I was so excited to get back to Australia for a visit after having spent 4 months living in Sydney for a work secondment a couple of years back. This time around, I convinced a friend in Sydney to join me for a roadtrip down to Melbourne and along the famous Great Ocean Road! It was an absolute blast, and I’ve recounted my 1-week itinerary here. I’ll definitely be posting some Sydney content separately in the future, especially on my favorite coastal walks - the best way to explore the city, in my opinion!

Taiwan has been at the top of my dream destination list for a while now - it has always seemed like a city that is just electric, with a fascinating history, unique indigenous cultures, and apparently the best street food scene around. When I realized I had the chance to squeeze in a visit, I simply had to make it happen. Even better, an old friend who’d been living there the past few years offered to show me around - huge thanks, Nora! It was an absolute blast.

I had just enough time in Jeju to fall in love with this “Hawaii of the East” and spent a long weekend getting a sense for the island and all it has to offer. From volcanic peaks, to sweeping ocean views, and even the famous Haenyeo sea women, this island really was magical.

Seoul was an absolute blast… After the uptick in popularity for k-pop, k-dramas, and delicious Korean food in the States, I’d been really looking forward to experiencing South Korea. And it lived up to the hype! I spent a beautiful four days in the capital city, and here are my highlights.

Of all the places I visited in Japan, Osaka was the biggest surprise. I’d read up on the fabulous street food culture and neon night-life vibes of the city and, although I was still very much looking forward to experiencing it, I couldn’t imagine enjoying it nearly as much as the quiet history of Kyoto. I was wrong - Osaka really grew on me and I already can’t wait to return. 

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been intrigued by Kyoto, imagining geishas wandering historic streets from a different time. Of all the places I visited in Japan, this is perhaps the one I was most excited to see. Having had several days to get a taste for the city, I’d say it lives up to the hype! 

Because I only had a few days in Kyoto, I broke up the sites I wanted to see by district and picked one district per day to explore. Read on for more on these perfect days in Kyoto!

This was my very first trip to Japan, and, while I knew I was going to want to spend time in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka doing all the touristy things, I also wanted to try and get out and about to some other cities in the region. I’ve collected my experiences below, ranging from cute seaside towns, to mystical forest walks, and onsen heaven… Read on for experiences from Kamakura, Enoshima, Nikko, Hakone, Minoh, and Nara!

At long last, I’ve made it to Japan! The country has been at the top of my list for ages, and for good reason. The culture, food, history and nature have all intrigued me. Tokyo has been a thrilling (if a bit intimidating) city in which to kick things off!

I was able to bookend my Olympic National Park trip with two full days in Seattle and managed to see some of the city’s greatest hits. Seattle felt like an Indie paradise - good coffee scene, accessible waterfront, and such fun boutique shopping - think maps, rocks and gems, and beautiful Indigenous art. I already can’t wait to come back and spend more time exploring the city.

Seattle and the Olympic Peninsula were the perfect place to start for my first ever taste of the Pacific Northwest - roaming elk, leaping salmon, and moss-laden forests made for a magical ambiance. It’s amazing what all you can see with only a weekend - read on for our itinerary and to hear about some of my favorite places!