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RENY JANE

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Tokyo :: Japan, Asia

Reny Jane September 4, 2020

Hi & thanks for stopping by! I hope to gather all the photos from my travels and share them here with you. I find that our memories can get muddled & lost with all the daily constants in our lives and we need to find a place and time to look back. That is why I wanted to build a curated space for my photography so I can truly take it all in. I hope "Straight On Till Morning" will inspire you to visit towns you have never heard of, travel to a country you may have been apprehensive about, or introduce you to a different restaurant in a vacation spot you been going to for years. Let the journey begin!

Bon Voyage!


It’s been over year since I have posted on my travel blog! I’ve decided since many people aren’t traveling due to COVID-19 that I would look back through my past travels and relive some amazing memories. I met my husband in Tokyo for our first trip in Asia together. He was in India working and thought it would be fun to meet me “halfway”. I love Japanese culture. I always told myself if I had one place in Asia to visit, it would be Japan. After exploring this beautiful city I felt my expectations had been exceeded. I appreciated the care and consideration that was put into every detail, from food to landscapes, I felt like I was moving through a beautiful curated dream.

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We stayed at The Prince Gallery Tokyo Kioicho which was stunning! This is a brand new hotel in the heart of Tokyo. Every room has large windows overlooking the city and it feels like you’re floating. Their parlor was always packed for small tea time get togethers and their bar/nightlife is a scene from 007.

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Shibuya Crossing

This area is fun because all the cars must stop at a very large intersection allowing pedestrians to fill the streets. We found it very difficult to get a photo in the crosswalk without someone - well, crossing. It was like Grand Central but x10. This spot has been featured in many movies, (film buff here) such as Lost in Translation and Resident Evil.

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This statue is in remembrance of Hachiko  (ハチ公, November 10, 1923 – March 8, 1935). This Akita Inu would meet his owner at the Shibuya station every day after work even for the 9 years after he passed. It is a symbol of loyalty and fidelity in Japan.

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Ginza District

This is the ritzy designer district of Tokyo. There were so many tiny upscale boutiques and posh coffee shops. The architecture was clean, modern and bright - kind of like an elevated outdoor mall.

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We ended up walking down random streets of neighborhoods that caught our eyes. I loved observing all the small homes and apartments with an abundance of plants outside. There were so many charming alley ways that reminded me of downtown New York.

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Meiji Shrine

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A traditional Japanese wedding was taking place as we were walking through the Meiji Shrine. This Shinto shrine is dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his wife, Empress Shōken. There was a beautiful trail surrounded by trees that took us through 170 acres of natural landscape.

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Barrels of sake.

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I wish I had more photos of all the sushi we consumed but those were taken mostly on my cell phone since I didn’t want to lug my DSLR around to dinners. However, the first night I arrived I was so jet lagged that I fell asleep at dinner. I remember gobbling as much sushi as possible and then my husband claims I became a zombie and I don’t remember the rest! Once I got my body clock adjusted, it was smooth sailing from there! We only had a few nights in Tokyo and spent the majority of our trip in Kyoto, which will be my next post! Stay tuned for Japanese nature galore and cute monkeys.

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Tags Japan, Tokyo
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Maui :: Hawaii, USA

Reny Jane June 21, 2018

Hi & thanks for stopping by! I hope to gather all the photos from my travels and share them here with you. I find that our memories can get muddled & lost with all the daily constants in our lives and we need to find a place and time to look back. That is why I wanted to build a curated space for my photography so I can truly take it all in. I hope "Straight On Till Morning" will inspire you to visit towns you have never heard of, travel to a country you may have been apprehensive about, or introduce you to a different restaurant in a vacation spot you been going to for years. Let the journey begin!

Bon Voyage!


Let's take a little trip to the islands of Hawaii! Our first stop is Maui, which tends to be a very popular island for tourists but hopefully my travels will expose you to some parts of this beautiful piece of land. My husband and I started in Kaanapali and worked our way down the western coast eventually heading east on the road to Hana.  Buckle your seat belts for this curvy & lush green ride! 

Black Sand Beach

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One of the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen is Black Sand Beach, the sand is actually small black pebbles and rocks that were formed when lava hit the ocean and shattered. Its the best natural foot massage mother Earth will ever give you! This park is filled with freshwater caves, lava formations, and ancient burial grounds making this destination worthy of the accolades.

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There are great trails around Waianapanapa. There are breath taking views of the beach itself, the Pacific Ocean and you may spot a rainbow or two as the waves crash against the cliffs. This was our favorite place to explore on the island, there is really nothing like it anywhere else. I came back a few years later for a photo shoot!

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Road to Hana 

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There are many places to pull over along your way on the "Road to Hana" which is a 64 mile long journey (with 620 curves & 59 bridges) to a town on the Eastern side of the island. It is about a 3 hour drive straight from Kaanapali so make sure to plan out your timing accordingly. I can't believe the road wasn't paved until the 1960's! Some of the beautiful bridges date back to 1910.

There is the Botanical Garden which has tropical flora and fauna all over! There is The Seven Sacred Pools; a group of waterfalls you can hike to (however this can be overcrowded during high season). The bamboo forest along the Pipiwai trail is a special treat and also a great 1 mile hike. Despite the majority of the hike being vertical, it is worth going all the way to the top!

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The best decision we made was renting a convertible Jeep Wrangler. The open roof served us well since there is so much lush rainforest to see above. At one point, we had a slight downpour and had to hop out and put on the roof before we got soaked. Make sure you know how to put on the roof ahead of time ;) The Jeep is also crucial for all the twists and turns of the Hana HWY.

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An old church we stumbled upon in the small, untouched town of Hana.

An old church we stumbled upon in the small, untouched town of Hana.

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We have done the road to Hana twice now and always stop at the Cafe below for baked goods, iced coffee or tea. They also have a "to die for" banana bread! Make sure to stop at Mamas Fish House on the North Shore in Paia on your way back for dinner. We had my birthday dinner there on our trip back and the ambience is one you will never forget! 

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Kaanapali

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This part of the island is on the Northwest coast and has many great hotel selections, world renowned golf courses up North in Kapalua, and beautiful views of the coast. We had a spectacular view of the island of Lanai from The Sheraton and during sunset, it was a magical hour! If you are a SPG member, this hotel will do you justice. 

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Check out Honolua Bay for amazing snorkeling. Just north of Kapalua, there is a beautiful trail before you get to the beach. We took many snorkeling photos under water but I'll save you from those unsuccessful attempts. 

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I highly recommend going to this restaurant known for their sunsets and atmosphere called Merriman's. Go here for a special occasion or romantic date night! They don't fool around with their cocktails either.

Lahaina

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A classic Hawaiian destination on the island is the historic town of Lahaina. It was the capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii from 1820 to 1845 before moving back to Honolulu! There are so many ocean front bars and restaurants along Front Street for a memorable sunset dinner.

There is a fascinating map store where we purchased maps of San Francisco & New York City that we now have framed in our apartment. If you like geography and history, visit Printsellers and they will tell you everything about the history of Hawaii & Captain Cook! 

Try Kimos for a mean Mai Tai or Mojito! 

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Thanks for reading my second post! Feel free to comment below with any questions and I'd be happy to help you further your travels.

XX Reny Jane

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Costa Careyes :: Jalisco, Mexico

Reny Jane June 1, 2018

This is my first post for my new blog "Straight On Till Morning" - wow thanks for stopping by! I hope to gather all the photos from my travels and share them here with you. I find that our memories can get muddled & lost with all the daily constants in our lives and we need to find a place and time to look back. That is why I wanted to build a curated space for my photography so I can truly take it all in. I hope "Straight On Till Morning" will inspire you to visit towns you have never heard of, travel to a country you may have been apprehensive about, or introduce you to a different restaurant in a vacation spot you been going to for years. Let the journey begin!

Bon Voyage!


My husband and I traveled to a secret paradise 3 hours south of Puerto Vallarta in Jalisco, Mexico for our Honeymoon. We rented a car in town and drove down the coast, staying at two secluded boutique hotels hidden amongst the lush beach jungles. Little did we know that Costa Careyes is a celebrity hot spot and very few Americans know of it. Founded by an Italian banker in 1968,  this bohemian coastline has a lot to offer. The Hollywood Reporter recently wrote a piece on it so we suspect this tiny treasure is about to explode even more. I'm thankful we could experience it's untouched colors and organic rustic beauty for such a special time in our lives.

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The ?!Careyes Bungalows at Playa Rosa was our first stop and once we arrived, we were treated like a Queen & King with their own private beach! With bright hot pink bungalows a few steps from the ocean it truly was the most romantic and secluded boutique hotel I have ever been to. The food was all local & fresh and served right on the beach so there was no reason to leave. This was the perfect remedy for a post wedding mind & body. 

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La Copa del Sol - est 2006

Catching the sun, this majestic sculpture (35 feet high / 88 feet diameter) rests on a cliff overlooking Playa Teopa. This visual marvel aligns with another art instillation, The Piramidion located a mile inland and during the equinoxes of March and September, when the sun sets it cupped by La Copa while illuminating The Piramidion. 

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Costa Careyes is known for its annual ArteCareyes Film & Arts Festival celebrating film, photography, music and contemporary art. Variety wrote: "Entering its eighth year, the strictly invite-only event, running April 26-30, is not your typical film fest. Held in collaboration with the Careyes Foundation, which establishes programs in education, sports, ecology and the arts for local communities, the emphasis of ArteCareyes is not on buying up content for distribution or negotiating sleek film biz deals, but on nurturing one’s inner artist and igniting the creativity in all who attend, a select guest list of some 500 people ranging from billionaire jet-setters to aspiring actors, writers and directors. Ecology is also a focal point of the gathering — this is a fest with a low carbon footprint."


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As it was finally time to head back to Puerto Vallarta, we decided we couldn't leave Careyes yet and wanted to explore this beautiful coastline some more. After a little research, we booked a luxury boutique hotel last minute on our drive up the coast. Las Alamandas was completely deserted. We were unsure if we had stumbled upon someones palace or this was indeed a hotel. They upgraded our room to a suite overlooking a private beach and had to call in for the chef since the staff wasn't on site that day. We realized we arrived just as their off-season was ending so we had the resort to ourselves! 

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As it turns out, this hotel was a private getaway for many celebrities in the 90's. When I came across a photo of Brad Pitt and Jennifer Anniston in the lobby I knew I was in a special place. Other photos included Robert DiNero, Sting & Cindy Crawford just to name a few! Word has it Pitt & Anniston threw a New Years Eve 2000 party with guests including George Clooney!


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Views of the valleys of Mexico on our drive up the coast to Puerto Vallarta. 


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Arriving in Old Vallarta (the old town of Puerto Vallarta) was refreshing with all the bustling noises of the city and it's people. The cobble stone streets are very romantic and all the buildings are charming and colonial. We only stayed one night, but made sure to have dinner at Cafe Des Artistes. With an interior without a roof and many tropical trees, there are real birds flying above your head as you dive into your meal. I highly recommend this place for an intimate dinner party or a romantic date for two.

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It was also Día de Muertos - "Day of The Dead" during our stay and while walking around at night, we came upon many alters with candles, photos, food & decorated skulls honoring those that had passed. The energy was just what we needed after quiet Careyes. 


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Our last stop of the trip was The St. Regis Punta Mita which was an hour north of Puerto Vallarta. It was the perfect way to end our honeymoon travels and rest until our flight back to San Francisco


Thanks for reading my first post! Feel free to comment below with any questions and I'd be happy to help you further your travels.

XX Reny Jane

Tags Mexico, Costa Careyes, Honeymoon, Travel, Puerto Vallarta, November, 2017
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