the nomad lab

I was not expecting this, but I totally loved Philly. Loved it. 

I was there for just a few days last week and took advantage of the time to explore as much of the city as I could. Luckily, I had the perfect tour guide in the form of my boyfriend who is originally from Philly, and was more than happy to show me around his hometown. 

I love that it’s such a walking city, and that everything feels like a little piece of history. Every neighborhood has it’s own character (and characters). It kind of feels like a mini-New York, at a little slower pace. 

Here are some of my favorite places: 

Reading Terminal Market.

Just aisles and aisles of every kind of food imaginable. Everything freshly caught and freshly made.

It’s a great mixture of both prepared ready-to-eat foods like gyros, pasta, and pizza, and fresh produce, seafood and meats to bring home and cook yourself. Oh, and more dessert than I could begin to handle. Chocolates, candy shops, and ice cream galore. 

Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens.

This place is wild. Isaiah Zagar is a mosaic artist who has pieces all over Philly, and he created this cultural arts center magical wonderland that spans an entire half a block on South Street. 

Wander through the maze of mosaics covering the floor, walls, and often the ceiling of this beautiful garden. There are quotes and poems and amazing images created by the design of each tile’s placement, and Zagar also uses additional items like glass bottles and bicycle parts to create fantastical sculptures.

Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens. 1020 South Street.

Philly Cheesesteaks.

We conducted a taste test between Pat’s and Geno’s. Geno’s won. 

La Colombe Torrefaction.

Such a perfect little coffee bar. My macchiato was flawless. Plus, it’s located right next door to Rittenhouse Square so you can sip your coffee and people-watch in the park if the weather’s nice.

The Book Trader.

The perfect kind of used bookstore. You know, books piled high to the ceiling in a maze of bookshelves and a travel section that spans several shelves. 

Dunkin’ Donuts!

I grew up with Dunkin’ Donuts in Texas. It was a childhood favorite. But we Californians don’t have the luxury of a Dunkin’ Donuts on every corner. We don’t have it all :( So I took advantage of every opportunity to savor in it by going every single morning I was in Philly (I’m serious). 

——

That’s all, folks. I have to say, there was a lot more to the city that I expected. A lot of history and culture and really unique neighborhoods that I would have loved to have more time to explore. Just means I’ll have to visit again, I guess!

By the way, I took all these pictures with Instagram because I was too lazy to get out my camera.

If you’re not already following me, my username is marissahu. 

Yup, there’s a Part 3. 

I spent my last day in Huangshan visiting a few of the other villages and sites around the area. 

I also stopped at the Mukang Bamboo Forest, where scenes of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon were filmed. It’s spectacular. Not a single sound but bamboo rustling in the wind. I climbed about 1,000 steps to the top, with a beautiful view of the tiny little town of Mukang. 

Photos below. Enjoy!

Pig’s Heaven Inn is a hidden haven in the midst of a beautiful ancient village called Xidi, just outside Huangshan (the Yellow Mountain). 

After finding myself at just another oak doorway in a narrow alley, I was surprised to find such an warm escape waiting inside. Sunlight streams in through the skywell into the patio. Brightly colored lanterns line the sitting area in the bottom floor. 

The guesthouse stays true to its intricate Hui architecture, with carved wood and stone fixtures. Furnishings are simple but authentic. My bedspread looks like the one I used to always sleep under when I was a kid visiting my Grandma in Shanghai. Teacups painted with flowers can be found all over the house waiting to be filled with Huangshan’s famous Maofeng green tea. 

Every view from every window is unique. Clay pots, hand-blown glassware, and well worn books line the shelves. I keep discovering one hidden nook after another with comfy seats and unique treasures. The whole house just feels… lived in. 

The two sisters who run the place cook delicious home-made meals and are super helpful when it comes to the best places to see. 

And the view!

I spent an hour on the roof deck watching the sun set over the rooftops the first day. 

Other things to know about Pig’s Heaven Inn: 

Breakfast is included, lunch and dinner upon request (will cost extra). Rooms include heaters, electric blankets, and Western-style toilets. Some rooms have TVs. Free wi-fi! Rooms include amenities like slippers, shampoo, toothbrushes and toothpaste. Emails can be conducted in English (with the owner) but the girls there speak very minimal English - so brush up on your Chinese (or hand gestures).

—

Pig’s Heaven Inn

Xidi Village, Huangshan, Anhui Province

Phone: 86 559 515 4555

Email: zhulanjiuba@vip.sina.com

I check out of the Kerry Hotel in Shanghai at 5AM, when it’s still dark outside. Jump in a cab and ask him to take me to the bus station. Weird look. “Really? You want to take a long-distance bus…?” “Yes sir, the bus station, please.”

Apparently girls don’t travel alone by bus too often in Shanghai. 

We speed past the city, bridges, skyscrapers just beginning to silhouette against the dawn. The bus station is bustling already. Everyone else is weighed down with boxes, suitcases and shopping bags, compared to my little backpack. I maneuver through the crowd and find my nearly empty bus, a seat by the window, and settle in. 

After a few minutes pressed to the window watching Shanghai’s cityscape rapidly melting into rural farmland, I fall asleep. 5 hours later, the driver is yelling at me to get off at the Huangshan bus station. 

So.. the inn was supposed to send a driver named Chang to pick me up here. Where is he?

I sit and wait. 10 minutes later, Chang shows up with a sign with my name scrawled on it. Whew! We make the one hour drive to Xidi, chatting about the sights along the way. Weaving past horse carts, pushcarts, and tractors seems to be a standard thing around here. You think the police car with his siren on is driving too slow? Pass him.

Yep, that happened.

We arrive, safe and sound!

I pay the Xidi village 100RMB entrance fee for visitors, and Chang walks me down a narrow alleyway to the Pig’s Heaven Inn. I read a few articles saying fantastic things about this inn and knew I had to check it out. The owner turned an old house with a pig’s pen into an unforgettable three-story guesthouse.

As we walk up to the wooden door, I smell a real pig. And then I see it, next door. Huge. Covered in dirt. Snorting and grunting and whatever else pigs do. 

Seriously? I’m staying at a place that used to be… this?

Yep. And as soon as they open the door, the warmth and the smell of sweet bamboo and pork rushes out. I’m totally sold.

Pig’s Heaven Inn is a carefully curated showcase of ancient architecture, historical culture, and the personal touch of the owner’s artistic eye. There’s a sky well, leaving an open courtyard in the center of the house with comfy furniture and a carved stone table. There are pieces of intricate carved wood and stone, colorful lanterns and elements of Chinese cultural art everywhere. Plus, a gorgeous third floor view of the sunset over crumbling grey-shingled rooftops.

The sisters who run the place show me up a steep wooden stairway to my room on the 2nd floor. It has a heater and an electric blanket… and a Western-style toilet, which is definitely not your standard default when traveling in China. They leave me to wander around, running after me out the door to ask:

“Are you coming back for dinner? What would you like to eat?”

Um, YES. PLEASE. 

I arrange to be back in a few hours for dinner, she gives me a business card so I can ask for directions if (…or rather, when) I get lost in the narrow, winding stone alleys. And, I’m off! 

And back in time for a homecooked meal. 

Delish. 

Stay tuned for more details on the Pig’s Heaven Inn in my next post!

Santa Rosa.

Wine country. Rolling hills and grapevines. Warm fall colors everywhere and the perfect amount of chill in the air. 

Gotta love going home for the holidays. I always make sure to visit a couple of my favorite places in Santa Rosa, no matter how short the trip. 

Aroma Roasters.

Located in Railroad Square, Aromas is a colorful cafe + ice cream shop with lots of character. Good coffee with lots of variety, free 1st refill (and 50 cents thereafter!) on house coffee, tons of tables and free wi-fi. 

Treehorn Books.

Floor to ceiling shelves piled high with books. The entire left side of the shop is used fiction at discount prices. I could explore these shelves for hours, and I always manage to find a new treasure here.

Russian River Brewery.

Fantastic beer with names like Salvation and Damnation. Gets crowded as one of the few bars in Santa Rosa in the evenings, but the bar food is tasty and the bartenders are friendly.

Sonoma County Wineries. 

I love the Sonoma County wineries for feeling a little more intimate and local than the big glamorous Napa Valley wineries. Definitely don’t miss Ledson, Chateau St. Jean, and Kenwood.

(Photos by me, +Russ, M Domondon, Erick Gonzalez, Eddie Ranch, Daniel Hargreaves)

Just realized this is my 100th post!

I just want to take a second to thank you all so much for reading my blog, and I hope you’ve enjoyed reading some of these posts as much as I’ve had researching and writing them. Plus, I hope it’s inspired at least one of you out there to go somewhere unexpected and awesome. 

So, I thought I’d get a little personal for this post and share some of my favorite travel moments with y’all. Here goes!

Spectacular sunsets on the beach in Jaco, Costa Rica. Making friends with stray dogs that would try to follow us back to our hostel.

Stonehenge. No matter what anyone says, it’s cool. There’s just a spiritual, magical, historical feel about it. (That being said, it IS much smaller and farther away than expected.)

Berlin, Germany. Generator Hostel. I believe it was some sort of school holiday for these guys from Ireland. Ridiculous drinking buddies. 

Exploring wintry Switzerland by train. Keeping warm with fireplaces, fondue, and lots of Swiss dark chocolate.

Pretending we just won enough at the casinos to buy a Maserati in Monaco. 

Morocco. Spending quality time with the camels. Sleeping in the desert. Consuming massive quantities of mint tea and tagine. Doing cartwheels in the desert late at night by moonlight.

Cinque Terre sunsets.

Shopping (and haggling!) in Bangkok.

Getting up at 4:30 AM to catch the sun rise over Angkor Wat. Absolutely unforgettable.

Also unforgettable — struggling through food poisoning throughout the rest of the morning as we hiked the never. ending. temples. (Not sure if I was more sleepy or queasy in this picture.)

First time scuba-diving! Bocas del Toro, Panama.

Again, thank you all so much for reading, and I’ll happily take recommendations on more adventures if you’ve got ‘em!

Here’s to many more posts on the nomad lab to inspire you to travel as well!

(Photos from me or my various awesome travel buddies.)

My travel-filled summer lasted well into fall this year. Luckily, this last trip was spent in sunny summer weather in Pensacola, FL. I had a blast during my extended weekend trip last week for DeLuna Fest.

Pensacola Beach is one of the best places you could have a music festival, and the closest I’ve been able to get to some awesome acts. Also, loved getting to see my friends’ band Hands rock their first music festival. 

Some of my favorite moments of the weekend: