Calton Hill | Edinburgh, Scotland

This week, I was catching up with our dear British friends, James and Ari. We met them while we were teaching ESL in South Korea. When they left Korea we were so sad that Markus made a video. We loved them so much that we even planned to visit them in the fall of 2012 and tour the UK together. When we were catching up earlier this week, they told me they were going to Edinburgh for the weekend. It reminded me of our trip and that I still had heaps of photos to post. The first of which are from my favorite place in Edinburgh, Calton Hill. As I was going through and editing photos, I was really sad. It's been two years since we've seen James and Ari. We've visited some amazing places in South Korea and the UK. Hopefully, we'll be able to reunite again one day in the States and go on more adventures!

Arashiyama's Bamboo Groves | Kyoto, Japan | 2 of 2

When we were walking through the bamboo groves in Arashiyama, I was reminded of the fight scene in "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon." After watching it again, I see the ridiculousness of that scene. Could you imagine trying to stand on top of a bamboo tree and then doing some sort of martial art?  Anyway, enjoy the final installment of photos from Arashiyama's bamboo groves. If you're ever in Kyoto, make sure you visit. It's a beautiful tranquil spot that I have yet to see anywhere else in the world!

John Hancock Center | Chicago, Illinois

The city of Chicago definitley does not lack towering buidlings. They city skyline is absolutley beautiful and when visiting it's hard to choose between Willis Tower and John Hancock Center.  Last fall, my brother Chris came to visit and he really wanted to go to Willis Tower. Since it was a holiday weekend, the place was packed and the wait was three hours. Also added to the wait was a hefty price tag of $19.00. Now I know it may seem like a low price to pay for a beautiful view, but when you're unemployed, it's a week's worth of lunches. I quickly did some research and found a better and more relaxing alternative, the John Hancock Signature Room.

The John Hancock Signature Room is a lounge/restaurant that is located on the 95th floor of the building. It has amazing views and a comfortable atmosphere. When we arrived, there wasn't a wait and even though we didn't get a window seat, it was still a great experience. For about $4 less, you can order a cocktail and hang out for as long as you want. If you're a beer drinker, they have a decent selections at around $8.50 a bottle. If you aren't keen on alcohol, they have other drinks and snacks as well. It was an amazing experience and one that I greatly enjoyed. Who wants to be stuck in a line with heaps of other tourists for hours? I would rather chill out with a cocktail and an awesome view!

Arashiyama's Bamboo Groves | Kyoto, Japan | 1 of 2

I know I've said it before, but Kyoto is absolutely beautiful. The city has so much to offer and it was spectacular. Another must see spot is the bamboo groves of Arashiyama. It's a bit of a trek out of the city center, but it's worth it. I've seen bamboo forests at the Morikami Museum in Florida, but nothing can compare to this. It feels like the bamboo goes on for ages and it's quite tranquil. I love the sound of bamboo swaying in the wind. Its the perfect place to stop and ponder the wonders of life.

Fushimi Inari Taisha | Kyoto, Japan | 2 of 2

While Markus and I were hiking through Fushimi Inari Taisha, I distinctly remember feeling extremely calm and peaceful. Despite spending three hours hiking up a mountain on a hot August day, I had an amazing experience. I was spending the day at a beautiful shrine with my husband in Japan. How many times would I experience something like that again? We had a great time and spent most of the time discussing our pet project, The Lost Land of Yehey. Everything we saw inspired us and came up with some great ideas for our story.  I think that's my favorite part of traveling with Markus. Even though we're on vacation, we still continue to create new worlds and I wouldn't have it any other way!