New Zealand 2018

This was our first time to New Zealand. We started in Auckland, then to Matamata/Rotorua, took a plane to Wellington and Queenstown and ended back in Auckland on our nearly 2-week trip. During our time there we saw hobbit holes, stayed quiet for the kiwis, encountered an aggressive kaka, ate Best Ugly bagels, rode a cable car, experienced Quinn’s Post Trench, awed at the majesty of the plane descent over Queenstown, flew over glaciers, glided across the Shotover and Kawarau Rivers and dined at an intimate (six-seat), award-winning restaurant — per recommendation from a friend. It is such a beautiful and friendly place and would definitely go back.

Hello, Auckland. Cloudy Bay.

The experience was like having an ice cream concierge. Or ice cream sommelier.

Friday Night Market.

Hobbiton (Rotorua)

It was majestical.

Fun fact: Around 40% of visitors have never seen the LOTR movies.

The grounds/landscaping were immaculate and well-kept.

Bilbo/Frodo’s house. Bag End. The Shire.

Sonny (left), our guide, snapping photos for guests posing in the doorway.

I could honestly live there.

Tasty eats at Atticus Finch.

Rainbow Springs Nature Park. This is a kaka. It didn’t mind me getting close and taking photos.

Here you can see it sizing up Harry.

“Charging” toward Harry with nape feathers puffed.

(Taken with iPhone and what looks like horrible flash. But is the only evidence documented of the kaka “attacking” Harry.)

Cable car museum. Wellington.

Walk down from the cable car towards the botanical garden.

Check out that crazy root system! (right)

My brain was freaking out at the size and realism of the sculptures. Seriously trippy.

At the Kiwi Birdlife Park in Queenstown

Harry’s first helicopter ride

The snow was a lot deeper than we expected. Quadriptych of Harry now realizing the snow’s attempt at taking his shoe away from him.

Frank’s Corner: cute little café that wasn’t open when we were wandering

We had to check out at least one winery

The infamous Fergburger

Can’t miss a cat café opportunity (Barista Cat Café)

Bryan, one of the blind kitties

Such a great recommendation from Stacy on Pasture

Japan 2018

Traveled to Japan with the husband (for his work) during early-ish summer. Highlights include: the Imperial Hotel Tokyo (remember when I visited back in November 2017? They kept the shoes that Harry tossed in the trash in our room not knowing if it really was “garbage” and presented it in one of their nice hotel bags), admiring and awing the various owls at an owl café, spending time with Miyabi-chan and visiting Okinawa for the first time.

(From my Instagram story)

Owl Cafe Mohumohu Ginza (Honestly though, I feel sadness for the creatures. It was really confined and stuffy inside. Though the staff were friendly, I have to wonder about the well-being of the animals.)

This cute little restaurant is across from the aquarium and we wanted to check out what all this talk of “taco rice” was about.

The owner was super friendly and offered to take our photo

My “taco” rice dish

New York - 2018

Surprise visit for my sister’s show at Victori + Mo (which also fell around her and her husband’s 1 year anniversary). We let Piotr in on the secret since we didn’t know her schedule and if she’d be in town. We agreed to meet the following day of our arrival at a coffee shop nearby our hotel. Piotr entered the cafe first and spotted us, but remained casual as if nothing was out of the ordinary. They placed their orders at the counter and she still hadn’t noticed us. It wasn’t until they walked toward the seating area that she finally was aware of her surroundings and was struck with confusion as to what she was looking at. (Reaction caught on iPhone). We booked an escape room (Maze of Hakaina) and made our way there. Production value: one of the best we’ve done. And we escaped!

Other places of interest visited: Guggenheim (where Piotr works), Museum of the City of New York (bonus: special exhibition of Stanley Kubrik). Eateries visited: Ivan Ramen, Milk Bar, La Vara, Van Leeuwen Ice Cream, Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs (at Coney Island), and yes, even Dominique Ansel to try the famed cronut.

Hog Island Oyster Co. 2018

Hog Island Oyster Co. is one of the best producers of certified sustainable shellfish. They have locations in Marshall (where their farm is located), Napa, San Francisco and Tony’s Seafood Restaurant. We had frequented their Napa location countless times, but had never visited their oyster farm in Marshall. Reservations are required at both the Picnic Area and The Boat Oyster Bar. We opted for The Boat Oyster Bar experience since we wanted to try out their offerings. A dozen of their Sweetwaters was a must. What took me by surprise was their grilled oysters. I can’t remember what the fixin’s were, but it was delicious. Although it’s a ways out there from Napa, it was definitely worth the trip.

Sea figs at Bodega Bay