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It's Tuesday and it's time for a travel newsletter... update Japan Spending one month in Japan has been memorable to say the least. We spent 2 weeks in the Kyoto region, 9 days in Okinawa and 1 week in Tokyo. Here's my Kyoto blog post about everything we did during our time in that beautiful city! Overall, we did a lot over the past month. There has been karaoke in Shinjuku City, a contemplative stroll along the Philosopher's Path in Kyoto and soaking up nature in Okinawa's Yambaru National Park. Add in the impressive temples and shrines, the sushi and ramen ordered via vending machines, the sake tasting, beach walks, cave exploring, catching up with an old friend from my cruise ship days, glimpses of Mt. Fuji, the TeamLabs Planets digital art museum, endless Japanese fluffy pancakes, figuring out public transportation, a sudden addiction to all things matcha, hiking in the mountains, buying the most technologically advanced nail clippers, walking through random neighborhoods, traditional coffee houses, tea ceremonies and about a thousand other activities and Japan has quickly become one of my favorite destinations of all time. I've really loved it all. And here are 3 things that stuck out the most: - Japan is not nearly as expensive as I imagined. I was expecting this trip to cost a fortune but it wasn't the case. Incredible meals cost between $6 - $15 USD, transportation is quite cheap and even accommodation has been quite reasonable. Entry fees to historic sites, temples, parks, museums and so on are just a few dollars as well. This country is an excellent value for what you get and definitely can be visited on a budget.
- The food is really, really good. It really is a spectacular experience to eat real Japanese food for a month. We tried everything from tiny ramen shops to popular sushi joints to market food stalls and any local eatery that had a line out front. Each meal was a genuine, tasty treat like no other. (The only downside is that the food is very salty. In fact, researchers have invented new chopsticks that makes the food taste even saltier, hoping that people will reduce their salt intake as a result.)
- I've held on to a lot of trash. There are very few public garbage bins in this country. Most were removed after the 1995 sarin gas attacks for fear that the bins could be used to hold terrorist weapons. As a result, it's quite common for my jacket pockets to be filled with trash, such as used tissues, wooden skewers from street food, a paper coffee cup and just yesterday, an empty packet of mochi that I carried all afternoon. Carrying trash in my pockets for 4 hours has become the norm. Sometimes an elusive garbage bin magically appears or else I pop into a convenience store if I can see a trash can inside. Otherwise, I just wait until I'm back at the hotel. It certainly makes me even more conscious about waste.
Moving on... Unfortunately, this visit to Japan ends tomorrow. At 5:00am, we'll be trying to navigate Tokyo's metro and train system in order to get to the airport in time for our flight. Where are we flying? Up next is Seoul, South Korea for a quick 1 week stay over Christmas! The view over Tokyo from the 45th floor observation deck of the Metropolitan Government Building. 2023 tours
Next year's Wandering Earl Tours are filling up fast... If you're interested in a small group trip to one of the most rewarding destinations I've ever come across, here's your chance! INDIA - February (Sold out) INDIA - October (just announced, 6 spots left) IRAQ - March (1 spot left) MOROCCO - April (Sold out) MOROCCO - May (just announced, 8 spots left) MOROCCO - October (Sold out) All tours include a ton of stuff in the price and are nothing like a standard tour. Most of the activities are based on my own personal experiences. Also, my local friends in each destination help us put together unique itineraries that you won't find anywhere else :) Let me know if you have any questions or wish to join one of these memorable, excellent-value adventures! around the globe
National Parks - Visiting National Parks is always a great option when you're looking to spend time in nature and here's a list of some of the best national parks in the world. Unknown Pyramids - Outside of San Miguel de Allende, Mexico one can find three 1500 year old pyramids dedicated to keeping time, and held together by the juice of the prickly pear cactus. But even today, after years of excavation and research, nobody knows exactly who built them.
This week, a big congratulations to Rich, Malory, Susan, Ana and Ann for correctly guessing the location of the photo above!
The image is of Anse Source d'Argent Beach on the island of La Digue in the Seychelles. Often found on lists of the most beautiful beaches in the world, this one certainly lived up to its reputation. It's actually quite small but the rock formations, beautiful water, perfect sand, spectacular views and lack of crowds made it worth several visits while we were on La Digue. In fact, this island is my top beach destination on the planet. In addition to Anse Source d'Argent Beach, the beaches of Grand Anse and Petit Anse could also easily be considered the best beach in the world. It's a true paradise. And now... This week's photo Where in the world is it? The Rules
1. Try to figure out where the above photo was taken. 2. Reply to this email with your guess.
3. The more specific the guess, the better!
4. The location will be revealed in next week's newsletter.
Good luck :) |
Thank you so much for reading!
Derek
(my middle name is Earl) *If you received this email from someone else and want to sign up to A Life of Travel, simply click the button below: |
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