traveling in Japan Archives

How being competent makes women over 40 invisible

On a bus in Laos, I needed the washroom and nobody knew when the next stop was, so I asked, and I heard people sigh with relief behind me. Earlier on that same trip, I had been shrinking without realizing it. This episode is about how being capable can make women over 40 disappear, and what I noticed once I saw it.

How Solo Travel Changes You

A staff member outside a coffee shop in Shirahama said something to me in Japanese, and instead of smiling and walking on like I usually do, I stopped and asked what she said. We ended up having a proper conversation on the street. This episode is about going back to Japan twelve years after living there, and the small decisions that show you how you’ve changed.

Deciding to Speak Up When You Travel Solo

The hotel in Sapa told me there was “no discount for you,” and it was the “for you” part that made me stop. I had missed a spa treatment I’d reserved, and I wanted some consideration for that. This episode is about the moment you decide whether to speak up or let it go when you’re travelling alone.

What It Means to Be Present When Traveling Solo

I was lying completely covered in sand, an experience I had chosen and expected to enjoy, when my heartbeat suddenly felt different and everything started to spiral. Box breathing made it worse. This episode is about what it means to be present when you travel solo, including the moments you didn’t plan to feel.

The Pink Door Moments You Can’t Plan For (bring opportunities for delight)

In a parking lot on Awaji Island, I looked across a field and saw a bright pink door standing on its own, attached to nothing. That day hadn’t been planned as anything special. This episode is about why some travel moments stay with you, and how to leave room for the delight you can’t plan for.

It’s Hard to Leave, Even When You’re Ready to Go

Leaving a place can feel harder than arriving, even when you know you’re ready. I talk about the bus ride where I sat on the wrong side for the ocean, a ceremony at Koyasan, and how to trust yourself when a moment has already given you enough.

Unexpected Pressures You Take With You When You Travel

On the cliffs at Sandanbeki, everyone else took a photo and moved on, and I stood still and felt my shoulders drop. I don’t always let myself stay long enough for a moment to unfold. This episode is about the hidden pressure to make every solo trip worth it, even when you’re the only one there to judge.

traveling in Japan