Have you heard of Blog-Trotting?

I had no idea it existed until my friend Cara (the founder) and MEP asked me to write about Boston for the site.

At first, I was hesitant to do so. I mean I am probably the least qualified Boston resident to write a post about the largest city in New England.

I am not a native.

Nor did I attend Harvard or MIT.

Heck, I never even experienced temperatures below 50F degrees until I moved here 3 years ago.

I have yet to attend a Red Sox, Bruins, Celtics, or Patriots game (I can hear the gasps of every New Englander reading this).

And I am also utterly clueless of half the things mentioned in this commercial.  In fact, I still have a tough time sifting through the thicker local accents.

(For a more complete explanation of New England-isms, see this post from Angela)

People here really do pronounce ‘car’ as cah, ‘Quincy’ as Quinzee, and ‘Worcester’ as Woostah. The usage of the “R” sound is as common as turn signals. 

Nevertheless, I love Boston. I fell in love with it at the age of twelve, when I first visited this beautiful city perched along the coastline. I remember being in awe of its diverse skyline sprinkled with tall, sleek modern high rises as well as beautifully intricate, historic architecture dating back hundreds of years.

So although I may not be qualified to write in depth about Boston just yet, I am enjoying every opportunity to explore all that this city has to offer.

However, there is one part of Boston that I visit frequently, and feel quite comfortable showcasing here- Chinatown.

And with Chinese New Year this Sunday, I figured why not?

* Just please excuse my not-so-great photos.  I’m 8 months pregnant, and it’s 20 degrees outside with ice everywhere.  Most shots were taken from my warm, heated car.

Nestled between Downtown Crossing and the South End, Boston’s Chinatown is not your typical place. It is not touristy, and you will be hard-pressed to find any street lined in faux handbags or watches. Rather, you are more likely to see fresh produce stands along sidewalks, roasted duck and pork hanging along storefronts, or live seafood swimming in restaurant tanks.

Chinatown consists of only a dozen or so city blocks, but they are all packed full with what Asians treasure most- Food (and the occasional pirated DVD). The Asian cuisine in Chinatown is as authentic and diverse as it gets.  From Vietnamese Pho‘ to traditional Dim Sum served on rolling carts, there is no shortage of variety (Emperor’s Garden is currently my favorite place for dim sum).  However, if you are just looking for some regular ol’ fried rice and wonton soup, most restaurants will serve them too.

I will fully admit that the motive behind 95% of my visits to Chinatown is bakery related.  There are only a handful of Chinese bakeries in Boston, and I love nearly every pastry, bun, or cake sold in them.  I found Ho Yuen Bakery on Beach Street sells the most delicious buns and pastries for the lowest prices.  I look forward to heading there this weekend, even though I am sure it will be crazy due to the New Year festivities.

Which leads me to some advice for anyone venturing into Boston’s Chinatown.  If you can, make sure to take public transportation to get there. Parking along the few tight city blocks is nearly impossible during the day.

Although we do not reside within the city of Boston, we are fortunate enough to live near a subway stop. Boston’s public transportation, known as the MBTA (Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority) or just the “T”, consists of an extensive bus and subway network that can get you almost anywhere in the city. In fact, the Tremont Street tunnel is the oldest subway in North America.

For us, Chinatown is only a 20-minute train ride with one transfer.

See why I go there often?

Those cheap pastries and dim sum do not help either.

So to those who celebrate Chinese New Year…

Kung Hei Fat Choi!

(kinda-sorta means- “Congratulations and be prosperous”)

Click here to read my top 13 bizarre Chinese superstitions and traditions for New Year’s.

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Thanks so much Cara and MEP for allowing me to Blog Trot here.   If you haven’t had a chance to visit Blog-Trotting, head over and see where in the world a blogger is showcasing today.  No passports required.

Dadisodes is back to work. Toys are strewn across the living room floor.  And I have my laptop cracked open to begin the daunting task of checking my inbox.

Despite the 150+ unopened emails, I constantly find my fingers migrating back to the mouse pad to click on photos from our trip.  I must have taken over 500 photos during our vacation, and right now, they are the only physical evidence that I was actually there.  Proof that it was not dream.  A reminder, that for brief moments, our life existed over there.

For two whole weeks, I always had an extra set of loving hands to care for my daughter.   I sipped wine with old friends.  Dadisodes and I snuck away to the most beautiful coastline we have ever seen.   I visited the stomping grounds of my twenties.  And I made my way back through the halls of my grandmother’s house.  Her 1940’s pink, tiled walls transporting me to a more simple time.  Sleeping over her house meant endless treats, stacking mah-jongg pieces, and picking mangos from her tree.  They were all still there.  Frozen in time behind her cement walls. Only last week, its novelty and excitement lit my daughter’s eyes.

Don’t get me wrong, the comforts of having my own bed and pillows, our clothes folded back inside our dresser drawers, all feel and fit nicely. But at the same time, it’s hard to ignore my new honey-toned skin, my daughter’s sun-drenched hair, and the excitement in her voice spouting new words in Cantonese.

I wish they would never fade.

But they will.

In a few weeks, my bikini lines will lighten, Babisodes’ hair will darken, and grandma will have to convey via telephone how to say things in Chinese.  Slowly, the three of us will settle ourselves back into our usual mold.

But for now, Babisodes is still recovering from her grandparent hangover, while Dadisodes is busy planning for our retirement in someplace tropical.

As for me, although I am physically back in Massachusetts, my mind lies somewhere along the Florida coastline, reluctant to return with the tide.

It still longs for the simplicity, warmth, and breathtaking views of life over there.

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

Trip preparations
Overnight bag. Toothbrush… Shoes?
I’m lacking cute shoes!

It does not matter
Heading to New York City!
Land o’ fabu-shoes

Visiting best friend
I have known since the third grade
Debauchery waits…

I am heading out to NYC this weekend for a 24-hour mini trip. I hope to have some fabulous stories and pics to share on Monday. I’m also crossing my fingers the bus ride is not as eventful as the last time….

Originally posted May 13th, 2007
Home to NYC

9:25am: Kiss husband and daughter goodbye outside of train station

9:26am: Daughter reaches out arms for me from car seat as car drives away. *heart rips from chest*

9:45am: Stand 1st in line to board the China bus for first dibs on seating (Note- China bus refers to cheap Asian bus line with crazy NYC style cab bus drivers).

9:55am: Tall brunette college student asks to sit next to me. Thank goodness it’s her and not that guy 3 rows ahead talking to himself.

10:52am: Dabble a bit of writing in my journal.

10:54am: Stop because the girl sitting next to me is trying to read it. Close eyes to take a nap.
Noon: Wake up from the road-raging bus driver laying into the horn while swerving through traffic. Pretend to not understand the obscenities he’s screaming in Chinese at cars.

12:15pm: Repeat

12:45pm: Starving. Must pee really bad, but will wait for pit stop.

1:30pm: Give up all hope for a pit stop. Bladder about to explode. Stomach self-digesting

2pm: Arrive in New York Chinatown. Bolt off bus to find the nearest subway station to friend’s apartment.

NYC to Home

2pm: Say goodbye to friend and hail a cab.

2:15pm: Wonder why cabby is taking the wrong streets through Chinatown.

2:17pm: Sit in traffic. Watch the fare meter tick higher and higher. Realize why we’re taking the wrong route.

2:25pm: Hand cabby $12 for what should have been a $6 cab ride and slam door.

2:30pm: 3rd to last person to board China bus.

2:31pm: Grab only vacant seat near window. Pray someone doesn’t sit next to me so I can sprawl out.

2:32pm: Teenage girl asks “do you think you can sit next to someone else so that me and my daddy can sit together?” (Daddy?….How old you?). *Sigh* “Fine!”

2:33pm: Move to the only vacant seat beside a guy wearing a yarmulke.

2:34pm: Guy wastes no time initiating conversation. Asks all sorts of questions with big flirty smile. Lose all hope for napping.

2:45pm: Guy asks more questions. Try to get a word in edgewise to mention husband and daughter.

2:53pm: Guy confesses his strong desire to find a wife with a continued big, flirtatious smile. Sink into chair. Damns all scientists for not developing human teleportation yet.

2:55pm: Find out that I was just hit on by a RABBI! Lose hope for religion. Quickly pull out a picture of my daughter on her first birthday.

2:56: Rabbi stops smiling

2:57pm: Guy sits back, closes eyes to fall sleep

*Hal-le-lu-jaaaaaah!*

–Note to self- While recapping the return trip for Dadisodes, blame the shameless hit-on by a rabbi on my small diamond ring size. “He must not have been able to see it!” Must address immediately…

That is all I have to say about our drive back from Raleigh, North Carolina to Massachusetts. What seemed like a great idea yesterday morning proved to be a far greater challenge and journey. We initially decided to embark on this excursion because Dadisode’s grandmother was not able attend the family wedding in North Carolina due to health issues. After making a few simple phone calls to the airline, dog sitter, and car rental company, everything seemed to fall into place. U.S. Airways credited our flights, and our dog sitter and car rental company were incredibly accommodating. We figured driving up would be a great opportunity for grandma to to see her grandson and great grandchild.

The drive from North Carolina to West Virginia (where grandma lives) was smooth a smooth 5 hour drive. However, as soon as we left her house the freeways greeted us with heavy downpours and terrible visibility from the torrential rain. By 10pm last night, we gave up and checked ourselves into a hotel to let the storm pass and to catch up on sleep.

At 7:00am this morning we hit the road again starting in West Virginia. After NINE straight hours sitting in the car, we finally arrived home.

In the past 24 hours we’ve traveled through these states:

1) North Carolina

2) Virginia

3) West Virginia

4) Pennsylvania

5) Maryland

6) New Jersey

7) New York

8 ) Connecticut

9) Massachusetts (so glad to see this sign)

My butt is numb, and everyone is exhausted from all the traveling. Thankfully throughout all of the madness, one of us took it all into stride like a total champ…

Babisodes sat patiently the entire flight to our destination, and sang songs between naps during the drive home (photo above is her playing I-Spy from the backseat).

I hope to get to visit all of your blogs again soon!!!