Sweet Tooth Satisfaction - Mango Six

Mango Six is the one place in Korea that allows for you to get mangoes in everything. They offer choices of drinks and desserts that incorporate this all time favorite. Using mangoes, they make drinks paired with tapioca, coconut, banana, kiwi and even served as a dessert with fruits and shaved ice. They do not skimp out on the amount of mangoes used and it is the place to go to for any mango lover.

For those who are not looking to indulge in the mango fruit, there are other options as well. Mango Six offers fresh fruit juices that can be served hot or cold after whipped up. Being that they are a cafe, they offer Kona bean coffee from Hawaii along with other small options of foods of soup bowls, and baked goodies.

Another signature mark of the Mango Six franchise is the concept behind their Kuki six dessert options. The six dessert options of choc chip cookie, double choc cookie, coconut cookie, orange cream cheese muffin, earl grey white chocolate muffin and the brownie all comes from the recipe from the famous girl group KARA. Nicole is known for her baking and Mango Six is the only place that you can find these baked goods.

Regardless of what your favorite is, Mango Six is the one franchise that is a must visit for all things good. Of course, it would be smart to go for the mango choice, but there's definitely something to satisfy everyone's taste buds! Be sure to visit a store that is practically located in all of the tourist areas of Seoul.

Story of My Life - Manila Philippines

One of the best thing about living in Seoul is being able to travel to the surrounding Asian countries, even if it's just for a weekend. This past weekend was a quick trip to Manila, Philippines to explore the food, culture and of course lifestyle. Of course, there was barely any sleep involved, maybe two hours in total for the whole weekend. At the very minimum, sleeping on the plane before working a full day.

Filipino is one of the things I grew up on personally with friends that introduced me to the culture in high school. Living in Seoul, it is impossible to find good and authentic Filipino food so taking a trip to Manila for the weekend was totally worth it. The first stop after being picked up at the airport is definitely a food court to pick out all the goodies along with a fresh coconut! Dessert definitely involves halo halo which is a mix of varieties depending on where you get this from, but it's pretty amazing everywhere you go. 

In addition to food, shopping is definitely a must in Manila. In many places, other than the big department stores, bargaining is HIGHLY recommended. Although prices are so low, it is still possible to bargain them to be even lower. I didn't push it to much for the simple fact that they're trying to make a living too! On the topic of everything being so cheap and affordable in Manila, getting pampered is a must on my books. For ten dollars, even less, you can choose between a facial, eyelash extensions, manicure, pedicure, and even a massage. For me, all of the above was a must in a less than 48 hour time period! 

Nightlife is also a recommendation in Manila. Being lucky to have friends that live in the area, getting  super VIP access to the best clubs just made my one night in town. The number one club, right across the street of the airport is Republiq, located in the Resorts Casino and Hotel building.  Next door to Republiq is Opus, and going around town visiting Palladium is also a recommendation. One thing that is special about Palladium is the service of a mini container of cranberry juice with your cocktail, definitely something that I haven't seen elsewhere in the world!

Purchases of souvenirs are also recommended. Although the most popular souvenir to get from the Philippines is dried mangoes, I recommend the dried green mangoes! They are my ultimate favorite, tart in taste and chewy, just like regular dried mangoes. Many of my students who are not a fan of regular dried mangoes definitely like the green mangoes so that's sure of a winner! I think the best part of being in Manila is also the option of going to the Duty Free that sells Reese's and all these other foreign goods!

Still, with all the good things, there are a handful of things that were difficult to accept about Manila. Many things seemed to have been a culture shock which includes walking around barefoot, eating with your hands, a jitney bus that locals travel on, the selling of practically anything and everything you can think of in the streets to people driving by, and probably the worse for me to see was little kids asking for plastic bottles from cars.

Nonetheless, it is a great place to go and visit for a vacation. Although many people don't consider Manila to be the best place in the Philippines to visit, it is recommended. I am glad I didn't skip it and go straight for the islands like many said!

Sweet Tooth Satisfaction - Honeymoon Dessert

An extremely popular dessert chain in Hong Kong is the Honeymoon Dessert which is known for their twist on traditional Chinese desserts. This includes the sweet soup that I previously blogged about. It is a spot for the new generation and open to many younger crowds that are looking to consume the traditional eat.

The popular dessert here is the Fresh Mango with Glutinous Black Rice that is served in an iced coconut milk. It is a great dessert for the summer, but there are also a handful of other traditional twists that Honeymoon Dessert whips up. For those who are looking for something more traditional, try their duo desserts which includes a mixture of two all time traditional eats this includes sesame paste and tofu fa or even a mixture of two pastes with rice balls.

I definitely couldn't get enough of this dessert spot in Hong Kong, but I was grateful that this restaurant was almost in every tourist spot. It is a must visit for all. Catering to the more foreign tastes, there are also other kinds of desserts and drinks that you can try.

Shopping Slurge

I rarely have a moment to myself and enjoy my shopping. I sure enjoyed myself this weekend! I just had a great and cheap shopping splurge today which included everything but shoes. I’m a little bummed out about, but I’ve come to realize that once I buy shoes, I really don’t stop so maybe it was a good thing I bought other things today!

For starters, blazers are a must have for every girl. You are able to dress professional and style up any outfit. Match it with short shorts for a sophisticated look or wear it with a dress for a sheik touch. Just be sure to match the right blazer with your outfit, a professional blazer should be kept with slacks. I’ve been eyeing the perfect blazer for quite a while now and I am extremely happy that I was able to pick up two casual blazers. The black is from H&M, the kakhi is from a boutique in SoHo called Mystique. Yay!

Next off, a light scarf is perfect for a windy day at the beach or even just as a cover up on the train and in the office. It may be extremely hot outside, but when you get indoors, you feel a blast of cold air. I don’t know how many times I shivered in the office so this scarf will keep me warm! Just a random pick me up from SoHo. 

Colorful tops are perfect for the summer. A blast of color for plain bottoms will light up your outfit and your mood. Ever feel energized wearing the right colors? It’s also perfect to wear in the office paired with a sweater or blazer for a professional look and stripped off for happy hour. One was actually from a blowout sale Roxy had online with free shipping (I only bought one item) and the other from Charlotte Russe.

Tops are always great when they’re on sale. If you’re buying tops that are out of season, I suggest to keep it solid. Solid colors will never go out of style and it’s easy to mix and match. Both shirts were actually from a sale that Zara had, only $10 each!

A set of white and khaki shaded cuff shorts are my go to this year. I love the high-waist shorts that I am able to wear for a variety of occasions. You can wear in a casual business office setting, go out to dinner and even clubbing with them. My absolute favorite of the bunch is the white BCBG shorts. From left to right: BCBG, Mango, Zara.

Next to the shorts which should be a pastel pink slack pant that is ankle high that I picked up at Mango. I am absolutely in love with the light material it is made out of. This is perfect for the summer time when you have a business meeting and you should wear slacks. The best thing about the slacks is it goes great with practically any shoes—it even accentuates your shoes and top because it’s a simple pastel. 

As for accessories, nothing goes better than a clutch which you can use for a variety of outings. I love clutches that have a strap inside so I don’t always have to grab onto my clutch. The best thing about this clutch is I unintentionally matched it with my pastel slacks, I’ve definitely got the perfect outfit for a low price at Zara!

Lastly, a women’s best friend is her jewelry of course. I used to be the girl who only wore gold, both white and yellow and nothing else. I finally came to learn that sometimes gold is not the way to go. Feathered earrings are definitely in. I prefer the mono earring with a long feather, but nothing beats street bargaining!