Once in a lifetime

An open-ended adventure by Heidi & Dominic Read more

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Trip start
December 14, 2024
Once in a lifetime
Heading Home
January 26, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
We said goodbye to Hawaii and boarded our last international flight home to Auckland at US time 9.20am on the Sunday. We flew for 4389 miles for 8 hours and 55 minutes and arrived back in New Zealand on Monday Night at 5.15pm. What an amazing experience.

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover!” — Mark TwainRead more
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Once in a lifetime
Leaving Nelson
December 15, 2024 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C
We are on our way. Four years after covid delays, we are on our way.
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Once in a lifetime
All Aboard The Flight To Tokyo
December 15, 2024 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
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Once in a lifetime
Day 1 Shinjuku
Dec 15–17, 2024 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C
Massive 10-hour flight from Auckland to Narita airport on NZ99 a Boeing 777-300ER (B77W), a twin-jet aircraft that has 212 seats . We had 4 seats in the middle, so Fin and Eddie both tried sleeping over everyone. Customs were quick and efficient with QR codes that you pre register for. These work as your visa and declaration. Helpers were at every step of the way, even catching the hour and a half long train from the airport to Shinjuku where we are staying our first night.
The Rose Garden hotel is decorated for Christmas, which is always welcoming. The room is tiny and perfect for our needs. The bathroom is lovely and has provided extensive entertainment for the boys with its seat warmer, motion activated toilet seat and full service bidet function 😂💩Read more
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Once in a lifetime
Day 2 Shibuya Day Time
December 16, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 5 °C
Day two we headed to view the Meiji Jingu shrine. Which is dedicated to the spirits of Emperor Meiji and his wife Empress Shoken. Emperor Meiji is the 122nd Emperor of Japan who is famous for instigating the Meiji Restoration changes that transformed Japan into an industrialized world power. The shrine is housed in a forest and is a peaceful hour long walk.
After the shrine it is all about shopping. From visiting to Ralph Lauren shop to 6degrees.

Lunch was a GoKu Burger experience.Read more
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Once in a lifetime
Day 2 Shinjuku Night time
December 16, 2024 in Japan ⋅ 🌙 9 °C
As the sun went down we walked through Takeshita street full of people, colour and apparently a man dressed as a penis. After sunset we walked around the bar and red light district where tiny bars are housed behind colorful doors. Some are the size of a kitchen bench with only four to five seats for patrons.

We walked down the famous Takeashita street for the sights. It was packed, bright, colorful and loud. Eddie bought a toffee apple the size of his head.

We cooked and ate our own Wagu at Genki Taishou Halal for dinner. The waiter had been to New Zealand and loved it.Read more
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Once in a lifetime
Day 3 Bullet train to Kyoto
Dec 17–18, 2024 in Japan ⋅ 🌙 6 °C
Rolling out of Tokoyo to the central station where the boys did a sprint for snacks from the 7/11 for the 2 hour train ride to Koyoto. Time was short to catch the train. Thank goodness for the polite locals who helped by reading our tickets and pointing directions as we sprinted around with Arigato as our only Japanese.

The bullet train was busy but not packed with locals and tourists. The train uses maglev technology where magnets simultaneously push and pull the train, levitating the train above the tracks and helping it reach speeds to up to 200 miles per hour.

Even though the drinking age is 20, Fin managed to buy alcohol as part of his train snacks.

We arrived, grabbed another GO taxi, and headed to our hotel Monday Kyoto Karasume Nijo. After dropping off the bags in our room, we headed on foot to the Nijo Castle. Nijo Castle was built in 1603 as the Kyoto residence of Tokygawa leyasu, the first shogun of the Edo Period (1603-1868). His grandson Iemitsu completed the castle's palace buildings 23 years later and expanded the castle by adding a five story castle keep.

After the Tokugawa Shogunate fell in 1867, Nijo Castle was used as an imperial palace for a while before being donated to the city and opened up to the public as a historic site. Its palace buildings are arguably the best surviving examples of castle palace architecture of Japan's feudal era, and the castle was designated a UNESCO world heritage site in 1994. It was colder in Kyoto than Tokoyo and the castle grounds were beautiful. The boys sprinted ahead which left Dom and I to try and watch the sunset from the highest point in the gardens. Dinner for Dom and Fin was a tiny Ramen cafe. With Beers at the Balcook Grill.Read more
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Once in a lifetime
Day 4 Kyoto daytime
December 18, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 3 °C
Up early to another amazing Japanese breakfast. Then we grabbed a taxi to Kyoto Arashiyama, where there were beautiful bamboo forests and the Tenryu-ji a major Rinzai Zen Temple. The gardens are registered as a UNESCO world heritage site. The first Zen temple was founded on this site in 786. The temple was established in 1339 by the Shogun Ashikaga Takauji in memory of Emporeror Go-Diago. The abbot was the eminent Zen master Muso Soseki. It was designated first among Kyotos Five Mountains (the city's five major Zen temples).

After our Zen adventures we found a Gluten free Raman cafe called To the Moon, which is themed around Rabbit and the book I love you to the moon and back. We had the Waguu Raman where the meat is cooked by a blow torch at your table. It was an amazing and delicious food experience.

After lunch we split up to go shopping and caught up with each other at Cook and Bals a tiny but modern bar. The bartender was Ukrainan and had lived in Japan since he was 10. The boys ate fried chicken and chips, while Dom drank a few craft beers, or as we like to call it Snore Juice.

After the bar we headed through the
Nishiki Food market. Again another night of sights, sounds and smells. But the food was tasty.Read more
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Once in a lifetime
Day 4 Kyoto Night Time
December 18, 2024 in Japan ⋅ 🌙 7 °C
With different shopping needs, we all split up and met again at Cook and Bals, a tiny but modern bar. The bar tender was Ukrainan and had lived in Japan since he was 10. The boys ate fried chicken and chips, while Dom drank a few craft beers or, as we like to call it, Snore Juice. After the bar, we walked through the Nishiki Food market. Again, another night of sights, smells, but the food was tasty.Read more
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Once in a lifetime
Day 5 Osaka Day and Castle
Dec 19–20, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 7 °C
A much calmer train experience with us having a leisurely 15 minutes to stroll to our platform this morning as we caught the JR train from Kyoto to Osaka. The trip was only 23 minutes and we just topped speeds of 115. Some of the houses were so close to the tracks with over 128 trains going past everyday it must just be background noise to the residents.

After arriving we dropped our bags at the Hotel new Hankyu Annex and headed to the Osaka Castle. Built in 1583 the castle played an important role in the unification of Japan.Read more
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Once in a lifetime
Day 5 Osaka Night
December 19, 2024 in Japan ⋅ 🌙 6 °C
As the day turned to night, we walked out of the zoo and into a Japanese street full of cafes and game shops. The boys attempted to win at the shooting game, but carnival games are the same all over the world. Dinner was at a restaurant that felt more local than anything else we had experienced so far. The main hint was horse on the menu and the first time the serving staff were grumpy with us.Read more
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Once in a lifetime
Day 6 - Osaka and back to Tokoyo
December 20, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 3 °C
After a night in bunk beds, we packed up early and caught the subway to the Kaiyukan Aquarium. The aquarium is home to Whale Sharks, which we got to view on a separate tour. The pacific ocean tank is 9m deep and 34m and holds 5,400 tons of water. The Whale Shark experience was magical as you have to be really quiet while you are on the walkways over the aquarium.

A quick lunch in the mall next to the aquarium. We caught a final train to the hotel airport, which was challenging with all our cases but totally fine as no one in Japan complains.Read more
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Once in a lifetime
Day 7 - Tokoyo to London
December 21, 2024 in England ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C
An early start with a 5am breakfast before catching the hotel bus to the airport. The flight NH211 was 14 hours 40 minutes long on All Nippon Airways (ANA) on a Boeing 777-300ER (B77W) twin-jet aircraft that seats 392 people.

Tough flight, even though we stocked up on snacks many of us struggled with the flight time and Body clocks but we made it in one piece.

After landing, we caught the underground to Paddington, where we had an air BnB for two days. Over to the pub next door aptly named "The Bear" for a pint, a mulled wine, and hot chips.Read more
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Once in a lifetime
Day 8 - Full day in London town
December 22, 2024 in England ⋅ ☁️ 5 °C
Bitterly cold but a day packed full of fun. Woke up in our little Paddington Air BnB which had a view of the street so we could watch London waking up. Off to the Tower of London where I wasn't allowed near the gift shop. The crown jewels were breathtaking. Displayed to glitter it was a fairytale moment. Crossing London Bridge bought the best surprise of Rachel Myers and her family who had just landed and were as shocked as we were to bump into each other. Off to the London Eye for the best view on town and finally a delicious burger at the HardRock Cafe London.Read more
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Once in a lifetime
Day 9 - Second Day in London
December 23, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C
Full day of London fun. We packed up and stashed our bags and did a day of sightseeing before grabbing the train to Mark's Tey station to catch up with the UK family. It was the day that almost everyone lost their underground tickets.Read more
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Once in a lifetime
Day 10 - Christmas Eve
December 24, 2024 in England ⋅ ☁️ 8 °C
Christmas Eve at Karen and Chris's. Girls Brunch was amazing with lots of Christmas decoration shopping. As soon as it got dark at 2.30pm we headed to the light show at Colchester Castle.
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Once in a lifetime
Day 11 - Christmas
December 25, 2024 in England ⋅ ☁️ 9 °C
With 13 people and 16 dogs in xx square metres. The kitchen of Chris did amazing work. Fun day of mayhem.
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Once in a lifetime
Day 12 - Boxing day Sales
December 26, 2024 in England ⋅ ☁️ 6 °C
Fin and Hj earned our novice stripes attending the boxing day sales at Colechester with Karen, who is a black belt. In the evening it was all about drinking cups of tea and playing with Iggi Pup.
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Once in a lifetime
Day 13 - Shopping games and golf
December 27, 2024 in England ⋅ ☁️ 5 °C
Freezing fun day of shopping, games, and golf. It was freezing cold while we smashed balls at the golf club. A hot cup of tea with Grandma and puppy cuddles was much needed at the end of the day.
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Once in a lifetime
Day 14 - Travelling up North
December 28, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C
Headed up North first to Amanda's at xxx where we were greeted with hot bacon rolls and really good coffee.

After an afternoon of chatting and opening Christmas presents, we headed to Simon's house in xx where we stayed the night. The boys finally had their own beds for a couple of nights.Read more
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Once in a lifetime
Day 15 - Bowling and Top Golf
December 29, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C
Turns out all the family is competitive. Bowling was tense as Gramps ambled his way to the win. Top Golf was next where poor Gramps managed to get a sporting injury ruling his out of the podium. The next skirmish was on Facebook where there were no winners.Read more
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Day 16 - off to Old Traford
December 30, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C
Family road trip to get to Manchester for a night game of Manu U vs Chelsee.

On the way we stopped at Matlock for a bit of sightseeing then onto Bakewell to try their puddings and visit the family seat. Bakewell is where Grandad Simon grew up.

After Bakewell we crammed into the Might Duke for a 2 hour blat up the motorway to Manchester.

The stadium was awe inspiring, we were seated near the Chelsee corner and could hear their thundering chants all through the game. The tram ride after was the most squished we had ever been, and a quick walk through the xxshopping complex had the same surreal feeling that the whole night had about it.Read more
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Once in a lifetime
Day 17 - New Years Eve
December 31, 2024 in England ⋅ 🌬 7 °C
Had a yummy Brunch with Amanda Gramps and Jez before hitting the road to spend New Years Eve with Karen and Chris's and Grandma and Grandad Dave.
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Once in a lifetime
Day xx London to New York
January 7, 2025 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 0 °C
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Once in a lifetime
Day xx - Nashville
January 14, 2025 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 1 °C
Shopping day at the Ospry Mills a massive shopping complex, and from there we smashed some balls at Top Golf a 3 level golf driving range. The weather was perfect for chilling under the outdoor heaters and playing virtual golf game.
After golf we headed downtown Broadway to the Bridgestone Arena where the budwiser Clydesdale horses were on parade.
To finish off a fun day, we joined 15 thoursand Nashville Preditator fans to watch their ice hockey team beat the Vegas Golden Knights 5 to 3. The final goal in the last seconds being a nail biting open goal skirmish where the last attempt of 3 hit the back of the goal.Read more
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