Silver Pavilion, Kyoto, Japan (photo credit)

Silver Pavilion, Kyoto, Japan (photo credit)

It has only been 4.5 months since GCCjr entered the world, but he is already excited to embark on his first International adventure.  He does have two passports after all.

For the past few weeks, he has been practicing his exploration skills as we walk around Taipei.  He has become increasingly comfortable sleeping in his stroller in strange and noisy places, and is equally happy with a picnic in the park or lunch from a street cart.  Formal dining is still a bit pretentious and boring, however.

He is becoming quite the socialite, and loves flirting with the staff at coffee shops and restaurants.  He is content to sit and people watch for long periods as long as he is being held, whether it be by Mom or Dad or a total stranger.  Dogs, fire alarms, honking cars, and big crowds don’t faze him in the least.  (See Winnie’s Instagram which features a GCCjr photo a day.)

GCCjr thinks he is ready for a travel trial run.  For a first passport stamp, we are headed to Kyoto, Japan in 2 weeks for 8 days .

Kyoto, Japan

Japan is a great first destination.  I’ve been to Japan at least 25 times (Winnie has never been!) and every time I’m impressed by how everything is incredibly organized and efficient.  The streets are clean, trains operate like clock work, and everything seems to function exactly as advertised.

People are also exceptionally polite and friendly.  Once upon a time I was pseudo-lost in the Tokyo subway system, and a nice old man took me by the elbow and guided me to my connection.  Arigato gozaimasu!

The flights are a quick 2.5 hour direct hop, with easy airport transportation on both ends.  Peach is an upstart regional airline, and round-trip flights are only ~$200/person.  Lap infants fly for free, and a stroller and safety seat also get free transport.

We will be in Kyoto before the peak tourist season begins, while it is still considered hot yet still cooler than Taipei.  We plan to explore the various temples, savor the seafood and ramen and okonomiyaki, and see how our little guy adapts to the experience.

It should be a fun travel trial.

Travel Trial of a Different Sort

Back in March of this year, we had reserved a house in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico for a full 6 months starting in October. I have a nice confirmation email from the property manager to that effect.

Since we love San Miguel so much and have great friends there, we thought it would be a perfect place for Winnie and GCCjr to be while I attend the Chautauqua in Ecuador.  And of course, a great place to spend the whole winter.

Unlike Japan, things in Mexico aren’t always delivered as advertised.  That house is no longer available, and our plans are now in flux.

After our Kyoto trip, we will decide our next destination.  It will mostly likely be in Asia.  Chiang Mai, Thailand, and Bali, Indonesia are two (cliché) possibilities.  Suggestions welcome.

One door closes and another one opens.

San Jose, CA Meetup

Flying to Ecuador for this year’s Chautauqua is a little more challenging from Taipei than from Mexico, about 30 hours of travel in each direction.

To make the trip a little easier, I’ll be overnighting in San Jose, California on Friday, October 23rd.

If you are in the San Jose area and are interested in meeting up, please let me know.

Meetup Update – the meetup is at a private residence in San Jose. We are doing a potluck style dinner with an attendance limit of about 25 people. If you haven’t received an email and are interested in attending, send me an email at [email protected]