I am in Greece, reconnecting with old friends, guests and Greek women and remembering the power of connections. After all, this is what we all travel for: connecting with locals, with other travelers, and with different cultures.
This week is all about our new destination: JAPAN! This trip has been more than a year in the making, and I am extremely proud of how it turned out because I know it will really connect you to Japan's wonderful heritage and traditions in a way no other tour does.
A couple of weeks ago I wrote about the reverse culture shock I feel coming back home after almost 20 years abroad and WOW, I got so many responses and messages. Many of you asked me what else I notice compared to living overseas, so I wanted to share a few more of these "shocking" moments with you this week. Some are pretty funny...
There have been so many interesting conversations in the group these last 2 weeks, I wanted to highlight some inspiring ones.
Trip highlights
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Our 11 day itinerary will spend time in the most important sites in Japan, as well as time off the beaten path with artisans and experts who will welcome us into their homes and studios and share their craft with us.
We will visit during the most magical times of the year, in the spring (available now) and in the fall (coming soon), as well as during the quieter early summer months, for those looking to stay away from the most popular times.
Our tour will connect with local women through our interpreter-host, and will get behind closed doors of Japan's rich heritage and traditions with exclusive experiences curated and available just to our groups.
We won't just witness Japanese culture, we'll learn to understand and appreciate it through the eyes of the women who are keeping traditions alive.
We will meet artists and experts in their private spaces so they can share their craft with us behind closed doors.
Most of them do not speak English, so we will connect through our interpreter-guide, and fully immerse in Japanese culture in a meaningful way.
π£ 2. Gastronomic experiences π±
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Japan is all about the food, and we will get the chance to try lots of different dishes and foods throughout the trip, from a private sushi demonstration and dinner, to a craft soy sauce factory tour, a street food evening in Osaka, a do-it-yourself okonomiyaki lunch and so much more.
The Japanese gastronomy is vast and diverse, so you will have some free evenings to prioritise other foods you want to try such as tempura, gyoza, ramen, etc.
ποΈ 3. Time for shopping π
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I am not a shopper at all, but I returned home from Japan with 10kg of extra luggage. This is the land of creative fashion, electronics, manga (comics) and anime, sake, tea and so much more.
There is a lot you can buy, so we have built in free time for shopping in Tokyo and Osaka, and free evenings in Kyoto to explore on your own.
π 4. Hand-picked hotels β¨οΈ
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You know we love great hotels and always prioritise local brands, especially those owned by women, as well as accommodations that are premium and culturally relevant, like ryokans, onsen resorts, etc.
We will combine stays at new and sleek hotels in Kyoto, Tokyo and Osaka, with a luxury, sea-facing onsen in Mie and a traditional resort entirely made of wood in Nara.
Japanese people follow two main religions: Shintoism and Buddhism, and the most important places to visit are temples and shrines.
We will not only visit and admire these architectural masterpieces and religious centers, but also learn about the philosophies and ways of life that make Japanese culture as thoughtful and mindful as it is.
We will attend a powerful kagura ritual, talk to a Buddhist monk, feed sacred deer, cleanse our souls when we visit religious sites, enjoy a Buddhist lunch and meditate at a zen garden.
πΉ 6. Hands on experiences π¦ͺ
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We will get involved in Japanese culture and actually participate in it. We will repair a plate with gold powder, create our own Kawai bento box, make our own pearl accessory, attend a Noh presentation and walk the streets of historical Kyoto wearing a kimono.
These experiences are not only fun, but help us understand the Japanese way of life from the inside.
Our trip to Japan is not your usual tour. It's jam-packed with enriching experiences and awe-inspiring moments. You won't leave the same person as when you arrived
Got questions? We have answers!
Reply to this email or book a time to speak to us live here.
More reverse culture shock moments
Me, on my Sunday walk, by the mixed nudist beach
Many of you replied or reached out about my email talking about the reverse culture shock I feel spending more time in Spain after 19 years as an expat.
Since then, I have been thinking about a few more instances to share with you:
Football is religion: To be honest, football isn't that important in Singapore or Dubai and nobody stops doing what they are doing to watch a game but, in Spain, football is religion and trying to meet up with a guy when FC Barcelona is playing is futile because the game always wins...this isn't new, it was like that when I lived in Spain, but I had forgotten about it. It is so weird to see them avoid making any plans when a game is on. Even though I am also a Barca fan, I can't get my head around these weekly "blackout" times.
7pm vs 19:00. When I talk about time, I am so used to saying 8am or 9pm but Spain uses military time, so when I say let's meet at 9 people think I mean 9am and I need to specify 21:00 for them to know I mean in the evening.
Morning, afternoon, evening don't mean the same: These are so different in Spain. In most countries, the language already specifies that afternoon means after-noon, but in Spain the afternoon starts after lunch, and that is usually at least 3-4pm, and mornings stretch until then. Evenings start after 9pm too. So when someone tells me let's meet in the afternoon, i really need to clarify what they mean because, to me, that would be 12 to probably 5pm whereas for them it means meeting at 6-7pm.
There are no topless beaches, only beaches: Meg always jokes about this which is totally true and not so much of a shock to me, but a reminder of how open minded everyone is about their bodies and sex in general in Spain compared to conservative places like Dubai or Singapore. Now that the summer is upon us, I see so many women of all ages, from grandma to the teenage daughter, sunbathing topless at the beach, or wearing the tinies thong bikinis. All beaches in Spain allow for that, and then there are nudist beaches too. In my tiny town, there are 3 nudist of mixed beaches, one is in the middle of the town so you can go on your Sunday stroll and see plenty of naked bodies down at the beach...I love it and find it refreshing and wonderful that we can all be free and enjoy the beach however we like.
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=> Have you gone back home and noticed things like the above?
=> Do you live overseas and are faced with similar fun situations?
I would love to hear them and maybe share them in a future newsletter. Hit reply and let me know :)
In case you missed it
Interesting travel news and conversations in the group:
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