friday pic & pin

Posted on May 17, 2013 by Anamu

Hi guys, Happy Friday! I had every intention to share photos from our Vietnam trip this week but I forgot to change the camera RAW settings and iPhoto isn’t too pleased with the big data (hint: laptop is definitely due for a spring cleaning).

Will work on them this weekend but in the meantime here’s a pic from our eco resort, Mango Bay, in Phu Quoc and a Pin of shorts that I’m desperately drooling over. They’re by a Vietnamese designer, THU THU, who incorporates the beautiful textiles of the H’mong women of Sapa. Though we stayed in the South and Sapa is in the North, I managed to pick up a few handmade goodies while in Saigon, one of which I’ll share with you next week and by share I mean give away ;)

If you haven’t checked out the Ring Cozy Kickstarter yet please click on over, pledge if you like it, and tweet, facebook post, and email the heck out of it! There are only TEN more days to reach full funding (Kickstarter is all-or-nada) so every bit helps. Thanks for all of your support!!!

Have an awesome weekend.

Oh and a BIG thank you to Jamie of KAYU for having me on her blog for a Q&A!

(image left: Palm and Sea, Phu Quo, Vietnam by Ana Maria Muñoz, right: Pin via A Boy Named Sue)

ready, set, #putaringcozyonit

Posted on May 6, 2013 by Anamu

Today is an exciting day. A day when I take a big leap of faith and launch Ring Cozy on one of my favorite websites, Kickstarter!

It’s been months and months (okay, nearly one year) in the making and I feel nervous, anxious, scared but most of all, excited. Beyond announcing my new venture here on the the blog I haven’t really made a big public push. I’ve been working on manufacturing and fulfillment details and now that those things are set, I’m ready to really put Ring Cozy out there!

In case you’re new to the blog, or missed this post, Ring Cozy is an activewear accessory that I designed after realizing that I was damaging my engagement ring’s band while working out at the gym. I love my ring and since I never wanted to be without it I had to find a way to keep it on while comfortably protecting it during my activities.

If you’re not familiar with Kickstarter, it’s a crowdfunding website that helps creative projects get funded by supporters in exchange for rewards (ie. being the first to receive the actual product they’re helping to fund). In my case, the Project is getting multiple sizes and colors for Ring Cozy’s first-run production. I chose to launch via Kickstarter for obvious reasons (manufacturing ain’t cheap!) but mainly because as a supporter of past projects, I believe that the entrepreneurial and creative spirit of the website is amazing.

Since Kickstarter operates on an all-or-nothing system for raising funds from supporters – and the project’s duration is only 22 days – I need help in getting the word out early to make this launch a success!

This is where and how you, my awesome readers and internet pals, can help: share the heck out of the project via your social media accounts and personal emails to your personal and professional contacts who might be interested in getting a Ring Cozy of their own. Any shares, likes, follows, and emails will be forever appreciated!

You can find Ring Cozy on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and use the campaign hashtag #putaringcozyonit

I really believe in Ring Cozy and the potential that it has to become an everyday activewear accessory for ring wearers who want to keep their rings on while enjoying their active lifestyles. Thanks for the support so far and many many many thanks for being with me for the journey ahead!

Cheers to making things happen!

PS – a huge THANK YOU is due to Michelle Mizner of Field Work Media for the awesome video! She is one talented lady.

weekend, we <3 you {kk}

Posted on March 25, 2013 by Anamu

Hi guys, I hope you had a great weekend.

Things got so hectic that I wasn’t able to do a Friday post but if you follow me on Instagram, you know that we snuck away to Kota Kinabalu, in Sabah, Malaysia, on the island of Borneo.

We’re on a mission to take advantage of living in Southeast Asia before we wake up from this dream and realize that it’s too late to explore it all. So, we’re trying to do and see as much as we can during the weekends while still enjoying our home in KL. Not the worst challenge in the world, right? Game on!

Kota Kinabalu, or KK as locals call it, is the capital city of Sabah. Because of that I expected a big city like KL but to my delight, the downtown area where we stayed was really small, walkable, and best of all, right by the ocean. We’ve heard amazing things about hiking Mount Kinabalu but since we only had two full days there we decided that we’d save the jungle trekking for another trip and enjoy the islands.

And enjoy we did! There are five islands just off of the mainland and with one main jetty to book a water taxi from, it was super easy to get to and from any of them. A fifteen minute ride on a speed boat took us to Pulau Sapi, or Sapi Island. Most of the people there were part of package deals that include a catered BBQ so with all of them crowded by the main beach, Joe and I set off to find a place of solitude elsewhere on the tiny Island.
Our first attempt at following a designated trail was a miss so we decided to try something different. Instead of walking through the jungle we made our way through the rocky shores around the southwestern part of the island. It was easy to do but we were definitely thankful to have our Ring Cozies on since we had to climb up and over some really rough rocks (yes – had to plug Ring Cozy since it works SO well!).

All was good until Joe pointed out a cool prickly aloe-type plant growing out of a rock wall. I looked, said “wow”, and then my eyes instantly went to a GIANT lizard right underneath it! I’m talking 6ft long, prehistoric, big bodied, long-tongue looking lizard. I flipped out and ran into the water. It took Joe about ten seconds to see it because when I screamed “lizard!” he thought that I meant a small one like we’re used to seeing – that’s how well camouflaged that thing was. Once Joe saw it too, we were both outta there and he said that I should have yelled “GODZILLA!” instead.

Godzilla was immediately forgotten as soon as we walked a few more feet and found a slice of heaven. Aside from a woman who swam up from her privately chartered boat for a bit, we had a little stretch of sand all to ourselves. We joked about all the suckers we left behind on the crowded main beach. But, it wasn’t total perfection. There were jellyfish particles in the water that stung like a really bad case of razor burn when I swam for too long, so I stuck to beach-side lounging.

When it was time to leave I was on high lizard-alert and while we didn’t see the big one we first saw, we saw another one in the water just beneath the rocks we were climbing (eeekkk!!!). Joe took some photos as I pleaded “okay hunny, I think you got the shot. Let’s gooooo!”. It was only after that, on our return back to the main beach, that we saw an old rusted sign on the ground that read “AWAS” which means “BEWARE” in Bahasa Malay. Whomever put that sign there probably knows about the Godzilla family that stalks the shores…

At the end of the day were lucky that we got to enjoy that gorgeous little private beach without any real problems. Otherwise, we could have ended up being the suckers who left the main beach! Totally worth it. During lunch at another island, Pulau Mamutik, we Googled ‘the lizards of Sapi’ and learned that the ones we saw were Monitor Lizards. I think we’ll stick with calling them Godzilla.

show & tell: souvenirs from colombia

Posted on March 19, 2013 by Anamu

What’s a trip without bringing home a few souvenirs?

These treasures from Colombia – a beautiful representation of the weaving done by indigenous women of the country – are adding so much life to our home … and my wardrobe.

The blue cross-body bag’s leather was stitched in Bogota but the colorful strap was woven by the Wayuu women who are known for their large bucket-style purses and skillful hamacas. The home accessories were made by women of the Waounan tribe in the department of Choco. The palm fibers used to create these beauties are woven so tightly that the vase piece we bought could hold water without leaking! Amazing.

The one store we loved unfortunately doesn’t have a website. Such a shame since their products were all so modern leaning and tastefully done and displayed. But, if you find yourself in Cartagena, their address and phone is below. If you’d like to shop for a vase of your own online, here are some shops that carry an assortment: one, two, three.

Colombia Artesanal
Centro, Callejon De Los Estribos
No. 2-40, Cartagena
301-788-8108

stay-cation, we <3 you

Posted on March 18, 2013 by Anamu

Hi guys, how was your weekend?

We had a great little getaway … down the street. Literally, we could see our apartment from our hotel room!

Have you ever done a stay-cation? This was our first one and we loved it. One bag for the both of us, a five minute cab ride door to door, and plenty of time to enjoy the hotel without having to be anywhere else – it was the easiest trip ever.

We stayed at the new Grand Hyatt here in KL, a place that we’ve grown very fond of. We find ourselves dining at one of their restaurants at least once per week (the Malaysian restaurant, JP Teres, is ridiculously good and affordable) and we’re big fans of the spa. The only thing left to try was staying there as hotel guests so we figured, why not! The service there has always been great and the photos of the rooms looked really inviting.

And also, a main motivation to go for it was a deep desire to make up for our experience at the Sofitel Santa Clara in Cartagena, Colombia. That place was so overrated. Between the underwhelming rooms and the lackluster customer service, the value was simply not on par with what we paid for it (and I felt awful that our friends also stayed there with us). I’ll give them the nice big pool but otherwise we’ve never been so disappointed. Please don’t ever waste your money there.

Perhaps we’re spoiled now by South East Asian hospitality but regardless, we were left feeling like we needed to have a good experience elsewhere ASAP. Thank god that the Grand Hyatt delivered because otherwise I would have been shattered. I’m seriously so in love with that hotel that it’s creepy! I guess that sort of thing is bound to happen when you live in a city-center like KLCC where most services and dining options are either in a shopping mall, a business/residential tower, or in a hotel. When in Rome right? In this case, when in KL – home of the cheapest 5-star hotels in the world.

Where have you stay-cationed before? Or, Where would you want to go and what would you do in your city?

viva colombia

Posted on March 15, 2013 by Anamu

Happy Friday guys! I’m wrapping up the week with the last snaps from our trip to Colombia. Looking over all of these brings a HUGE smile to my face.

From the gorgeously green Coffee region where we indulged in natural thermal hot springs and rode horses through a landscape that looks straight out of Dr. Seuss, to Cartagena where colonial charm oozes out of every nook and cranny inside its old fortress walls.

I feel so lucky to have been able to share a bit of my culture with the friends and family who flew down for the wedding. I can only hope that these photos whet your appetite to go explore Colombia one day, too!

We’re going to do a stay-cation this Saturday. Literally, we’re staying at a hotel two blocks away! We figured that we can’t live in a city with the cheapest five star hotels in the world and not try at least one of them. Have a great weekend!

Oh and if you missed them – check out the dots when you hover over images in this post for captions.

bienvenidos

Posted on March 5, 2013 by Anamu

Welcome to our finca, my family’s country home in Pereira, Colombia! Before I get to sharing wedding photos I wanted to show you why we chose to get married there. It’s not just because it was free or because we had our pick at fresh fruit and eggs all day and everyday, but because it is beautiful and tranquil beyond belief. And…it’s our casa.

This is where we spent a good part of our trip prepping for the wedding, relaxing, eating and simply enjoying each other’s company. My parents have been painstakingly renovating and decorating it for the past ten years and though they still have big plans for it, it’s already perfect in my eyes. It’s nature all over…the flowers, plants, fruit trees, free range chickens, ducks, dogs, neighboring farm animals and our reliable entertainment, tropical birds. Bird watching alone made me forget all about internet access and what happened on The Walking Dead that week. Joe had his fair share of hamaca (hammock) naps and I just loved being around my mom and dad, seeing what they were up to, enjoying the proximity for impromptu hugs and kisses to/from them.

The finca has all of the collected touches that my parents taught me to appreciate. They made every effort to bring antique and country-style finds that they had bought while living in LA for the one day that they moved back to Colombia and could really make the finca the home they always wanted it to be. So much has been made by hand, too, with materials found around the property and a little ingenuity. My mom and dad are so creative that I can’t wait to see what the place looks like in a few years. But of course, we won’t be waiting that long to go back. Joe was scheming up ways to work there as the innkeeper and maintenance help just so that we could stay! You neevvveerrr know.

If you’re planning on visiting Colombia (which you totally should if it’s not already on your ‘places to go’ list) my parents will soon be posting the finca on Airbnb and offering guided day trips around the Coffee Triangle. They are the most amazing people that I know so yes, staying with them comes highly recommended, bias or not :)

a year’s worth of wanderlust II

Posted on December 20, 2012 by Anamu

This time of year always makes me reflect and one of the things that I’m most grateful for are the opportunities we’ve had to travel. We set out to live internationally for many reasons but traveling was/is priority numero uno. Looking back, I think we did a good job a sticking to our plan even though some days it feels easier to just veg out at home!

Here are my fave moments, sights, and thoughts from our 2012 travel adventures….

Breaking away from Europe and landing in Marrakech. High hopes and expectations were met with a chaotic Medina with a character all its own.

Passed Berber Villages in the Atlas Mountains and seeing nothing but beautiful vistas. And snow. Who would have thought Africa had snow?!

Sipping on fresh mint tea while picking out our new/old Berber rug…the perfect souvenir! rug shopping

Our first LA visit together and indulging in three things: In N Out burgers, Mexican tacos, and fresh American donuts. This photo was from our morning binge session while doing loads of laundry next door.

Re-discovering the cool designs and colors found in LA

Taking a quick break from LA to Anchorage, Alaska for a visit with Joe’s parents. It was so awesome to be in the house he grew up in and see his childhood town. walking on a frozen pond

a day-trip to Oxford – LOVED it there. For you Hogwarts fanatics – their cafeteria is just off to the left.

Stopping in Florence en route to Chianti. It’s so true that the entire city is a museum.

enjoying an impromptu lunch overlooking vineyards near Greve Chianti. Hands down my fave meal of the trip…for sentimental reasons, mainly, because the other meals were aawweesooomme.

a “booze and chocolate tour” of Brussels with some sight-seeing on the side. A flea market was also involved – this one was one of the most legit I’ve been to.

Leaving our love-lock in Paris as we wrapped up our time in London.

Our first trip after moving to KL: Penang. So colorful and vibrant.

and with charming old character everywhere you look.

Piggy-backing on one of Joe’s business trips to Bangkok and exploring by boat.

Visiting Singapore for the first time and wishing we had moved there instead since it was so clean, organized, and seemingly perfect. It was during a rough point in my new-home adjustment but now love and appreciate the imperfect and real character of KL.

The beach holiday that ruined it for any other ones in the future. Con Dao, Vietnam was utter perfection. Honeymoon is done and done.

Going back to LA to give these little ones hugs and kisses and begin research on my new venture.

Making a long-weekend out of Joe’s business trip to London. We’ll take any amount of time there, no matter how long the flight. Plus, Joe needed to stock up on his favorite Whisky and you can pack more with two people + checked bags than you can with one ;)

The unexpected layover in Abu Dhabi from London. I did my best to make the most of my 48 hours there despite major jet-lag (I was only one week back from LA!)

Getting to know and love the bits of Melbourne that give it it’s reputation as a hub for good coffee shops and interesting street art.

Hanging out in Bondi Beach where I used to splash around as a toddler. Can’t believe that we used to live just down the road. Part of me wonders what it would have been like to grow up there and be a little beach bunny…

… or just dance around The Opera House all the time…

…and with Australia, that brings us to a wrap!

But we won’t be idle for too long. With the US, Europe, Asia, Australia, and Africa covered in one year (that is cray cray!) it’s only fitting that we kick off 2013 with South America in February. Yep, I cannot wait to visit my parents in Colombia and say our “I Do’s” with family, friends, and buñuelos!

I’m so thankful for this beautiful year….and to you guys for sharing it with me. I’ll stop before I get all sappy but know that interacting with you via this blog, twitter, instagram, email is such a joy. And if you just joined me this year, you can catch up on where we went in 2011 by clicking here. Oh, the places we will go……

one year, two different worlds

Posted on December 18, 2012 by Anamu

I didn’t think that we could top last year but as I look back on 2012 I realize that we’re only just getting started. We truly lived in two different worlds so I wanted to collect the most memorable moments, places, things, and thoughts into one post. I don’t really use Facebook so I’ll think of this as my “timeline” :) Travels will be on Thursday!

Here we go….

Enjoying a rare sunny winter day in London. Primrose Hill was Joe’s favorite place to fly his kite.

A soothing cup of coffee and spot in the sun after my first (and thankfully only) mini-seasonal breakdown.

Street art in our hood, W9. I loved walking past this everyday as a reminder of how much we had made London our home.

Back on Primrose Hill after the first snowfall, Joe proposed. His kite stayed home but he brought a gorgeous ring instead.

Experiencing my first winter-to-spring transition felt so magical. I’ll never forget how this warm day felt and how good that cold beer tasted. Can I just say how badly I miss London’s pubs?!? Nothing else comes close.

Watching Feist bring the house down at the beautiful Royal Albert Hall. It was so cool to see her rock out in such a proper and classic venue.

Recapping our first year in London

…and then having to say goodbye shortly after

… and hello to a new landscape. Hello, Malaysia, you beautiful tropical place!

Moving into our new apartment. Happy to have a few simple furnishings provided by the landlord.

Checking out our first wet market and being amazed by all the different varieties of fruit and fried food. I’m still learning what all of them are.

Indulging in all said fruit. They’re so nice to have after experiencing the blandness of the ones available in London.

Receiving love scribbles from my nieces in LA just as I was feeling homesick.

Snapping out of my homesick funk and breaking in our building’s BBQ for a little Fourth of July celebration of our own.

…and then doing it local style with the most amazing satay and peanut sauce ever.

Having front row seats to awesome thunder and lightning storms that happen nearly every afternoon. Even if we’re outside when they occur, it’s so warm out that it doesn’t matter.

Finding beauty in KL’s nooks and crannies.

…and in more obvious and opulent places like the Petronas Twin Towers.

and last but not least, the feeling of growth that comes from exploring new territories both physically and mentally. 2013…bring it on.

{let’s getaway} pack your bags

Posted on December 13, 2012 by Anamu

work ready: Lotuff Leather / date night: KAYU / organize: Gin & Jacqie / everyday: Cuyana / explore: Joshu + Vela / beach holiday: Connected Goods

’Tis the season for travel and one of the things that I struggle with the most while away is feeling like I never have the right bag for the occasion. Sometimes a girl needs a sassy clutch purse and other times she needs a comfy backpack for exploring all the better. Whatever the reason for the getaway, these bags top my wishlist for always being prepared. And of course, a little organizational help from Gin & Jacqie, a Malaysian accessories company with a passion for traveling well and tidy.

a non-planning traveler’s dream

Posted on November 20, 2012 by Anamu

Whenever we board our flight to our holiday destination I look around and see other travelers fiercely clutching their Lonely Planet guide books to countries X & Y. I then have a moment of panic like “crap. I should have bought one of those, too” but then I realize that I love how we approach it. We aren’t big on planning what to do and see when we arrive to our destination since maps don’t make much sense until you’re actually there anyway and we often go off of the day’s weather and how late we stayed up the night before. Of course we pre-book our lodging in neighborhoods that we research for their ease of transport and available services but other than that, we figure that we’ll see the major points of interest along the way and find our own little gems by happy surprise (ie. this rad little bar literally tucked inside of an alley).

However, for as much information that I don’t collect before we depart, upon arrival you can bet that I’m the first person at the info kiosk loading up on every free brochure, map, and local magazine available. Those are my golden tickets to a city. Particularly the local independent weeklys that often feature ads and reviews for great cafes and shops, which often lead to great little neighborhoods. I was getting my fill of these in Melbourne when I found an Urban Walkabout for Melbourne City. It was a non-planner’s dream because it suggested shops, galleries, restaurants, and bars all over the CBD that we could wander to and explore with a bit of local knowledge. Then I found more for other creative neighborhoods and I was hooked. The design, the layout, the simple and approachable information – these guys know what they’re doing! In Sydney I found their “Style Seekers” publication (also free) and was even more impressed. They have curated itineraries from local artists and business owners and offer all of the basic information you need to feel the creative pulse of the city. At that point I finally downloaded their free App and, you guessed it, was really impressed.

I did cheat on Urban Walkabout a bit with Broadsheet and Time Out but there’s plenty of local info to go around, right?

What kind of traveler are you? Do you plan everything you want to see and do or do you go with the flow?

holiday we <3 you

Posted on November 19, 2012 by Anamu

Hi guys, how are you? It feels like I’ve been away for so long! We loved our holiday in Australia and for the first time in our travels, I really felt like a local rather than a tourist. Maybe it’s because I was born there or because Melbourne and Sydney each have familiar qualities from London and LA that I love (like pubs and good mexican food to name a few). Or maybe it had everything to do with forgoing a traditional hotel and booking local rooms in vibrant neighborhoods like Fitzroy and Darlinghurst via Airbnb. Whatever the reason, it was awesome. Melbourne was just the artsy and indie fix that I needed since it’s so hard to come by in KL, and Sydney was sort of like a walk down memory lane through my parents’ stories of the places and things that were once a part of our everyday lives. Joe and I found ourselves talking about what it would take to move there, what we’d do for work, what neighborhoods we’d live in; we do that a lot with the cities we like but this time it felt more plausible. The only downside is that Australia is SO far from everywhere else in the world so we’d have to be pretty sure that our travel bugs had more than fully been satisfied. That’s a tough call to make at this point but with my citizenship there it sure is nice to have the option. Thanks for that, mom and dad ;)