The World Is My Oyster

[tessdow]

What’s on the ground? #fall2020 https://www.instagram.com/p/CGLKQ6EgWeeW6RQMGmszipAT77DJ9IQNd5SNo40/?igshid=1mzlc6pb8a5x0

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#Snowy Sunday morning (at Milton, Ontario) https://www.instagram.com/p/B8Es9SoAU7k7sBtawiyyFDlawefJPlFaRt_BDk0/?igshid=134ssmjb733m9

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Tess goes to Maui Hawaii | Getting There

This is my first time to go to Hawaii traveling 7,400 km plus. My destination is Lahaina Maui and Lanai island. I don't know much about Maui and I never heard of Lanai until I was ready to go. I was feeling anxious? excited? nervous? I can't explain it. Although the main reason I am going to Hawaii is to attend a wedding, I never thought that someday I am actually going to Hawaii. Why?  because first, it is very expensive for me to go there . Second, it is far to travel and I always chose  to go to Philippines, my home country if I travel that far. Third, for me Hawaii is for people who are surfing, scuba diving or snorkeling and honeymooning and I don't do those sports. However, it is my niece wedding plus it is Hawaii, a popular destination. What awaits me in Maui? was an incredible experience of a lifetime. One that I never expected.

In the first three days, I stayed in a local hostel near the Front Street Lahaina to jump start my experiencing of the local scene. Also to test if I can do hosteling at this age. I'm a recycled teenager after all :) :) :)

Watch out for my upcoming video series to show you my first hand experience of Maui and Lanai and how I became captivated immensely. This video is just the start. Don't forget to subscribe, like this video and hit the bell to get notification so you don't miss any of the coming videos.

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Notre Dame as I remember it. This was my second trip to Paris where I traveled with my first son Terence. It is my wish to go back to take Tommy there too. I believe that it will be built again to its former glory soon. Notre Dame you are still standing strong. God is protecting you! #notredamedeparis #notredamecathedral https://www.instagram.com/p/BwYDXK5g_QQMMx5BYea68NOsQ2k4SMdI4Pzkhk0/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1dfvjlvzlnpos

[tessdow]

Budapest travel highlights continues.. 💫 The Mary Magdalene Tower Church. Situated not far from the crowded touristic Matthias Church in the Budapest Castle Hill, is this gothic church dating from the middle of the 13th century. The 600 year-old bell tower has miraculously endured every single siege at the neighboring Buda Castle. I climbed to the top that has a panoramic view of the entire city. The Church has only been opened since 2017 and entrance fee is included with the Budapest Card. It is not a tourist destination for package tours like the Mathias Church, unless you actually look for it like we did. We walked through quaint and narrow medieval street following the map. It is such hidden that it just appeared in-front of us as we turned to the street. 🌟 If you can afford to stay in one of the hotel here, it would be awesome to wake up in the morning here. This is part of the castle ground near the Vienna gate. (at Mária Magdolna Torony) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bt6-KtmA2FWmH-fnqNZi-Om7TiaXPbd7qRqDBc0/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=nqkee2a69ogq

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Another Snow ❄️ ❄️ Day! 7:00 am - turned off alarm, checked school messenger, texted Tommy “no school today” ... went back to sleep 😴 https://www.instagram.com/p/BtyQus1A_KgA4lgn91L4hwjuq8tfInjAFjlNo40/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1nk23add9ge8r

[tessdow]

Budapest is known as the “City of baths” and its thermal baths are naturally fed by 120 hot springs. The thermal water is high in calcium, magnesium, and hydrogen carbonate and is said to ease joint pain and arthritis and improve blood circulation. This is why I thought it is best going in one of them at the end of the day after long hours of walking. Lukacs Bath is included with the Budapest Cards. It is one of the locals favourite bath. From our AirBnb, we took the subway then tram to Lukacs. I took the address from the local guidebook (written in Hungarian) and downloaded the map which we followed. It was the right way except we missed our stop. We knew we passed it after 20 minutes and the street lights became scarce. With the help of a local passenger in sign language confirming our mistake, we got off and took the opposite tram to take us back. Despite of the misstep, It was fun to see the Buda district and saw the panoramic view of The Parliament. Lukacs bath is quieter than the famous and bigger baths but there were lots of people even at night. None spoke English so we were the tourists in the lot. The best part is while I was enjoying dipping in the hot spring, my friend Joy whispered to me that the guy beside me is good looking. I couldn’t make out his nationality but boy he is eye candy with beautiful green eyes. 😂😜🤣🤪🥰😻 #easterneurope #budapest #budapestbaths (at Lukács Baths) https://www.instagram.com/p/BtuLZNbnBUqnMapRCYRKH39SVhFodAYqkaVchY0/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=3dzijqawggq7

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Budapest Parliament Building at night. A great panoramic view across Danube River. . If we didn’t miss our train stop to Lukacs Public Bath which made us take another tram back and get off here to catch the right tram back up again, we would have missed this magnificent view of the Parliament. We had 10 minutes to admire the view before the tram arrived. Sometimes getting lost has rewards and I had many of these experiences that it no longer annoys me when I get lost. It’s what adventure travel is all about. #easterneurope #budapest https://www.instagram.com/p/Btq2LO8g8J9dwPkhMked0kNduLc-P6_QGhNjBY0/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=b8r1u7v8oqxo

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It’s snow showers day! Schools are canceled so Tommy and I are having late breakfast. Strawberry banana oatmeal pancake. https://www.instagram.com/p/Bti6bOjAiE2hHpCH8WYZBQmr70mBIDtcVUIwlU0/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1q1513gg6xjx8

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Food we ate in Japan Part 2 and more....

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The food we ate in Japan part 2 and more....

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Food we ate in Japan.... and more. Photos taken by iPhone and no filter. Swipe to see all.

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.One Year Anniversary Today! The Day I reached EVEREST BASE CAMP ⛺️ The experience which I will never forget... a huge item in my bucket list ticked off!

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Japanese Night Gowns All of the places we stayed in Japan (hotels, pension, and capsule hotel) provided Yukata kimono night gowns or kimono bath robes. I preferred the rose pink linen two pajama in Ginza Bay Capsule hotel. (I’m more of a pajama girl). Next is the white night gown in Hotel Mystay. My least favourite is the bath robes style in Pension Puppy Tail as it keeps opening up. #yukata #japanesekimono #japanesesleepwear #2018japan #thegoldengirl (at Japan)

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Japan 2018 March 4 - My last night in Japan, I finally had sushi 🍣 after trying other dishes I don’t normally eat at home. Swipe to see more... #sushi #tokyorestaurant (at Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan)