• Age: 11
• Year: 2000
• Time of year: May
• Length of trip: 21 days
• Travel style: adventure, culture

The recap:
Adventure of a lifetime at the age of 11
Walked the Great Wall of China
Watched a deer drink my Sprite

Preface: The trip that started it all – my passion for travel ignited at the age of 11. Photo quality and my memory of some of the details reflective of the year 2000.

Day 1

My first big international flight at the age of 11! Flew from Vancouver to Tokyo with my Grandma and cousin to visit my aunt who was living in Japan at the time. Took the bullet train from the airport to Tokyo and then a taxi to my aunt’s apartment.

Day 2

Explored Tokyo – the Meiji Jingu shrine was a highlight:

Day 3

Visited the Ueno Zoo, Japan’s oldest zoo, featuring giant pandas (which I strangely don’t have any photos of) and some monkeying around:

Day 4

More Tokyo exploring, including the oldest temple in the city – Senso-Ji / Asakusa Kannon:

Day 5

Flew from Tokyo to Beijing, checked into the Crowne Plaza hotel.

Day 6

Visited Tian’anmen Square – a humbling experience as an 11-year old to learn about the history of protests that took place in this square where I stood.

Day 7-9

Explored Beijing – from peking duck to the opera and everything in-between!

Day 10

Must-do (obviously): The Great Wall where my cousin & I rode camels – the camel riding was perhaps a bit of a tourist trap, but I was 11-years old and it was my first camel ride. Walking the Great Wall remains in my memory to this day as one of the most breathtaking experiences.

Day 11

Shopping day – Wangfujing and Tianjin Antique Market.

Day 12

Flew back to Tokyo.

Day 13

Relaxed back at my aunt’s apartment before going out to an amazing dinner at Tableaux.

Day 14

Took the bullet train to Hiroshima – another humbling experience at any age.

Day 15

Must-do: Took the ferry to Miyajima island to see the beautiful Itsukushima Jinja shrine. Beware of the very friendly deer that will drink your Sprite when you’re not looking!

We also took a woodblock printing class – the result:

Day 16

Took the bullet train to Kyoto.

Visited the Golden Pavilion and the Nijo Castle.

Day 17

Took the train back to Tokyo.

Day 18-20

Spent the last few days in Tokyo taking Japanese language lessons, learning how to make sushi, and experiencing the culture with a Kabuki performance.

Day 21

Flew back home to Vancouver, where I put together this photo memory album to present to my Grade 6 class, my assignment for missing 3 weeks of school:

Huge thank you to my Aunt Susan, Grandma Betty, and cousin Danny for the adventure of a lifetime at the age of 11!