2015 started off slow — actually, with a bunch of trip cancellations/changes, as i had to spend all of January in Manhattan for work (yes, yes, there are worse places to have to be stuck for a month). at the time, i was worried it would end up being a crap year because it started out crappy, but boy, was i mistaken. indeed, i ended up canceling my January, February, and March trips, but definitely more than made up for it in the end, flying a total of 186,043 miles: significantly less than 2014’s 256,255, but i continue to be unfathomably fortunate to be able to travel like i do. (honestly, i’m waiting for it all to come crashing down, but until then…)
tunisia (early april)
it had been months since i was on a trip and Tunisia was a great place to get back into the swing of things. i have a soft spot for Francophone countries, and another for North Africa, so this was perfect. the highlight for me was the Bardo Museum, which, in my opinion, is worth a trip to Tunis. its collection of mosaics from antiquity cannot be beat.
my trip to Tunisia took place three weeks after the terrorist attack at the museumΒ in which 24 people were killed. as i was exploring the galleries, i came across a room and stairwell where a massive shooting spree took place, the bulletholes still scarring the wall. it was, to say the least, sobering, moving, and something i will never forget.
as i said at the time, though, i never felt in danger in Tunis, and i would gladly return again.
p.s. Tunisia has probably the best donuts ever:
Everyone is eating these donuts so I am too. So good! Like a churro, but lighter. pic.twitter.com/tsyC1TqLLG
— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) April 9, 2015
interlude
i started the following note in March, towards the end of my Tunisia trip, as an idea for a blog post:
what happened during my next trip would turn that idea on its head.
nepal (late april) [bucket list]
i wanted to see the Himalayas. i wanted to see temples and prayer flags. i wanted to be floored by nature. and all of that happened.
i couldn’t decide which video clip to show from my ultralight flight through the Himalayas near Pokhara, so here are two:
oh heck, here’s a picture of a temple with prayer flags too π
and then…
Holy shit big earthquake in Kathmandu!!!
— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) April 25, 2015
but yeah. as many of you know, i was there for the earthquake. if i thought, as i did in Tunis, that standing where there was a shooting was a life-changing event, no, this topped it. i won’t belabor you with what i posted in April (a four-parter on my experience), but you know, my notions from just a few weeks earlier of what made a good trip were now dust in the wind. yes, i got food poisoning from eating whatever food we could get, and yes, i did have to rough it for a night (on a random hotel’s lobby sofa), but i still had an amazing trip, no matter how you look at it. not amazing in the traditional sense (though there’s that too), but amazing in that i can’t begin to count the life lessons that i’ve learned and how much my eyes were opened to “real life” at a destination (well, more than i think it would have been otherwise; i was still very much sheltered from the worst of things). and really, isn’t that what travel is about?
what isn’t amazing, though, is my still lingering survivor’s guilt (not a lot, but it’s still always in the back of my head), but that’s another story for another day (or a therapist). over 9,000 people were killed and this Californian, who should be used to earthquakes by now, still stops in his tracks when he feels the ground rumbling from a passing heavy vehicle.
romania (early may)
ever since i became friends with someone from Romania in grad school, i’ve wanted to visit, and i was happy to finally be able to make that happen.
First time on Aeroflot, first time on Russian plane (too bad not Soviet plane π). Suuuperjet! (Also, supercramped) pic.twitter.com/N4gk3s4MBY
— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) May 3, 2015
i’d always been intrigued by the Palace of the Parliament, the second-largest building in the world, after the Pentagon (mostly unoccupied…):
The view from the balcony where Michael Jackson famously said, "Hello Budapest!" #Bucharest pic.twitter.com/1qEQOAJB0r
— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) May 5, 2015
Bucharest is nice, but i’m glad i made the last-minute decision (literally during the trip) to take the train and spend some time in Sibiu, which i actually first heard about in grad school when it made European Capital of Culture. two of my favorite moments from the trip were discovering what some graffiti meant:
Googled; it's one man's campaign (throughout Bucharest & Paris) to get people to take a break & "look at the sky" πππ pic.twitter.com/CoXlaJej3h
— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) May 3, 2015
and the wonderful Holy Trinity Cathedral in Sibiu:
oh, and of course the landscape:
Was gonna try to get some work done but starting to head through the Carpathians to Transylvania and it's too pretty. pic.twitter.com/2R2HPyI73G
— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) May 7, 2015
on my way home i happened to have an overnight layover in Moscow during Victory Day. man do they take it seriously!
Last thing I'm going to say about it (gotta work) — pretty much all TV now. ΠΏΠΎΠ±Π΅Π΄Π°! ΠΏΠΎΠ±Π΅Π΄Π°! (Victory! Victory!) pic.twitter.com/WjdBF3e8gb
— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) May 9, 2015
helsinki and vienna/eurovision
i changed this trip several times (it was an award redemption and i was elite — man i’m going to miss this benefit along with lounge access) and finally settled on Helsinki because i was working on a pretty media-heavy project for work and needed fast internet. it was my first time in Helsinki since i visited in the dead of winter 2006. it’s definitely more pleasant when it’s warmer π perhaps my favorite day was when i walked up the western coast of town to the island park of Seurasaari.
though i suppose this was also a highlight (#transitgeek):
Here we are! Northernmost subway station in the world. (@ Metro MellunmΓ€ki in Helsinki) https://t.co/ijDZdZyStX pic.twitter.com/J8SN4QG9Z1
— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) May 19, 2015
oh! i almost forgot that we uhh, had a little accident when we landed in Helsinki…
That'll buff out, right? #tk1425 pic.twitter.com/WMOC8MDcNL
— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) May 16, 2015
i continued on to Vienna for Eurovision, my second time (and definitely not my last).
I'M READY!!!! pic.twitter.com/oyX5IRwoPq
— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) May 23, 2015
my little Conchita-fandom moments:
OMG conchita's flying!!! I'm crying! #Eurovision pic.twitter.com/JpFYbE5hvw
— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) May 23, 2015
Quite proud of this @ConchitaWurst pic I took on my regular camera. All about that zoom. Ok enough from me for now! pic.twitter.com/MOmtv9p1sz
— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) May 23, 2015
and it was so cool to hang out with Twitter friends, too!
It's #eurovision final time in #vienna w/ @jonk & @7_70! πΌπ―ππ€ #esc2015 #asiavision π pic.twitter.com/zQYuGqrwy2
— akinsoul (@akinsoul) May 23, 2015
speaking of Twitter friends, on the way back i stopped over in London:
Oh! @adamcobb and @drable and @EconomyBeyond have been teaching me about foibles of UK life and look! At BBC HQ! pic.twitter.com/ZOOujMSyqK
— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) May 24, 2015
Breakfast with @chrishansenhome NOM NOM pic.twitter.com/AqzUVa1qFX
— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) May 25, 2015
kazakhstan (june)
this trip was a bit hard to put together, but worth it! i had a cheap ticket to Moscow and needed a way to get from there to Kazakhstan. from Moscow i had an overnight flight to Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan), did a day tour there, then went to Almaty (Kazakhstan) for the week, ending the trip in the new capital, Astana.
yeah, quite a few fun airlines involved:
So this is Air Kyrgyzstan. Squishy. pic.twitter.com/B6erFGWEsa
— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) June 27, 2015
Wondering what you get served on Air Kyrgyzstan? The skinniest chicken ever. And the only drink choice is water/tea. pic.twitter.com/PVpaka1sm4
— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) June 28, 2015
On an Air Astana Embraer 190 from Bishkek to Almaty (FRU-ALA). (Was supposed to be a 757 iirc?) *shrug* pic.twitter.com/BP2F7qhPcd
— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) June 28, 2015
Here we go! π©βοΈ pic.twitter.com/kvOEipEMFR
— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) July 3, 2015
and my emoji-only review of the latter:
β€΄οΈ Almaty β€΅οΈ Astanaβ π©βοΈ π °πβοΈ β ππ π π βπββοΈ ππ΄βπ¬βΌοΈ π°π― ππβ¨ππ °π ΏοΈπβ¨πππ °π ΏοΈβ¨ππ ππ 2β£5β£πππ©βοΈβ©οΈAlmaty pic.twitter.com/1rfYOkH7Ys
— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) July 3, 2015
all three of these cities are underrated and worth a visit, IMHO. Bishkek is kind of sleepy but not bad for a day trip. Almaty is small but there’s lots of stuff in and out of town (in=Kok Tobe, out=Shymbulak ski resort with its gondola rides to the summit), and the modern architecture of Astana alone would make a trip worth it (well, for me).
MISSION COMPLETE: Fab 4 + Fabulous 1 (Apparently first Beatles monument anywhere with all 4?) pic.twitter.com/eFgzZN1gbP
— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) July 1, 2015
Made it to the top! Absolutely spectacular. First pic midway station, second at top of summit looking to other side. pic.twitter.com/MHzTaNCIcx
— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) June 30, 2015
This place is seriously out of control. pic.twitter.com/7Ncem5pJVE
— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) July 3, 2015
According to GMaps circular thing behind the concert hall is the presidential library. And no, this is no rendering. pic.twitter.com/AlQOeiMk85
— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) July 4, 2015
oh and this:
Can confirm. Fermented camel milk >>>> fermented horse milk. No nasty rancid bacon aftertaste. pic.twitter.com/ZThzpQ3H1g
— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) July 2, 2015
one word of advice, though: watch where you’re going. i stepped in one of the many roadside water canals by accident and twisted my ankle — took months to fully heal!
Ugh it really isn't looking good. Think imma have to call it a day! (The one on the right, obvs) pic.twitter.com/zsTQfMDPLA
— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) June 29, 2015
Going to use frozen French fries as makeshift ice packs. Only $1.60 each pack. pic.twitter.com/VC0h05EwD5
— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) June 29, 2015
Thank you google translate! pic.twitter.com/Tv0N27qNnI
— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) June 29, 2015
middle east DO 2 (august)
following last year’s very successful Middle East DO organized by Jamison, we did it again this year, to Bahrain, Qatar, and Kuwait.
on the way there i had an overnight layover in Dulles and made the most of it by visiting the Udvar-Hazy museum:
*CHOIR OF ANGELS* pic.twitter.com/KcXJWfwG4m
— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) August 8, 2015
but back to the Middle East: it was so much fun but let me summarize (ha) by saying it involved camels, a drive along a certain highway, and singing sand dunes in the middle of nowhere (all unrelated):
Me and nature, video courtesy @jamucsb pic.twitter.com/24RuWB6X8z
— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) August 14, 2015
Currently on what was known as the Highway of Death https://t.co/bPKzkC1KkF (but stopping @ roadside Burger King lol) pic.twitter.com/h9lqd1XViP
— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) August 17, 2015
Aaaand we'll just turn around here. SO CLOSE. pic.twitter.com/3O9wVPnu89
— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) August 17, 2015
Literally in the middle of nowhere at the some singing sand dunes. Crazy!!!! It sounds like a low constant rumble. pic.twitter.com/1CcrJOGJkT
— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) August 13, 2015
oh, i totally forgot about when i went to explore an abandoned building and discovered it was where gay hookups take place. eeep!
That said, I can't remember the last time I got felt up! Took some pics and skeddadled!!!!! pic.twitter.com/ORvU2jIqY8
— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) August 17, 2015
brazil (late august-early september) [bucket list: brasilia]
i took advantage of a cheap ticket to head on down to Iguazu Falls, but extended that to stay in Sao Paulo a couple days, and then Brasilia for the weekend. Brasilia was on my bucket list for a long time, for much the same reasons that Astana intrigued me so: a planned, modern capital — except this one happened half a century ago.
Iguazu (i actually went to the Argentina side on a day tour so i’m calling it Iguazu and not IguaΓ§u) was never really something i WANTED to do (like, it wasn’t a goal of mine), but it really is quite magnificent nonetheless!
Seriously it's rainbow heaven! pic.twitter.com/HtYXXtjVHk
— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) August 30, 2015
one of my mini-goals was to take the new Sao Paulo monorail (which only runs between two stations, but whatever, my transitgeekdom needed to be satiated):
I would not say it glides as softly as a cloud (but it's not awfully loud either). #monorail pic.twitter.com/ockj2LSf4u
— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) September 1, 2015
oh, and friends also took advantage of the cheap tickets and we met up for dinner!
Made it to dinner with @justex07 and friends! pic.twitter.com/g2GpobiKUp
— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) September 2, 2015
i discovered what a brigadeiro is, all because of a button that looked like a pompom on my airbnb’s microwave:
Bakery run! pic.twitter.com/ypWIP6M3HN
— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) September 2, 2015
Sao Paulo was nice but i really just wanted to go to Brasilia to see all the Niemeyer architecture. IT DID NOT DISAPPOINT.
georgia-the-country (late september-early october) [bucket list]
i’d been wanting to visit Georgia for several years now and was finally able to make it happen. i got there by way of Dubai and on the way there, i sat on a pat of butter that somehow landed in my seat when the flight attendant was picking up trays. i only noticed while walking off the plane and managed to change shorts at the airport. i got to the airbnb and, thanks to a little help from my twitter friends was able to get the butter out thanks to having a suite with a washing machine and kitchen:
WAO thanks @brybryy and @travelpeon for the dish soap suggestion! Fairy (magic) worked! pic.twitter.com/664Dzlkz6T
— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) September 27, 2015
there was a lot i really loved about Tbilisi — i know it probably won’t sound right when i say it, but i really appreciated the decay.
βΌοΈβΌοΈβΌοΈ My Airbnb is right next to a disused aerial tramway station! pic.twitter.com/MLLEDCCBAI
— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) September 28, 2015
on the other hand, i really loved the modernity of this building:
The interior of the Public Service Hall (consolidated govt building). If only the DMV had photobooths by Starck! pic.twitter.com/9azKwcOliK
— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) October 1, 2015
i have a soft spot for Orthodox churches, so passing through one during a service was a treat:
oh, and if you go, you MUST eat khinkali!
Posted me eating khinkali on snapchat earlier. Watched real Georgian eat one on YouTube and she slurped just as much. pic.twitter.com/VBCgaVrYub
— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) September 28, 2015
the highlight, though, was when i did a private tour/day trip down to the David Gareja monastery on the southern border of Georgia — the disputed border between Georgia and Azerbaijan.
In what someone described to me as "badlands" near the Azerbaijan border. pic.twitter.com/s6SbI1ncLG
— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) October 3, 2015
At David Gareja, a 6th century monastery carved into the mountainside. pic.twitter.com/2J6PzkcF36
— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) October 3, 2015
we climbed the mountain behind the complex to reach the cave chapels on the other side and, depending on what map you look at, over to Azerbaijan:
I can see Azerbaijan from my backyard!!! (There's a fence down there that is the border.) pic.twitter.com/7FmschMcgA
— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) October 3, 2015
According to Google Maps we are technically over the line. (Disputed territory) pic.twitter.com/1a4qp93cDg
— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) October 3, 2015
on the way back to Tbilisi we stopped in Sighnaghi where, by chance, a wine harvest festival was taking place. YES!
Just my luck! In town during a festival! Party everywhere, meat on sticks! And a small churchkhela to try pic.twitter.com/hY4E6UskEx
— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) October 3, 2015
A veritable polyphonic spree! pic.twitter.com/kSEebvSm3H
— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) October 3, 2015
This walled hilltop town of Sighnaghi (where the wine festival is) is super cute. pic.twitter.com/YHn3RrNT8X
— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) October 3, 2015
the crown
at Tbilisi airport i picked up a crown from the Burger King. it was the beginning of a beautiful friendship. i kept it on all the way through passport control, to the airport lounge, on the plane, on the Dubai metro to the hotel where i was staying overnight, and through check-in:
HAVING IT MY WAY DAMMIT pic.twitter.com/wfy4B5J5RV
— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) October 3, 2015
On the plus side, the lounge lady said I look like a king (because crown) and I feel like I king (because only one) pic.twitter.com/HaEjZgXoN5
— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) October 3, 2015
All these people waiting in line to board don't realize the plane isn't even here yet. #delayed pic.twitter.com/pJAheiuLXx
— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) October 3, 2015
Ps in case there are any doubters out there. pic.twitter.com/9kKbIDEOiZ
— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) October 3, 2015
WAIT A MINUTE. Either they have me confused with someone who matters or THE CROWN WORKS. pic.twitter.com/kQQpynuIp6
— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) October 4, 2015
In my Burger King crown. pic.twitter.com/3zIxeKlsTj
— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) October 4, 2015
lima (october)
i took advantage of another cheap ticket to head down to Lima, this time stopping in Panama City overnight.
i headed out to the Panama Canal for the afternoon and spent the evening in the old town, Casco Viejo. quite lovely!
This Panamax boat is going through the canal with only two inches to spare on each side, the man on the PA says. pic.twitter.com/5FcesjqaUR
— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) October 17, 2015
Lima, well, i didn’t have much of a chance to explore it because i had to work during the day, but i made the most of the nights by going to some of the best restaurants in the world (apparently) and splurging on their prix fixe dinners.
the first one i went to, IK Restaurante, seemed to concentrate a bit more on the showy aspects of modern cuisine:
Omg then he threw confetti over the whole thing pic.twitter.com/ZEab5css3n
— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) October 22, 2015
the second, Astrid & Gaston, was more food-centric, and it showed. absolutely amazing:
Went big, now going home (after coffee). One of the best meals, ever. Amazing flavors. Standouts attached. pic.twitter.com/T3rp2mSe11
— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) October 23, 2015
the third, Central, was half showy and half foodie-y.
17 "altitudes" (=correspond to courses) plus juice pairings (since I don't drink) pic.twitter.com/QsozVRarpW
— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) October 24, 2015
i would love to have another Astrid y Gaston dinner again!
on the other end of the price and fanciness spectrum were some of the best sandwiches i’ve ever had:
Chicha-effin-rrΓ³n! π·π½π·π½π·π½π·π½ pic.twitter.com/8pBSMiPzQN
— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) October 20, 2015
on my last day i did a day trip down to the boho district of Barranco — loved it, especially the artsy aspects:
This museum has a whole room dedicated to Testino's pictures of Princess Di π’. Pardon me while I have a moment. pic.twitter.com/zlZ4PsweMt
— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) October 24, 2015
the time i crossed the country in a chicken suit
JetBlue had a crazy Halloween promo…so i decided to fly to Fort Lauderdale and back (literally get off the plane and get on another and fly back) because it was ridiculously cheap. since it was Halloween, i figured i’d be festive and dress up. i ordered a chicken onesie and…
Have changed into costume. ACK I can't believe I'm doing this lol. pic.twitter.com/8lTIFfpPo0
— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) October 31, 2015
from my seatmate on the flight out:
Why did the chicken cross the country? Because it was $56! Now he's heading back to Cali. badass. Here 4 10 min. Lol pic.twitter.com/xg9G45GwXA
— Colie Cole (@NicoleVillagran) October 31, 2015
i don’t know exactly how their social media team organized this (it was a complete surprise), but:
UMM lol thanks @JetBlue! I got called to the front of the plane and was given a bag of goodies! pic.twitter.com/jvWwoosJnn
— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) October 31, 2015
HOMG thank you @JetBlue for all the treats!!! #jetboo (how did you know I love Doritos lol) pic.twitter.com/CfMLdFVvTi
— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) November 1, 2015
chiang mai (november) [bucket list]
launching a sky lantern has been on my bucket list forever, and finally Yi Peng/Loi Krathong lined up with Thanksgiving so i was able to go. i did a lot more than launch a lantern (got a ton of massages, did a cooking class, saw many many parades, took a day trip down to Chiang Mai and over to a Laotian island), but this, this was the highlight, hands down.
Dorkus malorkus but I loved it! pic.twitter.com/czOlvJP5tP
— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) November 25, 2015
since i couldn’t just celebrate Yi Peng with a lantern launch, i also launched a krathong for Loi Krathong:
I have, after examining all stalls along the river, made my krathong decision. Orchids AND a bird. pic.twitter.com/aly12c8aal
— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) November 26, 2015
one very pleasant surprise was passing by a temple during an opening ceremony for the festival. so beautiful:
oh, and since people seemed to like that i did this sort of thing, i’ll make a note of it:
Only one here 40 min before it opens. Don't let anyone say I'm not determined! Heh, will let y'all know how it was. pic.twitter.com/b7aRnWbjtq
— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) November 22, 2015
tirana and paris (december)
ok, i’ll admit Tirana was kind of random, but i’m so glad i went!
i started off with a little adventure, renting a car and driving down from Tirana to Berat, an old Ottoman town with a castle on top of a hill. HINT: driving in Tirana can be, well…scary π
Here we go! pic.twitter.com/3MQSBFrSMg
— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) December 13, 2015
meanwhile, back in Tirana, i had always been intrigued by the old Pyramid building — an eyesore in an endearing way, i suppose?
i just couldn’t believe we (the free walking tour group i joined) climbed to the top of it!
We climbed to the top of the gloriously hideous Pyramid! "Pyramid of Tirana" on @Wikipedia: https://t.co/6YpDidZYuG pic.twitter.com/e4X40JMqHX
— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) December 14, 2015
when i travel i like to stay at Airbnbs because they’re cheaper, more spacious, and IMHO more authentic than hotels. sometimes that can backfire π i had intermittent water for over 24 hours!
LOL living like a local problems. pic.twitter.com/5ZW2fWRPq6
— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) December 14, 2015
midweek i flew to Paris because i hadn’t been in a while and i’ve been meaning to return (and also because i was meeting a friend from Germany there). it was lovely, as always.
I approve, actually. pic.twitter.com/CGwAP5nz62
— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) December 17, 2015
it certainly wasn’t as cheap, though π
Just spent significantly more on macarons than I did on an entire day's worth of food in Albania. pic.twitter.com/vc4Nrli1S7
— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) December 17, 2015
as an aside:
:(( (at @Le_Bataclan (lieu de recueillement) in Paris) https://t.co/IozTOAGAPZ pic.twitter.com/4DeZydAtaB
— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) December 19, 2015
anyways, it definitely was a good way to end the year.
Goodbye, 7th! Heading to the airport in a little while π pic.twitter.com/tAr6zUthQN
— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) December 20, 2015
here’s to a great 2016!
Looks like it was a great year for you. What was your favorite place that you visited? You got to some remote locations.
I tend to travel to more cities and to repeat ones that I like such as Barcelona, London, Paris, etc.
Did you still see a lot of Love Locks in Paris? I’ve heard they are creeping back up after the city removed them.
thanks! i did see a few love locks but i didn’t go over any of the more uhh, historically-locked bridges so i’m not sure how those are looking nowadays. hmm my favorite place from last year i think has to be nepal (earthquake aside heh). friendly people, great food, amazing scenery. i’m doing a couple of repeats this year and am looking forward to them!