Japan | Tricia's Travels

We’re stuck inside, travel (and other life) restrictions in full swing. But our minds are still free. And there are so many things we can learn, enjoy, and discover from the wonders of our own internet-filled living rooms. So, where should we begin?

I’ve been fortunate to have had the opportunity to travel quite a bit over the past ~decade. I actually started this blog hoping to share and process some of those experiences but to be honest, I’m usually too busy enjoying the trip to take the time to sit down and capture it in words! And when I do, it takes me forever because I agonize over making it perfect – as any self-respecting, detail-oriented scientist would. 🙂 Ahhhh…luckily, I’ve suddenly found myself with a lot of time at home on my hands. It still won’t be perfect, but at least it’ll occupy a few minutes of my time. And maybe it’ll be a welcome and positive distraction for you, too.

Instead of debating the perfect opening post, I’m just going with the one that calls me in the moment. Growing up near Washington DC meant that The Cherry Blossom Festival was always such a big deal. If you’ve never witnessed first hand the pink and white beauty reflecting in the Tidal Basin, you should really add it to your bucket list! I can’t remember the last time I went, though, because the number of tourists usually outnumbers even the number of blossoms. That is, if you are lucky enough to catch a peek before rain, snow, wind or any number of other natural “disasters” wipes the blooms off the trees and leaves puddles of pink on the ground. If I lived within walking distance, this would definitely be the year to try since tourism is limited. Anybody from DC reading this? Have you seen them this year? ❤️

In early March of 2015, I went to another cherry blossom festival – the Kawazu Sakurai Matsuri on the Izu Peninsula in Japan. Cherry trees in Kawazu are some of the earliest and slowest blooming in eastern Japan, providing the more than 1 million annual visitors with a wonderful welcome to spring.

Reaching Kawazu is a relatively easy by train and once you are there, you notice not just the beauty but also the street festival atmosphere during this time of year.

Families come to enjoy good weather and partake in shows, games and of course food!

Luckily for me, not everything was made of fish…hahahaha.

If you want to learn more about this festival, here’s a great summary.

This trip was for me, at the time, a welcome break from the bustle of busy Tokyo (and life in general!). Today, it brings back fond memories of a wonderful trip with friends and colleagues. If you find yourself in Japan, make your way to Kawazu and enjoy!

One of the best parts of traveling (well, really, of life?) is eating. 🙂 When you travel around the world, you are suddenly exposed to so many new types of food – often some that surprise you, for better or for worse.

When I began to venture out of the US, this proposition was kind of scary… The first time I remember leaving the country was when I was 13 and we crossed the border to Tijuana. At the closest border town, my sister and I were commanded by our mom to “eat, drink and go to the bathroom now because you’re not doing it again until we return!”. Needless to say, I did not sample any Mexican cuisine on that outing.

The next time I left the US was on a school trip to the Soviet Union. Yes, it was still called “The Soviet Union” at that time. I don’t remember much about the food, but I’m pretty sure I ate a lot of potatoes and bread (because beets taste like dirt [this article explains why and appeals to my scientific nature] and I wasn’t about to eat little slimy fish with their heads still attached…). It’s a wonder I didn’t come home with scurvy… What I do remember is my camera film being confiscated on our “commute home” at the East/West Berlin border crossing (yes…still in existence too…) by a very large German man with a gun. But that’s a story for another day. 🙂

In my early travel years, I admit to being “one of those people” that sought out the most “American” looking food I could find because it seemed “safe”. I drew the line at McDonalds, but if there was an American chain restaurant in sight or a recognizable packaged snack at the store, there’s a good chance I headed toward it. Thankfully that phase didn’t last long – now I am excited to explore everything (everything?) that local cuisines have to offer. And boy have I sampled it.

It’s hard to describe some of the surprises that have been placed before me. Rabbit ears, duck tongues, and scorpions (China), mice on a stick (Malawi), termites (Kenya), and a lot of unidentifiable creatures from the sea (Japan) are just a few that are on the list. Sometimes I can handle it – the rabbit ears were actually cold, pickled, and surprisingly tasty. 🙂 But sometimes there is absolutely zero chance. Those mice still had FUR!!

This is, of course, balanced by the delicious dishes that make up 90%+ of what I actually eat overseas. Who can argue with a delicious wine and pasta dinner in Italy? Or fresh sushi and sake in Japan, ugali and kachumbari in Kenya, homemade bread and apricot jam in Kyrgyzstan?? If you keep your mind open, the possibilities are endless. In fact, I’m starting to collect these gems on my very first Pinterest board. Don’t judge – I’m just starting – but what a way to start. 🙂

This finally brings me around to the title of the post. It’s true. I reached a new level on my last trip to Japan. The conversation went something like this:

Him: “we’re going to order this because we love it and you won’t eat it, so we will have it all!”.

Me: “OK. We’ll see….”

ONLY with the help of a generous sake selection did the Horse Sashimi have a chance.