It’s been great seeing the audiences’ faces again after several months away from tour. It’s a rewarding experience to hear their laughter, cheers, and applause during the performance, while it’s comforting to know that they were able to take away something worthwhile. To our audiences out there, we truly appreciate the opportunity to perform for you!

So, after almost three weeks of touring in the cold and rainy northwestern U.S., we finally touched down on Hawaii’s Waikiki Beach. There’s just something very magical about the Hawaiian Islands with the relaxing atmosphere and friendly hospitality here. After visiting the beach for a few hours, I found it hard to believe that only days ago we were braving chilling winds, rain, and snow; the New York blizzard that we narrowly avoided suddenly feels like an event in the distant past. Winter seems to have abruptly ended, but that’s fine by me.

As a Southern Californian who has lived on the East Coast for the past few years, I’ve really missed the warmth, sunshine, and laidback atmosphere of the West Coast, which makes Hawaii’s weather all the more welcoming. I find myself much more relaxed and sociable in warm weather—maybe that’s why Hawaiians are generally so friendly!

Although we’re only able to enjoy this nice weather for a few days, I’m pretty excited about our next stop, South Korea—though I hear it’s pretty cold over there now. It’s been years since I’ve been to Asia and I’m very much looking forward to visiting again!

January 16, 2011