Hi, I am Emily, and this is where I write things down before I lose them. I have been traveling for years, and my memory for specifics is terrible in a very specific way: I will remember a meal was excellent and forget the name of the place that served it. A shoebox of ticket stubs and camera rolls was not fixing the problem. So here we are, a travel blog, partly as a diary and partly as an open notebook for anyone planning a similar trip.
What you will find here
Mostly Asia, mostly on a budget, mostly at walking speed. I care about the practical layer of a trip: how long the walk from the station actually is, whether the queue is worth it, which temple closes early on which day, and where to eat when the sun is already down. Expect honest notes, not brochures. If a famous site disappointed me, I will say so; if a side street beat it, that gets the headline.
How I travel
Slowly, cheaply, and with a lot of food stops. I take trains over planes when the math works, sleep in simple places, and spend the savings on meals and entry fees. I am not chasing a checklist, and I do not believe in covering a country in a week. One city done properly beats five cities photographed from a bus window. I also travel with realistic energy: some days are full days, some days are tea and a short walk, and both count.
Why bother writing it
Because the useful details evaporate fastest. The name of that market stall, the bus that turned out to be simpler than the train, the temple that was empty at opening and swarmed by nine. Writing it all here keeps me honest and might save you an hour on your own trip. If a post helps you pick a route, skip a trap, or order the right dish, it has done its job.
What this is not
It is not an inspirational project and not a highlight reel. I am not going to pretend every day of every trip was transformational, and I am not waiting for some perfect version of myself to start going. The weather ruins plans, the train gets missed, the museum is closed on Mondays, and those days belong in the story too, written briefly and without drama. Practical honesty is the whole editorial policy here: real costs, real distances, real queues.
You are welcome to start anywhere. If you want the short version: I go, I eat, I take notes, I share them. First stop is Japan, and from there the map opens up.
Glad you are here, and thanks for reading to the end of a page that is mostly about my memory problems. For the latest posts, head back to the home page.