Baby Travel Tip Series - Part 2 (6 - 12 month old)

This is Part 2 of our Baby Travel Tips. If your baby is younger or you’re expecting soon, check out this blog first. Also note, our baby is bottle fed so the bottle/pump supplies may not apply to you if you breastfeed or bodyfeed. (All items linked are our go-to items unless noted otherwise.)

Packing 

In the beginning, traveling with a baby can feel quite overwhelming especially for first time parents. You feel as though you need so much stuff. But as the months go by, baby’s needs will change and so will your packing and your confidence. 

Travel Size Kits

I touched on this in @beautifulblunder’s travel post (check it out here as she has some great tips as well) but for us, creating travel size kits to avoid frantic packing on the day of travel is key. All of these items are small or travel size and are separate from my everyday items used. Here are my 3 go-to kits:

• Emergency Liquids: I keep this ziplock bag close by (in my backpack, diaper bag, etc.) Gripe Water, Mylicon, Tylenol, Motrin & different size syringes.

• Diaper Station: This is separate from my diaper bag and contains all the items I will setup when we reach our location. Changing pad or pee pad, hand sanitizer, butt balm, butt spatula, diaper rash cream, poop bags, baby wipes (and obviously diapers but those will not fit in the ziplock).

• Bottle/Pump Cleaning Supples: bottle brush, gloves, dish soap, pipe cleaner (for those fun Dr. Brown bottles)

Baby Amenities, Supplies & Equipment

To avoid overpacking we have 3 solutions

1. Book at hotels that offer a wide variety of amenities for babies (crib, bath tub, highchair, diaper genie, bottle warmer, toiletries, bath toys etc.) Some hotels even supply diapers, wipes, and swim diapers. Work with a trusted travel advisor to find the best baby & family friendly options. This makes packing so much easier.

2. Order & ship direct. Depending on where we are traveling and how long we will be there, we order items and have them shipped directly to our destination. This works great when visiting family where you might order things that you can leave there for future visits. When we traveled to stay with family in Seattle we ordered diapers, baby wipes, a high chair, and toys. For a beach trip in California we had pool floats sent directly to the hotel.

3. Baby equipment rentals. If you are staying somewhere that does not have all the baby amenities you need, you can sometimes rent items for a daily fee. Google baby rental equipment and your destination city.

Example of baby amenities - crib, baby soap, diapers, lotion, diaper genie, embroidered personalized pillow, baby robe, slippers. Las Ventanas, Cabo, Mexico.

Baby Sleep

I would be lying if I said I didn’t worry about the quality of sleep everyone is going to get when we travel as a family. Here are the items and tips we have found to work best for us. 

• Guava Lotus Travel Crib. This travel bed is super compact and light, easy to setup and we check it on the plane. We use this whenever we’re traveling somewhere that does not have a crib available. It can also be used on the beach! Pro-tip: Setup before your trip so that your child can play in it, get used to it, and take a nap in it if possible.

• Slumber Pod. This one came HIGHLY recommended by so many parents. This tent fits over a mini-crib or pack and play and is a great solution if you’re traveling and need to sleep in the same room as your little one. It provides a dark environment (so they can’t see you walking around) and there are pockets for a camera*, fan, and sound machine.

  *If the internet at your final destination does not require a password baby gadgets like the SNOO, Owlet and camera may not connect. For us, we travel with a Travel Router to work around this issue. This router does require a computer for setup so if you do not travel with a computer, make sure your camera is compatible with the internet before arrival.

Guava Lotus Travel Crib packed on the bottom left. SlumberPod packed and in black duffle bag at top.

SlumberPod setup in hotel room.

Travel Day

When we first started traveling with our baby my anxiety was through the roof leading up to travel days. Here are some things that help us get through these tiresome days.

What is the best time of the day to leave? 

This will all depend on the age of your baby and the number of naps they take in a day. At this age Eliza is taking 2 naps a day so we try to start our travel day after her first nap so that she at least has one good nap that day. This will likely change once she’s down to 1 nap a day. When she was younger and napping more frequently, travel days were much easier (she napped in her carseat, she napped on the plane, etc.) Starting at around 5/6 months she was too aware of her surroundings to nap easily in new places. This was also after we sleep trained her so she prefers a dark, cool environment where she can lay on her belly. 

Milk

I cannot speak for breastfeeding and bodyfeeding parents but here is our hot tip for bottle feeding families. We always pack a surplus of milk for travel days. Since our little one does not sleep as much during travel, she is awake more and therefore drinking more. This can also mean more diaper changes so pack those accordingly. 

When Eliza was on bottled breastmilk, I packed a milk bag with pre-made bottles, a frozen ice pack and extra milk in Kiinde bags. Kiinde bags are more expensive but are designed to stand upright to prevent spills which is a game changer when on a bumpy flight, with a screaming baby, trying to pour a bottle. Also note that TSA will almost always pull your milk bag to check the liquids. Sometimes they will do a vapor test that requires them to open your bottles/bags. 

Snacks & Toys (if your little one has started solids)

Keeping a little one occupied on travel days can be a challenge. On short flight days I pack the following in my backpack: 

• 8 oz milk sippy straw bottle (pack more depending on length of travel & baby’s consumption). For longer travel days I pre-measure formula in small snack ziplock baggies or into clean empty bottles so all I have to do is add water.

• 8 oz water sippy straw cup

• Diaper ziplock bag for changes

• Small emergency liquids - noted above under Travel Size Kits. I started packing this in our checked luggage at age 11 months for short flights.

• Bag of toys* - Fat Brain Toys, Pop Tubes, Toddler Busy Board

• Bag of age appropriate snacks (for baby & parents)* - snack cup holder

• Several puree packets

• Emergency change of clothes - for baby and caregiver

*We have found that it’s good to bring some trusted and beloved snacks and toys but also have something new. We also grab a new pre-packaged snack in the lounge at the airport before departure. 

What hotels have you traveled to with the best baby amenities? What are some of your baby sleep tricks during traveling? Go to snacks? Share below!

Baby Travel Tip Series - Part 1 (3 - 5 month old)

Dying to get away (even if just for the weekend) but not sure if you can travel with your newborn? Or maybe you’re expecting soon and you’re trying to figure out what’s reasonable for your first trip away? Here’s our newborn traveling considerations. (If your child is older, 6-12 months, check out the next post.)

Germs & Vaccines 

How comfortable are you exposing your baby to new germs? We want our little one to have a strong immune system but when they are so fresh, they have no immune system to fight off germs and let’s be honest, covid has made us hyper-sensitive. Some things to consider: is it flu season? RSV season? (which can now be year around now) and what are the covid numbers in the area you’re looking to travel to? When in doubt, always speak to your pediatrician. 

For our first trip with Eliza we rented a private home (this was pre-vaccine). We stayed at a house on the beach so while we were not exposed to anymore than we were at home, it was important for us to understand what the local hospital capacities were in case anything happened (a freak accident outside of covid). Some families wait until their baby has more vaccinations complete (which are typically received at birth, 1 mo, 2 mo, 4 mo, 6 mo, 9 mo, 12 mo, etc.)

Sleep Deprivation

This is something that I didn’t read in any of the mommy blogs when I was pregnant (as it pertains to traveling) so I’m going to be really honest. How much your baby is sleeping will impact how much you are sleeping and therefore how much you will enjoy a trip. I say trip because as the primary caregiver, unless you travel with help, it will be a trip, not a vacation. You will make great memories and you will have pictures you treasure but I suggest if booking a trip in advance, just make sure it’s refundable. Some new parents are so sleep deprived they do not feel safe driving so just keep that in mind. You might have a baby that sleeps like a champ and if you feel up to it, take the trip! 

The silver lining of traveling with a baby this young, while they may not sleep long stretches at night, they do nap often during the day so car rides and plane rides are much easier at this age….the juggling act is making sure that you also have enough sleep.

Mode of Transportation - By Land, Air or Sea? 

How will you get there? By car, commercial flight or private jet? This will affect what you’re able to pack. Since we were driving to our getaway, we were able to pack much more than we would if hopping on a commercial plane. Our biggest carry-on, our beloved SNOO (her bassinet), even came along. Since it was my first trip packing for her, it was reassuring to pack the “just-in-case” items but as time has passed, I pack much less. At the time, I practically packed all the baby supplies from the kitchen except the kitchen sink. We brought bottles, a drying rack, cleaning utensils, and the sterilizer. If we were traveling by plane I would have packed much less which would have changed where we stayed and how we got the equipment we needed (see next post for those details). 

What to Pack 

This all depends on where you are staying. We love partnering with hotels and resorts that offer a wide range of baby amenities so that you don’t have to to pack the kitchen sink. If you’re not traveling to one of those resorts, here is the packing list I used when traveling to a private home with a 3 month old (which included laundry facilities). Of course every baby is different- if you go through 4 outfits a day and 6 burp cloths, you will need to up my numbers. For us, we went through phases where Eliza needed more clothes and then others when she needed less (due to reflux, teething, etc.) 

What other things do you consider when traveling with your newborn? What are your best baby travel items? We would love to hear from you! Comment below. 

Vacation Baby Packing List

This was for a week stay at a private home with a 3 month old (with laundry facilities). We were exclusively pumping and bottle feeding at the time. 

• 2-3 shorties

• 2-3 long onesies

• 2-3 nightgowns

• 2 blankets

• 2 burp clothes

• 3 bibs

• 2 swaddles

• 1 cute “outing” outfit that’s she didn’t wear

• SNOO bassinet

• 1 SNOO sheet

• 1 SNOO swaddle

• 1 pair of socks (she never wears)

• Diapers

• Baby wipes

• Butt spatula

• Butt moisturizer

• Baby lotion

• Hand sanitizer

• Travel diaper cream

• 4 pee pads

• Doggie poop bags (to put dirty diapers in and tie up to reduce smell)

• 3 pacifiers

• Baby carrier (K’tan)

• Otteroo (she loved this during bath time)

• Travel size baby soap

• 1 towel

• 1 baby wash cloth

• Snot sucker Nose Frida

• Drying rack

• Sterilizer

• Bottle cleaning brushes

• Dish soap for bottles

• Tide pods

• 2 breast pumps and accessories (this was excessive, I now admit)

• Breastmilk storage bags

• Bottles (purchased 2 sets, took 1 set and left 1 at home that was ready to use when we got home)

• 2 - 3 books

• Couple toys (didn’t play with them due to age)

• Thermometer

• Baby monitor and camera

• Owlet and charger

• Pump bag

• Diaper bag

• Cooler that held frozen dog food, food, pump parts and milk on drive there and back

• Shusher & extra batteries

• Paper towels

• Baby Tylenol

Things we left at home 

• Bottle dryer

• Stroller: because of the location (we were only taking walks on the beach), it did not make sense to bring a stroller

4 Top Luxury Hotels: Kyoto, Japan

Looking to go to Kyoto but not sure which luxury hotel you want to stay at? We’ve got you covered! Each one of these hotels offers a little something different. In this blog we will give you the inside scoop to the Ritz Carlton, Aman, Four Seasons, and the Park Hyatt. 

Aman

The Aman, recently opened in October 2019, with 26 rooms. In true Aman fashion, this hotel is nestled in the foothills of the Hidari Daimonji mountain and about a 30 min taxi ride from Kyoto train station. If you’re looking to be close to the hustle and bustle of Kyoto, this is not the property for you. If you’re looking to get away and relax in a Japanese oasis, this is it. The windy entry is secluded, serene, and absolutely breathtaking when we visited in autumn. Each room/suite has been thoughtfully designed with light tones and natural wood that exudes a sense of place. This simple design paired with the floor to ceiling windows allows the natural setting take front and center stage throughout the seasons. We should note that all rooms and suites are disconnected from other amenities such as the spa, restaurant, etc. and beautiful moss paths lead you throughout the property. There is a sense of discovery when navigating this property. Key highlights for us were the meditation gardens and the outdoor and indoor onsen hot springs available through the spa. If you enjoy nature and the outdoors, we suggest experiencing Kyoto from this beautiful location. 

Ritz Carlton

Arriving to the Ritz Carlton Kyoto is done in true Kyoto style, quiet and secretive. The windy entry makes you feel like you’re entering a secret garden. While this hotel has 134 guest rooms and suites, it feels very intimate. Our favorite room type is the beautiful Kamo River. Perfectly located on the Kamo River, this hotel is only 15 minutes car ride from Kyoto train station, 15 minute walk to the Gion district, and a 20 minute walk to Nishiki Market. This hotel is a walkers paradise - we never needed a car to get to many of the places on a first timer’s sightseeing list. If you need to go further, they provide complimentary e-bikes and even complimentary e-bike tours. We took one to Inari Shrine which was a lot of fun.

Four Seasons

Four Seasons Kyoto is only a quick 10 minute car ride from Kyoto train station. Positioned on an 800-year-old Shakusui-en pond garden you feel fully submerged in Japanese culture. This hotel offers 123 guest rooms and suites, and residences that can be reached through a separate entrance. The entry is grand upon arrival and you know you have arrived at a Four Seasons. The modern Japanese style rooms are a beautiful place to enjoy the views of the pond and garden. This is a great hotel for kids and families and very action packed on the weekends.

Park Hyatt

Like to be where the (day-time) action is? Then Park Hyatt Kyoto is the hotel for you! This newly open hotel (also opened in October 2019) is located in the historical Higashiyama District. During the day you can just leave your front door (of the hotel that is) and you’re right in the middle of everything- food, shops, and just minutes from the famous Kodaji Temple. You’re also just steps away from Kiyomizu-dera Temple - which is beautifully lit up at night and the one of the many UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Kyoto. We should warn you though, other than the nighttime temples, the town is quiet as everything closes after sundown. The Park Hyatt offers 70 guest rooms with a variety of room types. The garden terrace ones are one of our favorites which offers privacy with beautiful interior garden views but they also offer rooms with beautiful city views - warning, less privacy. The Park Hyatt Kyoto offers guests several dining options from a cafe with easy street access to Higashiyama, to more refined dining at Yasaka with breathtaking views of the Kodaji temple. This hotel is only a 15 minute car ride from the Kyoto train station. 

TeamLab Borderless Guide: Tokyo, Japan

teamLab Tokyo has 2 main attractions: the Mori Building Digital Art Museum: teamLab Borderless and teamLab Planets. We decided to check out the colorful world of teamLab Borderless during our stay in Tokyo. The exhibit was originally designed to be maze-like so that you could discover hidden exhibits as you wonder through the dark, neon colored building. Due to the popularity, there are now long lines so there’s less of the discovery aspect. It was not designed to be seen in one day. The original intent was for visitors to come explore, discover, and then return again to discover new parts of the exhibit. If you want to see everything, plan to spend a day here. We only planned for a couple hours and ended up exploring for 4 hours and we still didn’t see everything. Half of that time was spent waiting in lines. We even went on Tuesday and the lines were sometimes over an hour per exhibit. But if you’re going to wait in line, this isn’t the worst place as the art around you is constantly moving and changing so it helps the time pass. With all that said, we had a great time and this was one of our favorite attractions in Tokyo!

Tickets

We suggest purchasing tickets online prior to your trip to avoid the in person ticket line and in case the exhibit is sold out. Adult tickets are 3,200 JPY ($30 USD) and children are 1,000 JPY ($10 USD). 

Arrival

Once you arrive to the exhibit, there will likely be a line to get in (we got there at opening and still had to wait about 20 mins) as they only let in a so many people at a time. Be prepared to wait outside in line before you enter the facility.

Exhibits

If you want to see all the exhibits, we suggest that you plan accordingly (research your route beforehand). We did not research much about the interiors so we just experienced different exhibits as found them. This resulted in not seeing everything but we enjoyed the discovery. Here’s the areas we did get to see:

Universe of Water Particles on a Rock Where People Gather

Photo taken from the hidden location.

This is the iconic exhibit that you have probably seen on google. Unless you are in the first group to enter at opening, you will definitely experience this area with lots of people around but that is part of the exhibit. Even though there are people around it is Japan so people are generally polite and it does not feel overwhelming. If you want to get a shot of this area from above, there is a hidden observation deck that can be accessed through an adjacent hallway. The entry is behind a curtain that appears to just be a continuation of the wall so feel around or look for people emerging from a dark hole. 

Sarah at Universe of Water Particles on a Rock Where People Gather

Elizabeth at Universe of Water Particles on a Rock Where People Gather

Our best attempt at getting a photo together with just us

Crystal World

This exhibit is a beautiful combination of LED strand lights and music. There is not a time limit in this area but staff members will encourage to move if you stop for too long in the narrow areas. There is a larger gathering area where you can stand and watch.

Flower Forest

This exhibit is adjacent to the Universe of Water Particles and can also be viewed from the hidden observation deck.

The Nest

This exhibit is “hidden” within the Flower Forest but there was a long line so it was not hidden on the day we visited. Unfortunately we did not think this was worth the wait (45 mins for us). You experience the show with a small group of people, lying on a huge nest, looking up. I was personally disappointed in the graphics of this show in comparison to the rest of the exhibits.

Light Shell and Vortex

This is a cool music and light show. Like many of the exhibits, there is a mirrored floor but unlike the usual darkness of the other exhibits, this exhibit can be quite bright so ladies should not wear skirts. There are wraps outside the exhibit to wrap yourself if needed.

Athletes Forest

This area is on the second floor, is the most kid friendly area but also our favorite area.

These watercolor humpback whales swim throughout the space and I could not stop watching them.

Even though it was mainly children, we waited in the short line to experience the Multi Jumping Universe Trampoline area. Due to the darkness and motion it’s hard to capture good photos of this area.

Elizabeth jumping

Another fun children and adult activity is the climbing trees in the Light Forest. The goal is to climb through the forest by only touching one color (either by stepping or grabbing with your hand). It was harder than you think but so much fun. 

Climbing Trees

Sketch Aquarium

This was Sarah’s favorite. At this exhibit you get to color a sea creature (you pick your template upon entering). Then a staff member scans your drawing and within seconds it pops into the sea. From there you can follow it around the room.

Templates

Our rainbow fish

Art aquarium

Weightless Forest of Resonating Life

Tips

Travel Light

Less is best. If you bring a backpack it is best to check it in a locker at entry. We only brought our phones and wallets and we suggest zipping belongings up (in pockets or fanny packs) as some exhibits have you bouncing around or suspended in the air. Stroller are not allowed (we read you can store them in the locker room) and those with little ones used carriers within the exhibit. 

Food (or lack thereof)

Eat before you arrive as there is only vending machines in designated areas. There is also a tea house that serves tea only but we skipped this as there was so much to see.  

Attire

Wear comfortable clothes and shoes as you are walking, climbing, and bouncing. (There are some areas that heels and scandals are not permitted.) Before our visit we read to wear light-colored clothes so the art shows up vividly. I opted for a plain white tee, backup light grey sweater, jeans and tennis shoes.

People

Do not expect to snag many solo photos. Part of the experience is the people, so enjoy!

Planning

If you’re the type of person that wants to see every corner of the exhibit then we suggest doing some research and mapping out your plan. You may be able to beat some of the crowds in the popular exhibits at opening. You should know that no maps are provided and the staff are encouraged to let you explore (aka they won’t answer you when you ask “where is the forest of resonating lamps located?) Otherwise we suggest that you go wander and explore as we did and see what you find!

Lesbian Bar Hopping in Japan: Tokyo & Osaka

As expected, being out in Japan felt normal and safe. We had a packed schedule but we were able to check out the scene in Tokyo and Osaka. Both locations were referred by members of the Pride GLT (Girls Love Travel) Facebook group.

Tokyo

Tokyo’s gay neighborhood, Shinjuku Ni-chōme, is easily accessible by train. We visited the area on a Monday night, not expecting much but we were pleasantly surprised. We arrived to Gold Finger, a lesbian bar, before it opened at 7pm and there were already people waiting to get in. Within an hour the place was pretty busy. The only downside to us was the indoor smoking. Our Pride GLT’er walked us around the rest of the neighborhood (not as poppin’ as Gold Finger) but it was still cool to see. The pedestrian streets have an assortment of small and intimate bars, most of which are open to the exterior so you can be indoors or outdoors.

Osaka

Osaka is a bustling city, also with an active nightlife but the lesbian bars can be a bit tricker to find. Lemon, a lesbian bar, was suggested by another Pride GLT member and while it took some digging to find, we were happy we did. The bar is located in Minami, the south part of Osaka. We used Google maps and the address from Lesbian Bar in Osaka Perfect Guide. While we are not able to read Japanese, matching the Japanese name on the locator board at the base of the building was essential so just be patient and follow the address numbers. Similar to many other SEA cities, bars and nightclubs are located in multi-story buildings and there can be anywhere from 10-30 businesses per floor. We were excited to find the small but cozy bar on the 6th floor. While there was a language barrier (we were the only ones that spoke English), everyone was super friendly and we were able to converse through google translate. 

We would recommend both of these bars if you’re in the area!

Traveling in Japan

By plane, by train, by automobile, by go-kart?! Japan is a fairly easy country to navigate and here’s how we got around Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and Hakone.

Limo Bus
Narita Airport to Tokyo Hotel

The Limo Bus is a great option from the airport if you have a lot of luggage because the bus drops off directly at a lot of hotels - it may even drop you off right where you need to be which was the case for us. You can purchase a ticket upon leaving the airport and wait for your bus outside. 

Website: https://www.limousinebus.co.jp/en/

Cost: depends on your stop but it cost us 3200 JPY each. 

JR Pass
Traveling between Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and Hakone

Japan Rail Pass is a discount travel pass which is useful if you are traveling by train a fair amount. Since this is a travelers pass, you must purchase a voucher before you arrive in Japan. Instructions can be found on their website below. Our schedule was already detailed out (thanks to Sarah) so before we left the Narita airport, we found a JR ticket station to retrieve our pass and book our seats in advance (Tokyo to Kyoto, Kyoto to Osaka, etc.) You do not have to book the city to city seats in advance, you can select them at local train stations but just make sure you give yourself enough time. Do book in advance if traveling over New Years, Golden Week or Obon as it will be standing room only. Side note: JR Passes are not smart passes, they are paper and you have to go through a side entry and have them checked by an actual employee. 

Website: http://www.japanrailpass.net/en/about_jrp.html

Cost: This depends on how many days you are using it for and if you want the Green Class (First Class) or regular tickets. Make sure to compare how much all your train tickets will be if purchased individually vs a railpass. Usually, if you are only traveling one way from Tokyo to Kyoto and flying out Osaka, it will be cheaper to purchase them individually. A great website to check fares (and times) for trains will be: http://www.hyperdia.com/

Subway
Traveling within each city

All subway lines are clearly labeled with colors and letters.

Once you reach your destination, taking the local subway is the fastest and most economical option. You will want to purchase a Suica card at a train station. This prepaid smart card can be used for public transportation, vending machines, convenient stores and some restaurants. Keep it handy as you will use this card to scan in and out of the train station.

Screens on the subway show which cars are closest to exits, escalators, elevators, etc.

Make you sure to find a Suica refund machine at the end of your trip to get the remaining cash off your card.

Taxis/Uber

You can use Uber in Japan. They will order local taxis for you but we tried hard to steer clear of taxis due to the cost. For comparison, a taxi from Narita airport to our Tokyo hotel would have cost around $300 USD. An even more expensive option is a transfer car scheduled through your hotel for around $600 USD. Public transportation is so clean and easy to use, there’s really no reason not to. 

Biking
Kyoto Site Seeing

Biking is a popular form of transportation for locals. We’re not experienced urban bikers so we opted for a guided bike tour in Kyoto that our hotel, the Ritz Carlton coordinated. They had a couple options but we chose the early morning (6:30am) trip to Fushimi Inari. The route was pleasant and not too crowded. We rode on a combination of streets, sidewalks, and down by the Kamo River. By 8am it was getting busy and it was even suggested that we walk our bikes if we were in too crowded of an area. This didn’t happen but just be prepared if you are biking during rush hour. 

Walking

Once we have reached a city, if the weather is nice and our next destination (food, shop, etc.) is not too far, we opt to walk. We did a lot of walking in Japan (52 miles in 9 days) but we always stayed in highly populated areas. 

We accidentally missed our bus stop and had to walk 1 stop back in Hakone. Not pedestrian friendly but we made it.

Go-Karts
Fun Tokyo Touring

If you want to have some fun and see a different side of Japan through the fast speeds of a go-kart (they actually go pretty fast!), check out a Street Go Kart Tour. You can choose between 1 or 3 hour tour (we did the 1 hour) and we suggest doing a night ride for better photos. We like the Shibuya course as there is a lot of action and nighttime colors. You go out with a group of 10 with 2 guides and they take you through the streets of Tokyo. 

Website: https://kart.st/en/l.

Cost: Dependent on the ride selected but our 1 hour ride was 8000 JPY per person. 

The Commute

Getting to Asia was a process but a fun one. We started by flying Atlanta to Seattle so we could drop off Pintxo with Sarah’s family. 

From Seattle, we flew to Los Angeles. We had booked Singapore Airlines on points transferred from Chase Ultimate Rewards. This way we got a stopover in Japan on the way to Singapore - two countries on one ticket! Plus, Sarah talks about how great the food is on Singapore Airlines all the time. Little did I know that we also had to stop in LAX since Sarah wanted to surprise me with a visit to The Private Suite*!

As I started to stress at the thought of getting off one plane, picking up our checked in luggage, changing terminals, checking in, and going through security again in time to make our next flight, Sarah kept telling me not to worry. As we walked off the plane, there was a guy with a sign waiting for us right outside the plane door. We got to walk down the stairway ramp onto the tarmac where there was a car waiting for us. The car drove us across the tarmac to a private location where we had our own private suite. The suite was equipped with food, snacks, tv, a bathroom and an outdoor patio area. Sarah arranged for me to get a much needed manicure and a massage for herself. Not to shabby for a layover!

All the while, our luggage was pulled off one plane, transferred to the next and TSA was done in the Private Suite facility. When our next flight was ready to take off, they drove us to the plane. We waited on the tarmac for the jetway to clear and then they escorted us to the plane where we settled in for the last leg of the journey, an 11 hour flight to Tokyo.

I spent the next 11 hours eating, sleeping, and binge watching Season 2 of Big Little Lies. Can’t complain. 

*In case anyone wants to try the Private Suite, talk to Sarah - she has a corporate membership.

Closing a Chapter

This will be by far our longest trip to-date and there’s been lot to take care of in preparation. I’m lucky that Sarah has been able to work on things at home while I close up shop at work. 

It’s been a bittersweet goodbye. Friday was my last day and I will miss my colleagues. I’ve devoted the past 10 years to programming and designing healthcare facilities. I’ve designed everything from pediatrics to end of life hospice care units and everything in between. In a weird way I’ve seen the full spectrum of life through the eyes of a designer. I by no means can speak to the real fear, agony, and pain these patients experience but it has taught me so much empathy. 

It’s scary to leave something you’re good at, something you have become an expert in but I’m taking a pause and I’m going to breathe. I spent my 20s building my career and it feels weird to now care about something else. My head and heart have shifted and while in the beginning it felt like I was betraying my professional life, with each day I am easing into a new passion. For so long my career was number one, my priority and at times that meant other parts of my life had to be put on hold. Well the roles have now flipped! 

Don’t let this calm post fool you. I’m FREAKING out on the inside. What if I forget everything I know? What if I’m no longer relevant? What if I become boring? What if I get fat? What if everyone forgets me? What if everyone talks crap about me?

The truth is, I will forget some things and that’s ok. I will have to make an effort to do things I love and interest me. I will have to take care of myself. Some will forget me but others will remember me fondly. And people will always talk shit but who the heck cares! 

Sarah and I celebrated the close of this chapter at Lazy Betty. Maybe a ten-course dinner wasn’t the best idea before we leave on this Asia food tour but we enjoy checking out local restaurants. Pictured: Cucumber Cannelloni, Horseradish Wanna Cotta, Borscht; Foie Gras Terrine, Preserved Figs, Petite Salad, Pomegranate Vinaigrette; Plum Sorbet, Pomegranate “Air,” Ginger Crumb.

Asia Trip

We’re so excited for our upcoming trip to Asia! Check out our itinerary and let us know if you have recommendations, questions, or if you’ll be in the area and want to meet up!

Tokyo, Japan Oct 29-30
Kyoto, Japan Oct 31-Nov 2
Hakone, Japan Nov 3
Tokyo, Japan Nov 4-5
Singapore Nov 6-7
Penang, Malaysia Nov 8-10
Bangkok, Thailand Nov 11-16
Jaipur, India Nov 17-19
Agra, India Nov 20
Delhi, India Nov 21
Maldives Nov 22-30
Beijing, China Dec 1
Shanghai, China Dec 2