Ubud, located in the mountains of central Bali, and is the cultural heart of the island. It’s known as a center of art, culture, yoga, meditation, and spiritualism. Ubud is the Bali you see in “Eat Pray Love” – peaceful scenes of rice fields, lush garden courtyards, and happy old men on meditation pillows. It’s… Read More Ubud – Sacred Monkeys, Rice Fields, Temples, and more Yoga
Earlier this month, I went on a week-long escape to Bali, Indonesia. Bali had been on my mind, but I decided somewhat on a whim to actually go, because I found an insanely cheap last-minute ticket, and had some vacation days still to use. My planning was minimum, which turned out to be just fine,… Read More Canggu, Bali – Yoga, Surfing, and Motorbike Madness
In Japan, the first week of May is known as Golden Week. It’s a collection of four national holidays within seven days, and one of Japan’s busiest holiday seasons. This Golden Week, one of my best friends from home, Lola, came to visit me in Tokyo. Many Tokyoites use Golden Week as an opportunity to… Read More 10 Things to do with your BFF in Tokyo this Golden Week
Millions of delicate pink flowers open gently in the sun. Petals float in the breeze, covering the streets in cotton candy confetti. Parks hum with the sounds of laughter and glasses clinking. The sleeping city is awakened, transformed into a magical pink wonderland. The sakura is in full bloom – springtime in Tokyo is here.… Read More Springtime in Tokyo: Sakura Season
The final stop of my spring break trip was Taipei, Taiwan. All (cheap) flights back to Tokyo from Vietnam required a stop in Taipei, so Peter and I decided to extend our layover and spend a couple days in the city. A modern metropolis of 2.7 million people, Taipei is known for its night markets,… Read More A Quick Trip to Taipei
Ha Long Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, one of the “New 7 Wonders of Nature,” and without a doubt one of the most amazing places I’ve ever seen in my life. The Bay’s emerald waters are dotted with thousands of tiny, rainforest covered limestone islands formed over 500 million years. The islands rise… Read More A Natural Wonder: Ha Long Bay, Vietnam
One of the most important things to understand about the JET Program is that you don’t get to choose your placement. You can request your top three picks, but ultimately it is up to the program to decide where you will go and which school(s) you will work at. Rural or urban, elementary or high… Read More 10 Things to Know About Being Placed in a Tokyo Private School on the JET Program
Hanoi has been the capital of Vietnam for over 1,000 years, and the city’s long and turbulent history has given rise to a rich and unique culture. Regimes have changed and wars have passed, but Hanoi has remained the cultural center of Vietnam. Hanoi was the capital of French Indochina and of Communist-led North Vietnam… Read More Hanoi: Vietnam’s historic, hectic, and charming capital
Phú Quốc is a small Vietnamese island in the Gulf of Thailand with picturesque white sandy beaches, clear azure water, an ideal climate, and many resorts. It is truly paradise, in every sense of the word. We spent four perfect days in Phú Quốc, living a champage lifestyle on a beer budget. We stayed at… Read More Paradise on Earth – Phú Quốc Island
As soon as I boarded the plane bound for Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), I could feel a different energy from Japan. There was an audible buzz as the passengers, mostly Vietnamese people, chatted and laughed. It was very unlike the ultra-silent Japanese trains that I’ve grown used to. The flight attendants wore shorts, a… Read More Two Days and “The Night” in Saigon
Emma Takes Tokyo 