Elizabeth's Secret Garden

Japan is truly beautiful. The people, the country, and the language. Summer of 2024, my husband and I embarked on an epic journey to go to literally the other side of the planet. My husband had gone several years back, but this was my first time going. I had prepared in every way possible for this journey from studying the culture to diving into learning the language. What I wasn't prepared for was leaving part of my heart behind in Japan. So I decided this week that it was time to share this love with others and give everyone a little taste of what living in Japan is like and all the places there are to see.  This was the community of Gamagori that we stayed in for the first two weeks before continuing our journey across Japan. This area is considered rural in Japan. A much more peaceful town than living in the heart of Tokyo.  This is called a Genkan which in kanji is 玄関. Whenever you go to a home, you stop here and place your shoes in a rack or designated area and then typi...

  The Desert Botanical Garden was the highlight of my trip. I had never seen Saguaro cactus or experienced what I call the "Wild West." I also went at one of the best times to visit which is March to May. At this current point in time, the gardens must close at 2 pm because of the heat so be prepared to either shorten your time at the gardens or go at a different date. One of the incredible details of this journey is that the garden has around 50,000 plants showcased! Also, the park is 140 acres. You could easily spend most of the day here so it is worth dedicating a large portion of the day to exploring. Another highlight of the visit was seeing the Chihuly exhibit which was a nice bonus. I was amazed by what can be done with glass. They had an outside and inside special exhibit at the time of visiting. I hope you enjoy all the pictures from my visit and get a chance to go in the future.   Butterfly Conservatory

  The skies were ocean blue and no haze cascaded into the canyon. The snow was slowly melting and a layer of ice was still present. These were the hiking conditions when going to the South Rim in March. When hiking to Ooh Aah Point in mid March, you will want a jacket handy is tip one. As my friend and I descended into the canyon the melting ice made the trails slippery. We had to take it very slowly at certain patches. We were certainly glad that we started the hike after lunch as the conditions would have been certainly worse. Make sure to bring plenty of water and snacks. I'd estimate it was about 1.5 hours to hike down if not more, but the views were worth it. A pleasant breeze swept across.  Here is a good view of the trail from the top. You can go all the way down into the Canyon from here, but the sun was starting to set so we decided to make our way back up. Also, we were tired from all that hiking! Make sure to pack plenty of sunscreen regardless of the season. Also, ...

Golden Gate Bridge San Francisco has a variety of places to explore. There are places for those wanting to experience different cultures, those who are foodies (had the best burger ever at Artisan Burgers), if you like seeing art and incredible structures, or simply want to enjoy the beauty of nature. It is four hours from Yosemite if you want to be blown away by the majesty of God's creation.  The iconic symbol of San Francisco, The Golden Gate bridge, is a must see. It might take some patience to get the perfect view though. My husband and I went in March and when we went to view it from the Mainlands, it was completed encompassed by clouds. Our willingness to wait was worth it and though I didn't get the perfect shot, I loved the photo effect that occurred from the Golden Gate Bridge emerging from the clouds. I recommend viewing it from different locations. There is no toll fees leaving San Francisco, but you have to pay to come back via the bridge. If you have a...