It’s the time of the year when you look back and appreciate it. The highlight of 2016 for me was a backpacking trip to the Far East with friends. I do my share of traveling, especially in Europe, as I work in tourism, but Japan was something else.

It is a fascinating country with a unique and foreign yet familiar culture. We all know Japanese animes, video games, and films. They portray a bustling and modern country yet rich in culture and history. What struck me the most was the friendly and welcoming nature of the Japanese. At the same time, the social rules here are very different, and one would need more time to understand the inner workings of this society. So, I am aware of the snapshot perspective I got. It’s a foreigner’s view, for sure. Nonetheless, I was eager to capture the spirit of what I was seeing: the magnificent temple architecture, marvelous nature, and, last but not least, the people of Japan themselves.

This one is just the first part of a more extended series that will stretch into 2017, possibly over winter. It takes some time to curate these and make them online-ready. So come back occasionally and dive in with me into the Far East.