At the Otago penninsula in New Zealand, we got to see gorgeous views, cliffs, hills, birds, and baby seals.  (And blue penguins nesting, but we couldn’t take pictures or it would frighten them!  Also it would be rude.)  Baby seals are wriggly and furry!

My winter vacation was green, flowery, and warm– except for the afternoon we spent at Mt Cook Glacier. I was super proud of my grandmother then– she hiked up with us, and our guide said “If I’m that healthy when I’m in my 70’s, I’ll consider myself lucky”. As a side note, drinking water that is from a glacier is the most delicious drinking water.

My family and I spent our holidays in New Zealand. On Christmas Day we travelled by ferry to a farmhouse to have a lovely lunch. The tables were decorated festively and everyone got a popper (a new tradition to me) that made a loud noise and contained a silly plastic goodie (mine was a mustache).  Afterwards, we walked around the farm a bit and petted their sheep and lambs.

Hope everyone had a lovely Christmas!

My parents are something of adventurers.  We’ve moved 4 times in my growing up, one of those moves to a different country, and though my parents are thrifty, we save up our money to spend it on our travels (we’re going to New Zealand this Christmas!).  I would be so happy to spend the rest of my life wandering the world, seeing, photographing and eating.

“It’s a Small World After All” serves as my visual checklist.  I’ve seen the rainforest in Costa Rica.  I’ve watched little carp flags fly in Japan.  I’ve ridden an elephant in Bali.  I can’t wait to see the tulips bloom in Holland, penguins in Antarctica, or Russian architecture.  Of course the ride is a cartoonishly simple version of the world.  I’ve traveled and lived abroad enough to know that it’s not all roses– I’ve sprained my ankle during my travels and had to hobble through dozens of temples with stone steps, I’ve gotten food poisoning, which lasted 2 months, from a street vendor, I’ve cried after my first week alone in a new country.  But I can barely remember how those times felt, and I remember the rest of my travels as a happy colorful delicious dream, not unlike the ride.  Sometimes I need the push.  Though I had looked forward to it for years, when it came time to move to Japan for a year, I was all of a sudden worried and hesitant and regretful of my decision.  But my thoughtful dad bought a food and landmarks guide and placed it on my desk– reminding me just how many amazing things I would get to see, if I took the leap and packed up my bags.  That’s what “It’s a Small World” is to me.

Today is the 100th anniversary of Mary Blair (artist behind It’s a Small World)’s birth.  In addition to loving the ride’s concept, I’m a huge fan of her art style, which is perfectly suited for the ride– stylized and colorful and imaginative and nostalgic.  I grew up reading the “It’s a Small World” storybook, saw my parents’ photos of it from Tokyo Disney, and couldn’t wait to finally ride the ride.  Whenever I go to Disney parks now, I always take lots and lots of pictures of it.  The ride keeps getting longer as they add more countries– which makes me so happy.  Just like my list of where to go next.

“You’ve never had taiyaki before???” my polite, shy Japanese friend asked me, as we walked through his neighborhood.  We stopped by a taiyaki stand and he bought one pastry fish stuffed with red bean for us to share.  ”It’s my treat then!  You take the first bite!”  he said, handing it to me.  We spent that summer afternoon window shopping along the streets of Kichijoji, passing back and forth the delicious stuffed fishwaffle until it was gone and it was time for me to go to orchestra practice.  That’s my memory of my first taiyaki.

Sweet Breams in San Mateo serves not just taiyaki, but mini taiyaki. They come stuffed with nutella, vanilla custard, chocolate custard, red bean, and a special flavor of the week, this time apple cinnamon oatmeal.  They even come on soft-serve icecream, the flavor of this week being chai (oh my gosh).  I went this afternoon with Yun and Marj, and we tried it in every flavor and every form.  The lovely afternoon outing with them reminded me how just how delicious taiyaki is.  And also, how I will always think of taiyaki as a food best shared with friends.