christmas decorations Southeast Asia was, and I got to speak English, Mandarin, and Hokkien at any given time.
Singapore: Little India Spiral Staircases 
Singapore: Serangoon Road, Little India 
Singapore: Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple 
Singapore: Mural near Joo Chiat Terrace Interim Park 
Singapore: Peranakan Houses, Joo Chiat 
Singapore: Peranakan Houses, Joo Chiat 
Singapore: Peranakan Houses, Joo Chiat 
Singapore: Peranakan Houses Turned Shops, Joo Chiat 
Singapore: We Bare Bears at City Square Mall 
Singapore: Floating Lanterns, Gardens by the Bay 
Singapore: Gardens by the Bay, Marina Bay Sands 
Singapore: View from Ce La Vie, Marina Bay Sands 
Singapore: Night Skyline 
Singapore: View from Ce La Vie, Marina Bay Sands 
Singapore: View from Ce La Vie, Marina Bay Sands 
Singapore: Gardens by the Bay 
Singapore: night skyline, Gardens by the Bay, Little India spiral staircases, Marina Bay Sands 
Singapore: Changi Airport
Did I mention the food? We visited Mr. Ho’s Tutu Kueh who has been making these lovely, toasty, sweet and savory rice cakes filled with peanuts, coconut, and fragrant palm sugar for over 50 years. We found lovely bakeries, overstuffed meals for under US$3, and so many delicious beverages. We still didn’t get to try everything we wanted, so I guess we have to go back for more.
Singapore: Mr. Ho Making Tutu Kueh, Bendemeer Market & Food Centre 
Singapore: Mr. Ho’s Tutu Kueh, Bendemeer Market & Food Centre 
Singapore: Grilled Mackeral Otak in Banana Leaves, Bendemeer Market & Food Centre 
Singapore: Grilled Mackeral Otak in Banana Leaves, Bendemeer Market & Food Centre 
Singapore: Rose Soy Milk, Iced Herbal Tea, Hokkien Mee, Bendemeer Market & Food Centre 
Singapore: Braised Foods, Bendemeer Market & Food Centre 
Singapore: Fresh Popia, Bendemeer Market & Food Centre 
Singapore: Charsiu Pastry @ Baker Talent, Bendemeer Market & Food Centre 
Singapore: Charsiu Pastry @ Baker Talent, Bendemeer Market & Food Centre 
Singapore: Bag of Mini Cheese Buns @ Baker Talent, Bendemeer Market & Food Centre 
Singapore: Mini Cheese Bun @ Baker Talent, Bendemeer Market & Food Centre 
Singapore: Kickapoo Joy Juice (like Mountain Dew) and 100 Plus (like Pocari Sweat or Gatorade), Dunman Food Centre 
Singapore: Oa Chien (Oyster Omelette), 28, Dunman Food Centre 
Singapore: Dunman Food Centre, 28, Stir-Fried Turnip Cake 
Singapore: Dunman Food Centre, 28, Stir-Fried Chinese Broccoli 
Singapore: Red Oil Wontons, Crystal Jade La Mian @ Bugis Junction 
Singapore: Vegetarian Meal, Tekka Centre, Little India 
Singapore: Vegetarian Meal, Tekka Centre, Little India 
Singapore: Kulfi Falooda, Kailash Parbat Restaurant, Little India 
Singapore: Malai Sandwiches and Pista Rolls, Kailash Parbat Restaurant, Little Indiaa 
Singapore: One of Everything Mini Tiffin, Suriya Restaurant, Little India 
Singapore: Masala Chai, Suriya Restaurant, Little India 
Singapore: Teh Tarik and Kopi-C, Kopi & Tarts, City Square Mall 
Singapore: Chicken Luncheon Meat Noodles Lunch Set, Kopi & Tarts, City Square Mall 
Singapore: Violet Oon High Tea for Two 
Singapore: Violet Oon ION Orchard 
Singapore: Cocktails, Ce La Vie, Marina Bay Sands 
Singapore: Tamarind Lamb Skewers, Ce La Vie, Marina Bay Sands 
Singapore: Hot Paratha, Late Dinner @ Bhai Biriyani & Cafe, Little India
Taipei, Taiwan
One last stop to see family and one last chance to enjoy the future before returning to NYC. We even caught a fan event while we were in town. I got to play charades with the Wolf Prince himself, Derek Chang 張軒睿. It was fascinating sociological research.
Taipei: Lobby, The Okura Prestige Taipei 
Taipei: Lucy 露西早餐 
Taipei: Host Kitty, Lucy 露西早餐 
Taipei: Derek Chang 張軒睿 Birthday Fan Event 
Taipei: Derek Chang 張軒睿 Birthday Fan Event 
Taipei: Metro Taipei Holding a Free Holiday Concert Series 
Taipei: On the Way Back from an Event, Tsai Jui-Yueh Dance Research Institute 
Taipei: On the Way Back from an Event, Tsai Jui-Yueh Dance Research Institute 
Taipei: On the Way Back from an Event, Tsai Jui-Yueh Dance Research Institute 
Taipei: Ten Ren’s New Tea + Coffee Shop – Chaffee 
Taipei: View from Our Room, The Okura Prestige Taipei 
Xinfeng: View of the Mangrove Reserve from 紅毛港 (Red Fur/Hair Port) 
Xinfeng: 紅毛港海鮮 (Red Fur/Hair Port Seafood) 
Taipei: Renovated Pool View @ The Okura Prestige Taipei 
Taipei: Maji Square 
Taipei: Maji Square Food Court 
Taipei: EVA Air
Taiwan is foodie heaven, but breakfast has to be, hands down, my favorite meal of the day in Taiwan. Late night snacking 宵夜 is a very close second, though.
Taipei: Late Night Snacks, 7-Eleven 
Xinfeng: Caramel Pudding Flavored Potato Chips, Family Mart 
Xinfeng: Peach Tart Flavored Potato Chips, Family Mart 
Xinfeng: Barbecue/Grilled Ribs Flavored Potato Chips, 7-Eleven 
Taipei: Lemon Yakult and Pomelo Iced Tea, Lucy 露西早餐 
Taipei: Pan-Fried Turnip Cakes, Lucy 露西早餐 
Taipei: The Presidential Breakfast Burger, Lucy 露西早餐 
Taipei: The Presidential Breakfast Club Sandwich, Lucy 露西早餐 
Taipei: Scallion Pancakes with Scrambled Eggs, Lucy 露西早餐 
Taipei: Bacon Cheeseburger @ MOS Burger 
Taipei: Burger on Rice Patties, MOS Burger 
Taipei: Paitan Ramen, 勝王 (Victorious King) 
Taipei: Paitan Ramen, 勝王 (Victorious King) 
Taipei: Brown Sugar Cappucino + Rose Lychee Iced Tea Latte, Good Cho’s, Maji Square 
Taipei: purple sweet potato and osmanthus, taro and salted egg yolk filled bagels, Good Cho’s, Maji Square
Stereotype Rebel 