Travels

Travel Background

My hometown is Los Angeles and my passport is American, but I consider my community to be the world. I am really fortunate to have had the opportunities, abilities, and passion to have traveled to over 20 countries already. I credit my parents who took my around the U.S. as a kid for instilling in me an enthusiasm for traveling and to my study abroad experience in Shanghai for elevating that passion and skills to an international level. I also have a secondary interest in languages that I hope will compliment my adventures; I speak English, Mandarin, and Cantonese and know basic Spanish, Japanese, and Korean.

Why do I enjoy traveling? It’s not just because I can eat great ethnic food, take pictures of famous destinations, and recount memorable stories from abroad, though I quite enjoy doing those. Rather, it’s about the personal growth experiences along the journey, the increase in awareness of issues and cultures, the refinement of concepts and perspectives, the sense of global community with your newfound friends, and the opportunity to reflect on how all of the above fits into your beliefs, values, and life that makes traveling such an enriching and empowering experience. I believe traveling is an integral part of living a full and exciting life.

List of Previous Adventures

Austria: Vienna
Belize: Belize City, Caye Caulker
Bosnia-Herzegovina: Sarajevo
Cambodia: Siem Reap
Canada: Banff National Park, Glacier National Park, Kamloops, Kelowna, Montreal, Niagara Falls, Toronto, Thousand Islands, Vancouver, Victoria, Whistler, Yoho National Park
China: Beijing, Hangzhou, Huangshan, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Suzhou, Wuxi, Xi’an, Xitang
Costa Rica: Arenal, Monteverde, Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, San Jose, Sarapiqui River
Czech Republic: Prague
France: Alps (Italian border), Paris
Germany: Dusseldorf, Koln
Guatemala: Antigua, Flores, Guatemala City, Lake Atitlan, Tikal
Hong Kong: Hong Kong
Hungary: Budapest
Italy: Alps (French border), Florence, Rome
Japan: Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Tokyo
Macau: Macau
Malaysia: Kuala Lumpur, Penang
Mexico: Chichen Itza, Ensenada, Playa del Carmen, Rosarito, Tijuana, Tulum, Valladolid, Xel-Ha
Netherlands: Amsterdam
Singapore: Singapore
South Korea: Seoul
Spain: Barcelona, Denia, Valencia
Thailand: Bangkok
United Arab Emirates: Dubai
United Kingdom: London
United States: Albuquerque, Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Boston, Bryce Canyon, Buffalo, Cape Canaveral, Catalina, Chicago, Corning N.Y., Dallas, Daytona Beach, Delaware, East Bay, Grand Canyon, Hearst Castle, Hoover Dam, Houston, Idaho, Inland Empire C.A., Lake Havasu, Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Montana, Monterey C.A., Mystic C.T., Napa, New Jersey, New York City, Newport R.I., Ocoee River T.N., Orange County, Orlando, Philadelphia, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, Seattle, Silicon Valley, Solvang C.A., Tampa, Thousand Islands, Virginia, Washington DC, Yellowstone, Yosemite, Zion National Park
Vatican: Vatican City
Vietnam: Ha Long Bay, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City

UNESCO Heritage Sites Visited

Austria: Historic Center of Vienna
Belize: Belize Barrier Reef (Caye Caulker)
Cambodia: Angkor (Siem Reap)
Canada: Canadian Rocky National Parks (Banff and Yoho National Parks)
China: Great Wall of China (Beijing), Forbidden City (Beijing), Terracotta Army (Xi’an), Huangshan, Classical gardens of Suzhou, Summer Palace (Beijing), Temple of Heaven (Beijing), Imperial Tombs of Ming and Qing Dynasties (Beijing)
Czech Republic: Historic Center of Prague
France: Cathedral of Notre Dame (Paris), Banks of the Siene (Paris)
Guatemala: Antigua, Tikal National Park
Hungary: Budapest
Italy: Historic Center of Rome, Historic Center of Florence
Japan: Historical Monuments of Ancient Kyoto, Historical Monuments of Ancient Nara
Macau: Historic Center of Macau
Malaysia: George Town (Penang)
Mexico: Pre-Hispanic City of Chichen Itza
South Korea: Jongmyo Shrine (Seoul)
United Kingdom: Westminster Abbey (London), Westminster Palace (London)
United States: Grand Canyon National Park, Independence Hall (Philadelphia), Statue of Liberty (New York City), Yellowstone National Park, Yosemite National Park
Vatican: Vatican City

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Top Lists

What are some of my favorite places? Based on my personal experiences and preferences of the places I have visited, here are some lists by category:

Top Experiences

My top three experiences in life are studying at UCLA, studying abroad in Shanghai, and completing an around-the-world trip, but my top individual experiences would be:

1. Beijing: four-hour climb on the Great Wall of China’s Jinshanlin to Simatai sections and ziplining from the top down over a reservoir
2. New York City: speaking at the United Nations General Assembly in front of 2,000+ people including Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
3. Siem Reap: exploring / playing Tomb Raider at all the temples, taking a tuk tuk to the next one, catching a sunset at the last temple of the day, and chilling at a bar after an adventurous day
4. Beijing: experiencing globalization when I spoke in a mix of English, Chinese, and Spanish to an Equitorial Guinean-Spaniard who was studying abroad there
5. Denia: Bous a la Mar festival and watching my friend Ryan dodge a bull in a stadium
6. Los Angeles: clubbing in Hollywood, followed by late night food in Koreatown and finally a late night cruise down Wilshire. Good times.
7. Koln: Watching the Euro 2008 Germany vs. Turkey game in the streets and chanting with all the Germans when they won
8. Bryce Canyon: climbing all the way down and back up
9. Tokyo: people- and fashion-watching for hours at the Hachiko Crosswalk in Shibuya.
10. Ha Long Bay: taking a junk (boat) cruise in the bay, exploring the caves by foot and the rock formations by kayak, watching the sunset, and sleeping aboard the boat
11. Yosemite: camping and hiking in Yosemite
12. Xitang: seeing it transform from a bustling lantern-lit village by night to a sleepy, rural canal town by day
13. Sarajevo: learning about the history of this crossroads of civilizations through a walking tour led by my friend Maja
14. Macau: retracing my mom’s childhood by finding and eating at Fat Siu Lau, the restaurant that my mom fondly remembers frequenting as a kid growing up in Macau
15. Near Sacramento: White-water rafting in a river
16. Niagara Falls: getting up close to Niagara Falls on the Maid of the Mist boat
17. Penang: going on a Malaysian cuisine exploration and eating all types of dishes that I had never heard of before
18. San Francisco: walking across the Golden Gate Bridge and taking in a picturesque (and clear) San Francisco skyline
19. Tokyo: dodging speeding carts and attempting to lift a gigantic blue fin tuna at the Tsukiji Fish Market
20. Tokyo: sleeping in a Capsule Hotel next to rows of Japanese salarymen

Top Sky-level Views

1. Hong Kong: Victoria Peak
2. Florence: Piazza Michaelangelo
3. Ha Long Bay: on top of a junk at sunset
4. Kuala Lumpur: Traders Hotel Sky Bar
5. Kyoto: Kiyomizu Temple veranda
6. San Francisco: open-roof parking lots by Russian Hill
7. Siem Reap: Pre Sup temple
8. New York City: skyscrapers facing Central Park and downtown
9. Paris: Sacre d’Coeur
10. Osaka: Umeda Sky Building observatory
11. Bangkok: Westin Banyan Tree Hotel rooftop bar
12. Dusseldorf: Rheinturm
13. Las Vegas: Bellagio penthouse suite
14. Tokyo: Tokyo Tower
15. San Diego: San Diego-Coronado Bay Bridge
16. Seoul: Seoul Tower
17. East Bay: The Campanile at UC Berkeley
18. Shanghai: Cloud 9 Bar at Jin Mao Tower
18. Toronto: CN Tower
20. Koln: top of the Dom

Top Surface-level Views

1. Hong Kong: Walk of the Stars
2. Bangkok: Chao Phraya river taxi
3. San Francisco: Bay Bridge toward SF at night
4. Singapore: Esplanade
5. Shanghai: Huangpu River tour
6. Washington DC: Lincoln Memorial toward Washington Monument
7. New York City: boat to/from Statue of Liberty
8. San Diego: boat on San Diego Bay
9. Toronto: boat on Lake Ontario
10. London: along the Thames River (Westminster, Tower Hill, Southbank)

Top Open-Air Hangout Spots

1. Via Rodeo in Beverly Hills (Los Angeles)
2. Westin Banyan Tree Hotel rooftop bar (Bangkok)
3. Jardin de Luxembourg (Paris)
4. Hachiko Crosswalk in Shibuya (Tokyo)
5. Times Square stands (New York City)
6. Cafe Alonso next to the Cathedral (Sarajevo)
7. Hill by Janss Steps in the UCLA Campus (Los Angeles)
8. Golden Gate Park (San Francisco)
9. Washington Square Park (New York City)
10. Love Park / City Hall (Philadelphia)
11. Dupont Circle (Washington DC)
12. Tenryuji Temple (Kyoto)
13. Aldstadt facing the River Rhine (Dusseldorf)
14. Dolores Park (San Francisco)
15. Bar Street (Siem Reap)
16. Ryoanji rock garden (Kyoto)
17. Union Square (San Francisco)
18. Sacre d’Coeur steps (Paris)
19. Piazza Signoria (Florence)
20. Irvine Spectrum (Orange County)
21. Olympic Centennial Park (Atlanta)
22. Piazza Navona (Rome)
23. Covent Garden (London)
24. Copley Square (Boston)
25. Biergartens in Aldstadt (Koln)
26. La Plaza Reial (Barcelona)
27. Piccadilly Circus (London)
28. Leidseplein (Amsterdam)
29. Spanish Steps (Rome)
30. The Caravelle Hotel rooftop bar (Ho Chi Minh City)
31. Herald Square (New York City)
32. St. Paul’s Cathedral steps (London)

Top City Squares

1. Times Square (New York City)
2. Trafalgar Square (London)
3. Union Square (San Francisco)
4. Piazza Signoria (Florence)
5. Senado Square (Macau)
6. Piazza Navona (Rome)
7. Copley Square (Boston)
8. Dupont Circle (Washington DC)
9. Piccadilly Circus (London)
10. Statue Square in Central (Hong Kong)
11. National Mall (Washington DC)
12. Pigeon Square (Sarajevo)
13. Harvard Square (Boston)
14. La Plaza Reial (Barcelona)
15. Tiananmen Square (Beijing)
16. Leidseplein (Amsterdam)
17. Lafayette Square (Washington DC)
18. People’s Square (Shanghai)

Top Food Districts/Centers for Visitors

1. St. Mark’s Place (New York City)
2. Asakusa (Tokyo)
3. Rowland Heights (Los Angeles)
4. Kowloon (Hong Kong)
5. Koreatown (Los Angeles)
6. Berkeley (East Bay)
7. Latin Quarter (Paris)
8. Food Republic (Singapore)
9. Monterey Park / San Gabriel Valley (Los Angeles)
10. Shinjuku (Tokyo)
11. Harvard Square (Boston)
12. Bar Street (Siem Reap)
13. Gurney Street (Penang)
14. Siam Paragon (Bangkok)
15. Little Tokyo (Los Angeles)
16. Channelside (Tampa)
17. Ameyoko (Tokyo)
18. Fisherman’s Wharf (San Francisco)
19. Quincy Market (Boston)
20. Santana Row (Silicon Valley)
21. Xintiandi (Shanghai)
22. Mercat de Boquiera (Barcelona)
23. Ramen Street (Kyoto)
24. Myungdong (Seoul)
25. Namdaemun (Seoul)
26. Piazza Navona (Rome)
27. Borough Market (London)
28. Flushing in Queens (New York City)
29. District 1 (Ho Chi Minh City)
30. Port Olimpic (Barcelona)

Top Museums

1. The Louvre (Paris)
2. Getty Museum (Los Angeles)
3. 798 Arts District (Beijing)
4. The Smithsonian museums (Washington DC)
5. California Academy of Science (San Francisco)
6. Museum of Natural History (New York City)
7. De Young Museum (San Francisco)
8. Getty Villa (Los Angeles)
9. British Museum (London)
10. Namsol Traditional Village (Seoul)
11. Van Gogh Museum (Amsterdam)
12. Los Angeles County Museum of Art (Los Angeles)
13. Rijksmuseum (Amsterdam)
14. War Remnants Museum (Ho Chi Minh City)
15. California Science Center (Los Angeles)
16. El De Gestapo Museum (Koln)
17. Museum of Tolerance (Los Angeles)
18. Ho Chi Minh City Museum (Ho Chi Minh City)
19. Corning Museum (Corning N.Y.)
20. “Hanoi Hilton” (Hanoi)
21. Landmine Museum (Siem Reap)

Top Historical Places

1. Great Wall of China (Beijing)
2. Temples of Angkor (Siem Reap)
3. City of Sarajevo
4. Anne Frank House (Amsterdam)
5. Breakers Mansion (Newport R.I.)
6. Summer Palace (Beijing)
7. Forbidden City (Beijing)
8. Roman ruins (Rome)
9. City of Xi’an
10. Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka streets (Kyoto)
11. Gyungbokgung (Seoul)
12. Tower of London (London)
13. Terracotta Army (Xi’an)
14. Colonial Boston
15. City of Washington D.C.
16. Reunification Palace (Ho Chi Minh City)
17. Osaka Castle (Osaka)
18. Ruins of St. Paul’s Cathedral (Macau)
19. Kinkakuji (Kyoto)
20. Colosseum (Rome)

Top Spiritual Sites

1. Kiyomizu Temple (Kyoto)
2. Wat Phra Kaew (Bangkok)
3. Dom (Koln)
4. Fushimi Inari Shrine (Kyoto)
5. Westminster Abbey (London)
6. Sacre d’Coeur (Paris)
7. Ryoanji (Kyoto)
8. Tenryuji (Kyoto)
8. Senjosi Temple in Asakusa (Tokyo)
9. Duomo (Florence)
10. St. Peter’s Basilica (Vatican City)
11. Notre Dame (Paris)
12. Meiji Shrine (Tokyo)
13. Wat Pho (Bangkok)
14. Hsi Lai Temple (Los Angeles)
15. La Sagrada Familia (Barcelona)
16. Cathedral of Valencia (Valencia)
17. Notre Dame (Ho Chi Minh City)
18. Jongmyo Shrine (Seoul)
19. Trinity Church (New York City)
20. St. Joseph’s Cathedral (Hanoi)

Top Natural Sites & Parks

1. Ha Long Bay
2. Yosemite
3. Bryce Canyon
4. Huangshan
5. Niagara Falls
6. Lake Tahoe
7. Xi Hu (Hangzhou)
8. Yellowstone
9. Bamboo Grove (Kyoto)
10. Muir Woods (near San Francisco)
11. Mt. San Jacinto (Inland Empire)
12. Big Bear (Inland Empire)
13. Tai Hu (Wuxi)
14. Grand Canyon
15. Zion National Park
16. Alps (French/Italian border)
17. Cajon Pass (Inland Empire)

Top Parks and Gardens

1. Jardin du Luxembourg (Paris)
2. Imperial Palace East Garden (Tokyo)
3. Golden Gate Park (San Francisco)
4. Vrelo Bosna (Sarajevo)
5. Jardin du Champs de Mars (Paris)
6. Nara Deer Park (Nara)
7. Parc Guell (Barcelona)
8. Love Park (Philadelphia)
9. Humble Administrator’s Garden (Suzhou)
10. Washington Square Park (New York City)
11. Olympic Centennial Park (Atlanta)
12. Tenryuji Garden (Kyoto)
13. The Presidio (San Francisco)
14. Huntington Library in San Marino (Los Angeles)
15. Olympic Park (Beijing)
16. Osaka Park (Osaka)
17. Ueno Park (Tokyo)
18. Central Park (New York City)
19. St. James’ Park (London)
20. Dolores Park (San Francisco)
21. Bryant Park (New York City)
22. Tian Tan Park (Beijing)
23. National Mall (Washington DC)
24. Lumphini Park (Bangkok)
25. Stanley Park (Vancouver)
26. Kowloon Park (Hong Kong)
27. Kameyama Park (Kyoto)
28. Battery Park (New York City)
29. Longjin Tea Garden (Hangzhou)
30. Carbon Canyon Park in Brea (Orange County)

Top Beaches

1. Huntington Beach (Orange County)
2. Laguna Beach (Orange County)
3. Venice Beach (Los Angeles)
4. Coronado Beach (San Diego)
5. Santa Monica (Los Angeles)
6. Descanso Bay in Avalon (Catalina)
7. Barceloneta (Barcelona)
8. Siloso Beach in Sentosa (Singapore)
9. Corona del Mar (Orange County)
10. Playa de Rosarito (Rosarito)

Top Nightlife

1. Los Angeles
2. Las Vegas
3. New York City
4. Barcelona
5. Seoul
6. San Francicso
7. Singapore
8. Beijing
9. Shanghai
10. Austin
11. Siem Reap
12. Sarajevo
13. Atlanta
14. Hong Kong
15. Tokyo
16. Washington DC
17. Ho Chi Minh City

Top Shopping Places

1. Siam Paragon (Bangkok)
2. Fashion Island in Newport Beach (Orange County)
3. Irvine Spectrum (Orange County)
4. Roppongi Hills (Tokyo)
5. Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica (Los Angeles)
6. Causeway Bay (Hong Kong)
7. Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills (Los Angeles)
8. Rockefeller Center (New York City)
9. Shinjuku (Tokyo)
10. Union Square / Powell (San Francisco)
11. Orchard Road (Singapore)
12. Tsim Sha Tsui (Hong Kong)
13. Ginza (Tokyo)
14. South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa (Orange County)
15. Nanjing Road (Shanghai)
16. Herald Square (New York City)
17. Xujiahui (Shanghai)
18. Vivo City (Singapore)
19. The Strip (Las Vegas)
20. Newbury Street (Boston)
21. Ontario Mills (Inland Empire)
22. Cabazon (Inland Empire)
23. Harrods (London)
24. Wanchai (Hong Kong)
25. Xintiandi (Shanghai)
26. Shibuya (Tokyo)
27. Santana Row (Silicon Valley)
28. Barstow outlets (between Inland Empire and Las Vegas)
29. Sunway Mall (Kuala Lumpur)
30. Dongdaemun (Seoul)
31. Camarillo outlets (between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara)

Top Knockoff or Souvenir Shopping Places

1. Ladies Market in Mongkok (Hong Kong)
2. New Xiangyang Market (Shanghai)
3. Silk Street (Beijing)
4. Qipu Street (Shanghai)
5. Batu Ferringhi (Penang)
6. Old Quarter (Hanoi)
7. Panjiayuan (Beijing)

Top Zoos/Aquariums

1. Seaworld (San Diego)
2. Monterey Bay Aquarium (Monterey C.A.)
3. Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach (Los Angeles)
4. Singapore Zoo (Singapore)
5. San Diego Zoo (San Diego)
6. Snake Farm (Bangkok)
7. Los Angeles Zoo (Los Angeles)
8. San Francisco Zoo (San Francisco)
9. Wild Animal Park (San Diego)

Most Diverse Cityscapes

1. Tokyo
2. London
3. New York City
4. Xi’an
5. Los Angeles
6. Sarajevo
7. Paris
8. Rome
9. San Francisco
10. Bangkok
11. Kyoto
12. Hong Kong
13. Macau
14. Shanghai
15. Boston

Top Public Transportation

1. Hong Kong
2. London
3. Singapore
4. San Francisco
5. Seoul
6. Tokyo
7. Bangkok
8. New York City
9. Paris
10. Boston
11. Washington DC
12. Philadelphia
13. Atlanta
14. Kyoto
15. Amsterdam
16. Koln
17. Beijing
18. Barcelona
19. Shanghai
20. Rome
21. Sarajevo
22. Los Angeles
23. Dallas

Top Walking Cities

1. Florence
2. Sarajevo
3. San Francisco
4. Hong Kong
5. New York City
6. Xi’an
7. Amsterdam
8. Koln
9. Macau
10. Tokyo
11. Washington DC
12. London
13. Las Vegas
14. Ho Chi Minh City
15. Dusseldorf

Most Charming Places

1. Florence
2. Paris
3. Pebble Beach (Monterey C.A.)
4. Laguna Beach (Orange County)
5. Ha Long Bay
6. Santa Barbara
7. Xitang
8. Breakers Mansion (Newport R.I.)
9. San Francisco
10. Getty Museum (Los Angeles)
11. Napa
12. Canals of Amsterdam
13. Getty Villa (Los Angeles)
14. Pasadena / San Marino (Los Angeles)
15. Siem Reap
16. Solvang

Top Stadiums/Fields

1. AT&T Park (San Francisco)
2. Beijing National Stadium “Birds Nest” (Beijing)
3. Beijing National Aquatics Center “Water Cube” (Beijing)
4. Rose Bowl in Pasadena (Los Angeles)
5. Staples Center (Los Angeles)
6. Pauley Pavilion at UCLA (Los Angeles)
7. Coliseum (Los Angeles)
8. Memorial Stadium in Berkeley (East Bay)
9. Angel Stadium in Anaheim (Orange County)
10. Daytona Speedway (Daytona Beach)
11. Madison Square Garden (New York City)
12. Fenway Park (Boston)
13. Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum (East Bay)
14. Long Beach Pyramid (Los Angeles)
15. Oracle Arena (East Bay)
16. Santa Anita Racetrack in Arcadia (Los Angeles)

Top University Campuses

1. UCLA (Los Angeles)
2. UC Berkeley (East Bay)
3. Stanford (Silicon Valley)
4. Southern Methodist (Dallas)
5. Harvard (Boston)
6. USC (Los Angeles)
7. San Diego State (San Diego)
8. Cal Tech (Los Angeles)
9. Texas (Austin)
10. U Penn (Philadelphia)
11. UC Irvine (Orange County)
12. Yonsei (Seoul)
13. Columbia (New York City)
14. Redlands (Inland Empire)
15. NYU (New York City)
16. Fudan (Shanghai)
17. George Washington (Washington DC)
18. UCSF (San Francisco)
19. Imperial College (London)
20. LSE (London)
21. UC Davis (Sacramento area)
22. Cal Poly Pomona (Los Angeles)
23. Cal State Long Beach (Los Angeles)
24. Cal State Fullerton (Orange County)
25. San Jose State (Silicon Valley)
26. San Francisco State (San Francisco)
27. MIT (Boston)
28. University of Houston (Houston)
29. East China Normal University (Shanghai)
30. Thammasat (Bangkok)
31. CUHK (Hong Kong)
32. Hong Kong Polytechnic (Hong Kong)

*Note: list does not include community colleges or specialty schools since they are not universities, but some of them have beautiful campuses

Top Airports

1. Singapore Changi
2. London – Heathrow
3. Dubai
4. Hong Kong
5. Vancouver
6. Beijing Capital
7. Tokyo – Narita
8. Seoul – Incheon
9. San Francisco
10. Amsterdam
11. San Jose (Silicon Valley)
12. Ontario (Inland Empire)
13. Orlando
14. Boston Logan
15. Siem Reap
16. Budapest
17. Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson
18. New York City – John F. Kennedy
19. Tampa
20. Denver
21. Rome
22. Austin
23. Oakland (East Bay)
24. Dallas – Love Field
25. Washington DC – Ronald Reagan
26. New York City – LaGuardia
27. Shanghai – Pudong
28. Houston – George Bush
29. Phoenix Sky Harbor
30. Las Vegas McCarran
31. Bangkok – Suvarnabhumi
32. Los Angeles
33. Dallas-Fort Worth
34. Albuquerque
35. Shanghai – Hongqiao
36. Shenzhen
37. Ho Chi Minh City
38. Penang
39. Hanoi
40. Zagreb
41. Sarajevo

Top Airlines

1. Emirates
2. All Nippon Airways
3. Virgin America
4. Korean Air
5. Air New Zealand
6. Southwest
7. Vietnam Airlines
8. Alaska
9. Malev Hungarian Airlines
10. United
11. China Eastern
12. AirTran
13. AirAsia
14. Delta