76-Second Travel Show: 'Does Saying No Make You a Travel Wimp?'

Episode #048

F E A T U R I N G * 7 1 * B O N U S * S E C O N D S

I've jumped from Soviet aircraft, thrown lead weights at dynamite in Bogota, and even been on a horse in upstate New York. But in Quebec City, I found something I just couldn't do: a night at the Ice Hotel.

Does saying 'no' make you a travel wimp?

Random Photo: Death of the Queens Igloo!

It's not your typical day when you look out the window and see an igloo. 'Actually it's not an igloo,' its creator, Joe Gindoff, told me. 'It's a snow house. Igloos are made of ice.' Joe, my neighbor in Jackson Heights, Queens, told me he's never built one before, but the excess snow and time to wonder -- he recently lost his job -- gave him the opportunity. 'I sat and thought about it, then went out and did it.'

Local news picked up the story after Joe spent the night in the house -- or at least till 3am (I know the feeling; I gave up on Quebec City's Ice Hotel at 2:30am recently myself).

Alas, Sunday Gindoff took a pick-axe to his creation, knocking its roof in. With temperatures set to rise this week, so have concerns from neighbors over a potential hazard in the private garden area. He understood.

The 'igloo' -- or 'NYgloo' as he called it -- has already paid dividends for him. Gindoff has been contacted to help build a 'three ton snowman' at Bear Mountain upstate. Sometimes just doing stuff -- like building an 'igloo' -- beats polishing off a new resume.

Interview: Ian Frazier on Siberia

Ian Frazier spent about 17 years researching and writing 'Travels in Siberia,' about the same time Axl Rose took for 'Chinese Democracy' -- but with better results. Frazier's fascination for the forlorn and mythic, plus his humor, has always appealed to me. When I started as a Lonely Planet author, I picked put two destinations atop my author wish-list: the US Great Plains and Siberia. Two areas he's now written full books on.

I got the chance to meet and speak with him recently, about why he spent so much time in a place people usually avoid, and what exactly his phrase 'Russia-love' means. As he puts it, everyone has 'one country' -- a place they are instinctively drawn to and can't help it. For him, it's Russia.

What's yours?

Here's my book review on 'Travels in Siberia' for Lonely Planet.

Eyes - Breathing - McQueen

In the last post, I mentioned about my niece's friend, Ignacio. Ignacio Torres is a young, talented fashion photography artist. His work has been exhibited in the Dallas/Ft.Worth metroplex and was awarded the Cora E. Stafford Scholarship for an emerging photographer in 2010. Ignacio is currently working in personal projects that explore the magical and supernatural through the use of photography and animation. He currently lives and works in New York City. Please, check out his work at his website. It's definitely fascinating. Now, I'd like to share a few of his movement photos. The model is my beautiful niece, Pauline.

EYES. Pauline and her friend. They had on Rick Owens gray mesh jacket and Ann D black top.

BREATHING. Pauline had on Ann Demeulemeester 14 buckles belt, Alexander McQueen leggings, and Givenchy boots.

Alexander McQueen knuckles clutch.

Thank you everyone for visiting and comments! Wish you all a wonderful day!! xoxo...Hanh :-)

Finally the outfit post...

Finally, the outfit post is here. Wearing: a Rick Owens jacket, Dolce & Gabbana polka dots top, Rag & Bone thumb hole black top (wore underneath) and leggings, Guiseppe Zanotti leopard wedges, Margiela clutch, and The Woods necklace. Did you notice that I got my hair cut? This is the length when I was dating my husband. Well, It was actually about 1 inch shorter. Now, my kids and I have pretty much the same hair style :-)

Thank you everyone for visiting and comments! Wish you all a wonderful day!! xoxo...Hanh :)

The Clouds

When I was a little girl, I liked to look up to the sky and imagine the clouds in many different shapes such as cute animals, pretty angels, beautiful flowers, or gentle waves...I loved it, especially when we made a trip with my father or brothers to the rice field in the countryside. It felt like the sky was so low that I could touch it. My feeling was so cheerful and happy, that's when I learned that just simple things in life make us happy. It depends on our mind. Yes, whenever I've thought about these childhood memories it still makes me happy.

Sometimes now, I still like to look up to the sky at the pretty clouds with my children. I also like to look out of the window to watch the clouds when I fly in an airplane. It's just amazing how beautiful it is and it looks like layered marble.

These pictures were taken when I flew in an airplane.

The pictures below were taken by mobile phone.

Don't you think it would be awesome to have a Tshirt or a dress with the cloud print. I maybe design one for me :)

Thank you everyone for visiting! Wish you all a wonderful day! x0x0...Hanh :)

ps: Thank you everyone for your comments on my new hair cut!! I love it!!

Comme Des Garcons Deconstruction

Comme des Garcons has the most deconstructed designs, as well as Junya Watanabe and Tao CdG. They create unusually structured clothes, asymmetrical shapes. With most pieces, you might not know what it will look like while they're on the hanger. You must try it on first. It's surprisingly fabulous. Yes, it takes some time to figure out how to put it on. Unbuttoning, buttoning, and twisting the piece, it unexpectedly gives you a different look. You definitely have fun playing with it. Every piece is an investment, a work of art in your closet. Because the design is distinctive and characteristic, it's never out of style. Rei Kawakubo, Junya Watanabe, and Tao Kurihara are geniuses.

Their designs play with the imagination. What do you think about this top, by Tao CdG? How does it look to you?

Pierre Hardy shoes. NhaKhanh thumb hole mesh top.

Untied the front. It looked like I had a scarf on.

Rajvi Vora ring. They said it's a Indian frog. It looks like a gecko to me. Vintage Comme des Garcons bag.

Thank you everyone for visiting and comments! Wish you all a wonderful day! xoxo...Hanh :)

The View From The Top

We normally go skiing in Colorado every year. However, this year was our first time skiing in Lake Tahoe. It's a picture-perfect image of a winter wonderland. I love the lake view the most, overlooking the incredible blue waters of Lake Tahoe. It is just breathtaking. I stopped and took a picture every time I was at the top. "Mama, that's enough. We should keep going, come on!" Yes, my kids complained that we had enough pictures, but I felt I didn't. It's just because the pictures don't do it justice. Really, the feeling on top of the mountains, around you with all the beautiful white snow, and with the lake view, it was like a dream. My camera couldn't capture my feeling, neither the view that my eyes captured. But, I tried my best to photo it. Here are the pictures of the views, mostly it is the lake view.

From the mobile phone. That day was warm that you can see no snow on the trees.

This is from the mobile phone through my ski goggles. I took this when it was the end of our last day of skiing.

Thank you everyone for visiting and comments! Wish you all a lovely weekend! xoxo...Hanh :)

My Look on Citizen Couture

Few weeks ago, I was in NYC and had a chance to meet Jason who is behind an amazing blog, Citizen Couture. As I've imagined, he is very sweet, extremely charming, and easy to talk to. It was a pleasure to meet Jason. I'm glad that we've finally met.

Thank you Jason for featuring me on your fabulous blog. Your pictures are always beautiful and your blog always impresses me.

My readers, please check out my look at Citizen Couture.

Thank you everyone for visiting and comments! Wish you a wonderful day! xoxo...Hanh :)

Northstar Village at Tahoe

Whenever you are in Truckee for skiing at Lake Tahoe area. You should visit the Northstar village. It's a perfect place for everyone to hang out after your ski day on the mountains. There are many good coffee stores, shopping stores, bars, and restaurants like Chocolate Bar, Baxter's Bistro & Lounge, Mikuni Sushi Bar, Euro Gelato...my favorite is the crepe food stand. I love eating hot crepes or waffles with hot coffee in the cold weather from the stand. It's fun. The village also offers a few craft stores that provide creative learning experiences for kids and grown-ups like Pottery painting, Candle Making Shop... The 9,000 square foot ice-skating rink is really exciting, encircled with fire pits. It's the perfect spot for your family and friends gathering to roast s'mores while we sit, listen live music, and enjoy the view of the skating rink from the center of the village. The village is actually very pretty in person. It's considered one of the finest villages in North America. Here are some pictures from our past trip for Christmas.

This picture is blurry, but kinda cool.

Everyone enjoyed their moments.

My kids and my niece. She is from Australia.

Thank you everyone for visiting and comments! Wish you all a wonderful day ahead! For now, a lovely night everyone! xoxo...Hanh :)

ps: To see the ski mountains, check out my previous post, The View From The Top.