Lost in the Colors of Yunnan: Part II
Lijiang We arrived in Lijiang by train, joining a queue of passengers at the station exit where IDs — passports in my case — were scanned before we could leave.…
Lost in the Colors of Yunnan: Part I
Flying into Dali, the sun shone brightly as mountains rose like giants from the earth. Upon landing, taxi drivers—some of whom had returned to Dali after years working in the…
Timeless Treasures of Old Beijing
Beijing was the first stop on our two-week trip to China, and I arrived feeling a mix of excitement and unease. Growing up in the United States, most of what…
Osaka’s Urban Corridors: Light and Shadow
Osaka was our third and final stop in Japan. If Tokyo dazzled with its mega-city energy and Kyoto captivated with its spiritual charm, Osaka felt like an unexpected treasure—vibrant, genuine,…
Old Meets New in Kyoto: Tea Traditions and Trains Through Time
Kyoto was once the imperial capital of Japan and is famous for its incredible concentration of cultural sites. We arrived by Shinkansen at Kyoto Station, a futuristic mega-hub that feels…
Tokyo on Foot: Walking Through the Heart of Japan
Japan was my first trip to Asia. In the months leading up to it, I diligently worked through Duolingo lessons, confidently mistaking a long streak for actual fluency in the…