The flooded island

A visitor from the other side of the pond (the other, other side) came to visit, and seeing that the summer solstice called for a full day of sun, I suggested we head to Centre Island for some cycling fun.

Kikukawa Station

When the weather starts getting cold, I can't help but look back on past memories.

That is the sentence I started off writing when I thought about this post many, many months ago.

Suwon

We visited Suwon on my first trip to South Korea, but I only briefly covered it in my single post covering the week we spent there. I wrote it about a year and a half after my visit, so I had tried to condense the memories that remained into that post, but over the years, bits and pieces of the day we spent in Suwon came back, and I decided to write about some of the fond details I remembered from that day.

Vending machines in Tokyo

One of the things I noticed upon my first few days in Tokyo was the abundance of vending machines. Not just confined to indoor spaces, vending machines lined the outside of convenience stores, alleyways, car park garages; just about anywhere there was a few extra feet of space, a vending machine was plopped in place.



Vending machines weren't limited to dispensing drinks and snacks. They sold all kind of imaginable and unimaginable things, but my favourite were the ones outside restaurants that printed tickets. You would order your food and pay through the machine, and it would dispense your food ticket. You enter the restaurant, hand your ticket to the chef, and in no time, your food would be placed in front of you.

Quite honestly, my mind immediately went to a post-apocalyptic theory, that will perhaps see the light of day in another form. I found the plethora of vending machines fascinating.

Eldred King Woodlands

I rarely take Tofu on walks outside of the neighbourhood; we just got used to our usual routine, and I felt it was a perfect time to go on an little adventure together.

Fuji-san

This isn't a new trip, but our trip to Japan in 2015 mainly consisted of exploring in and around Tokyo, as it was all of our first time in the country, and there was lots of do in the city. As I was responsible for part of Hong Kong and Seoul, this leg of the trip was planned mostly by my travel buddies, but my one request was that we visit Mount Fuji.

Seaton Trail

There aren't many things that sound more pleasant than a Sunday morning hike. Our morning devolved into noon, but nevertheless, we were on the road to Seaton Hiking Trail.

Things that make me happy, pt. 2

Welcoming a new arrival to my plant family.

When a package arrives earlier than its expected date.

Being the only one awake at night.

When someone just accepts what I feed them without even checking to see what it is.

When a new release from a favourite artist is announced.

Snuggling into the sheets and feeling perfectly, contently warm.

Reading the first page of a new book and the instant knowledge that it will be enjoyable.

When Tofu picks me up in the car after a long day (with the aid of someone else...).

Before the mercury rises

It's almost officially summer, but the weather seems to be stuck in springtime. Rainy days, cooler weather, thicker sweaters, and then sudden bursts of sunshine and heat have categorized the last couple of weeks.

Queenstown, Hong Kong, and home

We made the drive into Queenstown again, and after finding parking for the day, we split up into our respective bungee and non-bungee jumping groups.

Kayaking in Roys Bay, all-terrain in Glenorchy

We walked back down to the waterfront in search of breakfast, and decided to stop at Alchemy Wanaka.