2025 trip part 6: Alaska
The highlight of this year's Alaska trip was sharing it with our friends Arno and Liezl, chefs from South Africa. Lots of fishing, berry picking, eating, watching bald eagles, quad biking, kayaking and barbeques on the beach.
The 4th of July saw us winning the parade prize for closest to theme thanks again to Iming's sister Yvonne. Iming and I made it to 4th this year in both the egg and salmon toss events!
Alaska is starting to feel like our second home.
And then it was time to return to South Africa, with a brief stopover in Philadelphia. The end of a spectacular 3 month trip.
2025 trip part 5: Hawaii
Maui was great fun. Lots of snorkeling, playing in the pool, surfing, eating shaved ice, and exploring.
Snorkeling and surfing with Iming's dad, at 80, was inspirational. I hope to do that with my kids at 80!
If Egg Toss was an Olympic Sport, Seldovia, Alaska would be the elite training facility where legends are hatched. 🐣
I’ve watched this sacred July 4 ritual for the past 6 years and its egg-ceptional. My sister (purple shirt) and her husband came in 4 the in their heat but they cracked under pressure and didn’t make the finals.
#seldoviaalaska #seldovia #alaska #july4 #eggtoss
Seldovia, Alaska has the best July 4 in America (I’m pretty sure). This year’s costume parade theme was Red, White and Blueberry. We spent the morning of July 3 scrounging cardboard and making “Captain Crust and the Blueberry Crew”. The kiddos did an excellent work dancing and chanting, “Blueberries Unite”, and not getting too distracted by the thrown candies (this part was very hard).
#upcycle #homemade #homemadecostume #cardboardcostume #cardboardart #cardboardcreations #cardboardcrafts #july4thweekend #seldovia #alaska @seldovia.arts@seldovia_alaska
2025 trip part 4: Taiwan part A
Iming's folks grew up mainly in Taiwan, their parents being part of the group that escaped China when the communist party came to power in 1949. So we went and had a look.
We met Iming's mom's sister and her husband in Taipei at an amazing vegetarian restaurant - probably the best we've ever been to. We then set of to meet friends of their's in Yilan county along the coast. There we swam at a black sand beach in 28 degree water. Xincheng, further down the east coast, is home to the majestic Taroko National Park gorge. We swam in the local river and then drove through gorge. Stunning by any measure. A narrow winding road cutting through the highest mountains in Taiwan.
2025 trip part 3: China part D
We traveled by train to Shenyang as a base from which to see the area that Iming's mom's family is from. From there further South to Fengcheng, just north of the North Korean border. This is where Iming's grandfather went to highschool. Then by small bus to where he was in primary school. This is rural China with agriculture all along the road. I'm the first foreigner a gentleman on the bus has ever met. He thought all foreigners were blonde. Finally by car to a small cluster of homes nearby a river - the original Song homestead. We also found the gravestones of Iming's mom's grandfather and his cousin.
We then flew to Xiamen in the southern province of Fujian, right near Taiwan. We ate local food and visited the Tulou - traditional round housing of the indigenous Hakka people. Another world heritage site from 1000 years ago.
And then our Chinese trip is over!
2025 trip part 3: China part C
On the way to Datong we pay a visit to one of the many Buddhist temples at Mount Wutai and have a traditional Buddhist temple meal. We proceed to the Hengshan mountain and climb the steps to the 50m high hanging temple. Then the Yingxian Buddhist pagoda, dating from 1066, the worlds tallest wooden pagoda at 61m. Another visit to the Great Wall, this time at the famous northern gate where many battles to keep intruders from Mongolia out took place. Lastly a visit to the YunGang grottoes, 2km of unbelievable stone Buddhist carvings from 400-500AD - another world heritage site.
2025 trip part 3: China part B
From Yangshuo to Xi'an, home to the famous terracotta warriors of the first Chinese dynasty. Unbelievable 2000 year old site with over 8000 life size terracotta soldiers. This is the burial site of the first emporer of the Qin dynasty who unified China.
And then pandas! Our first experience with these adorable, silly creatures.
Next up - the ancient city of Pingyao (2700 years old), one of the best preserved in China and a world heritage site. Also home to the first modern bank in China from 1823.
We also joined the local pass time of women dressing in traditional clothing for photo shoots.
2025 trip part 3: China part A
For Iming's dad's 80th they're showing us China, including where their families are from originally.
We start in Beijing and see the amazing new Beijing library, the summer palace, the forbidden city, (including a pottery exhibition with 6000-8000 yr old pieces!), the great wall (an hour or so outside the city, which takes you up by ski lift and you toboggan down!), the China Science and Technology museum, and an indoor playground with human wack-a-mole - probably Iming's highlight of the trip.
Next we visit Yangshuo, regarded as one of China's most beautiful parts with rivers running through karst mountains. We kayaked, cycled and rafted down the rivers, visited a local market and stayed in a beautiful riverside hotel. We also walked through a very impressive cave system, certainly the largest we've been in.
Yangshuo is definitely a highlight and must visit.
2025 trip part 2: Japan
An 8 day exploration of a small part of Japan as a possible destination for a longer stay in future.
Landing in Osaka we set off to Kobe and visited an awe inspiring carpentry museum and explored the city. We rented a typical little Japanese box mini suv which was a joy to get around in.
Off to Kyoto to visit a bamboo forest, sample some amazing local food and visit a beautiful temple. We tasted and bought very rich and flavourful locally produced soy sauce (with a different variety for every occasion). We also saw one of many spectacular temples. While visiting a selection of artisanal producers we stumbled upon a gorgeous large red long nosed fellow (a tengu) and discovered more about the Shinto beliefs of Japan.
From there to Sanda in the Hyogo prefecture to view a possible school for the kids, in case we decide on a longer stay sometime. And happened upon the most amazing chocolatier, baker and all round magic maker - ES Koyama. The best chocolate we've ever tasted in the most magical setting. The cakes next door we're to die for. Just wow! On every level.
On Shikoku island we stayed in a beautiful traditional home with a mom and her two daughters. We slept and ate a traditional Japanese breakfast on tatame mats, and the girls made friends. Then the most serendipitous encounter with a couple growing indigo in the mountains where we spent the day learning about the history of the area and indigo growing and processing.
We set off to Awaji island where Iming spent the afternoon learning more about Indigo at Watanabes, famous for their Indigo products, while the kids learnt to make traditional Japanese paper at a small scale paper maker. This island is known for its incense, so the kids learnt to make some at a well known local producer.
A last quick stop in Osaka and our Japanese experience was over. Till next time.
2025 trip part 1: California
We spent three weeks in California, arriving on time to celebrate Iming's dad's 80th. Hanging with the cousins at Iming's sister's new venture - Urban Air. With good snow still available at Mammoth mountain in the Sierra Nevada range we managed to get 2 days of skiing - a first for the kids who both got the hang of it quickly. Also a fantastic visit to the Academy of sciences in San Francisco. And then houseboating at Shasta lake.
