Recent Trips

Australia: Queensland and Tasmania

We made it back to Australia at the end of 2025, and I'm already missing it. We flew overnight through Vancouver into Brisbane, which kicked off what turned out to be an unforgettable trip.

Most of our time in Brisbane was spent with family - my aunts, uncle, cousins, and their kids — and honestly, that alone would have made the trip worthwhile. We also took the chance to visit some of the region's incredible wildlife sanctuaries: the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, the Australia Zoo, and the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary on the Gold Coast. Currumbin was my personal favorite, largely because we went there together as a family. There's something about experiencing a place like that with the people you love that makes it so much more memorable.

From Brisbane we flew to Melbourne, then onward to Hobart, Tasmania - and Tasmania completely stole my heart. We drove all around the island, visiting locations with deep roots in my family history, and the scenery was, in a word, unbelievable. We hiked around Cradle Mountain and drove up Mount Wellington, which was an adventure in itself: a long, winding, narrow road that climbed straight up into the clouds, with tight turns that kept you on your toes. When we finally reached the summit, it started snowing. In early December. In Australia. I loved every second of it.

We also visited the Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary, where we got to see Tasmanian devils up close. What makes Bonorong special is their mission: they rescue injured and orphaned animals and, wherever possible, release them back into the wild. It felt like a place genuinely doing good work.

I've been to Australia before, but this one might be the best trip yet. I can't wait to go back.

New York City and The Met

I had to go to the Australian embassy in New York to get my Australian passport, so Rich and I made a trip of it. Normally we'd take the train down, because it takes about as much time as flying when you consider having to deal with airport security these days. Also, it's generally more comfortable and cheaper too, so a winner all around. This time we drove down because my embassy appointment was later in the day, and we didn't want to have to wait to come home on a late train.

We left early in the morning so we could make the most of our day trip. The plan was to spend most of the day at the Met, one of my absolute favorite museums. Rich and I both really enjoy going to museums, but I have to admit, he's a much more patient and methodical visitor. I tend to flit from one thing to the next, bouncing to whatever catches my eye. Since he was with me this visit, I knew we'd be visiting the Arms & Armor collection - which never disappoints! There's something almost meditative about standing in front of a suit of armor that's five hundred years old, thinking about the hands that made it and the person who wore it.

We also visited the Greek and Roman Art galleries, and I got to see The Three Graces in person again. This statue means a lot to me because it was one of my mother's favorites, and I inherited a small reproduction of it that's in our living room. It's a Roman copy of a Greek piece, and it's dated to the 2nd century CE. In mythology, the Graces served as handmaidens to Aphrodite, and were meant to "bestow what is most pleasurable and beneficent in nature and society: fertility and growth, beauty in the arts, harmonious reciprocity between men." What a lovely idea. Standing in front of the original, knowing my mother loved it too, felt like a quiet moment shared across time.

We spent many hours at the Met, but I won't bother you with everything we saw. We decided to have lunch there too, just so we could spend more time at the museum. New York has a lot of great restaurants, and I'd normally prefer to enjoy something we couldn't typically find at home - but there wasn't enough time on this quick trip. Ah well, next time. Also for next time: stopping by the Bruce Museum on the way to or fro. If you've never been to the Bruce, and you find yourself near Greenwich, CT, I highly recommend a visit.

The embassy appointment, when it finally came, took all of twenty minutes — a funny little footnote to a very full day. We drove home tired and happy, already talking about what we'd do differently next time: the train, probably, an earlier start, dinner somewhere worth the detour. New York has a way of making you feel like you only ever scratch the surface, no matter how many times you go. Which is exactly why you always want to go back.