Simplicity Relished

minimalism for the adventurous heart

Tokyo Travel: 10 Things to Love About Tokyo

It’s hard to believe that the first leg of our trip has come to an end. Tomorrow we’re off to the Japanese countryside!

But first, a couple of reflections on the trip so far. I did not expect to like Tokyo. Not only did I find it intimidating, but I also thought that it was mostly for high-fashion shoppers and electronics geeks, neither of which I am.

However, there has been nothing better than to make our initial splash in Japan here– at its modern, fast-paced, impeccably clean and hospitable capital. The truth is, Tokyo travel is awesome and a visitor to Japan would be ill-advised to skip it. Despite its far-reaching high-rises and even higher prices, I might even love it. We’ll see.

10 things to love about tokyo

10 Things to Love About Tokyo

…Continue Reading

10 Highlights On Our Upcoming Japan Itinerary

soba noodles // by aaron
soba noodles in Japan // photo by aaron

Our trip to Japan is in less than 2 weeks…

It’s hard to believe. Aaron and I are both somewhat drowning in work at the moment, so our Japan adventures still seem far off.

Sometimes I feel as though I’d like to sleep for a week when work finally lightens up. But as I look through our itinerary, my excitement grows– not least because my husband volunteered there in 2011.

10 highlights Japan 3

Japan is a destination with so many layers, and it feels impossible to ever see it all. But that doesn’t mean we won’t try.

The cliche of every cross-cultural adventure is that we will experience cultures unlike our own. And while I hate cliches, the fascinating thing about Japanese culture is that it is just as modernized as the West, but all too differently.

This means there will be more than a few moments where our foreign-ness is painfully apparent. The familiarity of advanced technology and first-world accoutrements will be juxtaposed with dramatically different social standards. Knowing me, I will probably put my foot in my mouth, periodically, throughout the trip.

In addition to expecting occasional embarrassment, I also expect to be amazed. There is something about the quiet, consistent and perfectionist nature of Japanese culture that I hope to learn from.

We come from a culture that is always talking, and I’ve already observed that we need a little more silence around here. But am I ready for the kind of silence in Japanese temples, gardens and even restaurants?

“Just assume that you’re being too loud– all the time.” That’s the advice I got from some website I no longer remember. When you’re in Japan, remember that your very presence is already too noisy. Duly noted.

source: conde nast
hoshinoya kyoto // conde nast

10 Highlights On Our Japan Itinerary

1) Tokyo, Old and New

To be honest, I’m a bit nervous about Tokyo. It’s a bustling city that is unbelievably organized, but that does not mean it will be easy to find anything. We’ll visit the stately Imperial Palace as well as the funky Harajuku District– a combination that seems more like a paradox than anything else. Wish me luck….Continue Reading

Queenstown and Milford Sound, New Zealand

NZ Queenstown 10

The first time I ever wished I were a backpacker was when I went to Queenstown, New Zealand. I realized something then that I had never realized before: that when you carry your stuff on your back, you’re able to see things that other people just don’t get to see.

Still, without the backpack (and trekking poles and sleeping on a rock), the southern tip of South Island was nothing short of glorious.

Waterfalls that laced the rocks on their way down to seawater. Rugged peaks that became the famous backdrop for all of Gandalf’s rides. A strangely lapis lagoon that shimmered despite the rainstorm.

Let me back up for a moment.

NZ Queenstown 1

After our magnificent, sunny stay in Marlborough Sounds— where we boated with dolphins and spotted the New Zealand Giant Pigeon, among other things– we boarded a flight to Queenstown.

It was forecasted to rain– hard– for the duration of our stay, and despite the fact that locals tried to convince us that rainy New Zealand was beautiful, we were miffed.

Yet as it turned out, the rain was the best thing. Something about the gloomy weather shed a pleasantly moody light on the entire place.…Continue Reading

New Zealand: Marlborough Sounds

It’s no secret that New Zealand is one of the most naturally stunning countries ever. And I’m pretty sure the filming of the The Lord of the Rings sealed the deal for that reputation.

And why not? With picturesque coasts, rugged mountains, jade-green fjords and rolling pastures, New Zealand is a shutterbug’s dream.

Our family traveled to New Zealand in January 2013, and it was terribly difficult to decide where to go. Due to the geological diversity of the two islands– North and South– we had to make some tough choices.

After hum-ing and ha-ing about our trouble in paradise, I selected two destinations on South Island– the second of which I’ll be sharing in the near future. First stop? Marlborough Sounds.

New Zealand Marlborough travel guide and tips Screen Shot 2015-05-17 at 4.11.07 PM …Continue Reading

Snapshots from Greece (and a new blog design!)

Greece 2

When I was 17, I traveled to Greece with my high school. Due to my academic foray into the Classics, I was able to look at columns and rocks and actually know– if only just a bit more than the average tourist– what it all meant.

Wandering through ancient ruins in Europe is a bit like entering a thrift store. Things of great historical significance rest among modern, unimportant signs and spaces. And if you don’t look closely enough, you might just miss something (or step on it) en route to the t-shirt stand….Continue Reading

This Summer’s Travel Plans… Revealed!

I’ve been aching to get out into the world again. These past few weeks have been laden with our apartment move, recovering from sickness, unsuccessful meal planning, full schedules and general tiredness. I suppose that’s one of the big lessons of adulthood: no responsible life is one constant thrill. An occasional victory among mundane routines is more like it.

Anyway, I’ve been so excited to share with you our travel plans for the summer. One reason why I’m grateful for my freelance job and my husband’s academic calendar is that we still (get to pretend we) have summer vacation! That means we can explore, wander, serve others, and push ourselves in ways outside of our everyday work.

Our summer is two-part. Two international destinations in late June and July before buckling down back to work and school in August….Continue Reading

Monet’s Giverny & Creating Spaces that Inspire

Among the Impressionist painters, Claude Monet was a relatively stable one. And why wouldn’t he be– he curated a thriving garden that continued to inspire him until he died at the ripe old age of 86.

Giverny in France, just west of Paris, is where tourists can still discover the late painter’s oasis. And because it’s just a short train ride away via Eurostar, there’s no excuse not to spend a day lingering among the lush lilies and bridges that remain.

Visiting the gardens was a reminder to me that Monsieur Monet was, in a way, still very much alive. Even an art history novice like me can hardly ignore his legacy– the tranquility of his work, the captivating nature of his brushstrokes, the ubiquity of his style. I don’t know how many American refrigerators are bedecked with a small magnetic image of his iconic lilies, but there is something about his canvases that makes us want to enter in….Continue Reading

Provence, France: Slow Travel

I love slow travel. Even in my earlier days when overachieving was an attractive endeavor, I rarely enjoyed vacations that were just go, go, go.

The “Go Slow” movement has already been around for years now. Alistair Sawday popularized slow travel with his picturesque descriptions of Europe taken at the pace it deserves.

Provence Slow Travel 9

When we were planning our trip to France years ago, I remember stumbling upon the “go slow” movement, and selecting a bed-and-breakfast to stay in during our time in Provence. Not only did our rooms include meals, but we also got to know Michael, a sweet British francophile who started his own B&B decades ago….Continue Reading

Nice, France: The Perfect Seaside Getaway

I’ve been really enjoying digging up old travel photos and sharing them here on the blog! Last week I posted a few snapshots from a winter 2011 trip to Yunnan Province in China. This week I’ll be starting to share about my summer 2011 trip to France!

Nice, France 11

Oh, Nice (pronounced like “niece” in English). No throng of tacky tourists can stop me from raving about the beauty of this southern-French getaway. Nice is on the Mediterranean, which lends the city a gorgeous blue hue, excellent seafood, and plenty of beach bums.

If you’re going to spend considerable time in France, then there’s no excuse to skip Nice. It has everything from Impressionist museums to proverbial cafes to warm summer sand. As is the rest of Southern France, Nice’s vibe is more laid-back and casual than Paris’. The only thing taken too seriously is sunshine; everyone is chasing it.

Nice, France 1 Nice, France 5

The best thing about Nice is that it is so easy to explore. Wander through its alleyways, check out its menus du jour, and be sure to spend plenty of time on a balcony, drinking wine and enjoying the ocean’s stunning azure….Continue Reading

Yunnan Province: Experiencing Old China

I’ve not blogged for that long, but I have traveled, and I want to start sharing some special photos and stories from the pre-Simplicity Relished days. There probably aren’t enough photos to turn this into a series, but I hope you enjoy!

It’s hard to characterize China with a single word. It is such a dynamic, diverse, challenging, and ancient place, which is also rapidly developing in seemingly unhindered ways. When we visited China back in the winter of 2011/2012, we were unsure of what to expect. Flying straight into Yunnan Province, in the southwest region that borders Myanmar and Laos, we knew we would have a very focused, intimate experience. But we were not prepared for the stunning natural beauty of the entire region. It was awe-inspiring.

Yunnan Province 13

Yunnan is a place of myth. Lijiang is a romantic old city that has, thankfully, been restored and maintained for visitors to enjoy. It is every poet’s dream to live and write in this region, or so I’ve been told, because it is somehow reminiscent of a golden age– an era that preceded the Revolution and the rapid industrialization of what we now know as China….Continue Reading

Paris: Flânerie in the City of Light

flâ·neur, n. an idler or lounger.
flâ·neur, n. an idler or lounger.

Everyone has their Paris list. Whether we’ve had the opportunity to travel there or not, the City of Light possesses an iconic quality unmatched by any other metropolitan space. Constantly, a myriad of individuals– from tour guides to anthropologists to fashion designers– await the unsuspecting non-expert to ask them what exactly makes Paris, Paris; and then, you better get comfortable, because their odes to the city could hardly get any longer….Continue Reading

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Disclaimer: Simplicity Relished is a for profit blog. Any company that I collaborate with is chosen by me and chosen because they fit the theme and readership of my blog. Copyright: If you see something you like here, please be encouraged to share it along with a link back to my site. All of the images and content here, unless otherwise noted or linked, is my own original work.