There is a fairly tight correlation between my happiness at any given point in time and the number of airline tickets I have stacked up waiting for upcoming trips. In that respect, 2019 was a pretty great year. I flew to places near and far, new to me destinations as well as some old favourites, to the tune of a touch more than 70,000km. All that time in planes led me to some amazing experiences in 2019. In no particular order, here are some of my favourite memories and moments.

1. Playoff baseball, Japan-style – I couldn’t believe my good fortune as a baseball nerd to have the opportunity to be in Tokyo during the Japan baseball league playoffs and to snag a ticket to attend a Yomiuri Giants game. 50,000 people singing and chanting all game long, a 1980s feel to the baseball being played with steals, bunting, balls in play (all things sorely lacking in today’s Major League Baseball)… I was enthralled throughout an entertaining 6-1 win by the Giants over the Hanshin Tigers.

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