Natalie's Blog Posts
Fondue Fountain
Just due it. Fondue it. And I can assure you it will be one of the best eating experiences of your life. Everybody’s got to love a chocolate fountain, right? Even if you may not be the world’s biggest chocolate lover, you can still respect the culinary ingenuity of a flowing fountain of chocolatey goodness. [...]
When in Rome…
Learn how to make gelato. This essential culinary skill will skyrocket your awesomeness and take you far in life. Everybody wants to be friends with a gelato maker. And Team Nat-Kat managed to befriend Amadeo, a gelato chef extraordinaire who works at one of Rome’s most famous gelaterias near the Colosseum. This jolly old Italian [...]
Walking Like the Egyptians
You’ve heard the 80′s song. Maybe even danced the dance. But have you ever actually walked like an Egyptian and crossed 8 lanes of traffic in downtown Cairo? Though some may liken it to nothing short of a death sentence, I prefer to think of it as one of the best adrenaline rushes this side [...]
Visiting the Turkish Baths
There’s a Turkish man by the tub. And he is ready to thoroughly scrub down any and everyone who comes his way. Hamams, also known as the Turkish baths, are not your average bath time. I don’t know what I was expecting but definitely nowhere near the full body, full contact exfoliation I received. With [...]
Under the Sea
Down where it’s wetter, that’s where it’s better… Take it from Sebastian, the charming crab in the The Little Mermaid. That guy really knew what he was talking about. Clearly Sebastian must have snorkeled through the infamous Koh Tao waters like we did because this island’s remarkable sea scapes were better than any I have [...]
Many Moons of Koh
What do these Thai islands have in common besides the first name Koh? Turquoise water, beachside masseuses, and islanders who love celebrating the many stages of the moon. As Kathryn and I hopped through the islands of Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, and Koh Tao, we realized why so many people flock to these places. They [...]
Japan, How Do I Love Thee?
Japan, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways. 1) I love how a strong nod or bow will get you far in this country. 2) I love that the Japanese are all about some lucky numbers. Especially the number 5. And lucky animals: owls and turtles. 3) I love how some characters [...]
The Golden Temple
Step aside Willy Wonka. I found the Golden Temple, and I hate to break it to you, but it’s way cooler than your golden tickets. I forcefully blink my eyes open and glance at my watch- 7:29 am. A minute early and right on time for Japan. To my delight, the fabulous Tokyo Prince Hotel [...]
Bathroom Humor
Bathrooms. Toilets. Water closets. The Loo. Porcelain thrones. No matter what you call it, this space is universal. Everybody’s gotta use it, and the Japanese are forerunners for creating state-of-the-art restroom settings that have exceeded my highest expectations of the perfect toilet. After landing in Tokyo at 6:30 am and breaking the code of the [...]
To Tasmanian Devils and Beyond
I learned a lot from Looney Tunes as a kid. For instance, if you accidentally fall off a cliff, you will just turn into a cloud at the bottom and then magically reappear in a few minutes. Or if you are a Tasmanian devil, you are about 6 ft. 3 and will violently spin around [...]