Life changed in March 2020. I was in Japan when the pandemic became serious and was afforded the opportunity to travel home to North Carolina because of the virus. After spending 7 months at home, I was able to travel back to Japan because of my job. From April 2020 until now (January 2021), I’ve…
Goodbye to 2020
This year has been one of the most unexpected, wild, crazy, and fulfilling years that I’m sure EVERYONE has ever had. Due to the virus, travel plans were ruined and the future of travel as a whole will look completely different in years to come. Personally, I’ve had lots of time to reflect back on…
Exploring New Orleans on a Rainy Day
Back in 2016, I had the pleasure of attending my friend’s wedding in Mandeville, Louisiana, which is in close proximity to New Orleans. Due to my work schedule, the trip to the area only lasted for 2 days. Thankfully, my mother and sister traveled with me and we were able to explore the downtown area…
Short Opinion Piece: Traveling While Black
I saw the above Instagram post (click here for the link) at the height of the nationwide Black Lives Matter protests as a result of a public outcry for justice of countless and unnecessary murders of black men and women at the hands of law enforcement and white supremacists. I had the idea to write…
Celebrating My Birthday During a Global Pandemic
Prior to Rona craziness, I’d planned to spend my birthday/birthday weekend in Osaka, Japan for a weekend girls trip that would’ve included other celebrations. Post/during Rona craziness, the trip to Osaka had to be cancelled and I was able to return home to the US. At that time, public spaces had not begun their initial…
My First Overnight Hike in Japan
In the fall of 2019, I went on my first overnight hike to Mt. Komagatake in the Akita Prefecture of Japan. Prior to this trip, my last huge hike was 3 years prior and it was a rewarding experience (Cinque Terre in Italy – I’ll blog about that later). The hike up and down Mt….
There’s an App for that: Travel Edition
The use of apps while traveling is one of the best aids in making sure that you have an enjoyable experience regardless of whether you have an iPhone or an Android. Before making official plans, the use of apps to research different aspects of your destination is extremely helpful. As a plus, it could also…
Cruising into Havana
Once I was open to traveling to different countries, Havana became a city that I really wanted to visit. I was fascinated by the rich history of Cuba as a whole, and I wanted to see a part of it for myself. When harsh travel restrictions to the city were beginning to lift for the…
Virtual Field Trips – No Passports Needed
If you’ve read any of my other posts, you would know that Ms. Rona (COVID-19) has put a halt to my recent travel plans, leaving me stuck at home. To keep myself busy, I’ve found a few virtual tours that can be taken to explore far away destinations. Within a one hour span, I traveled…
Mommy-Daughter Trip to Canada
This post is dedicated to my mom who is celebrating her birthday today 🙂 Back in 2017, my mom and I went on a week long trip to Niagara Falls and Toronto as part of a tour group that she was a part of. My mom and I have been on several trips together, however…
Braids and Airplanes 