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.