Otaru Snow Festival, worth the detour
TL;DR Don’t bother with the Sapporo Snow Festival when you’re just a 30-minute train ride from Otaru. And once you’re there, enjoy the best hamburger steak you’ve ever had at […]
Living dangerously in Livingstone, Zambia & the Devil’s Pool
Livingstone is Zambia’s adrenaline capital, home to the world’s largest waterfall, Mosi-oa Tunya, otherwise known by its English name, Victoria Falls. Mosi-oa Tunya means “the smoke that thunders” and it is […]
A retrospective on Google I/O creatives
Two years ago, I set about the task of turning around the Google I/O brand, and today, if I were back at work, we’d be well down the path with […]
From farm to table in the Byron Hinterlands
Byron Bay is the most expensive city in Australia, which is already one of the most expensive countries in the world. We’ve been shell shocked by the cost of most […]
Bedside manners at the Giraffe Manor
Last summer, I was experiencing a bad case of the post-I/O blues, when my manager realized that I needed a pick-me-up. Most people burn out after a project like I/O, […]
Comps from Google I/O 2011
Flashback: When I joined the Google I/O two-man team back in December 2010, we were in desperate need of a site and I had one month to update the […]
The girls take to Bhutan
All tourists traveling through Bhutan must pay a tax of $200 per day that is all-inclusive of meals, transport, activities and lodging. You’re required to book your travel with one […]
Memorable moments at the Park Hyatt New York
TL;DR. Although I had a bad first impression of the Park Hyatt New York, my stay was redeemed through a series of well-timed meals, relaxing baths, showers, and hot tub sessions. But although it’s an excellent […]
Opening weekend at the Park Hyatt New York
TL;DR. Not impressed on Day 1 of my stay in a Park King Jr Suite at the newly opened Park Hyatt New York. Service, rooms, and views are lacking considering this […]
My digital perm, 3 months later
Three months ago, I paid a visit to Yuki at Shinka Salon when my hair was in dire need to a pick me up. I was pretty happy with the results and […]
Our new Google office in Sydney
I’ve experience quite a few desk moves in my time at Google, but this was my first move to a brand new office! In Sydney, our offices are distributed across […]
How to eat your way through Honolulu in 24 hours
TL;DR. Some of the cheapest flight to Oz route via Hawaii, so if you find yourself there on a long layover, make sure to hit up Leonard’s, 7-11, Diamond Head […]
Visa Signature Concierge’s excellent card member benefits
I have no idea how utilized the benefit is, but Visa Signature cardholders are eligible to use their concierge services. The team is thorough and responsive. I’ve become immensely more […]
Successful redemption of US Airways’ Companion Certificate
TL;DR. The US Airways Premier World MasterCard gives you 30k miles after your first purchase and a companion certificate that lets two people travel with you for $99 (provided you buy […]
My favorite eateries in Berkeley
I always lived a mile or two off-campus when I was at Berkeley, and while that made attending class inconvenient, it also gave me an excuse to explore eating options […]
$10 movies in Sydney
In SF, Rob & I would always sneak in a double feature, since movie tickets were so expensive. When we moved to Sydney, expensive took on a whole new meaning […]
Playing Holidays 