Category Archives: Travel

Alone in The Bay – San Francisco

April 26, 2015 The Hidden Thimble Team Leave a comment

The last entry in my solo trip before heading to Hawaii to meet my sister for my birthday. My time in SF was cut short to only two days and I only wished I had found a local’s guide to the slope hills of The Bay like Soothing Sista’s awesome list to better navigate myself. For the city that was the backdrop to my favourites Mrs Doubtfire and freakin Charmed, I found the city that everyone seemed to gush over was just not AS exciting as I thought it would be. I dunno for some reason I could not figure out where to go and what to do on my own. Like I was on Valencia and just didn’t know what to do with myself… The Mission = Boring? That would be seriously whack in any local’s mind I bet!

There were 3 thoughts that ran though my mind when observing the scene in San Francisco:

First, is this animal or human shit/piss I’m seeing/smelling on the streets?

Second, why are there so many homeless/hustlers in the city area?

Lastly, why are the shops closed at 7pm and train station closed until 9am on the weekends?

Nevertheless, I was able to enjoy a couple of sights, eating spots and lots and I mean lots of walking (like from the beginning of the Financial District to the Golden Gate Bridge along The Embarcadero and Marina by foot – you do the math) to explore the major parts of the city.

By pure coincidence I happened to land on Fleet Day so everything along The Embarcadero was in full military and navy celebration with plane shows and military personnel in uniform, as well as lots of food stalls. Damn them BBQ turkey legs were huge and smelt good! But I wanted something a little more than just grilled protein while I was there.

Since I wasn’t able to make it to the South, there was no way I could not stop at Brenda’s French Soul Food to try my first taste of Southern food. Beating the crowd I was lucky to get the bar table since I was a solo diner but was worried they might have sold out on all the goods. Lucky for me that wasn’t the case! Gumbo and signature beignets mmm, the breakfast for a hungry traveler.

And how could I pass up on the chance to eat seafood! Though everyone says that you need to eat seafood at Fisherman’s Wharf, looking online I found Swan Oyster Depot on Polk St and it was the best experience of eating seafood I have ever had so far! The staff were super friendly and prepared everything so nicely and the selection was so fresh you just wanted to eat everything – sashimi style of course unless it’s the chowder. There were some things that I wasn’t able to find on the menu that was available like the sea urchin so being friendly with your waiter is the trick to see what they can whip up for you if you want something fancy.

If you can only stay in San Francisco like me for a couple of days, definitely check out the Walt Disney Family Museum near the Presidio area to appreciate the work and life of the man behind the mouse. If you are an animator, art student or just a very devoted Disney fan there is nothing that beats seeing the painted cell drawings in person or enjoy reading Disney’s personal menu and miniature toy collection. I can’t describe the feeling of seeing these drawings on display, especially since I took my Film major seriously when I was in university as I wanted to be an animator but it was exciting to be able to be up close to see the paint work of each line and the sketch scratches on each draft of a character’s face. For me that was a really exciting moment while being there.

I think I would give San Francisco another chance in the future. Perhaps on a bike, with a friend and another beignet on the go.

Until next time!

Siree

Travel, USA

Alone in The Big Apple – New York

January 29, 2015 Siree Leave a comment

When I told M I wasn’t planning to put New York on my itinerary for my solo trip to the United States, she gently gave me a “WTF are you kidding me?!” kind of you-can’t-be-serious look on her face.

What fashion blogger hasn’t been to New York City?

I was corrected to rethink my travel plans again under this wisdom of unwritten assumed knowledge and I got to say, I’m glad I did.

New York was indeed the city that every aspiring fashion blogger needs to visit. Living by example, Sex and the City did teach me 2 important things about Carrie’s NYC. First, writing and being unapologetically fashionable go hand-in-hand and second, you should always invest time in your girl sisterhood.

Indeed I did feel New York was that kind of destination you just have to bring your best girl pals to and really enjoy some close knit bonding over a trendy hole-in-the-wall brunch, casual Soho shopping and the delights of this metropolis sheltered under its Art Deco mixed English Baroque architecture.

Manhattan is surely the largest city I have ever experienced!

In my 4 days I have completed, discovered and missed some very crucial hot spots on my hit list just simply because The Big Apple is just that – big. It overwhelms me to think what would the city be like without its iconic Central Park occupying most of the upper half in the concrete jungle. I spent a good 2 hours trying to see every inch of this park and still left the West part untouched!

My overall vibe of New York’s style guide is the city of branded handbags paired with trouser pants with the colour of winter showing its arrival to the streets and the shoe of choice was a decision to go either heels or trainers on the hard cobblestone to tile pavement. As an early birthday present (gifted by me to myself) after dropping by the major stores in Bloomingdales and 5th Avenue, I finally settled on an Alexander McQueen in their Lexington store. Tote styles I found make shorties like me feel out of proportion to their length but the Heroine Open Tote was a nice shape without joining the entourage trendiness of Prada Saffiano’s, I love it! I gave up on my heeled boots on my first day and spend the rest in my trainers. Ah sweet relief!

I reached my peak of loneliness after getting stuck on a packed train behind another traveller not knowing where he was getting off, taking me two stops later arriving at Grand Central with no underground internet or underground line map to figure the way back. Note to self – must hard copy a subway map. In my despair of a rough and long day, I spontaneously cut my fringe a bit too short and became micro – Oops.

Lucky for me, it turned out surprisingly good! :D

At this point of my trip, I’m not sure how I would live life not knowing Trader Joe’s existed but it has certainly made me join the health food craze. This well-summed up photo essay by Buzzfeed gets an A for my appreciation because, their foodstuff is just too damn tasty. A grocery shop that embraces pumpkin season with pumpkin-on-pumpkin-on-top-of-pumpkin noms has my money.

Here’s the TL;DR of my NYC:

Manhattan Highlights

∇ The Mac Conner: A New York Life Exhibition at The Museum of the City of New York

∇ Frozen Hot Chocolate at Serendipity 3

∇ Shopping down Soho Area and Bedford Ave, Brooklyn

∇ Fav NY Shops: In God We Trust, Catbird NYC, Opening Ceremony, The LEGO Store

∇ Aladdin and Avenue Q Musicals at Broadway

∇ Swedish food at FIKA

∇ Milk Bar by Momofuku

∇ Mac N Cheese at MacBar on Prince St

∇ Reuben Sanga at Katz Delicatessen

Until next time!

Siree

Travel, USA

Alone in Angel City – Los Angeles

December 22, 2014 Siree 2 Comments

Ahoy! Ahead is sort of a partial diary page in my self-guide to traveling solo in your 20s, I guess.

If you have never ever considered the idea of traveling solo, I ask, may you reconsider the idea again?

I must admit that the lack of selfies and menu choices for the singular experience can leave you missing the shared fun of doing things in sets of twos (or more), but if Bear Grylls has taught me anything about slowly awakening the more instinctual and open minded side of adventure, it’s about being resourceful. And sometimes, that can only be found when you are on your own.

Although I have been by now on a couple of travels plane hopping without a companion to call ‘friend’ for a good portion of a trip, my second time traveling solo was indeed a true solitary experience. Across four cities in two weeks. Destination: United States. And now that I am looking at this from the other end, from being 24 to now 25, it’s not all about being mentally tough and letting the complete selfish act of only thinking about your besties (Me, Myself and I) take over your every day without compromise. There will be a point when you just feel too damn alone to be happy by yourself for these occasions (an experience I felt in New York which I will share on a later date). Still, I think it’s something you can’t avoid. Accept it, embrace it, and then move on. It’s not all sugarcoated freedom as it might sound at the start but once you get over it, I found I was able to lighten up at the small joys of the treasure find. Whether it was finding a good spot for a much needed break from pounding pavement or better time management to fully conquer my to-do list, the adventure was like a Survivor guide to evaluating and strategizing fun in the absence of company, without having to deal with that tribal outplay drama cos, you know – no tiki torches.

Admittedly, coming from Australia I would say venturing to the Land of the Free (and the Home of Pumpkin Spice, my newly discovered favourite) would be considered a stranger kind of familiar than foreign. So of course I would naturally end up first on the West side to discover our long lost distant cousin who would make me want to stamp every experience with that distinctive Cali-vibe I heard so much of from the lyrics by a certain Californian Girl.

Los Angeles this early October was a mixture of familiar short-shorts and tee’s in the unusually hot weather in the Autumn season and I am convinced that the space this city land mass has occupied could shame a tetris labyrinth – sandwiched between beachy coast and arid desert. Crazy Winter pattern aside, LA seemed to share many aspects of Sydney’s lifestyle, the casual dress code, the urban beach scene is a interesting mix of Manly and Bondi eccentrics and body shapes and how public transportation is a bio~tch. Lucky, public transport was no longer my sole method to get across the ridiculously long roads of Angel City in the form of a most gracious acquaintance from a dear friend (I realized early that no one uses their legs for more than a few blocks) but I heard Uber was a nice alternative to hack the vast maze blocks that make up LA in no time for those with no wheels.

If you are only traveling for a few days in LA, here is my hit list of must does which I found enjoyable:

Until next time!

Siree

H2H - Heart to Heart's, Travel

2 cents: Roadtrip Date Survival

August 27, 2014 Talyssa 4 Comments

So girls and guys, let’s talk. We haven’t really done this in a while!

If you don’t know, I’m dating someone new and I’d say it’s going pretty well. Things are still quite early though, but the balance feels right. Yeah.

Some weekends ago he initiated we go on a short weekend trip together. I was excited and nervous! Our first trip away together, what if we get annoyed at each other? What if we fight? What if we have nothing to talk about during the drive there?!?

Never fear, Talyssa is here. Sometimes my over-thinking and naturally anxious brain does me some good. Let me tell you my tips on how we survived:

This was actually a really cute accident. The boy and I decided to get together one night about a week before our trip, to talk about where we wanted to go together. We ended up choosing a destination, looked at hotels to stay in, places to eat and activities to do. Separately in our own time, we narrowed down these lists to the things we really wanted to do over the trip. We came back together a couple of days later, compared our choices (surprisingly most were the same!) and made a final plan together.

Our Destination….

Final Itinerary….

Attractions – 1. Bald Hill 2. Sea Cliff Bridge – Lawrence Hargrave drive 3. Austinmer beach 4. Science Centre and Planetarium 5. Nan Tien Temple 6. Illawarra Golf Complex 7. Historic Lighthouse Wollongong 8. Hangdog Climbing Gym 9. Flip Out Trampoline Arena 10. Mt Keira lookout Wollongong

Places to Eat – Diggies, C Grill, The Mango Tree, My Pantry, Lee and Me

The Resting Place….

We stayed at the Comfort Inn. This was really great, affordable accommodation. 100% recommend it!

Planning our trip out was great for a number of reasons – we always had something to do, we were never bored, and having a plan in advance took off a lot of pressure during the trip – we never had to think “What should be do now?” or “Where should we eat tonight?” We already knew.

I can’t help it. I am socially awkward. To make things worse, I think about my social awkwardness whilst I’m experiencing socially awkward moments and it’s just a downward spiral. So you can imagine, the thought of being alone with a newly significant other (SO) for an extended period of time, such as driving in the car, set my social awkwardness radar on high alert.

The solution: Have some tricks up your sleeve to pull out during your alone time.

Alone in the car:

Make a road trip playlist with both of your favourite songs. Let’s face it,there’s no way you can be expected to constantly talk to your SO for the entire drive to your destination. So let your favourite tunes fill up the silence when you don’t particularly feel like talking.
Plan games to play in the car. Don’t worry about how lame “Eye spy with my little eye” is, just whip it out. We did! We had tonnes of fun playing word associations and asking eachother random questions. Here’s some fun and easy game options:

Word Association: Rain > Clouds > Lightning > Harry Potter. Each person takes turns in saying a word that is somehow associated to the previous word. The person who can’t think of another association, or repeats a word already said, loses.

Road trip Questionnaire: I found this idea from the awesome site that is The Dating Divas. Think of 50 questions you and your significant other have to answer then compare your answers.

Would you rather?: The crazier the questions, the better. Here’s a little something to get your started: “Would you rather chew on a stranger’s dirty toenail clipping, or re-chew sometimes deposited chewing gum that has been stuck under a public train seat?”

The Worst of Everything: Take turns asked and comparing your answers to various “What is the worst” questions. E.g. What is the worst song at the moment? What is the worst sport to watch on TV? Answer: Cricket. Obviously

Most importantly, don’t be afraid of some silence. Comfortable silence with your SO is nothing but a good sign. So go on, take a nap, read a book, or stare out the window absorbed in your own thoughts – I certainly did :)

Alone in the hotel:

We actually didn’t have time to do many of these because we were having too much fun!

Have a bath – make it special with essential oils, scented candles, bath bombs, rose petals, face masks.
Give each other a personalised spa treatment. – what more could you ask for? Give each other a massage with massage oils and do facial together! And trust me, guys love this stuff too even if they don’t want to admit it.
Watch a movie – I had bought my hard-drive along and stocked it up with movies, whilst the boy bought his laptop and projector.
Use this time to sleep, cuddle and have deep conversations with your significant other.

Out of the extensive list planned above, we actually only managed to visit:

Bald Hill Lookout and Sea Cliff bridge

Science and Planetarium complex and Illawara Golf Complex

Illawarra Golf Complex. I’ll have you know I won with me finishing the course in 59 holes and the boy finishing the course in 62 holes :D

Hangdog climbing Gym and ate at The Mango Tree and Diggies

3 Beetroot Salad with Feta, Smoked Salmon and Poached egg at Diggies.

Being flexible and not having a strict agenda made the whole trip extremely enjoyable – we did a lot, but took our time to relax, explore and have fun along the way.

In fact one of my favorite experiences of the entire trip happened because we decided to be adventurous and stray from the plan. As we were driving to our next destination after finishing up our game of mini golf, we spotted a really beautiful view and decided to take a look. It was a giant lake, framed by mountains and alive with sea birds – including pelicans!! A bonus was that it was so quiet and secluded. We just lay here on the grass, relaxed, cuddled, talked and took funny photos. It was just so nice!!

This means even when you’re feeling angry, upset, sick or tired. Smile, be happy and let go of the little things.

The night before leaving the boy and I had a bit too much happy soda…and boy did we suffer! All that night and the next morning I was throwing up. The boy even offered we stay home because I was so sick. Never!!!! I persisted!! We were doing this trip!! Unfortunately the sickness lasted until early evening that day. Just as I was feeling better, the boy was starting to feel sick and was developing a really bad cold :( Despite my constant nausea and throwing up, and his sniffles, sore throat, fuzzy head and feeling all round terrible we were both happy, had fun, didn’t lose patience with each other and just had a really great time.

Not excessively, but this is your special time together and you don’t get to do it all the time. So eat at one of those expensive restaurants you have your eye on, do that activity that costs a little bit out of your means, and pay to watch all the special shows at whatever exhibition you find yourself at. Make it special and your trip too will be special.

Well guys, that’s all for me. I had an absolutely fantastic trip – looking back I don’t know why I even had worries in the first place! It was such a great trip, I didn’t want to leave haha!

Korea, Travel

That’s a Wrap, Korea!

December 5, 2012 The Hidden Thimble Team 2 Comments

That’s a wrap on Korea from us! Have our posts been helpful? Funny? Made you really REALLY want to go to Seoul?? We sure hope so!

Will we go back to S.Korea again? HELL YES!

There’s still so much left to see and do… ahh 3 weeks is seriously not enough!! :)

Well, it’s the start of summer and we cannot wait to start posting some summertime lovin’ entries since it’s our favourite season to dress up! We’ve been a bit mellow since winter, but this heat will give us the energy to show you guys some fun and exciting posts (fingers crossed)!

For us, summer’s style bible is all bright colours and fun prints to reflect the season so expect some vivid eye candy for the weeks to come :D

So what did our final days in Korea look like?

During the last couple of days it snowed making everything white! Siree finally kicked her blue, black and grey colour scheme habit as well and wore her new clothes out :)

DSCN2966 — Messing around with the friend’s iPad :P Koreans have a great sense of humour har har har…

Walking through a small park at night. It snowed so heavily that night but it made the walk so worth it!
We were on a mission to do something horribly illegal – setting off fireworks!! Wooo!! What rebels we are!

Finally, we would just like to mention something that really makes going to Korea stand out from a lot of the other countries we’ve been to, and that really is the people. Koreans are some of the most beautifully friendly people we have met, they are so funny, so outgoing, know how to have a fantastic time and will do anything in their power to help you out and show you the best time possible!

First of all, a big thank you to all the randoms who took the time to help us out when we were lost or confused – sometimes even without us having to ask! A big thank you to those we got to know in our area – Mandu man for telling us how much he loved us “Russians” haha and the ladies who owned the kimbap shop where we got out breakfast almost every morning. A big thank you to all those we met clubbing for taking us to different clubs, buying us food, getting us free alcohol and showing us probably the best night out of our lives!! Finally, a big thank you to our two close friends in Korea, who practically took us out every other day, showed us around and helped us out so much in general. Your efforts are much appreciated and will never be forgotten!

So, what’s your game plan for summer? Beach parties? Workout regime? A new hairstyle? Let us know!

Have a rad one!

Korea, Travel

Korean Folk Village

December 2, 2012 The Hidden Thimble Team Leave a comment

If you’re a traveler like me who is fascinated and loves to absorb themselves into another country’s culture, then this is a post for you! Believe it or not some of my friends hate sightseeing and think its boring! Why go to another country then!!??!

Anyways, in Korea a great way to have fun and learn about the culture is at the Korean Folk Village (KFV)! This time was my second time going to the KFV and after the enriching experience I had the first time round, I knew I had to take Siree this time!

The KFV is made up of the actual folk village itself, two museums and an amusement park. I’ve only been to the Folk Village and the museums, as the theme park ticket costs extra. At the KFV you can experience over 260 traditional houses from different parts of Korea, revived from the Joseon Dynasty, a traditional Bazaar with souvenir shops stocking traditional art products as well as traditional Korean foods cooked the authentic Korean way, and engage in traditional performances and activities. The Korean Folk Museum offers in depth knowledge into Korean folk culture and the World Folk Museum offers a glimpse into the folk culture of many countries – though I’m not sure how accurate it is considering what they said about Australia was completely wrong! haha.

DSCN2979 — The entrance of the Folk Village ~ Looks so traditional

Nice traditional Korean style architecture. Look how detailed the roof painting is!

DSCN3068 — Soo pretty!! This would look so beautiful in Autumn. I can imagine a backdrop of red/purple/orange leaves.

DSCN3063 — Kimchi Pots!! These were everywhere in the village!! I wonder if they had any kimchi in them. Kimchi pots are the traditional way Koreans stored and fermented their kimchi!

DSCN3040 — Cute figurines and more kimchi pots!

DSCN3052 — Buddhist Temple – I love this photo!

DSCN3053 — Buddhist Temple – We could actually here monks chanting from inside these traditional temple buildings.

DSCN3049 — Buddhist Temple – These huge statues were at the front of the Buddhist temple gates. They must be some kind of gods or something…but I never thought Buddhists believed in gods…hmm

DSCN2998 — Traditional Performances – Farmer’s music and Dance

DSCN2988 — Traditional Performances – Equestrian Feats. They do pretty amazing tricks with those horses!

Traditional Performances – Acrobatics on a Tightrope! The guy who does it is no joke like 80 years old or something!! I worry every time he jumps and lands on the tightrope that he will collapse and fall!

The image on the right is actually thousands of paper wishes tied up into the string. The picture of the left shows how bloody cold it was!! Even flowing water has frozen!!!

DSCN3012 — Traditional Korean methods of torture

DSCN3009 — Koreans joining in with torture methods haha!

The guy on the right is making traditional Korean Masks

World Folk Museum – Apparently this is Australian Cuisine!? I have never had or seen this dish in Australia in my entire life!? Sayyy whaaa??

DSCN3037 — Siree and I couldn’t handle the cold anymore so we went into a traditional tea house to warm up. We indulged in traditional teas, although mine was a little sweet! Still the tea cups and saucers were so pretty!

Map:

Transportation

From anywhere in Seoul, you can either catch a train to Gangnam Station (line 2) or to Suwon Station (Line 1)

From Gangnam, you want to catch bus 5001 – 1 from the main bus bay area. It can be little tricky to find the correct bus stand, so if any problems, ask someone. DO NOT trust the transportation directions on the Visit Korea site!!! They have the wrong bus number!! Half our day was gone trying to find bus 5000 – 1 which does not exist!!! (I believe the bus number has since been corrected.)

From Suwon catch bus 37 or 10-5.

Opening Times

Winter: 9AM – 5PM

Summer: 9AM – 6:30PM

Cost

Ticket entry: 15,000 won includes the Folk Village and the museums. That’s less than $15. Entry to the amusement park costs extra.

Performances

Farmer’s Music and Dance: 11AM and 3PM (MAR – OCT) 2:30PM (NOV – FEB)

Tightrope Acrobatics: 11:30AM and 3:30PM (MAR – OCT) 3PM (NOV – FEB)

Traditional Wedding: 12PM and 4:30PM (MAR -OCT) 4PM (NOV)

Equestrian Feats: 1PM and 4PM (MAR – OCT) 3:30PM (NOV – FEB)

Activities

Pottery making
Playing with traditional Korean games and punishment methods
Haunted House
Dress in a traditional Hanbok and take photos
Horseback riding

Run by two travel and lifestyle bloggers, The Hidden Thimble focus’ on creating truthful and in-depth travel guides, food & beauty reviews. Enjoy drool-worthy photography from around the world!