Stay — Ocean Luxury House
Coffee — Moons Licensed Espresso Bar, Wye General Store
Food — Airey’s Pub, The Bottle of Milk
Weekend in Melbourne
Melbourne is a city that I did not expect to love. I never really considered going to Australia, it always felt like a far-away version of Canada. Now I’m always telling skeptics, “You must go! I have recommendations!” And while the Victorian era architecture may look weathered, the city’s young entrepreneurs have done an incredible job reinventing the 19th-century spaces in to hip cafes, restaurants, and theatres.
The ideas below are in no-way comprehensive but rather an abbreviated list of personal favourites.
Overnight Hong Kong (COVID-19 Edition)
It’s a bad time to be travelling anywhere. In fact you should ideally be social distancing in your home according to expert advice. But what if you are trying to come home and your flights keep getting cancelled (airlines dropping routes, countries banning entry, etc)? In my recent experience I spent 17.5 hours in Hong Kong, a city that has kept everything open, with the exception of some safety measures to minimize transfer of any coronavirus’.
If you’re looking to unwind away from the chaos of Central and experience traditional Hong Kong life, TUVE’s location in Tin Hau is ideal. Only one MTR stop away from Times Square the boutique hotel is tucked away on a quiet street and offers a thoughtfully designed stay. The use of warm, raw materials in its decor such as dark wood panels across its walls creates an inviting feel to the hotel. Light spills through the large windows casting ethereal beams across the marble flooring.
The newly renovated Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade provides a perfect view of the light show across the harbour in Central. During non-COVID times this area also has buskers performing and can be a lively place to spend some time. Walk along the promenade until you reach the ferry terminal and take the Star Ferry to Central. As one of them most iconic excursions in the world, the Star Ferry is certainly worth the HKD $2 ($0.40 CAD). The Star Ferry has watched over the transformation of the Hong Kong skyline since the 1880’s and only takes 5 minutes to cross Victoria Harbour.
Walk over to Pier #3 (Discovery Bay) where the pop-up Beer Shop appears in the evenings. Here you can avoid the chaos of LKF and enjoy the view across the harbour in a quaint environment.
After beers, it only makes sense to eat delicious burgers and fries so head up the stairs to Shake Shack (IFC level 4) and grab a Smoke Shack burger — save room for dessert in the form of the Hong Kong exclusive Milk Tea Shake.
Happy quarantining!
Travel Essentials
Marvis — I am not a fan of the overly artificial taste of most toothpaste so I have been using this.
Dr. Hauschka — This is the best lip balm I have used to date. It keeps my lips soft and if I forget it in the morning my lips don’t feel starved like with other brands.
Baxter of California — Deodorant that is aluminum and alcohol free and doesn’t stain my clothes.
Raen — I can’t see without my glasses so I keep a couple pairs with me wherever I go.
Le Labo — Under 100mL that I picked up from the hotel shop, which had its own signature scent!
First Aid Beauty — I keep this next to me at night to keep my skin feeling hydrated. I have used some of their other products and remain a big fan.
Aesop — This is the toner I use for my face before applying any other product.
The Maid’s Version — Set in the Missouri Ozarks this short book (164 pages) is about illicit love, class divide and a tragedy that impacts multiple generations.
Visual Diary: Los Angeles
I spent a few days in Los Angeles earlier this month. The weather wasn’t very cooperative and I got quite sick (a common occurrence when I travel), but it was a much needed break from both work and the jam-packed days at Disneyland/California Adventure.
Further Recommendations:
Santa Monica Proper Hotel | Hotel
Sidecar Doughnuts | Cafe
The Butcher, the Baker, and the Cappuccino Maker | Cafe
Onda | Restaurant
Jitlada | Restaurant
Tsujita LA | Restaurant
Pine & Crane | Restaurant
Woon | Restaurant
Hammer Museum | Museum
LACMA | Museum
ROW DTLA | Shopping
Tortoise General Store | Lifestyle
The Apartment by The Line | Lifestyle