I'm in love with... Travel!

My love affair with travel was seeded in me at a young age. I got to spend my 10th birthday in HAWAII!!!! simply because my sister's husband was stationed there at the military base. Of course, we had the traditional "summer family vacations"  every year from the time I can remember. I've been to Graceland, Eureka Springs, Myrtle Beach, and Disney World, just to name a few.



When the tide rises in the evening, it appears the shrine is floating

 But what really got me, was my first trip to Japan. Once again, visiting my sister (who was stationed just outside of Tokyo at Camp Zama), my mother,  other sister, and I spent 2 weeks exploring the crowded streets of that beautiful land in Asia.



A traditional pagoda


I was young still. I had just graduated high school. I had never been outside of the US and here I was jetsetting to Japan. I fell in love. I truly, truly did. I soaked up every ounce of what this new culture had to offer. We had tea with my sister's students, we went to Tokyo Tower (similar to the Eiffel Tower but in Tokyo-duh!), we visited the aftermath of the nuclear bombings in Hiroshima.


Having tea with students

 It was fabulous. My young mind was opened up to the beauty of new experiences, new people, and a new way of the world. I had never before realized how different life is outside of the United States. I mean, you read about different cultures and see pictures in magazines but until you truly experience it, you have no idea.



The famous Buddha in Kamakura



Ever since this trip, I have had a hunger (I mean, the serious kind that feels like your belly is eating away at itself) for travel. Robby always gives me grief (just the joking kind) that he's going to go broke supporting my travel habit. It's what I love. I am always planning the next vacation. Dreaming of the next getaway.

So, this blog is my small-time travel outlet. A reason to continue exploring. It's easy to make excuses about not having time and not having money and not having time (yes, I know I said that twice). But here's the deal. I want to make time. I don't want to always be too busy that we can't enjoy the outdoors and can't adventure to places yet unseen.

Robby is truly a good sport about the whole deal. Heck, I think I've even gotten him into the habit of several vacays a year (yay me!). I hope this continues. I hope we can instill the love of travel and exploration into Olivia's life. I hope we always make time for family adventures.

So, I wanna know...

What was the one vacation that made you fall in love with travel?

Pan



Dressed in yukata, which is a traditional summer kimono