travel – Explore https://travel.thomaswall.com Expanding my world experience Mon, 11 Nov 2024 02:36:17 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7 https://travel.thomaswall.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/cropped-3-32x32.png travel – Explore https://travel.thomaswall.com 32 32 Curling: Night of the Curling Dead https://travel.thomaswall.com/2024/10/26/curling-night-of-the-curling-dead/ https://travel.thomaswall.com/2024/10/26/curling-night-of-the-curling-dead/#respond Sat, 26 Oct 2024 22:54:49 +0000 https://travel.thomaswall.com/?p=950 While at the Grits N Granite Bonspiel I was asked to take up the second position at another bonspiel the following week. As I was still out of work, I naturally agreed and headed for Atlanta for the Night of the Curling Dead Bonspiel. This was yet another opportunity to get some experience at another curling venue, visiting friends in the area and take in some local attractions

Our team name was “Icy Dead People” and Amazon came through with perfect shirts to keep us uniform, though we didn’t win the costume contest. The ice at Peachtree was quick and it took repeated adjustments through our games to figure it out. While there were close games throughout the weekend, we weren’t able to secure our spot in the semi-final matches.

While I did not experience winning on the ice, I did find a sense of victory in the form of raffle prizes. I locked down two for myself. One was the Cube of Beer representing beers from the Orlando area and the second was a basket full of mini games. I also took home a lesson learned from a fellow curler. What was it, a name stamp. While I was writing my name 80 times on raffle tickets, they used an address stamp to apply their name to the same allotment of tickets in a fraction of the time.

Check out our first game on the ice

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Moto Journey: Tail of the Dragon https://travel.thomaswall.com/2024/08/20/moto-journey-tail-of-the-dragon/ https://travel.thomaswall.com/2024/08/20/moto-journey-tail-of-the-dragon/#respond Tue, 20 Aug 2024 03:39:44 +0000 https://travel.thomaswall.com/?p=845

Welcome to Robbinsville NC, also known as Deals Gap, aka the “Tail of the Dragon”. The Dragon is known by car and motorcycle enthusiast alike for is 11 mile stretch of 318 turns through the mountains. This was my first journey to the Dragon but definitely won’t be the last. Plus, it’s close to the Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountains which means even greater chances for windy roads and scenic hikes. What took me by surprise on the Dragon was the photographers who took pictures of every vehicle that passed by. I felt like I was at the amusement part getting my photo taken as I’m leaning into a turn. I’ll be honest, the first time I saw them I got a tiny bit distracted but from that point on my focus was fully on the hundreds of turns ahead of me.

All are welcome on this route and there’s ample pull off spots to take in the scenery or to watch the numerous enthusiast driving by. In fact, it’s relatively close to Pigeon Forge which often host Jeep week, Truck week, Car weeks, etc so there’s always an opportunity to watch from the side of the road. And hey, if this isn’t your thing, I’m sure Dolly would love for you to stop by DollyWood!

Check out my ride below, I plan to post more videos of my rides and some of the cool finds I see along the way!

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Nikko in a Day: From Sacred Shrines to Stunning Mountain Views https://travel.thomaswall.com/2023/10/22/nikko-in-a-day-from-sacred-shrines-to-stunning-mountain-views/ https://travel.thomaswall.com/2023/10/22/nikko-in-a-day-from-sacred-shrines-to-stunning-mountain-views/#respond Sun, 22 Oct 2023 03:39:39 +0000 https://travel.thomaswall.com/?p=975

Each time I looked for locations close to Tokyo to visit Nikko popped up every time. I finally made it and was welcomed with cooler temperatures and great seasonal colors. I started my day with a walk from the station to see the Shinkyo Bridge before making my way to Nikko Toshogu, Nikko Futarasan Jinja and the grave of Prince Rinnoji. After, I took a bus through the mountain pass to see Chuzenji Lake and Kegon Falls. Truly a wonderful experience.

When I return to Japan, I plan to rent a vehicle so I can visit more areas around the National Parks.

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Shinagawa Aquarium: A Neighborhood Gem with a Splash of Fun https://travel.thomaswall.com/2023/10/20/shinagawa-aquarium-a-neighborhood-gem-with-a-splash-of-fun/ https://travel.thomaswall.com/2023/10/20/shinagawa-aquarium-a-neighborhood-gem-with-a-splash-of-fun/#respond Fri, 20 Oct 2023 03:50:11 +0000 https://travel.thomaswall.com/?p=978

My time is winding down here in Japan and I have a great weekend planned. I’m choosing to stay local for my trip today and visited the local Shinagawa Aquarium. This small aquarium was positioned at the end of a neighborhood park and showcased a dolphin and sea lion show plus a smattering of other exhibits. If you’re looking for a reprieve from the busy tourist sites around Tokyo, I’d give this place a go, especially if you have small kids.

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Hidden Gems of Ikegami: A Serene Stroll Through Temples, Pagodas, and Secret Spots https://travel.thomaswall.com/2023/10/19/hidden-gems-of-ikegami-a-serene-stroll-through-temples-pagodas-and-secret-spots/ https://travel.thomaswall.com/2023/10/19/hidden-gems-of-ikegami-a-serene-stroll-through-temples-pagodas-and-secret-spots/#respond Thu, 19 Oct 2023 03:58:26 +0000 https://travel.thomaswall.com/?p=985

Yesterday I didn’t venture far out, nonetheless, I enjoyed a leisurely walk around Ikegami. This included stops by the small Buddhist temple Shoei-in, the 5 story Honmonji Pagoda, the Ikegami Honmonji Temple, Daibo Temple with its beautiful garden and Koi pond and lastly a stop at the Honmonji Tahōtō Pagoda which had a very distinctive shape not seen throughout my trip here in Japan. Its location was perfect as it was hidden in the trees and I had not seen it on the map, I would have easily walked by without knowing it was there.

I truly am blessed to be here. I chose to work remotely from Japan and my walk around Ikegami personifies why. Japan is accessible where ever you are. Most people only get a few days here and miss opportunities to explore. This trip is unforgettable and has inspired me to keep traveling and seek more opportunities to work abroad.

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Tokyo DisneySea Delight: Exploring Japan’s Unique Take on Disney Magic https://travel.thomaswall.com/2023/10/17/tokyo-disneysea-delight-exploring-japans-unique-take-on-disney-magic/ https://travel.thomaswall.com/2023/10/17/tokyo-disneysea-delight-exploring-japans-unique-take-on-disney-magic/#respond Tue, 17 Oct 2023 04:21:40 +0000 https://travel.thomaswall.com/?p=994

Enjoyed a great outing to Tokyo Disney Sea which reminds me of a combination of Epcot and Hollywood Studios. Have to give props to Disney service on this one as my app didn’t work to purchase some passes. They accommodated my request and luckily, in my short time at the park, I got to ride the majority of the popular rides including Toy Story Mania. While I didn’t set the high score for the day, I was happy to see all the bonus levels were the same at each mini game.

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A Refreshing Escape to Mt. Takao: Trails, Streams, and City-Free Serenity https://travel.thomaswall.com/2023/10/14/a-refreshing-escape-to-mt-takao-trails-streams-and-city-free-serenity/ https://travel.thomaswall.com/2023/10/14/a-refreshing-escape-to-mt-takao-trails-streams-and-city-free-serenity/#respond Sat, 14 Oct 2023 04:30:51 +0000 https://travel.thomaswall.com/?p=1002

Enjoyed a nice outing to Mt. Takao and as a bonus perk, only an hour train ride to get here. Though I didn’t have the best shoes for the route taken as parts of the trail took you down a stream. Luckily there was a place at the train station to wash your shoes. All in All, it was a great escape from the city.

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Odaiba Unveiled: Discovering Art, Gundam, and Hidden Wonders https://travel.thomaswall.com/2023/10/13/odaiba-unveiled-discovering-art-gundam-and-hidden-wonders/ https://travel.thomaswall.com/2023/10/13/odaiba-unveiled-discovering-art-gundam-and-hidden-wonders/#respond Fri, 13 Oct 2023 04:39:46 +0000 https://travel.thomaswall.com/?p=1006

What a nice outing to Odaiba before heading back to relax before work. Last time I was here it was raining so I went to Joypolis and enjoyed the indoor arcade games and attractions. This time it was sunny so I made my way to TeamLabs Tokyo before walking around to see the Gundam Unicorn statue and the 1:7 scale replica of the Statue of Liberty. So many things to do here that are often missed.

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A Festive Surprise at Fukuyama Castle: Music, Food, and Local Charm https://travel.thomaswall.com/2023/10/08/a-festive-surprise-at-fukuyama-castle-music-food-and-local-charm/ https://travel.thomaswall.com/2023/10/08/a-festive-surprise-at-fukuyama-castle-music-food-and-local-charm/#respond Sun, 08 Oct 2023 02:16:34 +0000 https://travel.thomaswall.com/?p=1016

Took a trip down to Fukuyama Castle today. I passed this castle multiple times on my trip and knew I wanted to come back and walk around the area. What I didn’t know is I would stumble on to the Fukuyama Castle Festival which showcased live music on the north side of the castle with food and drink vendors to the south. Suffice to say this is not a destination most tourists would make so I truly felt immersed in the local culture.

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Exploring Yokohama: Bay Views, Cup Noodles, and Carnival Rides https://travel.thomaswall.com/2023/10/06/exploring-yokohama-bay-views-cup-noodles-and-carnival-rides/ https://travel.thomaswall.com/2023/10/06/exploring-yokohama-bay-views-cup-noodles-and-carnival-rides/#respond Fri, 06 Oct 2023 02:32:38 +0000 https://travel.thomaswall.com/?p=1026

Yesterday I spent a relaxing day walking around Yokohama. I started at Harbor View Park which offers views of the bay and in the distance Tokyo. While I didn’t go up to it, I was also able to see the Gundam Factory from this spot. I’ll probably find myself visiting another day during an outing before work. From the park, I made my way down to Yamashita Park where families were out enjoying the lawn and some light sport activities. Upon leaving the park, I ventured to the Cup Noodle Museum where I had my hand in making my own cup noodle. Suffice to say, I won’t be winning any art contest. Across the street from the Cup Noodle Museum was Yokohama Cosmo World. While the line for the main coaster was too long, it take the opportunity to ride some of the other carnival rides. With Yokohama being so close to where I’m staying, I’ll definitely be back another day.

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