24 September 2017

From Place to Place: Moving Countries

I've asked the travel community to share their own stories of moving from place to another, including my own story.

I grew up in Hong Kong and I moved to Leeds, U.K. on my 16th birthday. I moved with my mother and my sister, my Dad would come and visit us often as he works in Hong Kong. We decided to move for both me and my sister's studies, in Hong Kong I always participated in theatre shows and I have a huge passion for drama and theatre. I went on to be King Claudius from Hamlet performing in one of Hong Kong's best theatre company in front of thousands of people, I managed to share my passion for the arts on national television. However, growing up underneath the strict Asian values no matter at school or in society, I felt like an outcast. Most people would not value the arts and told me to scrape my dreams and focus on reality. I never knew what I wanted to be until I moved to England. I departed from Hong Kong International Airport at 12 am on the 14th of July, I waved my friends goodbye and headed straight towards Dubai for a layover, everything was so eye-opening, not to mention it was also very hot. I've only been to England when I was really young, like a few years old. Certainly, I would not remember anything, my mum does have pictures from our holiday in London and Cardiff that she would sometimes embarrass me with. I was not scared at all when I stepped on my final flight from Dubai to Manchester, I was hopeful. I hoped that I will finally be able to perform.
Moving was difficult, I think It was very hard to say goodbye to my best friends and having to start over in a different country. I stayed in Leeds, which is North of England. It was so shocking to me cause I have never really known what to expect. I used to watch a lot of U.S. TV Shows and that's how I saw England. It wasn't! The slang, the places, the food, it was all very different to me. However, once I have embraced the culture, I was immediately friends with everyone. 
I love England, everyone is very accepting, I went on the study creative and media and went to university studying culture and creative industries in London. Now I am living in London with a job in digital marketing. Doing my Instagram/blog on travelling and showing the world to others really does make me happy. I also met my boyfriend here in London and he is very supportive of what I have accomplished.
With moving, it is always hard. My advice is to embrace the culture, don't be afraid. Don't' be afraid to make the first step and say hi and listen to what people have to share to you and in return, you can share your culture with them.
Here are some amazing ladies that have gone through the same or similar things in life! Don't let it stop you when you want to move and start a new adventure.

Michelle de Vries - Netherlands to Australia

My name is Michelle de Vries, I am 24 years old, have a Dutch nationality and live in Australia.
I moved from The Netherlands to Australia in December 2016. Australia was always a place I was curious about. In 2014 I made the decision to visit for the first time and I fell in love.
I fell in love with the people, nature, the culture and the freedom. I found a home and that was for me the reason to move. Australia felt more like home than The Netherlands ever did.
It is a hard decision because you leave your secure environment, your friends and family and a lot of memories behind. But apart from that, it is the best decision I have ever made.
I found a place that feels like home and where I can live life to the fullest.
The process of emigration is a tough one and it takes a lot of time, energy and money. I found that the right guidance and information makes all the difference. Plan ahead, avoid surprises and don't give up, you can make your dream reality!

Blog link: http://myaussiedream.com/

Laura Plasencia from Hashtag #Viajeros - Spain - United Kingdom


From what country you moved to where
First, I moved from the Canary Islands (Spain) to London where I lived for 3 years.
When I came back I feel like I needed to improve my level of German so I moved to Berlin for another year for a volunteering project. Now I am currently living in Madrid.

Why you moved
First, I moved because I wanted to explore new places and find better job opportunities.
I thought that living in a big city will be convenient to travel so I used my time to organize trips every time I found some cheap flights and have free days.
This opportunity also helps me to improve a language and develop myself professional and personal wise. I have written about why you should abroad and what you achieve doing it but to give a hint It is proven by numerous studies that people who lived out for a while are able to boost their creativity, improve communication skills and even become more intelligent.

What the hardest thing was to leave behind
Family, friends, the beach side and the food.
When you live abroad you get to appreciate more from where you came from and your city, you experienced that you are lucky where you have been born but also where to live at that moment and get to value other cultures.
Even if there are hard times and you are feeling down because you miss your home, it is worth the experience and how much you learn in so little time.

What the best thing was you found in your new home
I learn more about myself and accomplish my dreams at that time.
Also, I found new friends from every part of the world and getting involved in a multicultural environment made me become more tolerant and open-minded.
Usually, in London and Berlin, everyone at your workplace is from a different nationality, in my case, there were more than 15 nationalities together from all continents, this makes you be surrounded by a variety of cultures on a daily basis and get knowledge from them.

How you experienced the process of moving and starting over
At the beginning, it was so difficult until you get established somewhere you can call “home”, a work or study schedule and a new daily routine. When you move somewhere you have all the illusion but sometimes things don't go as planned.
I believe that when we faced these difficulties and we get out of the comfort zone is when we grow personally and we get more independent and self-worth it.

Any tips for others
Just do it! If you think too much about insecurities and fears you will never do it.
The reality is that you will never be 100% sure to take the plunge even if you have been meditating for long or
you just decided a few months ago. There is no better moment than now.

Now I would like to help and encourage others that would like to live abroad and do not know where to start. Last
month, I have created a Consulting service for those who would like to study, work or volunteer abroad and the
best part is that it works on a donation basis as I believe everyone should have access to a service like this.

Blog: https://hashtagviajeros.com/
Facebook: https://facebook.com/hashtagviajeros

Charlene Dief - Santiago de Chile - Paris - Lisbon 

my name: Charlene

35 year old
French former graphic designer now a days life coach and creative mentor (i help women around the world to find there true self and have a healthier lifestyle, harmony in their mind and in their body)

From what country you moved to where
I was living in Paris for 4years (before I was living in Santiago de Chile and before that Paris) and in November 2014 i moved to Lisbon, Portugal.  
Why you moved
It was a mix between different reasons. After my first long experience abroad (1,5year in total) it was very difficult for me to re-adapt to my culture and the French society. I think when you discover that there are many realities and way of living it's harder to accept things as they are and the French society wants you to enter little boxes which were way to small for me. My break up with my boyfriend was the trigger that push me to explore new realities.  
What the hardest thing was to leave behind
I was lucky i didn't move very far so i was not in a position where i had to say goodbye to my friends and family (i come back very often to visit). My flat was the hardest, some of my furnitures that i design myself, some books too heavy to cary with me. But then you realize that all the material things are actually easy to forget. Sometimes when i go visit my parents i find something that i totally forgot about. :) 
What the best thing was you found in your new home
Definitely more friends! I met so many incredible people since i moved. Many of them already left Lisbon but we keep in touch and sometimes we manage to cross somewhere.  
How you experienced the process of moving and starting over - any tips for others
Be open. I think it's the main thing to keep in mind. Embrasse what life brings to you and experiment and enjoy. Take the best out of what happens. Living abroad and start over is very challenging, sometimes you want to give up and go home. In that moments it's important that you can have a friend that can cheer you up, even better if this person is also experiencing the same (i have very close foreigner friends here in Lisbon for instance). It doesn't need to be a crowd, just one or two is enough as long as you can rely on them. 

Facebook: @harmonizeyoumethod

Instagram: @mellesharl

website: www.harmonizeyou.com







17 September 2017

Kimono Rental in Tokyo: Is it Cultural Appropriation?

I went to Japan in March and after posting my photos in this beautiful kimono in Tokyo, lots of you don't seem to know that you can rent a kimono in Japan! There are plenty of kimono rentals in Japan, especially in Tokyo and Kyoto as they attract more culture-seekers and tourists. I visited 浅草着物レンタル華雅 or Asakusa Hanaka, located in Asakusa.  Asakusa (浅草) is in the center of Tokyo's shitamachi (which means low city), in one of Tokyo's districts, where you could still feel an atmosphere of Tokyo's past decades.
Asakusa's main attraction is Sensoji, built in the 7th century, it is now a very popular Buddhist temple. The temple is approached via the Nakamise, a shopping street that provides temple visitors with a variety of traditional, local snacks and tourist souvenirs for centuries. Getting to Asakusa Hanaka was easy it only takes 30 seconds to Asakusa Station or 2 minutes to the Kaminarimon and the Sensouji Temple on foot. They are just in front of Tokyo Sky Tree and near by the Sumida River. For 3,800 yen you can rent a kimono of your choice, 長襦袢 undergarment, 肌着 underwear, 帯 belt, 帯板 belt board, 半襟 Half-collar, 足袋 socks 巾着バック a matching bags and 草履または下駄 shoes. I also had my hair fixed for an extra 1,000 yen and I've chosen to wear this beautiful kimono with sakura patterns since it was March and cherry blossoms were everywhere, it was the perfect outfit to wear when me and my boyfriend planned to visit Ueno park after renting the kimono. My boyfriend also got a similar basic kimono set for the same price, of course men have less to worry about! By the way, if you are visiting during summer, then a Yukata is a better choice for you. It is suitable for the hot, summery weather since a casual summer kimono is usually made of cotton or synthetic fabric, and unlined. They are strictly informal, most often worn to outdoor festivals, by men and women of all ages.However, this may also be a touchy subject, to cultural appropriation. Japan is mostly homogeneous and they are very proud of their culture, although it does seem like the western media is pushing Japanese culture into popular culture, some might argue it often comes down to fetishisation. Like the recent issue in 2015, The Boston Museum of Fine Arts, they had to cancel an event they had called “Kimono Wednesdays,” when they were displaying Claude Monet’s “La Japonaise” (1876). Visitor get to try on a kimono similar to the one depicted in the painting, many were told that it was “orientalism,” “racism” and “cultural appropriation” which they claimed was victimizing Asian-Americans. In my experience, the Japanese are actually thrilled to have foreigners engaging with their own culture since most young Japanese women aren't interested in making kimono a hobby or wearing it less, so if kimono are popular with foreigners, they are happy to see that the art of kimonos are popular amongst the younger generation all over the world.  An employee at the Nishijin Textiles Center in Kyoto mentioned: “Anyone can appropriate and creatively modify kimono styles whenever and however they like.”On a youtube, the video "Can Foreigners Wear Kimono? (Japanese Opinion Interview)", Yuta asked some Japanese people about Katy Perry's kimono performance and asked what they think. He explained them some of the criticisms that Katy Perry got (for example. culture appropriation) and asked them if they think it's OK for foreigners to wear Japanese kimono. The response from the Japanese people was very positive and never even thought that it was even slightly offensive in any way. 

Yuta mentioned, "Kimono doesn't really have any strong cultural/religion significance. It's just a name for old clothes we used to wear. You don't have to be a specific ethnicity to wear kimono, just like T-shirts and jeans. It would have been a different question if it was something sacred, though." The Japanese are so proud of their country and culture. We could see they are really positive about a lot of things about their country and they get really happy when someone is interested in their culture.If you’re wondering, cultural appropriation doesn't mean wearing something from another country/culture. It's the appropriation of something religiously significant and using it as a personal statement, or, when it's a concern when the culture has actually been oppressed and/or colonized. So go ahead and put on that kimono and embrace Japan’s rich history.To find out more about Asakusa Hanaka:http://asakusa-hanaka.com/Mail: info@asakusa-hanaka.com  Phone: 03-6231-6782 





10 September 2017

Travel Story: Wine and Cheese: Paris

In France, I learned about wine and cheese. -
Walter Wager
Walking along the streets of Montmartre during a cold January evening, I wanted to get a cocktail. Every single cocktail bar was empty, it was seven in the evening I thought to myself, surely people are already drinking at this time in London, you know, hanging out inside Wetherspoons on a chilly winter evening with an expensive pint of beer. Most of the shops on the Parisian street were closed, as I walked past the cute boutiques, shops with dainty little patisseries and macarons displayed like exquisite jewelry and the kind of souvenir shop that you see in Leicester Square, selling overpriced postcards and "I love Paris" T-shirts. 

Then I saw a shop, with "Le Refuge des Fondus" highlighted in yellow contrasting against the bright red shop front. You can never miss it. Passing the elaborate carnivalesque décor that adorns the entrance, this place serves amazing cheese fondue and wine in baby bottles. Yes, BABY BOTTLES. You have to CLIMB over the table to sit down which is so much fun, but not so much fun when you have to climb back out to leave. Therefore you must surrender all claims to personal space. the menu is non-existence, you can simply choose between red or white wine, and cheese or meat fondue. €21/person for the food, including complimentary antipasti. 

In this tight space, I met an English couple from Brighton, who just fancied a trip to Paris and even gave me details for future jobs in digital media (I was studying at that time), which later we bumped into them in the Louvre museum. We have spoken to a French man who lived in England for his studies, discussing the difference between France and England. A group of Parisians who just wanted to have a good time, with a bottle of wine and cheese fondue, they didn't hesitate and gave me suggestions to local places in Paris instead of the tourist traps. Sometimes, it's the people that you encounter who makes your trip. Sometimes, simply wine and cheese is the answer to everything. 

Walk up to Montmartre is just a mere ten or fifteen minutes walk, walking around the area which is tightly packed with houses, they spiral around the mound underneath the sugary-white dome of the Sacré-Coeur. It was night time around 10 pm, slightly drunk, there were no thronging tourists around the area. I sat down on the steps just underneath Sacre-Coeur and stared at Paris. My eyes started to water, I simply just found this city beautiful. I love Paris.


Travelling, in my opinion, is best enjoyed without anything to worry about. Sometimes, it is better to travel simply, simply bring a few sets of clothes, passport and you're done, you know what, maybe even travel with a small bag, a small carry-on bag. Setting off to a place, smelling its air without any distractions. Why worry, when you can travel simply? Thanks to Travel Simply for a chance for me to write a piece of my own travel stories.

2 September 2017

Being Empress Sissi - Vienna

Taken from the Hofburg Palace

I am a seagull, of no land, I call no shore my home, I am bound to no place, I fly from wave to wave.
Empress Elisabeth of Austria
Vienna, our first European city in Chapter 2: European Diaries. Vienna, the capital and the largest city of Austria, In 2001, the city centre was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Art and culture had a long tradition in Vienna, including theatre, opera, music and fine arts. Numerous musical luminaries including Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Joseph Haydn, Ludwig van Beethoven, Franz Schubert, Johannes Brahms, Robert Stolz, and Arnold Schoenberg have all worked in the city of music. Notable artists from Austria also include Gustav Klimt, a prominent member of the Vienna Secession movement. His most famous work of art is "The Kiss", a simple portrait of love and lust. Vienna is a true city of arts and culture, and me being an Art Nouveau and Baroque art fan, honestly Vienna was the perfect place for me to be in.

Look at the embroidery!
My visit to Vienna also includes a tour around the Hofburg Palace. The palace is the imperial treasury, it holds the imperial jewels of the Habsburg dynasty. We went to the Sisi Museum, a museum devoted to Empress Elisabeth of Austria, it features more than 300 items that belonged to the Empress of Austria who died in an assassination, including her death mask, her traveling medical chest, parasols and gloves and much more. I also get to explore the imperial apartments as well as the silver cabinets. This exquisite plate is an English dessert plate Manufacturered by Herbert Minton & Co launched in the The Great Exhibition of 1851.

By this time, I've already been SUPER HUNGRY for cake. Visit Cafe Central, the marble columns and painted ceilings, and huge paintings of Austro-Hungarian Emperor Franz Joseph and Empress Sisi makes it one of the most elegant Viennese coffeehouse. It has been a legendary meeting spot for Austrian artists and writers such as Oskar Kokoschka and Hugo von Hofmannsthal. I have ordered a simple chocolate cake plus my favourite traditional cream-based coffee beverage, the Viennese coffee. Also visit café Sacher, which is best known for its signature Sacher Torte. You can expect elegance and top service. Go and taste this legend of a cake in its original place.

Outside the palace, you can live like Empress SiSi, take a carriage ride.

If you're a culture fanatic like me, never miss out on the Museumsquartier (museum quarter), they were former Imperial Stalls which were then converted into a museum complex and a cultural hub. It houses several museums like the Museum of Modern Art, or as known as MUMOK, the Leopold Museum and the AzW (Architekturzentrum Wien) Vienna's Museum of Architecture. There's a museum for everyone, no matter what your age and what your interests are. Here's a photo of me pretending to be a masterpiece:

I did also manage to visit a CAT CAFE in Vienna, I did write about the Cat cafe in Tokyo maybe I should also write about this one in the city of music!
Bonus: Get yourself a Winer Schnitzel map to look for the best schnitzels in Vienna.
Fun Fact: I love the work Schnitzel so much it is my Facebook URL.


Cafe Central:
Location: Herrengasse/Strauchgasse , A-1010 Wien, Austria
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday 7.30am to 10 pm; Sunday and public holidays: 10am to 10pm

Hotel Sacher:
Address: Philharmoniker Str. 4, 1010 Wien, Austria
Phone: +43 1 514560

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