23. Finish a Marathon

Completed: 12/08/2013

 

After the race

26.2 miles: the distance that a day-runner named Pheidippides ran from the Battle of Marathon back to Athens to announce the Greek victory over the Persians. After he uttered the news, this fellow died. Now, this historic run is commemorated in an organized race that happens numerous times throughout the year all over the world, which hopefully don't result in the same ending that happened to Pheidippides. Many gather to put their minds and bodies to the test in hopes of accomplishing what less than one percent of the world's population has achieved, and to live on to tell the tale of their momentous feat. 

When I completed the Great Aloha Run a while back in a better time than the goal I had set for myself, I thought that I would be done with running. Eight miles felt like a long distance to me. But those who heard of my accomplishment asked if I would ever do a marathon. My answer at that time was an adamant no, but I'll admit the idea lingered in my head.

I heard from another friend that there was a deep early bird kama'aina (local resident) discount of $1 per mile for a grand total of $26.20 to enter the marathon, which was hard to pass up. I also toyed with the idea during the time I was coming up with my bucket list, thinking that finishing a marathon would be a great addition to my bucket list repertoire. All this, along with encouragement from friends and peers, finally tipped me in favor of deciding to give it a go.

In January 2013, I registered for the 41st annual Honolulu Marathon, thinking that there was no better time than now to get it underway. I was still young and it would be around the time I would finish my master's program, so I saw it as a graduation present to myself. I began to research training tips since I knew that putting my body through all this stress would require as much preparation as possible to minimize injury.

February 2013 came along and I went to look for a pair of running shoes. At the Running Room, I was able to find a nice pair of New Balance shoes that incorporated the Vibram minimalist technology. They were not only lightweight, but contoured to the natural formation of my feet. Happy with my purchase, I decided to give my shoes a try for a short jog. Unfortunately, I think improper training for the Great Aloha Run left me with a bum left knee that started acting up when I picked up running again. I would only run for a very short distance and feel what I would later self-diagnose as IT band pain since it was located in the outer side of my knee. 

I decided to take time off to allow my knees some rest before starting up training, but time flew by and it was already July/August. I tried to take up running again, and my knees seemed to be doing all right, though once in a while I could feel the pain coming on. I also tried to research stretching techniques or ways to prevent this pain from flaring up, bought myself a pair of inserts to provide more cushioning for my knees, and began taking glucosamine pills to preserve the cartilage in my knees. Although I incorporated these various measures in my training program, my knee pain was always either almost onset or would be too much to bear in my training since. But because I had committed myself to the marathon, I decided to continue on track for it.

My training schedule was fashioned after this website. Some IT-specific stretches that I felt helped me were crossing one foot in front of the other and bending over to give the legs a nice stretch. Lifting one leg and bending the other up and down at the knee aimed to build the knee muscles since stabilization is important in running. There was also other ways to build the leg muscles near the groin and on the outer hips. I also read to start up some marathon habits and to stick with them so that the body becomes conditioned. This meant eating the same foods for breakfast, running with the same pair of shoes (of course keeping track of mileage run in the shoes so they wouldn't be too worn out), and using the same foods to nourish the body along the trail (gel packs are popular; I stuck with trusty Kirkland Signature trail mix and water to make sure that I replenished the salts and sugars in my body).

In my training, I will admit that I got lazy about October. I had a cousin from Canada visiting and traveled to Orlando for a week, so those took precedence and I neglected the running. This was not a smart idea since I don't think I was able to get my body back up to that conditioned state afterwards to continue with the training. Also, my longest run ended up being only 18 miles, with only one practice with the next highest mileage of 16 miles. If I had a do over, I would definitely focus on increasing the mileage gradually and giving my body more opportunities to become accustomed to greater mileage.

I did taper off and carb up in the weeks preceding the big day and made sure I had everything ready. I got a good night's rest two days prior, which I read is when it really counts, and was able to get in some more zzz's the night before. Day of, I woke up at 2:45am to get ready. I got to the start line where Queen meets Ala Moana Blvd at about 4:15am. I used the restroom twice and stretched before the race started. It was awesome seeing the sea of participants. There was definitely a mix of nerves and adrenaline going on that morning.

At the start line hours before the sun came up

Fireworks were shot off right before the 5:00 starting sound. Headed towards downtown, turning up by Murphy's Bar. There were employees who were cheering us on. Went back up to King Street, passing by the Honolulu City Lights and onto Kapiolani Blvd to Piikoi St. Veered back to Ala Moana Blvd towards Waikiki. Then to Kapiolani Park and up some hill. I actually felt pretty good since I wasn't exerting too much energy and I felt like the impact on my knees and feet weren't too bad since I was running quite laterally without much bounce and with short strides. But I could feel the knee pain coming on. Right as we got onto Kalanianaole Hwy, I think I gave in to my knee pain and I had to walk the rest of the way. I was quite bummed that I wasn't able to get farther than that, as my goal was to at least jog half of the marathon. Just have to accept that things panned out the way they did. I was able to keep up a pace of 20-minute miles until about mile 20, when I slowed down. Mile 23-24 was the most brutal when I was on the brink of a breaking point. I'm glad I was able to call Jack and have him talk to me to pull be through the next mile and then some. By then, I was recuperated enough to finish off the rest of the race. After 7:18:39, I crossed the finish line. I'm proud that I pushed myself through and completed the marathon, though I kind of wonder if I can achieve the 6-hour time goal that I set for myself if I were to attempt it again sometime in the future.

Throngs of people waiting for the gun

Noteworthy things about the marathon: 

-The experience that others have, which shows in their ability to pace themselves. Slow and steady wins the race, especially at a distance of 26.2 miles. The marathon is a very humbling experience not only by the diverse ages and sizes of participants who beat you, but the internal challenge of overcoming all the pain that takes every ounce of your mental being. Not that it surprised me, but I was beat out by an amputee and lots of old people. And although these participants were walking, I think it took them lots of courage to attempt the marathon: a young Japanese man with bowed legs, a very old, frail looking Japanese man with such determination to truck along, military wearing their packs. I also saw an old man wearing a shirt listing all the years since the 70s he has participated in the marathon as well as corresponding quit times. His latest was back in 2011, when he exited at over 10 hours. I really hope this turned out to be his year.

-There was even a contestant from Extreme Weight Loss. The 4 ft 5 in gal from Kentucky ran alongside coach Chris Powell. I distinctly remember her getting past me. Later would I realize that she was an almost celebrity. And to think that I was that close to Chris Powell...

-Running a marathon in the proper footwear and attire is important to prevent pain and nuisances that come from forming blisters, chafing, and other running-related conditions. But that doesn't deter some people from having a good time. Case in point: man with a tuba decorated like Big Bird, another man in a traditional Japanese kimono and wooden clogs leading a small group of men with his chants, Japanese groups wearing clown afros, balloons, and birds on their heads. Also saw someone running barefoot. Wonder how he fared.

-The race would be a much more miserable experience without the band of volunteers and spectators along the route who motivated runners. Volunteers passing out water, vaseline, gel packs, sponges, giving high-fives all the while shouting words of encouragement certainly boosted my energy. Roadside support from residents and others who had signs, clapped, passed out candies, pretzels, snacks, gatorade, water, and other goodies; others shooting their water hoses to relieve runners for a bit from the unrelenting sun; a lady at one of the bus stops playing her accordian and jingling along with bells attached to her ankles by Christmas ribbon; a middle-aged band of men playing a concert; houses with sound systems hooked up outside to blast music for us...it was all so great to take in. 

-Although I was in much pain from about mile 20, the last kilometer felt like hell. Kapiolani Park as the end destination is deceiving when you see it in sight, but realize that the official finish is at the other end of the park. Where others get their burst of energy when the finish is in sight, my knee was dying and killing my spirit too. 

-Get a massage after the marathon. I didn't take advantage of the free massages at the finish line, but I did get personal massages from Jack's mom with Chinese medicine later that day as well as the next day from Jack. I attribute my not-so-terrible healing experience to their efforts. Thanks for the love!
-Feet got swollen, one toenail got detached. Physically spent, but glad to say I did it.

All in all, I would definitely say it is an experience that I'm glad I went through. I really should thank my family and Jack's for supporting my efforts, as well as friends for their encouragement. As for if I would do it again, probably not, but  it would be interesting to see if I can meet my personal goal of sub-six hours.

22. Complete my Master's Degree

Complete: 12/05/2013
 

Official diploma



Although the official conclusion to this semester is not until Commencement on December 21, 2013, I'm checking it off early because this date is when I turned in the last class paper I will ever write at the last class session of my grad school career.

College is a privilege that some may have the means to take advantage of or overlook as an opportunity worth undertaking. For me, pursuing college was to show my immigrant parents, who came and worked hard in blue collar work to give me a better life that their years of enduring long, hard hours so that they could provide a comfortable lifestyle for me, was not for naught.

I was lucky enough to find the means to fully fund my undergraduate degree through scholarships. It was during my years in college that I found my true passion and career path: within student affairs. I had joined an honor society called Golden Key in my sophomore year, and enjoyed my experience both as a general member and serving on the executive board. In fact, I chose to stay on after I graduated as an advisor to continue my involvement with this group.

This and other experiences I had that enhanced my undergraduate experience motivated me to remain at my University after graduation and start my career there. My current position is a perfect fit for me at the moment. My responsibilities include organizing college events, overseeing our college's ambassador program and scholarship recipients, and assisting students in whatever ways our office can to navigate college and/or enhance their undergraduate experience. 

Since I knew that I want to stay at my alma mater and establish my career in higher education, I decided to pursue a Master's degree in Educational Administration, with an emphasis in Higher Education. Tuition is free for employees, so why not? Again, I was fortunate to again not have to pay much out of my own pocket for my graduate degree. In three years' time, I have taken twelve classes that taught me about the history and finances of higher education, student development, leadership in higher education, the physical environment and how that can influence students' experiences in higher education, and even a course devoted to community colleges. 

I hope that my family is proud. I thank them, especially my sister, for providing me the guidance and helping me develop the character traits needed to persevere and excel in school. I am also fortunate for the mentors, advisors, professors, and peers who helped me figure out what it was that I wanted to do with my life. I am also grateful for all the wonderful students and colleagues that I work with, whom continue to inspire me and motivate me in my work in higher education.

21. Try Stand-Up Paddling

Completed: 06/22/2013

Wide foam boards with adjustable paddles

Trying stand-up paddling (SUP), along with other water activities, earned its spot on my bucket list because I have a great fear of water, especially open waters. I have very minimal swimming/floating skills, yet have lived in this island paradise all my life and therefore want to make more of a conscious effort to enjoy the waters that surround me by adding a few water-related activities on my bucket list.

For a little background on SUP, it is a fairly recent leisure activity that was born in the Hawaiian Islands in the 1960's. Add a lightweight paddle to a wider, also lightweight surfboard, and voila, you have all the tools necessary to enjoy this sport. It is relatively easy for people of all ages to enjoy, as the activity is not difficult and actually quite natural to pick up on.

For this adventure, one of my best friends, Mary, was back in the islands for the summer. She is into water sports (she is scuba certified), so I felt that it would be a perfect opportunity to conquer one of my water-based bucket list items.

First time in the waters at Ala Moana Beach Park

Doing a little research, I found a pretty cheap place to rent from online. Hawaii Beach Time not only provides an array of equipment for patrons to enjoy the waters of Hawaii, but they also conveniently deliver. I was able to rent two paddle boards that were brought all the way to the edge of the waters of Ala Moana Beach Park for under $40 per board (tax and tip included). Kamaaina (local Hawaii residents) get a special discount for all-day rentals, so I even got more bang for the buck when I invited my sister to join us as I knew that I would not be able to SUP the entire day (3 people for the price of 2 boards!). I do recommend this company because the price is reasonable and the customer service as acceptable as well.

 

After settling on a spot on the beach, Mary and I headed out on the boards. I felt more comfortable with the life jacket, though it luckily didn't need to come in use. Balancing on the board was not difficult at all. We got out to the reef section pretty quickly (it was quite windy that day). When I realized how far out I was though, I got a bit anxious and tried to turn around. It was difficult for me to turn the board back around, and when I eventually did (with the help of Mary using her board to turn me in the right direction), I tried to paddle back to the shore. But with the wind blowing against me, it was no an easy task. My inability to steer properly coupled with the constant need to paddle (as resting would only push me out further than I felt safe in), it was quite taxing to get myself back. At one point, I remember banging up against the reef and getting stuck. For me, it turned out convenient, since it allowed me to relax my shoulders for a bit, with the rocks obstructing my board from continuing to blow out. I hung out for a bit there before attempting to make my way back again. I did so successfully, after about 45 minutes, and was pooped.

 

Me heading out

After resting for a bit, Mary and Stacy headed out, where the winds were not as strong and Stacy, being the fast learner that she is, learned it with a breeze. Mary was able to get some yoga poses on her board, and after about another hour out in the water, the two came back. The boards were picked up and we headed out to a nearby sandwich stop called Spero Spera, which we found courtesy of Yelp reviews. The day ended with mochi ice cream from Bubbies. It was a fun day and I'm glad I finally had the chance to try SUP!

 Garlic Veggie and Mixed Avocado sandwiches
 

20. Quit Road Raging

Complete: 06/20/2013

Behind the wheel, happy

I have a short temper. Combine with driving, and I had a bad case of road rage. Not that I would ever consider myself a flawless driver, but some habits on the road irked me. Some were just me being unnecessarily irritated (people who forget to turn their blinker off after making a successful merge), but others were for actions that are totally uncalled for (not following the appropriate zipper fashion of lane merging or cutting people off). It got to the point where my mom was concerned about how easily I got ticked off. Even I knew that all in all, it was not a good thing for me to be such an angry driver, especially considering how often I drive (commute to work 5 days a week with extra driving for leisure, etc). It ultimately is not worth it since it doesn't change the world by me getting angry at other drivers. So instead of just agreeing with my family's concerns, I opted to actually do something to address the issue and break myself  of the habit.

My method of tackling this problem was to be a more chill, lenient driver. I learned to yield to other drivers more (it just makes things easier that way) and complain less about other people's habits. At first, it was hard, but learning to control my temper on the road didn't seem too difficult when I figured out that letting others do their rushing while I drive at my own leisurely pace worked out for the better.

There is no real complete date for when I stopped road raging, but I made sure that I didn't have any stray cases of bouts of anger before I could successfully say that I quit road raging. My sister has also noticed that she couldn't think up recent recollections of me expressing anger. Although there are times when I still want to say something, I do catch myself and try to keep the peace by not opening my mouth. Now if only I could be better about adopting safer driving habits (like not tailgating so closely to the car in front, which is another qualm that my sister and parents have with my driving)...
 

19. Travel to Japan

Completed: 05/28/2013

Ahh, Japan. One of those exciting countries that is rich in history and culture, yet also developed and modernized, making it a popular destination that attracts visitors from all over the world. It also fit the bill of a suitable destination to satisfy the divergent interests of everyone in my family. I am captured by the natural beauty of Japan, particularly of the Kyoto region. The big city appeals to my sister. My mom praises anywhere that is clean. My dad is game for anything, as long as the rest of us are happy. So, this year, we decided to travel to Japan and check out what the hype is of this country.

As the planner in the family, I did tons of research to try to make our trip the most economical, yet enjoyable for all of us. Since we are a family that likes to see the sites, Kyoto and Tokyo seemed to be the best picks for us.

Here's a rough itinerary of what we did: 

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Arrive in Tokyo, Japan at 3:25pm. Take Shinkansen (bullet train) to Kyoto. Check into Hotel Hokke Kyoto. I would recommend this hotel because it is very reasonably priced and in an excellent location (across from Kyoto Station). The place is clean, albeit small, but suited our needs perfectly. They even had an on-site laundry facilities (the washer dispenses its own detergent, so don't make the mistake we did in running around nearby convenience stores trying to find laundry soap), so an added plus.

Excited to be in Japan :)

 Shinkansen

 Double room in Hotel Hokke Kyoto

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Explored Arashiyama. Iwatayama Monkey Park. Tenryuji Temple. Traveled through bamboo grove. Lunch at Takemura Restaurant (Arashiyama is known for their tofu, so various places offer tofu course menus). The workers and owner of the restaurant were very, very nice people. They accommodated our vegetarianism and gave us an extra bowl of ice cream for free :). Foot bath at train station.

 Feeding monkeys at Iwatayama Park

 Bamboo Forest

 Outside Takemura Restaurant

First course - cold tofu that you put in a boiling hotpot

First course tofu seasoned with nori (seaweed), onions, daikon, ginger, and sauce

Second course - stickier style of tofu with hint of sesame flavor

Third course - tempura, rice, picked vegetables

Last course - tofu ice cream

Foot bath at train station, only $1.50 per person, and comes with a towel you can keep

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Headed down to Nara. Awed at the number of deer in Nara Park. Big Buddha at Todaiji. Ate a mango popsicle and fried mochi (both very tasty). Indian lunch at Ragamala. Kofukuji. Headed back to Kyoto. Nijo Castle (cool to learn that houses were deliberately constructed to have floors made from squeaky wood planks so people could hear when someone was in their house). Admired architecture of Kyoto Station.

 There were so many deer everywhere!

In fact, deer so revered in this area that the city mascot is a monk with antlers

Camera does not do the sheer size of the wooden Todaiji justice

Extremely large Buddha statue

Lunch at Ragamala. Surprisingly tasty (as our family aren't big fans of Indian food). Interior decor very decked out in the Indian theme (posters, rugs, cushions, music...the owner went all out)

One of the many structures on the vast Nijo Castle grounds

Friday, May 24, 2013

Used all-day sightseeing bus pass. Kiyomizu Temple in the early morning to avoid the crowd (lucky we did because there were thousands coming up to the temple as we were leaving). Nishiki Market. Kinkakuji. Lunch at Biotei (vegetarian restaurant!). Stopped by a high-end grocery store. Got some inari sushi (my favorite type of sushi!). Fushimi Inari Shrine. Dinner at Mikoan. Went to food court area of Daimaru department store.

Kiyomizudera

 Drinking spring-fed water (which was really cold) at Kiyomizudera

 Lots of mochi and tea shops line the street heading down to the main road. The peach mochi sample got us and so we bought ourselves a small pack of strawberry mochi, which was quite delicious.

 Kinkakuji

 Excellent lunch at Biotei Restaurant. The place is small and packed. Set meals are very common in Japan. Today's vegetarian special was a tofu steak.

 

Thousands of torii gates at the Fushimi Inari Shrine 

Entrance to Mikoan Restaurant. 

Most of the vegetarian places we went to were real hole-in-the-wall dining establishments. Either non-discreet storefronts that we passed by before tracking back to find it, or down non-discreet alleys. Thank goodness for internet photos so we had a better idea of where we were going.

Saturday, May 25, 2013

Spent all morning doing laundry and buying foods for our Shinkansen trip back to Tokyo. Checked into Tokyo Plaza Hotel (another budget-friendly hotel that is conveniently located near one of the JR stops on the popular Yamanote line). Ameyoko shopping strip, where we tried some good Chinese street food. Dinner at Nagi Shokudo (vegetarian restaurant!).

 A huge bowl of noodles (the chopsticks move up and down) on our way to the Ameyoko

Set dinner at Nagi Shokudo

Sunday, May 26, 2013
Morning bike ride near the Imperial Palace. East Garden of Imperial Palace. Lunch at T's Tan Tan Ramen. Check out Tokyo Station. Don Quijote (disappointingly only 2 stories). Sony Showroom. Dinner at Chien-Fu (vegan restaurant!). Tokyo Dome City. Second attempt at Don Quijote (better than first, but still not as big as I thought it was going to be).

 Free bike rental service provided by the city. Tandem bike!

Imperial Palace

 T's Tan Tan Ramen. 

Really longed to try some good noodle soup in Japan, and glad we found this vegan place.

 Chien-fu dinner. My favorite meal because of the vast selection of foods.

 Tokyo Dome City

 Second Don Quijote we hit up

Monday, May 27, 2013
Rode train during rush hour (approximately 8:30am) and found the experience of being smushed into the train highly amusing. Attempt to eat breakfast at On the Corner (serving American fare). Failed because the hours of operation were later than the ones listed on their website. Failed again when tried to find Hoshino Coffee Shop. Settled for Pronto, which turned out to offer a tasty selection of breakfast foods that satisfied our palate. Tokyu Hands (amazing multi-floor store that sells all kinds of interesting stuff). Attempt to dine at Vegan Healing Cafe for lunch. Place wasn't open when we went (although supposed to be according to information on the web). Eventually ended up in the basement floor of Seibu department store to find food. Hachiko statue and Shibuya Crossing. Yokohama Chinatown. Planned to have dinner at Meu Nota, but again, establishment was closed. Instead, found another Pronto restaurant, which served excellent Italian fare that we thoroughly enjoyed.

Hachiko Statue. Richard Gere fooled me into thinking the story of Hachi was American when all this time it was adapted from the Japanese story of Hachiko.

 Shibuya Crossing, considered the busiest intersection in the world

Yokohama Chinatown

 Cute hedgehog custard bun

Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Tokyo DisneySea! Head back home on flight at 9:00pm.

 Family picture in front of 30th Anniversary statue near the entrance of Tokyo DisneySea

On our trip, we found Japanese people to be very friendly, polite, and live orderly and clean lives. As crowded a city as Tokyo is, the people are in another class of civility than other places. It's hard to describe, but they certainly don't succumb to the hustle and bustle of their lives. For example, people cram themselves in the trains/subways (think packed like sardines, but tighter). While the invasion of personal space might make people uncomfortable, Japanese people are so calm and polite about it that the situation certainly feels less uncomfortable than it actually is, if that makes sense. They also offer superb service where you go. Even if the goods are cheap, Japanese workers always treat you with the greatest level of service. This is especially praise-worthy considering tipping is not a custom in Japan, so the service they provide seems to come more out of genuine pride and the level of respect they have for their job and other people. They also bow a lot; even when no one is looking, they will bow before taking a break at work, or even as people come in to a store and don't necessarily buy anything.

One issue we had was trying to accommodate our vegetarian diet. Japanese cuisine has a heavy seafood influence. They also don't do food substitutions, so it was difficult to find meals that were vegetarian. That's why many non-Japanese eateries are on our itinerary, since it was easier to accommodate vegetarian diets at Western dining places. The language barrier was certainly a challenge to overcome, but as visitors of their country, we were certainly grateful for those who did know English. Besides, anyone we talked to was willing to help us out, so it wasn't too bad.

 

A lot of research went into making this trip as smooth as possible, but we still ran into some challenges on our trip. I tried to take lessons from our previous family trip to New York to improve our stay, but still fell short in various respects. I successfully incorporated more convenient hotel locations that were close to main train lines to minimize walking distance to the nearest stations, plugged in some vegetarian places to try out, figured out routes to get form one place to another (thank goodness for the very convenient and user-friendly transportation), and squeezed in a bike ride in one of the city's parks. Areas of improvement were certainly to slow the itinerary down so that my parents didn't have to travel on their feet as much, incorporating more eating activities since those seem to excite my parents the most, and immersing more in the exciting parts of the city to soak in the surroundings. I certainly tried to get a lot accomplished in the short amount of time we had there, and it really did take a physical toll on everyone trying to get from place to place on foot. I think we all learned some good lessons about one another on this trip.

If you're interested in going to Japan, there are many useful websites to use out there. Be sure to familiarize yourself with Hyperdia to figure out transportation routes. Japan Guide was also another great resources that I found very informative and excellent for planning. Our entire trip cost was about $6150, which included airfare (we were able to get discounts with our frequent flyer miles), hotel, JR 7-day ordinary passes, and all the food, admission fees, and miscellaneous expenses. Not bad for an 8-day vacation. Also, must give credit to my sister, who decided to eat the cost of the entire trip for the whole family. Thank you for the free trip to Japan!!

18. Ride a Tandem Bike

Completed: 05/26/2013

 Cycling in Kyoto

Riding a tandem bicycle was one of those things that I just thought would be cool to try. I remember observing some friends on one of my trips to China renting a bike in one of Beijing's parks and riding it around. They looked like they were having a blast, and since then, I had yearned to have a try at it some point in my lifetime. That chance came on our family trip to Japan.

Taking a ride on a bike through a park is a nice, relaxing way to soak in your experience in a new city. Our family took a bike tour through Central Park on our family trip to New York, and thoroughly enjoyed it. For Japan, I wanted to incorporate a similar experience. I was very excited to come across some info on the web about a free service provided by the city from 10:00am to 2:00pm on Sundays, where a 3-mile route is closed off solely for bike riders. The course goes through a park that borders the Imperial Palace. Activities that are fun and free are always winners for me!

 

Happily cruising in the city park

We made our way to the park from the JR Tokyo Station, and filled out some short applications to get our bikes. My parents and sister had no knowledge about this awesome activity, so they were very pleasantly surprised with the experience, and it being free to boot. We arrived around 10:30, when all the tandem bikes had gone out for use. My parents were worried that they would have to wait long to get a tandem and considered to just settle for single-rider bikes, but I'm super glad I was able to convince them to wait it out (fortunately for us, it wasn't long before a pair on a tandem headed back to free up a bike for my parents to use), so they were able to get the tandem. 

Imperial Palace

 

The park was very well-maintained and aesthetically pleasing to the eye. We were also able to see views of the bordering Imperial Palace, which we later explored for a bit after our bike ride. After about half the bike ride, my parents switched with me and my sister to give us a chance to try out the tandem. It is not as easy as it looks, since both people have to balance. It was funny trying to get used to it in the beginning. The leisure bike ride was a nice break from all the rush of the city and our busy schedule trying to cram in so many activities in the week we had in Japan. We certainly all had a blast, a 10/10 experience!

Can tell my parents were having lots of fun :)