E2C_Travel

Not all travel is into the great unknown... some takes you 'home', to your people. I found my roots again after the pandemic with an aluminum love child named Bella and the 50 aunts and uncles who just can't seem to get enough of her. The Airstream community took me completely by surprise, but it's not the campers that create the connection -- it's the love of outdoors and nature, working hard to prepare an obscenely over-the-top family meal "just because", and genuine affinity for the stories that brought each of us here.

Any experience where you have an opportunity to learn the stories of others, try new foods, see how people live differently - each of those moments changes your life just a little. If you're lucky, your worldview becomes a patchwork of all those experiences. Mine has.

#mycuprunnethover

ABOUT ME

Hello Peeps.
This is my Why.

Part journal, part treasure map, part petri dish of thoughts about the future – this website is the synthesis of years of informal (and informed) study of the human condition… coupled with an unyielding need to explore every old tree trunk, breathe in as many back alley spice markets as I can find, admire the monarchs in every protected estuary along the coast, and climb the hillsides on gas-powered mules those few precious days the poppies raise their gorgeous orange faces to the sun. I'll do it all - every single mile - while my hands can still manage the camera.

The more time passes, the more I understand Thoreau's beloved Walden and his need to "live deep and suck out all the marrow of life." With Bella and an increasingly more amazing collection of people in my life... my physical footprint has been smaller these past few pandemic-impacted years, but my "heart-print" has never experienced more reach.  To those who are with me, you are everything to me.  To those who will join our treasure hunt, I promise we're going to see the world... and see it differently, #together.

   

E2C_Connection

So many amazing people come into my life and teach me unexpected things. They make my life fuller and more interesting in more ways than I imagined. These connections are what drive me - they’re my secret sauce, my signature strength. Every success in my life is, quite simply, based on my love of people and bringing people together to do wonderful things.

This summer I joined the Board of a publishing company that enables people to publish their personal stories online (here’s mine if you’re curious: Tonya's Cues & Views). Working with this commitment, I’m even more convinced of the importance of sharing our journey to connect with others. I see firsthand the difference connections make when people recognize how much we are alike… not different. With that as my goal, I look forward to sharing my journey and story - sharing my connections and creating new ones on the way. Exploring2Connect. Join me.

#onwardandupward

Tonya2

Around the World in … 8 Days?!

Wednesday, 25-August – weeeeeeee hours of the morning This will be a fast one! I’ll visit both China and India in just a little over a week – with almost as many nights spent sleeping on the plane as I…

Tonya2

I can’t shop here!

Ginza, Ginza, Ginza… The ‘Rodeo Drive’ of Tokyo is at my proverbial back door and I can’t afford a thing… Well, that’s not exactly true… I did do a sweep of the Apple store and snagged the digital camera connector…

Tonya2

Back to Tsukiji!

Saturday – July 17, 4am Yep – I went back. Back to Tsukiji Fish Market, aka the Central Tokyo Wholesale Fish Market… the largest in the world. This is where they have the famous Tuna Auctions and barter over a…

Tonya2

Terrific Toilets

Thursday – July 15, 5pm I know this is a delicate subject…. but WOW! They think of everything in Tokyo. Everything!! I heard birds chirping this morning as I exited my hotel room… they pipe the sounds of chirping birds…

Tonya2

Shinkansen first… then Gompachi

Wednesday – July 14, 10pm Landed safely in Tokyo. Melvin and I rode the Shinkansen (bullet train) from Narita to Tokyo Station. Much fun! Such luxury… in the Green Car. We then met up with one of my colleagues from…

Tonya2

‘Eat Your Fear’

Tuesday – July 13, 10pmI went out with my Dalian team tonight for dinner. The team wanted Japanese for dinner (great…. I’m heading into Japan and need a head-start on the shashimi!) and there must have been 40 dishes served…

Tonya2

Things are beginning to look up…

Sunday – July 11, evening I got back to the airport early and collected my luggage that had arrived from LAX early this morning. It is just SUCH a relief when they confirm it has arrived. And before anyone lectures…

Tonya2

Shopping and the Counterfeit Handbag Mafia

Sunday – July 11, noonI had a different tour guide today (live and learn – she was a nice lady, but her English was very strained… and frankly, I would have had a better time shopping with Jason from the…

Tonya2

Forbidden City

Sunday – July 11, noon The weather was much better today than yesterday… it was still very overcast (so not great for photography), but stayed dry through my re-walk of the Forbidden City. I’ve been here before and you can…

Tonya2

Early Sunday Morning

Sunday – July 11, 8amNo makeup. No hairbrush. No problem. I’m ready this morning after a good night’s sleep… It’s still raining here, and 70 degrees. Good Lord, I’m going to freeze. I have plans to go to Tiananmen Square…

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