Happy New Year!

Wow! What a year! 2020 has been quite a year for all of us. The COVID pandemic has changed all our lives. The way we live, the way we carry on with our every day life, the way we travel and interact with each other. 

I can only hope that 2021 will be a better year. I'm hopeful that we can start a new normal. For now, I am spending my time with my family and making the best out of this uncertain and hard situation. 

I'm looking back at my past travels and I'm extremely grateful that I had the chance to travel while I could. And who knows when we can all go back to normal and travel safely again.

15 Random Obervations of Japan II

I went back to Japan a couple of times now! I have paid more attention on how Japanese people behave and interact. You can read about my random observations series here.

1. Shops inside the train stations are great for food and souvenir shopping.
2. Everyone is quiet inside the trains except for tourists.
3. Even kids are quiet. I barely heard them cry (what's your secret Japan?)
4. Kids are taught to be independent at a very young age.
5. And to carry their own weight. I saw a little kid carrying his own backpack and I swear he was less than 1 year old.
6. People do not lock their bikes on a pole. They just lock it with the bike.
7. No one will bother you unless you ask for help.
8. Everyone brings their own food and drinks when boarding the bullet train.
9. You can drink beer inside the trains.
10. You can use your suica/pasmo card to board the trains and to pay for food/drinks at restaurants or shops.
11. They pay a lot of attention to details.
12. English music is everywhere; hair salons, restaurants, shops, etc.
13. Smoking is still prevalent. You can still smoke inside restaurants :(
14. Everyone politely lines up.
15. And will respect your space.