Although my 2013 was definitely not as exciting a travel year as 2012, I did manage to visit some really awesome places this year: I saw three new states (Wyoming, Texas, and Washington), one new country (Monaco), and one new Special Administrative Region (Hong Kong), in addition to trips to some amazing places I had been to before. Since I sadly forgot to blog throughout any of my journeys (oops), I've decided to wrap up 2013 with one big post of 13 photos summarizing the travel highlights of my year (in lesson form). So here they are, in roughly chronological order:
1. Bison Can Be Surprisingly Friendly (Colorado/Wyoming Border, USA)
After discovering that Colorado State is a mere hour's drive from the Wyoming border on a January trip to see Steph, I (slightly) bullied her into taking me on a day trip to Cheyenne instead of on a hike on her day off (exercise is for chumps). On our way to Wyoming's fine capital, we stopped at the Terry Bison Ranch, a tourist trap on the Wyoming/Colorado border where they let you feed (and kind of pet) bison and camels. If this is what life in Wyoming is like, I give it an A-OK!
2. Sometimes the Best Views Aren't High Up (The Peak, Hong Kong)
In March, I traveled to Singapore with some colleagues for a follow-up visit to my summer in 2012, and I spent a lovely week there meeting with folks from SUTD, eating delicious food (Din Tai Fung, of course), and wandering through shopping malls (see the shortest escalator EVER...above). It was very nice to return to Singapore and wonderful to see all my former students...hopefully I'll be back again in the next few years so I can see the new SUTD campus as well!
4. When It Comes to Old Friends, Some Things Never Change (Chicago, IL)
When in Chicago for a conference in April, I was able to check in with some old friends from both college and high school, which was absolutely wonderful. Jocelyn and I were immediately up to our old tricks...getting pedicures, sassing each other non-stop, and being semi-inappropriate in restaurants. I also got to see the beautiful and inspiring Lexi Zimmerman, who gave me a wonderful place to stay and made me smile to no end.
5. Everything is Really Pretty Big in Texas (Houston, TX)
On the way to our post-thesis vacation in Mexico, the TPP gang stopped in Houston, Texas, for an extended layover with the lovely Dina, who was a magnificent host and guide in her hometown. We drank big margaritas, ate big lunches, saw big water walls, and drove around in a big car...all signs point to stuff being pretty big down there. Although I'll definitely need to collect more data points in the future (Austin? San Antonio?) this was a lovely and BIG introduction to the Lone Star State.
6. A RUINed Vacation Isn't Necessarily the Worst...Get it? (Chichen Itza, Mexico)
On our post-thesis trip to Cancun, we took a day to participate in a sightseeing tour, which included swimming in a cenote (coolest thing ever), seeing some Mayan ruins (above), and getting stranded on the side of the road after our bus overheated (twice). All's well that ends well, though, and our bus mishap actually led me to procure some of the most delicious churros of all time. So there you go.
7. Maybe I am a Beach Person After All (Cancun, Mexico)
I'm not sure if it's all my beach training from Southeast Asia, my love of a good book, or the thrilling companionship of my travel partners in crime (see above), but I've discovered that I really do enjoy beach vacations. The five of us had a great time in Mexico despite some pretty intense sunburns, and it was a fabulous way to celebrate turning in 5 on-time master's theses.
8. I Don't Take a lot of Photos in Our Nation's Capital (Washington, DC)
Despite my two (two!) visits to DC this year, I have exactly one picture from my time there: a glorious CTY reunion with two of my favorite RAs of all time (above). Washington still feels a bit like home to me (which might account for the lack of pictures), so on my next trip I'll make a special effort to get some photographing in.
9. I Can Eat a Surprising Amount Over the Course of One Weekend (Seattle, WA)
At the beginning of August, I did a quick cross-continent trip to visit two friends in Seattle, which was my first-ever visit to the Pacific Northwest. Although we definitely did lots of fun touristy things during my visit (aquariums, boat tours, museums, and the like), my highlights of Seattle were all food-related. In three days we managed to hit 3 Eater 38 restaurants, in addition to much snacking from various food vendors as well as a visit to ONE OF TWO AMERICAN DIN TAI FUNG LOCATIONS. I was over the moon to get real, authentic soup dumplings, and am barely containing my excitement in the photo above.
10. A 28-Hour Stay is Too Short for a Trip (Edmonton, AB)
The weekend before departing for France, I made a (very) quick trip to Edmonton, Alberta, for Mark and Barbara's wonderful wedding. Unfortunately, I ended up arriving very late and leaving very early, so I only had about 28 hours total to explore Edmonton (and attend the reception). Mark was a wonderful guide, however, and I'm glad I got to learn a little bit more about Western Canada.
11. Provence and I Really Get Along (Southern France)
On our week-long road trip from Paris to Nice, Claire and I saw far too many amazing things to count--the photo above is from the Chateau des Baux, one of my favorite castles we saw on our journey (and believe me, there were more than a few). We ate wonderful food, met amazing people (many of whom I could even speak to in French!) and had a really remarkable time together. It was the first long vacation I had taken since Turkey, and I'm so thankful to Claire for taking so much time to spend with me in her beautiful country. Fun fact: there are native flamingoes in France! Who knew?
12. Sometimes, Driving Through 3 Other Countries is the Fastest Way from A to B (Monaco, Italy, and Switzerland)
To get from Nice to Alsace, where Claire's summer home is located, we took a two-day journey through Monaco, Italy (including an overnight stop in Milan), and across Switzerland (with a stop in Lucern for lunch). Driving up and over the Swiss Alps was probably the most breathtaking experience I've ever had--I took over 150 photos in the hour it took us to go up and over the mountains.
13. Ashley's is Still the Best Bar in the World (Ann Arbor, MI)
Similarly to in 2012, TPP sent me off to Ann Arbor this October to recruit some sweet Wolverines for our next class at MIT, and on my visit I got to see some wonderful people and visit Ashley's and Zingerman's, the two Ann Arbor establishments that can never be replaced in my heart. Although now it's a little sad to return to A2 (where did all my friends go?), it will always be a special place. I also finally purchased a replacement "Harvard: The Michigan of the East" t-shirt, although I haven't figured out any places in Boston I could wear it without seeming like a jerk. Alas, perhaps in the new year...
Well, that's all folks! Thanks to all the wonderful people who made my 2013 travels special, and here's to many more adventures in the year to come! I'll be spending the first two weeks of 2014 exploring Scandinavia, so expect some interesting (and potentially very cold) posting soon!
Dara
1. Bison Can Be Surprisingly Friendly (Colorado/Wyoming Border, USA)
After discovering that Colorado State is a mere hour's drive from the Wyoming border on a January trip to see Steph, I (slightly) bullied her into taking me on a day trip to Cheyenne instead of on a hike on her day off (exercise is for chumps). On our way to Wyoming's fine capital, we stopped at the Terry Bison Ranch, a tourist trap on the Wyoming/Colorado border where they let you feed (and kind of pet) bison and camels. If this is what life in Wyoming is like, I give it an A-OK!
2. Sometimes the Best Views Aren't High Up (The Peak, Hong Kong)
On my way to Singapore in March, I stopped in Hong Kong for an extended layover, and my first tourist stop was to "The Peak," the highest point in HK. Unfortunately, I got a typical hazy, polluted Hong Kong day, so I had to settle for a coffee with an only slightly impressive view (above). The next day, I got a better sense of the city on foot and by ferry, which connects the two major parts of the city that sit on opposite sides of the harbor.
3. Yes, They Make an Escalator for That (Singapore, Singapore)
4. When It Comes to Old Friends, Some Things Never Change (Chicago, IL)
When in Chicago for a conference in April, I was able to check in with some old friends from both college and high school, which was absolutely wonderful. Jocelyn and I were immediately up to our old tricks...getting pedicures, sassing each other non-stop, and being semi-inappropriate in restaurants. I also got to see the beautiful and inspiring Lexi Zimmerman, who gave me a wonderful place to stay and made me smile to no end.
5. Everything is Really Pretty Big in Texas (Houston, TX)
On the way to our post-thesis vacation in Mexico, the TPP gang stopped in Houston, Texas, for an extended layover with the lovely Dina, who was a magnificent host and guide in her hometown. We drank big margaritas, ate big lunches, saw big water walls, and drove around in a big car...all signs point to stuff being pretty big down there. Although I'll definitely need to collect more data points in the future (Austin? San Antonio?) this was a lovely and BIG introduction to the Lone Star State.
6. A RUINed Vacation Isn't Necessarily the Worst...Get it? (Chichen Itza, Mexico)
On our post-thesis trip to Cancun, we took a day to participate in a sightseeing tour, which included swimming in a cenote (coolest thing ever), seeing some Mayan ruins (above), and getting stranded on the side of the road after our bus overheated (twice). All's well that ends well, though, and our bus mishap actually led me to procure some of the most delicious churros of all time. So there you go.
7. Maybe I am a Beach Person After All (Cancun, Mexico)
I'm not sure if it's all my beach training from Southeast Asia, my love of a good book, or the thrilling companionship of my travel partners in crime (see above), but I've discovered that I really do enjoy beach vacations. The five of us had a great time in Mexico despite some pretty intense sunburns, and it was a fabulous way to celebrate turning in 5 on-time master's theses.
8. I Don't Take a lot of Photos in Our Nation's Capital (Washington, DC)
Despite my two (two!) visits to DC this year, I have exactly one picture from my time there: a glorious CTY reunion with two of my favorite RAs of all time (above). Washington still feels a bit like home to me (which might account for the lack of pictures), so on my next trip I'll make a special effort to get some photographing in.
9. I Can Eat a Surprising Amount Over the Course of One Weekend (Seattle, WA)
At the beginning of August, I did a quick cross-continent trip to visit two friends in Seattle, which was my first-ever visit to the Pacific Northwest. Although we definitely did lots of fun touristy things during my visit (aquariums, boat tours, museums, and the like), my highlights of Seattle were all food-related. In three days we managed to hit 3 Eater 38 restaurants, in addition to much snacking from various food vendors as well as a visit to ONE OF TWO AMERICAN DIN TAI FUNG LOCATIONS. I was over the moon to get real, authentic soup dumplings, and am barely containing my excitement in the photo above.
10. A 28-Hour Stay is Too Short for a Trip (Edmonton, AB)
The weekend before departing for France, I made a (very) quick trip to Edmonton, Alberta, for Mark and Barbara's wonderful wedding. Unfortunately, I ended up arriving very late and leaving very early, so I only had about 28 hours total to explore Edmonton (and attend the reception). Mark was a wonderful guide, however, and I'm glad I got to learn a little bit more about Western Canada.
11. Provence and I Really Get Along (Southern France)
On our week-long road trip from Paris to Nice, Claire and I saw far too many amazing things to count--the photo above is from the Chateau des Baux, one of my favorite castles we saw on our journey (and believe me, there were more than a few). We ate wonderful food, met amazing people (many of whom I could even speak to in French!) and had a really remarkable time together. It was the first long vacation I had taken since Turkey, and I'm so thankful to Claire for taking so much time to spend with me in her beautiful country. Fun fact: there are native flamingoes in France! Who knew?
12. Sometimes, Driving Through 3 Other Countries is the Fastest Way from A to B (Monaco, Italy, and Switzerland)
To get from Nice to Alsace, where Claire's summer home is located, we took a two-day journey through Monaco, Italy (including an overnight stop in Milan), and across Switzerland (with a stop in Lucern for lunch). Driving up and over the Swiss Alps was probably the most breathtaking experience I've ever had--I took over 150 photos in the hour it took us to go up and over the mountains.
13. Ashley's is Still the Best Bar in the World (Ann Arbor, MI)
Similarly to in 2012, TPP sent me off to Ann Arbor this October to recruit some sweet Wolverines for our next class at MIT, and on my visit I got to see some wonderful people and visit Ashley's and Zingerman's, the two Ann Arbor establishments that can never be replaced in my heart. Although now it's a little sad to return to A2 (where did all my friends go?), it will always be a special place. I also finally purchased a replacement "Harvard: The Michigan of the East" t-shirt, although I haven't figured out any places in Boston I could wear it without seeming like a jerk. Alas, perhaps in the new year...
Well, that's all folks! Thanks to all the wonderful people who made my 2013 travels special, and here's to many more adventures in the year to come! I'll be spending the first two weeks of 2014 exploring Scandinavia, so expect some interesting (and potentially very cold) posting soon!
Dara
