Residence Inn By Marriott Seattle Northeast-Bothell

... re vegan doesn't mean that you still won't get fish flakes on that tofu. Great sites for info on being vegan in Japan include: http://www.happycow.net/asia/japan/toky o/index.html, from bakeries to restaurants, including what they serve, addresses, and phone numbers http://www.geocities.com/outoftowntoby/ has useful expressions, shopping, and restaurants for vegans. http://www.veganjapan.net/index_engl.ht ml includes ...

... one had a long dropper in it. The waiter explained that it was: melon (green) alcohol, strawberry (red) alcohol, orange juice (which was very sweet and thin, I liked it with the alcohol), grapefuit juice, and some blue alcohol thing (I didn't hear what he said it was, but it wasn't as good as the others so Chris drank it). He explained that you take the dropper and get different colors and mix them in the milky-stuff and stir it and drink it (out of a ...

... 6pm-4am Mon-Sat, 5pm-11pm holidays, and closed Sundays. No official website that I could find (the diamond-dining.com site is no longer in existance), however carmenyuen.com has a good description and great pictures. Remember to make those reservations! *The Tokyo Tower: Though hard to find on Google Maps (boy that took forever), it should be relatively easy to find it in actual Tokyo, it being taller than the Eiffel Tower and ...

... 8-8-5 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0061. No official website that I could find, but carmenyuen.com and notquitenigella.com have some good information and pictures. Getting there: Take JR line to Shinbashi Station, Ginza exit, turn left when you see the post office (Chuo Dori, Dori means avenue), it's right after the Ginza 9 complex. Look for the sign on the outside of the Taiyo Building, it's in Japanese but there's a blue heart.

... then went on a ferry to one of the many beautiful islands near the city. On the island I had the most amazing ice cream I have had in my life - and was totally worth flying the thousands of miles for - a must for any ice cream fan to visit if you are ever in this part of the world! I had the cheesecake and brownie flavour ice cream with hot chocolate sauce - it was good ...

Well, I figured I'd kick off this travel blog while I have internet access. We should have some on the boat, so I hope to be able to keep you all updated with my adventures! So far, the only adventure is worrying that the American Airlines cancelations will somehow affect our flight (not very likely). But I know I won't totally relax until we're on our plane. All packed and ready to rock ...

... available on weekdays for $31 (except holidays) and Starlight Passports for after 3 pm on weekends and holidays are $47 for adults. Getting there: Take the JR Keiyo line Maihama Station. Take Disney Resort line at Resort Gate Station. Direct buses from Shinjuku are available (the train is all decked out in Mickey, though, it's really cool!) *Shinjuku New City Hotel: Between $130-$215 a night for ...

... of the books on China that are sitting on my shelves, "improve" my Chinese-language skills (which implies that I have Chinese-language skills to improve-in truth, I'm still standing firmly on square one despite a couple of classes and the efforts of Yale at work), compare the recommendations in the three China travel guides that I bought, ... you get the idea. However, come 11:45 am or so on Tuesday, I just have to close the zipper on my backpack and walk out the door. Wish me luck.

... has grown into a many-block long waterfront daily "event" - with vendor upon vendor selling beautful flowers, luscious-looking produce, and more fresh fish than we've ever seen outside of an aquarium! It has spilled up and away from the waterfront into the surrounding streets, which are now filled with little galleries, restaurants, and street performers. A fun way to spend an afternoon, which included a stop at Kells Irish Pub ...

The flight from Seattle to Fairbanks is long--longer than what you would expect. I think most maps and people for that matter underestimate the distance between Washington and Alaska. According to my boyfriend, the distance from Seattle to Fairbanks is about the distance from Seattle to Miami. Fly time that means quite a few hours. But I'm used to it now. I've come to expect it. I've done it before. I ...