As I eased myself into the steaming waters of a hot spring bath at the remote countryside inn, the stillness was gently broken by the murmur of an American voice drifting through the paper walls
Great piece. The point you make about Joe is important. The most valuable knowledge and experience is often exactly that which, as you say, isn’t "searchable or taggable". So many people now expect everything to be cited, commodified, packaged etc. yet this is only one small aspect of real understanding and tends to strip all the wonder and genuine sense of exploration out of travel. I visited Kyoto in 2016, the write-up of which is pinned to my own Substack. Other than having the accommodation sorted before it was very much an ‘old world’ experience of wandering around and encountering interesting places and people. Happy to say I didn’t glance once at Trip Advisor. Keep these field notes coming!
Some interesting parallels to history between us. I grew up near your wife's mothers home in Santa Monica, Ca. Your wife's grandfather was a friend of my father, journalist Lloyd Shearer. Furthermore, I babysat for your mother when she was seven years of age. My father was a close friend of your grandmother, Patricia Neal.
As a fellow journalist, I've traveled to 150 nations.
Well said! What a great reminder to keep spontaneity available and allow it a place in our travels. It's important, now more than ever.
As a regular traveler this is precisely my experience - a terrific piece!
Great piece. The point you make about Joe is important. The most valuable knowledge and experience is often exactly that which, as you say, isn’t "searchable or taggable". So many people now expect everything to be cited, commodified, packaged etc. yet this is only one small aspect of real understanding and tends to strip all the wonder and genuine sense of exploration out of travel. I visited Kyoto in 2016, the write-up of which is pinned to my own Substack. Other than having the accommodation sorted before it was very much an ‘old world’ experience of wandering around and encountering interesting places and people. Happy to say I didn’t glance once at Trip Advisor. Keep these field notes coming!
Ned,
Some interesting parallels to history between us. I grew up near your wife's mothers home in Santa Monica, Ca. Your wife's grandfather was a friend of my father, journalist Lloyd Shearer. Furthermore, I babysat for your mother when she was seven years of age. My father was a close friend of your grandmother, Patricia Neal.
As a fellow journalist, I've traveled to 150 nations.
Enjoy your work....
Cody Shearer
Good to hear that this rearguard action is taking place! It's been years since we were last in Japan and we fondly remember the old challenges.