Towers in the sky with patterns

2 days of my first visit to Chicago. Luck should have it that I did not have to experience the city living up to its nickname. The warm sun and beauty of the city's fascinating architecture made me forget about the brisk temperature as I spent my days on foot, without proper shoes and all.

I got into the city terribly early from Philadelphia, having taken a 6AM flight (and 2-hour sleep), I was so grateful to learn that my room was actually ready when i checked in at nearly 8AM (it was even better when I learned that I had got upgraded - not that it mattered, since the hotel itself is quite amazing - yes, i treated myself to stay at the W). So I got to rest my sleepy eyes and take an hour or two nap before trying to orient myself with the city map and figure out how to condense as much as I can in the next 1.5 days. I had pre-bought a ticket for the chicago river architectural tour, the one thing I had planned for my excursion (thanks to my planner friend Katie who suggested that I did - I had imagined it like the scene from the movie 'My Best Friend's Wedding'). This tour was so popular, they were completely sold out for the following 2 weeks when I showed up for mine! Although it was a beautiful day, the thought of having to sit outdoor on a boat for 1.5hours got me to prepare myself with absolutely every winter gear one should have when expecting 2ft of snow (sans the galoshes). The boat tour was not like the movie (No Dermot look-alike was present for me to dance with and hum 'The Way you look tonight'), however it was more educational than I had expected. The history of the city - the stories behind each building and its architects, owner, and origin - was rich with fascinating facts. My favourite part was the juxtaposition of the old and the new buildings, as well as old buildings that have been turned into something of new. Of course, there was also the new Trump building, the 2nd tallest building in the city when it completes next year (after the Sears tower) and the tallest residential building in Chicago (that man really does have serious issues).

I then did the magnificent mile...Neimanns, H&M, Barneys, oh my. It took me the entire afternoon to wander around Michigan Ave and State Avenue. Aside from the great shops, the city also boasts great restaurants and theatre scene, neither of which, unfortunately, I was able to take advantage during this trip (for some reason the thought of going out to a great restaurant and/or bar or watching a show by myself here depressed me, though I never did have a problem with it elsewhere). My feet ached from wandering around for about 6 hours on my first day. I rested my feet for about half an hour at the Frank Gehry amphitheatre in millenium park watching a sound show. His original work blends in so well with all the great art and architecture of the city...the theatre is actually quite the highlight of sight and sound.

The second day started off with a visit to the Art Institute of Chicago, seeing the 8th out of 14 of Monet's water lilies/Japanese bridge pond painting, Seurat's amazing A Sunday on La Grande Jatte, Caillebottle's lifesize Paris Street, Rainy Day, and of course the American Gothic painting. The Navy Pier was next on the list, followed by the Newberry Library, Grant Park, and a late lunch on a patio. I had planned on taking the brown line to loop the city from above ground, but had run out of time. In a hurry I hopped on my cab, and off I went to go back leaving the great skies behind.

There was so much more to see in this windy city, yet not enough time. This is definitely a city I will go back to, though hopefully I will take an accomplice with me next time.

Out of the element

A little piece of tropical heaven.



I spent the past 2 weeks in Maui and Hawaii. It was Tyler and my first vacation together, at the end of which was probably either going to define further where we are to be with our relationship: Do not go beyond this point, or Love in all its serious glory.

We mixed both our interests in the planning: camping for the first week in Maui, private condo rental for the second in Hawaii (big island). I am not a big fan of roughing it, so to speak, however, can and have survived my annual girls camping trips in the past. I really liked this guy, and for the first time, really didn't mind the idea at all. I was more looking forward towards spending time together and getting to know each other even better. After all, we had only seen each other 4 other times prior to this, albeit the last time was for a whole week straight. Such is the routine of a long distance dating life.

What neither of us expected, however, is what happens when we are taken out of our preferences, and forced to adjust to a situation and having another person to spend it with.

When taken out of our daily routine, how well do we adjust to our own juxtaposed to another's?



We found out the hard way that having to find things to do from 8 in the morning until 10 at night every day for a week took too much toll out of both of us. The story goes like this: We got up, left the campsite, determined which area of the island we wanted to get breakfast, then visit and any activity we would want to do there. This sounded fine in theory, except when thrown into it, it was a bit of a nightmare. I love to spend my morning vacations and weekends by starting slow, even though I am a morning person and start my day early regardless where I am. I sit and read, and relax. Of course this would not be the case for a type of vacation where you would need to sightsee everyday, such as a European tour vacation where you are there only for a few days in each city. Tyler is a big hyperactive kid. He constantly needs things to do, and does not like to just sit on a beach for hours and read. Firstly, he is very careful about the sun, definitely the wiser of the both of us. Secondly, he gets bored and easily distracted. This did not make a good combination to start the vacation. Taken out of my element, I was not as attentive and aware of things as I normally would have been. I didn't pay attention as well, as I wasn't giving myself the attention I usually would give myself first. I was afraid if I didn't spend time to do things he enjoyed, he would be upset, yet I was also slowly becoming my stubborn-side, unhappy doing things that were not necessarily my choice.

Funny thing was, I didn't know whether I was being selfish, or too accommodating. When you have to start showing your true self, and not just do things you don't want to do for the sake of another's, there is a fine line where you actually want to try new things and confusing that want with the fear of losing someone's attention.





In the end of it all, our second week more than made up for the first. I got up early in the morning and let Ty sleep. I went for a run, a dip in the pool, then read on our patio overlooking the golf course before he got up to make us breakfast so that we could start our day of just sightseeing, swimming, relaxing, with no pressure, as we had a home to come home to at anytime of the day.

New York, New York

Lit up sky in Time Square. Pristine sidewalks on Upper East Side. Trendy boutiques on its Lower side. Chic Cafes in Soho. Barney's on Madison, Bergdorf on 5th, Macy's on 34th. Central Park on their sides. Boutique Lounges in East Village. Tall glass buildings on the Down side. Brownstones in Greenwich Village.

The city that never sleeps.

High-heeled on sidewalks, I braved the city waving my arm to the oncoming blurs of yellow, much like the locals, a la Carrie Bradshaw. There is something to be said, still so European yet very much North American, in this busy lovely city called New York. Everyone dressed to the nines, a complete opposite end of the spectrum compared to its laid-back, surfer-yoga-enthusiast-tofu-eating-hiking-snowboarding westcoast counterpart. I felt out of place, yet at home in this city, having labelled myself as a city girl at heart, regardless where I actually reside and guilty admitance for my penchant for Ugg boots on weekends and rainslicker in my dogwalking moments.

Despite the sudden change in the out-of-normal warm January temperature to frigid east-coast bitter cold that cut through your flesh like an icepick, I walked outside. I put my hood up and survived. Anything that would sustain my endurance in order to not miss out.

If I could just brave the cold, keep my eyes open, stand my 4-inch-heeled feet on the ground, I can take in just a little bit more, and not lose a single fleeting moment in this city that truly does not sleep.

Hotel on Rivington. Koi and Buddakan. MoMA. Chicago on Broadwayl. Dream Lounge. The Royalton. The Guggenheim. Clear Manhattan skyline through leafless Central Park. Lunch with the ladies who lunch at Bergdorf 7th floor Cafe...

When biting the big apple, a bite is never enough, and the night never ends.