Wien Weekend Tip: Neubaugasse Flohmarkt!

Posted on September 26, 2014 by Ody

If you’re free and in Vienna this weekend, go out and visit the Neubaugasse Flohmarkt! To me, Neubaugasse is like the hip younger sister of the main shopping street Mariahilferstrasse. Home to some of my usual haunts like Femosa, a store with the cutest stationery and home ware, salons Hauptsache and Yuki Tuyet Beauty Salon, the entire street turns into a huge fleamarket. It’s the most eclectic and colorful mix of old and new stuff at discounted prices.

Wear comfortable shoes – it’s a long street!

Neubaugasse Flohmarkt
September 26 – 27, 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM

the windows and doors of Graz

Posted on September 23, 2014 by Ody

I can’t believe it’s been almost a month since I went on a day trip to Graz. Although I’ve never been, I heard and read that Graz, the second-largest city in Austria, is beautiful and charming (probably even more than Linz) and is a city of culinary delights. Not only was I impressed by the weather (a coincidence, I know, but Vienna’s summer ended really early and the sun has not been around for a while), the food, and the architecture, I was totally enchanted by its courtyards and the windows and doors. So beautiful.

What details do you notice and love when you’re traveling?

Sunday Song of the Day – Classic {The Knocks}

Posted on September 21, 2014 by Ody

Donauinselfest, James Morrison concert, June 2012

Flashback Friday: London Aquarium + ZSL London Zoo

Posted on September 19, 2014 by Ody

If you’re in London, love marine life, like the movie Closer, and/or have a bit of time to spare, I highly recommend going to the Sea Life London Aquarium.

If you love exotic animals, ZSL London Zoo is the place to go.

Thursday Inspiration – Istanbul

Posted on September 18, 2014 by Ody

Spice Market, Istanbul
April 2009

Wednesday Wishlist

Posted on September 17, 2014 by Ody

It’s Wednesday, yay! When? Huh? What day? Time to visualize my dream shopping list…

{ 1 } Scrubba portable wash bag – Perfect for long trips and camping, Scurbba is the world’s smallest washing machine. There are only six steps to washing your clothes while traveling, camping or on cruises. Nifty.

{ 2 } Flight 001 Nothing to Declare tote bag – Hi, I’m Ody and I have too many tote bags. I shouldn’t be getting more, but this one is totes cool (pun intended).

{ 3 } Photojojo Pocket Spotlight – Though I tote my camera with me all day when I travel, I actually leave it when I’m just going out to have dinner and drinks. With a smaller, lighter bag in tow, I’d take all my food photos and look-I’m-out-at-night pics with my smart phone, only to look through my gallery of either dark and grainy or too bright and alien-eyed photos that aren’t instagrammable at all! (What horror, right?) This Pocket Spotlight seems to solve that issue.

{ 4 } Dr. Martens Coralie boot – I saw these quilted Docs at Steffl a few weeks ago and immediately fell in love with them. I have already confessed my love for Doc Martens here, and I already own a few pairs, but the quilt on the Coralie gives the usually tough boots a bit of a chic touch. Love ’em.

No Stopovers in Athens

Posted on September 16, 2014 by Ody

I never tire of watching the changing of the guards. I admire the tradition, precision, and art that goes into into it.

Athens guards

My favorite thing about my hotel: the view of the Acropolis from the rooftop, especially at night. ❤

The Archeological Site of Olympeion, where the Temple of Olympian Zeus is located.

I can’t even describe the feeling I got when faced with the grandeur of the Acropolis. It is so beautiful (even when under construction), so grand, so historical. There’s quite a climb to get up there, but it’s so worth it.

No Stopovers visited Athens, Greece in March 2013.

Sunday Song of the Day: No Other Way ❤

Posted on September 14, 2014 by Ody

OMG this song. The beat is so chill, so summery, and Sinead Harnett‘s voice is so beautiful. Listen, listen to this well!

I took this photo eons ago during a trip to Subic, Philippines with my office friends. I remember having a lot of fun, but I don’t recall some details, like sleeping. I know we had a hotel room, but did we sleep? There’s a picture of one of my friends passed out on the floor. I remember going to the beach and walking along this boardwalk before having a nice breakfast. Eight years and a move across continents later, I find out that one of the friends I was with during this trip is the cousin of my officemate here. Small world. Anyway, I chose this picture because the vibe is very fitting, and although the song seems to be about love, it also applies to friendship.

Happy Sunday, friends!

Flashback Friday: It’s on like Donkey Kong in Hong Kong

Posted on September 12, 2014 by Ody

Let me share a few photos and notes from my Hong Kong trip in December 2011.

me and Karl on the top deck of a double decker bus

Although nothing beats the speed of MTRs, I love double decker buses because they give you a good glimpse of the city without having to board one of those expensive hop-on hop-off buses.

neon signs and bamboo scaffolding!

The colors of Hong Kong are simply stunning. Our hotel was just off Nathan Lane, which was buzzing with energy and bursting with color whether it was day or night.

Statue Square, where Pinoys like to gather on Sundays

Ging walking out of the Stanley Post Office

We took a bus to visit the Stanley Market on our last 0.5 day to discover that the Stanley area had all kinds of Stanley establishments: a police station, pet store, market and a post office, among many others.

our friendship boots! we ♥ DMs!

My DMs are my favorite footwear for travel for non-summer trips because they’re super comfortable, rain-proof (case in point: the Verona trip I haven’t blogged about yet) and photogenic. Not to mention cool.