• Travel

    The High Latitudes: EWR to YUL to NRT with Air Canada

    In 2023, I took a higher latitude route to get to Asia. I usually take direct or a transfer in California, which is around 40 degrees latitude. My route this year took me over Canada and Alaska for roughly 65 degrees latitude. After booking, I read about how one is exposed to more radiation when flying at higher latitudes. In fact, some flight attendants were convinced that they had developed cancer from these routes. I was not entirely thrilled to learn the potential radiation detail but I was not bothered enough to cancel my current ticket and buy a different…

  • Life

    Sesame Place and Longwood Gardens With Our 1-Year-Old

    In the year that Young Sophie was 0-1, or 2022, we chose to buy a season pass for Sesame Place and a membership for Longwood Gardens. We also considered the Turtleback Zoo (https://turtlebackzoo.com/admission-hours/), which gives free admission to those under 2. Sesame Place We chose Sesame Place for a simple reason that I am sure many other parents of children aged 0-3 understand: Our child likes Sesame Street. And Elmo. Sesame Place grants free entry to those aged 23 months and younger. The cost of one visit with two adults and one baby would total something like $50 Tickets x…

  • Food

    Bibble and Sip

    Bibble & Sip is a cute little bakery in NYC on 51st Street. That happened to have the Asian desserts I am used to. I unfortunately ate my delicious cloud-shaped thing before thinking to photograph anything, so all I can show you are my Winnie-the-Pooh macarons. These were not as good as the cloud-shaped thing, which was clearly fresher, but they were still delicious and quite fun to look at. Ah, I will enjoy being back in Asia where I can get cute and delicious desserts every day!