Writings and Travels of Lina Em
Salt rock chandelier at the Wieliczka Salt Mine, my boyfriend sent me this photo many moons ago from his travels
Diamonds don’t fall from the sky, my mother used to say. If you want something, you’ve got to get dirty and dig for them.
Continue reading “Digging For Diamonds”
When I joked to my boyfriend that he may be allergic to dairy, the Italian in him vehemently protested. “Life is not worth living without cheese,” he bemoaned dramatically.
It had me thinking, what would be the food I couldn’t live without?
I love food but I have 2 allergies that prevent me from eating everything under the sun.
Continue reading “Food I couldn’t live without”
It’s a real time machine!
If I knew what I know now, would I go back and do things differently? Would the path I’ve taken change or would it be the same path? Would I always end up in a complete circle of my own life?
Continue reading “What’s in the Past, Stays in the Past”
“The training wheels are officially off,” said my friend on her 30th birthday.
It’s true because I found the 20s was just an extension of one’s teenage years, full of angst, uncertainty, self consciousness, and self loathing at times. But something clicks when you reach a certain point and life changes, in a very good way. Work is still hard and loathsome at times. But life appears more vast and more exciting, if you don’t have regrets and longing for the past. It has open-doors everywhere and any of them can be great if you took a chance, instead of holding on to memories.
My friend hasn’t always been the type of girl to put herself out there. But in the past couple of years, she’s been slowly moving out of the shell she encompassed herself. She ventured out of several doors, sometimes running through them, and seeing the world! And I found I love her even more, admire her strength to face her fears, and am encouraged by her outlook on life. She may not have been the outgoing, rambunctious, party goer, drinker, and average 20 years old but she has always been a constant friend even with distance.
I was so excited when she invited me to her 30th birthday party on a jazz cruise on the Hudson River. I didn’t know anyone save her parents who I haven’t seen since sophomore year in college. But the moment they saw me, they all hugged and kissed me, enveloping me into their family. I felt so loved and welcomed. There was no pretension or ingenuity.
Her family and friends are loving, respectful, and just so much fun. They never made me feel like an outsider or the random friend who wanted brunch buffet on a cruise with them (the company makes the food and the entire experience amazing!).
I feel so grateful to know her and her family and friends.
Prepping the cruise with some motion sickness pills and keeping hydrated in the heat.
Arriving at Pier 40. Fortunately, there was a sign to the ship.
Amazing venue for a great price!
They seated us to a large table for 13 as a jazz trio played music as we entered.
I think I overdid my first plate.
Dessert was overfloweth!
Hanging out with the birthday girl on the top deck as we arrive towards the Statue of Liberty.
Ending the cruise with cake and view of Statue of Liberty. Did you know her parents have been together and in love for over 30 years? I can’t wait until that’ll be me one day.
I’ve run out of food in my refrigerator! All I had was a measly bag of shrimp, some fish, and chicken, and some really bad vegetables. I went to my balcony and saw basil and researched some idea and found a simple enough recipe.
Continue reading “Chili Basil Shrimp”
I spent this past Independence Day having All You Can Eat BBQ at this Japanese restaurant, Gyu Kaku. The first time I dined this restaurant was with my coworkers at A&E and I remember thinking it was very expensive. But recently, I stopped by with a friend after a movie and they have happy hour from noon to 5. Amazing!
Continue reading “Garlic Fried Rice”
Curiosity seems like a natural thing when you see babies giggling and following mobiles and playing with simple block toys. They crawl to reach for things, for places they don’t know. It seems so natural to want to learn, we want to know and we want to grow. So when I hear that someone dislikes traveling, I start to question their childhood because traveling is a form of curiosity.
Continue reading “Traveling”
At 18 years old, staring at the ocean, never imaging I could get this far
I’ve been challenged! No, not to a duel. If it were so, then a duel of the mind and the pen. In this case, a keyboard. I’ve been challenged to write one blog post a day leading up to my 30th birthday. 30 posts in 30 days.
Continue reading “A Challenge: 30 Before 30”
Every year after Father’s Day, my mother used to take us all out of the house, after a long winter hibernating at home and school, to go strawberry picking. It was an annual outing that I loved! To be out in the sun, in the field, eating fresh fruits, and listening to wild birds and bugs chirping. Massachusetts’ farms are the type that are deep in the towns, hard to find places, surrounded by thick forests. So I imagined it would be much like that when my roommate suggested going strawberry picking in Long Island. It’s not as romantic as when I was a child but it’s the company that makes it memorable.
Continue reading “A Berry Happy Afternoon”