everywhere in between

"What you've done becomes the judge of what you're going to do - especially in other people's minds. When you're traveling, you are what you are right there and then... No yesterdays on the road." -- William Least Heat-Moon

[cyyu17]

Gardens by the Bay

We visited Gardens by the Bay given that it was so close to where we were staying (Marina Bay Sands). They were beautiful! I usually love botanical gardens but this one was especially impressive and special given the scale and care that goes into the maintenance, even with a night light show. Singapore, November 2017

[cyyu17]

Had to make sure I tried the world famous Hainan chicken rice and chili crab!

Singapore

November 2017

[cyyu17]

Marina Bay Sands

Singapore, November 2017

[cyyu17]

Returning to the land of the merlion

I had visited Singapore as a child with family. I didn’t remember much from the trip, just that the it was warm, humid, and that the mascot was a creature with a lion’s head with a mermaid’s tail. I remember begging my parents for the toy because it was just too cute. So when I had the opportunity to visit again for work so many years later, I was excited to extend my trip and spend some time visiting friends and walking around to see. I didn’t recognize much - so much has changed and I did recognize Marina Bay Sands from the move “Crazy Rich Asians.” 🤣All in all - it was a great trip with great food.

Singapore, November 2017

Marian Bay Sands, Singapore

[cyyu17]

The gorillas were pretty cute too!

https://embedr.flickr.com/photos/49295960698

Buffalo Zoo

September 2017

https://embedr.flickr.com/photos/49296637547

[cyyu17]

One of my favorite animals has always been the red panda. They are shy and skittish but I’m so glad I got to see one at the Buffalo Zoo.

[cyyu17]

When in doubt, go to the zoo.

When I went to Buffalo, New York for a wedding, I wondered to myself - apart from eating buffalo wings, what else do I do? Then I thought to myself... when in doubt, check out the zoo since I love animals. I had zero expectations as to what I would see; I was pleasantly surprised by the size and also all the different types of animals at the zoo. My favorite was the fairly active polar bear that showed a ton of personality 💙

Buffalo Zoo, September 2017

[cyyu17]

Off to the islands we go

We decided to take a detour to Centre Island off via ferries off the coast of Toronto. I didn’t really know what to expect, but it was another lovely time. There was an amusement park for kids but of course I had a ton of fun as well 🙃

The Cleanest Big City

Toronto, Canada, September 2017

[cyyu17]

I didn’t know much about Toronto prior to going there, but I was so pleasantly surprised by the views from the CN Tower. Toronto is beautiful!

[cyyu17]

The cleanest city 🏙

I have not visited Canada much; the only city I had been to prior to the Fall of 2017 was Vancouver on the way to and back from snowboarding in Whistler. So I was interested in seeing what Toronto was like all the way on the other side of the country. We were going to Buffalo for a wedding; but we thought it’d be a good opportunity to be in New York and Toronto before we head to Buffalo for our final stop. What I found was that Toronto was the cleanest large city I’ve ever been to! It was beautiful, the water was clear, and felt spacious and crisp. I can’t really imagine the winters there 🥶, but being there in the fall was incredibly lovely.

Toronto, Canada September 2017

[cyyu17]

The power of the waves Niagara Falls, September 2017

[cyyu17]

[cyyu17]

Niagara Falls up close and personal. I especially loved the rainbows that formed across the waters.

Niagara Falls, September 2019

[cyyu17]

Not just another waterfall

When I first heard “let’s go to Niagara Falls,” I was thinking.. I guess we could... 🤷🏻‍♀️I had been to lots of waterfalls, in Iceland, in Argentina - I just thought I’d seen it all. I know I know.. but it’s Niagara Falls! I reluctantly agreed, but much more because of “why not we are in Buffalo” rather than actual excitement. I must say I ended up really glad that I was strong-armed into seeing Niagara Falls though. We took one of the ferries and got extremely close, to feel the mist upon our faces and feel the power of the water. We saw rainbows against the current, and saw birds flying close to the blue and green. I think what they say about snowflakes is true about waterfalls too - every single one is a bit different in its own way.

Niagara Falls, September 2019

Buffalo, New York

[cyyu17]

Must go to the zoo everywhere we visit

We were on our way to Buffalo, New York for my boyfriend’s friend’s wedding. As a result, we decided to make a trip out of this, to stay in NYC, then visit his cousin in Toronto, then Buffalo for the ultimate wedding. I didn’t end up taking any pictures of the Big Apple; instead, I was most excited about the Bronx Zoo and took pictures there. What can I say; sometimes I just like animals better 🤷🏻‍♀️

A Visit to the Bronx Zoo

August 2017

This croc isn’t f***ing around

The lemurs are very adorable. I learned that they only naturally live in Madagascar!

This peacock didn’t really care what anyone else was doing around him. #lifegoals.

[cyyu17]

The Best Meal I’ve Ever Had in My Life

My boyfriend got on the mailing list of the Lazy Bear Supper Club, and got us a reservation (after many months of talking about it). I didn’t really know what to expect, but was treated to the best dining experience of my life!

Not only was the food delicious, everyone sat a two communal tables and chatted with strangers, which was lovely. They also encourage people to go into the kitchen and look around to see how the food is prepared, and ask the chefs questions. This interactive experience made the meal even more enjoyable!

Lazy Bear

San Francisco, CA, May 2017

[cyyu17]

A #hyperlapse of the sharks at the Georgia Aquarium

ATL

Atlanta, GA, May 2017