Vancouver, Canada

https://nauvillaubud.com

Barrett Ishida 5/25/18 Barrett Ishida 5/25/18

Bali: Nau Villas - An Immersive Ubud Stay

My review on Nau Villas - A relaxing Ubud getaway that seamlessly and luxuriously immerses you in the surrounding nature

An arial shot of Nau Villas Ubud in Bali

Have you ever arrived at a hotel and thought, do I really need to leave and sightsee?

Actually, I'll start from the beginning. Have you ever been on a trip and as you were headed to your hotel wondered, where the hell am I?

I was on a trip to Bali, staying in Seminyak and Ubud, and those were my first two thoughts when I arrived at Nau Villas.

We caught a taxi up from Seminyak, and after getting lost hitting a collapsed bridge, we made a turn onto an old road that was more broken rocks than road. With the car's shocks being severely tested, I looked around, saw only rice fields and thought, where are we?!

Rice fields outside of Nau Villas, Ubud, in Bali

Any and all worries disappeared after checking in.

After the lime-mint slush welcome drink and the golf cart ride down to our villa, I knew that this would be an amazing stay.

Here are 5 reasons it was:

1. Beautiful, spacious rooms

The rooms are decorated nicely - they feel luxurious yet authentic. The high ceiling made it feel even more spacious as did the big window doors that open out to the private pool deck area.

There's a Bang & Olufsen speaker if you want music as well as a nicely sized flatscreen TV.

We had room #3 (there are 10 total) which was towards the higher end of the road closer to the reception area. Even though there were rooms above and below, it almost felt like we were all alone at the resort. It's a perfect environment to kick back and relax, especially on the comfy king-sized bed.

2. Outdoor bathroom

Outdoor bathroom with shower and tub at Nau Villas Ubud, Bali

I'll admit, the outdoor bathroom took some getting used to. There aren't many cases where using the toilet, taking a shower or soaking in a bath is a "public" experience.

Once I realized that the villas are thoughtfully designed for privacy even when there are no doors or walls, I became ok being in nature when nature called.

Being able to look up at the star-filled night sky while taking a shower actually helped perfect the Bali experience. After all, it doesn't make sense to stay in the middle of rice fields only to use a small, enclosed bathroom, right?

3. Private pool area

Private pool at Nau Villas, Ubud in Bali

The private pool area was amazing. The water itself was a little too cold to be honest, but cooling off in your own pool on a hot Bali day is nothing to complain about.

With the table for two set up on the deck, we used this area to have breakfast as well as watch sunsets. The area is open with no walls, and because the pathway is below the deck, there was never anyone getting in between us and the surrounding nature.

4. Great food service

Nau Villas basically had an all-you-can-eat breakfast that they'd bring to our room and set up for us so that we could eat poolside.

There were several categories to choose from for breakfast, and you can choose something from each or just order one thing.

Drinks: 5 different coffees, 6 teas, hot chocolate and milk
Tropical fresh fruit salad
Fresh fruit juice: Watermelon, H. melon, papaya, pineapple, orange
Healthy juice: Carrot and Ginger on the Green, Spicy Ginger Pineapple, The Beetroot Sun, The Minty Cucumber
Cheese platter
Cereal
Pastries: Pancakes, waffles, toast, croissant, danish, French toast
Yogurt
Smoothie bowls: Dragon Bowl (mango, banana, dragonfruit, mixed berries, coconut milk), Be Strong (mango, banana, pineapple, coconut milk), Coconut Breeze (red dragonfruit, pineapple, banana, coconut water)
Egg dishes: 7 different styles of eggs, omelets and a condiment on the side
Indonesian dishes, breakfast salad bowl, Balinese healthy breakfast options of Loloh or Jamu Kunyit

My personal favorites were the eggs benedict, Vietnamese coffee and all of the smoothie bowls.

Poolside breakfast at Nau Villas, Ubud in Bali

5. Luxurious service

What's a resort getaway without good service, right?

Despite only opening in December 2017, 5 months before our stay, the staff operated like veterans from the time Esty, one of the receptionists, helped us with our reservation.

They were all extremely accommodating, helpful and patient. They also seemed to genuinely care about the resort - something that was obvious in the quality of service that they gave.

Convenient transportation services are available, that is, in case you want to leave.

There's a free shuttle a few times a day that transports guests to and from Ubud town, about 30 minutes away.

For about 600,000-900,000 IDR ($42-63 USD), Nau Villas also provides private, custom tours. Our driver, Kadek, who had traveled the world while previously working on a cruise ship, took us around for 2 days in which I wrote about, and explained a lot about the places we were at and about some of the local culture.

A table near the reception area available for meals or just to relax

Nau Villas was very carefully and impressively thought through.

Everything from the terraced villas to the villa design itself to the secluded dining tables makes you feel as if you are the only ones at the entire resort.

They provide an experience that seamlessly immerses you in the island's nature at almost every moment, never once feeling like you're not on a relaxing, spa-like getaway.

If you're reading this and are planning to stay in the Ubud area, consider Nau Villas. It's a fantastic deal to say the least. I had a great experience and would love to stay there again sometime.

Sunset from the private pool deck at Nau Villas in Ubud, Bali

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Barrett Ishida 5/23/18 Barrett Ishida 5/23/18

Bali: Ubud

A visit to Ubud, with its beautiful scenery and genuine people, will be an amazing and unforgettable experience.

An aerial photo of Tegalalang rice terrace in Bali

Ubud is in the uplands of Bali island and home to about 74,000 people
The area is known for its rice terraces, Hindi temples, rainforests and deeply rooted traditions
About 3 million tourists visit each year and it’s the most popular destination in Bali

As the first rice field came into view from my taxi window, I knew Ubud had some beautiful sights in store. And that it did.

Ubud, which is a couple hours north of the busier Seminyak and Kuta areas, is probably best known for its picturesque rice terraces and monkey forests. It can also be a great hub due to its location in relation to a lot of the popular sightseeing spots.

Incredibly popular with foreigners, Ubud (and Bali as a whole) actually struggles with balancing its accommodation of tourists with keeping its vast swaths of countryside undeveloped. Being from Hawaii, this isn't such an unfamiliar issue.

As our driver put it, buying cheap land and developing villas here is a good investment, he even recommended it to me, but tourists come here for the empty fields and ability to relax in nature.

We stayed at the beautiful Nau Villas, a newer getaway in one of those secluded areas and about a 30 minute ride from Ubud town.

They provided us with a private driver for about 600,000-900,000 IDR ($42-63 USD) per day, which included gas, parking and everything besides entrance fees.

Our driver, Kadek, a villa staff from nearby who began his career traveling the world while working on a cruise ship, insisted that even if we took a couple hours longer, the price would be the same because his priority was for us to have a good experience.

He was one of many locals that we encountered on the trip that showed us incredible hospitality.

We decided on splitting the majority of our exploration into two full-day trips.

Day 1

Visits to Tirta Empul Water Temple, Tegenungan waterfall, coffee tasting at Uma Pakel, and the Tegalalang rice terrace.

Tirta Empul Water Temple

Witnessing Balinese Hindus take part in ritualistic purification under the morning sun at Tirta Empul Water Temple was amazing.

Seeing them rinse themselves under the spring fountains, under all except for the last few which are in the case of a death in the family, was easily the most interesting despite this area being only one part of the temple.

Wearing a sarong (traditional skirt, required at most temples) which was given at the entrance, we explored the different areas of the temple for about 30 minutes, spending most of the time at the bath. While we didn't enter the water ourselves, it was still a fascinating and unforgettable Balinese experience.

Tegenungan waterfall

Fresh legs were gone after the Tegenungan waterfall. Getting to the falls required hiking down several flights of steep steps and of course, it's one way in, one way out. It's no wonder our driver waited in the parking area.

The river banks below the falls are separated by makeshift log and bamboo bridges, and are made for photo-taking tourists. There are photo props, a swing, some lovey dovey painted areas and "bird nests" to sit in. This type of thing tends to be at a lot of attractions around Bali.

Uma Pakel coffee tasting

Coffee and tea tasting at Uma Pakel in Ubud, Bali

"Shit coffee" as it was described to us by our funny host at Uma Pakel.

Before the trip, I had no idea about Balinese or Indonesian cuisines, but I knew about their coffee. Drinking some Kopi Luwak in Bali, was definitely on the list.

Bali is one of the prime locations for Kopi Luwak, but locals don't really drink it. Being one of the world's most expensive coffees due to the long process beginning by the civet weasel eating the best coffee cherries and then pooping them out, its cost is several times that of a normal cup of joe and hardly reasonable.

For about 49,000 IDR ($3.50 USD) per person, the tasting included about 14 different coffees and teas from ginseng coffee to lemongrass tea. A cup of smooth Kopi Luwak was only about $5 USD more. Take that, Starbucks.

Tegalalang Rice Terrace

Our afternoon ended here, and it's so easy to see why the Tegalalang rice terrace is one of Bali's more iconic spots. The curves of each rice field tier, the shades of green and 3PM afternoon sun created an amazing landscape to wander around.

While there's some noise from crowds and traffic around the edges of the rice terraces, the fields themselves were quite peaceful.

Some of the walking paths are free to explore, but others require a 10,000 IDR ($0.70 USD) per person or so fee. The rice terrace wasn't packed, but going deeper into the paid areas got us further from other tourists and the noise from the swings and cafes along the perimeter.

This was, as expected, one of the more memorable sights of the trip and would top my list if I were in town again.

Day 2

We headed further out from Ubud on the second day, stopping at the Sangeh Monkey Forest [map] before making our way to Pura Ulun Danu and Tanah Lot temples.

Sangeh Monkey Forest

If you can't tell by the big monkey statue at the park entrance, the monkeys run the forest here.

Apparently, the monkeys at Sangeh are said to be a little less aggressive than the more heavily visited forest in Ubud town. Still, as we found out, it's best to be ready to be jumped.

A park guide was nice enough to take us in, serving as a monkey snack provider, photographer and bodyguard. He did try to sell us a cheesy tourist photo at the end which we politely declined. We gave him a tip instead.

Pura Ulun Danu temple

Creatively built to give the illusion that it’s floating on water, the temple sits in a lake that happens to be inside a big crater.

The temple grounds resemble a nicely kept park, the type you'd bring some sandwiches to for a picnic.

The climate is crisp and cool, and the surrounding area is beautiful with its terraced landscapes. According to our driver, many of Bali's villas and resorts use fruits and vegetables grown in this region.

Tanah Lot temple

Weaving through traffic, we made it out to the island's west-facing shore to Tanah Lot temple. The temple is most famous for the peninsula that jets out in the ocean and the sunsets that happen behind it.

We walked the shoreline, exposed by the low tide, just before sunset. A couple thing's are for sure: Tanah Lot gets crowded with tourists and if there's anything that bridges international cultures together, it's the struggle to get the perfect picture to upload and share.

We finished off the day with the temple's Kecak dance, a ritualistic performance done around sunset. Smaller than the one at Uluwatu temple, it was still entertaining, although some members seemed to just go through the motion while others gave it their all.

Our last day was spent relaxing at the villa and getting gifts to bring home.

There were a couple of good markets selling a little Ubud to bring back. Delta Dewata on Jl. Raya Andong street [map] is the biggest with a wide selection. Be ready for an outdated checkout if you pay with card though - outdated as in they write your transaction with pen and paper outdated. The other is Pepito which is a slightly upscale, Bali version of Whole Foods.

East Bali Cashews and Vel Moriz (IG) chocolates were some good, non-coffee picks. Stay away from alcohol though, prices were ridiculously high - 1,560,000 IDR ($110 USD) Johnnie Walker Black Label high!

A rice field worker sits at the Tegalalang rice terraces in Ubud, Bali

My time in Ubud was one I will remember. In some ways, like I mentioned, it reminded me of my home in Hawaii. Ti leaves, coconuts and beaches, yes, but also an island struggling with the costs and benefits of development, foreign tourism and investments.

There was a closeness in the people that I also saw, though. We came across a few neighborhood ceremonies where everyone in the town had gathered together at their local temple. Seeing that as well as our driver's friendly interactions with so many that we came across got me realizing that at the end of the day, the people around Ubud seem to have a good grasp on what's really important in life.

Tukies Coconut Shop

If you only have one meal out in Ubud, making it Tukies ice cream may not be such a bad idea. Really. Credit to my friend Rayna for this awesome rec, Tukies' coconut ice cream was instant love. Creamy and fresh, it's probably the best I've had. We went twice, by the way, and there's no shame in admitting it.

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Barrett Ishida 5/14/18 Barrett Ishida 5/14/18

Bali: Seminyak

A resort area where tourist life often intertwines with local life.

Seminyak is an area in the southern part of Bali, just north of Kuta
The area is one of the busier areas of the island and is home to a lot of expats

Exploring local streets, markets and temples in the day before going "home" to relax in an affordable villa. If that sounds like a good trip, you’ll like Bali.

The Seminyak and Kuta areas of Bali are probably busier than you’d imagine if you’ve only seen those photos of tourists having remote beaches to themselves or swinging all alone over rice terraces. The Seminyak/Kuta/Denpasar area is clearly the city area of the island.

While Bali is known for its private villas and resorts, tourist life is not all that separate from that of the locals. Villas tend to be walled off and secluded which provides some nice peace and quiet, but one step outside and you're part of the everyday buzz there.

From the Airport

Getting from Ngurah Rai International Airport to the villa wasn’t exactly smooth. With no train or large mass transit system, there’s a group of non-meter taxi drivers that immediately swarm you for your business.

The light blue Blue Bird taxi is known to be the most legit, but I mistakenly flagged down a lookalike "Blue Biro." Tricked. We ended up paying only about $5USD more, so no real harm done other than to the ego.

The Villa

Where we stayed

We stayed at the Aksari Villa, between the main Jl Raya Legian and Jl Sunset roads. From the fresh coconut juice they gave at check-in until the time we checked out, service was great and they were keen on making sure everything was going well for us.

There are only several rooms at the villa, each with a private pool, outdoor shower and breakfast included, it was a nice little gem to wake up and come home to. They also provide transportation and more romantic services like floating breakfasts in the pool.

During the day, we explored some nearby local areas.

One stop was Pasar Taman Sari market [map] which was a short taxi ride away. This is a local market where vendors are selling things from fruits and vegetables to little knick knacks, while some are chopping up chicken (already dead!). The market isn't that big, it only takes about 10 minutes to go through.

A moped drives through Pasar Taman Sari market

Walking down Jl Raya Kerobokan street from the market, we checked out Jl Kayu Aya street, an area geared to tourists with upscale coffee shops and fashion boutiques. Prices are a little bit higher here than comparable local shops elsewhere, but there are nice spots worth stopping at like the Corner House, a coffee shop and cafe with westcoast vibes. There's also a delicious gelato shop here that I'll show below.

Like I mentioned, this part of Bali is busier than you'd probably expect. Kuta is a surf and party town full of rowdy foreigners and Seminyak is its neighbor. As one taxi driver put it, "People like to come here to do what they can't do back home."

The city is moped-first, and during rush hour, cars are bumper-to-bumper while mopeds weave in and out of every small crease their drivers can find. Definitely give yourself ample time to get to places, because most streets are one-lane only, and traffic here is no joke. The more relaxing, quieter locations tend to be outside of this area.

People in Bali are quite nice. They're generally laid back and many of them like to engage in conversation, especially the taxi drivers. Most of the people that we encountered displayed great hospitality and tried to show us a good time.

The only grouch we came across was the ticket person at Uluwatu Temple who got mad because we didn't have the exact amount of cash for tickets and needed change.

Uluwatu Temple

Getting to places like Uluwatu Temple can be done by taxi or by asking hotel staff to schedule transportation.

From the Aksari Villa, we had a taxi driver drive us in traffic for about 2 hours to Uluwatu temple and back again. He even patiently waited for us at the temple. This is normal for them to do and you'll see a lot of drivers hanging around outside popular tourist destinations.

Uluwatu Temple at sunset is an absolute must. The area hangs beautifully over a large cliff overlooking the Indian Ocean and it made me realize instantly why Bali sunsets are famous.

The Kecak dance performance done on the temple grounds is really popular, but we missed the entrance due to traffic and only could catch glimpses of it from the outside. The chants, however, filled the air as the sun went down.

Seminyak is a great first stop for Bali travels. The two nights that we spent there helped us get acclimated and provided a launching pad to our next stop: Ubud.

We also had some great food in Seminyak, and I'd highly recommend a few spots to anyone who visits the area.

Warung Babi Guling Pak Malen

Wow. What. Is. This. That was the reaction in my head when I started eating this suckling pig, or babi guling.

Traditionally for ceremonial events, babi guling is now mainstream and consists of different parts of the outdoor-roasted pig, along with mixes of spices (sambal) that become a sort of salsa.

Pak Malen's was hands down the best I ate in Bali. It's a hectic, local-like spot that is absolutely a must-go. Even the soup, which my amateur tongue said "chicken noodle soup with curry," was amazing.

http://babi-guling-pak-malen.business.site
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Bambu

Even nicer than expected. Bambu's often on foreign residents' Bali guides and I can see why. The setting was beautiful with tables right above koi-filled water, and food was good.

Favorites included the Bebek Betutu (slow roast duck with galangal and lemongrass, toasted coconut and green bean salad) and Udang Tim Ketumbar (Steamed prawn and glass noodles in banana leaf with coconut and coriander). While the portions were small, the entire dinner for 2 was only about $90 USD.

http://bamburestaurant.business.site
TripAdvisor

Gelato Factory

"Gelato is always a good idea." That's on the Gelato Factory's wall and it's easy to see why.

This was a nice find on Jl Kayu Aya street, an area geared to westerners and tourists. Yes, the wall decor, hanging lights and customers' Instagram posts in wood frames are cute, but the Gelato Factory backs up the show - they serve around 30 flavors of some fantastic gelato. And they're not just tasty and refreshing, they're made from local, natural ingredients and the shop even works hard to keep them all healthy.

http://gelatofactorybali.com
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Barrett Ishida 4/21/18 Barrett Ishida 4/21/18

Singapore

Very international, Singapore is full of culture, food and architecture to explore.

If there’s a central meeting place for the East and West, it just might be Singapore.

I visited Singapore a couple times for work but managed to make sure I fit in some exploration, mostly during the evenings as you will see. I really didn’t know what to expect as I only had the stereotypical images in my mind: Strict rules and all about business.

To cut to the chase, Singapore’s great for a short trip.

From its modern, waterfront skyline to its character slash culture-rich local streets and alleys, you can get a pretty broad experience in a really small space.

Singapore isn’t that big. A 30 minute Uber or taxi ride will get you to most places, yet you come across an easily visible range of architecture, languages and cultures. It does, after all, take up only about 2/3 the space that New York City does, but it has 4 official languages.

What does a mix of cultures often mean? Good food.

A lot of countries boast about their food, but Singapore’s actually backs up the talk. I wouldn’t call myself an adventurous eater, but basically everything I had there made me want more. If you're lost, a good place to start are food courts like La Pau Sat or the Maxwell Food Centre. (Skip to the bottom if you just want to see food stuff)

I’d also like to add that Singapore’s Cup Noodle flavors - chili crab and black pepper crab - are amazing. I cleared a 7-11 shelf before flying out, no joke.

Singapore did turn out to be quite an international business hub, and I’d love for another trip there. After meeting with the Singapore Tourism Board and Singapore Art Museum staff though, I learned that they are making sincere efforts to show that they’re more than simply a business destination.

One example of this is their Formula One race through the city. They also have Gardens by the Bay.

Waterfall at the Gardens by the Bay's Cloud Forest

Gardens by the Bay is a big nature park and visually, it’s impressive. It features various different attractions but two of the most popular are the Flower Dome and Cloud Forest - atrium-like enclosures that when you walk through, it feels like you’re being transported to another land.

Their Supertree Grove is another popular sight. More than a colorfully illuminated installation that sometimes does light shows, it also harvests solar energy and is used as part of the ventilation system of this environmentally friendly park.

The Supertree Grove at Gardens by the Bay with Marina Bay Sands in the background

One thing noticeable in Singapore is how photogenic its buildings are, and not just in the Marina Bay area.

A lot of the architecture, from business towers to public housing, is symmetrical with leading lines, contrasting windows and halls, and splashes of color accents. In other parts of the city, buildings were painted in vibrant color combinations and ethnic patterns.

Esplanade Bridge at the mouth of the Singapore River

As someone who enjoys urban photography, it’s an amazing place to wander and take snapshots of and I only wish I had more time to do just that. Here’s to hoping I’ll be visiting sometime again.

There is a Singaporean photographer I met who really captures the lines and angles of Singapore's urban landscapes, Yafiq Yusman. Check out his Instagram: @_yafiqyusman_

A boat streaks by the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore

Singapore has a lot of nice restaurants and bars, and being the international place that it is, some of them reminded me of places you'd find in cities like Los Angeles.

Here were some of the spots that I enjoyed:

Palm Beach Seafood - An award winning restaurant with outdoor deck seats looking out at Marina Bay Sands that's best known for their chili crab
TAP - An craft beer bar in the theater part of the Capitol Piazza
Wine Connection - A trendy spot to get a group together for wine and tapas after work
District 10 - An American-esque happy hour spot with a buy 1 get 1 free drink deal
Hillman Restaurant - Good family-style Chinese
The Projector - In the backside parking lot area, there's a cool little rooftop bar for casual hangouts

But if I'm lucky enough to make it back to Singapore again, these would be at the top of my list.

Jumbo

While the difference was ever so slight compared to places like Palm Beach Seafood, I found Jumbo's chili crab to be my favorite. It had a nice balance of spicy and sweet, and the sauce is great over their fried rice. Their black pepper crab had more of a flavor kick and was just as amazing. Every dish that we had was really tasty. The restaurant is quite big and with decent service. If you're in Singapore, chili crab is a must, and you can't go wrong with Jumbo.

https://www.jumboseafood.com.sg
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River South Hoe Nam Prawn Noodle House

A fantastic recommendation by our Airbnb host, "Tangoh." This street-side, open-air eatery is extremely causal but wow, their prawn noodles were amazing and blew away my expectations. Their broth, made from boiling pig tail and prawn soup stock for several hours, results in a spicy, flavorful punch to the tastebuds. It may not be the most photogenic dish, but boy does its taste make up for it.

http://www.riversouthprawnnoodleshouse.sg
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Barrett Ishida 3/24/18 Barrett Ishida 3/24/18

Tokyo: Best Cherry Blossom Spots

Must-see cherry blossom locations around Tokyo - popular spots, lesser known areas and one that’s only open for 3 hours.

Cherry blossoms over the Meguro river in Nakameguro, Tokyo

While Tokyo is more or less a concrete jungle, there are some gorgeous cherry blossom, or sakura, spots check out.

Here’s a concise list of my favorites that I’d recommend - From really popular spots to ones that crowds haven’t yet begun to flood, and one that is only open for 3 hours a year (yes, you read that right).

For more travels in Japan ⇀

Meguro River at Nakameguro

Cherry blossom tunnel in the evening over the Meguro River - [BUY PRINT] — Cherry blossom tunnel in the evening over the Meguro River - [**BUY PRINT**]

The Naka-Meguro area of the Meguro River is a cherry blossom tunnel made up of about 800 trees that span an almost 2.4 mile (4 km) area.

Both day and night are really different experiences. The daytime is a bit calmer with people going for a stroll under the flowers. Evenings on the other hand, become somewhat of a light-up festival with pink lanterns, food stands with outdoor eating and drinking, and illuminated trees that are lit until 9PM.

STATION: Naka-Meguro
TRAINS: Hibiya line, Tokyu Toyoko line
MAP

Tokyo Midtown

On the side and in the back of Tokyo Midtown, a multi-purpose, upscale shopping area in Roppongi, is Sakura-dori, a street lined with cherry blossoms.

Evenings are the most popular time to visit as the trees are illuminated to create a peaceful sakura getaway in the middle of Tokyo. The lights are a pink color while the flowers are blooming and become white once they've reached full bloom.

The area is also heavily visited during the day as crowds wait to enter Midtown at its 11AM opening so they can rush for a balcony seat at Napule [J], an Italian restaurant that sits right above the cherry blossom-lined street.

STATIONS: Roppongi, Nogizaka
TRAINS: Oedo line, Hibiya line, Chiyoda line
MAP

Ark Hills

This location is oddly left off a lot of lists on major blogs, websites and YouTube videos for some reason, but it definitely shouldn’t be. For those looking for picturesque cherry blossoms without a crowd, this might be the best spot in Tokyo.

Above Roppongi-itchome station is the Ark Hills business area. During cherry blossom season, they have a little sakura festival in their open space with food and drink stands and the streets around the buildings are lined with about 150 cherry blossom trees.

STATION: Roppongi-itchome
TRAIN: Namboku line
MAP

Nogawa

This part of the No River is beautifully lined with cherry blossoms draping over it. While it’s open to the public at all times, the real spectacle is their evening light-up that spans 930 yards (850 meters) - but there’s a catch.

There is no schedule for it. This light-up is only announced 2 days prior to the actual event in places like the Japanese website below (you’ll have to keep checking it and running Google Translate over it) and is held for 3 hours on one evening only.

It’s about a 15-20 minute walk from Kokuryo station on the Keio line.

STATION: Kokuryo
TRAIN: Keio line
http://www.arc-system.co.jp/archive [J]
MAP

Nihonbashi - Kayabacho

A tunnel of cherry blossoms in the Kayabacho area of Nihonbashi, Tokyo - [BUY PRINT] — A tunnel of cherry blossoms in the Kayabacho area of Nihonbashi, Tokyo - [**BUY PRINT**]

The Kayabacho area of Nihonbashi is Tokyo’s cherry blossoms in the most natural state for a city. It’s not in a park or garden, it’s not in some development, it simply creates a tunnel in a typical Tokyo neighborhood.

People simply go about their business here. It’s not overcrowded with people, it’s just typical scenes of life in the big city under a few blocks of cherry blossoms.

STATION: Kayabacho, Nihonbashi
TRAINS: Hibiya Line, Tozai Line, Ginza Line, Asakusa Line
MAP

Ueno Park

One of Tokyo’s biggest parks, Ueno park has cherry blossom trees everywhere - about 800 of them - and during the season, you’ll find a lot of picnickers taking part in “hanami,” or cherry blossom viewing. It's a good place to join in on the fun with a mat and some food and drinks of your own.

There is one main walkway that is fully covered with the sakura trees, as well as around the Shinobazunoike pond [MAP] area a little south of it. You’ll find a lot of park-goers riding foot paddle boats on the lake, enjoying the season as well.

STATION: Ueno
TRAINS: Yamanote line, Ginza line, Hibiya line, Keihin-Tohoku line, Utsunomiya line, Joban line and more
MAP

Chidorigafuchi

On the northwest corner of the Imperial Palace grounds, the Chidorigafuchi area is full of cherry blossoms lining the moat's banks.

A tunnel of about 260 trees covers a walkway that runs alongside the moat, where people enjoy rowing around the blossoms in small boats during the day.

STATION: Kudanshita
TRAINS: Hanzomon line, Shinjuku line, Tozai line
MAP

Nakano

2 km of cherry blossoms line the streets of Nakano, making for a nice walk. The area holds a festival on the weekend during the season at Arai Yakushi Park [MAP] which is along the cherry blossom lined Nakano-dori Ave.

This is also a photo spot since the Seibu Shinjuku railway passes through, and its occasional yellow-colored train cars add a nice contrast to the pinkish-white flowers.

STATIONS: JR Nakano, Araiyakushi-Mae
TRAINS: Chuo Line, Sobu Line, Tozai Line, Seibu Shinjuku Line
MAP

Sakuragaokacho, Shibuya

A taxi passes through the tunnel of cherry blossoms at Sakuragaokacho in Shibuya

On the opposite side of central Shibuya is a side street with a tunnel of cherry blossoms. Its name, Sakuragaokacho even references the cherry blossoms or sakura in Japanese, and that name continues to be make perfect sense today.

You can take some nice shots from either on the side of the street itself, or across the intersection at the stairway to the pedestrian overpass.

STATION: Shibuya
TRAINS: Yamanote line, Ginza line, Hanzomon line, Keio-Inokashira line, Saikyo line, Tokyu-Toyoko line, Shonan-Shinjuku line, Tokyo Den-entoshi line and more
MAP

Koishikawa Korakuen

One of three surviving daimyo gardens in Tokyo leftover from the Edo period, Koishikawa Korakuen has been designated as culturally significant by the Japanese government. History aside, it’s a beautiful garden and the flowers during cherry blossom season further emphasizes that.

It’s a private garden, so visitors have to pay 300 yen to get in. You can grab a bento and sit under the trees for lunch, which makes for a pleasant afternoon.

STATIONS: Iidabashi, Korakuen
TRAIN: Chuo line, Chuo-Sobu line, Namboku line, Oedo line, Yurakucho line, Tozai line, Marunouchi line
https://www.tokyo-park.or.jp/
MAP

Shimotakaido

One of the lesser known areas that isn’t so frequently visited for cherry blossoms is Shimotakaido, a local area along the Keio train line. Near Nihon University, there’s an area of the street with a pretty long tunnel of sakura.

In the spring when the blossoms are bloomed, there’s a small cherry blossom festival with food and drink vendors lined along the street.

STATION: Shimotakaido
TRAIN: Keio line
MAP

About Shimotakaido →

Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden

Cherry blossoms hanging near a lake in Shinjuku Gyoen Park

In the Shinjuku area is Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, a large 143-acre park with various gardens, lakes and a greenhouse. It’s considered to be one of the most important gardens from the Meiji era.

The park is private, so visitors have to pay 500 yen to get in. Rules are also pretty strictly enforced so there’s no alcohol allowed. It’s a fairly quiet area in the middle of Shinjuku and visitors are generally calmer and reserved than the other cherry blossom areas.

STATIONS: Shinjuku Gyoenmae, Shinjuku Sanchome
TRAIN: Marunouchi line, Shinjuku line
http://www.env.go.jp/garden/shinjukugyoen
MAP

Areas that I’m looking to check for this season for the first time are:

Yaesu Sakura street - Tokyo Station
Shin-Yurigaoka
Inokashira Park

Free Sakura Wallpapers ⇀

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Barrett Ishida 3/9/18 Barrett Ishida 3/9/18

Mekong, Vietnam

A day exploring locals and their lives on the Mekong River.

Locals on a boat on the Mekong river in Vietnam

You’ll see completely different lifestyles from Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi venturing along the Mekong River for a day.

We booked a tour through The Sinh Tourist, a well known tour provider in Vietnam. They ask you to check in the day before the tour which isn’t difficult since they have a convenient Ho Chi Minh location that is centrally located. It’s also the meeting place to embark on the tour.

A woman works on a boat in the Mekong river in Vietnam

The Mekong river is the 12th longest river in the world and goes through several countries, so we really were only able to see a tiny portion of it.

The start of the tour is a couple hours outside the city by tour bus. After arriving, we boarded a boat with our group that served as our main transportation for the day.

The first thing immediately noticeable is how murky brown the river is. This is apparently due to the abundance of minerals in the water rather it being dirty, as we were told.

We made our way down the river, which is pretty wide, passing traps in the water and locals fishing from their boats. The Mekong river is central to many people's lives.

Visiting a rice paper maker was the first stop. While many of the ones we see in stores are more likely to be machine made, the people we saw were doing it completely by hand. Made like a crepe, the wrap is then laid on screens to dry out in the sun.

Lunch was held at an open dining area nearby where we shared tables and local dishes with other group members.

After our meal, it was back on the boat and up a narrower alleyway.

Tour boat headed down an alley alongside the Mekong river

Getting into buggies pulled by some small horses, we rode through a small town. It was a bit sad as the horses seemed exhausted and were being constantly hit with a small, cord-type of whip. We rode from several minutes, got off and made our way to a little gathering area where we ate some fruit while watching a local music performance.

Jumping into small wooden boats, we all made our way through a narrow waterway under a tunnel of vegetation back to our tour boat. Each of the little boats were captained by a local that rowed us for half the journey and switched on the motor for the last half.

Riding small boats in the dense greens of the Mekong river

A man smiles while on his boat on the Mekong river

The final stop was at a local candy maker. We watched them turning an off-white liquid into a candy that I'd describe as like a coconut taffy. Poured into rows, they were dried, cut and then individually wrapped.

Coconut candy being dried at a candy maker along the Mekong river

Our river tour came to an end when our bus dropped us back off at the departure point near The Sinh Tourist's main office location. We got back in the late afternoon, leaving the rest of the night to explore the bustling city of Ho Chi Minh.

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Barrett Ishida 2/24/18 Barrett Ishida 2/24/18

Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

A bustling city that mixes history with modern.

Our visit to Ho Chi Minh began with us suddenly having no place to stay.

Ho Chi Minh immediately felt like a major city after flying in one evening from Hanoi on a pretty scenic Vietnam Airlines flight

Catching a taxi from the airport, the driver decided to take quite a roundabout route, perhaps due to traffic, but it began to feel like he was milking the meter because it was more than a scenic route.

Things went a bit more off course when The Town House 50 hotel/hostel staff told us that the hotel room we reserved was given to another guest due to a “problem in another room.” We weren’t informed or re-accommodated.

So there we were that first evening with no place to stay.

We were introduced to a place next door, one where the entrance was suspiciously through the back of a barber shop. Everything was too shady to say yes to the dingy room so we took off.

With our backpacks on our backs, we began roaming the Ho Chi Minh streets going up to the front desks of any legitimate-looking hotel. Alas after a few tries, we found an available room at the centrally located A&EM 280 Le Thanh.

Our first stop was checking out Ben Thanh night market nearby, one of the most well known ones in the city. Set up like a flea market, the area is lively and booths sell everything from knock-off sneakers to random fashion items and toys.

We grabbed some food - pho and spring rolls, of course - at a crowded random eatery where a Korean TV crew was filming. Ho Chi Minh, it seemed, was a popular travel destination for Korean tourists at the time.

Moped and car traffic in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

The biggest reason we decided to stay in Ho Chi Minh was to experience the Mekong River (I’ll write about the experience in the next blog). We booked a tour through The Sinh Tourist - if you do too, keep in mind that they require you to check in before the date of your tour.

A man holds a tower of pastries on his head in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

Most of the time in Ho Chi Minh was spent wandering different areas, checking out local markets while trying to stay dry from sudden thunderstorms. We went in September, which falls in their rainy season (May thru November), and it's no joke.

You'll want to bring a rain jacket with you at all times as we had a perfectly sunny day suddenly turn into a puddle-hopping downpour in no time.

An apartment building in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

If you're looking for the best view of the city, head up to the modern Saigon Skydeck in the Bitexco Financial Tower (where the photo below and the top photo were taken). There's also EON Heli Bar which we stopped by, a modern lounge with views of the city. It can get really lively, full of tourists and expats, but the staff were helpful in getting us a seat.

Ho Chi Minh view from the Saigon Skydeck

Ho Chi Minh is a spread out city, and places aren't as close as they may seem on the map. Luckily there are cafes and food shops here and there to stop by at. And McDonald's, of course!

Just before heading the airport, we grabbed some coffee and finished our trip off with a massage in the Ben Thanh area, a place almost like a little Japan Town.

Vietnamese coffee is really good, and even though it's a commercial chain, my favorite was found at Highlands. It's their version of Starbucks (try their Truyền thống/Traditional Blend and Di Sản/Heritage Blend) and they absolutely need to open up shops globally.

Will wait.

If you're debating which is better for a first trip, Ho Chi Minh or Hanoi though, I recommend Hanoi. Here's why.

Quán Thuý 94 Cũ

A hole in the wall joint, Quan Thuy 94 Cu specializes in Vietnamese seafood dishes. It's a really casual place, and while it's mostly filled with locals, you can tell that they're no stranger to tourists as well. Their crab fried rice definitely stuck out and they don't skimp on the crab. Definitely order it if you stop by.

TripAdvisor
Map

Che Nam Bo

I didn't realize how refreshing Vietnamese desserts were until spending the day exploring. Che Nam Bo is perfect for a quick stop. It's laid back, nothing fancy, and has the vibe of a family business in the local neighborhood. Some sweets like the coconut flan are already prepared while others are made fresh when you order.

http://www.chenambo.com

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Barrett Ishida 2/12/18 Barrett Ishida 2/12/18

Ha Long Bay, Vietnam

It's easy to see why Ha Long Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the most popular go-to spots in Vietnam.

Ha Long Bay is often the main destination when people visit Hanoi. It was mine. It's really easy to see why it's both a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the 7 Wonders of Nature as it's a vast area of miraculous islands and karsts.

We booked a one-day boat tour through The Sinh Tourist. Before the tour date, they ask you to check in at their shop so we did so the night before. Their Hanoi Old Quarter location, one of a couple, was pretty convenient. One thing to be careful of is the imposter agencies nearby. They even use the same name and logo so double check the exact location. One tip is to take a look at their email address they display at the shop, if the domain isn’t thesinhtourist.vn, that’s not it.

A tour bus came to our hotel, the Noble & Swan Boutique Hotel, early the next morning and we embarked on the roughly 3 to 4 hour ride to Ha Long Bay. The bus made a stop along the way at a center selling arts and crafts, apparel, and various drinks and snacks - a good place to use the bathroom, stretch and grab a bite.

Cruise boat to take the tour group around Ha Long Bay

As soon as the boat left the port - an area being developed with nice vacation rentals - more and more karsts began to arise out of the water and we got the feeling that we would be seeing some amazing sights.

Ha Long Bay reminded me of parts of Thailand like Koh Phi Phi. While it's more vast than the Thailand islands, the water isn't as nice and unfortunately, there are places where you can see some trash floating around. Besides that, being surrounded by all of these formations really makes you feel like you're in another world. Quite Avatar-esque.

After a Vietnamese lunch in which we shared some fried fish, vegetables, spring rolls and other dishes with the others on our table, the boat docked for the rowboat experience.

We had the option of either sitting in a group boat with a rower or go at it on our own. Like most of the others, we chose the group option.

Our rowboat captain didn't say a word the entire time as she likely didn't speak any English, so don't expect a guided tour. It didn't really matter for our boat, however, the sights took up enough of our attention anyway. We went through tunnels to secluded inlets surrounded by the tall rock formations, and rowed by some locals on their boats.

Vietnamese woman sitting in a boat in Ha Long Bay

Getting back on our cruise boat, we headed towards Dau Go island, an island known for Dong Thien Cung cave. The cave is a natural grotto full of stalactites and stalagmites that has become a major stopping point for Ha Long Bay tours.

If being around the karsts on the Bay is like being in another world, going into the cave ads another depth to it.

The inside of Dong Thien Cung cave is quite big and certain areas are illuminated with colorful lights. If you have trouble handiling closed spaces, you might find this a little challenging as the air can be a little humid and stale, and with only a few small openings to the outside.

After the caves, we returned back to the port where we boarded the bus to head back to Hanoi. We stopped at the same rest stop on the return, and arrived back at our hotel after a few hours to conclude the one-day trip.

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Barrett Ishida 1/28/18 Barrett Ishida 1/28/18

Hanoi, Vietnam

A city with an authentic feel that beats expectations and leaves you wishing for more time there.

People are stuck in traffic on their mopeds in Hanoi

Vietnam, in all honesty, wasn’t high up on my travel bucket list, so I was pleasantly surprised when Hanoi blew away my expectations and became one of the cities I want to revisit the most.

We started Hanoi off with a wild taxi ride from the airport where our driver spent more of his attention taking never-ending phone calls instead of the road.

Streets in the city are similar to many other places in Asia - to describe them as chaotic would be an understatement. Navigating Hanoi's definitely requires some getting used to, and a lot of times it's hold your breath, pray you don't get hit and just walk. No exaggeration.

WHERE WE STAYED

We stayed at the Noble & Swan Boutique Hotel, a centrally located hotel in the Old Quarter.

Upon checking in, a staff member sat us down and recommended some local eats. I had thought it was some business partner plug, but my skepticism disappeared entirely after that first bite of pho (I wrote about it below).

The hotel staff were some of the most genuinely kind people ever. One staff member even came outside as we were heading out for the day to shake our hand and explain that she would be off on our check-out day and she wanted to say thank you and goodbye. I'll definitely consider staying here again next time.

The area near the Ngoc Son Temple part of the Hoan Kiem Lake area is quite picturesque in the evening. It was a Friday, and the entire lakeside area was lively with people hanging out, enjoying food and just having some fun.

In other parts of the Old Quarter as well, friends gathered on little plastic stools along the sidewalks to eat and have drinks. This was a common sight everywhere we walked.

We took a tour to Ha Long Bay the next day. A bus came to our hotel and brought us to our boat which was a few hours away. Ha Long Bay was such a wonder and nothing short of gorgeous, you can check out my exeperience here: Ha Long Bay

The vibe of the city and its people are what I really enjoyed about Hanoi... of course the food too, which I'll get to later.

It's a city that has both a busy and laid back feel at the same time. Mopeds, some with as many as a family of 6 on them, zoom by constantly. It has that endless buzz of traffic and bustle, yet people are laid back, hanging out outside cafes with friends at all hours in the day, even during work hours which I found to be interesting. Most people seemed to be polite and a little reserved, and we had no issues with any attempts to rip us off or anything like that.

A family rides on a moped together in Hanoi

The central part of Hanoi is really walkable, and there's a lot you're constantly taking in. Because of that, this trip was the first time I consciously dabbled in any kind of street photography. Most locals tended to shy away from having their photo taken though, so I tried not to intrude too much.

A woman balances baskets while walking in Hanoi

A family rides together on a moped in Hanoi

A woman waits to cross the busy street in Hanoi

The only time we decided to give our feet a rest and catch a cab was visiting the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum, which sits just west of the Old Quarter area. You could sense the weight of its importance, from its vast grounds and guards to the design of the structure itself.

Before visiting, my list of things I wanted to see and do in Hanoi was as long as maybe a few scribbles on a hotel notepad, but I left with the feeling that I needed more time. There are so many alleys or shops that continually make themselves known while you're there, and I feel the need to go back, venture around and witness life there a little more.

And finally, the food. I'm not knowledgeable about Vietnamese cuisine, but there were some things that I ate in Hanoi that I seriously couldn’t get enough of. Everything we ate and drank was tasty, super fresh and affordable. And in a city that continuously sparks curiosity? Can't ask for much more.

Here are some places I absolutely recommend trying if you visit:

Quán phở Gia Truyền

Pho-king delicious. This was the best bowl of pho that I've ever eaten. Period.

While there were some tourists, Pho Gia Truyen was packed with mostly locals - a good sign. It's a casual, open eatery with half of the guests eating outside on little purple plastic tables and chairs packed in every open space on the sidewalk.

They have a few different bowls to choose from, I went with their premium one which came out to less than $3 USD. Each bite was so savory, I really can't say enough about about it.

Map
TripAdvisor

Bún Bò Nam Bộ

I had never heard of bun bo nam bo, and while I can't remember a lot of Vietnamese words, I won't forget this one.

This bowl of stir fried beef, vermicelli rice noodles, lettuce, bean sprouts, fried onions, chopped peanuts and more mixed in with some tangy yet citrusy sauce with a kick to it was simply amazing. It was a party of flavor in your mouth for a couple bucks US and absolutely amazing.

http://www.bunbonambo.com
Map
TripAdvisor

Chè 4 mùa

Che 4 Mua (Tea 4 Seasons in English) is a popular dessert spot. Seating is mostly on the sidewalk on little plastic chairs, but staff come by to talk and help you with your order.

It was a warm evening so we just went with cold drinks, watching the kitchen scoop fresh fruit into the glasses and create our dessert drinks from almost scratch. The drinks were served slightly chilled and flavors were completely natural and clean. Very refreshing.

Map
TripAdvisor

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https://kobebeef-ishida.com/
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Barrett Ishida 1/9/18 Barrett Ishida 1/9/18

Kobe

In addition to its mega-famous delicious Kobe beef, there are also a lot of other delicious eats to have in this international port city.

Kobe beef! That’s the first thing that comes across many of our minds when we hear “Kobe.”

On my first trip to the city, I was surprised to learn that it’s actually a city with a lot of international influence and is quite well known for its pastries and sweets. Because of that, my trip to Kobe largely becoming a food tour.

We stayed at a centrally located Airbnb a couple minutes away from Sannomiya station [map], a location I’d recommend as it allows you to reach most of the main sights by foot. These are some of the places that we checked out and that I'd recommend:

Nankinmachi (Chinatown) & Motomachi

Walking to Chinatown, we passed through the Motomachi Shopping Street, a covered arcade with a lot of history. Most cities in Japan have these types of arcades, usually with a lot of older shops and places to eat.

Motomachi apparently has over 20 shops with more than 100 years of history. We grabbed a bite at Tachibana (TripAdvisor), a highly reviewed shop known for its not-so-typical fluffy, egg-puff takoyaki. Their take on this common, Osaka-grown fast food snack of fried doughy balls with octopus inside was quite a treat, and while we didn't intend to, we got full off them.

Kobe's Chinatown is on the small side but with a lot of little food spots. It's been known as Nankinmachi after the former Chinese capital ever since Chinese merchants settled in the area back in the day.

Roushouki has some delicious steamed dumplings, the type that drips some oily goodness. The area around Chinatown has a bunch of eateries and boutiques as well.

Kitano

The area of Kitano is up the hill and a little bit away from the central part of the city, at the foot of the mountainside.

We walked up for about 20 minutes from Sannomiya, making stops along the way. The area is a mishmash of foreign influences, as a lot of merchants and diplomats settled here when the city opened up to international trade.

Put on some walking shoes for this one, because the streets and walking paths up the hills can get steep and even narrow. There are some interesting sights though, English houses next to Dutch ones, next to Danish ones which are next to Japanese ones.

Port of Kobe

What seemed like a half wedding hotel and half actual port area, the seaside of Kobe is quite nice at night. It's also quite lively.

We walked down one evening, a bit of a longer walk from Sannomiya than Nankinmachi or Kitano, and explored the area. There were a few nice hotels there, largely geared to host big wedding ceremonies and parties.

The main entertainment area is called Harborland, a place for shopping and eating. The central spot is umie Mosaic, you'll see the big "Mosaic" sight on top the building. It sits next to a ferris wheel and right along the waterfront.

A passing boat creates light trails at the Port of Kobe

For other amazing places to eat, check out these places:

ISHIDA

The highlight meal of the trip was, of course, Kobe beef. Ishida is centrally located near Sannomiya station, and has two floors where you sit in front of a skilled chef who prepares your meal on the teppan metal grill in front of you. For a meal of a few courses, the cost was about $300 USD for two - a little pricy but it filled us up nicely. The beef was, as expected, nothing short of incredible. Beautifully and perfectly marbled, each bite of steak was incredibly savory and juicy.

Akaman

Gyoza (dumplings) are done a little bit differently in Kobe. In addition to the typical ingredients like vinegar and rayu chili oil that make up a lot of gyoza sauces in Japan, Kobe also likes to mix in miso. It's surprisingly good, too. Akaman is a tiny, cramped, old little hole-in-the-wall shop right across from Motomachi station. It's a little grungy and there was about 4 of us on a table probably meant for 1. As odd as it may be, that's a good sign of authenticity. If you're in the area, check out this place for a few little bites of deliciousness.

Yelp

A la Campagne

Peach tart at A la Campaigne, Tor road in Kobe

Right in between Sannomiya and Motomachi stations is A la Campagne, a little cafe that's a great stop for some sweets and coffee. When you enter, there's a case showcasing all the different cakes and tarts available, and in typical Japanese fashion, they all look amazing. I had a peach tart which was not too sweet, pretty light and topped with some fresh fruits. If you're in the area, pop in for a bite.

http://www.alacampagne.jp

Yelp

Freundilieb Ikuta

Located in a repurposed Neo-Gothic style church, Freundilieb Ikuta is known for its breads. It's about a 15 minute walk from Sannomiya station and is on the way to the Kitano area, making it a good place to get some sandwiches for lunch if you're on the way up. It's quite well known amongst Japanese so there can be quite a wait with people lining up along the staircase up to the main eating area. If you're in a rush, you can just go into the takeout area. They will ship it to your hotel as well, even if you'll be in another city in the country.

http://freundlieb.jp

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Barrett Ishida 12/1/17 Barrett Ishida 12/1/17

Oahu: Favorite Spots at Home

As a local who grew up in Honolulu, these are the places on Oahu that I try to go to when I visit home.

Waikiki Yacht Harbor and Diamond Head in Honolulu, Hawaii

Honolulu is my hometown, having grown up there.

Because of that, I’m asked by a lot of friends and colleagues who plan to visit for recommendations on where to go and what to eat. Like them, I too now have a limited amount of time when I visit home, making me really have to think about where I want to make sure I go.

While the places I recommend vary depending on who's asking, these are the few core places that I find myself making a priority:

Lanikai Pillbox Hike & LANIKAI Beach

View from the Lanikai Pillboxes hike [BUY PRINT] — View from the Lanikai Pillboxes hike [**BUY PRINT**]

I’m not someone who looks for the most challenging hike around. I look for a good balance of view and effort, and Lanikai Pillboxes is a great one.

After the steep incline at the beginning, it's an easy hike and is quite short. For the amount of sweat you break, the view is amazing - from Waimanalo to Kaneohe, all the green and all the blue.

Parking is the biggest problem for both the hike and the beach as the area is purely residential. I’ve usually searched for street stalls around the neighborhood and been lucky enough to find a space.

MAP

After hiking, I usually head down to Lanikai Beach, just a short walk away through the neighborhood.

The beach has fine, white sand and calm, light blue waters. It's even been ranked as one of the top 25 beaches in the US on TripAdvisor. Just make sure the weather on this side of the island is good before going.

MAP

Haleiwa & The North Shore

The North Shore area is one of the last "Old Hawaii" type of places on the island.

I think one of the things that surprises first-timers to Honolulu is how much more of a city it is than they had thought. I’ve seen the Haleiwa area become a tourist destination in recent years, but it still resembles how things were decades ago.

Haleiwa has a laid back kind of vibe with a bunch of shops and good places to eat. Garlic shrimp at Giovanni's is my favorite (see below for more info). Matsumoto’s Shave Ice is maybe the most popular place in the area, and while I don’t think it’s the best shave ice on Oahu, it’s right there if you’re in the mood.

My friends and I usually make a full day out of a trip to Haleiwa and the North Shore. After a stop in Old Haleiwa Town [MAP], you can drive further and make stops at Waimea Bay [MAP}, Sunset Beach and Banzai Pipeline [MAP] to watch surfers ride some big waves, and even hit up roadside stands in Kahuku (they’re known for their corn) if you go that far.

Food is likely the biggest priority (alongside the beach) for Hawaii-natives who are visiting their home.

With the restaurant boom that has happened in the last few years, there's a lot of good places to choose from and try out. Out of all the options, these are my go-to places to grab a bite when I'm home:

Zippy's

I don’t think you’ll find any local who hasn’t had Zippy’s. It’s the most famous diner in Hawaii, with a bunch of locations around Oahu.

President Barack Obama, a Hawaii-native, is a fan. Bruno Mars, another local, is as well. Even President Bill and Chelsea Clinton are fans. The chili (and rice, yes, white rice) is their most famous dish, but it’s not a chili you’re used to.

It’s far from photogenic food, it’s not trendy and probably not the best deal either, but it truly is a local favorite for anyone who wants to eat what locals eat.

http://zippys.com

Waiola Shave Ice

There are a lot of great shave ice places on the island but my favorite is Waiola's.

It's original location is centrally located in town, in it's original, authentic form in a residential neighborhood. They serve some really soft, finely shaven shave ice.

There are a lot of Hawaii-only flavors - li hing mui (dried plum) and haupia (coconut pudding) being a couple of my favorites, and topping them off with condensed milk and ice cream at the bottom is amazing on a hot day.

http://www.waiolashaveice.com
Yelp
MAP

OFF THE HOOK POKE MARKET

Kilauea Fire & ginger ahi poke

Poke has exploded in popularity around the world but nothing is like having some at the origin. Off the Hook Poke Market is one of the more recent poke places, opening in late 2018, but it’s one of, if not the best I’ve had.

They have some really good poke flavors, so I recommend getting a 2-choice bowl. My favorites are their ginger ahi, Kilauea Fire and spicy tuna, but you can’t go wrong with any. Get all of the free toppings on top as well.

Service is great, really friendly and personable. This is a great addition to the Manoa area.

MAP

Giovanni's

Garlic shrimp plate

When locals say “shrimp truck,” they’re usually referring to Giovanni’s.

These food trucks have become really popular for tourists and locals doing a Haleiwa and North Shore day trip, and I’ll make sure to stop by when I’m doing one as well. They’re generous with portions and with that buttery garlic sauce that drenches the plate. Yum.

http://www.giovannisshrimptruck.com

Ono Seafood

There's a lot of good poke places in Hawaii, but one of my longest go-to spots is Ono Seafood.

It's a really small, unassuming hole-in-the-wall place in the Kapahulu area, and they make some fresh poke bowls that are good for take out for the beach for lunch.

Service is good and a soft drink is included as well.

Yelp
MAP

HOME BAR & GRILL

Tater tot nachos

Kim chee fried rice

Ginger chicken

Seared ahi

This is a place that's probably not on a lot of travel sites or blogs, but Home Bar is big for a lot of locals.

A sports bar slash local diner atmosphere, Home Bar makes some absolutely delicious local foods and has really friendly, casual service.

Kim chee fried rice and tater tot nachos are must-eats. It does get crowded and is on the louder side, especially on weekends, but it’s one of my favorite places in Hawaii to hang out with friends.

Yelp
MAP

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Barrett Ishida 11/27/17 Barrett Ishida 11/27/17

Shimoda: A Presidential Onsen Getaway At Seiryuso

This upscale onsen resort getaway was fitting enough for a US President.

Out on a peninsula in Shizuoka prefecture is Shimoda, a rural area with onsen hot springs and ryokans surrounded by nature.

While there is a small train station in the town, we, like most others visiting the area, came by car.

The town is extremely small, so expect to stay at the ryokan for your full stay. You won't want to leave anyway.

We did take a walk around the neighborhood and there isn't much to see. There weren't any convenience stores either - odd in Japan. The one store that had their door open was one of the more creepier stores with it's flickering dim fluorescents with no one manning the half-stocked shop.

Seiryuso

We stayed at Seiryūso, an upscale ryokan resort that US President Jimmy Carter stayed at in 1979. It's presidential indeed.

The grounds were clean and well kept, and from arrival to departure, the service was on point.

The ryokan’s rooms are beautifully set near a river [map] and the spacious rooms have their own onsen baths in a private space that opens to the outdoors. It’s walled for privacy but there are window slits that can be opened in order to take in the natural surroundings as you relax.

Main room with a balcony out in front and a tatami room behind

Bathroom with dual sinks, shower, and the private onsen tub outside

The room's private onsen has constantly running hot spring water

The resort itself has a huge outdoor pool that is heated by the natural hot spring water, sauna and steam room, massage chairs and more, and the grounds are quite spacious.

The Japanese meals were delicious and really filling, and we enjoyed them in our Japanese yukata wear.

If you’re looking for an upscale onsen getaway that's somewhere other than Hakone, Seiryūso in Shimoda is a really nice place to consider as a destination. Everything was pleasant and provided us with a refreshing recharge.

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http://klasternirestaurace.cz

Barrett Ishida 11/2/17 Barrett Ishida 11/2/17

Prague, Czech Republic

Exploring the Old Town and Prague Castle areas of Prague for a couple days while traveling around Europe.

Sunset in Prague from the Charles Bridge

If anywhere else in Europe wanted to rival Paris as a "city museum," it might well be Prague. The central area of the city was almost something out of a Disney fairytale at times with its cobblestone streets and castle and cathedral up top the hill.

I visited Prague while traveling around Europe with friends in 2012, and we arrived by train from Berlin.

Figuring out transportation was immediately challenging due to a lack of English explaining the train system and the sudden switch to Czech crowns from euros. We managed to figure it out, settling into our room at the Central Prague Hotel, an affordable hotel in walking distance to most of the popular sight-seeing spots.

Unfortunately our first meal didn't please us.

We tried out Lokál Dlouhááá, an alluring beer hall type of place. We probably just ordered the wrong dishes as this place is quite popular, but dishes like the Talián sausage and beer cheese (hey, it sounded intriguing!) didn't exactly go with our palates. The beer itself though was impressively cheap, about $1.00USD which made it even cheaper than water!

Old Town Square with the Church of Our Lady before Týn

We started the next day grabbing a bite at one of the food stands in Old Town Square, which were in the same area as the famous Church of Our Lady before Týn [CZ].

We picked up some ham, bread and sauerkraut potatoes, but struggled to order and ended up with a huge chunk of ham and paid way more than we expected to. 0-2 on food at this point, but our quest to find good food ended up with a win with our last meal (bottom)!

Walking from the Square to the castle, we passed by other notable attractions like the 600 year old Prague Astronomical Clock (Pražský orloj) and Colloredo-Mansfeldský palác, an old palace that had funky art installations in the courtyard right before the Charles Bridge (Karlův most). There were a variety of artists and street performers on bridge, and the views from it are amazing, especially at sunset (pic at top).

Another view from the Charles Bridge at sunset

Looking up to the Prague Castle from the Charles Bridge

There are some hills to walk up, but it's worth it.

Deciding to explore the town below after hanging out in gardens watching a robotic lawnmower keep the grass immaculate, we walked the streets and checked out a small festival. I'm not sure if it's an every day event, but there were folk singing groups, metal sculptors and trdelník doughnut cake stands amongst others in an area near the Charles Bridge.

Locks and a troll next to a watermill wheel on the Devil's Channel (Čertovka)

In the evening, we went on a segway tour with Prague Segway Tours.

The cobblestone streets and hills take some getting used to especially if it's your first time riding one (it was mine). Our guide was friendly and took us up the hill and back down, explaining buildings, sculptures like the Crawling Babies, the Lennon Wall and the country's history, focusing particularly its former relationship with the old Soviet Union.

At the end of the tour, we asked our guide for a recommendation on some authentic Czech beer. He said a restaurant back at the top of the hill with a beer called Matuška would not disappoint, so we booked it back up before they took their last seating.

Getting to the restaurant wasn't so smooth, however.

We mistakenly sat at Bellavista, an outdoor restaurant overlooking the city. Amazing, or so we thought. After realizing our mistake when they told us they didn't serve the beer, we got up and left before we ordered to some less than thrilled servers.

After searching the nearby area, we found the restaurant but walked into what seemed like a private banquet party - we felt the stares of about a hundred people. Walking through to the other room, we found some empty seats, sat down and had the best last dinner in Prague that we could've asked for.

Velká klášterní

Without a doubt the best food we had in Prague. Located in a converted 17th century monastery, next to the Strahov Monastery Brewery, the ambiance is like a casual beer hall with bench seats. We ordered 2 appetizers: Piquant pickled Heremelin cheese and the Prague butcher platter. Each of us got different main dishes but they were all excellent. And of course the Matuška beer - I'm no beer sommelier but it was extremely smooth and one of my favorite beers I've ever had. Period.

Matuška beer: http://www.pivovarmatuska.cz

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Barrett Ishida 10/26/17 Barrett Ishida 10/26/17

Berlin, Germany

Spending a couple days walking around Berlin, a city that I used to be wary of.

Berlin, to me, had an interesting mix of high efficiency and order that you'd find in a place like Japan, mixed with that wild and free vibe that you could feel in the States.

Germany, particularly Berlin, always seemed intimidating to me at some level due to the history, as dumb as that may be. I quickly found a lot of things about the city that I liked however, like the balance I mentioned, and I was able to have a really good stay.

I visited the city with a couple of friends while on a trip around Europe together in 2012.

We arrived at Berlin Central station by ICE train in the evening, coming in from Brussels. From there, we caught a train to Senefelderplatz station where we had rented an apartment to stay at through Pfefferbett, a hostel that also rents out properties that they own in the area.

Despite having some key problems, the apartment was located conveniently near two stations, was quiet, and nicely decorated. There was remote window blinds in the master bedroom, and the apartment had large glass doors that either opened up to a fairly large balcony or could be vented slightly as windows.

The Walking Tour

On our first full day, we joined a free Sandemans New Europe walking tour that started at Brandenburg gate (it seems that many do).

Our guide was actually a British expat who fell in love with the city and never returned home, learning a lot of interesting facts during her stay so that she could provide us with some amazing information about the things we saw.

Some of the sights we visited were the Holocaust Memorial (below), the last Nazi building which became a tax office, Checkpoint Charlie (which is quite touristy), Bebelplatz memorial, the purposely regular parking lot where Hitler's bunker used to be, and finally ended up at Museum Island. Even though it was a free tour, most of us gave a tip because of how informative she was.

The Holocaust Memorial, beautifully designed and very impactful.

The Berlin Wall at the Topography of Terror.

Berlin was relatively easy to get around on our own once we finished the tour.

A lot of the main tourist spots are within walking distance or easily accessible by train. The city is big but not overcrowded, and it's quite clean. Even the public restrooms are clean, really clean actually, although you do have to pay a small fee to use most of them (makes sense).

We decided to check out the iconic TV Tower one evening.

Before heading up, we ventured around the neighboring Alexanderplatz station, where there was a small open market with shops and food stalls selling local eats like deep fried potatoes with applesauce.

To end our day, we went to grab a bite of currywurst (a German fast food dish - sausage with ketchup and curry powder) at CurryKultur, a random outdoor eatery nearby our apartment before heading to Qum Bar, a hookah/shisha bar right down the street from it.

The next day, we roamed the city on our own to sights such as the Reichstag government building and the Berlin Wall at the Topography of Terror where you can learn everything about the Nazis and what they did.

We later headed out to the Friedrichshain area, a more hippie/bar type of neighborhood, to see the Oberbaumbrücke Bridge and the East Side Gallery of the Berlin Wall.

Oberbaumbrücke Bridge and artwork from the nearby Eastside Gallery below.

We went to a REWE - a supermarket near our apartment. It's always interesting to check out a local supermarket to compare with your own. It was pretty big, and it resembled an American market pretty closely - brightly lit, spacious, well air-conditioned. Prices seemed to be quite cheap as well.

After picking up a few supplies, we went to catch the last few minutes of an outdoor street fair near Brandenburg Gate that happened to be the celebration of the Berlin Wall's takedown. Big bratwursts, beer and Jäger on tap.

I wish we had at least another day or two in the city. There was definitely a lot more to see and experience. I'll just have to put it on the list of places to go back.

Hasir

A Turkish restaurant that we randomly sat down for a late lunch at. It's off the main street, so it's quiet with a little bit of outdoor seating. The food was tasty, nicely presented and the service was decent.

TripAdvisor

Maison Courage

Nice hearty German food that was nearby our apartment. Sausage, pork, chicken, some green beans and a baked potato. The atmosphere of the restaurant was almost like a dimly lit home.

(I found out that this place closed down)

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https://eu.marcolini.com/

Barrett Ishida 9/27/17 Barrett Ishida 9/27/17

Brussels, Belgium

A day wandering the beautiful streets around Grand Place.

Brussels, particularly the central area near Grand Place, is really beautiful. I visited the city on a trip around Europe with a couple of friends, between stays in Antwerp and Berlin.

We stayed at the Floris Hotel Arlequin Grand Place, a short walk from Brussels Central station and conveniently located near Grand Place. It was a three-person room in a renovated building with an upstairs loft and windows overlooking the alley below.

While wandering around, we came across Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert. It's the area's central shopping mall, and had a bunch of luxury shops and random boutiques under a beautiful, enclosed, glass ceiling.

While there were a lot of tourists exploring the city, it was never overwhelming. The only time that there was an over-abundance of tourists crowding in an area was on our walk to check out the Manneken PIs, the famous Brussels statues of little boys peeing. Odd when you think about it, but if you're in town, it's just one of those things that you have to check out.

Brussels overall was gorgeous and a great stop, but we did have an issue at a restaurant a block away from Grand Place. We went to get some mussels, famous in the country, and weren't exactly given an honest price. The bill was a bit of a shock. When we were getting seated, we noticed a pissed off group of tourists getting ready to leave - they were probably mad about the same thing. I don't remember what the name of the place was, unfortunately, but just make sure you're extra clear on the prices you'll be paying.

Walk the alleys, grab a seat at an outdoor cafe, eat some waffles (try Waffle Factory), and find some good chocolate. And last but not least, if you're lucky enough to be in the city on a clear night, do spend some time in Grand Place (photo at the top).

It would've been nice to have more time to really explore the city, of course, but given that we had a limited amount of time to split between each European destination on our itinerary, 1.5 days in Brussels seemed to be about right.

Pierre Marcolini

It's already internationally famous, but Pierre Marcolini was started right here in Brussels. Their shop here is a lot bigger than the others that I've seen - 2 full floors of chocolates of all types. I went with some assorted packs and a chocolate-covered marshmallow. There's a bunch of other good chocolate shops nearby but you can't go wrong with this one.

Delirium Cafe

Delirium is a popular bar near Grand Place. The basement is really lively, sometimes with live music, and they serve a few thousand different types of beer. No joke - they apparently set a world record. There are a few tables in the alley outside, which we opted for, if you want to sit down and be able to hear the conversation you're having. Definitely a good spot to try out some Belgian beers. Follow their pink elephant logo.

http://www.deliriumcafe.be

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http://www.australianice.be

NORTH AMERICA

Barrett Ishida 9/24/17 Barrett Ishida 9/24/17

Antwerp, Belgium

Exploring the quaint central area of Antwerp for a day.

The main area of Antwerp has a quaint feel and is very walkable. I stopped here for a day while traveling through Europe with a couple of friends, arriving at Antwerp Central station after catching a train from Amsterdam.

The station's architecture (pictured at the top) is impressive and is probably one of the nicest stations I've been to. It's organized, isn't chaotic and is clean. In fact, Antwerp as a whole was a pretty clean city.

We stayed the night at Leonardo Hotel Antwerpen, right outside the station. After putting our things down and getting settled in, we made our way to a few sights.

Our first stop was the Cathedral of Our Lady. It's a gorgeous church with an area in the back where you can quietly take photos and watch the ongoing processions. During our time in Antwerp, this was the most memorable sight.

Het Steen castle is a small castle on the Scheldt riverside and was the final sightseeing spot on our list. We didn't walk inside, choosing to roam the area instead.

Het Steen castle with the Lange Wapper statue outside

View of the Cathedral of Our Lady from the Het Steen castle area

Our stay in Antwerp was brief and I wish we could have explored more. We even skipped dinner...but not before getting our fill of some good treats.

Fritkot Max

You have to get some Belgian fries when you get into Belgium, right? We hit up Fritkot Max, a pretty popular spot for fries at Groenplaats, a square near the Catheral of Our Lady. The amazing thing about this place is the variety of sauces that you can serve yourself. Curry, andalouse, tartar, samurai and a bunch more.

http://www.fritkotmax.be

Australian Home Made Ice Cream

Ok, it's weird getting "Australian" ice cream as the name says in Belgium. This was some amazing ice cream, though, and we had to go back again for a second time. Perfectly creamy, and as you can see in the second photo, there was a crowd. We got addicted to their Speculaas (Speculoos) flavor, made after the cookies that originated in the area.

Quetzal

This place came as a recommendation from a friend, Kristi (if you're looking for yoga in Hawaii, check her out!), who lived in Belgium. It's located in the central area and provides some excellent sweets to take a break with as you're exploring the area. Go with anything chocolate!

http://www.quetzal.be

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https://www.restaurant-szmulewicz.nl

Barrett Ishida 9/21/17 Barrett Ishida 9/21/17

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Can never get enough of Amsterdam as it is one of my favorite cities in Europe.

Buildings in Amsterdam - [BUY GLASS PRINT]

Amsterdam just may be my favorite city in Europe that I've visited. Beyond the image that many of us have in our minds as it being a nightlife city full of unenforced taboos, Amsterdam is just flat out gorgeous.

I've traveled to Amsterdam a couple of times - once with Contiki, a tour company for people under 35, and a second time with a couple of friends traveling around Europe on our own. After getting a taste of Amsterdam the first time, one of my friends and I knew that we just had to make it a point to go back. And so we did.

Forgoing a typical hotel, we decided to rent a boathouse from a kind, accommodating local couple for a few days with House-Boat Hotel, basically an Airbnb for Amsterdam houseboats. Fantastic choice and I recommend anyone traveling to the city to do the same. There's just something about waking up and having a cup of coffee right on the canal. Literally.

Our houseboat, the first one on the right.

Bicycle culture

You'll see very few cars around as Amsterdam is centered around bicycling, walking and public transportation. In fact, we were told that the citizens of Amsterdam were actually the ones that pushed for this. Admirable. Do know and keep in mind, however, that because bicycles are essentially their cars, they take them very seriously. Bicycle lanes are expected to be clear of pedestrians at all times, so pay full attention whenever you're walking. Bicyclists will fly by at full speed and they will get angry at you if you're standing in their "highway."

We wanted to join in on the bicycling-around-town fun so we went on a tour with MacBike, a bike shop with a location right at Amsterdam Central station. It's a nice activity if you're looking to get a little tour of the area. If you go with the organized tour, though, the pace is somewhat fast because everyone is biking fast here!

If you're not biking and want to get to destinations that are a little far for walking, there is an above and below ground metro system. The tickets are a little different from most cities as it doesn't charge by destination but by time; from when you need it first to when you need it last. It runs to Amsterdam Central station so you can conveniently catch it after riding the train in from Schiphol Airport.

The night scene?

Admittedly, we didn't "go hard" on the night scene, but we did get a glimpse. The city is pretty lively at night, nothing crazy for the most part, but people are out and about and having a good time.

If you venture into the Red Light district, you'll know. No photography is allowed while in the area and it's definitely an adults-only place. There are shops with neon-illuminated windows with girls in skimpy, scandalous outfits in them either behaving provocatively or just sitting or standing there. No nudity or anything like that, but you could guess that all that happens on the inside. There are police officers patrolling the area and they will take no nonsense. A group of guys near us seemed to be engaging in suspicious dealings and we watched a female officer - one who'd take all of us down with one hand tied behind her back with relative ease - carefully studying them with the most piercing of eyes. It was like a lion stalking its prey. Chills. She then walked right up like a boss and interrogated them without any hesitation at all. It was impressive to say the least.

Coffee shops

Coffee shops, while not a "night" thing, are scattered all around the city. There's nothing conspicuous about them, and they don't ask for ID's or passports to check if you're a local or not. It's simply a coffee shop. But with weed. Half the menu for coffee, the other half for weed. Half the people in there drinking coffee, the other half smoking. It's an extremely surreal experience.

If you find yourself looking for a bite late at night, check out a Febo (my Yelp review). It's a local fast food shop that only sells food in slots that individually open up after you pay. Fried food heaven from croquets to chicken to fries.

While there are popular tourist attractions to check out like the Anne Frank Museum or the famous local brewery's Heineken Experience, we didn't do either. We spent most of our time walking the streets, wandering into the many random shops and boutiques around the city, and hanging out at our boathouse. And while I wouldn't call myself a big Heineken fan, I drank some of the local beer on tap and will say it tastes quite a lot better than the version we get overseas.

Put on some walking shoes and just roam the streets and alleys. Amsterdam is a gorgeous city, especially when I experienced it in the fall. It's vibrant in one spot and silent and peaceful right around the corner. Its architecture and cityscape are worthy of admiration on every block, and there is no shortage of nature around. If I ever considered moving to Europe for a bit, Amsterdam would be right near the top of places I'd consider.

Stubbe's Haring

I had been a fan of raw fish for a long time, but mostly in sushi or sashimi form. Having it in a sandwich made me a bit nervous but I was pleasantly surprised by its lightly pickled flavor. Stubbe's Haring is already popular, and because it's located near Amsterdam Central, making it convenient to grab a bite.

TripAdvisor

Szmulewicz

Randomly stumbling into this restaurant one night, we ate kangaroo for dinner. The menu was quite exotic to us and a couple of us ordered the least "risky" dishes listed, only to unanimously agree that the skewered kangaroo in mango sauce was the best. Feel at ease to try something new here as you won't be disappointed.

TripAdvisor

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https://www.brandyhos.com
My Yelp review

NORTH AMERICA

Barrett Ishida 9/19/17 Barrett Ishida 9/19/17

San Francisco

San Francisco is the most unique city on the west coast. As a former resident, here are some recommendations.

The Golden Gate Bridge from Battery Spencer

You could say that San Francisco has the most character out of any city on the westcoast. Whether it's techies, artists, musicians, entrepreneurs, hippies or crazies, you'll find them all here in abundance.

Being born in San Francisco and wondering what living there would be like, I decided to move to the city where I finished college and began my work life. I ended up living there for about 4 years. It's a small city, approximately 7 x 7 miles (11.3 x 11.3 km), so it's got a lot of condensed buildings on top of numerous steep hills that separate the bay from the Pacific Ocean.

San Francisco is quite diverse, not only in types of people but ethnically as well. So much so that voting documents and a lot of signs have English, Spanish and Chinese written on them. It makes sense being that California borders Mexico and San Francisco served as a historic immigration gateway to the Pacific.

You don't need a car to get around the city unless you're planning to head outside of it. In fact, it's one of my least favorite cities to drive in; the steep hills, all the "no left turns" and lack of street parking make it such a pain. Though they're fine, I'm not a big fan of the Muni buses or Metro light rail either (I'm probably spoiled), and their BART subway is mainly to get in and out of the city. Luckily, Uber and Lyft rides are abundant and really convenient for in-city transportation.

Street parking is perpendicular on steep hills

I've been to just about every neighborhood in San Francisco and each has its own little feel to it. Do check out the main spots first.

Main attractions

Golden Gate Bridge - no explanation needed as it's the icon of the city and one of the most recognizable landmarks in the country.

San Francisco's Chinatown happens to be the largest outside of Asia. It also neighbors Little Italy and the nightlife portion of Broadway street.

Chinatown at night with the Bay Bridge in back

Union Square is arguably the city's central area with department stores, the main shopping mall and more. From there, you can catch the Cable Car on Powell Street which passes the crooked Lombard Street as it makes its way to Fisherman's Wharf.

You can catch a ferry from there to Alcatraz, the famous prison located on the tiny island in the middle of the bay.

Haight Street at Ashbury has been the center for hippies, and there's a lot of interesting shops and boutiques there.

Nearby Golden Gate Park is huge, in fact it's bigger than Central Park in New York. There's museums and events there, and even buffalos.

Besides those, here are a few other favorites of mine:

The Marina

The Marina/Cow Hollow area is on the north side of San Francisco. It's somewhat of a quieter neighborhood with a lot of boutiques and small bars and eateries centralized around Chestnut street. I suggest the late afternoon as a good time to hang out there. After, you can walk over to the Palace of Fine Arts which is randomly tucked in there.

Clement Street

This street in the Richmond district between Arguello Blvd and Park Presidio Blvd is known as the second Chinatown because of the many Asian shops and restaurants. My favorite places there are Genki Crepes (crepes and Japanese snacks, here's my Yelp review) and Burma Superstar (for their tea-leaf salad!)

Hayes Valley

This area on Hayes Street between Franklin and Laguna Streets is a quaint nook that sits near heavy car traffic areas. There's a bunch of fashion boutiques as well as small eateries, and there are often small events here during the daytime on weekends.

Other activities:

See the Yoda Fountain (map) at Lucasfilm in the Presidio.
Feed the wild parrots of Telegraph Hill. They fly down to the Embarcadero area in the late afternoon/early evening and are extremely tame. The best place I'm aware of and have fed them at is Ferry Park (map). Grab some bird feed and listen for them - they're loud!
Twin Peaks. Arguably the best views of San Francisco. You can also go to Tank Hill (map), a nearby and more local viewpoint near Cole Valley.

Yoda fountain (cool so he gets a photo feature!)

Speaking of views, my favorite spot to see the Golden Gate Bridge is from Battery Spencer, an old war bunker that looks down upon it. My photo at the top is taken from there. It's on the north side of the Bridge (map) and you have to walk a little bit to get the viewing spot, but it's 100% worth it. If you only go to the visitor's center, you're only seeing half of what you could and should. Another scenic spot is from Treasure Island (map). You can see both the Bay Bridge as well as the San Francisco city skyline in the distance.

The newer half of the Bay Bridge, facing Berkeley/Oakland, from Treasure Island

Definitely venture outside of the San Francisco if you have the time. My favorite things to do and that I'd recommend are wine tours in Napa Valley, lunch in Sausalito, and hiking in Muir Woods.

And of course, don't forget to EAT!!

El Farolito

Best Mexican food I've had, period. After late nights out, I'd trek to the Mission area with friends and pick up some huge burritos before heading home. Their quesadillas (pictured) are more than filling enough, full of ridiculous flavor and cheese that oozes out the back. For extra flavor, there's a self-serve salsa bar as well. El Farolito's is quite popular with a line usually heading out the door, so be prepared to wait for a little bit. Don't worry though, it's totally worth it.

Menu
My Yelp review

Brandy Ho's

The only Chinese food that makes my mouth water. While there are a lot of good Chinese food joints, Brandy Ho's Hunan food in particular stands out above the rest. My favorite dish that I'd recommend is their shredded beef in white wine sauce (pictured), and I am sure to order it every time I get a chance to eat here. It was my last meal before moving out of San Francisco.

Thanh Long

It's hard to find crab made better than this. Their roasted garlic butter crab is juicy and packed with flavor... and messy, so wear their plastic bibs! It's a little out of the way for most people, in the residential area of outer Sunset, but the light rail will take you right to it as it passes on the street in front. If you're celebrating an occasion or just want some good crab to dig into, this is a great place to check out.

http://thanhlongsf.com
My Yelp Review

PS: House of Prime Rib is another favorite of mine but I have no photos :(

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