Some Summits Summed While I no longer travel around the United States for math competitions, I still love using arithmetic to depict my adventures. This brief post is meant to provide outdoor inspiration, and to spread awareness of random hikes and lifts from around the world. “Top of Europe” (3,454 m) Top of Vancouver, Canada… Read More
Photo Journey: The Two-Week Chronicle Of A Hungry Girl And Her Vietnamese Street Food So. How much street food can a hungry Vivian put away in fourteen days? According to my detailed Chasing Calories: Vietnam guide, it would be 47 distinct dishes and nine tropical fruits, not including the foods I ate repeatedly or did not write about. I guess the best way to start off would be with… Read More
Chasing Calories: Vietnam Vietnam is the cradle of sophisticated dishes that exude healthy colors and flavorful innovations. A general formula for a Vietnamese dish includes a serving of rice-based wraps or noodles, a tart dipping sauce or hearty bone broth, and a hand-plucked selection of raw leaves and herbs for garnish. Prices are affordable, markets stimulate all five… Read More
Backpack Costa Rica Off The Most Beaten Path This tiny country was a gorgeous start to my travels in Latin America. My first visit was also my first backpacking experience. I avoided the touristy spots and took my mother to waterfalls, jungles that ran along beaches, and cloud forests of colorful birds we had never seen before. On my second visit Marcela and I hitched… Read More
Torres Del Paine ‘O’ Circuit 2018: Top Tips For Tight Budgets With the suffocating regulations and impressive glaciers that are melting away faster than you can say “cachái?” information on the best trek of Torres del Paine National Park (TdP) is constantly evolving. I have yet to meet an individual who has been able to escape the distress and contradiction when trying to reserve campsites and buy… Read More
10 Reasons Why San Gerardo de Rivas Is My Favorite Place In Costa Rica If a pin on the map could have it all, it would be San Gerardo de Rivas. A mellow mountain town only visited by the most outdoorsy of Costa Rica‘s tourists, it offers the perfect blend of simplicity and indulgence. From easy waterfalls to trekking to wildlife to artisanal treats, everyone (and their mother) is… Read More
Cerro Chirripó Day Hike: Pulling Off 42 Kilometers In 19 Hours A 21-kilometer walk would make me the tallest thing in Costa Rica, I just had ignore the 2,200 elevation gain. To do this as a spontaneous day hike, rather than stay at the pricey base camp and obtain an entry permit, both of which had to be reserved months ahead of time, was technically possible… Read More
Whang Od’s Blessing “Hi, my name is Vivian. I come from the USA. Both of my parents are Chinese. I am 21 years old. I have no tattoos and never imagined myself getting one. I saw a photo of you one month ago, and was so fascinated by the history and culture of your art that I couldn’t… Read More
Luzon: Rice Terraces and Hanging Coffins Rural highlands meant extra good coffee and extra bad wifi. It was time to put down the phone and tune into the present. Banaue and Sagada were tucked into the Cordillera mountains, adored by Filipino couples and families for their views and cute cafes. Both towns possess UNESCO World Heritage sites. While these spots get… Read More
Cebu: A Very Southerly Circuit In 24 Hours If there’s anything a solo female traveler knows, it’s how to figure out exactly what she wants. My upcoming flight out of Cebu left me with a laundry list of adventures to seek and so little time left. And this was just the southern half of the island. Possible or not, I had one day… Read More