DESTINATIONS & CITY GUIDES Visiting Youngdo Velvet in Daegu for an Authentic K-Drama Fashion Experience Posted on November 2, 2024November 15, 2025 Step into the world of your favorite K-dramas with a visit to Youngdo Velvet in Daegu. Known for crafting stunning costumes featured in *Gu Family Book*, *Faith*, and *The Great Seer*, Youngdo Velvet brings Korean history to life. Explore this textile hub and discover the artistry behind unforgettable K-drama moments. Read more
DESTINATIONS & CITY GUIDES What is the best way to explore Fushimi Inari Temple and its iconic torii gates in Kyoto? Posted on October 18, 2024November 15, 2025 Asia is filled with temples and shrines, but after a while, they can blur together. However, my visit to Fushimi Inari was different. From the first steps under its towering torii gates, I realized this place was special. In this Fushimi Inari Temple Guide, I’ll share what makes it stand out, from the striking red gates to the peaceful paths that wind up Mount Inari. Every moment felt unforgettable, and now every torii gate I see reminds me of that serene, beautiful walk. Read more
HOTELS Tokyo’s Armed Forces Resort: The New Sanno Hotel and Resort Posted on October 13, 2024November 16, 2025 This is one time when the hype is well-deserved. I highly recommend the New Sanno Hotel & Resort. It is available to active duty and retired U.S. military personnel eligible to use other Armed Forces Recreation Centers, as well as DoD civilian employees duty stationing in Japan, contractors on DoD orders to execute contracts for the U.S. Armed Forces stationed in Japan. Read more
CULTURE, EVENTS & EXPERIENCES What You Need to Know About Booking the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto Posted on October 11, 2024November 15, 2025 We’d heard it over and over—any visit to Japan would be incomplete without seeing Kyoto. But with only a week, and Tokyo already packed with plans, squeezing in Kyoto felt like a challenge. Determined to make the most of our time, we booked tickets on the Shinkansen from Tokyo to… Read more
DESTINATIONS & CITY GUIDES What You Need to Know About Visiting Daewangam Park in Ulsan, South Korea Posted on October 7, 2024November 15, 2025 Explore Ulsan’s Daewangam Park, where nature whispers over the steady roar of the coast. The cliffs stand tall against the crashing waves, but it’s the quiet moments that get you. The forest, dense with trees older than most people you know, wraps around you as you walk. The air hangs heavy with salt and earth, and the trails wind through like secrets waiting to be uncovered. It’s raw, unfiltered—just you, the sea, and the whispers of something ancient in the air. A place that pulls you in, not with spectacle, but with the kind of quiet that makes you listen. Read more
CULTURE, EVENTS & EXPERIENCES Bangkok’s Free Airport Shuttle: How to Transfer Between Airports in Bangkok Posted on October 3, 2024December 21, 2025 Now that Bangkok has two airports, you may have to transfer from one airport to another, and the Bua Airport Express bus makes this even more convenient. This was the case recently when we traveled from Thailand to Luang Prabang, Laos. Initially, we landed at Bangkok’s Don Muang Airport (DMK). Read more
DESTINATIONS & CITY GUIDES How to Spend 24 Hours in Istanbul: Exploring Markets, Mosques, and More Posted on October 2, 2024April 12, 2026 These are the Top 11 Istanbul Places to visit for the flavors, religion, sights and sounds. Straddling two continents, Istanbul, figuratively and literally, has roots in both Europe and Asia. Visit for its unique geographic distinction, heavy in Islamic influence. But fused with European culture, Istanbul is certainly unique because it’s truly where east meets west. Read more
DESTINATIONS & CITY GUIDES Geisha in Kyoto: Everything You Need to Know Before You Go Posted on September 30, 2024January 28, 2026 Japan is synonymous with Geisha. Well, at least it used to be. Nowadays, they are not as common as you might think. And their services are costly. I am not kidding. Time spent in the company of a geisha is ridiculously expensive. And more often than not, you’ll see Geisha… Read more