I’m all for versatility and this Studded Tote (in Pewter) by Chocolate Handbags is functional for both day and night.  It’s sizable so I can fit more than just a lipstick and a credit card in but the metal studs detail gives it a darker edge to match the evening sky.  Oh, and the cross body strap frees up my hand so I can shop the day away and dance the night away!

Indian star Shah Rukh Khan's wax figure, just revealed at Madame Tussauds Times Square. Photo by Alex Oliveira/startraksphoto.com, courtesy of Gitesh Pandya.

As celebrated Bollywood film star, Shah Rukh Khan (whose latest film My Name is Khan is out on DVD now), made his debut at Madame Tussauds New York Wax Museum in Times Square last week — a part of the museum’s “Bollywood Zone” which includes film legend Amitabh Bachchan — we couldn’t help but wonder, which other Asian and Asian American greats have been immortalized in wax figure by the popular tourist attraction?

Aishwarya Rai, left, with her wax figure likeness.

Seems like, not many.

After some sleuthing, we have found martial arts kings Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee at the Madame Tussauds Hollywood location and a tense-looking Tiger Woods at the Vegas location. And of course there’s Indian film legend Aishwarya Rai in the museum’s London location.

As for rest of the ladies? Fuggetabout it. The closest figurine we spotted even resembling an Asian woman was an eerie Michael Jackson figure made as part of a Jackson tribute at the Washington, D.C. museum.

The wax figure of Michelle Yeoh.

For the rest of us itching to cuddle up with wax figures of Lucy Liu or Michelle Yeoh, we’ll have to travel a bit farther — to a Hong Kong, Shanghai or soon-to-be-opened Bangkok location to get our fix. ‘Cause frankly, putting your arms around an Asian-looking Michael Jackson just doesn’t cut it.

If you think that people are finally getting sick of waiting three hours in line to get their tacos and grilled cheeses cooked from an automobile, think again.

The Food Network is serving food trucks hot off the grill in their new reality cooking competition series, The Great Food Truck Race. The Tyler Florence-hosted show will feature seven food trucks as they compete in challenges across the country, vying for business and cooking prowess.  The trucks’ culinary offerings range from the zesty Ragin’ Cajun to the romantic Crepes Bonaparte.

The "Nomsters," Jennifer Green, David Kien and Misa Chien.

We’re personally rooting for the truck with the most adorable moniker — the Nom Nom Truck.  Founded by UCLA grads Vietnamese American Jennifer Green and Chinese-Dutch American Misa Chien, and managed by Asian American David Kien, Nom Nom Truck serves up fresh and tasty Vietnamese sandwiches (banh mi) and tacos. Vietnamese sandwiches have long been a hidden gem of L.A. and it’s time the whole country knew about it!

The trucks’ journey starts in San Diego and ends in New York, with one truck eliminated each week and the winner walking away with the $50,000 grand prize.

Get your salivary glands ready as the show premieres tonight, Sunday, August 15, at 10 pm.

Tyler Florence, left, and the food truck competitors.

When the clock finally read 6 pm, I leapt out of my swivel chair and skipped through the door. I jumped into the elevator and ran to the beige Sienna van where my family was waiting to take me to the airport. Farewell to the old 9-6 and hello to adventure, excitement and travel!

As part of the 2010 Miss LA Chinatown court, we generally hold our princess duties around the Los Angeles Chinatown (duh) area. However, this special summer, four of us had the opportunity to travel to various cities in China and act as ambassadors for the Los Angeles Chinese Chamber of Commerce, where we soaked in the culture of the east to take home and share with our local community in the west.

Janice Jann, second from left, with the other members of the Miss LA Chinatown court and the LA Chinese Chamber of Commerce president at the Bird's Nest Stadium in Beijing.

Over our two week-trip, we visited five areas around China — Beijing, DengFeng, Shanghai, Shantou and Hong Kong. We were treated to a multifaceted look at the face of China, going to countryside villages and large metropolises, admiring 1,000-year-old Longmen Grottoes in Luo Yang, and then glimpsing into the future of Shanghai at the World Expo. We tilled soil and practiced Shaolin martial arts. We dolled up and dined with government officials. We visited colleges and nightclubs. We ate. A lot. We suffered repercussions from eating a lot.

The Miss LA Chinatown court got an inside look into Chinese culture, including Shaolin moves.

Having tea with the Shaolin school director.

The entire time, a pending Audrey blog post was in the back of my mind. “What experiences should I share with Audrey readers about my trip to China that will be meaningful for them to read?”

I had expected this post to be one of those fish out of the water tales where I hilariously shared tales of asking to use the restroom and then being led to a side of the street or where I eat strange foods and then throw up afterward, but in actuality, my experience in Asia became one of coming home. It became one of where I found myself comforted to know the language of my ancestors and to learn their customs. It became one where I liked seeing faces like mine all over the billboards and magazine ads. It became one where I was proud to see how far my homeland had come and excited to see where there future will head.

Janice, far right, and the Miss LA Chinatown court in Shanghai, imitating what she calls a "common Chinese pose." From left: Carrie Gan, Nebula Gu, Jani Wang and Janice Jann.

The thing that is so refreshing about traveling is that you are living in the present. When I’m at home, I’m either constantly planning for the future, whether it be counting down to closing time at work or waiting for the weekends, or thinking to the past, whether it be reminiscing about the good ol’ days with high school friends or flicking through Facebook photos of my past travels (what? You know you do that too.) But when I’m at a particular city for only three days, I have no time to twiddle twaddle lamenting about my exes or worrying about what to do with the rest of my life. I’m too busy staring at sunsets, enjoying a conversation with a cute stranger, and living life at the moment.

Travel reminds us to do this: to live in the present. Think about your daily life. How often do you spend it worrying about what’s going to happen next or pining for the past? How often do you spend it just sitting there soaking in your surroundings and feeling life’s pulse?

I constantly wish for traveling to be a full-time gig, but I don’t think I would appreciate it as much if it were. So, I’ll take the few sacred weeks every year or so and hold it dear to my heart. Until the next adventure.

Making the most of the long transpacific flight.