Back in Japan!

For a visit anyway. I arrived yesterday evening. The main reason for my visit is to attend a wedding. I'm in Kobe but I leave for Tokyo tonight and the wedding is Saturday.

Coincidentally it's also Halloween weekend but I'm not sure if I'll have the energy/time to dress up and attend any parties. But it's Tokyo so you never know.

I'll be here two weeks so I'll try to post pictures during my time here. I'm excited to be back. Can't wait to see my friends and eat some delicious food!

London + the Cotswolds

London was the second city I visited this time in Europe. Well technically I was to visit a couple places in Belgium but plans got rearranged so I wasn't able to go:( After arriving in London I visited the Cotswolds. I took a bus into the countryside to stay one night in a cute village.

It was my third time in London and I absolutely loved being there. It's different from Paris (obviously) and what I find that draws me to it are the people. It's supposedly Europe's largest city and it is so cosmopolitan. Yes, I've been to other cities that were international but not quite like London. I swear the most English I heard was the announcements on the Tube. Plus, I have a few close friends that are living in London versus the almost non-existent social network I have in Paris.

I guess it's wonderful that Paris as a city draws you in because even if you don't know anyone you are perfectly content wandering around on your own. Not that exploring isn't fun in London but knowing people adds to it's experience. But hey I'm an only child so getting around on my own hasn't ever been an issue.

Anyway, the more time I spend in London the more I enjoy it. There are so many areas to explore, cuisines to try and markets to walk around. I truly sensed that it is someplace I could live. It's a large, diverse city where I have friends and in terms of work there are opportunities in the field I want to pursue.

Okay, stop with my babbling. Time for pictures!

Paris

I love this city so much. The excitement I feel when I'm there remains unchanged from when I first visited Paris five years ago. Yes, the cliché reasons exist: the architecture etc.. but I find excitement in exploring the city to find hidden ( and sometimes not so hidden) treasures.

I was expecting lovely fall-like weather but Europe had an indian summer and temps were above 27 degrees Celsius daily. I was kicking myself for not bringing more versatile clothes. I always check the weather forecast before I go and there was nothing that indicated summer temperatures.

I'll write more again but I just wanted to post some pictures.

Back on the island

I've just arrived back home on Maui. I'm pretty exhausted from all the flyiing. The trip to and from Europe seems longer than it is because from here it requires more than one layover.

I really wanted to post pictures while I was gone but between being out all day and then having internet but being tired at night, I just couldn't. So I will write a post tomorrow, pictures included. I had a great time and learned not to expect much, go with the flow and some things are meant to be and some you shouldn't change.

Until tomorrow...