Tokyo — Where the Journey Begins It all began as the plane dipped beneath the clouds and Tokyo’s skyline shimmered below — a sea of light and anticipation. After months of planning, we arrived: tired, happy, and wide-eyed. The Blossom Hibiya welcomed us above the city’s heartbeat, where neon reflections danced on glass and the scent of ramen floated through the night. Morning came with jet lag and curiosity. Awake at 4 a.m., we laced up and ran through Kokyo Gaien National Garden , the city still half-dreaming. The moat shimmered in dawn light, the air carried a hush, and Tokyo felt timeless — ancient stones and modern steel sharing the same breath. Back at The Blossom Shibuya , breakfast was East meets West — miso soup beside buttery croissants, fresh sashimi sharing a plate with espresso. “Cultural research,” we told ourselves, as we shamelessly went back for seconds. Later, at Meiji Jingu , we walked beneath towering torii gates where city n...
Day 12 (July 15) – Dolphins, Dhows & Kendwa Beach In the morning, Michelle and Tristan set out with Captain Barnaba to snorkel and chase dolphins, laughing as the pods surfaced and darted around the boat. The rest of us walked toward Kendwa Beach, when a sudden tropical downpour swept through—here one moment, gone the next. At Kendwa, Kaitlin had her hair braided while we browsed beachside stalls run by women selling colorful beaded bracelets and necklaces. Later, we returned to Kilindi, where the afternoon slowed into lazy hours by the pool. As the sun began to sink, we boarded a traditional wooden dhow and sailed into the horizon, the sky melting into shades of gold and rose. Dinner was on the beach—fresh lobster, toes in the sand, waves rolling in the dark. At midnight, our private transfer arrived to take us to Zanzibar Airport, the journey’s end quietly unfolding under the island stars. Day 4 (July 8) – From Tarangire to the Crater’s Edge We left Tarangire behind this morning,...