We flew into Tokyo because it was the most convenient flight we could find, but we meant to see Osaka. In order to head westward via Shinkansen 新幹線, the high-speed rail, we first took a local train to Tokyo Station. Tokyo Station High-speed trains between Tokyo and Osaka ran every few minutes. Even the Nozomi
Vacation
Pacific Islands (4/10) – On To Japan
During our last vacation, we went from the bustling Bangkok to the island resort of Koh Samui. This time around, we flew from Hawaii to spend the second half of the trip in Japan. While I like warm and scenic beaches, and love hanging out with family, what really pumps me up with vacation energy
Pacific Islands (3/10) – Island Eats
This is a food post. Delicious feasts wasn’t something I anticipated coming to Hawaii. The last time we came here (well, Maui), we had excessively mediocre food. And it kind of made sense: with the state being a resource-constrained bunch of islands, the variety and quality of ingredients simply could not compete with the major
Pacific Islands (2/10) – Surf & Turf Adventures
Here’s something I learned on this trip… that the State of Hawaii had 42% Asian, 24% white, and under 10% native Pacific Islander. Of those Asians, Japanese was the largest group. Many of them came over 100 years ago to work as laborers on the sugarcane plantation, both before and after the annexation of Kingdom
Pacific Islands (1/10) – Hawaii Four-O
My family never needed an excuse to vacation. However, we do appreciate those weddings and birthdays that happen overseas and “require” our attendance. Sorry clients and work buddies, I didn’t mean to ditch you again so soon but I just can’t help it. This May, Hong’s parents celebrated their 40th anniversary. They had long been
Southeast Asia (13/13) – Farewell Thailand
Nobody likes the end of a vacation. However, in most of our past trips, we’d get sufficiently tired after 10 days or so and look forward to going home. Not this time around. We enjoyed Thailand so much that we started to get emotional a full day before leaving. I couldn’t get excited to board
Southeast Asia (12/13) – Vacation Within Vacation on Koh Samui
Our next destination was Koh Samui, a tropical island halfway down the Malay Peninsula. We were very sad at this point to be departing our hotel in Bangkok, and that was an odd sentiment en route to a major beach resort. FLIGHT Getting us there and back was Bangkok Airways. Although we had unexciting
Southeast Asia (11/13) – Ayutthaya Road Trip on a Full Stomach
The official Thai history has had four dynasties, with the current one still going strong and loved by the people. While Sukhothai, the first kingdom, was more distant and disconnected from the rest, the second (Ayutthaya), third (Thonburi), and fourth (Rattanakosin) were of a single lineage. The capitals of the latter two are both within
Southeast Asia (10/13) – Bangkok Food Scenes
Ever since our trip, hearing the word “Bangkok” triggers an involuntary response in my salivary glands. It’s ridiculous. How come I had never traveled to the Food Capital of the World during the first 1/3 of my life? It might be cue to reevaluate my decision-making skills. From Point A to Point B Let’s
Southeast Asia (9/13) – Wats in Bangkok
A wat is a Thai Buddhist temple. As the capital of a 93%-Buddhist country, Bangkok has a lot of impressive wats. We visited the four most famous ones. Wat Phra Kaew & the Grand Palace The Grand Palace sits by the river and has been the center of the current Thai dynasty. It’s the