Simplicity Relished

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10 Best Snapshots from Japan

As I sift through our Japan photos, I have to ask myself: is there any place more photogenic than this?

So I decided to select only 10 snapshots that come with a good story or memory from our time in Japan. After reading this I hope you’ll feel compelled to visit one day! And if you have not read my other Japan-related posts, you can find them here.

If you’re asking yourself, “Should I go to Japan?”, take a look at these photos and you tell me!

10 snapshots that will make you want to visit Japan- Arashiyama Bamboo Forest 1) Arashiyama Bamboo Forest

This bamboo forest was the bane of my existence for about 24 hours. We just could not find it! There’s an entrance to the forest that many people go to, and it looks kind of like this– except there are other trees and tons of electricity lines everywhere. We thought that was it… and that the famous bamboo forest had been totally overhyped. One early morning Aaron and I went to that beginning section of the forest, looking for it. We then searched in the wrong direction and found ourselves in a quiet residential neighborhood, disappointed. It was not until the 3rd time we looked for the forest that we wound up in the right place– here! It’s not overhyped after all!…Continue Reading

Local Cuisine: What To Eat In Japan

Many people don’t realize that Japan is arguably the world’s food capital. Tokyo has more Michelin-starred restaurants than any other city, and the famous Tsukiji Fish Market handles much of the highest-quality seafood to be found anywhere.

As a food lover myself, I could not have been more excited to visit. Japanese food traditions are founded on the idea of umami– the 5th taste that enhances all the other tastes (sweet, sour, salty and bitter). Umami is that savory quality that makes you want to take just one more bite; it’s possibly the best indicator of a successful dish.

Anthony Bourdain himself said of Japan, “This is a great country. Every chef I know wants to die here.”

Well, there it is.

Still, to the surprise of many Americans, Japanese cuisine is not composed of Dragon Rolls, sake bombs and beef teriyaki. In fact, it would not be easy to find any of those things on a Japanese menu, much less to explain it to Japanese chefs.

So if you’re traveling to Japan it’s important to know what you’re really looking for. Sure, they’ve mastered the plastic imitations that are displayed at the front of some shops, and some menus even have photos on them. But, just because you can see a picture doesn’t mean it’s what you should be eating.

Instead, here is my food “bucket list” for your visit.

10 foods to try in Japan-- do not miss out on these delicious dishes while you are in the food capital of the world!

What To Eat in Japan: A Food Bucket List

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5 Lessons from Japanese Culture

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One thing I enjoyed about Japan was that it was modern without being Western. Sure, it shares lots traits with Western countries– and went through a somewhat westernizing transformation during the Meiji period– but Japan owes its unique style to traditions far different from our own.

What I love about traveling is being able to make a splash– however brief– in a culture that challenges me. Even if it means feeling a bit disoriented, and perhaps nostalgic once I come home, the lessons remind me that my way is not the only way. It’s humbling to happen upon philosophies and ideas that provide the answers we’ve been searching for. Japan has done that for me.

5 Lessons from Japanese Culture- what I learned from traveling in Japan

5 Lessons from Japanese Culture

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Japanese Charm: Countryside Villages, Shops and Gardens Galore!

Happy Tuesday, friend! Our adventures in Japan continue beyond Tokyo to the countryside via shinkansen, the fastest train I’ve ever ridden.

Off to the historical villages we went– just northwest of Tokyo to the cities of Takayama, Shirakawago and Kanazawa. These areas are known for preserved architecture from the Shogun period, and they hold rich stories of old Japan.

This is only the second time that I’ve traveled with this blog in mind, and I think I am getting photography fatigue. Not being a professional (or even very experienced), travel photography can be rather overwhelming. Still, I’m chugging along like the little engine that could. Sure, my husband is a better photographer (check out his tips here), and I could continue to steal his photos, but I’m working towards a bit more independence here.

Anyway, this is the best I can do with the somewhat cloudy and rainy weather we’ve been having. Your feedback is greatly appreciated; enjoy the snapshots!

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First stop: Takayama

Kami Sannomachi street is known as the “Small Kyoto” for its traditional buildings and canal-like gutters. Little shops with artisanal goods and tasty sweets line this pedestrian-only walkway. Ducking under noren, cloth dividers that cover most entries, we entered gorgeous displays of local earthenware and lacquerware….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

A first-timer’s guide to Buenos Aires, Argentina

“It’s like Europe!”

If you’ve heard someone say this about Buenos Aires, they’re not entirely wrong. There are beautiful buildings modeled after Paris. There are broad avenues, stunning gardens, and as colonial history would have it, many locals who can claim Italian, German and Spanish roots.

But Buenos Aires is decidedly Latin American, despite its relatively young history and tumultuous political past. As our Argentine journalist friend suggested, it’s a country whose identity is still in development.

Identity crisis or not, there’s a ton to enjoy about Buenos Aires. And given all the research we did— and what we learned while there— I wanted to share this little guide with you.

The “touristy” stops you shouldn’t miss

Recoleta Cemetery: This stunning cemetery contains mausoleums that are more than 200 years old in a city-of-the-dead kind of setting. Some families continue to pay for upkeep, while other graves have been abandoned to disrepair. Evita Peron is buried here (yes, the protagonist of the musical Evita), though that wasn’t her initial burial place. Entrance to the Cemetery is free and well worth it.

La Boca neighborhood: This is where Tango was born, and where immigrants and Argentines of color often lived. If you wander around Buenos Aires wondering where the non-Euros are, La Boca might be what you’re looking for. There is a free tenement museum that you can’t miss, plus lots of restaurants and shops. Despite its uber-touristy vibe, La Boca holds some of Argentina’s oldest history and is worth a visit.

San Telmo market: Not far from La Boca is San Telmo, one of the oldest neighborhoods in Buenos Aires. On certain days, the market opens and craftspeople, antique traders, artists, jewelers, and other vendors hawk their wares throughout the streets. It’s chaotic and you might not find anything you want to purchase (or perhaps you have an eye for antiques and will discover a treasure), the energy is super fun.

Plaza de Mayo and surroundings: Every Latin American capital has at least one Plaza. Buenos Aires’s plaza is stately and historic. You’ll see the Casa Rosada where presidents lived and a large cathedral (check out the interior). Demonstrations occurred in this plaza, particularly memorable were the ones led by mothers whose children disappeared during the Dirty War.

El Rosedal and other gardens: A city with a free public rose garden? This was one of the most astonishing sights in Buenos Aires because it seemed so unusual. The roses are extensive and colorful and varied, just like they should be. Other gardens are nearby, including a Japanese garden and a botanical garden.

El Ateneo bookstore: This bookstore is a converted theater that initially opened in 1919. Now converted and restored, it houses a sweet respite from warm Argentine summers and offers reading in every genre you can think of. There’s a cafe inside so really no reason not to linger!

Museo Bellas Artes and others: If you’re feeling inspired to spend some time in front of a painting, the Bellas Artes museum is the place to go. You’ll recognize a lot of the names associated with work on display. I’ve heard good things about other art museums in Buenos Aires as well.

See a Tango show: Sadly we weren’t able to fit in a tango show, but I’ve been before during a prior visit to Buenos Aires. If you’re going to pay up for dinner and a show, I highly recommend reading reviews and going for a high-quality venue. There are also dance bars where Tango is spontaneously performed late at night. Be sure to ask the locals where to find those.

The soccer/football stuff: Futbol is a hugely significant part of Argentine culture, but it’s not a part of ours. If you’re interested in seeing a game or further pursuing fandom, you’ll have to look elsewhere! 🙂

Our favorite restaurants (especially if you’re tired of steak)

I expected almost all our meals to encompass sausage or steak, but thankfully there is a lot of variety in the city. In higher end restaurants you’ll encounter beautiful creations of produce from land and sea, an integration of European cooking techniques with local terroir.

Proper: show up at this hot new restaurant right when it opens or you could be waiting for hours. Served tapas style, each dish is only a handful of bites and meant to be shared. We plunged through creative salads and one of the best steaks I’ve ever had (when in Rome…).

Mishiguene: Jewish cuisine done expertly. They are famous for their brisket (and it is delicious) but vegetarians will find their bliss somewhere between the charred eggplant and roasted cauliflower. A word to the wise: they have an awful reservations system and at the time of writing, a not very nice hostess, so be patient and persistent and you will be rewarded.

Tegui: award-winning, creative, offbeat astonishing food. This tasting menu is so unexpected and the environment is exquisite. Wine pairing was fantastic, and I especially loved the vermouth they make in-house (would have paid a lot for a bottle if it were for sale). Book in advance.

Roux: Two words— octopus carpaccio. This French-style restaurant is situated on a cute little corner and offers a delightful lunch.

Don Julio: Don’t come here if you’re actually tired of steak, but if you’re not, it’s the place to be. You’re in Argentina, after all, where the average person consumes many pounds of steak per year. You don’t have to eat it excessively, but if you’re an omnivore, you should try their T-bone. Order it “jugoso,” or medium rare.

Chila: fanciful tasting menu of delights with super down-to-earth service. They start off with a series of Argentine “snacks” like savory macarons and a mate tea experience. It’s also on a pier so the view is pretty sweet.

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Crizia: seafood for people who love seafood. Tuck in for a pile of the freshest mariscos from the Argentine coast. Crizia does an impeccable job combining high-end with comfortable.

The cutest neighborhoods to wander through

What’s a city without wander-able neighborhoods? Thankfully Buenos Aires has a few.

Palermo: So hip it has its own Soho. We stayed in Palermo and it was a lovely spot to wake up and walk around. The street art in Buenos Aires is pretty charming, so you’ll find lots of that here.

If you find yourself hungry in Palermo, stop by Salvaje Bakery for a quick coffee and pastry, or Bourbon Brunch and Beer for a drink. Your Instagram account will be happy you did.

Retiro: This is what they mean when they say Buenos Aires looks like Paris. There truly are some very nice homes that look like they could be situated on Boulevard St. Germain. You probably can’t go into any of these, but there’s a flower shop with a basement bar (speak-easy style) that you can check out after 6PM. It’s called Floreria Atlántico.

How to prepare for your visit

If I’m totally honest, I wish we were even more prepared for our trip. I had very little time to dig into Argentine history or culture and had the good fortune of Aaron and his family planning for most of our trip (by the way, our visit to Buenos Aires was the starting point of a long journey through Patagonia).

So, if I were to do things all over again, I’d recommend the following:

  • Do some reading before you go. Whether you pick up a top-ten book or a novel, learning about the country will do you good.
  • Pack for the season. Don’t make assumptions about what the city’s climate will be like; make sure to check the weather reports. It was hotter and more humid than I expected and I only brought one t-shirt!
  • Make the reservations that matter. Naturally, book your hotels and any restaurants that require advance notice. If you’re looking to see a tango show, go on a tour, or watch a soccer match, plan for that in advance as well.
  • Get cash. Argentine pesos are highly inflated these days and yet somehow hard to come by in the city. Make sure you order the amount of cash you plan to spend. Tipping is all done in cash, but restaurants often do not have change. Many high-end restaurants take credit card so inform your cc company accordingly.
  • Figure out your transportation plans. There’s public transportation in the city, as well as taxis and Uber. A note about Uber: we enjoyed using Uber here but there are mixed experiences. It’s not well established, and if you are not comfortable speaking Spanish or don’t have data on your phone, I’d skip it.

Autumn In Kyoto: Where To Find The Best Foliage (with a map!)

Autumn in Kyoto is something else. Bursts of color occupy the stretch between earth and sky, spreading wide at the tops of trees, trickling down in fallen leaves, crunching beneath your feet.

Having lived in New England, my expectations weren’t low. But there was a fineness and delicateness to the fall foliage in Kyoto that I can’t describe as anything other than mystical.

Our suggested fall itinerary: temples and gardens galore

I fell in love with Kyoto in June of 2015. We were traveling through for just 3 days, but I was absolutely swept off my feet (excuse the cliche) by this gorgeous ancient city. Thousands of temples and gardens abound while visitors shuffle along in traditional Japanese attire as though there’s no other way. The cuisine is unique, impeccable just like all other Japanese cooking, and yet with a uniquely delicate flavor. Kyoto has long been a popular destination, and it deserves every last raving fan.

Last fall, we decided to park ourselves in Kyoto for almost a full week. We were catching the tail end of autumn along with many other Japanese nationals making the annual pilgrimage to see the old capital dressed in reds, yellows, greens and auburns. Everywhere we turned there were Japanese citizens (many of them elderly) paying homage to Kyoto in an iconic season: there’s nothing quite like hills of maple trees waving their brightly colored leaves like hands in the breeze.

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Cherishing moments over snapshots (& where we’re headed right now)

As I write this, I’m sitting at the Los Angeles Airport awaiting to board our flight to Osaka, Japan. Osaka is no small town, but our final destination is Kyoto. Oh, Kyoto… how we love thee.

A gaggle of young Japanese college students gather around us. They’re laughing and sporting fashion that is so different from what we wear here in the States. And I realize that even before I step onboard, I’m already experiencing a glimpse of the world outside of my own. The world that is still vast and unknown.

I’ve been reflecting on a few things, and hoping to mull them over a little more as we wander through Kyoto’s many gardens dripping with crimson maple leaves.

  • Moving onward post-election. In full disclosure, the past couple of weeks in the wake of Trump’s election have been mostly difficult for my friends and community. I want to take this time to reflect on what has really changed… and what has stayed the same.
  • Our world-saving mission. I’ve been reading Start With Why by Simon Sinek for an important endeavor at work. Our team has been feeling compelled to articulate what we’re calling our “world-saving mission”– not just a statement about what we make and how we make it, but the ultimate why of our work. Does your workplace have a world-saving mission?
  • Cherishing moments over snapshots. I have never been great at taking photographs in moments when I am really, truly enjoying myself. In addition to being a complete amateur when it comes to selfies, I tend to forget that making known my little moments of joy is part of living in the social media age. The truth is, taking photos feels like an interruption, not an enhancement. Unless, of course, photography is actually part of that special moment.

This Thanksgiving we’ll be eating sushi and traditional Kyoto cuisine rather than turkey. We won’t be gathering with friends around a table or whisking gravy on the stove.

And while I love American Thanksgiving more than any other holiday, I am looking forward to experiencing a different kind of gratitude. A quiet gratitude. A peaceful rush of appreciation for the blessings of this year, hidden as they may have been.

I also hope to be re-inspired to write. In the moments when we feel thus inclined, we’ll share a photograph or two.

10 Reasons To Visit Morocco Now

I often do a “10 best snapshots” post after we travel (see Japan and Ecuador), because our passion as travelers is to find frames that capture everything we loved about our trip.

But Morocco is different. I’ve had countless people ask me whether going to Morocco was worthwhile— and whether they should plan a trip themselves. Some have expressed fears regarding safety, while others wonder what exactly there is to see.

In today’s political climate, I honestly can’t think of a better time to visit an Islamic country. I’ll explain more below, but the gist is this: we don’t know what we don’t know, and that can only be resolved by going and seeing for ourselves. 

The bottom line? I think you should go to Morocco. And I’m about to prove it.

Discover Morocco- 10 reasons to visit Morocco now …Continue Reading

Hello 2016: looking back and looking ahead

dromedary

Did I miss the the Happy New Year gravy train? Despite being barely a week into 2016, I feel like I did. How quickly we move along these days– and what’s the rush, really? It seems as though it will be January for a while.

So let me indulge in a little reflection. As I type this, the rain is falling heavily for the first time in a long time here in Southern California. The looming gray has kept the day dim and further clouded my sense of adjustment back to our regular routine. It feels as though we were only just wandering through the alleys of Morocco’s medinas moments ago, and yet those visions and sounds seem so far away. Indeed, a blur.

2015 in review: confessions and observations

What a year. We traveled in 5 continents in 2015 (Utah, Japan, Ecuador, Spain, and Morocco), moved house, and settled into Pasadena life. We celebrated our first wedding anniversary. Aaron sank his teeth into year 2 of Ph.D. work, began seeing a handful of clients, and did lots of research (mindfulness, anyone?). I saw my tutoring business take off, my blog grew by a power of 10, and I ended the year feeling a desperate need for change. More on that later.

On the blog, I further explored minimalism and its implications on my daily life. To be honest, I feel as though I’ve exhausted the topic (perhaps the topic has exhausted me), but the movement seems to be roaring in its upward trend. Should I write more about it, I wonder. For simple living advocates, the most important aspect of simple living is actually choosing to live simply. We can discuss it, share it, teach it and preach it, but in the end it must be a vehicle towards something else. And that’s the thing only we ourselves can define (e.g., the life-changing magic of finding your purpose).

Don’t see in this the looming shadow of despair however. Simplicity Relished will go on as my little blog, only I hope to grow in the topics that I explore this year. When I pulled together my ebook on courage (7 Days of Courage: Finding Brave In Your Everyday Life), I realized that what I desperately needed was the strength, focus, fortitude and fearlessness to pursue what I believed mattered. Call it intentionality, call it courage– I needed more than simplicity in order to face my fears, send the lies back to hell and press on.

There is something to be said about perseverance when it comes to blogging. All the blogging tips in all the world can’t give a blog what it needs to survive: a purpose that inspires the blogger and serves an audience. That purpose has to be big enough to stay relevant through different seasons of life. Even if we make little adjustments here and there, a core that is strong enough will remain the same.

So here’s a little bit of real life truth. I’m expecting some changes this year. Despite my love of my students, I might be ending my foray into self-employment. I won’t go into the reasons here, but wrestling with my next professional steps has consumed me the past couple of months. Along with the shift includes a small possibility that Aaron and I will spend some time overseas. As options materialize, I will share them here.

What I do know is that, in the midst of this rocky, exhilarating and unpredictable decade we call our 20s, I need this blog. I need you as my reader, keeping me in this space where I can center myself again on what I truly care about. Thank you for being here.

10 snapshots that will make you want to visit Japan- Roman aqueduct

My word for 2016 and a few little goals

I like the idea of having a word for the year. Despite it seeming more like a word of the moment, we can dedicate ourselves to an ideal or commitment for as long as it’s something we truly need. So my word is fortitude. I want the strength, perseverance, bravery, vision, and focus to move forward this year. Fortitude makes me think of a large ship crashing through the most threatening waves. It may rise and teeter and dip, but it continues forward, wave by wave. I want to be fearless that closing doors is okay. I want to step into something, step into it deeply, and say yes at crucial moments in the journey.

As far as setting goals, perhaps I don’t have any big ones yet. However this year shakes out, though, I want to find myself choosing to thrive. I want to inspire and to be inspired; to discover new corners of God’s word in which I can rest; and to increase my generosity to my community. Aaron and I are going to find ways to take better care of our bodies, hopefully together. We’ll be developing new recipes for home cooking, committing to more exercise and hopefully continuing to get enough sleep.

Coming to SR in 2016

I hope this year will bring nothing less than amazing content that you find helpful, interesting and encouraging. At the very least, I’ll be working on the following:

  • All the Spain and Morocco posts! I love writing about travel and have missed it since our summer trips.
  • Occasional lifestyle pieces: sometimes all these reflections and instructions can be a bit head-heavy. I’ll occasionally share a recipe, decor tip or fashion photos to lighten things up.
  • Posts on courage, social justice, generosity and community: things that keep me going. This is my decision to push the boundaries on simple living and explore its purpose a bit more explicitly.
  • A product! I hope… 😉

What are your hopes and dreams for 2016? Let’s tackle this together.

10 Highlights on our Upcoming Spain and Morocco Itinerary

We’re en route to Spain today and will be spending the next two weeks enjoying Andalusia, Barcelona, and then Morocco! I am so excited to travel internationally again, not least because my posts on Japan (particularly the ones on Kyoto) have had such positive feedback. I can’t wait to share about our Spain and Morocco destinations when we get back.

Our trip focus: Muslim kingdoms, architecture and culture!

I have been pining after photographs of mosques, monuments and castles since we decided to visit southern Spain and Morocco. I’ve never traveled to a predominantly Islamic nation or region, so this is an exciting new adventure. In Spain, we’re going to experience the multicultural (and multi-religious) heritage of Andalusia by first stopping in Sevilla and then in Granada. After a brief stint in Barcelona, we’ll head to Morocco.

There’s so much that I’m ready to learn about the kingdoms that once thrived in these regions. Islamic architecture is dazzling, not least because of the impeccable mathematical ratios, intricate fractals and looming spires. I can’t wait to see those walls and arches up close.

10 Highlights on our Spain and Morocco Itinerary

royal alcazar …Continue Reading

How to Work from ANYWHERE and Still Be Productive

This summer I will have been on the road for about 7 weeks total. From our time traveling through Japan to our volunteering experience in Ecuador, Aaron and I have learned to work productively while we’re away from our usual space.

One of the benefits to working remotely is that it allows for flexibility of location. Freedom of location is something many of us desire– and yet, productivity can be elusive. 

Some friends have asked me how I keep up with posting, emails, and even social media while I’m traveling. The truth is, it takes quite a bit of effort, but it’s definitely doable.

If you want to work while while away from home, you’ll have to throw out any preconceived notions of bronzy, attractive people lounging with their margaritas and laptops at the beach. Instead, you need to start practicing discipline– and finding a good rhythm so that neither your work nor your travels will suffer too much.

How to work from anywhere and still be productive- 8 tips for the freelancer on the road …Continue Reading