Long and Short Reviews welcomes Hudson Lin who is celebrating the release of Three Months to Forever.
Three Months to Forever is set in Hong Kong, which plays a big role in the romance between the two main characters. I love to travel, to see new places, eat great food, and learn about a different culture. Most of us live as if our lives are the most important story in the world, but when I travel, it reminds me that there are people all across the planet who have hopes, dreams, and struggles that are not so dissimilar to my own. Here are five places I’ve visited that have left a lasting impression on me.
5. Greece
Greece is the home of an old, old civilization, and you can see evidence of that simply by walking the streets of Athens. No, seriously. There are sections of sidewalks cordoned off because they’ve found ancient ruins beneath the current infrastructure. It blows my mind to think that that was the world of Socrates and Plato, of the Iliad and the Odyssey, the birthplace of democracy.
The Greek islands scattered around the Mediterranean Sea are just as phenomenal in their beauty; it’s called Mediterranean blue for a reason. I could spend forever just sitting by the water with a good book, sipping frappés, before tucking in some fresh seafood.
4. Italy
Similar to Greece, modern day Italy is descendant from an ancient civilization and has amazing food. I could get lost in Venice’s romantic canals and meandering streets. It has a charm that is hard to describe and impossible to replicate. Too bad rising sea waters are threatening the entire city!
Florence boast the world’s most delicious cut of meat. Perfectly seasoned, grilled on an open fire, juicy and melt in your mouth, the Florentine steak is hands down the best steak I’ve had in my entire life.
Rome has all the grandeur one would expect of a city that once ruled an sprawling empire. From the Colosseum, to the Trevi Fountain, to the Spanish Steps, and never forget Vatican City and the Sistine Chapel, Rome is bursting with a rich and vibrant history.
And the gelato. OMG, the gelato.
3. Singapore
As you may be able to tell, I’m a bit of a foodie and I’ve been spoiled by living in New York and Toronto, both places with a diverse and authentic food scene that rivals cuisines served in their lands of origin. Neither place, though, can do Singaporean food like they do it in Singapore. Singapore of a mix of Indian, Malay, and Chinese cultures and the food reflects this combination with noodle soups, curries, and fish sauce. There’s not enough time in the world to go through all the good stuff to eat, but here are some of my favorites:
• Laksa – rice noodles in a curry-based soup
• Bak kut teh – pork ribs braised in a garlicky, peppery broth
• Kaya toast – coconut and pandan-based jam spread on toast, topped with a soft-boiled egg
• Satay – chicken, beef, or lamb kabobs with lemongrass seasoning, grilled over charcoal
• Chili crab – crabs stir-fried in a thick, sweet and salty, egg-based sauce
• Pandan cake – a fluffy chiffon sponge cake flavored with pandan extract
2. Hawai’i
Hawai’i is the perfect mix of great food (obviously my priority), rich history, and beautiful scenery. Much of the food scene has a heavy Asian influence, brought by the Japanese, Chinese, and various South East Asian immigrants, though adapted to fit Hawai’i’s unique geography.
The Hawai’ian people have a special culture and history that often gets overlooked. They were a sophisticated civilization flourishing in the middle of the Pacific Ocean long before the islands were annexed to the United States. I so appreciated learning about their culture and how it has evolved through the ages.
Hawai’i is gorgeous: mountains for hiking, oceans for diving. I don’t consider myself an outdoors person, but if I lived in Hawai’i, I would definitely become an outdoors person.
1. Thailand
And finally, Thailand. If I could retire tomorrow, I’d go live in Thailand. Specifically, a small town north of Phuket called Khao Lak. It’s a diving town, catering to tourists who show up every year between October and May to scuba dive in the beautiful waters around the Similan Islands in the Andaman Sea. It’s considered one of the best dive spots on the planet and blissfully removed from the bustle of the rest of the world. From cute little clown fish to majestic manta rays, the marine life is diverse and simply stunning. If it were possible, I’d live underwater for the rest of my days.
The food in Thailand is amazing, too. I won’t go into it all now, but I’ll just say this: more fish sauce, please.
The world is full of amazing places, unique cultures, and interesting people. I’m so blessed to have the ability and resources to be able to travel.
Three Months to Forever is available now!
Ben is looking for an adventure when he accepts a temporary assignment in Hong Kong, but he never anticipated how his life might change when he meets a sophisticated older man named Sai. Their initial attraction is sizzling and soon grows into more as Sai takes Ben on a tour of the city’s famous landmarks and introduces him to the local cuisine. Sai stimulates Ben’s intellect and curiosity, and for jaded corporate lawyer Sai, Ben’s innocent eagerness is a breath of fresh air. It would be so easy to fall in love….
But nothing is that simple. Sai’s job forces him to do things that violate his morals, and his relationship with his family is a major obstacle to any lasting relationship with Ben. Back in Toronto, Ben’s father is ill, and can he really leave behind his home for a man he’s only known for a short time? With the clock ticking, they must decide whether to risk it all and turn three months into forever.
About the Author: Hudson Lin was raised by conservative immigrant parents and grew up straddling two cultures with ofttimes conflicting perspectives on life. Instead of conforming to either, she has sought to find a third way that brings together the positive elements of both.
Having spent much of her life on the outside looking in, Hudson likes to write stories about outsiders who fight to carve out their place in society, and overcome everyday challenges to find love and happily ever afters.
When not engrossed in a story, Hudson knits, drinks tea, and works the 9 to 5 in the beautiful city of Toronto, Canada.
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