Discover Vessel

Last week I was invited to a writers dinner at the newly revamped Vessel restaurant,

located inside the Kona Kai Resort & Marina. 

The hotel, which has recently been acquired by Noble House Hotels and Resorts, 

(same owners of one of my favorites - Riviera Palm Springs, and other noteworthy properties),

is going through a $22M renovation, but I'm having a hard time imagining how this place can get any better.

Located right on the marina,

the restaurant offers breath-taking views of the San Diego Bay, alongside delicious, regional coastal fare. 

The event happened to coincide with another special occasion in my life - our third year wedding anniversary!

Needless to say, the night felt extra special,

as we devoured six exquisite courses paired with some amazing wines. 

We kicked off the evening at the Vessel bar, 

where the knowledgeable staff offered up their favorite cocktail selections to pair with some appetizers. 

I sprung for the Noble Sunset cocktail,

while the husband made a bold proclamation that the Proper Old Fashioned may have been "the best he's ever had".

After warming up at the bar,

we made our way over to the dinner table,

where we joined a handful of other lovely San Diego foodie bloggers for a feast to remember.

First course: Tomato & Burrata salad, paired with Esperto Pinot Grigio.

Second Course (and possibly the prettiest): "Loup de Mer" Crudo, paired with Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc.

Third course: Shrimp Ajillo, paired with a 2011 Pouilly Fuisse. 

Fourth course: Mole Marinated Pork Loin, paired with Gary Farrell Pinot Noir.

Fifth Course: Surf & Turf, paired with Justin Cabernet Sauvignon. So yummy!

Sixth course: Whipped Cheese Cake & Warm Berry Cobbler, paired with Late Harvest Riesling.

Every course was as delicious as it looks, 

but the surf & turf combo was by far my favorite.

Luxuriously rich, and paired perfectly with that Justin Cab. 

If you're looking for a new date night spot,

or even a cool place to grab happy hour,

I would definitely recommend the Vessel restaurant. 

The drinks, the food, the VIEWS - another winner for San Diego. 

Be sure to check out their website for nightly specials, and maybe I'll see you there next time!

Vessel Restaurant 

Kona Kai Resort & Marina 

1551 Shelter Island Drive 

San Diego, CA 92106

Railay, Thailand

Railay is like a dream.. 

Accessible only by boat due to the high limestone cliffs cutting off mainland access,

this island is a quick (yet cumbersome) trip away from Krabi. 

After almost getting wiped out by multiple waves,

we arrived to one of the most beautiful beaches I've ever seen. 

We spent the day exploring around the island, 

hanging out with monkeys, running from bats in caves, catching sun rays and drinking cold local beer.

Absolute paradise!

Holding on for dear life during our rough ride to the island. The trip takes about 45 minutes each way, from the Ao Nang pier. 

So remote.. we saw maybe 10 other tourists besides ourselves throughout the whole day. Loved it.

"Let's go explore inside the cave", he said. Uhm.. may have been a good idea until I almost passed out from claustrophobia. Did I mention there were bats? Loads of them. All over. Never again! Ha ha. 

But I must admit, it was incredibly cool inside. 

Where do I sign up?!

Ko Phi Phi, Thailand

After spending a few adventurous days in northern Thailand,

Erik and I flew down south to relax by the beach. 

We decided to stay in Krabi, 

a gorgeous destination on its own, and a convenient hub close to all the smaller islands around the area. 

Call it a cliche, but I had to re-read The Beach during our flight to Asia,

so of course I felt like it was necessary to visit the famous sand strips of Ko Phi Phi during one of our side-trips. 

Getting there was fairly simple -

we chartered a boat from Aonong beach, and in less than two hours, we were pulling up along the gorgeous coast. 

The location was everything I imagined... 

turquoise water, powder white beaches, and green covered lime stones protecting the inland from any intruders.

It was definitely one of the most relaxing days during our trip. 

We spent hours lounging on the shore, sipping on fruity cocktails and munching on fresh seafood. 

It was pure bliss! 

Oh what I would give to be back there right about now...

Chiang Mai, Thailand - Patara Elephant Farm

One of the main reasons we decided to go to Chiang Mai is to experience the wildlife,

and to maaaybe have a chance to ride some elephants. 

It's always been on my bucket list, and where would be a better place to do it than Thailand?

I did my research long and hard,

and after all the reviews I read, people I talked to, and pamphlets I studied,

there was one place that seemed to stand out from the rest - Patara Elephant Farm. 

Why? 

Well, first of all, we didn't want to go to a place that was very touristy, animal care was a large concern for us, and finally, 

we wanted more than just a tour with a chance to take some photos after... 

we wanted an experience.

And that is exactly what we got. 

I will, without any hesitation, say that our day at Patara was one of the best days of my life!

As I sit back and look through some of these photos,

I can't help but smile. 

We were given an opportunity to spend the whole day with our own elephants,

Memboompsie for Erik, and Bepoo for myself. 

We fed, cleaned, rode, and even bathed these gorgeous creatures under the waterfall. 

What more can one ask for? 

I'm not gonna lie... my eyes welled up with tears when it was time to say goodbye at the end of the day.. 

If you ever plan a visit to Chiang Mai,

I highly, HIGHLY recommend spending a day at Patara. 

Bepoo and I, getting to know each other. 

A beginning to a beautiful friendship.

How sexy is my riding outfit? I know. 

Silly Bepoo!

Our yummy lunch, served in the middle of the jungle. As fresh and tropical as it gets!

Take me back!!