TOYKO, JAPAN

Kon'nichiwa! 

On the way back to the red dot, Jim and I made a pit-stop in Toyko.  Toyko had been on our bucket-list for quite some time, and we can finally confirm it is as delightfully weird as everyone says. From the whacky fashion to the animal cafes - its quirky colors shone brightly from the moment we landed. 

CHICAGO

USA! USA! 

It had been 5 months since Jim and I were stateside, so we headed home for a much needed visit filled with family, friends, Chipotle, Target and Miller Lite.  You realize how long 5 months truly is when you see how big your nephews/niece have gotten.  

MARGARET RIVER, AUSTRALIA

G'Day Mate!  

Jim and I just returned from a fabulous week down under in Western Australia.   Most of our time was spent in the Margaret River region (aka the wine region).  It is only a three-hour drive from Perth, but driving on the opposite of the road with kangaroos popping out like deer definitely made it more interesting. 

LUANG PRABANG, LAOS

Luang Prabang is a Unesco World Heritage City that was re-oped to tourism in 1989.  The town has a sleepy vibe with wooden houses and french architecture situated on the expansive Mekong River.  We truly enjoyed experiencing the magic of this town.. even if it was in 110 degree heat! 

Bryar in Asia

The 21 hour flight to Singapore is a commitment.  I was fully aware of this from day one.  However, when people asked which friend would come visit, my only reply was - Bryar.  Emily Bryar is one of my dearest and most adventurous friends.  Her outgoing and spirited personality made her the perfect candidate for a visit. 

The Sh*tstorm

Two months ago, after a relaxing weekend in Chiang Mai, Jim and I were ready to crash for the evening when a literal sh*tstorm blew into our apartment.  I will never forget the sentence that started it all "Jenna, is it normal for our toilet to be bubbling"?

BEIJING

Can you say you lived in Asia for over a year if you have not visited the Great Wall?  Jim and I finally decided enough was enough - and we headed off to arguably the most famous landmark in Asia.

On the day we were scheduled to travel to Beijing, we both woke up sick (of course).  Thankfully, we were first ones at the medical clinic and were both on meds before our red-eye flight out.  Beijing is about 6 hours away (much further than we initially thought) and the Chinese visa cost a cool $250 a person. It was all worth it in the end as Beijing may be my favorite trip so far!