January 1st: We survived New Years and were ready to begin our Mexican adventure to start off the year 2018 with a bang. During New Years, we had a little discussion on what our new years resolutions were, if any. Alec said basically be a nice person, keep doing what hes doing, and that he … Continue reading Starting 2018 on a Mexican Island – Isla de Mujeres “Island of Women”
As 2018 rolled around, I knew it was time for another adventure. On December 31, we flew into Cancun to begin our year with an amazing Yucatan adventure! After landing, we avoided the mess of bus and taxi companies and walked outside. We were looking for an ATM but they informed us it was on … Continue reading New Years in Cancún
Another excellent place to take a day trip from Tokyo is Hakone (箱根). It's only an hour and a half or so from Tokyo and feels more traditional Japanese than the metropolitan Tokyo. Hakone is famous for Onsens, Lake Ashi, and black eggs from Sulfur. As a goodbye trip, we took a very late train … Continue reading A Short Day Trip to Hakone
It seems every time you mention to a Japanese person you are going traveling to "X", they say, "Oh! 'X' has many great hot springs and the seafood is so delicious!" This time, only half of that was true! Well, I mean, of course the seafood was delicious, but since Kusatsu is located inland, between … Continue reading KUSATSU One of the Best Onsen towns in Japan!
Lake Toya is in proximity to Noboribetsu, "the valley of Hell", in the most northern island of Japan, Hokkaido. Lake Toya is a surprisingly nice little town to spend a night or two in. The main sight is the caldera lake, which has Nakajima Island in the middle, home to the Lake Forest Museum, reachable … Continue reading Japan’s Peaceful Onsen Village in Lake Toya, Hokkaido
How did you end up in Japan? I've loved Japan since I was a little girl. My father is an art and comic fan, so every year we would take a family vacation to San Diego to attend the International Comic Con. My father would buy and trade art there. One day, he heard of … Continue reading Land of the Rising Sun – How Did I End Up in Japan?
As vacations go, we woke up when nature naturally woke us. Our couchsurfing host was nice enough to entrust us with her house and key, so we were free to explore on our own schedule while she was at work. "Where should we go for breakfast, and what should we do today?" the golden words of vacation … Continue reading Bali’s Monkey Forest in Ubud – Day 2
** The Currency Exchange Scam ** After breakfast, we went down the street to exchange our money. I had been keeping an eye out for the rates all day, and I was shocked when I saw the highest rate yet, 132.4 rupiah for 1 yen. (Hooked!) Usually they were about 125 or 127 rupiah to 1 yen. … Continue reading Getting Scammed in Bali
Last minute flight to Bali: Tokyo ->Bangkok Bangkok -> Denpasar (Bali) Total flight time ~10 hours Cost ~$600 usd 1usd = ~13,000 idr (rupiah) One day, while eating dinner with a couchsurfing friend in Tokyo, I asked him, "What are your next travel plans?" to which he replied, "Next month, I'm visiting Singapore and Indonesia". I … Continue reading Arriving in Bali, Indonesia
Kyoto. Kyoto, meaning “capital city” Kyoto used to be Japan’s capital when the Emperors used to live there from 794 to 1868. During the wars, Kyoto had been rather damaged, but was thankfully spared from the list of atomic bombing cities due to its historic value! When most people think of Japan, temples, shrines, ‘zen’, … Continue reading Snapping Geisha in Gion, Kyoto
The Best Years are Upon Us 