Going Wild at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

31 Saturday Aug 2013

Posted by mrsselfish in Disney, Florida, North America, Orlando, United States

Tags

Animal Kingdom, Dinosaur, Disney, Disney World, Expedition Everest, Florida, Kilimanjaro Safaris, North America, Orlando, Selfish Year, Selfish Years, Tree of Life, United States

Since we lived in Orlando for eight years, Mr. Selfish and I oftentimes had annual Disney passes. Not only do we love the Disney parks, but our friends and family who visited undoubtedly wanted to go to Disney.

Even though we’ve been to the Disney World parks dozens of times, I never took that many photos since I was always figured I would go back. With the exception of Epcot, which we re-visited during our selfish year, I don’t have that many photos of the other three Disney World parks. So here’s my disclaimer: these next three posts on Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and Magic Kingdom will not have as many photos as my other Disney posts.

Although I don’t have the photos to do it justice, I feel that Animal Kingdom is the best designed Disney park. Not only does it never feel crowded (despite being the 7th most visited park in the world), the foliage and ambiance are on point.

The center of the park is the Tree of Life, which is an artificial tree that is 145 feet tall and 50 feet wide.

We love walking around the Tree of Life. In particular, we enjoy seeing the two red parrots that are always screeching at one another in a loving way.

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Enjoying the Festivals and Rides at Disney’s Epcot

30 Friday Aug 2013

Posted by mrsselfish in Disney, Florida, Food & Drinks, North America, Orlando, United States

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Disney, Disney World, Epcot, Finding Nemo, Florida, North America, Orlando, Selfish Year, Selfish Years, Soarin', Spaceship Earth, Test Track, The Living Seas International Flower and Garden Festival, Turtle Talk with Crush, United States

Yesterday, I went over how much me and Mr. Selfish love the World Showcase at Epcot. Even aside from the World Showcase, Epcot is a very enjoyable park.

International Flower and Garden Festival

We love all of the different festivals that occur at Epcot, such as the International Flower and Garden Festival. This annual festival usually occurs between March and May. It’s fun to see what Disney has dreamed up in plant form each year.

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Drinking Around the World Showcase at Disney’s Epcot

29 Thursday Aug 2013

Posted by mrsselfish in Disney, Florida, Food & Drinks, North America, Orlando, United States

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Disney, Disney World, Epcot, Florida, North America, Orlando, Selfish Year, Selfish Years, United States, World Showcase

Before our selfish year trip, Disney’s Epcot was definitely our favorite Disney park. Now, it’s a tossup between Epcot and DisneySea in Tokyo for me. I need to visit DisneySea a few times to make that decision considering that we’ve been to Epcot probably dozens of times.

When we visited Orlando recently, we decided to stop by Epcot for old time’s sake. We love Epcot mostly due to the World Showcase, which is a permanent world’s fair containing 11 pavilions each representing a different country. The pavilions are all around a man-made lake that has a perimeter of 1.2 miles.

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The Selfish’s Cross-Country Drive

28 Wednesday Aug 2013

Posted by mrsselfish in Cross Country, Food & Drinks, North America, United States

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Arlington, Chicago, Cross Country Drive, Lake Tahoe, Mount Rushmore, North America, Pittsburgh, Richmond, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, Selfish Year, Selfish Years, Sioux Falls, United States, Willingboro, Yellowstone

Mr. Selfish and I are almost done with our selfish year. We begin our cross-country drive from Richmond, VA to San Francisco in less than a week.

Here’s our itinerary: (1) Richmond, VA, (2) Arlington, VA, (3) Willingboro, NJ, (4) Pittsburgh, PA, (5) Chicago, IL, (6) Sioux Falls, SD, (7) Mount Rushmore, (8) Yellowstone, (9) Salt Lake City, UT, (10), Lake Tahoe, and (11) SF.

We are definitely looking forward to the following:

Do you have any recommendations for us? We would greatly appreciate food recs or pointers on random tourist attractions we should see on the way!

It’s a Helluva Town: Heading to NYC

27 Tuesday Aug 2013

Posted by misterselfish in North America, United States

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Book of Mormon, Broadway, Coney Island, Nathan's, New York City, Selfish Year, Selfish Years, Sights, Staten Island Ferry, Statue of Liberty

Mrs. Selfish and I decided to end our Selfish Year of flights with a whirlwind tour of Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York. While Los Angeles was spent recovering from jetlag and hanging out with my sister, and San Francisco was spent visiting family, we spent a large amount of time in New York seeing different parts of the city.

Having been to New York on numerous occasions, this time we decided to visit the Financial District, Coney Island, and Staten Island in addition to Central Park and Broadway.

Wandering around Manhattan

I love Manhattan. There’s probably no better place on Earth to grab a fresh bagel, take a stroll in the park, catch a show, and grab cheap happy hour drinks.

While we normally stick to Broadway & Central Park, this time we branched out and hit the Financial District, which was more than a little eerie with all the post 9-11 construction. It was still quite beautiful, however.

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New York City: So Many Places to Eat, So Little Time

26 Monday Aug 2013

Posted by mrsselfish in Food & Drinks, New York City, North America, United States

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

72nd Street Bagel, Casa Adela, Food & Drinks, Go Go Curry, Go!Go! Curry!, Katz's Deli, Momofuku, Momofuku Noodle Bar, Motorino, New York, New York City, North America, Russ & Daughters, Selfish Year, Selfish Years, United States, Wafels and Dinges

Mr. Selfish and I love New York City. We have considered living there but I don’t think I would like the winters too much. We therefore included NYC as our final stop before heading to my parents’ in Virginia. Not only do we have some great friends that live in the city, but we love the cheap, plentiful, and delicious food. Here are some of our favorite eats during this last stop.

Russ & Daughters: Infamous Lox Bagels

Although Mr. Selfish never really cared much for lox bagels, I have enjoyed them in the past. When our friends recommended Russ & Daughters (179 E Houston St NY , NY 10002) for lox bagels, we figured we would give it a try.

We were astonished at the amount of choices you had for a single lox bagel, but we ordered an everything bagel with regular cream cheese, the Irish salmon, and red onions. As the man at the counter was handing us the bagel, he told us, “You’ll love it.” And indeed, we did. It was mind-blowingly delicious!

72nd Street Bagel: Cinnamon Raisin Rampage

Although the lox bagel from Russ & Daughters was mighty delicious, Mr. Selfish still wanted a regular bagel while we were in the city. We tried a cinnamon raisin with regular cream cheese at 72nd Street Bagel (130 W 72nd St, NY, NY 10023).

It didn’t disappoint. Mr. Selfish gobbled up that thing so fast that it was gone in a matter of seconds.
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The Final Park: Disneyland

25 Sunday Aug 2013

Posted by mrsselfish in Disney, Food & Drinks, Los Angeles, North America, United States

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Cafe Orleans, Disney, Disneyland, Food & Drinks, Los Angeles, North America, Selfish Year, Selfish Years, United States

Mr. Selfish and I finished our Disney tour with the first ever Disney park – Disneyland in California. It opened in 1955 and is the only park designed and built under the direction of Walt Disney. It is the second most visited park in the world with 16 million visitors in 2011 (Orlando’s Magic Kingdom has the highest attendance).

I was quite surprised as to how small Sleeping Beauty’s Castle is. It is tiny compared to all of the other Disney castles around the world, but I guess it was the first one. It is nevertheless quite photogenic, just like all of the other castles.

Mr. Selfish had previously visited Disneyland but I had never been. I therefore had a list of rides that I wanted to try that aren’t at the other parks, including the Matterhorn, Mr. Toad’s, and Indiana Jones.

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Feeling Adventurous at Disney’s California Adventure

24 Saturday Aug 2013

Posted by mrsselfish in Disney, Los Angeles, North America, United States

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California Adventure, Disney, Disney California Adventure, Los Angeles, North America, Selfish Year, Selfish Years, The Selfish Years, United States

Mr. Selfish and I were excited for the last of the Disney parks around the world. We both had never been to Disney’s California Adventure before and were not too sure what to expect. California Adventure opened in 2001 to negative reviews and has never hit targeted attendance levels. However, we had heard great things about Cars Land, which opened in June 2012. In 2012, the park had 7.78 million guests making it the 11th most visited park in the world.

Cars Land: Running for Radiator Springs Racers

We arrived at the park fairly early and headed straight for Cars Land. Mr. Selfish and I were quite impressed with the theming of Cars Land. It was straight out of the Cars movie.

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LA’s Lip-Smacking Cheap Eats

23 Friday Aug 2013

Posted by misterselfish in Los Angeles, North America, United States

≈ 1 Comment

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Cheap Eats, Churros Calientes, LA, Los Angeles, Roscoes House of Chicken and Waffles, Selfish Year, Selfish Years, Taqueria El Charrito, Umami Burger

After spending 2 months in Australia and New Zealand, Mrs. Selfish and I were ready for some good ol’ American cheap eats. Something that would satisfy our lust for tasty food without breaking the bank.

Unfortunately, while America specializes in cheap meals ($.99 menu, ahoy!), finding a cheap good meal can be a challenge. Fortunately we once again had access to Yelp, as well as my sister’s local tips.

Chowing Down on Chicken n’ Waffles

Our first stop in America was Roscoe’s Chicken N’ Waffles, LA’s premiere chicken and waffles location. If you haven’t yet experienced chicken and waffles, then you haven’t lived. Not the slightest bit healthy, there is something magical about crispy, savory fried chicken on sweet waffles.

Mrs. Selfish and I split a half chicken with waffles cooked southern style ($16.10 USD), and ordered a side of Mac and Cheese (~$6), another dish that’s pretty difficult to find outside of the States.

The chicken and waffles were amazingly crispy, and every bit as decadent as I remembered. My only complaint was that I hadn’t ordered it with gravy AND syrup, a total rookie error on my part.

The Mac and Cheese, on the other hand, was probably the best restaurant Mac ‘n’ Cheese I’ve ever had: creamy, smooth, delicious – it definitely hit the spot.

VERDICT: Buy it. Try it. Love it.

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Finally Back in the States: Wandering Around LA

22 Thursday Aug 2013

Posted by misterselfish in Los Angeles, North America, United States

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

LA Sights, Los Angeles, Selfish Year, Selfish Years

Mrs. Selfish and I touched down back in the ol’ US-of-A three weeks ago in sunny Los Angeles. A massive departure from the tiny hamlet of Queenstown, we were immediately overwhelmed by American English and the shear diversity of the States.

With 19 hours of jetlag between our bodies and sunny California, Mrs. Selfish and I co-opted my sister’s car and hit the mean streets of LA.

Hollywood and the TCL Chinese Theater

Our first stop was Hollywood’s iconic Chinese Theater. Built in 1927, the theater has a regal, exotic feel, which is only slightly diminished by the tourist shops and people dressed in costume. Still, it’s an excellent place to people watch!

From the excellently decorated mall next door we even managed to catch a glimpse of the Hollywood sign.

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8 Observations about Gorgeous New Zealand

21 Wednesday Aug 2013

Posted by misterselfish in New Zealand, Oceania, Rant

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

JAFAS, New Zealand, Oceania, Selfish Year, Selfish Years

Mrs. Selfish and I spent 2 weeks driving through friendly, jaw-dropping New Zealand. From bustling Auckland, to devastated Christchurch, to awe-inspiring Queenstown, New Zealand is a beautiful country with a very small population.

Here are some of the differences we noticed.

*Disclaimer * These observations are purely things I noticed after driving through New Zealand for 2 weeks and may not be entirely accurate. If you have any explanations or stories, please share away.

1. Everyone hates JAFAS.

JAFFAS are a very popular candy in New Zealand, and are a type of orange chocolate ball. JAFAs are “Just Another F***ing Aucklander.”

Where Sydney-dwellers hate Melbourners, and Northern Californians hate Southern Californians, EVERYONE in New Zealand hates people from Auckland.

While Auckland isn’t a big city per se, it does have 1.5 million people, which means it is THE BIG New Zealand city with slightly over 1/3 of the population.

2. Native New Zealanders are still part of New Zealand culture.

While Americans and Australians settlers crushed their native populations and forced them into reserves, the New Zealand natives (Maoris) are still a very large part of New Zealand culture. Maori art is prolific, many street names and sites have Maori names, and the Maori people seem very well integrated in New Zealand society.

3. Pedestrians DO NOT have the right of way.

As a pedestrian, I have never felt more in danger than I did in New Zealand. Not crossing motorcycle infested streets in Vietnam. Not running across rural towns in China. Drivers in New Zealand just don’t seem to care about pedestrians, and it feels like they have the right of way at nearly all times.

We asked some New Zealanders why that was the case and were told that New Zealand doesn’t have any civil lawsuits, so pedestrians don’t have much recourse if they get struck by a vehicle. Apparently several North Americans are killed every year while crossing the street.

If you are from the States and you’re visiting New Zealand BE CAREFUL. New Zealanders will kill you.

4. You can still hitch hike across the country.

That being said, I have never seen more hitchhikers than I have in New Zealand. They are EVERYWHERE. Especially in the Queenstown area. It felt like America in the 70’s.

5. New Zealand (feels like it) has more sheep than anywhere else in the world.

And it probably does. There are sheep everywhere: fields, vineyards, hills, mountains, roads, etc. You can even see them in the city, like we did on the outskirts of Dunedin.

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You Only Live Once: Flying to the Milford Sound

20 Tuesday Aug 2013

Posted by misterselfish in New Zealand, Oceania, Queenstown

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Milford Sound, New Zealand, Queenstown, Selfish Year, Selfish Years

Mrs. Selfish is not much of an outdoor gal, so spending 2 weeks in New Zealand during the winter was a little bit of a stretch for us. Especially in Queenstown, which is known for skiing, bungee jumping, hiking, paragliding, and pretty much any other extreme outdoor sport you can think of.

But we knew we had to go to Queenstown when we saw pictures of the Milford Sound.

One of New Zealand’s most naturally beautiful sights, the Milford Sound is a whopping 10 hour round trip drive from Queenstown. Jucy offers a bus service for around $100 NZD round trip, but driving 10 hours for a 1.5 hour ferry ride didn’t sound like a good deal to me.

Instead, Mrs. Selfish and I opted for the flying option under the banner of YOLO (you only live once). Coming in at $400 NZD per person, it definitely wasn’t the cheap option, but it was much, much faster – taking only 1 hour per direction.

The plane is not for the faint of heart. With only room for 4 people, it is a very turbulence prone flight.

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Fit for a Queen: The Food in Queenstown

19 Monday Aug 2013

Posted by mrsselfish in Food & Drinks, New Zealand, Oceania, Queenstown

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Aggy's Shack, Amisfield Winery & Bistro, Chard Farm Vineyard, Fergburger, Food & Drinks, Gibbston Valley Wines, New Zealand, Oceania, Peregrine Wines, Queenstown

The food in Queenstown was amazingly fresh and delicious. Mr. Selfish and I didn’t have a single average meal. It was all outstanding.

Fergburger: The Legendary Burgers

Prior to arriving in Queenstown, we had heard tales about the hamburgers at Fergburger (42 Shotover Street, Queenstown Town Centre 9300). We were skeptical that the long line would be worth the wait but we figured that we would give it a try.

I ordered the traditional Fergburger with blue cheese, lettuce, tomato, red onion, aioli, and tomato relish. After an hour of waiting, my Fergburger arrived. The patty on my Fergburger was perfectly cooked. The bun was delightfully toasted, and the aioli and tomato relish were a perfect balance against the blue cheese. It was quite tasty.

Mr. Selfish went the less traditional route and ordered the Chief Wiggum, which is a pork belly burger with lettuce, tomato, red onion, hash brown, aioli, and an apricot seeded mustard. The pork belly was quite yummy, and the hash brown provided a very good crunchy texture. The apricot seeded mustard also added a nice sweet flavor. Although the traditional Fergburger was quite good, I think the Chief Wiggum was better due to the novelty factor.

If you’re in Queenstown, you should definitely try a burger or two at Fergburger. It met and exceeded all of the hype.

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Climbing the Lovely Queenstown Hill

18 Sunday Aug 2013

Posted by mrsselfish in New Zealand, Oceania, Queenstown

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New Zealand, Oceania, Queenstown, Queenstown Hill, Selfish Year, Selfish Years

On a wonderfully sunny day, Mr. Selfish and I decided to hike Queenstown Hill, which takes about 1.5 to 2.5 hours round trip (sans photos). With lots of photos, it takes closer to 3.5 hours. It was a surprisingly steep walk but quite enjoyable.

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I wish I was still relaxing at the Hilton Queenstown

17 Saturday Aug 2013

Posted by misterselfish in Accommodations, Hilton, New Zealand, Oceania, Queenstown, Travel Hacking

≈ 5 Comments

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Hilton Queenstown, New Zealand, Oceania, Relxation Room, Selfish Year, Selfish Years, Travel Hacking

After the disappointing stay at the Hilton Auckland, Mrs. Selfish and I decided to give the Hilton one last go at the Hilton Queenstown.

From everything we’d heard, Queenstown is the most beautiful city in New Zealand, and the Hilton Queenstown is one of the best hotels in the city.

Neither disappointed.

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The Selfish Years

~ Over 200 cities, 42 countries, 6 continents and counting.

Monthly Archives: August 2013

Going Wild at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Enjoying the Festivals and Rides at Disney’s Epcot

International Flower and Garden Festival

Drinking Around the World Showcase at Disney’s Epcot

The Selfish’s Cross-Country Drive

It’s a Helluva Town: Heading to NYC

Wandering around Manhattan

New York City: So Many Places to Eat, So Little Time

Russ & Daughters: Infamous Lox Bagels

72nd Street Bagel: Cinnamon Raisin Rampage

The Final Park: Disneyland

Feeling Adventurous at Disney’s California Adventure

Cars Land: Running for Radiator Springs Racers

LA’s Lip-Smacking Cheap Eats

Chowing Down on Chicken n’ Waffles

Finally Back in the States: Wandering Around LA

Hollywood and the TCL Chinese Theater

8 Observations about Gorgeous New Zealand

You Only Live Once: Flying to the Milford Sound

Fit for a Queen: The Food in Queenstown

Fergburger: The Legendary Burgers

Climbing the Lovely Queenstown Hill

I wish I was still relaxing at the Hilton Queenstown

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International Flower and Garden Festival

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Wandering around Manhattan

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Russ & Daughters: Infamous Lox Bagels

72nd Street Bagel: Cinnamon Raisin Rampage

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Cars Land: Running for Radiator Springs Racers

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Chowing Down on Chicken n’ Waffles

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Hollywood and the TCL Chinese Theater

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Fergburger: The Legendary Burgers

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