Hiking in Japan can be a lot like hiking elsewhere in the world; except that sometimes it’s not. My experience hiking in Japan has taught me a lot about the country and what can be expected when hitting the trail or climbing one of its many famous mountains. Some of what can be found hiking […]
Touring A Japanese Supermarket
One of the things I like to do while in a new country is go to the supermarkets and just wander around (and not just because I have no money to buy anything – but that’s also true). Japan has everything you might expect it to have in it’s markets: copious amounts of rice, tofu, […]
How Vacation Time (年休 Nenkyu) Works In Japan
I used to think the United States had problems with vacation time from work (“I still do, but I used to too” -MH). Now that I have been able to experience Japan’s take on vacation time, or 年休 (nenkyu), I have realized that things could be far worse in the States of United America. Now […]
Toilets In Japan: To Squat Or Not To Squat
Taking a poo. No matter where we are from, it is an activity that we all participate in on a (hopefully) regular basis. Countries around the world all have a solution to your needs when it comes to expelling your digestive waste, and in Japan you face an impressive variety of porcelain. To Squat Squat […]
10 Things You Can Do In Japan (And Not The US)
One of my favorite things about traveling is being able to see how laws and social taboos (what silly things they are) change across countries. Differences between Japan and the United States extend beyond simply bowing and taking off your shoes to enter places. The following ten things are not only rare in the United […]
The Thru-Hiker League Of Super Best Friends
Some people try to be everyone’s best friend, to wear so many faces that their true identity becomes a patchwork of social reflections, to always say the “right thing” even when it conflicts with what they truly believe. Some people suck. Trademarked by their uncanny ability to sing songs of personal achievement while simultaneously failing […]
Milk In Brazil: I Want To Go Home
As the most dominant species on the planet, us humans enjoy feasting on the milk of unsuspecting animal mothers from time to time. In order to best prepare milk for human consumption, I personally believe that the following are an important part of the milk cartoning process: Ensure that the milk is cold (but not […]
Brazilian Churrascarias and Infinity Meat
A churrascaria: a wonderful place where you can sit for hours and be served endless portions of deliciously delectable meats from a wide assortment of animals. Basically heaven on Earth. You could describe a churrascaria as a Brazilian steakhouse; however you do not simply plop down and order a steak – it is far more […]
Brazilian Beach Etiquette: How To Blend In
Let’s face it – it won’t be a secret that you are a gringo in Brazil. It is fairly obvious separating the locals from the tourists, but the process becomes even easier at the beach. Luckily, by following the simple code of Brazilian beach etiquette you will be able to (attempt) to blend in amongst […]
The Mikvah: The Holy Jew Bath
A Mikvah (or Mikveh), quite simply, can be described as a ritualistic Jew bath. Want to know more? Excellent, here we go: Used primarily by the more Orthodox Jewish communities, it is used to symbolically purify the body. According to Jewish law, a mikvah must be connected to a naturally occurring water source and it […]
