April 12th, 2012 { 0 responses }
The fringes of my scarf whip around my head as I pull my collar up around my ears. A cold gust of air presses the edge of my coat against my legs. The bright sky hints at the oncoming season but the chill still seeps into my skin. It’s the kind of day that calls for lingering over a steaming bowl and the rich and spicy pork bone soup for two at Seoul Restaurant fulfills that craving perfectly.
March 27th, 2012 { 2 comments }
Soft hills, tall pines, a glassy lake and locals outfitted in faux fur rimmed coats, it’s another world at the top of Vietnam. The winding roads are silent for stretches of time, my presence is hardly acknowledged by people going about their days, and even the few moto-men puttering around barely make an effort to convince me to take a ride. It is serene, it is surreal. Dalat’s reputation as a tourist trap confounds me. The tourist guidebooks push restaurants with Western food, the lake is fake, and the kitsch activities are available everywhere, but the locals seem willing to let me blend into the crowd. I wander more slowly, pause more frequently, and venture a little deeper into the nooks and crannies of the city. I find a surprise in the steps.
March 20th, 2012 { 0 responses }
The chill had just begun to settle into my skin as I pushed open the white windowed doors of The Gabardine. Soft light pours over me while I weave through a second set and make a sharp turn to sidle past the striking marble topped bar and into the main space outfitted with panelled walls and a sparkling tin ceiling. I scan the small room looking for my friends and they’re tucked into the banqueted nook where I was expecting them to be. They’re just getting into drink orders as I squeeze myself into a chair at the end of the table and peel a couple layers off in the warm room. Taking my time to decide, plates settle onto the table as part of an apology for not tracking our reservation correctly. It’s the Deep Fried Beer Cheese Croquettes with Maple Mustard. They’re completely forgiven.
