Another Week of India

June 2019 Our first day back home was Dad's birthday. We met all of the family at Barbecue Nation. I soon realized, unfortunately, I was old, and the carried had become the carrier for the next generation. Other than this enlightening fact, the day passed in many jokes and fun. The next few days were …

Days 10 & 11: Cute Cafes and Going Home (Tokyo to Dallas)

July 2018 Today we went back into the city. Mom and I wandered around buying souvenirs and taking in our last glimpses of Tokyo. We did end up going to a famed cat café. The fluffy little critters were adorable. Some even had clothes on! We also went to an owl café where I got …

Days 8 & 9: Meetings & Eatings (Tokyo)

July 2018 These two days were mainly spent in the hotel for Mom's conference. I did get to see the peaceful garden and the busy streets of Shinjuku (the most populous city in the world), but that was it. The majority of time was spent watching people and eating. A great pastime, if you ask …

Day 7: Mountains and Lakes (Tokyo)

July 2018 Mom and I walked to our tour's meeting place for another day of nature. We got on the bus, and we were off to Mount Fuji! Our tour guide was a lovely lady that kept entertaining us with tales about Japan and her life. The long drive passed away in no time, thanks …

Day 6: Into the City (Tokyo)

July 2018 Today we went back to Tokyo on the shinkansen. This experience was as amazing as the first, and I even bought ice cream on the train itself! The shinkansen appear to be not only a way of traveling, but also a place of business. All around us, people dressed in professional attire made …

Day 5: From the Mountains to the City (Kyoto)

July 2018 Today began in a little more relaxed fashion, but Mom still wanted to get going as quick as possible in order to see the sights before the crowds arrived. We got out of the train station and followed Google Maps, which led us straight into an alley way... Unlike in Austin, where there …

Day 4: Traveling Like a Tourist (Kyoto)

July 2018 In the morning it was rush, rush, rush! We rushed through breakfast, the ticket counter, and the train stations until we finally reached our meeting place for the Kyoto Day Tour. Mom and I had arrived just in time to hop on the bus and leave. On the bus, our guide told us …

Day 3: Tea in a Tiny Town (Kyoto, Uji, and Osaka)

July 2018 Yesterday's excursions seemed like a dream until the hot Kyoto sun hit my face. The metal and glass utopia gleamed as bright as my smile. I was ready to see the city. Mom and I had slept through the buffet, so we had to find nourishment elsewhere. It was time to go into …

Days 1 & 2: The Longest Journey (Dallas to Tokyo)

July 2018 We were ready to go. Our bags were checked in, goodbyes said, and food eaten. Yet, the plane was not leaving. Our (Mom and I) flight to Japan would be 14 hours, even without a delay! Oh well, more time to get comfortable. We were sitting at the very front of our section, …

Universal Studios Day 4: MY BIRTHDAY!

July 2018 Today I am officially a teenager! This is what we came to Universal for! We got to to the park earlier today, and we were one of the first people to do the Gringotts ride. We did it a couple of times, and we even ended up sitting in the very front of the trolley! …