Do you want the start of the story? Or, just the start of this race recap? I know this is not related to travel but you're going to get both. I also started writing this a few days after my May race and now 6+ months later, I've finished my thoughts ... or, at least… Continue reading Vancouver Half 2023: The comeback race I’ve been waiting for
Lanikai: where toddler dreams come true
"This is grandma and grandpa's beach!" my toddler said as she pointed to a calendar of Hawaii landscape photography. I think she had it open to February. She turned the pages and "assigned" a photo to various family members -- even our dog. Then she turned to a very scenic beach photo. It had blue… Continue reading Lanikai: where toddler dreams come true
Mentally, I am there …
Five days ago I was on Oahu. We enjoyed Thanksgiving with family -- Bryce cooked a turkey for the first time! -- and spent plenty of time at the beach in the sun. Oh, and I was sick for a majority of the week-long trip. I got some virus that left me with no voice… Continue reading Mentally, I am there …
Hi, mama turtle!
"Excuse me, ma'am. Please stop!" the volunteer shouted to a woman who was oblivious to the fact that she was about to walk into a turtle. "Oh, I am just trying to get over there," the woman responded while pointing in the general direction in front of herself. She almost took another step and the… Continue reading Hi, mama turtle!
Do you know where pineapples come from?
Seven years ago, when Bryce and I went to Hawaii for the first time together, I learned that he didn't know where pineapples come from. By where they "come from," I specifically mean how pineapples are grown. He always assumed pineapples grew on trees, just like, well, apples. This thinking does make sense. But, as… Continue reading Do you know where pineapples come from?
We’re going to (Tokyo) Disney!
One of my first thoughts when we secured our (what would later be moot) visas for Japan was, “I’m introducing my baby to the happiest place on earth!” I mentioned this early on to Bryce, the anti-Disney member of our family. “But, she won’t remember anything,” was one of his first responses to my idea. … Continue reading We’re going to (Tokyo) Disney!
New year, same me
I somehow am having a hard time coming to terms that it is already 2023. I can't keep up. I had my 2022 travel year in review blog post started and saved as a draft. It never got finished. I'll just say that last year was all about travel for my family and I. After… Continue reading New year, same me
Dreams coming true: making friends with otters
As I scrolled on my phone to learn more about the aquarium we'd be going to the next day, I stopped at a picture of an Asian small-clawed otter sticking its paw through a small hole in its enclosure. You can feed slash hold hands with otters at this Japanese aquarium?!?! I turned my phone… Continue reading Dreams coming true: making friends with otters
Date night with Yokohama FC
Once we knew we'd be going to Japan -- you know, we secured that travel visa that ended up being moot since Japan "opened up" to foreigners the day after we arrived. -- Bryce and I both started planning the "one thing" we wanted to do while there. His was to go to a soccer… Continue reading Date night with Yokohama FC
Karuizawa: a trip within a trip
I had honestly never heard of Karuizawa before. One of my cousins informed me that a season of Terrace House was filmed there though. It's "in the mountains" and is pretty was all I had heard from family members. They were not wrong! We flew into Japan on a Wednesday afternoon and already the next… Continue reading Karuizawa: a trip within a trip
otter travel more 