14. Happy Halloween!

Montreal, Canada (October, 2012)

13. L'abbaye de Saint-Benoît-du-Lac

Saint-Benoît-du-Lac, Canada (October 2012)

My friend and I drove out to the Eastern Townships of Quebec and stopped by the 100-year-old Saint-Benoît-du-Lac abbey. Founded in 1912, this abbey sits atop a hill overlooking the grand Lac Memphrémagog. We were pleasantly surprised by the fall foliage and beautiful weather, as it seemed uncharacteristic for a late-October day.

12. Honolulu with Ohana

Honolulu, United States (August 2012)

After two weeks of winter in New Zealand, my sister and I warmed up in Hawaii with a full week of eating (açai bowl!), drinking, hiking, snorkeling, and surf/floating. Ok, I admit: this is not a particularly inspiring photo and it's (unintentionally) out of focus. But I blame Hawaii with its beautiful weather and general air of insouciance. In addition, these beers happen to be my first legal purchase of alcohol in the United States, so they hold a special place in my heart or uh... liver. Verdict on these "artisanal" beers? Good, although nowhere near Munich-beer status.

11. Rumtek Monastery (རུམ་ཐེག་དགོན་པ་)

Gangtok, Sikkim* (August 2012)

These monks are debating in the tradition style. Built in the 16th century, Rumtek is one of the most important sites in Tibetan Buddhism; unfortunately, it is currently highly controversial and Indian soldiers with rifles roam all around the grounds.

*Sikkim was once a kingdom and is now a special state of India that requires tourists to obtain a separate visa in addition to the India visa.

10. Marathon des Arts

Montreal, Canada (September 2012)

We ran a marathon today. Le marathon des arts at le quartier des spectacles in Montreal. It consisted of stenciling, listening to opera singers, a Harry Potter trivia game, "painting," etc. The entire marathon was conducted in French, which was good practice for my rapidly fleeting knowledge of the language. Learning the French names of Harry Potter characters was especially entertaining. Draco Malfoy = Drago Malefoy. Severus Snape = Severus Rogue???

9. Auf Wiederschauen, München

Munich, Germany (August 2012)

As if I need more reasons to love Munich... I found this at the München Flughafen as I was leaving Germany. Lufthansa had set up an artificial beach with waves and a beach shack with drinks between the first and second terminal at the Munich airport. Needless to say, I had a great time watching all the kids wipe out. My dream is to work or live in Munich. Why?

Oh, and happy Oktoberfest! May you all be drunk and jolly.

8. Marché Jean-Talon

Montreal, Canada (September 2012)

I'm not entirely certain why I have such a strong disposition to shopping at markets 3.5 miles away (versus the 5 supermarkets within 4 blocks of my apartment). Maybe it's the ritual Saturday trips to the farmer's market with my mother as a kid in California or maybe it's these beautifully-displayed baskets of fruit! Blueberries and cerises de terre are by far the best fruits one can find in Quebec (and they also happen to be my favorites). Interesting read: Is local food bad for the economy?

7. Lago di Lugano

Paradiso, Switzerland (June 2012)

This is the incredible view from our room in the Grand Eden Hotel, which was, undoubtedly, once a grande dame... The hotel's most redeeming quality is their delectable Birchermüesli, which almost makes up for the outdated hotel.

And on a completely irrelevant tangent: I just watched Sokurov's Faust and my mind is still trying to recover from the way-too-intense mindfuck.

6. Kolkata Clay

Kolkata, India (September 2012)

In the narrow alleys of this distinct neighborhood in Kolkata, hundreds of unfinished clay statues of Hindu idols fill the workshops of artists, whose creations, culminating from months of meticulous work, inevitably end up in the sacred river Ganges after the annual puja (a festival of some sort).

5. Die Berliner Mauer

Berlin, Germany (July 2012)

I should really be doing my German homework right now (a.k.a. reading Die Aufzeichnungen des Malte Laurids Brigge, which I have neglected to do all week...); alas, I am here writing a post! In early July, I visited my Berliner friend (originally from Potsdam) and she showed me a really good time in the city. After dinner at an Indian restaurant in Friedrichshain, where we made friends with some fellow Quebecois*, we made our way to the Wall just as the sun was setting. And as cliché as it is, die Mauer is definitely one of my favorite places in the city. Ok, German homework is calling...

*Neither my friend nor I am Quebecoise, but we both live[d] in Montreal.

4. Takins in Thimphu

Thimphu, Bhutan (August 2012)

The strange-looking takins are the national animal of Bhutan. We waited for a long time to see these guys, because it was pouring rain that day, and they were hiding. Takins only exist in the Eastern Himalayas and they belong to the goat-antelope subfamily Caprinae. They're surprisingly peaceful (as is the rest of this incredible Kingdom). For example, no animals are killed for meat in Bhutan, because of the strong Buddhist influence. Caveat: they import meat from India (to supply the carnivorous German tourists... just kidding).

3. Una Sorpresa a Siena

Siena, Italy (May 2012)

What other response can you have when your friend invites you to stay with her in Tuscany? I skipped out on a week of classes to join my best friend of ten years in Italy and Switzerland. We stumbled across a big group of paraders on our way out of Siena and thoroughly absorbed ourselves into the colorful festival.

2. Auckland: the City of Sails

Auckland, New Zealand (August 2012)

Interesting fact of the day: Auckland has more yachts per capita than anywhere else in the world. According to our guide and dear friend Mark, about one in six Aucklanders own a boat, hence the nickname "City of Sails." So doing as the Romans do, we went sailing on a deceivingly beautiful day, only to encounter a storm on the water... Regardless, still one of my favorite cities in the world.

1. Aloha aus Wien

Vienna, Austria (July 2012)

I took this photo for my sister, who is pretty much a Kama'aina in Hawaii at this point. I thought it was hilarious that a random Hawaiian-themed stand, serving neither Austrian nor Hawaiian food, would be in the middle of Vienna.