The sudden change of the program, which is rarely encountered in Taiwan, was quite an eye-opener for me.
How much do Japanese people care about performing arts? Well, you can get a rough idea by just strolling through a stationary shop and checking out the various planners they have on display.
My twelve-day trip to Vietnam is coming to an end, and this is the third time I've traveled without a suitcase. After trying it in Spain two years ago, I couldn't go back to using a suitcase. Not only do I not have to worry about whether the suitcase can handle the local roads, but I can also pack quickly in a short time. It's a travel style that can be quite addictive!
Column | The Woman Who Has Never Left Her Hometown Made Me Begin to Ponder Why People Seek Adventure
My friend and I arrived at Sapa, Vietnam, at an altitude of 1650 meters, where the temperature was only 6 degrees Celsius, but it felt quite comfortable. Our local guide, a mother of two children, took us through several small towns. She spoke fluent English but had never received any formal education. She learned everything from tourists since she started working as a guide at the age of thirteen. What truly surprised me was that she had always lived in Sapa and had never been to Hanoi.
On this work trip to Hong Kong, we had to stick to a tight budget, so we ended up sharing a small suite for five days with four of us. It was so cramped that even turning over in bed had to be done with extreme care. In this situation, we finally got a taste of a unique aspect of Hong Kong's lifestyle known as the "ant nest."
During the last few days in Chiang Mai, I stayed in a rural guesthouse situated near a lake. Apart from the small cabin, there were no other facilities for miles around. As far as the eye could see, there were layers of trees. This was the closest I had ever been to nature. I thought I would feel happy because of the birdsong and the natural beauty, but it didn't turn out that way.
After a tough Muay Thai class, I treated myself to a two-hour Thai massage to ease my sore muscles. If Thailand is known for its massages, then Chiang Mai is definitely the best place to experience them!
This July, I visited Pamplona, Spain. It was my first time participating in the Running of the Bulls, and my first time witnessing up close the life-and-death struggle between the bull and the matador in the bullring. Six bulls' lives were taken right before my eyes, and the artificially created jubilation made me feel even more alienated from my surroundings.
The first thing I did when I arrived in Madrid was to find out which shows were currently playing in the local theaters. The performance of "Swan Lake" at the Teatro de la Luz Philips Gran Vía caught my eye. Even though I wasn't particularly fond of this ballet, I was glad I decided to experience it in the theater. The highlight of the performance was Anna Scechaleva's brilliant portrayal of both the White and Black Swan.
In Siem Reap, we would ride bicycles or take tuk-tuks to visit the Angkor temples every day. Whenever we passed by Angkor Wat, we would see locals enjoying picnics in groups. Following their example, my friends and I went to the local market. We bought some grilled meat, roasted bananas, fruits, and snacks. Then, we headed to a large grassy area to experience the casual atmosphere.