Coming Full Spiral

A gentle blue wave with white foam rolls on the sunny beach.

World Travel

Chile, Part 2: Viña Del Mar

Viña Del Mar is a city just north of Valparaíso that’s known for its beaches and gardens. Although it’s much smaller, there’s still a lot to do in this little beach city–even for a day trip.

From Valparaíso, you can take the bus, subway or taxi to get to its neighboring city. I went down to the Puerto station and bought a round-trip pass to the Viña Del Mar station. The 20-minute trip meanders along the coastline, so try to snag a window seat to take it all in.

Museums I Loved in Viña Del Mar

The subway stops conveniently a block away from Quinta Vergara park, which features lush tropical gardens, a children’s art museum, and the Museo Palacio Vergara art museum.

Museo Palacio Vergara art museum

Inside a Venetian neo-Gothic palace, the Museo Palacio Vergara houses paintings and sculptures from renowned Chilean artists. The art museum is free to enter, although you need to register as a visitor.

"Las Cuatro Estaciones" painting by Mario Carreño. — “Las Cuatro Estaciones”

There were many notable artworks in this museum, and the ones that caught my attention the most were Mario Carreño’s cubic figures with smooth gradients. Pictured here is a large painting called “Las cuatro estaciones,” which means “the four seasons.” According to the artist, it’s about exploring the unknown with the freedom to exist, when life’s conventions may impose limiting beliefs on the spirit. In the future of uncertainty, we’ll have our inner strength to guide us forward.

Within the same park, a rainbow walkway leads you to a children’s art museum called Museo Artequin. This museum only shows copies of notable artworks instead of the originals. I went in, just to see what’s there. There are some audio explanations on some of the artwork, which helped me practice Spanish listening skills. I didn’t stay for very long, though.

After visiting the park and the museum, I explored more of Viña Del Mar on foot. This city isn’t very big, so it’s easy to get around.

Museo de Artes Decorativas Palacio Rioja

In an 18th-century French-inspired mansion, the Palacio Rioja museum offers a glimpse of Chilean aristrocracy. It was the home of the Spanish businessman, Fernando Rioja, and his family. Inside, the ornate rooms include a grand hall, vaulted ceilings with elegant trims and filigree, multiple lounges, a library, a fancy dining room for special occasions, and so much more. Many decorative arts were showcased, such as imperial Chinese vases and bronze sculptures. A manicured garden has exotic plants from Africa, China, and Brazil. Can you imagine living in a home like this?

Vegan in Viña Del Mar

I was pleasantly surprised to find vegan options in Viña Del Mar. Vegan Place is a restaurant that serves burgers, completos (a loaded hot dog), and empanadas, plus desserts. I had a “green bowl”: a salad topped with tofu, quinoa, and all the veggies. An empanada stuffed with mushrooms and dairy-free cheese made a great side dish, or something to take for later. The food was filling with clean ingredients, without the food coma.

Stocking up at Pulpería Organica Namaste.

Since Christmas was coming up, it was a good idea to bring some gifts home. Pulpería Orgánica Namaste is a vegan health food store that offers supplements, protein powders, and bulk goods such as nuts, dried fruits, and seeds. To bring a taste of Chile back to my friends, I bought a bottle of olive oil harvested locally and a small jar of merquén: a spice blend of smoked ground chiles, cumin, and salt invented by the indigenous Mapuche people.

I was concerned if the olive oil would explode in my checked luggage on the plane. That has happened before with a jar of peanut butter on another trip. The shop owner was so sweet and helpful. She looked up online if a bottle of olive oil would indeed explode. While the results seemed to suggest it, I can happily report that it did not happen. Pro tip: just wrap it well in plastic.

Some chocolate-y snacks also looked good, including a vegansito. I believe they’re a vegan version of the snack cake, Gansitos, which is a cake filled with creme and fruit jelly, and enrobed in dark chocolate.

Beaches

While I’m not always a beach person, it’s where I stopped to take a little break before going back to Valparaíso. Long stretches of beach seemed to go on as far as the eye can see. There are lots of beaches to choose from; I stopped at Playa El Sol. Right beside it is an artisanal street fair offering souvenirs and handicrafts, if you fancy bringing a memento home. Even though it’s summer, the water is still cold. It was a little crowded during the afternoon, since school is out. Lots of kids played in the water and the sand.

Onward to Valpo and Beyond

In the evening, I took the subway train back to Valparaíso and spent one more night there. It was time to move onward to Montevideo, Uruguay. The next morning, I took the bus back to the Pajaritos bus station in Santiago. I thought I could take another bus back to the airport, but couldn’t find the right one. My Spanish skills were put to good use by asking people for tips on how to get there. For $14, a taxi took me instead.

From there, I waited until my flight to Montevideo.

World Travel

Chile Part 1: Valparaíso

Ronnie sits in front of a colorful mural

Hello! It’s been so long! I just came back from a whirlwind trip to South America, where I immersed myself in the Spanish language. A little background on me: when I was 13, I started learning Spanish in school for three years. Afterwards, I stopped speaking the language for 20 years and forgot nearly everything. Then about three years ago, I’ve been relearning it ever since my trip to Spain. I’ve been keeping it up since and can now speak at the B2 (upper intermediate) level. Knowing the language is like a key that opens up that part of the world–empowering the traveler to make connections and navigate around easier.

Chilean pesos, llama keychain, a set of keys, and a passport stamp of entry.

Chile is an interesting pick for Spanish immersion. It’s known to be the hardest dialect, even for native Spanish speakers. For instance, the Chileans often compress an entire sentence into one word. My tour guide even said that Valparaíso comes from, “Él va al paraiso,” which means, “he goes to paradise.” If you compress that, you get Valparaíso. Which makes perfect sense.

The Jewel of the Pacific

Known as the “Jewel of the Pacific,” Valparaíso sits on the blue Pacific Ocean. With a captivating history and a bohemian vibe, the mesmerizing port city is known for its colorful homes, European architecture, and steep hills–all 42 of them.

Overlooking the port, as seen from Pablo Neruda’s home.

The Spaniards founded the city in the 16th century and quickly built it as a prominent trade port between Spain and South America. Valparaíso also established itself as a strategic naval base for the Peruvian and Chilean military. Then in 1848, the gold rush changed everything. Many Europeans stayed there, because there were a lot of job opportunities. Plus, the city was a stop to and from San Francisco. After that, two devastating events happened:

A massive 8.3-magnitude earthquake. The city didn’t have the infrastructure to survive it, and about 4,000 people died.
The Panama Canal opened, which diverted traffic away from Valparaíso.

Earthquakes are something that Chileans are intimately familiar with. In 2010, an 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck, killing at least 500 people and displacing a million. The day before I arrived, there was apparently a noticeable one. People physically felt the ground shake!

The country has been through dictatorships (looking at you, Pinochet), earthquakes, and numerous protests, even in recent history. The last major event was the protests in 2019, where the people wanted a new constitution, which was rejected. Protests during the COVID-19 pandemic extended well into 2023.

Exploring Vibrant Valparaíso

Since it was December when I visited, it’s summer over there. The temperatures were still mild, so I dressed in layers. It can get chilly at night, and my dense fleece jacket was good for those temperatures. During the day, the sun was out and proud, so sunscreen and a wide-brimmed hat were a must.

I stayed in Maki Hostel in Cerro Concepción, which was a good base to explore the city’s numerous hills and alleys. An apartment with a kitchen only cost $98 US dollars total for four nights. Plus, the resident cat, Maki, made me feel even more welcome.

To get to know the city, I highly recommend going on walking tours with Tours4Tips, which reveal the highlights and the grittier side of Valparaíso. Just look for a tour guide in a red-and-white striped shirt at Plaza Sotomayor. The highlights tour shows the best of Valparaíso: the funiculars and cuisine, and all the fun facts. The off-beat tour delves into the darker sociopolitical history of the city. They’re almost free; you just tip the tour guide any amount you feel like at the end. I went on both tours in a single day. They were that good!

Getting around was easy and cheap, especially when staying in Cerro Concepción. I mostly walked up and down the hills, which was quite the workout!

There are several funiculars (also known as the “ascensores”) built in the 1900s that will also take you up and down the steep hills. There used to be about 30 funiculars; now five to seven work currently. When building the city, the workers needed a way to get the materials up the hills, so they built the funiculars. Back in the day, they used to work with a hydraulic water system: one part would empty, and the other would fill out. Now the funiculars are all electric. The original admission fee is 100 pesos (about 10 cents). The same price has stayed over the years without inflation.

The Street Art in Valparaíso

Valparaíso is known as the cultural capital of Chile. It’s where artists, activists, poets, and musicians from all walks of life gather to share their collective experience in this country. You’ll find art literally on every corner on the streets. Colorful cobblestone alley ways and stairs interconnect, letting you gleefully lose yourself in the hills. Music plays from the nooks and crannies of the alleys. In a way, this city reminds me a little bit of the street art in Portugal.

In this city, there are three kinds of art:

Tagging: Marking territory to show that someone was here. Gangs used to use it.
Graffiti: Big bubble words that have dimension and gradients.
Murals: Art that requires more technique and skill. Sometimes an artist’s message is obvious, and other times you need more context.

Every corner I turned, there were colorful murals: women with cats, big flowers unfolding under the sun, the people’s fight for equality, and more. For example, in Cerro Concepción, I found a mosaic about the 1907 Iquique Massacre resembling a tarot card. This one was created from glass, ceramics, and mirrors. Nobody knows who made it. The year 1907 was important, because many nitrate miners died in a revolution against their bosses for better working conditions and pay. The president spoke to the head of the military to do something about it. The military opened fire and killed almost 2,000 people. The half-brother of one the workers, Antonio Ramón Ramón, died in this massacre. Ramón Ramón took matters into his own hands and sought after the military leader as an act of revenge. The mosaic represents justice, as seen by the scales here.

Parque Cultural: Creativity From the Ashes of a Former Prison

A former prison, Parque Cultural offers an art, music, and theatre classes, plus concerts, plays, and art galleries. There are also plenty of green spaces to relax.

Before Parque Cultural, this compound used to house political prisoners. In 1970, the democratic socialist Salvador Allende was elected president. It was a big deal, since he was a man of the people. He aimed to promote education, nationalize major institutions, and improve the lives of the working class. However, this didn’t sit well with U.S. interests. In 1973, the CIA supported a coup to oust Allende and replace him with the infamous dictator, Augusto Pinochet.

During the dictatorship, tens of thousands of people went missing, and still thousands are missing today. The prison was a detention center for activists, artists, and any critics who opposed Pinochet. Chile was used as a testing ground for more dictatorships in South America. Eventually, democracy was restored in 1990, but the Chileans still feel a sense of injustice. I can only imagine how that must feel, if your loved ones were kidnapped and never returned. These things are understandably difficult to talk about.

Eventually, Pinochet fell from power, and the inmates took over the prison when it closed in 1999. Then the punk rockers took it over. They cleaned and squatted it, and also played rock shows. There may not be many organized services in Chile, but there’s still a strong sense of community with a shared purpose. In this case, music and art bring people together. After the punks, the circus community tried to get the former prison and offer classes to kids. When the city took it over, there was a bid to change it into something new. Now it’s a park and cultural center.

Mariana Najmanovich
“Animales Sumisos III”
Oil on paper
2024

Today, the cultural center promotes human rights, peaceful coexistence, and education through creative endeavors. The former prisoner cells are now rehearsal rooms for music and theater. If you have a project, you can talk to the administrators to get practice space, as long as you present your work to the community. There’s an expansive garden to set up picnics and spend time with friends and family. In one of the buildings, an art exhibition features paintings and installations.

In a way, it’s like a phoenix: from the metaphorical ashes of a notorious prison comes something sustainable and new. I think it’s beautiful to transform a place of suffering into one that fosters creativity, healing, and community-building.

More Notable Places in Valparaíso

Palacio Baburizza is an art museum that features fine art from the 19th and 20th centuries, housed in an Italian art deco/art nouveau/modernist mansion. The museum exhibits European and Chilean artwork: dramatic seascapes, idyllic landscapes, detailed floral still-lives with thick brush strokes, and portraits of prominent Chilean figures.

The red-and-turquoise art deco home of Pablo Neruda, La Sebastiana, sits on a hillside, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. A renowned poet, Neruda was also a diplomat and a communist politician most famously known for his surrealist writings and love poems. Inspired by ships, the nautical-themed home features seascape paintings, oil portraits, and old maps of Latin America, as well as an adobe-like fireplace and a wooden carousel horse. Start at the bottom floor and listen to the audio tour, as you work your way up this unique home.

Vegan food in Valparaíso

Eating vegan was very easy in Valparaíso. Whenever I travel, I try the veganized local dish–whatever is popular.

The vegetarian restaurant, La Boca Del Oso, offers a vegan chorillana. Traditionally, chorillana is comfort food consisting of a bed of French fries topped with different kinds of meat, caramelized onions, and a fried egg. Essentially, it’s a heart attack on a plate. This vegan version had fries with stir-fried tofu and veggies. It was exactly what I needed after walking up and down hills all day!

Just up the street in a purple building is an artsy vegan cafe, Violeta Dulcería Vegana. This cozy and colorful place offers teas and elixirs in quirky handmade mugs with faces. I had pastel con choclo, literally meaning “corn pie.” This popular Chilean dish is a corn and beef casserole with mushrooms, olives, onions, and spices. This vegan version was filling and energizing, without the food coma that you’d get from heavier food. This place is a great spot for lunch, whether you’re vegan or omnivore.

Vegan options were plentiful in other places, too. Many cafes offer a vegan option, such as empanadas and pastries. Street vendors sell fresh bread and avocados for super cheap. You can easily get fresh fruits and veggies from any frutería, or fruit stand.

Ronnie sits on a red staircase and feeds a black cat, while an orange-and-white cat looks on.

Coffee is abundant in Valparaíso. I love going to cat cafes, and found Michi Escala en Cerro Concepción. As I sipped an americano, two of the kitties came to greet me. The cafe owner handed some treats over for me to feed them. There’s also a third cat, though she went off elsewhere. Cats and coffee are always great together.

A City to Remember

What can I say, I truly loved Valparaíso: the brilliantly painted alleys and stairs, the bustling energy of the streets, the numerous stray cats and dogs, and the pulsing creativity that brings the city together. People were so warm and kind, even after what the country has been through over the last two centuries. The sunny summer days in December were also a sharp contrast to the cold and damp winter days in Seattle.

I stayed in Chile for four nights, saving Viña Del Mar for a day. Soon I’ll share what this little beach town is all about. ¡Hasta luego!

Running

The 2023 Burning Man 50k Ultramarathon

Years ago in my twenties, I had heard of a Burning Man 50k ultramarathon. I thought that whoever runs that distance in the desert has got to be insane, where the alkaline environment is so harsh that absolutely nothing grows. It’s where temperatures can exceed 100 degrees while dust storms obscure everything around you. It’s like running an ultra on another planet.

Pink Lightning is an action-packed camp that graciously hosted this beloved 50k. The camp also offered events such as a 5k race, yoga, an art safari night ride, and something called “The Odyssey”—a strange event on the playa where participants compete to finish 6, 12, 18, or 24 miles, beers, doughnuts, or orgasms in any combination within 24 hours. Things you need a lot of stamina for.

Earlier this year, I wasn’t sure if I could secure a ticket to Burning Man. It can be notoriously hard to get one because of how popular it is. Even though the odds looked a little slim—yet hopeful—I still trained for this race anyway. Can you imagine sacrificing your social life and other things you enjoy, just to train for an epic race that you don’t even know if you’ll get to be able to run in?

But still I dutifully finished most of the workouts, and always completed the Saturday long runs, the most important part. I trained among the lush forests in the mild climate in hilly, sea-level Seattle—a sharp contrast to the extremely dry, hot, and dusty alkaline lake bed at a nearly 4,000-foot elevation in Nevada.

As the event grew closer, so did my odds of getting a Burning Man ticket. Once my dear friend Shawn found one for me (thank you so much, Shawn!), I could now register for the race. It was official—I was going to run 50k in the desert! My training wasn’t going to waste after all.

Never had I ever imagined that I would toe the line with hundreds of other ultramarathoners in this very same race.

The Burning Man 50k Ultramarathon Course

Burning Man sits in an area of seven square miles. It’s so vast that an entire race course can be created. It is as follows:

Starting at Pink Lightning Camp at 7:35 & D, we would run until the 8:00 street and turn right.
We ran until reaching the Esplanade and turned left to run along that.
When we reached the 10:00 side of the city, we kept running until getting to the trash fence, the very edge of Burning Man.
We ran along the trash fence reaching each pink lightning bolt checkpoint.
We kept going until a third pink lightning bolt pointed us back to the 2:00 side.
We went along the 2:00 side, until hitting the esplanade once again.
We ran along the curve of the esplanade until the 7:30 street.
We turned left onto 7:30 until reaching D street, and kept running until the lap checkpoint at the 7:45 point, where Pink Lightning was.

That was one 7.5 mile lap. We would repeat the same route three more times.

The last part was an out-and-back at 9:10 & Esplanade to complete the 31 miles. That was about a mile or so.

The beginning of the long, epic ultramarathon

At the starting line of the Burning Man 50k ultramarathon

You have to be a little crazy to voluntarily wake up around 3:30 a.m. to run 31 miles in the desert just for fun.

Waking up, I couldn’t believe I was about to do the Burning Man 50k ultra. I ate a bowl of oatmeal with vegan protein powder. After filling up my hydration pack, I headed to Pink Lightning.

Cheers and excitement filled the air. Standing at the starting line, I was one of the 350 runners. I didn’t know this race was so popular. At least we could all revel in doing something amazing. We get to test our limits and be in this together.

The race started at 5:00 a.m., so that we could enjoy the darkness and cooler temperatures before the sun cooked us. We wore lights so that art cars and bicyclists could see us.

The starting signal went off. And like a stampede, hundreds of us were let out from the starting line, the first steps to this epic journey of the Burning Man 50k.

All fun and games during the first lap

A person on the side lines extends his hand to offer a high-five.

So far, running on the flat desert lake bed felt much easier than the hills of Seattle. Even before the sun came up, many folks stopped to cheer us on along the trash fence in the deep playa. It was a good start.

As I reached the Esplanade, the sun broke the horizon in the East and slowly climbed higher into the sky. I remembered how running with the sunrise was once a favorite pastime, as the city woke up and early birds brewed their coffee. Here, the night owls who partied all night on the playa were now making their way back to their camps, confused as to why so many people were running this early.

A little after an hour, I hit the first lap checkpoint at the camp and loaded up on snacks, water, and electrolytes. It’s so important to replenish, especially on electrolytes, because water easily evaporates from your body in this extreme environment, even if you’re not running. The electrolytes help keep water in. The snacks obviously help fuel us, because we burn calories so fast out there.

It’s perfectly acceptable to take a piano break.

The Playa provides

Usually we Burners operate on the principle of Radical Self-Reliance. And most of us do take care of ourselves, bringing everything we need, plus more to share. That’s because another principle is Gifting.

Throughout the race course, there was no shortage of “Playa Angels,” people who set up tables offering food, drinks, water, and plenty of cheers to go around. Some even ventured all the way out to the deep playa and made sure we were taken care of! I was blown away by their generosity. They gave me so much water during the race, that I didn’t even finish what was in my hydration pack. There were plenty of vegan snacks–energy gels, fresh fruit, granola bars galore–so I had enough calories to keep going.

Aside from the previous snacks, there were no shortage of cheers, creativity, and encouragement as we made our way along the journey.

I was just ending the second lap and crossed the timing mat into my third. Now I was halfway through the race at mile 15.

Navigating through white-out dust storms

For the second half of the race, the wind and dust picked up. A dust storm was incoming in the distance. This is why we wore scarves, so that we can mask up.

My scarf helped keep the dust out of my nose

Soon we were racing inside the dust storm, where the visibility reduced to 15 feet! I could still see my hand in front of me, but the dust obscured all of the signs. Many of us runners couldn’t see where to go. A storm like this can be quite disorienting. Some of us, myself included, got lost on the course.

“It’s this way!” someone shouted.

It cleared just enough for a minute. I had veered at least a couple hundred feet off the course. I was so glad that someone said something, because I would have kept going!

After struggling to find the path, I just followed another runner who seemed to know where he was going. But the dust storm was a white-out, even blocking the midday sun. We blindly followed what we hoped was the right direction.

I was relieved when I saw the pink lightning bolt at the trash fence.

Aside from two other runners near me, the deep playa appeared desolate in the storm. There seemed to be no signs of life. My energy was waning. All I could do was keep going without thinking much, one foot in front of the other, as my sock slowly slid off in my right shoe.

Point 3 was the deepest part of the deep playa.

When the going gets tough, the playa angels get going

In the emptiest part of the playa, a crew of what looked like roadside workers with fluorescent yellow vests appeared in the dust. They cheered and hollered, holding car buffers and massage guns. It was literally a pit stop to massage tired runners. They pulled me aside and asked what I would like.

“Legs and back, please!” I said.

The crew went to work massaging my tired, stiff legs and my back, which has been supporting me this entire time. This was probably the best and most hilarious gift ever for a runner! I loved the idea and it was very useful to anyone who needs a pit stop like that.

After they sent me on my way, there was no choice but to power through the dust storms. The strong headwinds along the trash fence worked against me as I pushed through. The good thing was that it wasn’t blazing hot like I had expected. In fact, the temperatures were perfect: it didn’t go above 83 degrees, which is almost unheard of during the last week of August. At least the dust cools the air and offers some protection from the sun.

This playa angel offered coconut water, a desert treat.

Another group of wonderful playa angels had an endless amount of coconut water, a wonderful treat during the hardest parts of the race. They were so amazing; they kept handing me more and more of those sweet natural electrolytes. I had as much as I could before setting off again.

Pushing forward along the Esplanade, I remembered that there was one more lap after this one. I sighed and kept going, knowing that I would eventually be done.

I made it through the camp checkpoint, finishing the third lap. Some runners had already finished the race.

The descent into the darkness

The fourth and final lap felt like the loneliest part of the ultramarathon. Whatever energy I had left was draining fast.

My entire consciousness had down-shifted within the dark recesses of my being. This was the part where I questioned my life’s choices. Why did I choose to do an ultramarathon yet again? What for? Why did I invest so much time and energy into something like this, just to feel miserable at mile 22 in the desert?

Finding the “why” is the most important answer every marathoner must remind themselves with, because the desert gives plenty of reasons why not.

All I could do was take one step at a time. The dust storm still made it hard to see. Discomfort permeated my existence, and I could not focus on anything past my own body. But sometimes we have to sit with discomfort and see what is on the other side.

Someone handed me lemonade from his booth.

“You look tired. Would you like to take a seat?” he asked.

“I’m sorry,” I said. “I can’t.”

It was tempting. How badly I would have loved to stop and take a break. But if I had sat down during this part of the race, I would have never gotten back up.

I turned down food at this point. The cheers from the sidelines reduced to underwater-like muffles in my fractured consciousness, my focus channeling only to what’s in front of me.

Finding playa magic in the worst of times

During a race, I’ve heard of runners “syncing up,” or running together as a pack even if they’re strangers. I usually run in my own world, so staying closely with another participant hasn’t happened recently.

In the deep playa on the last lap, there was a woman nearby who I thought could be a good pacer for this last part of the race. My pace had slowed down since the start, and it helped to have a little more support.

We ran along the trash fence. Sometimes I would pass her. Sometimes she passed me. Occasionally I would look for her in the corner of my eye, wondering if she was still close by. She was always a few feet away: either ahead, behind, or near my side.

We barely spoke to each other, but our little bond spoke louder than words. Both of us focused on the path ahead, desperately eager to finish the last part of the race.

We crossed under the pink lightning bolts in the lonely deep playa, one after another, and continued along the curving Esplanade. The camp checkpoint seemed so far away, despite how much closer we were getting.

The dust storm settled a little. With patience, we followed the path back to Pink Lightning, until finally, we finished the last lap. But it wasn’t over.

We stopped for a quick water break (we were dying!) and waited for each other. There was still one more mile to go.

“You ready?” she asked after her last sip.

“Yeah,” I said. “Let’s do this.”

Together, we took off for the very last part of the race: the mile-long out-and-back to a turnaround point on the Esplanade and 9:10.

When we reached the last pink lightning bolt, we touched it. This was it–this was the last checkpoint! We turned around to run back to the camp: the finish line.

Once we turned back on D street, we picked up the pace slightly, knowing we were so close to the finish. We ran faster and faster—we could see it in the distance!

The cheers grew louder and clearer. Runners who had already finished screamed encouragement as we both ran between the twin pink lightning bolts at the finish line. I don’t remember who crossed it first.

Relief washed over me as a volunteer put a wooden finisher’s medal with a pink fluorescent ribbon around my neck. Endorphins flooded my brain, the polar opposite of the terrible feelings in the last lap.

I turned to my runner friend and hugged her tight.

“Thank you so much for staying with me!” I said. “That was a huge support.”

“Oh no, thank YOU!” she said. “I would’ve had a tougher time without you.”

“What’s your name?” I asked.

“Pickles.”

“Pickles! I’m Tokki. Great job on the race! We made it!”

We hugged again before setting off our separate ways.

This is “playa magic.” Sometimes little glimmers or miracles happen when you least expect them. This was such a special moment: the unspoken bond of two strangers supporting each other in need. Earlier, I questioned why I keep running marathons and putting myself through unnecessary pain that makes me forget everything good in life. This playa magic reminds me why.

Sometimes little glimmers or miracles happen when you least expect them. This was such a special moment: the unspoken bond of two strangers supporting each other in need.

Pickles, if you ever read this, thank you for being so rad and supportive during the last part of this ultramarathon. I hope life treats you well and that good things always come your way.

Aftercare for the Burning Man 50k

Running 31 miles in the desert is no joke! Despite the plethora of calories I consumed along the course, I still burned off all of my energy and needed to replenish it. The good people at Pink Lightning Camp served up baskets of nachos. I got a vegan version with sides of refried beans, red and green salsa, and extra guacamole. All of those carbs, fat, and protein were just what my tired body needed. It was five-star!

“Fucking A!” I shouted as I sat in a chair with my nachos.

My legs were stiff. My lower back hurt from supporting me for 50 kilometers. Endorphins and other dopey neurotransmitters inundated my brain, as I was struggling to keep myself up. I looked at the intricately cut finisher’s medal, how the pink, laser-cut wooden layers were put together. This race crew put a lot of love into it.

I looked around, eating my nachos piece by piece. Slowly my consciousness replenished enough so that I could eventually stand up.

With the finisher’s medal around my neck, I slowly walked back to my camp. I smiled at random people as they congratulated me. I’ve run many marathons before, but something like finishing an ultramarathon in the desert gave me an enormous sense of gratitude and pride. It showed that I can do hard things and come out on the other side with others in solidarity. If twenty-something me could see what her future self could do, her mind would be blown.

It’s been a month now. I haven’t run since that race, and that’s okay. The itch to run will come back soon. There will be more races in the future, with more magical moments and connections to create. There will be more chances to push through the hardest parts and overcome them. For now, I am slowing down and enjoying the changing seasons, as the summer chapter has closed, slowly giving way to winter.

Burning Man 2023: Animalia

If you haven’t heard of Burning Man, it’s an eccentric art gathering in the Black Rock Desert in Nevada. Every summer, a team of artists, engineers, city planners, and workers build an ephemeral city of about 75,000 people that lasts over a week before it’s taken down again without a trace. It’s a celebration of freaks, weirdos, and creatives that provides a sense of belonging.

Bendy Bonnie knows how to radically express herself.

The spirit of Burning Man is held together by the 10 Principles, a set of commonly understood values reflected in the experience. Instead of using money, we offer gifts to each other and expect nothing in return. We radically express our creativity, unique gifts that come from the individual to make a collective whole. We actively break down barriers within ourselves to make this collective whole through immediacy and participation in this wonderful, weird society.

There were a lot of animal-themed projects this year, like this dragonfly art car.

It has been eight years since I’ve been to the main Burning Man event. The last regional Burn I’ve attended was AfrikaBurn in 2017. It’s been so long, and returning to the dusty desert, known as the playa, was in order.

Animalia was the perfect opportunity to go, because this might be my last main Burning Man event for a while.

The Ephemeral Black Rock City

Burning Man sits on an alkaline lake bed in the Black Rock Desert. The city part of it is literally built like a grid-oriented city in the shape of a clock: from 2:00 to 10:00. You’ll find typical city amenities, such as:

A city center
A passport office (where you get a stamp from participating camps)
The Black Rock City public library
A working post office that delivers letters and postcards out to the default world!

The Man is the wooden effigy standing in the middle of the playa, where the hands of a clock would meet. This is how you can orient yourself when exploring the city or even the deep playa. The Temple rests in the 12 o’clock sector northeast from the Man. Anything beyond the Temple is considered the deep playa.

Year of the Rabbit for Animalia

It’s the Year of the Rabbit for the Lunar New Year, which is my year!

Sometimes people go by a Burner name, a persona away from the default world. I never had a Burner name before, but this year the name “Tokki” felt just right. Tokki means “rabbit” in Korean. My mother used to call me that, since I’m vegan and eat “rabbit food.” Since I also fall under the Year of the Rabbit, it was appropriate.

Global Camp at Burning Man

At Burning Man, usually I stay with a theme camp. You can camp by yourself or a small group of friends; I’ve done that before. A theme camp offers so much more. In addition to amenities like a communal dinner and a full kitchen, you can make many friends from all over the world from your very own camp. You do need to help with camp duties, such as building the camp or cleaning it as the week goes on. It’s a collective effort here.

Global Camp, run by my dear friend Shawn (Salami), is an international-themed camp for Burners all around the world. The camp itself was like a hostel where Burners came from all over: Argentina, China, Ukraine, Morocco, Uruguay, and more. As a half-Korean who loves to travel, I felt right at home.

Highlights of Burning Man 2023: Animalia

I had three goals for Burning Man 2023:

Quilting an epic space-goth dream coat and wearing it there;
Letting go of a beloved painting that was considered a masterpiece at the time I created it, and;
Running a 50k ultra marathon in the desert, which is 31 miles. Just for fun. Because I’m a little crazy sometimes.

The Temple

Set at the 12:00 sector of the playa, The Temple is a place where people leave behind mementos of loved ones who have passed, or even of chapters of their lives that have closed. You’ll see photos of the dearly departed, marriage licenses, elaborate memorials, and many keepsakes in their final resting place.

I left behind two things. One was photos of our beloved cat, Käse, who passed away just a week and a half before I left for the Burn. I left some of her fur that I brushed from her, and wrote how she has brightened our lives. Käse really was a special kitty–literally the best cat. She always made you feel like the most important person in the room. She and my partner have changed my life in ways I’ve never imagined. Thanks for showing us unconditional love, Käse. We’ll always remember your sandpaper kisses, reassuring head-butts, calming purrs, and warm cuddles.

“Consumed: Anorexia and the Endless Neurotic Storm” was a masterpiece I had created at age 23.

The other thing I left was my painting titled, “Consumed: Anorexia and the Endless Neurotic Storm.”

The summer before I moved to Seattle at age 23, I painted what was then considered the masterpiece of my art career. At the time, my mental state was deeply fractured, and my future seemed bleak–if there even was a future at all. I captured all of my pain and anxiety, and created a fluorescent storm of dizzy stars, poison cupcakes, colorful ceramic skulls, rainbow lightning bolts from black storm clouds, and steampunk gears. How my manic-depressive mind operated at the time.

Over the years, I have tried to sell “Consumed.” But upon hearing the backstory, buyers would decline. It carried too much pain for one painting. It was a message that maybe this work of art no longer has a place in this world.

Now it was time to let it go.

I left “Consumed” at the Temple to burn at the end of the event, with everything else that others have left behind–the ceremonial cleansing of our collective grief. In a way, it feels cathartic. I’m glad I got to say goodbye to this painting that I’ve held onto for so long. Twenty-three-year-old me would have never envisioned a future where the pain is no longer central in my life.

The Tea Hive

The Tea Hive was a small, Moroccan-inspired tea lounge that offered mint tea and art supplies to create whatever you want, as world trance music played. It was a serendipitous find. The host, Dot, was so gracious. The teepee-style tent was decorated with oriental rugs, lanterns, warm lights, and fake tropical plants, as we sat on cushions around short-legged wooden tables. The relaxed vibe allowed me to tap into my creativity a little as I drew in my sketchbook. Striking up conversations with tea and art was what I needed at the moment. It was pure magic.

Teahive was one of my favorites! The larger theme camps are attention-grabbing for sure, luring you in with neon signs and rainbow LED lights. While they’re fun, it’s also worth checking out the smaller camps that are right under your nose. You’ll never know what you’ll find, whether it’s a new friend or artistic inspiration that you crave.

The Black Rock Philharmonics Orchestra

At the Tower of Babel, a full orchestra called the Black Rock Philharmonics played popular classical pieces. Playing next to the dark, dream-like tower completed the setting, as we gathered around to watch. Pretty much the whole city came to see them, as this was a special treat that is different from the usual bass-thumping techno that blasts in the air. Engaging and dynamic, this ensemble played pieces from the classical Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture to the modern Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody. It was impressive watching the whole orchestra play as the dust storm picked up.

The Burning Man 50K Ultramarathon

Years ago in my twenties, I had heard of this marathon. I thought that these runners have got to be some of the craziest people to walk the face of the earth. Never in my wildest dreams had I imagined that I would be toeing the starting line with them one day.

Spoiler alert: I finished running every single one of those 50 kilometers. I will write an entire blog post about this unforgettable experience, because it deserves its own post.

The Art at Burning Man 2023

Burning Man is like a live creative museum where you can fully interact with the art. In an actual museum, you cannot touch anything. But here in Black Rock City, you are actively encouraged to touch and play with the art. You can climb on it and see sweeping views of the whole city and beyond.

Every year, it’s amazing how people come up with these art installations at Burning Man. From a flaming aluminum octopus to an LED-lit willow tree, a lot of these works of art are a feat of engineering as well. One of my favorite things to do at Burning Man is cruise around the playa on my bike and visit these works.

Work by Olivia Steele

I’ve been following Olivia Steele’s internationally renowned work for a while. She’s an artist best known for her life messages in neon signs. I’ve seen her work in South Africa and London. Every time I see her art, it’s like a mirror is reflecting parts of my shadow self back at me, the parts I need to keep working through to live up to my full potential. Her messages are real and raw, and even kind of confrontational, intriguing the viewer look within themselves in the moment.

Elder Mother

The Elder Mother was probably my favorite installation. Swaying on the open playa, a willow-like tree hypnotizes you with shifting rainbow cube lights from its many tendrils. Music lures you in, a shared language that brings us together. The piece is inspired by a Hans Christian Anderson fairy tale, where a boy dreams of an elder tree growing out of a teapot full of elderberry tea. On top of the elder tree, an elderly woman sits and talks to him, she whisks him off on an adventure of her own memories and experiences. Sitting under this tree, you’re immersed in light and sound, as if you’re part of the story. I wasn’t brave enough to climb the steel trunk, but I certainly enjoyed lying under the tree, watching the colors change and relaxing into the music.

Mariposa

Mariposa was an enormous aluminum butterfly, powered by people riding a swing below. 38,000 color-changing LED lights cover the butterfly as classic pop music plays through the four speakers disguised as flower pots. It’s just as mesmerizing as The Elder Mother. Random dance parties often gathered around Mariposa as “Bohemian Rhapsody” and many other classics lured visitors in. I didn’t ride the swing, but it was fun watching others power the butterfly’s flapping wings with this kinetic sculpture.

El Pulpo Magnífico

The beloved aluminum El Pulpo Magnifico is an upgrade from its former scrap metal version. It’s a terrifying four-faced octopus that shoots flames from its eight tentacles and the top of its head. The bulging eyes and sharp teeth on all four faces move along with the limbs. Depending on who you ask, it’s what nightmares are made of.

This impressive art car uses 200 gallons of propane every night. I sat under it once, and it got quite hot underneath! The entire sculpture is completely mechanical; there are no computers or hydraulics to make the parts move. Someone in my camp said he talked to one of the creators. Apparently, it took 12 hours a day to build El Pulpo for months. The crew also spends seven hours a day maintaining it as well. It truly is a labor of love.

1000 & 1

There are supposed to be two robots here: a metal robot and a wooden one. This only shows the metal robot wielding an ax, so half of the context is missing here. From other photos, the counterpart wooden robot was holding a metal wrench. They were facing and pointing at each other. At first glance, it was just a robot pointing towards the mountains, like it meant business. I was so sleep-deprived, that I don’t remember seeing the wooden robot, if it was even there. With that wooden version in mind, it makes me wonder if they’re intending to destroy each other with the weapons that would bring them down–or build each other up using those respective tools.

Pyramid Anam Cara

Anam Cara is a cultural blend of an Aztec pyramid and topped with a Celtic Tree of Life. Many cultures around the world offer their own wisdom and perspectives on our very existence. Through these crossing paths and shared connections, we arrive at a center point in this shared unity of the universe’s beauty and consciousness.

I walked up the steps to the top at night, surveying the whole city in the distance. I asked the guy next to me, “Isn’t this great?” He smiled and nodded enthusiastically.

#Vagr

You couldn’t miss this giant pink tiger that was sitting at the 2:00 sector of the playa. “Vagr” means “tiger” in Armenian. Tigers are struggling through climate change, poaching, and habitat loss. This art serves as an educational tool for conservation of these magnificent beasts.

Immediately Vagr reminded me of Käse. She was, after all, a descendant of the ferocious ancestors that were lions and tigers.

Fuck Yer Burn!

It rained in Black Rock City, which made things interesting, to say the least.

When the playa dust gets wet, it turns into mud like wet cement. It accumulates quickly onto shoes, so it feels like you’re carrying 10 extra pounds on each foot. You cannot bike or drive, because the mud will clog the bike gears and vehicles will get stuck. The gates closed; nobody was permitted to enter or leave in these conditions.

You can’t even tell where my boots end and the ground begins.

The rain was necessary, in part because it revealed to us our true colors.

The good people at “Hard As A Rock” camp took me in and made sure I was warm enough.

The media made it sound like we were helpless, like the debacle that was Fyre Festival. But two of the Burning Man principles are Radical Self-Reliance and Communal Effort. This meant pulling together our inner resources and making the most out of a shitty situation, while also banding together to support and look after each other. We Burners are resilient, taking care of ourselves while also sharing food, water, propane, and warm clothes with our neighbors.

For the first rainy night, I slept in my sopping-wet bedding in a puddle inside my yurt. It was 55 degrees outside. I wondered if I would catch pneumonia. But I took deep breaths, reminding myself that I get to be a part of this wonderful, weird community–where a lot of us are rough around the edges to begin with. All I could say was, “Right now it’s like this.”

Still, we told stories and jokes to distract ourselves. We slowed down and got to know each other. While we couldn’t really go far, we were still in good spirits. Our resident DJs continued playing techno sets while we looked out for each other.

All I could say was, ‘Right now it’s like this.’

As I trudged through the sticky mud carrying my bike, someone asked, “What’s one thing you’ll learn from this?” It’s a fair question when something like this puts Burning Man’s principles to the test. I’m looking forward to the hindsight on this one. We go to Burning Man to learn, and sometimes the lessons are hard.

Ronnie carries her bike in the playa mud. — I had to carry my bike for over a mile back to my camp.

“Fuck yer Burn!” another Burner shouted at me.

“Fuck your Burn!” I shouted back.

“Fuck everyone’s Burn!”

Usually this is a greeting or expression like “Merry Christmas.” It still applied, albeit in a rather colorful, humorous way. Our Burns were, in a way, fucked. “Fuck yer burn” means whatever you want it to, really. We throw it to each other in jest, because amid all of this “love and light,” someone has to slap some sharp humor into things.

Now there’s something you don’t see everyday.

At the end of it all, still we come out the other side. Eventually the rainy weekend will be a great story to tell. I didn’t stay for the Man burn, and that’s okay. The Man will always burn in the future. But this weekend will sear into my memory for years to come. If we want rainbows, we have to put up with the rain, as we confront our survival in these conditions. We’re all in this together.

If we want rainbows, we have to put up with the rain, as we confront our survival in these conditions.

Where to Go From Here

Burning Man 2023 really is for the books. Years from now, people will talk about this year’s burn. Mostly I see social media posts of gratitude, that people were able to go at all. Many welcomed the rain, because it showed us who we really are.

There will always be incredible stories coming from the playa. But after this Burn, I want to check out the smaller, regional ones. Since they’re smaller, they’re more intimate, the 10 Principles tightly woven in the fabric of the communities. They are worth visiting.

As of now, I have been slowly decompressing. It’s always a culture shock going back to the default world, after living a week in this beautiful social experiment. I’ve been feeling mildly depressed after coming back, which is common among Burners. It’s such a wonderful place to experience, and then it’s back to the usual grind. Still, I practice gratitude that I went and experienced what we were meant to.

But after every Burn, I always come back feeling inspired. I want to seize opportunities more. I want to strike up conversations with strangers (despite the ever-present Seattle freeze). The creativity there is contagious; it reminded me to keep this dream and identity alive. Burning Man always gives you life-changing lessons and inspiration to apply back in the default world, and I think that’s one of the greatest gifts of all.

Recipes

Stuffed Acorn Squash

Now that winter is here, so is an abundance of sweet acorn squash. Of all of the winter harvest that’s available, acorn squash is probably my favorite winter vegetable–aside from sweet potatoes, of course (more on that very soon). Since the holidays are in full swing, I whipped up some nutritious stuffed acorn squash that is delightful and colorful–making you feel glowing from the inside out.

Because it’s easy to divvy up this recipe–one stuffed acorn squash half per person–it’s perfect as the main course for dinner parties. It might also be one of the most beautiful dishes I’ve ever shared. Set against the marigold acorn squash, the vibrant orange sweet potatoes contrast with the verdant green kale, as the red, jewel-like pomegranate arils peek through, like little rubies throughout the stuffing.

For the stuffing part, I opted for fair-trade quinoa, a mild-tasting grain that’s packed with protein. Among the veggies are shredded kale and–you guessed it–sweet potatoes. The pomegranate arils offer bursts of sweet against the savory. Chickpeas add more protein, making the stuffed acorn squash a complete meal.

The broth that I use here is Better Than Bouillon’s seasoned vegetable base*. A small amount of this paste goes a really long way. You only need to use about one teaspoon to make one cup of vegetable broth. It’s also quite versatile; you can use it in stuffing, soups, mashed potatoes, or anywhere it calls. If you want it to taste stronger, you can add more paste to the water. If you prefer lower sodium, you can dilute it with more water.

I could use the broth in the cartons, but I never need that much at a time. Also, broth from a carton eventually goes bad. With this Better Than Boullion’s broth base, I just use what I need and store the rest in the fridge for another recipe. I have used this broth for many years, and nothing is more convenient or easier to use than this good stuff.

Stuffed Acorn Squash Recipe

Stuffed acorn squash with quinoa stuffing on top of a gray plate against a colorful woven rug. — It looks like a heart almost.

Sure, the rich colors and flavors of the stuffed acorn squash win the hearts of vegans and omnivores alike. But the real beauty of this dish is that, except for the quinoa and broth ratio, you can adjust exactly how much of each ingredient to put in the stuffing. The measurements here are more like guidelines. Would you rather have more kale than sweet potato? Be my guest. You don’t like chickpeas or would rather substitute with black beans? Make yourself happy. Season to taste, make mistakes. Lean into your intuition, and learn to trust yourself in the kitchen and in life. (Just remember to keep the water to quinoa ratio so it cooks right!)

You’ll most likely have some stuffing left over. And that’s quite okay. It makes a great lunch, and pairs well with soup, salad, or roasted vegetables.

Ingredients to make the stuffed acorn squash: 4 acorn squash halves, quinoa, sweet potatoes, kale, pomegranate arils, garlic, onion, and Better Than Bouillon broth paste.

The colorful quinoa stuffing in a pot with a wooden spoon sticking out.

A side view of the stuffed acorn squash, with the quinoa stuffing piled high.

You will need

2 acorn squashes, roasted
1 cup quinoa
2 cups broth: 2 teaspoons of Better Than Bouillon’s seasoned vegetable base with 2 cups of water
1/2 yellow onion
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
4 cloves of garlic, minced
1 tablespoon of oil
2 small sweet potatoes, cut into half-inch cubes
1 can of chickpeas
3 cups of kale
Arils of 1/2 of a pomegranate
Optional: pumpkin and sunflower seeds for garnish

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Cut the 2 acorn squashes in half, and scoop the seeds and guts out. Brush the insides with olive oil. Put it in a baking dish, the insides facing up, with 1 inch of water in the dish. Roast in the oven for 45 minutes.
Meanwhile, mix together the seasoned vegetable base with the water to make vegetable broth. Put the broth and the quinoa in a rice cooker and cook.
As the quinoa cooks, set the heat to medium. Heat up a tablespoon of oil in a four-quart pot (or other large pot). Dice up the yellow onion and cook in the oil with the salt and pepper, until it starts to become translucent. Add the minced garlic, stirring frequently.
Add the sweet potato cubes and stir until they’re coated with oil. Cook covered for 13 minutes on medium heat, stirring occasionally.
Add the chickpeas, and keep stirring. It should be nice and fragrant at this point.
By now, the quinoa should just be done cooking. Carefully scoop the cooked quinoa into the pot with the sweet potatoes. Stir around until evenly incorporated.
Add the kale. Stir some more for three more minutes.
Remove the pot from the heat after turning it off. Add the pomegranate arils last, stirring well until all ingredients are evenly distributed.
When the acorn squash is done roasting, take it out of the oven. Place each half on a plate. Then scoop as much stuffing as you want into the acorn squash. It’s okay if it spills out on the sides.
Garnish with pumpkin and sunflower seeds, if you desire.

*Blogger’s note: As an Amazon Associate I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.

A Vegan Five-Course Dinner at Harvest Beat

Ronnie flashes a peace sign in front of the rainbow Harvest Beat sign. — My first time at Harvest Beat!

For years, I’ve heard reviews gushing over the best vegan five-course dinner only at Harvest Beat. As a vegan in Seattle, I’ve visited most of this city’s plant-based restaurants, the cuisine ranging from greasy spoon to organic salad bars. Harvest Beat has always been on my list of places, yet for years, it had eluded me. A voice in my head said, “Someday, someday, someday…” Yet I just needed to find the right time to try their five-course meal.

With the Caesar dressing bottle in hand, Karim smiles at the viewer as he prepares numerous Caesar salads. — Karim is one of the chefs at Harvest Beat.

My friend Karim Gwaduri, a co-chef at Harvest Beat, offered to have me as a special guest at their table. You may remember Karim from the vegan cooking class he taught a couple years ago. Since writing the blog post about his cooking class, Karim has since advanced in his culinary career. He now helps concoct recipes at Harvest Beat. I’ve really enjoyed seeing my friend spread his wings and work his way up the Seattle vegan restaurant network.

With gloved hands, Karim takes some roasted carrots to place on many dishes of polenta to be served.

Reducing food waste in a vegan lifestyle

As a vegan, I try to be mindful about how much waste my lifestyle produces while reducing my carbon footprint. So, I would like to visit places that reflect those values as well. At Harvest Beat, their mission is to promote a healthier world by lightening their carbon footprint while stepping into their full creative freedom as chefs. As such, their menu changes every four weeks to reflect the available produce during the current season–so that chefs like Karim can create food that’s intuitive and inspired.

Rows of third course plates are ready to serve to diners. — Food this vibrant is as good as it looks. It also takes a lot of effort to bring from the farm to the table.

Another way Harvest Beat aims to reduce waste is by using as much as the produce as possible. That means that the parts of a vegetable that are usually thrown out are still edible, such as the white ends of green onion. The restaurant uses organic produce by partnering with local farms throughout the Pacific Northwest. Farmers and foragers scour the region, from Northern California to British Columbia. The PNW terrain has diverse climates, ranging from more arid desert to lush forests. So, more variety of fruits, vegetables, and nuts can be found during different times of the year in these climates. Some of Harvest Beat’s food is even grown on their very own rooftop garden!

All food scraps get composted, which eventually breaks down and recycles back into the earth. So, the food comes full circle (no pun intended) here!

The vegan five-course dinner at Harvest Beat

Looking down from the loft floor, Harvest Beat's interior is warm and softly lit. Plants and art made of found objects decorate the walls, as white Christmas lights illuminate the restaurant.

The ambience of Harvest Beat is intimate and welcoming. Warm, soft lights and tea candles illuminate the restaurant, as plants and art made from found objects give the space a cozy atmosphere. True to their reduced waste mission, the green and tan walls are made from eco-friendly paint, and the bar is made from recycled beach wood and bar top.

A pink oat chai drink is next to Ronnie's name card in front of a small glass vase of freshly cut flowers.

When I entered Harvest Beat, the server led me to a special seat with my name on it in front of the kitchen. I got to have a front row seat of watching Karim and his co-chef make the magic happen!

This menu does offer dishes with nuts. If you have any food or nut allergies, you can call the restaurant in advance and they’ll make accommodations for you.

Ronnie's left hand with a cupcake tattoo on her forearm reaches for the pink oat chai drink. On the right is Ronnie's name card with the evening multi-course menu in front of it.

For this evening seating, I asked for the dinner with non-alcoholic pairing. If you prefer alcohol, there are wine pairings with each course. While I waited for dinner to begin, I enjoyed a glass of this pink oat chia honey bush tea that was spiced with cinnamon and cardamom, and tinted with beet juice. I thought it was refreshing to have, since it set the anticipation of the delicious experience to come.

Ten minutes after the last guest arrived, Karim rang the large bell to signal the start of the two-hour dinner. He thanked everyone for coming and introduced them to Harvest Beat’s mission. By knowing where their food comes from, people can appreciate what they have in front of them even more. It offers a fresh perspective that there’s a whole system that brings food from the farm to the table.

The first and second course (plated together)

A romaine Caesar salad with chickpea croutons and pickled red onion is plated next to a small bowl of red and green cold gazpacho soup. Behind the plate is a lemon-lime elixir next to a small glass of fresh-cut flowers and a lit tea candle. — The first and second courses are always plated together and usually feature a salad and soup combo.

At Harvest Beat, the first and second courses are always plated together. They’re usually a soup and salad combo. These courses start off light and progress towards the more filling main courses before finishing with dessert. Wrapped up in a napkin was a knife, two spoons, and three different forks for the five courses.

For this summer menu, the first course was toasted cumin tomato gazpacho topped with scallions, green chive oil, and summer radish. The flavorful gazpacho was a refreshing summer soup served cold. On the same plate was a grilled romaine Caesar salad with masala-spiced chick peas and pickled red onion. The zesty cashew-based Caesar dressing was salted with caper juice.

The drink pairing for these two courses was a lime-lemon elixir sweetened with agave, with a salty pomegranate pineapple rim. It was almost like drinking a non-alcoholic martini in a wine glass.

The third course

After warming our appetites up with the gazpacho and Caesar salad, it was time for the third course: Crispy polenta on an arugula pesto with a leek buttery fondue, roasted baby dill carrots, and finished with fried capers.

This third course tasted like a play on a variety of textures and flavors. The crispy outside contrasted with the creamy, softly gritty texture on the inside of the polenta. Likewise, it boasted a delicate balance of salty and sweet. The polenta rested on a pool of bright green arugula and basil pesto–the minty basil balances out the peppery arugula flavors. The leek fondue or butter on top of the polenta was cooked down to a low temperature until it became creamy. Roasting the green beans and carrots brought out their sweetness. Sprinkled on top, the fried capers added a salty, crispy texture.

The mocktail that accompanied it was a purple sparkling macadamia nut elixir made with blackberries, vanilla, and urfa bieber (a Turkish chili), and garnished with a blackberry and a sage leaf.

The fourth course

Layered squash gratin comes with a roasted tomato, morel mushrooms, and microgreens, and is served with a basil lemonade. — The fourth course is also the main course.

Then came the fourth course, or the main course of the menu. On an apple-smoked tomato sauce, the summer squash gratin was layered with generous herb cashew cheese at the bottom, zucchinis, and kale, and then topped off with breadcrumbs, roasted morel mushrooms, micro greens, and a balsamic reduction. Half of a roasted tomato completed this dish. As with the third course, roasting brings out the sweetness in the tomato. I remember Karim once saying how the balsamic vinegar, another acid, cuts the acidity of tomatoes.

This Italian-inspired fourth course was my favorite at Harvest Beat. Like the third course, the contrast between savory and sweetness paired well together. And because I have always had a soft spot in my heart for vegan cheese, it made it extra special. This cashew cheese was filling and flavorful. Dare I say that my head was buzzing from the dopamine receptors soaking it all in.

The drink pairing with the summer squash gratin was a sweet basil lemonade with hints of rose, apple, and carrot.

The fifth course

Four bite-sized beignets dusted with powdered sugar sit on top of a pool of elderberry puree. Next to the beignets is a scoop of coconut-based ice cream on top of crushed granola. A small glass of iced tea is behind the dish. — The fifth course was just the right amount of sweet.

There was still one more course left at Harvest Beat, which was the fifth course, or dessert. There were four dainty bite-sized beignets, or fried pastry balls, on top of foraged Saskatoon elderberry coulis, a thin fruit puree used as a sauce. Powdered sugar is sprinkled on to give the beignets a little sweetness. Next to the beignets was a scoop of vanilla coconut ice cream on a bed of crushed granola. The ice cream was made with just three ingredients: coconut milk, vanilla bean, and sweetened with agave nectar.

Ronnie smiles as she enjoys the last course.

For this course, I sopped up the pillow-y beignets with the elderberry coulis. The crunchy granola added even more textural contrast with the soft ice cream. I really appreciated how the dessert wasn’t overly sweet. It had just enough sweetness to satisfy me at the end of an elaborate meal.

The last drink was a chilled Harvest Beat tea blend. The mellow flavor was a good ending to this delectable meal.

Last thoughts on the vegan dinner at Harvest Beat

I was so honored to eat at this multi-course vegan dinner at Harvest Beat! I’m proud of Karim for living his truth in vegan fine dining. I’m glad to see how Harvest Beat does its part to lessen its environmental impact by sourcing food locally and reducing as much waste as possible. Sometimes we also need to remind ourselves how much work goes into getting quality food from the farm to the table. Because this is the kind of food that keeps us healthy and alive–while working to leave the planet a better place than we found it.

World Travel

Eurotrip 2022: London, U.K.

London is one of those cities that has something for everyone. It’s my last stop, and I saved the best for last for this Eurotrip 2022. This city checks all of my boxes:

Tons of vegan options
The birthplace of Goth
Very cat-friendly
Notable street art

I’m not sure if these phones actually work.

The last time I visited London was in December 2018. I was so caught up in work that I didn’t have much much of a chance to get to know this city. This time was a better chance to explore more.

For most of this trip, I’ve been museum-hopping like it’s going out of style. While I enjoyed immersing myself in art and history, I decided instead to poke around the local establishments and see what gives this city its spark.

The world is your oyster in Camden Town, London

I stayed in Camden Town, a famed neighborhood that’s best known for its counterculture–a haven for punks, vegans, and queers. Shops and restaurants with colorful murals line the streets, as the rainbow Queer Pride crosswalks add a friendly message: “You belong here.” You could spend an entire day or two just wandering through Camden.

Staying in Camden is great, because there are so many options within a stone’s throw, especially with public transport. There’s the Camden Town tube station just a five-minute walk from where I stayed. The St. Pancras train station was also a 16-minute walk. The short-enough distance made it very convenient to see my friends in Brighton and Nottingham.

Favorite cafe at Think Coffee and Ink

During the day, the cafes are bustling with visitors topping up their caffeine fix or having a bite. A unique cafe called Think Coffee and Ink is a hip trifecta that consists of a coffee shop, a hair salon, and a tattoo parlor. It’s a non-profit creative space that gives back to the community and donates their profits to various charities. In addition to community efforts, they also help members of the house-less community by offering hot drinks and occasionally free haircuts.

Camden Market

I strolled to the popular Camden Market, a sprawling warren of restaurants, and shops selling vintage wares, souvenirs, and eclectic curiosities. It’s an international smorgasbord that has stuff that you just can’t find anywhere else. Whether you’re looking for glass mosaic lamps or a silver ring that might have magical powers (or curses), there is something for everyone in this market.

I wandered within the labyrinth of this vast market and encountered Cyberdog, a futuristic fashion shop that has avant-garde club wear for raves and festivals. Outside, two giant silver cyborgs flank both sides of the entrance. Inside the store, rainbow lights, florescent circuit boards, and cyborg mannequins glow under black light as techno music blasts you into a faraway galaxy.

I have essentially found my home planet.

Cyberdog offers next-level style in the form of holographic dresses, iridescent sequin coats with rainbow faux fur trim, light-up goggles, and baggy mylar space pants. While I prefer to stay shrouded in my black clothes, I’ve always appreciated rave fashion. It’s good to get new ideas of what to wear at the next festival, whether it’s goth or rave-style.

Eating vegan in Camden Town

There are several vegan restaurants, and most eateries offer at least one vegan option. If you’re vegan like me, you’ll have a field day in Camden!

Vegan Popcorn Bites that taste like chicken

My favorite spot was Temple of Seitan, which serves vegan fried chicken that delivers the perfect crunch. I got the Popcorn Bites, which were vegan chicken bites that are battered and deep-fried to perfection. Ordering was super easy and efficient. There’s a tablet at the front counter where you can put in your order and pay at the same spot. They will bring it to your table when it’s ready.

Mac & cheese, plus cashew mozzarella sticks

Rudy’s Vegan Diner is a popular spot for some familiar favorite meals, such as burgers, fries, and banana splits. If you’re in London and you know of a meat-eater who thinks they’ll miss out on a vegan lifestyle, this is where you take them. I tried the mac and cheese, plus a side of breaded dairy-free mozzarella sticks.

In Camden, Buck Street Market has shops and restaurants housed in colorful upcycled cargo containers. This eco-friendly market pushes sustainability for the more conscious consumer. All of the eateries have vegan options on the menu, and the retail shops offer ethical fashion and plant-based products. There are plenty of recycling points around Buck Market, and their food waste is composted to generate electricity to power the main grid. That’s so cool how they can convert food waste to make something new and useful!

A vegan red velvet cupcake from Clean Kitchen Club made a decadent treat. The rest of the menu had the usual favorites, such as vegan burgers, rice bowls, meatless wraps, and smoothies.

Camden Eye is a lively pub with a down-to-earth vibe. On Mondays, vegan menu items are 50 percent off! At £3, I couldn’t go wrong with some heavy hitters like the Seitan Strips: vegan deep-fried meatless strips that are reminiscent of chicken tenders with barbecue sauce.

The Regent’s Park

Regent’s Park is within walking distance of Camden Town. During this time of year, the 400-acre park is leafy, green, and the perfect place to run some miles through the numerous paths. If you’re more of a walker, you can take in the lush scenery at a leisurely pace. There are a few cafes to take a break in, plus a beautiful rose garden and a boating lake. This park is the home to many wildlife, including around 100 species of wild birds. There’s even a large open-air theater, if you happen to catch a play or musical.

Favorite spots throughout London

I’ve been into the goth subculture since the tender age of 13. Since London is the birthplace of goth, it was time to pay my respects by going to Slimelight, a goth night at the nightclub, Electrowerkz. A local person I had spoken to said that Slimelight is a weekly event. I checked for more information. For a popular club, there was only a handful of webpages, and the amount of information was slim. I went anyway, only to discover that Slimelight now only happens once a month because the event organizer died a couple years ago. There’s always next time.

ASMR at the Design Museum

The Design Museum is currently hosting a special exhibition: WEIRD SENSATION FEELS GOOD: The World of ASMR. ASMR stands for “Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response.” It’s a physical sensation of happiness or deep calm–sometimes a physical tingling sensation–that is triggered by sound, touch, and movement. It can be a subjective experience: what one person feels might be different from another.

According to the museum, people are using ASMR more as a form of self-medication against the effects of loneliness, insomnia, stress, and anxiety. This is a cue to its success and transcendental appeal.

In most museums, we visitors may not touch anything. In this exhibition, we are encouraged to touch the works of art and immerse ourselves with our entire being: physically, mentally, and emotionally. Gentle sounds, repetitive movements, and soft places invite you to stay for a while and just be present. Here I am chilling out and listening to Björk’s gentle whispers while art is spinning on a screen in the background.

In another room, Bob Ross episodes are playing–right next to original paintings that he did! Ross was an iconic painter who is most famously known for his instructional videos on how to paint a landscape. His soft voice and sense of humor have always been calming to me, and I think they fit perfectly in this museum.

Veto Meato

After the Design Museum, I went to the British Museum for a little bit, and didn’t stay for long. Sometimes the sensory overload can be overwhelming!

Fortunately, there was a cozy vegan pub nearby called Veto Meato. I had the Asian bowl, a nod to Korean street food that boasted ingredients like tofu, sesame, kimchi, and gochujang sauce. I was super stoked to find this because it can be hard to find vegan Korean food. So, this was a warm treat after all of that museum-hopping.

Afternoon tea with cats at Lady Dinah’s Cat Emporium

One thing that’s quintessentially British is having afternoon tea. A traditional afternoon tea consists of tea, plus an assortment of mini sandwiches, cakes, pastries, and scones on a tiered set.

In my case, afternoon tea with cats at Lady Dinah’s Cat Emporium in Shoreditch was very appropriate. This Alice In Wonderland-themed cat cafe has a few adoptable cats to have tea with. The whole establishment is one big cat playground with plenty of spaces for the cats to explore and chill out in. There are many shelves, cat toys, and suspended cat bridges for the kitties, plus a big tree with winding branches in the center of the room.

Visitors must follow the rules of conduct, as to keep the cats comfortable. Before entering the cat room, you must wash your hands and sanitize them. When you’re with the cats, let them come to you, if they choose to. They can come and go as they please. You can play with them, but leave them in peace if they’re eating or sleeping.

This vegan afternoon tea consisted of hummus and cucumber sandwiches, a brownie, a mini chocolate torte, a lemon poppy seed cake, a sponge cake with vegan cream, and a scone with jam and plant-based butter. It also comes with two different teas. When I ordered, the person at the counter recommended Lady Dinah’s blend, which was an earl grey infused with bergamot and rose. The second tea I had was darjeeling, which hinted black currants undertones.

To be honest, while the cakes and pastries were delicious, the sandwiches could have been better. The filling was a third slice of bread in the middle sandwiched between hummus and veggies. For the scone, traditionally clotted cream is served, and instead it was vegan butter. I still enjoyed dining with the cats, though. Here, the feline friends are the stars of the whole experience, rather than the food.

Lady Dinah’s is discontinuing the afternoon tea service at the end of June, but you can still enjoy tea other treats from the regular menu. You must make a reservation in advance. The time slots do fill up fast, so reserve an hour as soon as you can.

Doughnut Time

My last meal in London was a Pride-themed donut called “Scaredy Cat” from Doughnut Time. It features vanilla rainbow glaze, blueberry jam filling, and a vegan Candy Kitten gummy in the center.

To help the LGBT community, 10% of the proceeds are donated to Just Like Us, a charity who works with schools to improve the lives of young people within the community. Cats, pride, donuts, and community support: what’s not to love?

Street art in London

Everywhere I turn in London, there’s a vibrant mural just around the corner. Some of them are hidden, while others are more out in the open. The streets here are a street artist’s haven, the blank walls a canvas to beautify the city. These are a few of my favorite murals.

There were several murals that weren’t signed by the artist. But I don’t think they’re meant to be anonymous, because I’ve seen this style of mural before: cosmic abstract women with distinct contours and gradients throughout. If anyone knows who did these, please leave a comment.

I’ve become familiar with Urban Solid’s colorful 3D brains. As seen on the street art tour in Lisbon, Urban Solid wants to send a message about human connectivity. According to the artist’s website, “Urbanbrain is an active, living brain represented, which communicates the thought of him through ‘wireless waves,’ a graphic sign that in a few years has become an icon capable of creating an immediate connection link. The body, the smell, the emotion, the gestures are fundamental parts of communication that are thus left out, relegated to spectators of a show in which they were the main actors.”

To London and back

I really did save the best for last. London was everything I could dream of–and more! It caters to cat lovers, queers, counter culture, vegans, artists, and all sorts of folks! Even if you don’t identify with any of those, you can still find something that you enjoy. You’ll never run out of things to see or do. London is a city that’s really does have something for everyone.

World Travel

Eurotrip 2022: Nottingham, U.K.

Ronnie and Catherine, two vegan goth friends, stand in front of the neo-Gothic Wollaton Hall under an overcast sky. — Catherine and I

Technology in the 21st century is fantastic. With entire social networks at our fingertips, we end-users can connect with others from different places, whether it’s within the same city or eight time zones away across the ocean. After exploring Brighton with Eli and James, it was time to discover a land that’s a bit further north to Nottingham with the guidance of my new friend, Catherine.

Catherine and I connected a few years ago on Instagram. It’s literally like being friends with myself if there were two of me. Catherine is practically my British twin: a fellow goth vegan cat lady who has run more marathons than I have–18 marathons and counting, plus three ultramarathons. Catherine is a hardcore runner; the vast majority of her free time is dedicated to covering great distances, including a 100km ultramarathon. She’s truly inspiring. She even had purple hair at one point!

When I asked her if she would like to meet up, she immediately offered ideas of where to go and what to do in Nottingham. As a longtime resident, Catherine knows the lay of the land and all of the hidden magic that rests within it. With her knowledge of notable landmarks in the area, she was able to plan a true goth field trip.

Day 1 in Nottingham

Catherine greeted me with a hug at the train station. It was so nice to finally meet my doppelgänger!

I noticed how calming her presence was. We both seem to be introverted cat ladies, and with that come comfortable silences. There’s the relief of being okay with not feeling the need to fill the silence with words. As an introvert, while I can handle long stretches of time alone, I am also happy just basking in another human’s presence.

Nottingham may appear as a quaint city, but I would soon find out what wonders lie ahead. It’s really nice to get out of the hustle and bustle of the big city and into the rolling green English countryside.

The V Spot

An assortment of cakes and savory pastries are in a display case at V-Spot.

In one corner of V-Spot, a wall rack of leather-free boots, sneakers, and sandals is next to a display stand offering many vegan cosmetics.

We first ventured into V Spot in Nottingham, which was a 100 percent vegan market. You could stock up on groceries, or even choose from a variety of sweet and savory treats in the cafe. A shoe rack displays many types of leather-free and animal-friendly footwear, while the wall next to it offered cosmetics without any animal products.

Fun fact: The British aren’t big peanut butter fans like Americans are. So, it is a little harder to find around here. We managed to find some at V Spot.

Divine Coffeehouse

After visiting V Spot, we had vegan lunch at Divine Coffeehouse. The cafe sold vegan sandwiches for cheap—a welcome break from the London prices! Catherine and I split a warm blueberry cinnamon roll, the shape resembling a muffin. The purple walls of the cafe really spoke to both of us.

Witch marks at Creswell Crags

Then came the real deal of our goth field trip in Nottingham: the witch marks at Creswell Crags.

We drove for an hour among the rolling hills in the lush green countryside to Creswell Crags, an ice age excavation site in a limestone gorge with at least 60,000 years of history. There are caves containing the eerie “Witch Marks.” What was mistaken for Victorian graffiti are actually 16th-19th century cave carvings that are speculated to serve as protection from evil spirits.

Until recently, they were hiding in plain sight. In 2018, Hayley Clark and Ed Waters from the Subterranea Britannica group happened to notice these mysterious carvings on a cave tour. That was just a few years ago! Can you imagine something like this being under everyone’s noses for centuries?

Witch marks are protective symbols that have been carved into limestone caves. — Not creepy at all.

The term “witch marks” is a bit misleading, because they don’t actually have to do with repelling witches. Instead, they were used to turn away evil spirits of all kinds. Witch marks are also known as “apotropaic marks,” which mean “turn away” or “ward off.” Evil spirits were suspected to follow straight lines, so sometimes we would find witch marks depicting boxes. It’s believed that those boxes or squares would contain demons like a trap.

Why did people carve witch marks?

Evil is also thought to follow the flow of air. Traditionally, people carved ritualistic witch marks on doors, windows, and fireplaces—anywhere evil spirits can get in. Natural disasters, disease, famine, or violent forces were attributed to evil spirits. In a time where mass communication and modern science weren’t readily available, people back then didn’t want to take their chances. Maybe carving those marks was a way of taking back control and quelling fears?

Repeating letters and symbols are carved into the limestone. — Can you see the carved letters in the limestone?

What do these witch marks all mean?

We discovered repeating motifs and symbols of these witch marks. Some of the most common symbols were:

A double ‘V,’ which likely stands for “Virgo Virginum.” It can also appear as an M upside down, for “Maria.” It’s believed to be a spell asking for the Virgin Mary’s protection against evil.
‘P’ stands for “Pace,” or “Peace.”
Crossed I’s, which stand for “Jesus.” Back in the day, Jesus’ name started with an I for “Iesu.” An ‘I’ with a central bar was written as such in the 17th century. That’s one way these symbols could be dated: how certain letters are written.
‘R’ for Rex or Regina, though there’s a debate if that’s actually a witch mark.

An ambiguous symbol that looks between a 'P' and an 'R' is carved into a cave. — Is that a ‘P’ or an ‘R’?

A carved witch mark ambiguously depicts the number 777 or 1777. — Do you see 1777, or just 777?

Then there were some other witch marks that were speculations. For instance, there was one that appeared to be a 777. There could be a 1 carved in front of it, so it would depict the year 1777. But because the 1 appears so faded with the rest of the numbers, it’s possible that it’s just 777. One theory is that writing those three 7’s translates to 666 in Hebrew–which is believed to be the devil’s number. So, that would be the devil’s symbol in this case. Since these are only theories, that’s the fun of decoding the witch marks.

A Merels Board has nested squares and lines carved into stone.

Finally, what is considered to be the largest witch mark appears to be a Merels Board, or Nine Men’s Morris, one of the oldest strategy games in the world. Merels Boards were used as witch marks, most likely because their maze-like form could trap evil and contain it.

Vegan Sunday Roast at Fothergills

Crawling through the limestone caves and taking in all of the mysterious witch marks made me and Catherine hungry again. Since it was a Sunday, Catherine suggested that we go to Fothergills for a British weekly tradition: the Sunday roast.

A lentil and apricot main roast inside a flaky pastry shell is next to a side of greens, stuffing, and a boat of gravy. — Sunday Roast at Fothergills

Traditionally, a Sunday roast consists of slices of carved meat, mashed potatoes and gravy, sautéed veggies, and maybe some bread stuffing. It’s reminiscent of Thanksgiving food that we have in the U.S. Our vegan version was an apricot and lentil roast wrapped in a flaky pastry shell, plus gravy that was more like a broth. It truly hit the spot after an afternoon of being spooked by witch marks.

A cylindrical chocolate torte with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream and a piece of chocolate on top, plus a strawberry half on the side.

For dessert, we both had a chocolate torte with vegan vanilla ice cream. The torte was so rich, that it was definitely going to put us to sleep once we got home. We savored every bite of this decadent dessert.

Robin Hood, Nottingham Castle, and the oldest inn

Ronnie stands in front of the arched stone gate of Nottingham Castle — In front of the gates of Nottingham Castle

Ronnie stands next to the bronze Robin Hood Statue in front of the stone wall of Nottingham Castle. — The legend of Robin Hood started in Nottingham

Of course, we had to take a peek at the bronze Robin Hood statue pointing his bow and arrow at the Nottingham Castle. I learned that Nottingham is where the world-famous Robin Hood tale originates: an altruistic outlaw who stole from the rich and gave to the poor.

Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem is a 12th-century inn nestles against a sandstone cliff under an overcast sky. — The oldest inn…or so they say

Finally, we poked our heads into Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem, a pub that has supposedly been established in the year 1189 AD–even though there’s no documentation to support this claim. According to legend, this was a stop for King Richard the Lionheart and his knights to have an ale, before heading off to fight the Crusades in Jerusalem in the 12th century.

The inn is nestled against the sandstone cliff where Nottingham Castle is built. Part of the inn is even carved into the cliff. Inside, there are cozy nooks to enjoy a drink in. Throughout the inn, there are artifacts and relics of Nottingham’s history. Below the pub, there’s a network of caves that was originally used as a brewery in the 12th century, since it was a good environment for making ale.

Day 2 in Nottingham

After having breakfast and coffee—and playing with her cat, Mavis—Catherine and I set off for another goth vegan adventure in the morning.

Wollaton Hall

First, we made a quick stop at Wollaton Hall, more famously known as Bruce Wayne’s or Batman’s lair in the 2012 movie, “The Dark Knight Rises.” We didn’t stay for long, but we wanted to appreciate the architecture. This was a good start for Day 2 of this goth Nottingham field trip!

Newstead Abbey

The medieval 12th-century monastery in Nottingham spans across the manicured lawn under a cloudy sky.

Set on extensive landscaped and wild gardens is the 12th-century monastery, Newstead Abbey. It’s famously known as the old residence of the revered Romantic poet, Lord Byron. The only time I’ve ever read his work was in my senior year of high school, when we had to take an old English literature course.

There’s an entire museum dedicated to Lord Byron. Other exhibits go into detail about the 800-year history of the medieval monastery. Instead of seeing the museum, we decided to walk around the labyrinth-like gardens of this grand 300-acre estate.

The expansive gardens range in style from the Spanish landscapes with trimmed hedges to bamboo groves of a Japanese Oasis. Walking trails in lush forests wind around trickling streams. Silent white swans glided over the lake with their fuzzy gray cygnets. All of this beauty under the overcast skies reminded me so much of Seattle.

A black and white resident cat rests on the edge of a fountain in one of the landscaped gardens. — This cat was super chill.

In one of the gardens with a fountain, we saw a cat that almost looked like Mavis.

The side of a male peacock with his feathers down.

A male peacock displays his vibrant array of feathers that look like many eyes.

We heard a peacock squawk from afar and followed the sound. We walked along a stone wall and through a tunnel. And there he was in all of his magnificent glory! Just as we wondered if he was going to show us his full beauty, he stretched out, proudly displaying his shimmering blue and green feathers that look like many eyes.

The peacock rests on a stone railing with the medieval monastery in the background.

Catherine and I could spend all day here. The medieval abbey, the lush gardens, and the trails were all mesmerizing, as were the resident animals that add even more charm to these grounds.

Bread & Butterflies

After walking through Lord Byron’s gardens, it was time to refuel before heading to the train station. Catherine took us to a little vegan tearoom called Bread & Butterflies.

An assortment of cakes display under bell jars on the front counter, in front of a shelf holding teacups with floral patters.

Ivory lace and folded paper butterflies decorated the whole tearoom. Frilly teacups and saucers with floral designs were displayed on bookshelves and credenzas throughout, as various cakes under glass bell jars stood on the counter. Beside our table, a terrier lounged on the sofa.

A resident dog rests on the couch inside the cafe.

When I’m traveling, I prefer to try the local dishes, rather than a familiar dish from back in my home country, the States. People have perfected the local dishes, and that’s one of the joys of traveling: trying the customary food of a given destination.

A full English breakfast consists of vegan sausage, sweet baked beans, hash browns, toast, fresh spinach, and grilled mushrooms and tomatoes. — A full English breakfast

With that in mind, I wouldn’t order American pancakes. Instead, we both ordered a full English breakfast, which is still similar to a full American breakfast. It was technically lunch time, but you can have a full English breakfast any time of the day. It has everything you need: beans and vegan sausages for protein, toast and hashbrowns for carbs, plus fresh spinach, and grilled mushrooms and tomatoes for veggies.

What I also like is that, as with many traditional meals, everyone makes a slightly different version of it, such as the full English breakfast that I had in Brighton.

Hopkinson Vintage Market & Cafe

As the goth vegan Nottingham field trip was wrapping up, Catherine and I had some time to kill before I went back to London.

Signs inside the Hopkinson Vintage shop point where things are,while cards, trinkets, and decorative objects display throughout the first floor of the store.

The Hopkinson Vintage, Antiques and Art Centre was right next to the Nottingham train station, which was a perfect way to spend some time before taking the train back. It’s a cafe, a vintage store, and an antique market all under one roof. There’s even a haunted museum that features shrunken heads, a devil’s toy box, kits for exorcisms, and many more curiosities.

The shop had two full floors of vintage wear, such as brown tweed coats with elbow patches and crushed velvet dresses with tinsel woven in the fibers. We didn’t buy anything, but if anyone wants to stock up on fashion from the 1970s before hopping on the train, this is one place they could find it.

Last thoughts on Nottingham

Nottingham showed that this city has so much more magic than meets the eye. From witch marks hiding in plain sight to centuries-old pubs with hidden underground cave systems, there’s always something waiting to intrigue us. I feel like I could live here for a year and still discover something new. This town is truly a treasure trove of serendipity, folklore, and curiosity. And of course, I now have a new friend to explore all of this with.

World Travel

Eurotrip 2022: Lisbon, Portugal

Standing in front of the ubiquitous azulejos, or decorative tiles

Lisbon looks like a faraway fantasy destination that’s only seen in postcards: hilly cobblestone streets and rows of houses covered in patterned decorative azulejo tiles.

This is a famous mural dedicated to Fado music

I knew that Lisbon was brimming with art and architecture, and it wasn’t until I actually set foot in this illustrious city that showed just how prevalent it is. This city lives and breathes creative passion; it’s the lifeblood that gives the city its unique identity. You may hear Fado music crooning out of open windows, the wistful melodies longing for a past that cannot be recovered.

Everywhere you go in Lisbon, you’ll find intricate glazed ceramic tiles called “azulejos” covering buildings or facades. Sometimes you’ll even find them inside dining rooms, bathrooms, or kitchen walls in restaurants and homes. I never knew that I had such a fascination with tiles until I set foot in Lisbon!

Azulejos in Lisbon

Azulejo stems from the Arab word azzelij or al zuleycha, meaning “small polished stone.” The azulejo is an important part of Portuguese identity art. Made of geometric designs and plain colors, they have been used since the 13th century. In the 16th century, the use of these azulejos as ornamental facing spread throughout Portugal. Islamic culture inspired the intricate knot-like geometric patterns, filling in as much space as possible.

From the 16th century, animal and plant motifs, along with Gothic references, gradually replaced the geometric patterns. But the Moorish techniques still endured.

Hand-painted azulejos from the 19th century

Many of the tiles that are seen around the 19th century are hand-painted. Notice the nuances of the brushstrokes when you look closer.

There’s even an entire museum dedicated to the azulejos! The Museu Nacional do Azulejo is a must-see for anyone who is charmed by the craft. It only costs €5, and it’s totally worth it. You can visit the whole museum in an hour.

Also, never ever buy old tiles from a flea market. Those have been stolen from buildings and homes, as seen in gaps in the walls. Don’t buy goods that have been taken from someone else!

Street Art in Lisbon

Street art is ubiquitous in Lisbon. Everywhere you go, you’ll find hidden treasures in narrow alleyways, on the corners of buildings, and other unexpected places—until you realize to expect the unexpected. On a larger scale, you’ll find beautiful murals on the sides of buildings that broadcast their messages out to the world about existence, longing, shared experiences, and everything in between.

So, I did what any sensible creative person would do: I went on a three-hour street art tour with Lisbon Street Art Tours (not sponsored–it was a fun thing to do).

Street art vs. graffiti

From the time street art and graffiti have existed, there have been endless debates on how to define both of them. There seems to be a difference between street art and graffiti, since they come from two different environments.

At the loosest definition:

Street art is commissioned and legal, so there’s a designated place to create it. It’s usually image-based and not words.
Graffiti is based on scribbles and words, and they’re not commissioned or legal.

With graffiti, it’s about the game: marking territory or gaining notoriety. In those scribbles, there’s a lot of symbols in tags. The quick tags are called “throw ups,” because they’re easily dished out on a surface. The more developed ones are called pieces.

Underground culture groups wanted to be more visible so they went to moving walls like freight trains–which is why you see a lot of tags on trains. Graffiti can be about messaging in political environments, too.

In a sense, both street art and graffiti stem from the freedom of expression and content, where artists can express whatever they want, wherever they can. This often gives room to express difficult messages.

Favorite street art in Lisbon

There’s less street art in city center, so we started in Moderia: a multicultural neighborhood outside the central neighborhood. Many street artists live here, especially Brazilian artists. You can find smaller works that have a lot to say and stickers from notable street artists.

Bórdalo II

Bórdalo is a street artist who creates 3D work made out of trash, such as car parts. Using this medium, he gives trash a new life, rather than letting it go to landfills. He thinks that one man’s trash is another’s treasure. Most of his works are commissioned and legal. If you have work that big that stands the test of time, it has been legally commissioned.

Oze Arv

Oze Arv paints large-scale murals that are rich in color–without the use of any digital aids, such as projectors, or studio assistants. He does everything on his own.

We can see his style really come together. Throughout his work, you’ll see a combination of stripes and realism. This large mural is about spring. He did it alone without any help from anyone.

Zizi’s work

Our lovely tour guide, Zizi, also had her own work up! In her mural, she portrays how feminism is in many different parts of the world. Lisbon has a specific type of feminism. Women run away from first marriages, and they fight alongside the men. It doesn’t mean being in favor of war, but having the will to fight by their male counterparts. The woman in this mural is a sculptor and actor from France named Sarah Bernhardt.

Mario Belem

“Saudade” cannot be translated exactly, but it means a deep longing or nostalgia about something that you can’t have back. There’s the waiting for something better to come by, the hopefulness for a change with whatever it might be. At the bottom, the mural translates to, “it’s better to be lost in here somewhere than to be going nowhere.” It invites dialogue about missing what’s near us. We need to look at the beauty of what’s in front of us and stay present.

Shepard Fairey

Shepard Fairey is one of the most iconic and prolific street artists of all time, delivering political messages in a way that’s accessible for everyone. He’s best known for his revolutionary propaganda style while combining elements from contemporary art: bold, contrasting colors and well-defined lines for a dramatic effect.

This mural is about the Carnation Revolution that happened on April 25, 1974–a revolution to overthrow António de Oliveira Salazar’s authoritarian regime that presided over Portugal for almost 50 years. That night, a song to signal the coup aired on the radio. Then, thousands of Portuguese took to the streets with the military. Almost no shots were fired that night, and nobody died. A restaurant worker by the name of Celeste Caeiro put carnations into the muzzles of soldiers’ rifles. Hence, this carnation shown here.

Utopia

Utopia mostly paints sultry, colorful women with the universe in their seductive eyes. He’s my personal favorite, mainly because I’m a sucker for pretty women and outer space themes.

This Vhils/Shepard Fairy collaboration illustrates the multicultural neighborhood. Vhils used a dremel to etch out the surface and give it texture. There are some older buildings where he couldn’t do that, because it’s too fragile. So, he used a more superficial technique to create a similar visual effect.

This is a mural showing a friendship between a Kurdish and a Tigrayan girl. There’s a regional war currently going on between these two cultures that nobody is talking about, and this is what this mural is about.

After the street art tour, we spray painted patterns onto tote bags. The last time I used spray paint was to paint a David Bowie mural in 2020. It felt nice to make something, even if it went by quickly.

LxFactory: creative lifestyle in Lisbon

I headed over to LxFactory, a repurposed industrial complex that houses numerous artsy shops, cafes, and restaurants. This is a creative island showcasing more street art, fashion, culinary feasts, literature, and many more mediums in a way that belongs to everyone.

You could meander through the friendly shops, the unpretentious attitude welcoming anyone who is interested. My favorite shop was a bookstore with shelves extending two floors! The bookstore is called Ler Devagar and it contains a cafe, a music shop, an art gallery, a library, an auditorium, and more. There are frequent events in this bookstore, such as book readings, art shows, and performances.

Those are mirror pieces that make up Frida Kahlo’s face

Vegan food in Lisbon

In Lisbon, finding vegan food was very easy. Usually I ate a light breakfast at my hostel for free. For lunch, the Happy Cow app showed some real crowd-pleasers, and these are my favorites.

Orteá Vegan Collective

Orteá Vegan Collective’s menu looked so attractive, that it took a while to decide what to get! I got their Tribo bowl, which had warm tempeh, mushrooms, purple onions, carrots, broccoli, and ginger black rice. After walking around and seeing street art all day, something as nutritious as this bowl hits the spot just right. It had just the right amount of protein, carbs, fats, and veggies to replenish my energy.

For dessert, I asked for this chocolate coffee cheesecake. It is sweetened with coconut sugar, so it was light and didn’t make me crash at all.

Their chic interior was just as beautiful as their food: full of greenery and natural light.

Jardim das Cerejas

Jardim das Cerehas offers an all-you-can-eat buffet for only €9.50! The food is Indian cuisine with a Portuguese twist, such as pasta, fresh veggies, vegan meatballs, and cold side dishes. The soup tasted like coconut curry butternut squash. All of it was so filling that I didn’t even need to eat dinner that day. I even declined dessert!

Legumi Sushi Vegan

It’s rare to find sushi beyond cucumber and avocado rolls, so it’s not a dish that I have very often–until I found Legumi Sushi Vegan, that is. Marinated tofu, pickled vegetables, mayonnaise, and pineapples are some of the fillings that you’ll taste in this epic and gorgeous vegan sushi. The pleasant tart of the vinegar contrasted nicely with the creaminess of the mayonnaise. Where has this been all my life?

Finding Lisbon again

Lisbon showed far more than what I had expected to see. It’s truly an underrated city, one that I don’t hear about as often. From the azulejos to the vegan food, this city is one that I would like to return to someday.

World Travel

Eurotrip 2022: Madrid, Spain

Throughout this Eurotrip 2022, I’ve been museum-hopping and visiting as many spots as I could. After all, Barcelona and Paris spoiled me with all of the art, sight seeing, and vegan food that I could possibly get my hands on! When you’ve been on the go like this for weeks, it can be sensory overload. By the time I got to Madrid, I decided to scale back a bit.

In Barcelona, the main language is Catalan, and the locals speak Spanish and English. Here in Madrid, the locals speak mostly Spanish. Not everyone knows English, which gives me the perfect opportunity to practice Spanish.

I’ve been relearning Spanish recently. I’ve even changed my phone’s language to Spanish. I’ve been able to request vegan meals at hotels, read travel restrictions, and follow instructions in Spanish—even if it takes longer. It’s still hard to listen or speak, since the staccato vocalization of the language makes me miss things. Nonetheless, the locals seem pleasantly surprised when I’m trying.

Where I Stayed in Madrid

Inside my space capsule, where I am safe and sound

Usually I’ve been staying in hostels because it’s cheaper. For this Eurotrip 2022, I’ve been in several capsule cabins. This one in Madrid is by far my favorite.

Oxygen Hostel (not sponsored—I just really liked this place a lot) have futuristic cabins that look just like a space pod! You unlock the cabin with a key card. Inside, there are USB ports, a shelf to put small things, and two knobs to change the color of the lights. The bed was firm and comfy.

It felt like there was a place carved out in the universe just for me for a few days, a space pod offering somewhere warm and safe. Can I just stay here forever?

The Neighborhood Lavapiés in Madrid

I only used the metro three times, because everything else was within half an hour’s walk. There was a distinct multicultural neighborhood close by called Lavapiés, a melting pot of cultures and traditions such as Italian, pan-African, Indian, Thai, and more. The narrow, maze-like cobblestone streets are lined with many shops and eateries. Lavapiés also borders the city center, and is near many museums.

The Art Museums

Madrid is rife with art and history. Since I was slowing down, I picked just two museums to go: the Reina Sofia and the Prado.

Reina Sofía

If you want to see more modern and contemporary artwork, the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía has you covered. This museum has four floors of art, with mostly Spanish work from the Modern Era to the present day.

Most importantly, the Reina Sofía features artwork from the modernist masters, Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dali.

I even saw Picasso’s “Guernica,” the renowned black-and-white Cubist painting, on display. Personally, I’ve never been a fan of Picasso’s work. I understand why his work is so famous–he did invent the modern art movement, Cubism, after all. Breaking traditional practices like this laid the foundation of the Modern Art era, so art wasn’t the same after that. But looking at his pieces is jarring. There. I said it.

But if it made me feel something visceral, then it must be effective at driving its point home. Isn’t that what art is supposed to do?

Salvador Dalí was another Modernist master painter, a pioneer of Surrealism–which is characterized by dreamlike imagery and symbolism. Unlike Picasso, I’ve always appreciated Dalí as an artist. In fact, his work has influenced some of my own when I painted more back in the day. Dalí painted metaphors that were often up to interpretation, but many times his paintings sent important messages across.

Much of the contemporary work had political messages, whether it’s about the fight for racial equality in the United States, or people taking to the streets in Perú and Chile to protest against social inequality. Many other exhibits had works about Indigenous rights in Latin America, especially about the tribes fighting against capitalist exploitation in the Amazon rain forest in Brazil.

Museo Nacional del Prado

The Museo Nacional del Prado is considered one of the finest art museums in the world, showcasing extensive works from the 12th to 20th century. The artists include Francisco Goya, Diego Velazquez, Bosch, and many more.

In my art history classes, we talked about Velazquez’ and Goya’s works a lot. Velazquez was especially known for his keen details, bold brushwork, and intriguing compositions in his paintings, such as the famous “Las Meniñas” painting.

If you appreciate European art, the Prado should be on your list.

Spanish Cats Are Just as Adorable

In Madrid, I went to one cat cafe to get my cat fix.

La Gatoteca isn’t quite so much a cat cafe as it is an adoption center. A free drink is included with the admission, though. This place has so many friendly cats, that it’s so tempting to try and pet all of them.

One of the kitties crawled right into my lap and stayed there for nearly the entire hour. Her happy little purrs were soothing as she nuzzled my hand. Sometimes she would look at me with a knowing gaze, like I’m her chosen one. I almost wanted to take her home! My partner and our cat probably would object, though. 😉

When the Hard Stuff Happens Back Home

Speaking of cats, later that evening, my BFF Brad called to talk about his kitty, Mouse.

I met Mouse almost nine years ago. She and Brad have been through so much together in life. She was a no-nonsense cat with a soft side that she reserves for her chosen people. I was fortunate to be one. And so, she became a part of my family.

Brad invited me to see Mouse and Bug (his other cat) before my trip, but I was quarantining. I told him that I could see them when I return.

After I had left, Mouse’s condition had suddenly deteriorated, and there was nothing left that anyone could do this time. She wasn’t going to hold out long enough for my return. Now I’m never going to pet or snuggle her again.

It’s hard being half a world away when receiving devastating news like this. The best I could do is be with Brad via video chat while Mouse passed over the Rainbow Bridge.

Mouse lived a long life of 18 years. While she preferred to stay out of the spotlight, she was one of the best cats I’ve ever known.

The Vegan Food in Madrid

I took the rest of Madrid easy after Mouse’s passing. I still wanted to try various places to eat, if only just to give myself a little boost.

Everywhere in Madrid, there are bars and restaurants lining the streets. Madrid has plenty of vegan options; many restaurants will offer a thing or two. When you take a closer look, the vegan restaurants invite you to partake in a colorful meal.

Like Barcelona, many places in Madrid:

Close in the mid-afternoon as part of the traditional siesta, or afternoon nap.
Some restaurants require a reservation, while many do not. The places near the city center are most likely full, and there may not be an empty table waiting for you—as was my experience.

These are my favorites.

Freedom Cakes

Freedom Cakes is known for their colorful meals, such as rainbow vegan hamburgers. They have a nice selection of cakes and cupcakes—as is their namesake. There wasn’t a table available when I went in, but I did leave with this perfect unicorn cupcake.

Sanissimo

Sanissimo is a trendy, tropical-themed vegan bistro with positive energy, which matches the quality of its nutrient-dense food. They have several salads, sandwiches, and wraps to choose from. All of it looked so good! Fortunately, their menu has pictures of some of the dishes so you have an idea of what looks good.

I got the Hottie Salad, and it made me feel just as good as its namesake. This salad had seasoned chickpeas, lentils, sliced baked potatoes, and fresh tomatoes all on a bed of greens. It was so packed with protein and nutrients that I stayed full throughout the night.

Mad Mad Vegan

Mad Mad Vegan makes typical vegan bar food, like these loaded nachos. Vegan cheese, black beans, plant-based carne, pickled red onions, pico de gallo, and a dollop of guacamole smother a bed of yellow corn chips. I’ve had many vegan nachos, and the Spanish do not mess around.

These nachos are definitely meant for sharing; I could only finish half of it and had to take the rest in a box.

PLANTAMIENTOS

Set in an indoor market, PLANTAMIENTOS offers small hearty meals. The dish I had was a kind of thick cold stew of sweet potatoes and Swiss chard, plus a side of warm bread. If you choose to eat there, there’s counter space to enjoy your meal.

El Rastro de Madrid Outdoor Market

If you love outdoor markets, then look no further than El Rastro, one of the largest Sunday markets in Europe. Located near the city center, you can stroll down the rows of friendly vendors and find all sorts of gifts for friends, or for yourself: colorful ceramic souvenirs, hand-carved wooden cats, punk accessories, vintage goods, cheap clothes, and more. It can get very crowded, but the vibes are good and welcoming.

Last Thoughts About Madrid

Madrid isn’t quite like Barcelona, but respite is what I needed.

I’m glad that I took it easy, especially with the news about Mouse. My time in Madrid was more leisurely and relaxed, instead of being on the go, go, go. I’m also glad that I could use Spanish more this time. The space capsule always made me feel welcome, offering a comfortable place to rest at the end of the day.

After Madrid, I’m taking the eight-hour bus ride to Lisbon, Portugal. I have heard many great things about Lisbon, so I will definitely report back my findings!

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