Vacation on Blogging Like It's the Early Aughts

It's Only Monday and I'm Already Burnt

Sun, 23 Nov 2025 02:45:57 -0700

Today was our first real day here. Our flight from Brisbane to Auckland yesterday was delayed a bit, so by the time we got to AKL, it was closer to 18:00 local time. But then we had to make our way through immigration, collect luggage, and then proceed through customs and bio-screening to make sure we weren’t bringing anything harmful into the country and local ecology, and they’re pretty serious about it. Bringing in an undeclared banana could cost you $400.

PDX-YVR-BNE-AKL

Fri, 21 Nov 2025 22:30:57 -0700

Currently in the Vancouver airport waiting for the long flight. Our journey started today at 16:15 when our taxi picked us up and dropped us off at the airport. I had the day off, which was a good thing since I had a few last minute things to take care of, including boarding Lizzy. I’m going to try and not be a nervous cat dad sending his kid off to camp for the first time, but I felt so bad leaving her there.

Osaka, Part Two: The Osakaning

Tue, 24 Sep 2024 18:05:35 -0700

Today was my last full day in Japan. I can’t believe I’ve been here this long, it feels like ages ago that I arrived. But time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana. All in all I’m glad I came, I’m glad for the experiences I had despite the weather, and I’m excited to visit again some day in the future.

That said, today wasn’t anything special. After having been on the move daily for the last week and a half, I was fine with staying put for a bit. I did go out and do some last minute souvenir shopping, trying to use up the last of my yen… As well as take advantage of the tax-free shopping. I guess there is one benefit to being in this consumer-driving district.

Kotohira to Osaka, Day 8 of 8

Mon, 23 Sep 2024 17:55:16 -0700

Not much to say about the hotel this morning. Woke up, made my way upstairs to the chaos that was a large free-for-all buffet, finished packing up, and made my way to the lobby to check out by ten for my train at 10:44.

The local train to Okayama was nothing special, it did the job. But when I arrived there, that’s when it started to get dicey. I passed from the local section, through the gates, and to the bullet train section looking for my train which was supposed to leave in twelve minutes. I don’t know if it was related to the storms that cancelled my train yesterday, but not only was my train not showing, the train before and after mine were significantly delayed. And if there’s one thing I know about the Japanese train system, especially the bullet trains, is they are very punctual.

Iya Valley to Kotohira, Day 7 of 8

Sun, 22 Sep 2024 17:37:11 -0700

This morning I woke up and had breakfast, much as usual. Check-out wasn’t until ten and the tour group had a pre-arranged taxi for me at 10:20, so after breakfast I wanted to have another soak in the rotenburo. Though as I was getting ready, the front desk called. It had started raining last night and continued into today. I didn’t think anything of it since I would be taking the taxi to the train station and then onwards. But since we were in a remote section of the island in the mountains, whenever there are heavy rains, they cancel the local services due to landslides. And that included my train that I had purchased yesterday.

Tokushima to the Iya_Valley, Day 6 of 8

Sat, 21 Sep 2024 16:53:16 -0700

This morning was a relaxing morning. Which I needed. My calves were surprisingly stiff yesterday. Surprising because they weren’t stiff the day before after I hiked up the 900m. Either it skipped a day, or because last night was the first night my accommodations didn’t have an onsen. Maybe they really are magical… at least in the making your body feel good kind of way.

After my included breakfast, in which I leaned heavily into the Western food (I really do love the food here, but you know, I’m not from here so sometimes french toast just hits the spot), I walked next door to the train station to buy my ticket for today, and tomorrow. That out of the way, I just had a nice relaxing morning getting myself ready and reading up on what was in store for the rest of the trip. A trip that’s quickly coming to a close!

Naka to Hiwasa to Tokushima, Day 5 of 8

Fri, 20 Sep 2024 16:24:36 -0700

While I’ve enjoyed my time in Japanese-style inns, sleeping on a tatami mat and partaking in the communal baths, there was a very large part of me that was happy to find I was staying in a Western-style hotel tonight.

This morning I woke up bright and early as the sun shone through the shoji¹ and the heat coming through was palpable. That didn’t bode well for the day. After having breakfast and checking out, I walked the 3km to the bus stop where I had transferred to the mini-bus yesterday. I was early, so they kindly let me wait in the sort of office they operate out of. Being that it was air-conditioned, I was glad of it.