January 9 - February 26 2025 - WINTER 2025
Winter 2025 Southbound Trip Recap contains links to Day 1 - 8 posts.
TOTAL DAYS DRIVE SOUTH - 8 (7 nights)
TOTAL DAYS PALM SPRINGS - 21
TOTAL DAYS LAS VEGAS- 20
DAYS AWAY TO DATE - 48
HEADING INTO VEGAS
Map showing NORTH and SOUTH for the directionally challenged!
RESORT
Carriage House is a smaller style location with ample parking just off the Strip.
From our window, the two tall buildings on either side are the Marriot and Hilton timeshares. It is very quiet. Wyndham Grand Desert, is up the street, where we have stayed a few times.
In the background are Cosmopolitan and Planet Hollywood on the Strip.
Looking the other way is NYNY and Showcase where this is shopping and restaurants, Coca-Cola and M&M attractions. Busy area.
At night.
Being away for a long period of time, it isn't like a vacation. It can't be all eating out and sightseeing. There are the usual daily chores. cooking, cleaning, laundry, groceries, haircuts, main-pedis, bill payments, plan more trips, make birthday dinner reservations at home, book outings at home, administrivia to be taken care of. It's a bit like a home away from home and some days you don't want to even get dressed!
However, this resort has incredible housekeeping services. They will not disturb you if the sign is on. Otherwise they knock everyday and you can request whatever you need. If you are out, they will take the garbage, recycling, dirty towels and generally straighten up. They then do a weekly full clean.
It is also closer to the Strip than Grand Desert, a block and a half, is a big deal in Vegas, where blocks are easily a mile long.
WEATHER
It was cool when we arrived, jacket weather. We had one day of rain, spitting. It really warmed up towards the end. There weren't any days when we wished we had a pool.
However, back home they were being dumped upon by snow.
EATING OUT
Nobody wants to eat (or can afford to) eat three meals a day out when you're away for over two months. Breakfast was generally in.
We are NOT cheap by any means, and if we wanted to try something we would. But we've done Hell's Kitchen twice, gone for Ramsay's burgers many times and gone to his Pub several times.
Instead we loved eating at Letty's.
The first night we ate at Battista's, not fancy, quantity over quality but a fun experience and the wine is included.
China Poblano was a pleasure. It is the brainchild of Jose Andres.
We ate at Letty's twice, true Mexican!
We had lunch at Quayo's, we've eaten here before, I did not enjoy my wings, which were comped.
We ate at Letty's twice, true Mexican!
We had lunch at Quayo's, we've eaten here before, I did not enjoy my wings, which were comped.
We had donuts in Palazzo.
We had lunch at Johnny's Rocket in Silverton.
We ended up at The Yard House three times! Twice at the Linq and once in Red Rock. We like it, it is reasonable.
Our last night we usually eat out (no clean up required) the plan was Ellis Island but it was horrible so we ended up at The Yard House.
We ended up at The Yard House three times! Twice at the Linq and once in Red Rock. We like it, it is reasonable.
Our last night we usually eat out (no clean up required) the plan was Ellis Island but it was horrible so we ended up at The Yard House.
We had drinks at:
Chandelier Bar in Cosmopolitan
Glass Bar in Planet Hollywood
Harrah's Dualling Pianos
Ri Ra Mandalay Bay
We looked at booking a few other places, but honestly, the prices are a ripoff on the Strip. Mussels ranged from $22US to $50. We can get them for around $18 CAD at home.
We love steak, but they ranged from $50 to $150 without any sides. John cooks a great steak so we had our regular Friday night steak at "home".
A glass of wine on the Strip is going to be $18US, it is cheaper to get a bottle.
$0.00 was spent gambling!
GROCERIES
On the whole we found groceries to be the same as or a lot cheaper than home even with the weak Canadian dollar.
WHAT WE DID
We've been here often enough that we only went to what we wanted to see.
We caught the Sphere Smiley Face! On our first night!!
John gave the finger to Trump Tower.
We went to Wynn to see the Okuda. We haven't been in Wynn in long time as we didn't stop in in 2024.
We took the Aria tram.
Bellagio - we always go there. We also like watching the Fountain. Year of the Snake.
We definitely wanted to go back to the Neon Museum ($) at night and we did.
We really enjoy the Arts District and went several times. We found the new English Hotel.
We drove out and did Red Rock Conservation 13 mile scenic drive ($).
We saw the mermaids at Silverton.
We visited Mandalay Bay to see Playland.
We wanted to see Big Elvis at Harrah's and tried on two Saturdays, but he wasn't there.
John golfed twice.
WINNING 4 NATIONS HOCKEY
SOME FAVOURITE MURALS
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SHOPPING
I laughed at this as I had my hair cut at Wal-Mart's, yet I don't go there at home. The Wal-Mart on Rainbow is a super store and John said it is gigantic!
We went to both factory outlets, North and South. North is better, but you pay for parking. South is enclosed.
We bought a few things at the North. John got another pair of the Hurley pants that he likes.
February 2025 - San Diego CA
We really enjoyed this trip to San Diego. In the past we have stayed outside San Diego and used the car for visits. It is much better staying in the city and walking or Ubering around. You get a much better feeling for the city and it is so liberating.
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We stayed in a Wyndham timeshare, Inn on the Park. It was a large unit with a balcony. Located right across the street from Balboa Park but otherwise a 30 minute walk from Gaslamp and the waterfront.
San Diego was a lot hillier than we remembered!
There was a restaurant across the street which we used twice for takeout.
We treated this week as a real vacation. The last six weeks we were in places we'd visited often and spent more time cooking and eating in.
We also had friends to visit that we really looked forward to.
We had an amazing first day as the weather was unseasonably warm/hot. It cooled off over the weekend and we had rain on the Monday.
SIGHTS
Day 1 drive from Las Vegas to San Diego
Day 2
WALK
Little Italy
Maritime Museum and Boat Cruise ($)
USS Midway
The Kiss
Bob Hope sculpture
The Fish House
Uber
Day 3
WALK
Gaslamp Quarter
Petco Stadium other baseball fields we've visited
Embarcadero
Sea Port
Kansas City BBQ (aka Top Gun)
Walk back to Inn
Day 4
UBER
Old Town
Liberty Station murals
Day 5
Sunday with Friends
Day 6
Hillcrest
Balboa Park
FOOD
Date Shakes on the way to SD!
I cooked spaghetti once we arrived in SD, we were not going anywhere.
We had lunch in Little Italy.
We had lunch at Barley Mash.
We ordered from Jimmy Carter's twice.
We had breakfast in Old Town.
We had breakfast in Escondido with B and A.
We had breakfast at The Hash House.
Had drinks at The Fish House, The Lot and Kansas City BBQ.
MURALS
April 2025 - Portugal
Day 1 Toronto to Lisbon Turim Marquês Hotel
Day 2 April 20 Lisbon EASTER SUNDAY Turim Marquês Hotel
Day 3 April 21 Lisbon EASTER MONDAY Turim Marquês Hotel
Day 4 April 22 Lisbon Turim Marquês Hotel
Day 5 April 23 Lisbon Turim Marquês Hotel
Day 6 April 24 Lisbon – Tomar – Fatima – Batalha – Porto HF Ipanema Hotel
Day 7 April 25 Porto city tour DIA DA LIBERDADE HF Ipanema Hotel
Day 8 April 26 Douro Valley - Porto HF Ipanema Hotel
Day 9 April 27 Porto - Aveiro - Nazare - Obidos - Lisbon Turim Marquês Hotel
Day 10 April 28 - Lisbon - Madeira Orca Praia Hotel
Day 11 April 29 - Madeira Orca Praia Hotel
Day 12 April 30 - Madeira Orca Praia Hotel
Day 13 May 1 - Madeira DIA DO TRABALHADOR Orca Praia Hotel
Day 14 May 2 Madeira - Lisbon Hotel Marquês de Pombal
Day 15 - 16 Lisbon - Amsterdam - Toronto
Destination Amsterdam, Schiphol
Departing 1930
Arriving 2325
The breakfast here was the least impressive of all our hotels. The room was also drab and in the basement.
We were supposed to meet my cousin and husband at 11 in Rossio Square, it was pouring out.
He messaged to say he had woken to a bad case of vertigo and wouldn't be able to make it.
Disappointing.
Check out was noon so we left our bags and went across the street for coffee. The rain had let up.
Walking down Liberdade.
Tram 28 stop on the left.
Tram 28 stop on the right by Restauradores Square. Can you see the line snaking down the street on the left?
A new sign!
And a spring market set up in Rossio Square.
We decide on a snack before heading back.
The skies opened once again as we scurried inside! Shrimps in garlic and patatas batatas. delicious!
Rolex, anyone?
I had said that we should have a glass of wine at a kiosk before we leave. Who knew it would be the most expensive glass of wine yet? In speaking with a Portuguese friend she said "they saw you coming".
We pick up our bags at the hotel and wait for our driver who happens to be last night's driver (and our first driver). He doesn't speak much English but is happy to see John yet again.
Easy check-in and we said we didn't want to see our luggage again until Toronto.
KLM shares the lounge in Lisbon airport. It was pretty crowded but had good tuna sandwiches!!
John's scotch was a blend Charles House.
We skipped the meal as we weren't hungry to the disconcertion of the flight attendant.
It was a challenge finding the Mercure Hotel in a deserted airport. There were hardly any signs but we found an agent who told us to go through passport control and we would find it.
Mercure Hotel Schiphol Terminal is a unique 3-star hotel inside Schiphol Airport, located airside (after security), in the transit area of lounge 3 (upper level) at the beginning of the F gates. To stay at the hotel, you need a valid passport and flight ticket for the same or next day. Both day and night rooms are available. Please note: you can only bring hand luggage to the hotel. Transit passengers should not go to the exit/arrival hall, but remain in the Terminal.
SIGNS PLEASE!
THERE IS AN HOUR DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LISBON AND AMSTERDAM. IF IT IS 2 PM IN LISBON IT IS 3 PM IN AMSTERDAM. So we also lost an hour. No photos so I stole this one.
We had a decent night's sleep and woke to our alarms at 7:30 checked out and headed to the KLM Crown Lounge.
Where should we go?
We should have gone to the upstairs lounge, it was much quieter.
Being in transit and staying overnight in the hotel meant we did not have to do security again.
Destination Toronto, Lester B. Pearson International
Departing 1120
Arriving 1320
We were delayed taking off as several people had been denied boarding and their luggage had to be offloaded.
Apple celery mousse
The side salad contained these red things that I could have eaten all day. Turns out they are Sweety Drop Peppers are small, tear-shaped delicacies from Peru. They are sweet and tangy with a whisper of heat, and contain small crunchy seeds that provide a lovely textural contrast to salads, pizzas, antipasti plates and more.
We watched several movies to pass the 8 hours flying time.
Just before landing an announcement was made regarding two minutes of silence, if we were still on board we were asked to allow anyone who wished to observe the two minutes of silence.
The national observance of Remembrance Day in the Netherlands takes place on 4 May, at 8pm. At that moment, two minutes of silence are observed throughout the country to commemorate Dutch victims of war. A commemoration ceremony is held on Dam Square in Amsterdam in the presence of the head of state and various representatives of both the Council of Ministers of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Dutch Parliament. This national observance of Remembrance Day is held simultaneously with local commemoration ceremonies in nearly every town and city in the Netherlands. At 8pm, the entire country is silent for two minutes.
We had already left the plane by 8 PM.
I had thought we would nap but we managed to stay up until 5 PM (Amsterdam time 11 PM)
June 2025 - Iceland
Day 5: Tuesday June 24 2025 Reykjavik and TRANSIT
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight home. (Breakfast).
Our flight is late afternoon 5 PM. Check out is 11 AM.So after breakfast we finalize our packing and dress for the puffin tour.
PUFFIN BOAT TOUR 10 AM 1 HR SAME MEETING SPOT AS WHALES The tour takes you to one of three islands (Engey, Akurey or Lundey) known for their abundant birdlife depending on the tides and conditions. While we don’t land on the islands, the captains expertly navigate close to the shores, allowing for an up-close experience with the puffins without disturbing their nesting areas. In addition to puffins, you’ll have the chance to see other bird species, such as eider ducks, arctic terns, guillemots and cormorants.
Meeting time: 30 minutes before tour departing time
Meeting location: The Whale Safari ticket office at Ægisgarður (the Old Reykjavík Harbour, downtown Reykjavik).
We were surprised to be directed to a boat, so I could let go of my trepidation about it taking place on a RIB boat. It was very full, so we stayed outside on the deck.
While puffins nest near Reykjavik, getting very close to them can be tricky. Puffin watching tours from Reykjavík's old harbour take you near the puffin colonies, but access to the nesting sites is often restricted during the breeding season.
With 8 to 10 million puffins inhabiting the island, Iceland is home to more than 60% of the world’s entire Atlantic puffin population.
The breeding season for puffins in Reykjavik, Iceland, primarily occurs during the summer months, specifically from May to August. The peak time for observing puffins, including their nesting and breeding activities, is generally in June and July. During this period, puffins return to land to nest, and you can find them on small islands just a few minutes from Reykjavik, such as Akurey and Lundey, which we went to.
We probably should have brought our big cameras for better photos, but honestly, the boats don't get that close.
WHAT WE LEARNED
Thanks to their funny appearance, puffins have been nicknamed ‘sea parrots’ and ‘clowns of the sea’! Their waddling walks make them look a little comical. The Icelandic nickname of the puffins is “prófastur” which means preacher. Due to their “dressing”.
They change their color during the year. At the end of the breeding season, some of the special characteristics of their plumage are lost when they molt. Their white feathers become dark gray and their beaks also change, becoming narrower, with a tip that is bright. The birds develop their brighter colors once again during the spring. Their winter dress is, though, seldom seen by humans!
This is because puffins spend the winter – more precisely, the larger part of the year, some eight months – out at sea. They spend most of their lives resting on waves, coming ashore only to breed and raise their young, known as pufflings. Each female produces a single puffling every year.
While at sea, the birds spread out widely across the North Atlantic Ocean. Each bird has more than a square kilometer to itself, so it is very unlikely that anyone will spot a puffin on the open sea in winter.
In late spring, thousands of puffins form large colonies on coastal clifftops, coming together for the breeding season.
Puffins are monogamous. They usually mate for life and a couple can stay together for over 20 years!
To make their nests, known as burrows, they dig out a burrow in the turf or soil where they lay their single egg. Each year they return to the same burrow.
The male and female share parental responsibilities, they take it in turns incubating the egg. It takes 36-45 days for the baby “puffling” to hatch.
The chick grows rapidly, after about six weeks it is fully developed and capable of caring for itself.
Atlantic puffins have incredible skills. They can dive to depths of about 60 meters and fly at a speed of 88 km/h (24m/sec) by flapping their wings 400 times per minute!
The reason why they need to flap their wings so fast is that their bones are not hollow so they are heavier than other birds. This is also the reason why they can dive down as far as they do.
In bird terms, puffins live long lives. The oldest recorded puffin was ringed in the Westman Islands and died at the age of 38. However, the average lifespan of a puffin is 20 to 25 years.
Burrow holes.
National Geographic
After the tour we grabbed a quick lunch across the street, delicious fish and chips. Pricey, yikes.
Delicious, though! They also have a spot on Rainbow St.
Then we stopped for a twisted donut and coffee, the donut is $20 EACH!! We had been here on the Food Walk. At this point we just laugh at the prices.
We strolled before heading back to the hotel to change and pick up our luggage before heading to the bus stop for our pickup.
Unfortunately we both misread the instructions. We took it as a 2PM pickup and didn't notice the fine print of arriving 30-40 minutes ahead of time. This pickup takes you to the bus terminal (10 minute ride) where you transfer to a bigger bus for the 45-50 minute ride to the airport.
We walked to the nearest hotel and they called us a cab for the 45 minute ride.
Once we checked in, we went through security and headed to the Saga Lounge.
KEF airport at the gates was a zoo, so noisy and disorganized. You have to be bussed to the plane, so there isn't any seat assignment order for boarding making the process onerous.
Date 24 Jun 2025
Airline Icelandair Flight/Class FI603 A
Origin Reykjavik, Keflavik International
Destination Toronto, Lester B. Pearson International
Departing 1705 Arriving 1910
Estimated Time 6 Hrs 5 Mins
Seats 1D, 1F
Miles 2,605
We left late, the earlier plane was late and there was an airport shortage of workers.
Once seated, in our little cocoon, we were served prosecco. We had a VERY good looking flight attendant, all smiles and very efficient.
This was a delicious meal service.
We both had this with panna cotta for dessert.
Icelandair does not have gates directly in terminal 3 at YYZ. Passengers are bussed and in this case we were bussed directly to security which would have been great except the plane is so far away it took an hour for the first piece of luggage to arrive.
So even though we landed at 7:30 it was after 8:30 and our Uber was cancelled so we had to get another one.
June 2025 - Ottawa ON
Day 4 Ottawa - Toronto
May 18 2025 - Ottawa ON - Toronto ON
Travel Day 11:45 - 7:15 Breaks 75 minutes
Today is a legal holiday originally called Victoria Day.
We had the breakfast buffet around 7:15 and then relaxed until checkout. We would have gone for a walk but it was just too cold out.
10 AM Bags outside room
11 AM check out
Departure 1 PM Revised noon 1145 departure
11 AM check out
Departure 1 PM Revised noon 1145 departure
Coffee and meal stops enroute, on own.
7:30 PM Approx. arrival back in Burlington.
We're all set!
Once we were on the 401 we stopped at an ONRoute for a thirty minute break. Back on the bus there were two games of bingo. It cost $2 (toonie) to play and each pot was $35.
Traffic was heavy as it is a long weekend. We stopped at the Big Apple for 45 minutes where we bought some goodies.
After the Big Apple they played a movie The Intern which kept everyone entertained.
John won the last draw of the day!
Anne got our postcard!
November 2025 - Tokyo Japan
Some additional Tokyo posts.
I also did a post on Japanese signs here.
We had booked a tour package “Vietnam and Thailand Exploration” with Wingbuddy. But we don’t use them for our international flights as I want to have control over timings and we like to travel business class. At this point in life we like our comforts!
I noticed that one of their options was Air Canada - Tokyo - Hanoi, well then, we’ll do a stopover in Tokyo!
We did this visit totally on our own. We did our own flights, hotel, airport transportation and tours. We used GET YOUR GUIDE for airport transportation and tours.
Our flights were mostly on time, except in Toronto when the bridge was backed up as the crew hadn’t finished their security checks. Note to AC, please take a lesson from Asian airlines and clearly designate and enforce zone lines!
Some people encounter major jetlag, but we didn’t, saying that, we can attest to major jetlag coming home. The time difference is 14 hours, that is Toronto is 14 hours behind, so you lose a day.
Arriving in Japan, as business class passengers we were given FAST LANE passes to expedite custom lines.
We had completed the online Japan Visit website and obtained our QR code. I had completed the form for both of us but it didn’t recognize John, so he filled out a paper form before being finger-printed and photographed. I noticed another family having an issue. So I would suggest have each passenger obtain their own code.
TIP screenshot QR code in case you don’t have WiFi when you land. Or make a paper copy.
Our driver messaged that he was parking and would meet us at door S1. It is about an hour’s drive to our hotel.
Tokyo just dropped from being the biggest city in the world! It was overtaken by Jakarta, Indonesia.
It is very crowded! Traffic is bumper to bumper, but no one cuts in or blows their horn, they just bide their time. And pedestrians have the right of way, what a concept!
They drive on the “wrong” or left-hand side of the road.
HOTEL
We chose the Hilton in Shinjuku. It is a lovely hotel and has quite a few dining options. It also has a free shuttle bus to Shinjuku subway station. We used the bus once.
We had completed the online Japan Visit website and obtained our QR code. I had completed the form for both of us but it didn’t recognize John, so he filled out a paper form before being finger-printed and photographed. I noticed another family having an issue. So I would suggest have each passenger obtain their own code.
TIP screenshot QR code in case you don’t have WiFi when you land. Or make a paper copy.
Our driver messaged that he was parking and would meet us at door S1. It is about an hour’s drive to our hotel.
Tokyo just dropped from being the biggest city in the world! It was overtaken by Jakarta, Indonesia.
It is very crowded! Traffic is bumper to bumper, but no one cuts in or blows their horn, they just bide their time. And pedestrians have the right of way, what a concept!
They drive on the “wrong” or left-hand side of the road.
HOTEL
We chose the Hilton in Shinjuku. It is a lovely hotel and has quite a few dining options. It also has a free shuttle bus to Shinjuku subway station. We used the bus once.
We had a jam-packed schedule which we didn’t quite achieve and we felt like we only barely scratched the surface of one of the most fascinating cities in the world.
We quickly discovered that while we like to walk, the city is too big. It looked doable when we mapped it out in Maps, but we wasted too much time getting to our first destinations, so after the first day we Uber’d to our first stop.
If we had a longer stay we would definitely have figured out the subway.
We wondered about doing the Hop On Hop Off, but honestly with the traffic we figured we would spend more time waiting around for it.
We loved visiting carefully preserved Old Tokyo alongside the fast-paced, futuristic parts of the city, and experiencing Japanese culture for the first time.
For such a crowded city it is quiet!
In hindsight I wish we had added a few more days to visit a couple of other cities, but it is very expensive!
John said he would not go back to Tokyo because of the crowds.
THINGS TO KNOW
Do your customs and immigration procedures online.
Japan does not have a tipping culture. For anything.
It is an expensive city.
Wi-fi is essential, we used Airalo e-sims which included Vietnam and Thailand.
Download Google Translate.
The city is totally safe.
We hardly used any cash, mostly cards.
We wondered about doing the Hop On Hop Off, but honestly with the traffic we figured we would spend more time waiting around for it.
We loved visiting carefully preserved Old Tokyo alongside the fast-paced, futuristic parts of the city, and experiencing Japanese culture for the first time.
For such a crowded city it is quiet!
In hindsight I wish we had added a few more days to visit a couple of other cities, but it is very expensive!
John said he would not go back to Tokyo because of the crowds.
THINGS TO KNOW
Do your customs and immigration procedures online.
Japan does not have a tipping culture. For anything.
It is an expensive city.
Wi-fi is essential, we used Airalo e-sims which included Vietnam and Thailand.
Download Google Translate.
The city is totally safe.
We hardly used any cash, mostly cards.
To say it is overwhelming. What a sensory overload! It was everything we expected and like nowhere we’ve been before, it’s been uncorrupted by western culture and remains very much in its own bubble.
For example Japanese girls' fashion is diverse, blending modest layering with playful subcultures like Gyaru (loose socks, platforms) or Decora (excessive accessories), while also embracing K-pop influence with tight tops and sneakers, all while valuing creativity, comfort (easy slip-on shoes!), and often unique accessories like bag charms, with overall trends leaning towards oversized silhouettes, mixing vintage vibes with modern techwear, and bold accessories.
And they like to dress in traditional outfits as well.
For example Japanese girls' fashion is diverse, blending modest layering with playful subcultures like Gyaru (loose socks, platforms) or Decora (excessive accessories), while also embracing K-pop influence with tight tops and sneakers, all while valuing creativity, comfort (easy slip-on shoes!), and often unique accessories like bag charms, with overall trends leaning towards oversized silhouettes, mixing vintage vibes with modern techwear, and bold accessories.
And they like to dress in traditional outfits as well.
The following is not in any specific date order!
To read our daily posts click on the links above in the table. Our videos can also be found there.
HIGHLIGHTS
Wondering if we could see Mt. Fuji from our hotel! YES!! We had decided not to spend time visiting it as it is hit or miss if you can see anything and we didn’t have enough time. BONUS
You can see Mt. Fuji from various spots in Tokyo on clear days, especially from the free observation decks at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building (Shinjuku) which we could also see from our room, with winter mornings offering the best visibility due to less haze.
To read our daily posts click on the links above in the table. Our videos can also be found there.
HIGHLIGHTS
Wondering if we could see Mt. Fuji from our hotel! YES!! We had decided not to spend time visiting it as it is hit or miss if you can see anything and we didn’t have enough time. BONUS
You can see Mt. Fuji from various spots in Tokyo on clear days, especially from the free observation decks at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building (Shinjuku) which we could also see from our room, with winter mornings offering the best visibility due to less haze.
Shinjuku is a major area in Tokyo. It has offices, pubs, restaurants, and izakayas. If you’ve seen that iconic photo of a street in Japan filled with neon lights it was probably taken in Shinjuku.Metropolitan Government building (or Tocho for short) is the tallest city hall in the world. Also on my bucket list was the light show. Tokyo’s biggest nighttime light show isn’t in a theme park. It’s projected right onto the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
disappoint!!
Where else can you find Godzilla, if not in Tokyo?
Where else can you find Godzilla, if not in Tokyo?
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Omoide Yokocho. “Omoide” means memory and “Yokocho” is a lane / small alley, so loosely translated as you are walking down memory lane… everything here feels nostalgic, traditional Japan. There are tons of little stalls (izakaya) and while most don’t have any English menues, some have pictures.
Omoide Yokocho. “Omoide” means memory and “Yokocho” is a lane / small alley, so loosely translated as you are walking down memory lane… everything here feels nostalgic, traditional Japan. There are tons of little stalls (izakaya) and while most don’t have any English menues, some have pictures.
Beyond the crossing, there’s plenty to do in Shibuya. It’s a shopping paradise, and we love people-watching in this high-fashion district. The vintage stores here are filled with amazing finds, and don’t forget to visit the Hachikō Memorial Statue, a beloved tribute to Japan’s most loyal dog.
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Meanwhile, the serene Meiji Jingu shrine is roughly 15 minutes’ walk from the famous crossing, although it feels a whole world away!
The central Shinto shrine complex is a perfect spot for people watching on weekends, with people wearing their traditional dress. But even better than the shrine is the surrounding forest, with peaceful paths and torii gates, where we were happy to walk for an hour before venturing back out into busy Tokyo.
Shibuya Crossing was top of my bucket list and it did not disappoint. It is the busiest pedestrian crossing in the world, and we were so surprised at how peaceful and calm the crossing was despite being so busy. Tokyo was like that – it’s home to so many people, but I never felt crowded or rushed, everything always felt calm. John did not feel the same way, as he found the crowds to be overwhelming, as we shuffled along some crowded streets.
As a first-time Tokyo visitor, you HAVE to check out Akihabara to experience firsthand all the unique and unusual things you’ve heard about Japan – the infamous eccentric Maid cafe (even if you don’t want to go to one), cat cafes, electronics, comic books, and floors and floors of arcade games, just to name a few.
And there is a Don Quijote (aka Donki), a bonus for me, as I thought we wouldn’t get to one.
And there is a Don Quijote (aka Donki), a bonus for me, as I thought we wouldn’t get to one.
In Asakusa, you can check out Senso-ji, a famous Buddhist temple. There is a cool street in front of this temple, called Nakamise Shopping Street, which has lots of street food you can try and souvenir stalls.
And it is close to Asahi Brewery headquarters which I had on my bucket list for lunch.
Tokyo Skytree is currently the primary television and radio broadcast of the Kanto region. When Tokyo Skytree was built in 2010, it became the tallest structure in Japan. At its full height of 634m, it also became the tallest tower in the world.
Sake Tasting Dinner
I did a full post here on toilets! We fell in love with their bidets, although they can be quite complicated!
LOWLIGHTS
We were very disappointed by the dinner cruise. It didn’t help that there were only us and another couple plus it was raining. The whole experience was so regimented, with a strict timetable to ensure we were off the boat on schedule.
I have since looked at other cruises and this was not the one for us. This was one of the shortest, and most do not allow you to cook your own sukiyaki hot pot meal (fire hazard!). Most offer a large variety of Japanese foods. Definitely not worth it for the price.
Although we did get this photo, which I think will be our wall Japan photo.
PHOTOS - 1,868
Moving from Tokyo to Hanoi is a transition from calculated order to organic energy. While Tokyo is often described as a "forest of people" where millions move in silent, synchronized harmony, Hanoi is a sensory explosion where chaos is the primary rhythm.
We spent some days on our own before joining a tour of 19-20 people. There were 40 in total but we were divided into 2 buses of 40 for the entire time. The tour, in general, was good, although I think we would have managed better on our own. We find tours to be slow, always waiting for people, tour guides tend to drag excursions out. And then there's those shopping expeditions disguised as factory tours, that we would never have any interest in doing. This time it was pearls in one place, then silk and bamboo.
There were more group lunches than we like, thank goodness there were no group dinners! The lunches tend to drag out, although the food was always very quick to come out. Some places did a good job, there were a couple of mediocre meals.
HOTELS - with our ranking in bold
The Vietnamese hotels were great, but again, we are paying double the price and we could probably have stayed in higher end establishments for the same price. Locations were generally good in Vietnam, we could easily walk most places.
We loved everything about Vietnam, except, for me, crossing the street! Most of the time you end up walking on the street, sidewalks seem to be for moped parking and driving!
We didn't feel any issues with language, unlike Japan.
Food was delicious.
MONEY It was no issue, we occasionally found an ATM that was out of cash, but in general, we had no problems. When buying something, I noticed that the price is rounded down as they don't use coins.as they don't have coins.
Our currency calculation - 500,000 dong = $26 CAD. So in my simple mind - divide by 2 and drop the last 4 zeros!!
HANOI VIETNAM
One group lunch in Hanoi.
We did one full day sightseeing tour as a group in Hanoi visiting historic spots like temples, the famous Hanoi Hilton and the Temple of Literature.
HALONG BAY
Then we were off to Halong Bay for an overnight stay on a junkboat.
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This was to be a group full day of touring. We did the market and then the Imperial Citadel, had lunch, and then most of the group opted out of the afternoon activity and headed back to get dried out. It was still raining so hard, that we ate dinner in the hotel.
Look at this soggy, bedraggled bunch!
HOI AN It was still raining as we boarded our bus for Hoi An. We made a great stop for a break, with the best coffees! Oh, and a bracelet.
I think this was probably our favourite spot. We had a few days here and only a half day tour. We also had one of the nicest hotels, right along the water! The only thing it didn't have was a bar and restaurant, but there were plenty nearby.
Dec 5 Hoi An
Dec 5 Weekly Recap
The morning tour started with a tuk tuk that took us to the market, then we did a walking tour to a Chinese temple, Japanese Bridge, lunch (not memorable), a museum, and a local house, ending with another tuk tuk back to the hotel. We then spent the rest of the day and evening on our own.
Sights of Hoi An. Watching the river flooding.
We ended the day with dinner at Morning Glory in true Friday tradition - with steaks!
We had another whole day to ourselves, it looked like it might rain, but once we hedged our bets by buying ponchos, it didn't.
We started with coffee, then some shopping, foot and neck massage, lunch at The Shamrock, some wandering, and coffee.
In the evening we went to a cigar bar for drinks and then dinner at Madame Kieu, again.
HO CHI MINH CITY We left Hoi An early morning for the airport in Denang with a stop in Danang at the beach and the famous bridge before our
In our hotel and on our own for the rest of the day. We would be back to this hotel for our last night.
HO CHI MINH CITY - CAN THO - HO CHI MINH
Dec 11 - Ho Chi Minh - Bangkok - escorted to and from hotels/airports
Dec 12 - Bangkok Thailand on our own
Dec 12 Weekly Recap
Dec 13 - Bangkok on our own
Dec 14 - Bangkok - Chiang Mai escorted to and from hotels/airports
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We arrived in Chiang Mai late afternoon and wandered around.
The next day we had a half day tour, we did two temples and the market.
Dec 18 - Phuket on our own
Dec 19 - Phuket on our own
Dec 20 - Phuket on our own
Dec 21 - Phuket - Bangkok on our own
Dec 22 - Bangkok - Vancouver - Toronto
We enjoyed walking around Patong.
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I have since looked at other cruises and this was not the one for us. This was one of the shortest, and most do not allow you to cook your own sukiyaki hot pot meal (fire hazard!). Most offer a large variety of Japanese foods. Definitely not worth it for the price.
Although we did get this photo, which I think will be our wall Japan photo.
Before we headed to Vietnam, we spent a few days in Tokyo. TOKYO RECAP
We would then go on to Thailand after Vietnam.
Click on photos to enlarge.
Tokyo's "Calm" Crowds: Even in the busiest hubs like Shibuya, Tokyo maintains a surprising lack of noise. Public spaces are governed by clear rules and logical systems, making the city feel predictable and structured.
Hanoi's "Crazy" Energy: Hanoi is characterized by a "mayhem of motorcycles" and a constant cacophony of horns and bartering. Life spills directly onto the sidewalks, where people eat, work, and socialize amidst the traffic.
Hanoi at Thang Long Opera 4* hotel in a deluxe room 2 great bar/restaurant
Halong Bay on a traditional 4* wooden junk in a deluxe cabin
Hue at the Cherish 4* hotel in a deluxe room wish we had another night 3
Hoi An at the Thanh Binh Riverside 4* hotel in a deluxe room 1
Can Tho at the TTC Premium 4* hotel in a deluxe room wish we had another night 3
Ho Chi Minh City at the Paragon Saigon 4* hotel in a deluxe room 3 terrible restaurant
Breakfasts were included in all hotels, unlike Japan. Always buffets with great selections, Asian as well as Western.
Nov 27 Hanoi Tokyo - Hanoi on our own
We arrived late and the tour arranged our airport transfer.
Once we were assigned a different room, we enjoyed this hotel. It had a great bar/restaurant in addition to the breakfast room that was on the second floor. We loved the bar for a quick beer or quick bite to eat.
Hanoi offered a fun, chaotic blend of ancient culture and modern energy.
Indulging in affordable street food like phở while sitting on tiny chairs/stools.
One highlight was a visit to Train St. where we loved experiencing a train pass inches from our noses as we sat in a cafe!!
Phung Hung Street murals were a great find that we had on our list.
We did the hop on hop off bus and visited the Imperial Palace.
We loved hanging around Hoàn Kiếm Lake: A peaceful escape for watching locals practice tai chi at dawn, visiting the Ngoc Son Temple, or taking a weekend stroll, as the roads become pedestrian-only.
Checking out the famous Instagrammable Note Cafe! We had Coconut Iced Latte, but we had much better ones another day. Salt coffee was pretty good too, along with the tiramisu.
We had no idea that a Belgian tourist took our photo, sitting in the window, until she came over and offered to send it to me!
TOUR ACTIVITIES
Bus No. 1 GROUP
We had a food tour, it was included. It wasn't bad, but it could have been better.
Group consisted of more single people (5) than usual and more men than usual.
2 gay guys, out and proud.
Women - 9 Men - 11
Canadians 15 (Women - 8 Men - 7 ) Americans 5 (Women - 1 Men - 5)
9 went on to Cambodia
2 went on to Thailand (us)
9 went home after Vietnam
CANADIAN
Single woman (K) Toronto a little hyper but nice. Went on to Cambodia
Single guy (P) - 85 yo from Calgary known as the Wanderer as he went missing twice. Went on to Cambodia
Single middle-aged guy from Calgary (J) Went on to Cambodia
Couple of retired female teachers from Burlington - the Chatty Cathies D and C, Went home after HCMC
Ottawa late 60s bilingual couple (P and R) she was the self-appointed social director. Went home after HCMC.
London ON couple (S and H) became bosom buddies with above couple. Went on to Cambodia
Vancouver blowhard 60s annoying Maholo Man went on to Cambodia
Vancouver mid 40s single woman MIA (K) damaged passport. She finally joined the group in Hue. Went on to Cambodia
Couple Toronto R (orig HK) and L went on to Cambodia
Us went on to Thailand
AMERICANS
Single gay California (J) went on to Cambodia
Single Texas (L) went home after HCMC
3 - Iranian couple and brother gay California went home after HCMC
We learned a LOT about Ho Chi Minh!
That same day we did a rickshaw tour, highlighted by navigating busy streets, exploring the streets of the Old Quarter. and attended a water puppets show.
The group was split up, 7 of us plus Tien, the guide were on a separate boat, a little further, from the other 12. Turns out we had the better group!
Most people on our boat were Indian and didn't partake in the evening activities, other than dinner.
Tourism in Vietnam has boomed in recent years, which means Ha Long Bay is a lot more crowded and polluted than in the past.
I had looked forward to this and was slightly disappointed. It was so crowded with overnight boats and day trippers.
Just to be clear -They tender you to a boat then motor to a spot and anchor there. Go back to the arrival destination the next day to drop passengers off, pick up new ones and go back to the exact same anchor point. This is not a cruise, it is a hotel that floats.
Being tendered out to the boat.
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It was unfortunate that we had cloudy weather the whole time we were here. We didn't get on board until lunch time and it was served immediately. The lunch and dinner were excellent on that first day.
The next morning was a different story. You could get a tea of coffee early, if you paid for it. A "brunch" was served which was mediocre. In order to make our flight to Hue, the tour company had to book a speedboat to get us back to shore as our flight was moved up.
We had 15 minutes to spare after check in to boarding!
HUE (PRONOUNCED WHEY)
I wish we had had another day or two here as it rained heavily on our only full day. And it rained all day long!
“Hue is, in many ways, a city of ghosts, of memories and spirits.”
– Anthony Bourdain
– Anthony Bourdain
A new tour guide but the same group.
We checked in and headed out for a beer and then dinner. We went located very closely to Võ Thị Sáu full of pubs, bars and restaurants.
We spent the rest of the day wandering, in our typical fashion.
Snacks
Dec 5 Hoi An
Dec 5 Weekly Recap
GROUP PHOTO - JAPANESE BRIDGE
We're on our own for the afternoon, and the next day!!
In our hotel and on our own for the rest of the day. We would be back to this hotel for our last night.
We found a perfect tapas restaurant right next door that we ate at for lunch and two dinners even on our last night.
There was an all day excursion planned bet we had done the tunnels and the palace so we had the day to ourselves.
The others did go.
We had no real plans, it was hot!! So we wandered.
The Opera House, lunch, revisited the Post Office, found Book St., cooled down in a brewery near our hotel.
We had booked a dinner river cruise for the evening.
VIDEO
Dec 10 - Can Tho - Cai Rang - Ho Chi Minh
After a short bus ride, this was the rest of our morning.
We arrived late afternoon to the hotel and went out for a bite, then back to our hotel for a brandy in our hotel robes on our balcony overlooking the river.
The next day we packed up early for the water market, bamboo shopping and the drive back to Ho Chi Minh to the same hotel.
Checked in and a final group photo as people were heading to various places, we were flying Bangkok Thailand the next day. We ate at the tapas place.
HO CHI MINH CITY - BANGKOK THAILAND
Dec 11 - Ho Chi Minh - Bangkok
Other than our ride to the airport we were on our own today.
THAILAND NEXT!
Before we headed to Vietnam, we spent a few days in Tokyo. TOKYO RECAP
We would then go on to Thailand after Vietnam. VIETNAM RECAP
Click on photos to enlarge.
This will be shorter recap from our November/December trip. It was part of the Vietnam tour package but a lot less regimented.
Map of Thailand portion - we flew from Ho Chi Minh Vietnam.
HOTELS
Breakfasts included.
Bangkok at the Mandarin 4* hotel in a standard room - didn't love the location, restaurant closed at 9.
Chiang Mai at the Movenpick Suriwongse 4* hotel in a standard room - WORST hotel room in a great location.
Phuket at the Ramada by Wyndham Phuket 4* hotel in a standard room - nice hotel, great location with restaurants nearby and beach. Good pool.
Bangkok at the Amaranth Suvarnabhumi Hotel 4* hotel in a standard room - checked in very late and out very early. Nice staff, take away b/f provided.
Bangkok at the Mandarin 4* hotel in a standard room - didn't love the location, restaurant closed at 9.
Chiang Mai at the Movenpick Suriwongse 4* hotel in a standard room - WORST hotel room in a great location.
Phuket at the Ramada by Wyndham Phuket 4* hotel in a standard room - nice hotel, great location with restaurants nearby and beach. Good pool.
Bangkok at the Amaranth Suvarnabhumi Hotel 4* hotel in a standard room - checked in very late and out very early. Nice staff, take away b/f provided.
BANGKOK THAILAND
Dec 11 - Ho Chi Minh - Bangkok - escorted to and from hotels/airports
Dec 12 - Bangkok Thailand on our own
Dec 12 Weekly Recap
Dec 13 - Bangkok on our own
Dec 14 - Bangkok - Chiang Mai escorted to and from hotels/airports
Other than being met at the Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) in Bangkok and taken to the hotel we were on our own. You can read about our exciting airport greeting in the daily recap, link above. It was after 10 PM when we got to the hotel.
On the first full day there was a half day sightseeing tour included but we had been to Bangkok before and done that tour. So we had two full days on our own, other than the dinner cruise we had arranged ourselves. The dinner cruise was a highlight.
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We were happy to spend some time in the Thai Airlines Royal Silk Lounge before boarding our flight to Chiang Mai.
CHIANG MAI
Dec 14 - Chiang Mai arrival
Dec 15 - Chiang Mai half day tour
Dec 16 - Chiang Mai on our own
We arrived in Chiang Mai late afternoon and wandered around.
The next day we had a half day tour, we did two temples and the market.
After a late lunch we enjoyed the rest of the day on our own. The next day was on our own, seeing many more temples!! And the night market.
Chiang Mai had a fair share of murals.
We had good food, but let's say, John is not a matcha fan!
PHUKET
Dec 18 - Phuket on our own
Dec 19 - Phuket on our own
Dec 20 - Phuket on our own
Dec 21 - Phuket - Bangkok on our own
Dec 22 - Bangkok - Vancouver - Toronto
Again, we are on our own, completely, this portion of the package. We were taken to our hotel along with some other people, and we never saw any of them again!
The hotel was adequate. It had a pool and we enjoyed using it. Breakfast was fine. Otherwise we liked the pizza place next door for dinner.
We had booked a Thai dinner show with pickup. It was extremely organized. The food was not very good at all.
We spent a day in Old Phuket town.
And of course, we checked out one of the beaches, since that is what everyone raves about.
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BANGKOK - VANCOUVER - TORONTO
Other than having to be up really early in Bangkok our flights home were comfortable and pleasant.
Weekly Recap 2025 in Google Docs
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