Flashback Friday – Rough Riding in Vietnam

05 Friday Oct 2012

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On our honeymoon in 2009, Mr. Selfish and I went to Hanoi, Hue, and Saigon in Vietnam.  Vietnam is a land of motorcycles.  The roads are full of them, and there is a constant honking sound at all times.  We quickly learned that honking is not to indicate that something has gone wrong but rather it is to indicate one’s presence.  In other words, a honk is equivalent to “hello, I’m riding here.”  It was definitely something we had to get used to.

In any case, one of our favorite past times was finding interesting items being hauled on motorcycles.  We saw whole families, kegs, ducks, and chickens.  We also found a huge live pig on its back, but we didn’t get the camera out in time to capture it.

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Day Trips from Paris

04 Thursday Oct 2012

Posted by in Europe, France, Paris

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Mr. Selfish and I are currently loving our little apartment in Paris.  But as is our nature, we want to do a few day trips from Paris while we are here.  Do you have any suggestions for us?  We’re currently looking at the following possibilities:

1.  Versailles – In 1682, Louis XIV moved from Paris to the Palace at Versailles.  It is opulent and beautiful.  The last time I went, it was the middle of winter, so none of the fountains were turned on and the gardens were mostly brown.  I want to experience Versailles in the autumn.

2.  Giverny is where Monet painted his water lillies.  Monet moved to Giverny in 1883 with his family, including his second wife and 8 children, living and painting there until his death in 1926.

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Edinburgh Food – Haggis and More

03 Wednesday Oct 2012

Posted by in Edinburgh, Europe, Food & Drinks, United Kingdom

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Mr. Selfish and I had heard horror stories about haggis, so we knew that we had to try it. Haggis is the national dish of Scotland.  It is prepared from sheep’s parts (heart, liver and lungs) and minced with onion, oatmeal, suet, spices, and salt.  Although traditionally it is encased in the animal’s stomach, it is now typically encased in sausage casing.

We first tried Haggis at Nicholson’s, a traditional Scottish pub, located in Haymarket.  It was served traditionally here – with neeps and tatties (mashed turnip and potatoes).  It was quite yummy.  We also got the sausage and mash in case we didn’t like the haggis.  Fortunately, we enjoyed both.

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Edinburgh – Walking Tour, the Scott Memorial, and the National Museum of Scotland

02 Tuesday Oct 2012

Posted by in Edinburgh, Europe, United Kingdom

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Mr. Selfish and I did a self-guided walking tour of Edinburgh.  We started at the Royal Mile, which is a picturesque shopping street.  Then, we visited St. Giles Cathedral and walked toward the Greyfriars Kirkyard, which is an old graveyard.  We also passed the statue of Greyfriars Bobby, which is a loyal dog who famously guarded his master’s grave for 13 years.

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Edinburgh – The Castle and Arthur’s Seat

01 Monday Oct 2012

Posted by in Edinburgh, Europe, United Kingdom

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Mr. Selfish and I spent a short two days in Edinburgh, Scotland.  It was a lovely city, and the Scottish are quite friendly!  We enjoyed our short stay immensely and vow to return to tour the Highlands.

We started at Edinburgh Castle.  You can walk in the gardens and enjoy the views from afar, which are lovely.

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Hello Paris!

30 Sunday Sep 2012

Posted by in Accommodations, Europe, Food & Drinks, France, Paris

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Mr. Selfish and I arrived in the City of Lights last night.  We are staying here for a glorious six weeks.  Although our apartment in Montmarte is quite small, we have two balconies and one of them has a wonderful view of the Sacre Coeur.  We moved in as the sun was setting…

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Other Bargains and Deals in London

29 Saturday Sep 2012

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Mr. Selfish and I are all about the bargains and deals, especially when you’re in an expensive city like London.  I’ve already gone over the 2 for 1 deals, as well as the free parks, museums, and markets available for lounging, learning, and browsing in London.

1.  Shakespeare Globe Theatre – You can buy tickets to any show for 5 pounds.  Mr. Selfish and I watched “Taming of the Shrew.”  For a 5 pounds ticket, you have to stand in the Yard for the entire performance and are subject to the elements since it is uncovered.  But hey, it’s 5 pounds.  What other performance can you see for 5 pounds in London?  Not much.

Aside from the standing and being subject to the elements, the view from the Yard is the best in the Globe.  You can see everything clearly and the actors direct their voices toward you.  Another plus is that you can bring in food and drinks (in plastic containers) to enjoy during the performance.  It’s a bargain at 5 pounds!

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Flashback Friday – Adjusting to the Elevation in Cusco

28 Friday Sep 2012

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Mr. Selfish and I visited Machu Picchu in September 2011.  Because Machu Picchu is at about 8,000 feet elevation, it is recommended that visitors acclimate to the elevation in Cusco, Peru prior to visiting Machu Picchu.  Cusco’s elevation is approximately 10,000 feet.  We therefore stayed in Cusco for the recommended three days prior to venturing to Machu Picchu.

Cusco is a lovely town in which to take it easy and learn to acclimate to the elevation.  You can just walk around and enjoy the beautiful architecture.  There is also a market selling a variety of goods and different types of foods.  Moreover, the ladies in their bowler hats and llamas were quite charming.

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Searching for the Best Curry in London

27 Thursday Sep 2012

Posted by in Europe, Food & Drinks, London, Searching for the Best . . ., United Kingdom

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Mr. Selfish and I enjoy a good curry.  Unfortunately, we didn’t have enough time to stop in India on this trip.  We decided to search for the ultimate curry in the next best location – London.

1.  Lahore Kebab House is a restaurant off of Brick Lane, and no, it is not just a kebab house.  My little cousin, Mr. Selfish, and I had samosas for an appetizer and then enjoyed the Bindi Lamb and the Chicken Tikki Masala as our entrees.  The spiciness was just right but I typically like my curry to be a little on the spicier side.  The naan was also perfectly cooked, and they even let us into the kitchen to show us how the naan was cooked.

Verdict:  The best naan I’ve had yet, and the bindi lamb was spiced just right.

Score:  8.5

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England Has Trashy Beaches Too – Brighton

26 Wednesday Sep 2012

Posted by in Europe, London, United Kingdom

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Mr. Selfish hadn’t traveled much around England, so he was happy to do most day trips.  However, I had done quite a few day trips, so I wanted to go somewhere I hadn’t been before.  I discovered that Brighton was a beach town that was only about an hour train ride from London.  Mr. Selfish saw the photos and was skeptical.  He’s not much of a beach guy and always claim that beach towns are trashy.  I convinced him to go anyway, but unfortunately, this time – he was right.

Oddly, Brighton doesn’t have sand but has pebbles instead.  I couldn’t imagine actually lying on the pebbles but people were doing it.  They were also pretty drunk so that may have been a contributing factor.

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2 for 1 Deals in London

25 Tuesday Sep 2012

Posted by in Europe, London, United Kingdom

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The Days Out Guide provide some great 2 for 1 deals in London. All you have to do is print a 2 for 1 voucher, buy the ticket to the attraction at the site (as opposed to online), and enjoy your savings.  But be sure to read the fine print.  In order to retrieve the 2 for 1 voucher, you are supposed to show that you have used some kind of public transportation in London.

During the Olympics, there were 2 for 1 deals with the Oyster card, which is used for bulk travel on the Underground.  All you had to do was print a 2 for 1 voucher and show your Oyster card when you purchased the tickets for the attraction, and voila, you received two tickets for the price of one!  One attraction we used a 2 for 1 voucher for was the London Eye.

We heard that the lines for the Eye could be dreadful so we showed up when it opened at 10am.  It was a beautiful clear day, and surprisingly, the lines weren’t so bad.  The total experience took about 50 minutes with 30 minutes on the actual Eye itself (so 10 minutes for the line to buy tickets and 10 minutes for the line to get on the Eye).

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Scones in London

24 Monday Sep 2012

Posted by in Europe, Food & Drinks, London, United Kingdom

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Mr. Selfish and I went on a hunt for delicious scones in London.  In the States, I always think of scones as overly sweet and dense.  However, in London, they are as they should be – flaky and delicate.  Unlike biscuits, which are made with animal fat or shortening, scones rely on cold butter for their texture.

Mr. Selfish and I have enjoyed many cream teas in order to rejuvenate in the afternoon.  Cream tea consists of combination of scones, clotted cream, and jam. Therefore, the key to eating the scones is to lather them in clotted cream and jam. Mmmmm…here are some of our favorite scones in London:

1.  Yumchaa – We tried three different scones here – (1) date, fig, and pistachio, (2) smoked cheddar and chive, and (3) feta cheese and olive.  Although the savory scones were different, I preferred the traditional sweet one.  I like Yumchaa scones because they have a different more crumbly texture than the other scones we sampled in London.  Also, they toast the scones in a panini maker.  Another bonus is that Yumchaa has an extensive tea selection.  Mr. Selfish and I tried the Chelsea Chai and the Chilli Chilli Bang Bang.  Both were delicious and the flavor was just right – not overwhelming.

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Day Trip to Arundel Castle

23 Sunday Sep 2012

Posted by in Europe, London, United Kingdom

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Mr. Selfish and I wanted to take a day trip to a castle that wasn’t too popular.  After some searching online, I came across Arundel Castle, which is about an hour and a half by train from London.  The castle was founded on Christmas Day in 1067. Beginning in 1787, serious renovations on the castle began, and in 1846, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert visited Arundel and stayed at the castle.  It was recently used in the filming of “Young Victoria” starring Emily Blunt, whom I adore.

We took a tour of the inside of the castle, including the Keep.  No photography was allowed inside the castle, which has been magnificently restored, but we were allowed to take photographs of the Keep.

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Highgate Village Food and Drinks

22 Saturday Sep 2012

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On those days that Mr. Selfish and I stay in Highgate Village, we have sampled the food and drink in the area.  The following are our favorite pub, tea room, and coffee shop in Highgate:

The Flask – About a one-minute walk from our flat is the Flask, our local pub.  Not only is there free wi-fi but there is delicious beer and yummy fish and chips.  I can’t get enough of their mushy peas!

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Flashback Friday – The Best of Brussels

21 Friday Sep 2012

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In May 2010, Mr. Selfish and I went to Brussels with our two good friends, Mike and Tini.  We didn’t spend that long in Brussels to really take it in, but here are my thoughts on what is the best of Brussels:

1.  Chocolate – It’s everywhere, and the quality is amazing.  I guess the standards in the U.S. concerning cacao content being lax are true.  The chocolate in Brussels was rich and dark – just the way I like it.  Plus, the hot chocolate is pure melted chocolate – not that horrible powder stuff.

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