Talking Travel at the Flyaway Cafe: An Interveiw with Dr. Hsien-Hsien Lei
After a hiatus last week, Talking Travel returns, with this week’s interview with Dr. Hsien-Hsien Lei.
I love getting to know people who have varied backgrounds, and that brief description surely fits Hsien. She’s an epidemiologist, with special training in cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and kidney disease. She now lives with her family in London, working as a freelance writer and professional blogger. Here’s what Hsien has to say.
Where did you go on your last vacation: Nha Trang, Vietnam. (See photo left.)
Where do you plan to go on your next vacation: Probably somewhere in the E.U. Maybe Paris? Would be a shame not to do some exploring while we’re based in London. Although — we are homebodies who haven’t really made the most of many of the countries we’ve lived.
If you were stuck in a middle seat for a five hour flight, who would you want sitting on either side of you: My son and my husband. If I were traveling alone, I’d like to have the whole row blocked off all to myself!
Do you have a travel tip you’d like to share: When traveling, dress comfortably, but not sloppily. I’ve gotten bumped up to business class a few times simply because I looked and acted presentable.
Name five destinations that are on your “must see before I die” list: Italy, Australia, Alaska, Greece, and the USA (because almost all my friends and family live there).
Window seat or aisle: Aisle for sure!!! I like the feeling of freedom.
All time favorite vacation experience: My husband and I went to Bali, Indonesia just before I got pregnant. We had the ultimate experience of having our own hut in a very small boutique resort. We ate ourselves silly and luxuriated with the sound of the jungle river flowing past below. We also got to see Krakatoa, the volcano than simmers in the middle of the Indonesian islands.
Most embarrassing travel experience: My two-year-old son freaked out on a flight from Vietnam to Taiwan because he was overly tired. One of the drunken old men in the seat in front of us grunted at him in an attempt to scare him into submission. I told the guy off for talking to my son like that!
Favorite hotel: The Hilton in Nagoya, Japan has impeccable service with some very comfortable rooms (unlike most Japanese business hotels with their matchbox-sized rooms) and very thoughtful amenities.
Is traveling about the journey or the destination: Definitely the destination! As I get older, I have less patience for traveling and it’s not because the flights are uncomfortable. We almost always travel Singapore Airlines and many times get to travel in first or business class, but it’s killer waiting for time to pass regardless of the entertainment. I once read THREE books on a flight from California to Taiwan. It was fun, but I would have still preferred to be sitting on my own sofa! Now, of course, with a young child, I wish we could beam ourselves wherever we’re going minus the jet lag.
If I’m in London and have a spare four hours, what you recommend that I do: We’ve only just moved to London a few months ago, so I haven’t been everywhere yet. But it is possible to take the subway (Tube) and go to quite a few places. I’d probably suggest riding straight down to Central London to visit the Natural History Museum (SW7 5BD) at the South Kensington stop, then walk up adjacent Cromwell Road to Harrods’s and surrounding Knightsbridge for some elegant, delicious treats and good shopping.
Photo credit: Hsien-Hsien Lei
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Hsien is a Chinese-American who has lived outside of the United States since 1998: Taiwan, Japan, Vietnam, and now Britain. She will eventually settle in Singapore with her family, but she continues to call California her home.
Hsein blogs at: A Hearty Life, Genetics & Health, Healthcare Wurk, and Cotton-Pickin Days.
Tags: flight+attendants, Shopping, travel, vacation
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POSTED IN: Interviews
5 opinions for Talking Travel at the Flyaway Cafe: An Interveiw with Dr. Hsien-Hsien Lei
Heather
Jun 27, 2006 at 1:55 pm
I’ve only been to London once, but I loved all the parks there. The British do a great job of making sure city dwellers have plenty of green space. I loved seeing the gorgeous white cliffs of Dover, as we traveled by ferry from Calais to Dover. You should definitely try to see Paris — oui, oui!
Mary Jo Manzanares
Jun 27, 2006 at 2:22 pm
As much as it pains me to admit this, I’ve never been to London. It’s moving its way up my to-visit list, and since Hsien is there. . . maybe I need to move it even higher on the list!
Hsien Lei
Jun 29, 2006 at 3:33 am
After some initialy settling-in pains, London is really starting to grow on me. We’ve been introduced to some beautiful gardens and parks with fantastic playgrounds for kids. Every week there’s some place new to experience!!
Paris is on my must-see or die list before leaving Europe. (And I won’t be the one who dies if we don’t go before we leave…hehehe)
Cotton-Pickin’ Days » Blog Archive » My Interview at Fly Away Cafe
Jul 19, 2006 at 6:25 am
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Anonymous
Jul 21, 2006 at 1:14 am
As always a good post :) ….
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