Hiking to Pulpit Rock (Preikestolen) is one of Norway’s most popular things to do, and is a great experience from Stavanger. In this post, we’ll share photos, our hike report, tips for how to do this hike as a cruise port activity, and much more. The hike to Preikestolen is moderately difficult, with well-marked trails that are […]
Hong Kong Fall Trip Report
/10 Comments/in Reports Hong Kong /by Tom BrickerThe first stop on our Asia trip was Hong Kong. Unlike our stay in Japan, this was a relatively brief stopover, with only two days to explore the city followed by a trip to Hong Kong Disneyland. Our main reasons for visiting were seeing that park at Halloween, and also revisiting the city after our […]
Bon Voyage!
/27 Comments/in Reports Hong Kong, Japan, Kyoto /by Tom BrickerGreetings from the Windy City! As I write this, Sarah and I are waiting to board our flight to Asia for a two month trip exploring Hong Kong and Japan (…but mostly Japan). Traveling for an extended period of time is an idea that has been percolating for a while for us. At the end […]
Tips for Trollstigen: Norway’s Troll Path
/11 Comments/in Reports, Things to Do Norway /by Tom BrickerTrollstigen (also known as the Troll’s Path or Road) is a winding mountain drive in Norway’s Reinheimen National Park that takes visitors through hairpin turns of the Trolltindene mountain range. In this post, we’ll share our report from the Troll’s Path, tips for Trollstigen, and our photos from deep within Norway’s troll country! If you’re unfamiliar […]
Kamakura Great Buddha & Kotokuin Temple Review
/3 Comments/in Things to Do Japan /by Tom BrickerAn hour south of Tokyo lies the seaside town of Kamakura, which is a popular side trip for visitors to Japan thanks to its “Daibutsu” Great Buddha of Kamakura statue and gorgeous Kotokuin Temple, among other things. In this post, we’ll share some thoughts and photos from our visit to Kamakura (namely, these two sites). […]
Victoria Peak: Hong Kong’s Best View
/3 Comments/in Things to Do Hong Kong /by Tom BrickerAt 1,811 feet tall, Victoria Peak is Hong Kong’s highest point and a popular spot that’s renowned for its stunning view of Hong Kong’s skyline. This post provides tips, photos from Victoria Peak, whether to do the free observation platform or the paid area, and thoughts on whether it’s worth the time. While there are […]
Hiking to Norway’s Pulpit Rock: Photos & Tips
/7 Comments/in Reports Norway /by Tom BrickerHiking to Pulpit Rock (Preikestolen) is one of Norway’s most popular things to do, and is a great experience from Stavanger. In this post, we’ll share photos, our hike report, tips for how to do this hike as a cruise port activity, and much more. The hike to Preikestolen is moderately difficult, with well-marked trails that are […]
Inside Los Angeles’ Bradbury Building
/7 Comments/in Things to Do California, L.A., SoCal /by Tom BrickerThe Bradbury Building is an architectural landmark in Downtown Los Angeles and is also an ‘icon’ of Hollywood places, featuring heavily in Blade Runner. Since we just finished watching Blade Runner 2049, I figured it’d be a good time to finally post about this historic place in California. First, a bit of background. The Bradbury Building dates […]
Nikon D850 Review
/5 Comments/in Photo California, Laguna Beach, SoCal /by Tom BrickerThis Nikon D850 review features travel and landscape photos I’ve taken with the new DSLR, its pros & cons, how it performs as compared to the Nikon D810 and D750, and other assorted thoughts about why I think the Nikon D850 is the best all-around DSLR for travel photography. For starters, a brief overview for […]
Great Food We’ve Eaten in Los Angeles – Part 2
/6 Comments/in Dining California, L.A., SoCal /by Tom BrickerGiven the popularity of our “Great Food We’ve Eaten in Los Angeles – Part 1” post, a sequel was a foregone conclusion. What can we say…we’ve learned something from spending so much time in Hollywood? In this post, share more of the great L.A. restaurants at which we’ve recently dined, with food photos, and recommendations […]
Odaiba Illumination Tips & Info
/0 Comments/in Things to Do Japan, Tokyo /by Tom BrickerOdaiba is a manmade island on Tokyo Bay, located just outside of the city. Its year-round lighting, known as Odaiba Illumination YAKEI is a popular tourist draw, and one of the main reasons people make the trek to the outskirts of Tokyo. Winter Illuminations are popular throughout Tokyo November through December, and there are some […]