Why I Started this Blog

In a space now dominated by pretty visuals and trending audios, you might ask why would some random person decide to start something as archaic as a blog that writes about Travel. Hasn't it already been written to death?

I could ask the same question about why millions of people would want to visit Japan again and again, and to the same places. For people who love the Japanese culture, it makes perfect sense to revisit. The subtle differences in dialects, food and scenery between prefectures, finding a new favourite place unbeknownst to them before, and the idea of just being there to immerse in the culture is enough to keep them wanting more.

Travel is something that can be written countless times over, and in many iterations. Two friends could hike up Mt. Fuji, and one could be crying, while the other laughing. Perhaps for the one crying, it reminded him of when he was going through a tough time, and this hike made him dig deep and reflect. The laughing friend could have just been happy he made it to the top. Either way, their accounts of their joint hike would have differed, and that is why no two travel experiences are exactly the same. In this space, I will be sharing my side of the story, from my days volunteering on rice and animal farms, to travelling solo in my twenties, and how my job in travel now is shifting my perspective on travel at large.

So, who am I writing for? I guess it's firstly for myself. Like many other troubled teenage girls, I used to pen every intrusive thought in a diary. I hid the diary well, making sure not to let anyone know about it. Yet, at the same time, I wished someone would somehow find it, read it, and resonate with it. I tore up all the pages in my early 20's, as I felt like it was no longer a channel that helped me. I bottled my feelings, and when there was an overwhelming pressure inside threatening to burst through the cracks, I turned to travel. I remember my first escape to rural Japan, how I lived on a farmhouse and spent sun up to sun down toiling away on a rice and cherry farm. I ate food that was harvested from the surroundings and was part of a community that took me in like their own. I remember how content I felt and the profound impact it had on me up till this day.

Now, a decade later, I've decided to write again, this time openly, and not stash it somewhere, hoping someone would find it. If you are seeking to rediscover well-worn paths through a different lens, I would love for you to embark on this journey as we continue to explore the familiar with fresh eyes, and I hope this space finds you well.