Latest Blog Posts
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Many Apologies
Hello! Many apologies for the sudden and random blast of posts! I haven’t touched the blog in a couple…
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Osore-San (恐山): One of Japan’s Most Sacred Sites
Nestled in the center of Shimokita Peninsula, the northern most part of Honshu Island, is the eerie yet solemn…
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Nebuta Matsuri in Aomori, Japan
Japan is notorious for their epic and impressive festivals. And the Nebuta Matsuri did not disappoint. Designated as an…
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The Badlands
What’s wonderful about the state of South Dakota is the abundance of outdoor activities. Along with the Black Hills…
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Captain Gregory’s
Nestled in a small hidden room inside Sugar Shack Donuts in Alexandria, Captain Gregory’s is a delightful little cocktail…
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Mount Rushmore National Memorial
When I found out I was moving to Rapid City nearly two years ago, one of the things I…
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Hiroshima Peace Memorial
It’s been over 71 years since the Enola Gay dropped an atom bomb on Hiroshima. The nuclear debate is…
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Morning Buzz: Alfred Tea Room
Every time I visit Los Angeles, I make sure to find a new restaurant or cafe to visit. And…
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A Southwest Road Trip: Hatch Chiles and White Sands National Monument
Last summer I was on a two-week work trip through the southwest. My road trip started in Tucson, Arizona,…
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Morning Buzz: Finca la Milagrosa Coffee Plantation
I had yet to write about my wonderful trip to Panama from last year. My mom’s best friends won…
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Hamilton Pool: A Well Kept Texan Secret
The weather was getting warm in June and I was mentally preparing myself for the heat and humidity of…
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Nekomata: Abura Soba Noodles in Kyoto
Believe it or not, I actually had more noodles in Japan than sushi, sashimi…any kind of seafood combined. This…
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Bungee Jumping Off the Bridge to Nowhere
Bungee jumping was one of those bucket-list items that I desperately wanted to achieve. It’s not the same as…
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Black Eagle IPA
August 4th was IPA Day! I used to not be a fan of IPAs and found them too bitter,…
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Bacardi Sakura Fizz
Springtime in Japan means one thing: cherry blossom season. Also known as sakura, the cherry blossoms begin to bloom…
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Custer State Park Wildlife Loop
Those traveling through the Black Hills in South Dakota ought to take a trip to Custer State Park and…
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Hiking Aokigahara: The Suicide Forest
Aokigahara is one of the most beautiful forests I’ve ever hiked in. It’s also the most haunting.
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Morning Buzz: Verve Coffee Roasters
Established in 2007 in Santa Cruz, Verve Coffee Roasters is a trendy coffee shop with seven locations in California…
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Forbidden Lavender
It’s no secret that I love lavender. The smell. The taste. It’s refreshing and calming at the same time….
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Cherry Blossoms in Japan
Cherry blossom season is a busy tourist season in Japan. However, taking the time to visit the country during…
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Diversity Found in Austin’s Food Trucks
A three-week work trip to Texas this past month wasn’t complete unless I sampled some of the many food trucks…
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Craft Man Beer House in Kyoto
There is nothing like a good beer after a long day of traveling and exploring. After sight seeing in…
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Aoyama Tea House: A Hidden Gem in Tokyo
The Aoyama Tea House is truly a hidden gem in Tokyo, Japan. Nestled in the back of the small…
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Sea Urchin for Breakfast at the Tsukiji Fish Market
A visit to Tokyo is not complete until you’ve set foot at the Tusujiki Fish Market. Established in 1923…
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Chichén Itzá and Valladolid
A trip to Mexico isn’t complete without a mini excursion to Chichén Itzá. Located in the Yucatán Peninsula, about 200…
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Bomber Mountain Amber Ale
I volunteered to be a Designated Driver for work, so this will be my last alcoholic drink for the…
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Dragon’s Milk Bourbon Barrel Stout
I figured that since this blog mentions beer and because I love beer, I might as well write about…
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Scuba Diving in Cozumel
It took me six months to finally get my Scuba Diving Open Water Certification. I had originally intended on…
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January Favorites
In January, we all are working on our resolutions. Promises that we make to somehow better ourselves with the…
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Țuică: A Homemade Cold Remedy
Just recently I had whatever ‘crud’ was going around, which always starts off as a minor tickle in the…
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South Dakota | Travel | Utah | Wyoming
From the Desert to the Black Hills: Part 3
The second half of my road trip consisted mostly of driving with very little sight seeing. There wasn’t much…
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From the Desert to the Black Hills: Part 2
Day two of my road trip was an especially long day. I drove a lot longer than I really…
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From the Desert to the Black Hills: Part 1
I’ve now spent about two months living in Rapid City and while I am not overly crazy about it,…
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(fōnuts)
National Donut Day was just a few days ago, but that shouldn’t stop anyone from getting a donut any…
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Matt’s Big Breakfast
Where I have been?! This place is amazing! I read about Matt’s Big Breakfast last year when I spent…
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Genocide Awareness Monument Unveiling
As mentioned in my previous post, April 24th marks the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. While the United…
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100 Years: Recognizing the Armenian Genocide
I am a descendant of survivors. And I demand recognition. My great-grandfather was one of the survivors in my…
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Eating naan in Kandahar
Let’s discuss this. This is naan. Not just any naan. This is real, Afghan naan. It’s my personal belief…
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The one time we almost got stranded in Doha…
…because one of the folks I was traveling with had a knife in his carry-on luggage. A no kidding…
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Katrina Relief in New Orleans
My New Orleans trips, yes plural, were mostly focused on Katrina relief. While many call New Orleans home, some…
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Tucson Greek Festival
The 38th annual Tucson Greek Festival kicked off on the 25th of this month and is lasting the entire…
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Балтика 9 in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
After no alcohol for five months, a friend of mine and I opted for a couple beers while staying…
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Crawfish Festival in the South
A few years back, I spent six weeks in Montgomery for work and a few colleagues of mine found…
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Good morning, Qatar!
I had to stay in Qatar for a couple nights last May. Gotta love the jet lag and I…
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A week in Kabul
This is one of my favorite pictures I took while in Afghanistan. A picture is worth a thousand words…
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Waffles on-the-go at Shaky Alibi
I passed by Shaky Alibi a couple days ago when I went to Scent Bar on Beverly Blvd and…
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Cafe du Monde
Ah, nothing like a cafe au lait and powdered sugar covered beignets late at night. The Cafe Du Monde’s original…
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Sampling perfumes at Scent Bar
Scent Bar is a tiny boutique for unique, high-end, hard to find perfumes. The store had originally opened near…
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Hiking Mt. Lemmon – Meadow Loop Trail
Mt Lemmon is a common hiking spot in the Santa Catalina Mountains just north of Tucson, Arizona. This past…
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Salsa and Tequila Challenge
For the past few years, the Southern Arizona Arts and Cultural Alliance has held a culinary event that brings…
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Peach Mania Harvest at Apple Annie’s Orchard
About an hour east of Tucson in Willcox, there’s an orchard that opens its fruiting trees to the public…
