About Me

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My dream is to travel around the world and take unforgettable photos and I am slowly progressing it with my limited vacation days per year, 15 days (now 18 days)! I tried to maximize my travel time by planning a vacation around the holidays to have an extra 1 or 2 days but as you all know traveling during holidays = $$$.  Well….not really if you plan ahead and plan the right place like US holiday might not be a European holiday 🙂 Oh I forgot to mention that I love to plan! I am not a crazy planner, sometimes I like to go by the mood, but I would spend time doing research to maximize what I get from what I paid…after all it’s my hard earned money!

When did I start my interest of traveling? Hum……my first trip was when I was around 14, I traveled to Canada with 3 other friends of my age with a tour group. Yep 4 underage girls crossing the border but our tour guide took good care of us 🙂 That trip is an eye-opener for me, it made me realized the world is huge and each place is unique and fascinating! Ever since then, I wanted to see the whole world! I have plenty of time while in school but limited funds; I saved up all my allowances, birthdays, new year, and summer jobs money for trips. Before I graduated from college, I traveled to Bahamas, Orlando, San Francisco, Grand Cayman (Cayman Islands), Cozumel (Mexico), got married in Santorini (Greece), and honeymoon in Rome, Florence, Piza, and Venice (Italy).

After college, I got a decent job that can afford to go on 2 vacations per year; 1 in summer and 1 in winter (I planned it this way so I only need to wait 6 months or so before the next trip….yes that’s how much I miss vacation)! With 15 days of vacation, I split into 2 weeks in spring-summer, ideally in Europe and 1 week in winter to somewhere warm since it’s freezing cold up here!

As I travel, I hope to capture unforgettable memories of my husband and I since life is short and once time passed, it’s passed and can’t be turned back! The best way to capture it besides our memory is through photos (thanks to whoever invented the camera)! That’s how I started to get interested in photography and I got my husband into it as well haha! By the time we retired and sitting on the rocking chair, we can review those photos of the places we traveled and bring back memories 🙂 I always told my husband (he doesn’t have a good memory) if he forgets, that’s the evidence that we been there LOL!

When I first started Miss Vacation travel blog back in 2011, I wanted to document my journey in as much details as I can so others can follow my footsteps or even a better trip from my advises and tips. I know the hardest part of taking a vacation is the planning; a lot of people got steered away because of that. I wish to share my interest of travel and photography to everyone, maybe I can influence a few to go out and see the beautiful world! If you have any questions, please feel free to ask and I’ll try my best to help with your trip! And if you have any advises or tips, don’t hesitate to share as well. Sharing is caring 🙂 In the past few years, I received heart-warming messages on how my blog helped them on making their trip easier or taking the trip they have been delaying! This blog is completely non-profit, all the reviews are based on my true experience. Life is short, don’t wait…..travel!

We also offer photography services (pre-wedding/engagement, wedding, children, family, portraits, events), if interested please visit: http://lisameiphotography.com/

28 thoughts on “About Me

    1. Hi Joe,

      I use Canon 5D Mark III with EF 24-70 f/2.8 lens, that’s my main travel lens. The wide angles were taken from the Canon 6D with 17-40 f/4.0, the 6D is primary for videos. Prior to that, I was using the Canon Rebel T3i with EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 lens until it was stolen! So all photos from 2013 going forward are taken with the 5D Mark III, 2012-2013 were from the T3i, and anything prior to that were the Sony point and shoot.

      1. Hi,

        Thanks for sharing, great collection of pics. You should smile more! Keep up the good work blogging and happy travels!

  1. Thanks for sharing your travel experiences with us! You sound quite a bit like myself and my wife, as we go away on two trips per year as well! One usually in February to a warm climate, ie..the Caribbean/cruise or Hawaii. I really enjoyed reading about your experiences in Santorini as we are going there the middle of September!!

  2. I’m so glad I discovered your blog on TA! I like your detailed descriptions and love your amazing photos!! Loved reading about your travel to Greece as it’s next on my list! Keep blogging your travels 🙂 You sound so much like me, wanting to travel around the world 🙂 My travel blog is http://www.sheilstravels.blogspot.com
    Hope it will inspire and help you plan your travels as yours will help me plan mine 🙂 We just got back from an amazing two week trip to Peru / Bolivia and will soon update my blog with it
    Happy travels! 🙂

  3. Hi there!

    I came across your blog as I was researching on a trip to Barcelona. I also read that you were using canon t3i, but did you also use the t3i when you took the pictures of the football players? The pictures taken was wonderful and beautiful. It is my dream to visit Barcelona,and your blog on your trip there became such a big help for me to plan a trip! Travel blogs are always a dream to read, and I enjoy yours very much.
    Lots of love,
    Amber from singapore.

    1. Thank you! The photos I took in the stadium were from the Canon 5D Mark III, my Canon 3Ti was stolen when we arrived Barcelona 🙁 As long as you have a zoom lens to at least 70 mm, you should be able to get some good pictures of Messi and Neymar!

    1. Thank you! You can subscribe by entering your email on the right side “Follow Miss Vacation via email” and then click on the blue button underneath. It appears on the right side on top of every post.

  4. I’ve been following your blog since your trip to Spain. Just love all the photos and entries.
    Keep up great works!

    And you two must visit South Africa please. Cape Town is breathtaking, especially for those who love good food, nature and taking photos 🙂

    Phebe from Singapore

    1. Thanks for your support Phebe! Cape Town…it’s a long way from here but definitely we’ll get there one day! Singapore……we will be there some day too then you can give us tips on where to go and eat (I heard tons of great food)!

  5. Your trips and photos are epic! They helped me plan my trips. Keep it up.
    I have for years but now starting to look for a really good camera but I don’t want to carry a large DSLR. Do you have a recommendation on best small point-n-shoot?

    1. Thank you! Readers like you and the replies I got really helped me keep blogging! Camera…it really depends on your use…do you plan to just take day time photos during your trip or night time/low light situations? I recommend checking out the mirrorless camera, it is light weighted and much more compact than DSLR but gives you the flexibility and control of a DSLR – changeable lens and high ISO range that point-n-shoot doesn’t have.

  6. Hello,
    your pics are inspiring and your report of Cook islands makes me want to book the flight ticket RIGHT NOW. But I have other plans for this year. Maybe 2017? 😉
    Anyway I’d like to know if you have a flickr or 500px account where I can check your pictures: I just love them! Well done and keep travelling! 😉

      1. Heh probably I’d be more inclined to New Caledonia/Vanuatu for the first taste of South Pacific… but we will see. I have a LONG bucket list too 😉
        Fantastic, I love that album! Will follow you right away! Cheers!

  7. Hello, I’d like to discuss hiring your photography services. What’s the best way to reach you? Thank you.

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