tommyandlala

[tommyandlala]

[tommyandlala]

[tommyandlala]

I can’t believe it’s already October 20th. That means we’ve been traveling for an entire month (and a day). How wild is that? Japan, Nepal, Istanbul, now Italy. It’s truly been a whirlwind to say the least. World wind?

It’s been hard to put adequate weight/importance on the things we’ve been doing and to distinguish the unique experiences and feelings of the places we’ve been. Each country or city or neighborhood we visit deserves its own interpretation, but I haven’t felt like I’ve been able to slow down enough to fully appreciate and comprehend what all of it actually means. Which makes me feel a sense of guilt, like am I missing something? Am I moving too fast? Are we doing too much? I feel pangs of meaningfulness in brief moments like when I’m standing barefoot on the grounds of a beautifully intricate Buddhist stupa in Pokhara, or when I’m bouncing around a hot little taxi in the dense and dusty streets of Kathmandu. Even (especially) when I’m gazing out at the Himalayas, at a snow topped peak larger than anything I’ve seen in my entire life. But they’re moments. And they pass. And I feel mad at myself for not holding onto the feeling longer. One thing I have realized is that when I’m able to quiet down (which really only started to happen when we were trekking), I found that moments from my past came floating back to me. Memories, people, interactions I hadn’t thought about in years would trickle into my consciousness. I’m not sure if it was the lack of distraction, or maybe a form of meditation, but it unlocked some hold I had on certain moments/experiences of the past. Except now, years later, I was thinking about them with a new knowledge or awareness of the present —drawing parallels and making comparisons and bringing new meaning to old memories. So maybe these brief moments while traveling aren’t meant to have so much power right now. Maybe I’ll feel it for a few minutes, file it away and save it for later? Maybe I’m too hungry to FEEL all the FEELINGS in this very moment and need to chill out and be patient?? Or maybe we live in a world of constant noise and stimulation and distraction and my brain is broken. I don’t know, what do you guys think???

[tommyandlala]

Mehndi ceremony for Patrick and Mona ❤️

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Editor’s Note: This is being posted a day late, we are now in Nepal, not Japan.

We’ve been in Japan for ten days now, but that time feels like it’s been either a blink or lifetime. We’ve seen and done so much already- experienced more Japanese culture in a few days than most will in a lifetime - while knowing full well that we’ve barely scratched the surface. And hell, we are certainly not in Kansas anymore. To say things are different here is like saying that fire is different than water; that the drab plastic facade of a cookie-cutter apartment building is different than hand-cut stone of a fountain adorning the entrance to a thousand year old wood temple. Can you guess which country is which in this analogy?

It’s a feeling that I vaguely understood about Japan before we left and was hit over the head with upon arrival. How not only is the architecture of Japan’s physical world different, but how much the shared history, traditions, and values of the people influence everyday life in a way I’m not used to at all. And maybe it’s because we’re coming from the US, where you can feel yourself living through a fading empire’s swan song. Where products and apps and technology and transportation and public space (and often people, government, and culture writ large) not only never work the way they’re supposed to, but, by and large, exist solely to take your money.

But I digress, we are not talking about the stars and stripes, we’re talking about the land of the rising sun. And it has been beyond refreshing to experience a culture that invests in making things work for its people. Utility and practicality are baked into every aspect of life. This applies to the most visible parts of Japanese life, from a train system that is extensive and frequent to some of the cleanest streets that I have ever seen. Tokyo’s population is almost twice that of New York City’s, yet I saw all of three pieces of trash and two people sleeping on the street while we were there. Obviously, figuring out how to ensure such a massive, densely-populated area stays looking good is not simply a logistical problem to solve but a matter of customs and shared values. A culture of respect, honor, and emphasis on consensus goes a long way to ensuring that society functions as smoothly as possible. There aren’t public trash cans anywhere, but there’s also no trash on the street. That’s because everyone, collectively, cares enough to pack garbage out with them and not leave it on the street.

And that’s just one small aspect of the culture that feels different in a thoughtful, positive way that works for everyone. How about the fact that my Japan Rail tap card also works as a debit card when buying food at 7-Eleven? And why is 7-Eleven selling such delicious pre-made meals? By delicious I’m not talking about a hotdog that’s been furiously spinning on greased rollers under an aggressive heat lamp for the last twelve hours. These are noodle bowls with veggies and chicken, fish wrapped in rice and seaweed, squid and brocolli salad, or a simple egg salad sandwich on the fluffiest bread you’ve ever had in your life. All for a few bucks a piece. And they exist not only because of the demand (people want a convenient, cheap, and consistent snack) but because even at the corporate level there’s a principle in creating something of value for the consumer without price-gouging or eschewing quality. It feels like what I imagine growing up in the American post-war years must have felt like: high quality goods and services; products made with care and designed to last; things that serve a legitimate purpose - and all for a price that’s affordable to most working people.

Ok I could go on like this forever, commenting on all the fun, confusing, big, and small differences between cultures, but I’m getting carried away and I don’t think the point of this blog was to be a deep dive on how Japanese culture creates a more benevolent form of capitalism. So I’ll end by saying that obviously none of this is an original thought. No doubt a million other Westerners have remarked about these very same cultural differences upon their first trip to Japan. What I’ve realized is that there’s a gulf between reading someone else talk about it and actually experiencing it yourself. And crossing that gulf.. well folks, we call that traveling.

[tommyandlala]

Some snapshots from Kyoto so far

[tommyandlala]

Okay so I wrote this on the bullet train yesterday but my service was wonky so posting now:

Right now we’re riding the Tokaido Shinkansen from Shinigawa to Kyoto and dang is this thing fast. We’re cruising through constantly morphing landscapes, from tall city buildings to expansive rice fields to lush, forested mountains. We should be slithering around Fuji pretty soon now.

Missing Tokyo already. Even though we only had 2 days there, we packed them full of sites and snacks and cats as we meandered through the never-ending city and undulating crowds. I felt like a true “Gaper.” We walked over 12 miles both days, so our dogs were barking but our hearts and tummies were definitely happy. Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose, right?

This is hands down the cleanest city I’ve been to. Everyone says that but it’s exceedingly true. The word that comes to mind is ‘thoughtful.’ Everything from the ease and cleanliness of city streets and public transportation to the ways you order and eat sushi to quite literally the toilets… it’s intentional and refreshing. I’m here for it.

Okay for example the other day I learned about how they pour sake and some of the meaning behind it. First, a glass is placed inside a masu cup (often a square wooden box made from hinoki cypress or cedar). Then the host pours the sake until it overflows into the masu like a “waterfall.” Apparently the overflowing is an act of kindness and generosity by the host. It’s also a small act of celebration, to lift your spirits and encourage you to enjoy the present state of life. Watching the sake overflow and not knowing whether it will spill out of the masu offers a “beautiful moment of suspense, when time seems to almost slow down.” This moment is meant to keep your mind in the present, focusing only on what’s in front of you.

As wildly busy and chaotic as the streets and crossings can be, nobody jaywalks, you never hear cars honk their horns, and pedestrians walk at a much slower pace than I would expect in a big city. All this to say, it feels like people genuinely aren’t in any rush.

It’s been a breath of fresh air.

[tommyandlala]

First brekky

“I can’t believe we’re in Tokyo” -Tommy

[tommyandlala]

Got in after dark, fun waking up to this view

[tommyandlala]

Travel Day 1 Complete

SF - Vancouver - Shibuya

Typing this with the on-screen iPad keyboard because we didn’t bring a laptop and writing anything more than “yeah” or “lol” or a single thumbs up emoji on a phone is far too much for me right now. But we have finally made it to our destination! More than 24 hours after waking up in the comparatively quaint city of Berkeley California, we are getting ready to fall asleep in our hotel in the largest metropolis in the world, excitedly looking forward to the next few days and all the time we’ll get to spend with our 37 million new best friends. The city lights go on forever here, just like the hours we have been awake without sleeping (it’s 26). We rode a tiny plane, then had a Canadian layover and got on a big plane. A couple shitty movies and a few mediocre in-flight meals later we touched down at Narita airport. We landed in Japan at 3pm local time and boarded a train to the city at 5pm - the hellish and unending serpentine queue of Customs and Immigration fading quickly from our memory as the city’s neon fabric enveloped us under falling night. Ok side note from this horrific writing- the sun went down almost an hour and a half earlier here than on the west coast?? Not sure if it’s a latitude thing or a geographic time zone thing, or maybe a lack of daylight savings thing but it was weird when it started getting dark around 5! Speaking of darkness, I feel like it’s no longer beckoning me from afar but has grasped me with its cold yet surprisingly soft and gentle hands, pulling me down down down down Ok for real I am going to sleep now xoxo

[tommyandlala]

First leg: SFO to Vancouver!

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Do we think it will all fit…?

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Bon Voyage!

We hope you guys have an amazing trip and a once-in-a-lifetime experience together! We can't wait to hear all about it. Remember to take lots of photos, try adventurous things, stay safe, and enjoy this incredible world we live in. Trust us — you'll look back on this experience for years to come. We're so excited for you and we love you both very much. Can't wait to hear all about it when you return!

Love, K&J