Travel Archives - The A List

In between naps and watching my show, I couldn't stop admiring the view all around us. The road between Siem Reap and Phnom Penh is long, but for someone who is used to the insanity and absurdity of multi-lane California freeways, the mostly two-lane smooth road through rice paddies, picturesque villages, and the occasional water buffalo was incredibly peaceful even with the occasional passing of some Vespas zipping through. After six hours, a few bathroom breaks, and some coffee stops, I could see the fast-growing skyline of downtown Phnom Penh emerge on the horizon. A few years ago, there were not as many skyscrapers as there are now. I can't help but smile seeing the growth of Phnom Penh each time I return. Just a few minutes after crossing the Mekong River, we pulled into our next home for the upcoming few days - Raffles Hotel Le Royal.

January 20, 2026

Cambodia

Cambodia

A Tale of Two Cities // Raffles Hotel Le Royal Phnom Penh

There are some places that just really touch your heart, a place that makes you stop and wonder so much more about the world, and makes you feel truly alive. The memories of the warm sun linger on my skin along with the sensation of refreshing, cooling raindrops. The scents of incense, lemongrass, and jasmine linger around my nose. The taste of coconut, tamarind, and chili linger on my tongue. The sound of percussions, flutes, and fiddles playing traditional Khmer music echo softly in my ears. The smiles of the people eager to welcome me back every single time remain permanent in my mind. Cambodia is one of those places for that essentially speaks to my soul.

January 12, 2026

Cambodia

Cambodia

A Tale of Two Cities // Raffles Grand Hotel d Angkor Siem Reap

When it comes to a place that our family loves to unwind, immerse ourselves in culture, and meet new people, we always think of Cambodia. Cambodia holds a very special place in our hearts, so when we decided to return to a place that feels like home to us, we chose to return to Phnom Penh - specifically the Rosewood Phnom Penh - two years after our first visit. Our Rosewood family welcomed us back with open arms, especially little bean, who was only 9-months old at the time of our first visit in 2023. Now a thriving toddler, we were excited to spend the week back in Phnom Penh with her at the Rosewood.

December 6, 2025

Cambodia

phnom penh

Family Luxury // Rosewood Phnom Penh

Stepping into the Mandarin Oriental Macau felt like stepping into a sophisticated yet extremely comfortable home. We had been graciously invited to the hotel for a few nights to celebrate the hotel's 15th birthday, and while the hotel was the star of the show for the weekend, we were all made to feel like very special VIPs. The hotel, part of One Central, calls home inside a stunning glass building that reveals the Macau waterfront in its reflections. There's no such thing as a bad view at the Mandarin Oriental Macau.

September 18, 2025

Macau SAR

Macau

Refined Luxury // Mandarin Oriental Macau

Evenings in Macau are such a lively, vibrant time. During the day, it's easy to find yourself purposefully getting lost amongst the streets munching on egg tarts as you explore the city's many cultural and historical sites, but at night is when Macau really comes alive. Of course there are amazing casinos and there's a plethora of restaurants to choose from, but we were lucky in getting to indulge in a romantic Portuguese experience in the heart of St. Lazarus Quarter that pays homage to part of the city's history with its cobblestone streets, Portuguese architecture, and winding alleyways.

September 17, 2025

Macau SAR

Macau

A Portuguese Night in Macau // St Lazarus Quarter

I am not a vacationer, I am a traveler. This means whenever I travel, if I have the chance to spend my days diving into cultural experiences to learn more about a destination's history and people, I'd much rather do that than spend my day laying by the pool (which does sound nice, but not my sole purpose for travel). As soon as the beau and I decided to visit Dubai, I immediately began researching on what to do in the city. Yes of course there are countless museums, fashion boutiques, spas, beach excursions, and day trips to the desert dunes, but I wanted to learn more about the people and one way to immerse yourself in a new culture is to learn about religion.

September 12, 2025

Dubai

Dubai

An Introduction to Islam in Dubai // Jumeirah Mosque

When the beau and I traveled to Dubai, it happened to be our anniversary from when we eloped at City Hall. We knew we needed to mark the occasion with a romantic evening, and I will admit that it took a long time to find the perfect spot to celebrate. That's not because there weren't many options - quite the opposite! Dubai is full of magnificent date night spots, from elegant to casual, and it just came down to how we wanted to spend our evening. Since we has been staying in a very fast-paced, very busy area near the Burj Khalifa, so we wanted something a little removed from the city but not too far. We settled on the romantic location of Jumeirah Al Qasr, right on the Persian Gulf.

September 11, 2025

Dubai

Dubai

Romantic Date Night in Dubai // Jumeirah Al Qasr

As someone who never shies away from history, I knew there was one spot in Dubai that I had to explore during my first visit to the iconic city. Dubai is world famous and renowned for its vibrancy, its impressive skyscrapers, and its luxury, but what I was interested in is how the city thrives in both being a beacon of the future and maintaining its preserved history. Dubai's old town is a full of markets, cultural experiences, and historical architecture, and it is a tribute to the city's beginnings as an important trading post. With Dubai known to be incredibly hot during the day, we chose to start our day with an early morning visit to Dubai's old town.

September 10, 2025

Dubai

Dubai

A Morning in Old Dubai

Imagine a warm, sunny morning in a rural tropical destination, with the sun just making its daily debut above the horizon and the world seemingly having a golden glow. It’s just shortly after sunrise, but it’s time to make your way to an air conditioned van to be driven about an hour outside of the city within the foothills of the Kulen Mountains. Deep within the trees after navigating through a winding dirt road, you find yourself at a recycled wooden hut to meet your enthusiastic guide. After preparing some food, you make your way down the back stairs and down a small dirt path before you find yourself at an open field with the breathtakingly majestic elephants just waiting to say hello. This is Kulen Elephant Forest.

May 16, 2025

Cambodia

A Morning with Elephants // Kulen Elephant Forest

Nestled away from the city center, tucked down an unassuming dirt road surrounded by trees and rice fields is one of the most beautiful resorts I have ever had the privilege to be a guest at. But before we arrived at this extremely special destination, we had a quick 30 minute smooth flight from Phnom Penh with views of the beautiful Tonlé Sap lake out of our windows. Shortly afterwards, we arrived at Siem Reap, Cambodia’s brand new international airport terminal about an hour outside of the main city. After piling into the resort’s luxury mini van (with a comfortable car seat happily provided), and after an hour-long drive through luscious green fields and numerous temples and pagodas, we finally arrived at our home for the next few days - Zannier Phum Baitang.

May 8, 2025

Cambodia

Cambodia

Our Luxury Oasis in Siem Reap // Zannier Phum Baitang

Bangkok is rich in culture, history, and religion, with numerous temples throughout the city with centuries of stories that are told through their walls. There are a few iconic landmarks in Bangkok, such as the Grand Palace which houses the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, Wat Arun, and Wat Pho, but there are also other breathtakingly beautiful temples that are not quite as popular and thus less crowded when visited. No two temples are the same, which is why it is worth seeing as many as you can. Three temples you should visit in Bangkok include Wat Benchamabophit Dusitwanaram (“The Marble Temple”), Wat Saket (“The Golden Mount”), and Wat Ratchanatdaram ("The Metal Castle").

April 30, 2025

Thailand

bangkok

Three Temples You Should Visit in Bangkok

Bangkok is a very busy city, filled with the sounds of millions of conversations amongst residents and tourists alike, the sounds of a cleaver pounding down into a fresh, cold coconut, the sounds of horns honking in notorious traffic, and the sounds of motors from tuk-tuks and motorcycles. A busy city is a lively city, but even lively cities have their tranquil, quiet spots. One place to find tranquility is at one of the many temples sprinkled around Bangkok. Bangkok is filled with numerous temples, all rich in history and symbolism, and if you’re looking for tranquility then there’s no better place than one of the city’s most famous temples - Wat Arun - at sunrise.

April 29, 2025

Travel

bangkok

The Best Time To Visit Wat Arun