Destination: La Jolla, California

View of La Jolla (June 2022) Following our first night in San Diego last June, my family and I decided to spend a half-day at La Jolla ("la HOY-uh"), a seaside neighborhood located about 10 miles/16 kilometers from San Diego city proper. Home to a small, but stunning coastline, this part of San Diego offers … Continue reading Destination: La Jolla, California

Destination: Torrey Pines State Reserve, California

Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve (June 2022) Prior to reaching San Diego during our holidays last June, my family and I made a stop at Torrey Pines State Reserve and Beach, a large 2000-acre stretch of coastline and home to various flora and fauna, including the namesake tree, the Torrey pine. It's a popular spot … Continue reading Destination: Torrey Pines State Reserve, California

Destination: San Diego, California (2022 Edition, Part 2)

Hotel del Coronado (June 2022) After a delicious gelato treat, my family and I spent the afternoon at San Diego Old Town, a neighborhood where it was the site of the founding of California in 1850. It's fascinating to envision that this was the start of my home state, and fast-forward over 170 years later, … Continue reading Destination: San Diego, California (2022 Edition, Part 2)

Destination: San Diego, California (2022 Edition, Part 1)

Alcazar Garden in Balboa Park, San Diego (June 2022) This month last year, I went on a long weekend getaway to San Diego with my family. Although I'd gone the year prior, it'd been only a day trip-- this time, it was an extended three days in town, and we had ample time to see … Continue reading Destination: San Diego, California (2022 Edition, Part 1)

Top 10 Turkish Dishes You Need to Try

To be honest, this post had been sitting in my drafts for over three years. Ever since I visited Turkey on a 10-day whirlwind tour in 2019, I still dream about the food I had over there, from kebabs to baklava to even the controversial tavuk göğsü. I ate my weight in all of the … Continue reading Top 10 Turkish Dishes You Need to Try