Love, Kat @tilkatcomesback - Tumblr Blog

Doggie Travel

For those who don’t know, I am a consultant and travel often for work. Because of this, I always try to find the best products for “a woman on the go”. I recently just purchased this new pet carrier, and though it can seem insane or superfluous, if you travel with your pet as often as I do, it is actually REALLY helpful! My shoulders feel better and I think Buster is a fan too =)

PROS:

can be used as backpack or rolling bag

multiple pockets for storage

comes with water dispenser for dog

CONS:

not as comfortable for dog when laid down to fit under seat

#dogs of tumblr #traveltips

Vacasian Part II: A Family Affair

IG:@_katsup (for some pics from the trip)

I know what you are thinking...that was the best you could come up with? You just used that! Well too bad!

This was a bit of a last minute trip. I had cousins traveling through Europe and Asia at the time, and they had invited me and some other family members to come along. And, boy, was it fun! In summary, there were:

-2 weeks

-3 countries

-3 Disneylands

-8 family members

-1 new coat I am totally in love with

Hong Kong:

This was in the initial meeting place for all the cousins to meet. It was one of the cheapest to fly into and it had a direct flight to Chiang Mai, our next destination.

Money-wise:

Currency is HKG (different than China!)

No tipping required, but they do round up and some tourist type jobs are used to it

Most things cheaper than US.

Tips & Tricks:

No visa is required for Hong Kong, but is required for China, so be weary when planning

Uber is available, and is great when you cant speak the language and need to say where you need to go

Hong Kong McDonalds has this amazing soup available for breakfast. Give it a try!

Hong Kong Disney:

This was the smallest of the Disneylands and definitely the smallest castle I had seen. We were able to get through most things we wanted to see in half a day.

We didn’t even really need fastpasses the day that we had went

Mystic Manor is a must ride!

Chiang Mai:

Most of our band of merry travelers had been to Chiang Mai before, so we had seen most of the sights. The main reason for coming to Chiang Mai was the lantern festival. (which is amazing! definitely a sight to behold if you get the chance!)

Money-wise:

Currency is THB

No tipping required but they do round up

Most things much cheaper than US

Tips & Tricks:

Most of my tips are in my previous post! But some new ones:

Things are so much cheaper that you should look up some things that might be expensive back in the states. My cousins got an amazing tattoo while there (but def look up reviews and such to make sure they are good and clean!)

Try to pick a place within the city walls

Haggle Haggle haggle-especially with the tuk tuks!

Shanghai:

This was more of a layover on our way to Tokyo. We chose this place for 2 reasons: it was really expensive to flight Chiang Mai to Tokyo directly, but not too bad with stopping over in Shanghai first and we really wanted to go to the new Shanghai Disney! (TRON RIDE IS FIRE!)

Money-wise:

Currency is CNY (different than Hong Kong!)

No tipping required

Things relatively cheaper

Tips & Tricks

Visa is required for China! The caveat to this:

If you are staying for a short time, visiting just one city, and have a ticket to a destination after China, you can get a transit visa for free when you land

Shanghai give you 144 hours but many cities only do 72 hour transit visas, MAKE SURE TO REVIEW ITINERARY AND PLAN ACCORDINGLY!

To get wireless internet there, you need to be able to receive a text message and put in a verification code. So, make sure you have a phone that can accept a text. It is a government requirement.

And once you get internet, it will still be difficult. Many websites are blocked in China, so it can be hard to research where to go and what to do. Try to do as much planning ahead for China as you can.

Taxis in Shanghai do not like tourists at all. If you have to take a taxi, make sure you have your destination in written in Chinese either on paper or show them on your phone. THEY WILL KICK YOU OUT ANGRILY!

For those who know Marriotts well and are used to the two Queen beds or 1 King size, they do not do two Queen. They are two twin sized beds. So, might need an extra room if you are specifically looking to book a Marriott for a large group.

SO MUCH GOOD STREET FOOD.

Shanghai Disney:

TRON IS SO MUCH FUN! Definitely get your fastpass for that first and try to ride it first.

Waiting for the front is also pretty easy. It was fairly busy when we went but very few people wait for the front.

The Pirates ride in Shanghai is also a must. I dont want to give too much away, so just make sure you ride it.

Shanghai had the BEST caramel popcorn I’ve had in any of the Disneylands. I am not sure what was so good about it, but it definitely was delicious.

If you are able to go soon, they have a GRAND OPENING sale going on that is 40% off any merchandise related to the grand opening, and there are some really good items.

Tokyo:

This is the last leg of the journey and where our parents met us and where we spent the most time. One of my favorite cities I’ve visited so far.

Money-wise:

Currency is JPY

Tipping not required

Things are about the same price, except for the food. It’s cheaper for the quality you are getting

Tips &Tricks

Taxis can be pretty pricey compared to taking the train. Try to get all day passes or SUICA cards to last you longer rather than having to buy so many individual tickets

If you do want to take a taxi, they take credit card as well. And make sure you have the address you need in Japanese. They have navigation systems in most taxis, but you still need to input everything in Japanese

Side note, the taxi drivers in Tokyo were much nicer than those in Shanghai.

Mobile wifi is key and plentiful. It may even be an amenity available in your AirBnB if you choose that type of lodging.

It can be hard to figure out menus, but most places have pictures, and they are used to pointing.

You can find several guides that point out the must see sights. All are amazing and beautiful.

There are two main airports for Tokyo. Make sure you know where you need to be.

Tokyo DisneySea

So our family went to DisneySea instead of Disneyland. They don’t do park hoppers and we were only going to be going to that area for one day. We chose DisneySea and we were not disappointed.

If you are merely looking for thrills, I would say Shanghai Disney had the better rides, but the pure aesthetics of Tokyo Disney are amazing. The details in the landscape and decoration is so beautiful.

There is a lot of good food and Tokyo DisneySea but the food lines are massive from opening to closing, they are did not diminish.

This was definitely the most busy of the Disneys we had been to but it was also a national holiday so added to the amount of people that were going.

There is a currency exchange at the tourist information area right before you enter the park with a fairly good rate

That’s about all I can think about for now. Just send a question over if you have any!

#hongkong #chiangmai #shanghai #tokyo #asia #traveltips #hongkongdisneyland #shanghaidisneyland #tokyodisneysea

Vacasian

Tips for different cities I traveled to on this trip:

Bangkok

-Airports: There are two airports in Bangkok to travel to. DMK and BKK, neither is to difficult to get to, however, traffic can be a huge bother, so try to book flights or take public transport when possible

-Taxis: You can do flat rate or metered fare. I would suggest metered as always cheaper. Push for it even if your driver suggests a flat rate.

-Activities: Try to find things to book prior to your arrival. I hadn’t done this, and though I was able to book things while I was there, they were usually the more expensive versions or not as highly rated. Things will sell out. I myself did a cooking class and street food tour.

-Driving: They drive on the left side. MAKE SURE TO LOOK BOTH WAYS WHEN CROSSING THE STREET.

-Temples: Dress modestly. You wont get turned away, but depending on where you are you may need to pay for a cover.

Chiang Mai:

-Accommodations: Try to get something within the city walls or right outside it. My hotel was a little farther out, and made it more difficult to get to the action.

-Activities: Same notes as above for Bangkok. However, I will say some of the big items were by choice as well. The only elephant show I may have gone to was the Elephant Nature Park. I was did a good amount of googling to try to determine whether it was ethically humane to go to these elephant and tiger parks. So, do your research beforehand and make that decision for yourself!

-Night Market: There are so many people in the Night Bazaar. That is all. Just be prepared to feel claustrophobic for a bit. But good cheap food and merch.

-Temples: Same as above for Bangkok. This also goes for places like palaces.

Siem Reap:

-Visa: Yo need a visa to come into Siem Reap. This is something that you can purchase at the airport, and could make things a little faster for you, however, BRING A PASSPORT PHOTO TO ATTACH. I did not do this. I obviously was not prepared for this trip, haha. They will still let you through, but it is preferred, and you need to pay extra for no photo.

-Money: So Siem Reap currency is something to really take note of. I wasted like $5-10 dollars because I didnt do enough research on this prior. I usually get my money from ATMs at the location I am going to next rather than exchanging money before my visit. The ATMs in Siem Reap dispense in USD. Me, not thinking it through enough, decided to just get that money and exchange it for the Cambodian riels. Then when I get to my hotel, I realize pretty much EVERYTHING in Siem Reap is sold in USD. You may receive change back in riels, tl;dr BRING US DOLLARS TO SIEM REAP. DONT NEED TO EXCHANGE.

-Tuk Tuks: There are so many tuk tuks it is overwhelming. You can walk maybe 100 meters and 5 different drivers along the way will ask you if you need a ride.

Attire: I understand that is very humid here, but careful how you dress. Women cannot have bare shoulders or short shorts to go to Angkor Wat and other temples. Also, you might get oggled in general walking down the street.

Angkor Wat: I am taking a sunrise minitour by tuktuk tomorrow. More info to follow on whether that was a good decision.

#asianvacation #bangkok #chiangmai #siemreap #traveltips

Day 9

I was eight when I first imagined

Sashaying around a crowded ballroom

Humming “So this is love” to the

Charming prince enchanted by my

My…everything, I suppose.

Crowds tip toeing to better peek

At our first kiss

Ladies of the court would congratulate me

While I could hear the envy

Laced in their words

Eight was a weird year

Anyway, in general, overall, so on and so forth

In my later years, when a horoscope told me

That my Cinderella story is unfolding,

I am ever so slightly ashamed to say

That I absolutely, definitely fell for it.

Cinderella is my favorite Disney princess

I thought to myself after reading,

That must mean it is for sure going to come true!

Now, before you begin to judge my

Gullibility (absurdity) too quickly,

You must know, my whole life had

Pretty much been leading up to

This moment because up until this time,

I was living in my own fairy tale

With pluck and fate playing a larger role

Than most would want to admit.

But I’m not most.

And with a cast of supporting characters

Guiding me on the straight and narrow

So, perhaps this was the climax that

Viewers (namely the people I’ve made up)

And I had been waiting for!

Not surprisingly enough, nothing of the astrological sort manifested

And I wasn’t necessarily devastated, but as a symptom

Of any loss, it did cause me to re-evaluate the positives.

And what I began to discover was something much greater:

I am not a princess…

I do not need to live life by

any certain set of constructs

To let it limit my behavior.

I am not a princess….

My life is not determined by fate or magic or evil stepmothers.

I shape it. This life isn’t about

Discovering who you are meant to be,

But creating that person you want to be.

I am not a princess….

So, if people will be envious of me,

It will not be because of the man on my arm.

I am not a princess.

Day 8

Satisfied,

I lick my lips

A victim,

Addicted to the

Sweetest kiss.

I fell for you

Stereotypically

too difficult

to steer clear

completely.

Believe me

I’ve tried

Tricked by my own lies

That you’re good

Too good for me

I need more

Nourishment

To encourage me

To live life

healthily

You do do well

With me

But I finally see

I have to learn to say no

And let you go

The break up love story

Of my milk tea and me

Days 6 and 7

Day 6

(rewrite of previous poem)

The warm breeze delicately

kisses my skin,

enveloping me in a

warm embrace.

My knees weaken as

I idle upon its familiarity.

And a smile begins to tug and curve

My lips.

I am reminded:

Just as the world exists

sustained on its own energy,

Love, too, is not relinquished or new

But constantly adapting

To the forces

Of human nature

Day 7

When are you completely an adult?

I pondered idly one day

while blankly staring

at the pokemon-filled tv screen

wearing space-themed footie pajamas

In my parents house

And munching on food

my mom made

especially for me.

Definitely not at 26.

Days 4 & 5

Day 4

The scent of Drakkar Noir digs in my mind

And unearths the remnants of you.

But what’s really discovered isn’t

The recovery of the memory but

The epiphany of its subtlety

The dreams once vivid come back in

Fragments, broken shards

I try to guard with my life

But I’m unarmed against time

So you start drift

Into the stars in the sky

Each glint a reminder of what we shared

So I stare in the direction

Of forgotten moments

Up towards heaven

Where my hope is

To find a way back to you,

Unbroken.

Day 5

“Ground, you are beneath me!”

She yelled wildly with the guise of

Making light of the situation

But in truth she was certain.

She would walk this world with

The swagger of a champion.

Sure foot, foot in mouth, hearty laugh,

Light heart, heavy hands, hand to God,

She was ready.

She was going to travel the world.

---well five of the countries

But we all have to start somewhere, right?

“Don’t forget your (insert any item (at all (really)))!”

Her mother screamed from the kitchen

While cooking her daughter’s favorite dinner

As the last parting farewell

before The Journey.

And something she could also snack on the plane later.

They had both been speaking of this trip

With the grandest of importance that

It required a capitalization

To fully express its importance.

Her mother was not quite as ready

To watch her only child step into a world

She hadn’t built for her.

But she was ably capable of feigning

A smile of support to

Shroud the fear and insecurities

That were plaguing her waking hours.

The over thinking of the situation had

Left marks on her hands from her nails

When she would ball her fists too tight.

She was incredulous that her daughter

That she raised didn’t share these same fears

How did they end up so different?

One fearful and the other fearless.

Maybe that was the sacrifice that mothers make.

They must give up their own sense of security

To ensure that her daughter stays so fearless

To the trials and surprises of the world.

30 days/30 poems

I've accepted a challenge to do a poem a day for a month. Below are my poems for days 1-3 and I will regularly post them to my tumblr for the following days!

Day 1

No doubt, self-doubt,

You are a catalyst for inaction,

burrowed deep and rooted

in fears of inadequacy.

You are nurtured

by the placated contentment

I learned to accept. However, now

I refuse to let you limit my agency and

shape the woman I become.

Kathleen Mendoza

Day two

I tend to overanalyze

The little surprises

That tense and give rise

To emotions that

I intend to hide

Vicariously riding

Them in tentative lives

I’ve lived my mind.

I can accept the fact

That in some eyes

It candidly exempts a lack

Of gumption to act,

But is candor cracked

If it grants a pass

From recant, no need to

Take things back

Is it really crazy

To live them in

A surreal state of maybes

If it diminishes anxiety

Of what the real role of fate be?

Cause lately, my mind’s

In reality, found reprieve

Where a clean slate frees me

Day 3

I get it

I finally understand

How you’ve misplaced your plans

And gained your waist

To waste your time

And live by mine

To give me love

With your two hands

As I’d start to slip

Like grains of sand

You tucked me close

And closed the gap

To build me up

On your own back

For this I pray

And this I love

And this I’m blessed

With the best mother’s love

You grew me wise

And wished me luck

I feel your heart

In each hug

It beats for me

You told me once

The rhythm guides

Her child’s dance

A constant drum

That steadies me

A reminder of

My own two feet

For this I pray

And this I love

And this I’m blessed

With the best mother’s love

Remember when

The warm breeze delicately

kisses my skin,

Enveloping me in a

warm embrace

of love.

My knees weaken at

the familiarity of its

touch.

Just as the world is

made up of energy.

It is also made of love.

It is not new or relinquished

but changes.

finally finished mom's gift! woohoo.

Kathleen.

Below I posted a quote i discovered awhile ago; and, it really struck a chord in me. I had been going through my travels and daily adventures, in a sense of self-discovery. Who am I supposed to be? What does the world have in store for me? Taking away any agency--and responsibility-- I had for myself. And that isn't right. I need to be more proactive in my determination of who I am.

Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.

unknown

#GetYoShitTogether

When I worked in my previous company, we always needed to determine what needs to be done this week, this month, and in the next 3 months, and lists tend to help me get/keep motivated. So let's get to it:

Within the week:

Apply to AT LEAST 5 more jobs

Finish cold war book on CD

Within the month:

Lose 5 pounds

Finish a book

Find a job/decide what you want to do

Determine next trip location

Get a foreign pen pal

Within the next 3 months:

Finish script

Lose 5 more pounds

Be settled in new apartment

Plan out next trip

Find new activities: maybe trivia nights, book club, or film buff friends

Start new language on duolingo

Things to do everyday:

Play duolingo

Exercise/get some sort of physical activity

Cut back on yo carbs girl.

All right, BREAK.

cracked

Who knew Samwell Tarly played the harp?

20 Insane Facts About Famous People They Want to Keep Secret

tilkatcomesback

i follow a lot about stars but I really only knew like 2 of these.

For a Friend

i could be asleep

my head floatin away

dreamin

--intriguing me with

weaved thoughts streaming

feelings

speaking to me with icons but

its deceiving

cause its seething

kneading lost emotions,

devotions i've prayed for you

yet remain unspoken

still relevant, still true.

the indecisions ive decided

in my head

reflect my uneasiness

as i side genuflect in bed.

I prayed for you.

I prayed because of you.

i could be asleep

as the bags under my eyes

cry for the time

to relax. and i try.

i can only do my best

as i lie on my chest

face facing left.

Right. Left.

but even as my feet and thighs

ache for the rest

i can only do my best

to forget the words

you spoke to me

to provoke in me

a response to see.

See you as you.

I see you true.

Please. Please. Stop being blue.

I cry for you.

I cry because of you.

I could be asleep

but im not thats final

Im awake ready for your arrival

your survival

And dont you dare tell me

that im in denial

I get its no trivial trial

Giving up is just not my style.

You have miles to go

whether you know or not

You dont need to smile as you go

That may be asking a lot

I just want to re-instill in you

the thrill that still lives in you

for life is the pill for you.

Chill your desire to kill you.

Warm your heart, body, and soul

to the idea of you:

whole.

I will smile for you.

I will smile because of you.

NETHERLANDS: Stand by and stand back, everyone

As i find myself winding down on my Berlin backpackin’, I am now sharing with you all the Netherlands portion of the trip. I am going to break it down for you all into a few categories:

Stand by: I flew standby to Amsterdam on KLM for $117 nonstop from SFO so let’s just get the jealousy out of the way first before I say goshhhh standby can be nerve racking! You really never know what sort of unexpected things come up. This time it worked for me but no doubt I’ve stayed 12 hours at an airport before and the only place I made it to was back home…until I try again tomorrow.

Coffee shops: So Im pretty sure I Dont smoke right cause I swear this never works out for me! The picture in a posy below shows what happens when edibles get in my system. I’m glad that the brownie did affect me cause for a second i thought I was divergent (young adult fiction what up!)

Beauty: EVERYONE HERE IS A GOD/GODDESS. GTFO! First of all, everyone is impeccably dressed all the time. Second they are all fit from biking around everywhere. Third they are all so darn tall. Fourth everyone here speaks like 5 languages.

…I mean if I didn’t know the value of my own self worth id be super jealous….yep….I’m pretty too…eh…just forget it.

XXX: This is actually in Amsterdam’s flag! Not the crates descriptions you were looking for huh?

I know this was a super quick summary and I set aside time to work on it in Berlin…but I was too busy flirting with the hostel worker then going back to his room then making out with him then leaving him naked, alone, &unsatisfied. Whoops!

Til next time!

Who says airport food is all bad?

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Love, Kat