From Tokyo Sumo To The Kyoto Bullet Train IT’S SUMO DAY!!! And, yes, sumo wrestling in Tokyo is every bit as awesome as it sounds. But, of course, the day didn’t start there. It started with yet another curious Japanese modification to a standard American item, the Q-Tip. NOTE: THIS POST HAS BEEN SPONSORED AND/OR […]
A Very Gaijin Introduction After the usual work-pack-depart marathon, we flew 3.5 hours to Dallas and another 13.5 hours, impatiently awaiting our big introduction to Tokyo. Despite the flight time, both flights were pleasant and seemed to pass by pretty quickly. I sat in a center seat next to a super tiny Vietnamese woman, so […]
Let me begin with a disclaimer: this list is by no means all-encompassing. Obviously, there more than five must-see national parks in the world. And I think you should see as many as humanly possible in your lifetime, because, in my experience, they’re declared national parks for good reason—they’re amazing. I should also note that, […]
Welcome to the “tiny bar district” in Tokyo! Golden Gai, or “Golden District,” is a six-alley network of some 200 bars in the Shinjuku neighborhood. Each shanty establishment seats anywhere from five to thirty people, and they all come with their very own personalized theme—death metal, karaoke, and the like. (Who doesn’t love a kitschy […]
“What’s your favorite place?” A common and seemingly benign question for frequent travelers. I can’t speak for other travelers, obviously. Maybe they have that one place that makes their heart swoon; their happy place, where the stars align and they could give up everything and retire there yesterday. My answer is not so straightforward. …”It’s […]
Pancake Rocks and Mangarakau Wetland Swamp We spent the morning driving along some pretty spectacular New Zealand cliffs. Saw steam lifting off the Tasman Sea oceanfront, which I haven’t seen before. Tried to get it on video, but failed miserably. Stopped off at the Pancake Rocks and Blowhole in Paparoa National Park. Interesting enough geological […]
Attack of the Mountain Parrots in Fiordland National Park Woke up before dawn to beat the crowds through Fiordland National Park to Milford Sound. This was going to be one of the highlights of our New Zealand road trip. Am starting to learn that no one in New Zealand wakes up until 9, even 10—nothing […]
The Rotorua Circuit Woke up extra early to discover an Auckland Starbucks a block away (woo hoo!)… that doesn’t open nearly as early as American Starbucks do (wah). All the hotel rooms carry is tea, so this was a nice surprise. Business hours? Not a nice surprise. Stalked the front door as necessary and tried […]
The Short Version of the Itinerary Before diving into the finer details of our Fiji stopover and New Zealand road trip, let’s explore the big picture quickly. This two-week bender included about 21 hours of flight time one way and a week-long tour of the South Island midway through. (Click on either image below to […]
Fitness experts all over the world rave about the benefits of squats. From strengthening your knees to improving your digestion, squats are one of the most revered exercises around. After some recent travel to Vietnam, I came home in awe, not just of Vietnam—one of the best places to visit in Asia in my book—but […]