California, North America, United States

The Best of “The Village” in Claremont, California

February 20, 2014 zaagitravel@gmail.com 1 Comment

Claremont, “The City of Trees and PhDs”…

It is well-known in the academic world for being a town of topnotch colleges. Which ones, you ask? Well, Pomona College, Scripps College, Claremont McKenna, Harvey Mudd, and Pitzer. They are basically the West Coast’s version of an Ivy League. As of 2013, four of them rank in the top 25 liberal arts colleges in the entire nation.

On top of that, in 2007, it was voted the number five best place to live by CNN/Money. Being that I grew up in the town next door I’m pretty proud of that accomplishment.

Claremont has been something like an adopted hometown to me, since my own town is seriously lacking in the cool restaurants and boutiques department. We frequent C-Mont often, particularly the downtown area known as “The Village”. This aesthetically pleasing and charming part of Southern California is a can’t-miss for anyone looking for a day trip or new area to explore. I’ve collected some of my own favorite things about The Village and laid them out for your convenience below.

P.S. You’re in for a treat, literally. The first handful are more than enough to indulge any irresistible sugar craving you may have.

If you’re on a diet, enter at your own risk.

So, without further ado, welcome to my ‘hood (kind of)…

First up!

1) 21 Choices

Imagine mixing Baskin Robbins, Yogurtland, and Cold Stone all into one; you would get something similar to 21 Choices.

This frozen yogurt shop is one of the originals, having been in business for decades (although switching and adding locations a couple times). They now have two locations in Claremont, one in downtown Pasadena, and another on the USC campus.

Their unique concept begins with offering six flavors/choices each day — two usually being the classics, Dutch Chocolate and French Vanilla, and the other four changing daily. Examples of their vast variety of flavors include Kahlua Mudslide (my personal favorite), Root Beer Float, Circus Animal Cookie, Orange Creamsicle, Pumpkin Pie, Chocolate-Covered Strawberry, Snicker-doodle, Reese’s Extreme, Banana Cream Pie, Nutella Chip, Brownie Magic, Oatmeal Cookie, and so on. There are literally thousands.

The second unique aspect to 21 Choices is that they offer to mix toppings into your frozen yogurt. Using two hand-held blades, your taste-bud-bliss-inducing associate carefully chops up and thoroughly combines whichever toppings you select into your chosen flavor(s). Toppings range from fresh fruit to M&Ms to gummy bears to baked goods to breakfast cereals to well, a lot more. Because why not?

Depending on the size you choose (pretty much any size but a tres small — their smallest size), you can potentially have up to all six flavors jamming together in your cup.

21 Choices is THE place in the Inland Empire/San Gabriel Valley/whatever this area is called… to grab a sweet treat. It’s a social gathering place for high school and college students, families, dates, friends, and so on. It’s not uncommon to see a line out the door during the evenings. It has a fantastic energy with friendly, upbeat staff and delicious, customized fro yo!

Fun Fact: nearly eight years ago I walked into 21 Choices and filled out an employment application. It became my very first (non-entertainment industry) job. And I loved it. And so did my sweet tooth. And so will yours.

2) Some Crust Bakery

The Some Crust Bakery, which opened in 1916, prides itself on it’s European-style baking methods.

It’s not just a popular spot for baked goods. They serve up yummy breakfast & lunch also – including design-your-own sandwiches and sliders!

Some Crust bakes up fresh cakes, cookies, pastries, danishes, croissants, scones, muffins, pies, bars, cupcakes and so on.

My favorite is the Mocha cookie! Nom. Nom. Nom.

3) Bert & Rocky’s Cream Company

Bert & Rocky’s Cream Company is a sugary heaven. With 50 flavors of ice cream, cases full of candy and chocolate, and massive caramel apples, it guarantees something good for everyone.

Their ice cream counters hold all the classics as well as unique flavors like “Guava and Goat Cheese”. Say what?!

But… if ice cream isn’t your thing ~~(then you’re weird)~~ you can check out these beauties below.

4) I Like Pie

As a somewhat new member to the Village, I Like Pie is quickly establishing itself as a big player.

Next month, this charming pie shop is partnering with the Claremont Chamber of Commerce to host the 2nd Annual Claremont Pie Festival. It’s being held out front I Like Pie on March 15th, 2014 from 11:00am-4:00 pm. It’ll be a great opportunity to come check out all the local pies!

I Like Pie also features a gluten-free option daily and vegan options Friday through Sunday.

All of the sweet and savory pies I’ve tasted have been delicious. I even ordered a full-size Apple Cranberry one for Thanksgiving last year! It was decorated with leaves made from pie-crust. So cute!

5) Laemmle Movie Theatre

The 5-cinema Laemmle Movie Theater offers up a wide range of movies, from the biggest box office hits to obscure independent and foreign films.

In other words, a simple recipe for a romantic evening (or just a friend-date) in the Village :

Sit down for dinner on the patio at The Back Abbey (a cool gastropub behind the theater)

Catch a movie at Laemmle

And finally, enjoy a dessert at any of the fun options above!

6) Nectar Boutique

Because… a review of any downtown is not complete without a shopping recommendation!

Nectar Boutique. It’s full of cute clothes and accessories for, well, women. Sorry dudes.

After being referred here by many friends I finally came in to take a look around.

I literally can’t come in without buying something. Every time.

Oh and they have an employee named Alexa. Automatic awesome. And as it turns out she’s really helpful and cute. I mean, her name IS Alexa… ha. Terrible joke. Just terrible. Moving on.

7) Rhino Records

If you’re a music fan, be sure to check out the impressive selection over at Rhino Records.
It’s like walking back into the good ‘ole days when there were things like records… and… CDS. Gasp.

Tap into your inner hipster. You know you want to.

8) Walters Restaurant

Lastly, if you’re in the mood for something a little different (but not too different) then check out Walters Restaurant. Their menu is made up of American/Afghan fusion and it’s… it’s just… really good.

Two of my favorites items on the menu are:

1) – Afghan Fries (left) – Fresh potatoes dipped in a special ethnic batter and deep fried.

Those Afghan Fries though. Served up with some ketchup. Yee haw!

And

2) – Spicy Corn Cakes (right) – Topped with homemade black beans, salsa and sour cream. (Vegan)

My mouth is watering.

My sister-in-law recommends…

3) Bolawnies – An afghan dish made up of ground beef, potatoes and onions stuffed in a thin dough and deep-fried. Served with fresh yogurt sauce.

I’ve actually never tried them but they’re on my to-try-very-soon list.

The Village’s HONORABLE MENTIONS!!!

Two of my other favorite places in the Village are chains and I tried to keep this post all about what is UNIQUE to Claremont.

But because I love them so I will list them here.

1) Le Pain Quotidien – I go here for breakfast and lunch with my mom quiiiiite frequently. Their steamed apple juice, coconut macaroons, cheese almond danish, and curried chicken salad tartine with harissa-cranberry chutney can turn any frown upside down. Exclamation point. Exclamation point. Exclamation point.

2) Eureka Burger – Fresno Fig burger with sweet potato fries and extra ranch. And a Belgian wheat beer. Please and thank you.

—–

What are YOUR favorite things about Claremont?

Or if you haven’t yet had the pleasure of exploring my neck-of-the-woods, which business above looks most appealing? What would you do if you had a day to spend in C-Mont?

Africa, Ghana

Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Ghana, I’m Yours (Part Two)

February 11, 2014 zaagitravel@gmail.com

In the spring of 2013 I attended a meeting for my mom’s knitting and crocheting club, the “Knit Wits”. They had taught me to knit and crochet many years before and some of them I’d known for my entire remembered life.

The group of about ten women meet on Fridays and are often working on various service projects; their most recent project had been making hats and scarves for the homeless.

The Idea

As a Semester at Sea alumna I frequently spend my free time recruiting students for the without-a-doubt-best-study-abroad-program-in-the-world. When I learned that my friend Christina would officially be taking part in the Spring 2014 Semester at Sea voyage I began considering what I could send with her to take to the orphanage I support in Ghana.

It would be a win-win for all involved if we could work something out. Christina would experience a well-run orphanage environment while in Ghana, the children would get visitors (something they thoroughly enjoy), and I would get to give something back to the children that taught me what joy really is.

The Proposal

Well, in short, I came to the Knit Wits meeting and kind of just threw the idea out there. Not really expecting them to agree to crochet 50-something blankets in less than a year, it was pure awesome when they announced they would do it!

The Project

And so it began. We all crocheted our hearts out.

Months and months of work went by. I emailed back and forth with Daniel, manager of the Egyam orphanage, and he sent me the boy/girl ratio. We ended up making a few extras which can be used for incoming children whenever they arrive.

By late December the blankets were finished.

The Ship

Getting the blankets physically onto the ship was it’s own adventure.

During the weeks leading up to when the MV Explorer would be in the San Diego harbor I spoke with numerous Semester at Sea employees about the best way to get the blankets on board. All told me that it would be best if the two students (at this point I had now adopted another friend, Taylor, into my orphanage-visit team) could transport the boxes with them the day they boarded the floating university, officially and affectionately referred to as the MV Explorer.

I knew that Taylor and Christina would have their hands full with their own luggage and be busy trying to navigate the hectic and intensive first day — including crossing the Mexican border by shuttle and going through security in Ensenada. It didn’t seem like the best way to me.

January 9, 2014

The day before embarkation came and my plans were still not anywhere near final or concrete. Weeks previously I had bought a ticket to the TEDx talk that Semester at Sea was hosting on board the ship. After loading up my car with the two boxes and a dolly, I decided I would just drive up to the port and hope for the best.

As I began the two-hour drive from my hometown down to San Diego I prayed and prayed that things would go smoothly.

In short, this is how things played out:

I parked.

Two nearby construction workers helped me get the boxes from my car onto the dolly.

I walked the 50 or so feet from my car to the TEDx check-in table.

Without even saying anything, the Semester at Sea employees I had previously spoken with told me to wait a moment while they checked if I could get approval to load the boxes aboard the ship.

A few minutes later they returned to give me approval. WHAT?! YES!

I got my badge and started the trek from the port entrance to security, where Port of San Diego workers cut open the well-taped boxes, unloaded the vacuum-sealed bags and put each bag through the metal detector.

While going through security I met a couple attending the TEDx talk. They were each alumni of the program, although from different semesters, and had met at a reunion event. Decades later and they were excited to see the newest SAS ship. As we began talking the husband of the duo offered to pull the dolly through the ship and into the storage room. I thanked him and offered to give them a tour of the MV Explorer in return — something I do annually for the Open Ship events, including one I had volunteered for during the week prior.

We easily put the boxes into place and off we went exploring the ship.

Then, during a break in the TEDx talks I went into Tymitz Square (a central location/entryway) where different companies and sponsors were tabling. I spoke with the founders of Global Grins who, without a second of hesitation, passed me four or five handfuls of toothbrushes to stuff into the boxes that would be given to the children at Egyam! Seriously?! Is this real life?!

I then spoke with a representative from TOMS shoes, a well-known retail company whose business concept is to donate shoes for those in need, equal to however many shoes they sell. We discussed the possibility of donating shoes to Egyam (shoes are actually what the orphanage needs the very most) during the Fall 2014 semester. This potential offer is something I’m now currently in the process of securing.

I couldn’t believe the way this entire day played out. But it kept on getting better and better.

Once back in the storage room I started counting the toothbrushes to see how many there would be. Even if there weren’t enough for every child some would be better than none.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15…

16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30…

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45…

“Uh oh. Looks like it’s just a few short. Darn”, I said out loud to myself.

46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51……….

The exact amount of children at the Egyam orphanage.

In that moment I felt like I had been personally hugged by God, met fate or destiny, all the stars aligned and apparently, the universe was feeling particularly generous. I’m not too sure how I came to be so blessed. All I know is that this project is nearing full completion and I am so unbelievably grateful for every person that helped make this idea a reality. Beginning with yarn and ending with a box of blankets traveling across the world to 51 beautiful souls.

A years worth of a labor of love. Securely in place. On it’s way to Ghana as we speak. Today, February 9, 2014, the ship is arriving in Hong Kong and soon heading toward Vietnam.

The blankets will be hand-delivered by students of the Spring 2014 Semester at Sea voyage in April. Pictures, videos, and statements from the students and Egyam children will make up Part Three of this blog series. It will surely be my most favorite blog post of all time. I can’t wait to share it with you.

Africa, Ghana

Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Ghana, I’m Yours (Part One)

February 5, 2014 zaagitravel@gmail.com 1 Comment

It was Fall 2010 and I was preparing to sail on the Spring 2011 Semester at Sea study abroad voyage — in other words, obsessively memorizing every word of the Semester at Sea website and every blog I could find about the SAS experience.

One day, an article popped up about an independently organized trip to an orphanage in rural Ghana. It described how a student, Emma Smith, had contacted the Egyam Orphanage through her church and brought with her donated shoes that she collected from her fellow shipmates.

I creeped around on Facebook until I found Emma’s profile and sent over a message while she was still traveling. When she returned home she got me in touch with the orphanage director, Daniel Payne.

A few months later and I was on the MV Explorer ship myself, trying to recruit students to come with me to visit Egyam.

The morning of the visit arrived. I had gathered a handful of students to join me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGrhT1RNRq4

Our journey began with carrying boxes of donated school supplies and toys (left on the ship by Emma) through the Deck 2 gangway. As we were exiting the ship we ran into Brittany App, the voyage’s professional photographer. Brittany was heading into Takoradi, a nearby city in Ghana, but paused as she overheard us discussing our plans. She was interested in the story and asked if she could come along; I replied with a resounding YES YES YES!

We found a couple taxis and started the 45 minute drive to the village.

Over the course of our visit, we met with the founder Thea van den Bosch, of Holland, who was a gracious host. Thea did not speak fluent English but her kindness and warmth was an inspiring comfort for everyone who met her. She took us through the village of Egyam and served us tea and pastries on our return.

We learned that Thea felt called to open an orphanage in late 2005 after volunteering at local hospitals in Ghana. She realized the disturbing amount of children that were without families and dying in these hospitals all alone.

She really has done an incredible job in creating Egyam. They have over 50 live-in children and around 20 or so children they support in the village. Before and after photos on their website show the impact Egyam has made in their lives.

The highlight of the visit (and a highlight of my entire life) was spending time with the children. I can genuinely say that they changed my life. My heart grew 50 times in size and it began feeling love 50 times deeper and stronger. Their joy for life and abundant happiness despite having so little is absolutely overwhelming.

I particularly felt connected to one of the boys, whose identity I’ve decided to keep private. The second we made eye contact he took my hand and didn’t let go. I mean, really didn’t let go. He had a smile that shined through his eyes, through the pores of his skin.

I spent my entire internet minutes on the ship researching if there was a way that I, at 19 years old, could adopt him. I emailed my parents about it, asking if they could help. I quickly learned that it would not be possible; Ghana has strict laws regarding eligibility for international adoption. Three years later and I still think of him every single day. I’m now just waiting for the moment I’ll see him again, whether in Ghana or here in the United States.

In all honesty, it hurts to write this blog post. I’m on the brink of tears. The thought of leaving all those children frustrates me like no other. I can’t move on and forget them. This is why I started organizing projects to assist in any possible way I could.

Since 2011 I have been recruiting Semester at Sea students to visit the Egyam Orphanage. This year I attempted a massive project that will be completed in April 2014. Students from the Spring 2014 voyage will be hand-delivering boxes full of one-of-a-kind, hand crocheted blankets for each child at the Egyam Orphanage.

I will be posting again this week with more information on the blanket project (and upcoming projects) so keep an eye out! If you’re interested in contributing to future projects you can email me at ZaagiTravel@gmail.com.

California, North America, United States

How to Spend A Morning in Pismo Beach, California

January 27, 2014 zaagitravel@gmail.com 1 Comment

Pismo Beach is a small beach town on the central coast of California. In the 1950’s it adopted the moniker “Clam Capital of the World”, a culture it still closely identifies with today. You may have also heard of this little gem from pop culture classic, Clueless, when Cher identifies herself as captain of the Pismo Beach Disaster Relief.

The real disaster is if you haven’t ever heard of Pismo Beach. However, if this is the case, it’s not too late.

What you should know now:

The downtown area is a popular stop for travelers making the long trip up or down the gorgeous coast (bias aside…) of the golden state. It is also the closest beach to San Luis Obispo, home to Cal Poly SLO, a well-regarded university.

Lately I’ve been loving the monthly road trips with friends up to our friend Kevin’s oceanfront vacation home. Let’s be real, who doesn’t love indulging in delicious food and stunning Pacific Ocean views…?

If you’re planning on a visit to Pismo Beach, do yourself a favor and put your diet on hold. Trust me, it’ll be worth it.

There are three things you must do when visiting Pismo Beach, California…

1. Eat a to-die-for cinnamon roll at Old West Cinnamon Rolls on Dolliver St. Extra points for a specialized cinnamon roll, like the one I devoured that was coated with slivered almonds. BOMB! Other topping options include: crumbs, pecans, walnuts, raisins, and raisins & walnuts.

2. Take a relaxing stroll on the pier or beach (PSSST! Silver dollar central on the north side of the pier during low tide. I found 12 in under 12 minutes!)

3. Finish up with a hot sourdough bread bowl full of award-winning clam chowder from the famous Splash Cafe (an awesome tip I got from my boyfriend, Ryan: add the “seafood topping” for a $1.00… it is SO good!)

What do you love most about Pismo Beach?

If you could only choose one, which would you have — an Old West cinnamon roll or clam chowder from Splash Cafe?

Africa, South Africa

That One Time… I Jumped Off a Moving Train in Africa

December 12, 2013 zaagitravel@gmail.com

That One Time… I Jumped Off a Moving Train in Africa. South Africa that is.

This blog post is coming to you due to popular demand. And by popular demand I mean the handful of people that have shown some kind of intrigue when they hear I survived jumping off a moving train.

I wish I’d written this all down when it first happened nearly three years ago. But I’ll do my best to tell it to you here and now.

It is (somewhat) a story of survival. Or near-death. Whichever sounds cooler.

All jokes aside, I feel that I really do owe it to Jonathan and Rachel for helping me get through the experience.

Wait, who are Jonathan and Rachel? Well, you’re about to find out…

I met Rachel first. Only a couple days before. We were paired together for an overnight homestay in a township outside of Capetown. Sleeping overnight in a township is enough to blow the minds of many a South African. But that’s really how we met.

We stayed with the Sandlana family — a mom and dad, 8 fully grown daughters and 5 grandchildren, all living together in a 2 bedroom home. That experience alone deserves it’s own blog post. So for now, just know that Rachel and I bonded over being eaten alive by mosquitoes while we laid in our beds that night.

The next day, once we returned to the ship, we quickly raced to “the 5th deck dining room” of the MV Explorer to grab some lunch. There, I met Jonathan. I’d seen him around the ship before but we’d never spoken.

Before I knew it the three of us were on our way to the Capetown train station, bound for Simons Town — a beach community where penguins migrate to escape the chilly cold of Antarctica.

Fast-forward to that evening… we had seen the penguins and were on our way back to the ship.

This is how my memory serves me:

We boarded a train sometime around 7:30 in the evening.

I was wearing a soft, purple Northface zip-up jacket, khaki capris, a white v-neck t-shirt, a thin purple scarf, and champagne colored Havaiana flip-flops with rhinestones in the shape of a heart beside my big toes. I had a black backpack with me. And I was tired. We all were. It was our fourth day in South Africa and every one of us had been sacrificing sleep in order to experience as much as we could.

So, we board the train. Time passes, stop after stop, waiting til we arrive in Capetown. Around 9:00 we make another stop. Rachel thinks we’ve arrived in Capetown, stands up and gets off the train.

This all happens so fast.

The three of us argue for a brief moment. Jonathan and I urge Rachel to get back on. The train jolts forward. Jonathan follows, yelling “We can’t leave her!” as he jumps onto the platform.

I stop, contemplating in lightning speed whether or not I should stay on the train. Weighing my options.

If I stay on the train I know I can figure out how to get back to the ship. But alone, in the dark, in a country I’ve only been in for four days?

I look back at the people in the train car. 20 or so local men. I think I must have made eye contact with one or a few of them. Something told me to jump. I really didn’t want to, because the few seconds it took for me to make up my mind also meant an increase in the train’s speed.

We’re not exactly sure how fast the train was traveling when I finally jumped.

I do know that I went right foot forward, the movement flung me back up, twisting in mid-air, landing hard on my side and preceding to roll probably a dozen times before coming to a stop.

When I opened my eyes I could see Jonathan and Rachel above me. When I tried to stand up I noticed my toe. That’s where the pain first hit me.

I could barely see it, it was so dark. There was an obvious open wound across my big toe and a fair amount of blood. Drops of it hit the pavement. I looked around, no lights as far as the eye could see.

I remember asking Jonathan and Rachel if it were possible to contract HIV from something on the dirty ground. They assured me I was okay, but I could see the worry on Rachel’s face. The open wound on my foot upset me too. I didn’t want the wound to come in contact with anything.

Then I noticed the soreness in my upper arm and hip. A heavy, dull aching.

Quite some time later I became aware that I was bleeding just below my right elbow. The Northface jacket had been ripped open to expose my dirty, bloody mess of an arm.

My head started hurting. I felt pain all over my body. I was more scared than I could handle.

We walked for what felt like… hours. I truly don’t know how long it was.

We didn’t come across any people, any business, nothing. We were in the middle of nowhere. A couple blocks before we finally stumbled across something, I felt like giving up. My body was tired and it hurt to move an inch. I was both physically and emotionally exhausted. I didn’t give up though. Jonathan and Rachel talked me through it, helping carry much of the weight of my body as well as my spirit.

The business we came across, I want to say it looked something like an internet cafe. The people inside were very confused to see us strolling in — myself, covered in blood and dirt and tears.

I know I sat down on their couch. I know they wouldn’t allow us to call for help. I know a man came forward, Michael. He was from the Democratic Republic of Congo. He held my hand and comforted me and called his friend, a taxi driver in Capetown.

Time passed, another hour maybe. The friend arrived. I said goodbye to Michael, who I like to think of as an angel. Or sent by one. I’m not sure what we would have done if he had not helped us.

And as we drove I stared out the window, concentrating on the lights and colors, trying to stay calm and distract myself from the pain and panic. An hour later we arrived at the ship. I burst into tears when I saw it. The relief I felt, seeing the ship floating on the water in the harbor. Knowing there would be nurses and Dr. Bill to fix me up. And eventually, my bed. I was safe. I was going to be okay. I walked up the 5 flights of stairs, supported by Jonathan and Rachel.

Home. I was going to be okay.

Europe, London, United Kingdom

Safestay Hostel at Elephant & Castle in London, England

December 9, 2013 zaagitravel@gmail.com

If you’re looking for a hostel in London I highly recommend Safestay (Elephant & Castle).

Here are some of the reasons why.

1. It’s safe.

Like the name suggests, Safestay provides a safe and secure place to lay your head at night. A key card is required to enter through any door, even into the elevator and hallways. There is also a 24-hour receptionist at the front door.

I stayed in a mixed (boys+girls) 6 person room for 5 nights and never once felt uncomfortable. In fact, the guys in my room were awesome! An american, an aussie, and two handsome dutch boys. I’m even Facebook friends with them all. When you’re in a safe environment don’t be afraid to break out of your comfort zone and meet new people.

2. Easy transportation access.

There are six bus stops directly in front of the hostel.

In order, from nearest to furthest — although the furthest is less than 200 feet away:

1. Walworth, Larcom Street (SE17) (Stop D)

2. Walworth, Larcom Street (SE17) (Stop B)

3. Larcom Street (Stop B)

4. Walworth, Larcom Street (Stop A)

5. Walworth, Larcom Street (SE17) (Stop C)

6. Larcom Street (Stop C)

TIP!!! Take a photo of the bus route maps in front of your hostel. It’ll make getting home a heck of a lot easier!

I can confidently say that the bus was definitely my favorite way to travel around the city. The Tube/Underground (Elephant & Castle on the Bakerloo & Northern lines) is of course another option but you’ll have about a 5 minute walk through a bit of a sketchy area, which I did many times but always with a group of people and generally avoided it at night.

Most major highlights around London are a 10-30 minute easy and scenic bus ride from the hostel’s front door!

I would suggest buying an Oyster card, which can be used both on buses as well as the Tube. As of December 2013, a single bus trip with cash will cost you £2.40; OR £1.40 with the Oyster card with a daily cap of £4.40. A single Tube trip with cash will cost you £4.50; OR £2.10 with the Oyster card with a daily cap of £7.00 or £8.40 depending on if it’s peak or off-peak season. This is all aside from the fact that it’s just plain annoying to have to get out cash to pay for public transportation when you can simply swipe a card and be on your merry way!

3. Clean and comfortable.

The entire property was spotless and the rooms were cleaned daily. While the building itself is from the 18th century the hostel is quite new, having opened in 2012.

Some of the amenities include:

– individual bed curtains

– large lockers underneath the beds

– free wifi in common areas

– free continental breakfast (cereals, croissants, yogurt, juice, coffee, etc.)

– bar and restaurant

Other bonuses:

There’s no age limit on guests! Even families are welcome.

Staff is friendly and professional!

___

I always recommend Safestay to anyone I know traveling to London. You can bet the next time I hop across the pond I’ll be paying them another visit.

You can browse hostels and book a bed through HostelWorld.com.

The hostel’s address:

Safestay at Elephant & Castle

144-152 Walworth Road
Elephant & Castle
London SE17 1JL

California, North America, United States

Cooking Observation at the Village Kitchen Shoppe in Glendora, California

November 14, 2013 zaagitravel@gmail.com 1 Comment

I’ve been on quite the hiatus — first it was Nashville for the KEEN Digital Summit, and then I had a health issue to address… but I’m back into the swing of things again! I’m ready, you ready? Cool. Let’s get it then.

So I first visited the Village Kitchen Shoppe nearly a year ago.

When I get people gifts I often like to give experiences, rather than things. And being that my dad loves to cook (he’s basically an undercover gourmet chef) I thought it would be fun to gift him a cooking demonstration for his birthday.

The idea of sitting back, relaxing, and drinking a couple glasses of wine while observing new cooking techniques followed by a delicious meal sounded right up our alley! And it was.

I’ve been back to the Village Kitchen Shoppe many times over the last year. Their well-stocked shop is a great place to find cooking-related gifts. Each time I go I discover exciting, new trinkets and tools — like colorful, magnetic, stackable measuring cups & spoons or the absolute coolest mixer I’ve ever laid eyes on.

So… last month, when I discovered a pair of passes to another one of these cooking demonstrations at an auction organized by the David & Margaret Home, I was determined to win them to surprise my dad with a sequel to our previous culinary training.

The $50/person “TAB (Take a Break)” class was lead by 1 head chef, Gina, 1 sous chef and about 8-10 observers. It lasted from 10:30am – about 1:30pm. Gina, who has been working at the Village Kitchen Shoppe for four years, is likable and full of interesting knowledge.

A sample of things I learned specifically about eggs from Gina during the TAB class:

— Egg shell attracts egg shell. If you break an egg and a piece of the shell falls into the bowl, use another piece of shell to help fish it out.

— Egg yolk is always the same size. It’s the egg white that differs amongst the various sizes of eggs. Who knew?

As you can see below, the demonstration was best seen from the overhead mirror that reflected the table Gina worked on.

The food itself was fabulous! During this particular demonstration (the menu is different each time) they served a sweet and sour holiday brisket, a massive iceberg salad with refreshing dressing and blue cheese, roasted fingerling potatoes and carrot coins, goat cheese popovers, and a pumpkin pecan cake bar with a cream cheese vanilla bean frosting.

The brisket was tender and full of incredible flavor. The goat cheese popovers, perfect for mopping up the crazy good sauce from the brisket, were crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. The vegetables, deceivingly simple to make, seemed like there just had to be some fancy, special secret to them.The gloriously gigantic pumpkin pecan cake bars were a perfect way to end the meal and indulge in the festivity of fall. Moist, sweet, surprisingly light, yet still wonderfully rich — I was a big fan.

The following weekend I made the fingerling potatoes and carrot coins (with a Beer Braised Beef dish by the Pioneer Woman) and it was boyfriend-approved! Both recipes were ridiculously easy to repeat but tasted like I’d slaved in the kitchen. Loved that.

Overall: I recommend the classes at the Village Kitchen Shoppe to anyone in the San Gabriel Valley area looking for a new way to spend a Saturday morning or celebrate a special occasion.

Africa, Semester at Sea, South Africa

Penguin Colony at Boulders Beach in Simon’s Town, South Africa

October 14, 2013 zaagitravel@gmail.com

I’d first heard about the penguin colony in South Africa via Pinterest. You’re probably thinking… wait a second, is that even real?! Do penguins really hang out on the sunny beaches of AFRICA? Turns out it is very real. Penguins have been migrating to these particular southern shores since the 1980s.

Naturally I had to go see for myself.

(Heads up: excuse the less than fantastic photos — these were taken with a sad little point-and-shoot nearly 3 years ago)

So this is how the beginning of the day went:

On my one free day in Capetown during the spring of 2011 I made plans with my new friend Rachel to take a train out to Simon’s Town in search of those adorable, tuxedoed Antarctic natives. Rachel and I had met only a couple days before when we were put together as “sisters” for a stay with a host family at a township outside of Capetown.

While we were grabbing breakfast onboard the MV Explorer we ran into Jonathan, a guy I had never met before but who was interested in seeing the penguins also, and we felt it wouldn’t hurt to have a guy apart of our group — it turns out this serendipitous meeting would later become one of the best things to ever happen to me, because Jonathan helped save my life this same evening, but more on that later.

The three of us started out at the Capetown train station where we bought round-trip tickets to Simon’s Town.

We boarded the train and off we went, on our quest to be as close to the south pole as any of us had ever been — not that we were close, but we were in the southern hemisphere and that itself was cool.

Out the window of the train we could view breath-taking landscapes at every turn.

We arrived and began leisurely walking towards Boulders Beach, stopping to get ice cream and look inside shops along the way.

After crossing the street and strolling along the wooden boardwalk we came to a viewing area where we could see the penguins, who shook themselves free of water and waddled toward us.

We turned and walked back the way we came to see if we could find another place to view these little guys.

Down one of the paths we came across a protected beach which required an entrance fee. We paid the fee, bought ourselves a South African “Iron Brew” soda, and started down the walkway towards the sand.

I rolled up the ends of my jeans and waded into the water. With a few quick maneuvers I climbed up onto a rock next to a group of the penguins and sat there for ten minutes, enjoying the view and the good vibes.

After leaving the penguins we headed back to the Simon’s Town train station in order to catch the last train back to our ship in Capetown…

We were completely unaware that I was about to encounter a near-death experience — check back later this week for that story!

California, North America, United States

Best Italian Food Outside of Italy: Aldolino’s in Azusa, California

October 2, 2013 zaagitravel@gmail.com 1 Comment

Aldolino‘s was recommended to me by my mom’s hair stylist. As a lover of Italian cuisine I couldn’t wait to give it a try. Thank goodness I did. It was truly the best Italian food I’ve had outside of Italy! And now one of my favorite restaurants ever.

As we pulled up I tried not to pass judgment based on the exterior — an unassuming location, in a fairly old shopping center, with a Mexican grocery store as a neighbor. In fact, it has served up Italian food in this location for nearly 60 years, including back when Arrow Hwy was still a dirt road.

As I entered I quickly observed how clean and charming the interior was.

Gabriel, our server (who also happens to be the owner), was a beaming ray of sunshine. He could easily pass as an Italian — handsome, charismatic, and with a genuine desire to serve up the best Italian food you’ve ever had. He and his brother Jesus (the chef) love to cook. They each have an impressive resume with collective experience in nearly a dozen high-end restaurants around the Los Angeles area — establishments like Il Fornaio, Palm Restaurant, Arroyo Chop House, Twin Palms, etc.

The menu displays a photo of the original owner, Aldolino Formica, whose own charisma helped land him on TV shows like I Love Lucy (with Lucille Ball below) and the Ed Sullivan Show, among others.

Inside the menu you can find a diverse variety of reasonably priced and delicious Italian dishes, including recipes that have been passed down from the days of Aldolino himself.

This particular visit I ordered the Venezia Insalata. My other favorite dish to order is the Pasta Della Casa. Unfortunately for you, the salad looked so irresistible that, well, it was gone before I could remember to take a picture.

Below is the dish my dad ordered, Rigatoni Al Forno. If you like Italian sausage you truly can’t beat the incredible version served up at Aldolino’s.

Fun fact: All of the sauces here are made fresh, from scratch and by taste.

One of my other favorite dishes (I know, there are so many!) is the Ravioli di Vitello — a beef raviolo in a mushroom herb creme sauce drizzled with white truffle oil. This stuff is to die for. The bread at Aldo’s (which is utterly amazing also, do you see a theme here?) goes perfectly with the mushroom sauce. I could literally order a bowl of the sauce and eat it with a bowl of the bread. Can’t believe I just admitted that, but it’s true!

And if all of this weren’t enough to convince you that you NEED to try this place… just scroll down a bit to see the apple dessert with homemade cinnamon ice cream.

Fun fact: All of the desserts are made on-site by Gabriel himself.

Enough said.

Is it just me or do those pictures make you want to lick the screen?

Aldolino’s truly deserves all the praise in the world. I wish them many more years of success (I simply never want to stop coming here)!

Aldolino’s Italian Restaurant is located at 659 E Arrow Hwy, Azusa, California 91702.

Have you ever been to Aldolino’s? What’s your favorite dish?

British Columbia, Canada, North America

German Christmas Market in Vancouver, Canada

September 3, 2013 zaagitravel@gmail.com

German Vancouver Christmas Market via ZaagiTravel.com

As I opened the car door and jumped out into the crisp November air I shivered and slid my knit toque* onto my head, pulling it down far enough to cover the tops of my ears.

The cold still shocked me every time I stepped outside. The late autumn weather in downtown Vancouver was colder than the coldest night all year in Southern California.

Across the street, on the corner, I could see white Christmas lights and a line of people in coats, boots, toques and gloves.

Once we had my god son all snug in his stroller we began following the smell of roasting bratwurst that filled the air. I began realizing just how starving I actually was.

Sidney, Erica’s four-year-old daughter, stood at my side and held her arms up towards me with her infamous (as well as irresistible) sassy smile on her face. I reached down and lifted her up onto my hip before walking across the street and getting into the long but quickly moving line.

Approximately ten minutes later we walked through the entrance. The adults of our group made their way to the booth where we could show ID in exchange for a bracelet that allowed us to consume alcohol. You know you don’t want to miss out on some mulled wine!

Before we could satisfy our grumbling stomachs we needed to satisfy the youngest awake member of the family – little Wyatt was in and out of a deep sleep despite the high energy environment around us.

So Erica and Sidney had a photo op with the Gingerbread Man & Woman. Pretty nice of them to take a moment out of their busy schedule — you know with all that running as fast as they can. Ha! This is where you laugh… Okay, moving on.

Then I took Sidney on the Carousel a few times. Four-year-olds. They dig that stuff. And maybe 22-year-olds do too.

That evening we ingested vast amounts of traditional German food — including the longest bratwurst you’ve ever laid eyes on (just see below) generously topped with sauerkraut; Schnitzel, which was breaded and fried to perfection; freshly roasted chestnuts; and the delicious (but strong!) Gluhwein, steaming hot red wine spiced with cinnamon, sugar, vanilla, and citrus that warms you from the inside out.

After over-indulging our appetites we walked around and checked out the different Christmas gifts and decorations being sold by vendors at nearly fifty wooden booths — things like nutcrackers, German beer steins, tree ornaments, and a whole lot more! A talented live band played festive Christmas music on a stage in the center of the event.

I stopped to take some photos of my brother and his fiancee — wouldn’t this have been a sweet picture if he weren’t chowing down on those spiral-cut-potatoes-on-a-stick? I don’t know their actual name but they were delicious so I don’t blame him.

Then the rest of us gathered for a group photo.

It really was an incredible way to spend the holidays with family. It’s barely September and I’m already looking forward to this year’s German Christmas Market experience!

The Vancouver Christmas Market is located at 650 Hamilton Street on the Queen Elizabeth Theatre Plaza. It takes place from November 22 – December 24.

Adult tickets (13 years and older) cost $6 on weekends and during the evening on weeknights; $3 during the day during the week; $3 for kids 7-12 no matter the day or time. Kids 6 and under enter for free.

TIPS:

1. Admission is CASH only!

2. Print off the VIP Fast Pass from their website, it saves you time in line.

3. Once you pay to enter the Christmas Market you automatically get in free on return visits! Just hang onto your ticket.

4. During lunch you can BOGO! Buy One, Get One ticket FREE! Just print the lunch pass on their website.

5. When you buy a mug of Gluhwein or Feuerzangenbowle you automatically put down a $2 deposit for the mug. If you’d like to keep your mug like I did, go for it! If you’d like that $2 back you can exchange your mug for a toonie (a.k.a. $2 Canadian dollars).

* For all you non-Canadians out there, a TOQUE is a round-shaped hat normally worn during cold weather, and otherwise known as a beanie.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ap6CGPadXTw&rel=0]

Zaagi Travel

The Best of “The Village” in Claremont, California

Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Ghana, I’m Yours (Part Two)

Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Ghana, I’m Yours (Part One)

How to Spend A Morning in Pismo Beach, California

That One Time… I Jumped Off a Moving Train in Africa

Safestay Hostel at Elephant & Castle in London, England

Safestay at Elephant & Castle

Cooking Observation at the Village Kitchen Shoppe in Glendora, California

Penguin Colony at Boulders Beach in Simon’s Town, South Africa

Best Italian Food Outside of Italy: Aldolino’s in Azusa, California

German Christmas Market in Vancouver, Canada

Unique Insights From One Who Treasures Travel