2011 Review

In my usual format, my 2011 Review:

Places traveled to: North Tahoe, SF (X3), Seoul (X6), Taejon, Muju, New York, Sanya, Koh Samui, Macau (X2), Hua Hin, Bangkok, Singapore, Barbados, Lisbon, Sintra, Munich, Soraksan, Taipei, Bali, Anchorage, Girdwood

Spent Thanksgiving: in Bali, wedding-planning

Spent Christmas: with El Hombre in Alaska

Rang in the New Year (2012) in: North Tahoe, where we watched "Contagion", paused the movie right before the countdown, had the MOST anti-climactic ring-in ever, then went back to watching Contagion

Best Fiction book read: Hunger Games Trilogy

Best Non-fiction book read: Blood, Bones and Butter

Best Movie: Crazy Stupid Love, Friends with Benefits, Biutiful

Worst Movie: Hangover 2

Best Meal: tapas at Estudio Iberico, a tapas bar adjacent to a basement food hall in HK

Second best meals: Lily Burger at Lily & Bloom (with gruyere, bacon and truffle mayo, served with housemade pickle), Sichuan at Chili Fagara, black truffle dumplings at Din Tai Fung, breakfast at The Shop at Andaz 5th Avenue hotel, lunch and afternoon tea at Cafe Gray Deluxe, Christmas dinner at Seven Glaciers in Alaska, ginger scallion crab at Summer Palace

Best food discoveries: black truffle xia long bao, the magical qualities of black truffle anything, quinoa, raw vegan sushi, condensed milk bread at Tsui Wah, butterlicious scones at Cafe Gray

"Bucket List" goals accomplished: got published (in a book! Hong Kong & Macau's Best Restaurant Guide 2012), yoga

Number of Weddings attended: 1

Worst experiences: killer work months early in the year

Funnest events: Getting engaged, unexpected extended work trip to NY, hiking in HK

Favorite memories: Getting engaged, every minute spent with family and friends laughing, talking, eating

2011, in five words: life-changing, amazing, growth, surprising, busy