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Travel

Know Your Roots

My last minute 4.5 day stay in the Philippines last week was way too short but couldn’t have been more perfect. Instead of partaking in the usual treks to white sandy beaches and attractive city sites, we remained in the provincial town where my amazing grandparents raised their 11 children. I found excitement in riding a tricycle to my grandparents’ farm, appreciation for late night gatherings in a courtyard beneath the stars, and indulgence in homecooked meals. There’s something comforting, humbling, and therapeutic about the simplicity of country life, especially when there’s members of 4 generations to share it with you.

{Waking up to the sound of roosters crowing at 5am}

{the liberating feeling of not wearing makeup when the standard look is Au Naturale!}

{appreciation for unique public transportation…the infamous Jeepney}

{paying respect to loved ones deeply missed}

{the joy of being called to a table of delicious Philippine cuisine}

{I’m in one of my Vegetarian phases, so my fave is fresh broiled catfish dipped in a mixture of salted shrimp paste, freshly squeezed kalamansi juice, & chopped red chillies. I also constantly crave the bottom left dish–who knew sliced, sour green mangoes dipped in a salted, lightly fried shrimp paste made such a yummy combination?!}

March 10, 2010 2 comments

Psychiatry therapy Travel

Family First

written by freudandfashion

No matter how bitchy, snappy, stressed, and irritable I can get as result of the often brutal, mental, and physical demands of residency, the one thing I can always count on is family. Doctors dedicate their lives to caring for others that sometimes work takes priority over family, friends, and our own well-being. I’ve missed fabulous weddings, warm holiday gatherings, inspirational graduations, and lovely funerals, to name a few sacrifices made for the sake of my occupation. Instead of regret, my advice to anyone so heavily immersed in work is to take a moment and remember what’s most important in their lives. For me, I choose family. So as I pack for a last minute trip to the Philippines, I recall the memory of my role model and the reason I became a doctor, my grandfather. And during the 14-hour flight tomorrow, I’ll anticipate a long overdue reunion with my grandmother, which has thus far been postponed as a result of work. No more guilt…no more regrets.

My favorite picture of my beloved grandfather

My beautiful grandmother

February 27, 2010 3 comments

Fashion Psychiatry therapy Travel

To eat, or not to eat?

written by freudandfashion

Los Angeles…home of the trendy, superficial, and fit. Last week I was on vacation and spent the week back home in southern California. In preparation for my trip, I packed my most stylish outfits and made reservations for the most trendy, new restaurants in Hollywood. I spent the first day back with my boyfriend out in Beverly Hills and made a goal to have my favorite Sprinkles or Crumbs cupcakes. It wasn’t until I noticed the presence of tall, model-esque girls at my every turn that I changed my mind about indulging in decadent desserts. Later that night, my mood turned from excited and confident to irritable and self-conscious. I tried on the cute outfits I had packed and felt horrible when I looked in the mirror. I have a BMI in the normal range, yet I felt moderately obese compared to those girls. I was reminded of feelings growing up in southern CA at the age of 7, when I first began to diet and count calories. Now that I look back, I realize that I met criteria for a nonspecified eating disorder, considering that I lost significant amounts of weight eating only lettuce and water for weeks at a time. At the young age of 7, I believed I was fat even though my weight was considered normal.

Tormenting myself recently about not being 5’10” and a size 0 lasted only a few days. Overall, I feel happy about my temporary loss of self-esteem. I’ve treated a few patients with eating disorders and can’t help but relate my experiences to theirs. An estimated 1 to 2 million women in the United States meet criteria for bulimia nervosa; 500,000 women meet diagnostic criteria for anorexia nervosa. More males are also seeking treatment of eating disorders now compared to the 1980s. A number of factors (biological and psychological) are noted to be associated with the disorders, including preoccupations with a thin body and social pressures about weight.

I tell myself and my patients to eat healthy, but that it’s okay to give in to small indulgences (a small piece of dark chocolate after dinner, a cup of frozen yogurt for snack, etc) once in awhile. So, after a run through Santa Monica Blvd., I took my own advice and walked to Crumbs in Beverly Hills. I ate half of my lemon cupcake and felt both confident and guilt-free as I walked passed the skinny fashionistas on Rodeo Drive.

the remaining half of my delicious Crumbs “Cupcake of the Week”

the gorgeous lobby of the Beverly Wilshire Hotel

February 22, 2010 2 comments

therapy Travel

Super Bowl – Bienvenido a Miami!

written by freudandfashion

No, I won’t pretend like I know anything about football. But, I will say that I’m jealous of everyone that’s heading to Miami this week. Miami is my 2nd favorite city in the U.S. (after Los Angeles, of course) because of its beautiful people, colorful architecture, and sheek party scene. And it also happens to be where I met my boyfriend. Here’s some of my fave places to go in Miami:

1) The Delano – a sexy indoor and outdoor hotel lounge (and if you’re cool enough, you’ll get access into the Florida Room)

2) El Palacio De Los Jugos – I tried some overpriced Cuban restaurants, but the best food happened to be in a street corner food stand! Head here for authentic, CHEAP cuban food, great fruit juices, and cafe con leche near Little Havana! Be sure to practice your Spanish.

3) Sky Bar at the Shore Club – swanky, classy outdoor lounge amidst a gorgeous garden. Rarely has a line, but guaranteed to see beautiful people inside.

4) Lincoln Road – walk down Lincoln during the day to go shopping and have your pick of cute spots to grab lunch while sitting outdoors. Walk down Lincoln at night and experience a lively crowd with hip hop or techno music blaring and the hottest people in South Beach sipping on pre-party cocktails.

5) The Duck Tour (no joke…had to throw it in here!) – my boyfriend makes fun of me all the time for going on this tour, but it’s a fun, cheesy way to be a tourist in South Beach. This interesting bus/duck contraption takes you to the touristy places in South Beach. Then, it turns into a boat to take you through Biscayne Bay to snap pictures of homes owned by the wealthy (Jennifer Lopez, Gloria Estefan, etc) on Star Island. And yes, they make you “quack” like a duck.

February 3, 2010 3 comments

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