Globe Corner Blogs

This is my first contribution to the Globe Corner blog — unfortunately grad school usually leaves little time for reflections on travel (I should really find a dissertation topic that will allow me to collect data in some exciting locale…), but today I’m finally done with work for the summer, and in about seven hours, I hope to be completely packed and on a plane from JFK to Tokyo. Tokyo will be my first stop on a three week trip, which also includes Hong Kong and a beach in Thailand (TBD: I have a flight into Krabi and some vague desires of white sand and warm water.)

This whirlwind tour of half the continent will be the exact opposite of my last (and first) trip to Asia, as a researcher-writer for Let’s Go Thailand. I spent two months in the north of the country, combing the region for guesthouses, bus schedules, and cooking classes. I was traveling alone, moving every other day, and visiting every last wat (monastery) in each town on my route. I got to know the region extremely well, and in fact, the north is synonymous with all of Thailand for me, since I had to return to the States almost immediately at the end of my route, and never got to see the rest of the country.

Thus as much as I enjoyed my Let’s Go experience, I am looking forward to a less thorough exploration of my Asian destinations this time. And I mean less thorough in the best possible way — accepting the fact that it is impossible to really get to know a city in only a couple days, and thus being content with seeing select snapshots: taking some time just to get a feel for the place, even if you don’t make it to every temple/museum/gallery. You have to just assume (or pretend) that you’ll come back.

An acquaintance and frequent traveler to Japan said to me today, after sharing some Tokyo recommendations, “I envy you for going for the first time.” And it’s true: there’s definitely an appeal in coming back to a familiar place that you love, and rediscovering it (which I feel like you can do almost infinitely with a city). But the novelty and excitement of the first time you set foot on your future favorite destination really stays with you and colors all subsequent visits. Six hours till flight.

Read more: Japan, Let's Go Guides, Thailand, Tokyo, Travel


Inna

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