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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

Hello 2020: where we’ve been and where we’re going

As I look back over 2019, I feel a rush of emotions. The highest highs and lowest lows met us this year, across 4 continents, over multiple months.

Some of the travel was for our nonprofit that works with communities in Latin America. Other travel was for family, friends, or simply getting away to experience something new. I should make it clear that we are not travelers by profession. So beyond the flights and hotels and all the navigating is our very full-time work and life at “home,” here in Connecticut, where we’ve lived since August 2018.

Whether abroad or at home, this year was filled with milestones, events, and experiences. The challenge isn’t to remember the specific details of each milestone or trip (there were too many), but to narrate them in a way that moves us forward. Whether we come away with lessons, reflections, or more questions, we can allow these experiences to shape us in meaningful ways.

The Round Tower in Copenhagen, Denmark
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25 magical places to eat in Mexico City: bucket list for foodies

We might have said “Mexico City restaurants are on the rise” ten years ago and not been entirely late to the game. But today, the culinary scene in this global capital is nothing less than a mature, full-blown bonanza. And there’s good news: you’re invited.

The fact is, food in La Ciudad has been excellent for decades, arguably for centuries. It’s just that international tourism to Mexico City has increased significantly over the last decade, thanks in part to the Netflix series Chef’s Table which has no doubt sent people on weekend jaunts to Pujol alone.

Breakfast tamales at Molino El Pujol
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The perfect Paris weekend guide to food and frolicking

Paris, city of light. Paris, city of love. Paris, home to the world’s favorite writers, designers and artists.

Paris, the city we promised each other to visit once every five years to celebrate our wedding anniversary.

We all (want to) have a Paris story. But visiting Paris is a privilege most of the world’s dreamers never have. So what does it mean to live that dream– even for just a short and sweet weekend?

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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.

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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