NEW! Singapore to Tokyo in 100 Days: EPIC Travel Vlog | Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Japan

NEW! Singapore to Tokyo in 100 Days: EPIC Travel Vlog | Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Japan

Booking a one way ticket to somewhere far, 
far away, and seeing how long we could travel until we either ran out of 
money, or, we no longer liked each other. But, what that wish turned into was this: One 
week in Singapore, a perfectly designed city to set the tone, 4 weeks across Western Malaysia with 
tea plantations, blue mansions and the diversity of Kuala Lumpur, 3 weeks relaxing on the islands 
of Lombok, Indonesia with waterfalls and beachy sunsets, then onto Bali for bouji cafes, 
rice terraces and mountain sunrises. Next, it was 2 weeks in Thailand, for a brief 
stopover in Bangkok but mostly for the excellent city of Chiang Mai, with its fantastic 
food markets and nearby elephant sanctuaries. All before finishing with 5 weeks in Japan: 
Starting in the south Okinawa sees the country at its most tropical, then onto Fukuoka; most famous 
for its street food ramen, the Edo period escape to Kurashiki, Hiroshima for its unforgettable 
history and stunningly beautiful Miyajima, Osaka to experience its Dotonbori nightlife and what 
to do in an earthquake, and then finally Tokyo, where by this point, well, we mostly just 
rested on our laurels, if I’m being honest. Whilst we’ve featured most of 
these places in previous vlogs, this video will take you through the entire 
journey in one stretch, along with 2 weeks worth of stories that’ve never been seen before, 
so, if you will, please sit back and join us. This, is Suitcase Monkey taking you through exactly 100 days of travel 
from Singapore to Tokyo. 🙂 We begin our trip in Bugis, a great location 
that was very accessible to everywhere we’d later be visiting. Singapore was without 
question the most expensive location we visited this entire 3 month trip so our first 
hotel was central but at the sacrifice of space. My first reaction to Singapore was just 
loving how its impressive architecture, intermingled so well with nature. And yet, even 
with so many sky scrapers, there was still plenty of heart to be found, such as the nearby Kampong 
Glam, one of Singapores oldest neighbourhoods… But, as good as this introduction 
was to the city, there was one place, I frankly couldn’t wait to see with my own eyes. 15 years ago, the addition of Marina Bay Sands and 
Gardens By the Bay, put Singapore on my map and, even with anticipation, I can say with confidence, 
walking around them in person, did not disappoint. There really is something so futuristic, 
yet majestic that immediately pulls you in… Although you can still get much of the 
experience by walking underneath for free, we paid extra to walk the Skyway, which for us, 
was worth it, but not essential if time is short. Gardens by the Bay is more than just 
its Supertrees: Enter: The Flower Dome and Cloud Forest. The Flower Dome is the 
largest glass greenhouse in the world, and spread over 3 whole acres, showcases 
flowers and plants from across the world… Fighting every urge I had to 
cover the plants with gravel, we next moved on to the arguably 
more impressive, Cloud Forest. Featuring the worlds tallest indoor waterfall, 
its climate and unique plants replicate a real life tropical mountain 2,000 meters above sea 
level, but all playfully presented as fantasy… Despite this bold presentation 
and connection with Avatar, it never strays too far from its essence 
of simply being an exotic botanical garden. But, for every collection of tropical plants, 
there’ll also be a fun interactive element, like this one, where you can explore the cloudy 
skies, and, look a bit of a tit whilst doing it. The first shock we experienced from Singapore 
though, was undoubtedly its incredibly thick humidity. Leaving the cool comfort of air 
conditioning, is like being hit over the face with a hot, wet salmon. And I say salmon, 
because it felt like I could eat the air. Luckily, the respite of a massive downpour wasn’t 
too far behind. But was often so intense, finding shelter was almost mandatory. 
Though we found enough examples where the public walkways obviously took 
this into account, which was great. Not so great though, was the new price ranges we 
were now getting used to. A coffee, for example, could cost double what it would in 
London and when you have 3 months of travel expenses ahead, this was a 
shock to the system. But, screw it, we started with the most expensive country 
for a reason so we mostly tried to ignore it… Speaking of cost though, I was still 
super impressed with the magnificently grand Marina Bay Sands Hotel. Some 
say its unique design represents a boat gliding on the water, it certainly 
does. But it also looks like your dad’s right slipper balancing precariously on 
top of 3 slightly squeezed cereal boxes. Its observation deck sits 57 floors on top. It’s 
the world’s largest public cantilevered platform, overhanging the north tower by 200 feet 
with unobscured views of the city below… Inside Marina Bay Sands, or, more accurately 
underneath and along its connected Mall, you’ll find a casino, luxury shopping, fancy dining, canals, theatres and its 
worth a wander out of curiosity alone. We found the Mall food court here to be a 
solid option. It is pretty busy but there is a heap of variety and for Singapore, at a 
pretty reasonable price for our evening meal. If you only had one evening in Singapore, 
it should be along the various shores of Marina Bay as you’re literally 
spoilt for choice and its all free. The Garden Rhapsody is held twice nightly, 
lasting 15 minutes and is definitely recommended. After a pleasant 20 minute 
walk, we arrived at Spectra, a light water show held right 
in the middle of the Bay… Looking back, these first 2 days were still very 
much us in holiday mode, going at full speed, compared to the slower long term approach we’d 
adjust to soon enough. And that’s why our next 3 days were spent at a more relaxed pace, starting 
with some of Singapores finest food stalls. For the morning, we’d booked ourselves onto a 
local hawker food tour around the must visit area of Chinatown. Singaporean food is largely a 
combination of Chinese, Malay and Indian cuisines, and across the country, there are 120 hawker 
food centres, holding 13,000 stalls in all… …The most surprising number of all though is 
that 40 of these stalls have been recommended by the Michelin Guide serving dishes 
such as this curry chicken noodle. Other foods to highlight 
here was this chicken rice, which although Chinese in origin, has become 
somewhat of a Singaporean national dish. This Pandan cake was great too, a light fluffy 
sponge that felt sweet, but was so airy, never became overbearing. For drinks, always be on 
the lookout for Sugarcane. Its juice is extracted from squeezing the cane through a machine and 
is incredibly refreshing on a hot humid day. Speaking of thirst, we next made our 
way to Raffles. Named after Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, considered the 
founder of modern day Singapore, this colonial style hotel was established 
in the late 1800s as the place to be seen. Back in those days, when men were 
men and things were even more uneven, etiquette dictated that ladies couldn’t 
consume alcohol in public. Because, when you think about it, why should 
they?! So in 1915, to entice the females, a savvy bartender, at this very location 
created The original Singapore Sling cocktail. A drink that looked suitable for a 
delicate lady, but was actually gin, Liqueur, pineapple and lime juice. It also had the added 
bonus of making the men seem more interesting. There’s also one other tradition here that 
still remains welcome, and that is this… Throwing your nuts on the floor 
is pretty liberating. In a country known for its strict rules, this 
is the only place in Singapore, where littering is accepted, and that’s why I 
was taking every opportunity to enjoy myself. I did see this guy though, who 
was either really trying to get his moneys worth or was a squirrel in a past life. I entered the Long Bar with zero expectations, 
and then actually really enjoyed our time here. Visually, the decor put you back in time really 
well, a soft jazzy piano ballad sets the mood, and the Singapore Sling itself was 
enjoyable. Especially for this. Just 3 stops up the North South Line and we 
arrived at Orchard Road, Singapores shoppers paradise. I’m not usually a Mall guy, 
but they’re so integrated into life here, you’re missing on a small local aspect 
if you don’t get lost once at least once. Orchard Road is the most straight 
forward concentration of shops, but we also personally enjoyed 
Raffles City and Suntec City Malls, but that was likely since 
they were close to our hotel. Food courts are usually found on the 
lower floors and never disappointed us for a relatively low cost lunch 
and even a few cheeky evening meals… And so, with our first week in Singapore 
coming to a close, for our last 2 days, we decided to go all out, with some 
of the country’s largest attractions. This is Sentosa Island. As a former British 
military base and Japanese prisoner of war camp, it clearly has all the makings for fun 
times. Almost 5 square kilometres in size, it’s a quick monorail ride from the main island 
and immediately transports you to another world. There’s a couple of beaches, a casino, 
tonnes of individual adrenalin rides, 2 golf courses, a Madame Tussauds, a cable car 
and most surprisingly, a Universal Studios. There is one thing I wanted to note here though; 
this is not Universal Studios, Florida. Although it still has many aspects that are fitting 
for that level of theme park, comparatively, it is pretty small, and with some pre planning, 
very possible to experience all major thrill rides in a couple of hours. Unless of course you have 
children slowing you down, cramping your style. Since Universal only opens at 10am, 
beforehand, it is possible to sneak in an hour long trip to the SEA Aquarium next 
door. Now the second largest in the world, this aquarium holds 12 million gallons of water, 
100,000 animals and 800 species to keep you busy… After soaking in everything 
we could from Sentosa Island, we took our longest train journey yet, to 
one of Singapores most popular attractions. The Night Safari is a first of its kind. Unlike 
a traditional zoo which struggles with showcasing nocturnal animals during their day time opening 
hours, this is an open air tropical forest, open from 7pm to midnight. Now, do bear in mind, 
your eyes are much better than my camera so these pictures do a slight injustice to the 
actual experience. But, you can explore all this through a 40 minute tram ride along with 4 
walking trails to take things at a slower pace. Of the 100 plus specifies found here, around 
40% are on the threatened or endangered list. Although I’m not usually a fan of zoos, this is 
done in a way, that although it is definitely a zoo in disguise, the illusion created does make 
you feel you’re at a safari; gone are the bars and cages, instead using cattle grids, plants and 
water moats. Adding the artificial moonlight to Singapores humid skies, and vocal purring 
insects, you almost forget where you are… Obviously, by this point, after just 7 days, the long term travel aspect hadn’t yet kicked 
in. But with our upcoming entire month, solely based in Malaysia alone, this was where 
things really started to feel, more like home… In total, we spent 3 weeks in Kuala Lumpur, 
split over 2 apartments. Some days were set aside for sightseeing, and others just full time 
editing of the Singapore footage you’ve just seen. I’d never edited away from London 
before, so it was great learning I really could do all this remotely. Only now I 
was spending my down time with swimming pools instead of people who don’t know how 
to use headphones on public transport. But our first big sea change was how 
much further our money stretched here, compared to the very pricey Singapore. For $48 USD 
per night, we got this 780 square foot apartment, boasting this lovely city view each morning. Quite 
the change from $110 for just this. Plus, we had the added bonus of super fast wifi, which wasn’t 
surprising, given the size of our internet router… As much as we enjoyed our room though, it was undoubtedly its rooftop that 
took the cake and a lot of our time… And so, after channelling my content creator 
mode, and a full days worth of editing, we made our first proper trip 
to KL’s most iconic landmark… The Petronas Towers are the tallest twin 
buildings in the world, rising 88 stories high, dominating KLs skyline from almost every 
direction. Its unique exterior, modelled around the Islamic 8 pointed star, beams brightly 
in all weathers, but especially in the evening. The surrounding area itself, mainly the 
KLCC Park is worth some of your time also, as is the shopping mall directly below the towers 
and the Symphony Lake Water Show right out front… Overall, our time in KL was massively 
improved from meeting up with our friend Tatt, who’s lived here most his life. So, helped with his local input, 
he took us to Marinis on 57, a cocktail and restaurant bar that gives some 
of the best city views. Despite initially, the weather not being completely on our 
side, the panoramas were still impressive nonetheless. That is, until the night wore 
on and the skies really opened up for us. This is the highest two storey bridge in the 
world. 170m above street level, it offers the unique perspective of being able to see the 
building that you’re in, but, from the out side… So, after a dose of KLs modern city life, 
tomorrow we’d delve further into its past, to a must visit attraction 
dating back over 100 years… Just 1 hour north of the city centre, 
the Batu Caves are a series of limestone chambers formed 400 million years ago. For 
the last century though, they’ve housed one of the most popular Hindu temples outside of 
India. The grand scale of your surroundings, coupled with the routines and rituals of 
worship all make for a must see location. Speaking of which, we love a good Chinatown, and KLs version eventually became one 
of our favourite areas to hang out… There is a harmonious blend of old and new here. 
Whilst you can still easily find an authentic stall or restaurant, there’s also an uptick 
of bougie cafes and restaurants. We frequently wandered around brunch hunting and always ended 
up finding somewhere new to spend our mornings… For shopping, we stumbled upon 
this really cool bookshop, that we ended up spending a good half 
an hour just walking around and reading… Central Market hosts an indoor collection 
of independent traders and is worth a visit if you’re tired of the shopping malls. Whilst 
Petaling Street is more your traditional market, selling Prada bags that are absolutely genuine. Being near the equator, Malaysia sits within a 
tropical climate, typically around 30 degrees. Which is 86 degrees Fahrenheit for people in these 
countries. This ultimately means you can expect short, sharp showers, but this didn’t affect 
us too much, since it balances out the heat… One unique evening, was an hours drive 
just outside the city. Starting from a small jetty that hints at the possibility 
of being kidnapped, you’re soon taken out, along a narrow winding river, until, eventually, 
you reach an almost pitch black surrounding. Here, the engine’s switched off, you’re 
left in total silence and then, hundreds of fireflies slowly fill the 
sky. And whilst the overall impact of this moment could never be fully shown through 
a lens, it’s a moment that stays with me. Getting around KL in itself was admittedly, sometimes a challenge. Although there 
is a perfectly fine transport system, quite often we found it didn’t connect together 
very well. Take this example. It’s either 7 minutes by taxi, or, an hour in transit, and then 
even longer to walk, despite its close proximity. So, before you even land into KL, and this 
also goes for most of South East Asia, I’d heavily suggest you download and set up a 
Grab account first, which is equivalent to an Uber. A 10 to 20 minute Grab ride here can 
cost a couple of US dollars, and was often the best way to get around; not only in KL, but 
especially around Penang and Langkawi island also. So that is how we made our way to 
the National Museum of Malaysia. And, for 1 single USD, you get the entire history of 
the country. And I mean, beginning with Pangea, so they really go through everything. Trade 
routes, occupations from the Portuguese, Dutch, Japanese, the British, then independence, the 
birth of modern day Malaysia, and apparently, an off chance meeting of Lennon and 
McCartney with Neil Patrick Harris. If you really want to stretch your legs 
though, the Forest Eco Park is the only remaining rainforest in central KL. Its 
canopy walk and short hiking trails are good for an hours change of scenery. It’s also, rather 
conveniently, right next door to the Menara Tower, otherwise known as the KL Tower. This 
300 meter observation deck arguably offers better views than the taller Petronas 
Towers and it’s easier for getting a walk up ticket. I also enjoyed comparing roof top 
swimming pools, but, that might just be me… For our final afternoon and evening in 
Kuala Lumpur, I wanted to highlight the second area we found ourselves gravitating 
towards most. And that is Bukit Bintang. Definitely the most pedestrian friendly area, 
here you’ll find easy access to night markets, shopping malls, restaurants, 
bars and trendy rooftop cafes… But, food in general was one 
of our Malaysian highlights, and covering our whole time here, there were 
a number of dishes that really stood out. First, there’s Nasi Lemak, THE Malaysian 
dish. Presented in a variety of ways, but typically with coconut rice, 
fried anchovies, and a spicy relish, its most popular as a breakfast 
but can be eaten any time of day. For a supporting cast, there’s Satay 
chicken, always a personal favourite of mine, great Chinese food is obviously everywhere, there’s tonnes of Mee goreng – essentially 
stir-fried noodles of any kind. We also loved this Roti Chani, a soft, 
flakey flatbread, perfect with a curry dipping sauce and even, this, Roti Tisu, 
(which if you can’t tell is on your right.) And with Malaysia being such a melting pot 
in general, it’s super easy to come across well made Vietnamese, and Thai food, 
and it almost always is excellent. But then of course, there’s this. The durian. The 
durian is very much a love it or hate it fruit, and I should say, I did not, love it… You do have 
to question any fruit where they give you gloves, but it’s the smell that first hits 
you. Although this is no surprise, given it’s literally banned on public transport 
and hotels due to its distinct odour. As for what it tastes like? Well, if you can 
imagine a bunch of male sailers jumping into the ocean and becoming a sour mush. 
These sea men, would not be my palette. Durians aside, the easiest way to sample 
everything in one single place, is Jalan Alor; KLs most famous food street. Home to a mixture 
of hawker vendors and sit down restaurants, it’s an easy recommendation, even if 
it’s just to take in the Dolby atmos. Despite our time in KL drawing to a close, 
this Malaysian trip was just getting started. Tomorrow we’d be driving 3 hours north, 
for a beautiful change of pace and scenery. The Cameron Highlands is known for its rolling 
hills, hiking trails and dense forests. At its highest point, the elevation reaches 5000 
feet, making for a much more pleasant temperature, and one of the main reasons the English 
colonised the area in the late 1800s. 140 years later, this English narrator 
still appreciates a cup of a tea, some scones with a cooler climate and a view 
like this, so I guess some things never change… Along with strawberry farms, Tea 
plantations are the biggest attraction here, and with this being our first of two 
that we’d visit, it did not disappoint… We’d be staying for just 1 night in this 
moderate, but super central hotel in Tanah Rata, the largest town in the area, and a nice change 
of pace. For tomorrow, we’d booked a morning tour, which I’d really recommend if you’re 
short on time, despite the early wake up… The Mossy Forest is the oldest forest in Malaysia and sits 2000 meters above sea level. This 
atmospheric labyrinth of branches and thick layers of moss are a sight on their 
own, even on a damp December morning… The BOH tea centre is one of the most 
popular attractions in all of the Cameron Highlands. A producer of tea since the late 
1920s, this visitor centre opened in 2007 and features factory tours, tea gift 
shops, and a cafe with quite the view… And with that, our brief time in Cameron Highlands 
had been a welcome change of scenery. But with our flight to Langkawi Island leaving tomorrow, we 
were now dreaming of boats, eagles and beaches… Langkawi is Malaysias northern most island. Geographically closer to Thailand 
than it is to its own mainland, the vibe can echo the not too far away 
Phuket, but, still keeping its own identity… Its biggest hotspot is easily Pantai Chenang, a 
2km strip of sand, along with its main high street running in parallel. Whilst this area might have 
become a little too touristy for some, for us, it was pretty refreshing, especially since the vibes 
of island life nicely underpinned everything. One aspect we really loved, is how Langkawi 
delivers its night markets. They hold a different one each night of the week, spread 
out across multiple locations. This means that no matter where you’re staying, 
you’ll likely be close to one of them. The nearby Kuah also doubles as the 
main entry point for those arriving by boat from Thailand or Penang. And it’s 
here where the island has its own Statue of Liberty moment. This impressive 
eagle is THE symbol of Langkawi, and one we’d learn more about tomorrow, during our 
favourite day trip, throughout this entire trip. The Kilim Geoforest is a UNESCO 
Geopark, the first of its kind across South East Asia and home to a diverse 
collection of wildlife, beaches and caves. Its mangroves often take centre stage though 
and our excellent tour guide took us through the areas history, biology, and a crash 
course in how to not anger its local mafia. Its most important residents though are its 
Brahminy Kite eagles. It’s believed that the word Helang, the Malay word for eagle, forms the basis 
of the name Langkawi, hence its welcoming mascot. Seeing this many eagles within 
such a biodiverse ecosystem, and a stop at the nicest beach on this 
trip, all made for a truly memorable day. On the flip side, our hotel here was a 
little of a hit and miss. We booked it, since it was relatively affordable and literally 
walking distance from the airport. Almost in the centre of the island, it put us about 
a 30 minute drive away from anything, with grab taxis always nearby. But, although 
the staff were nice, the room adequate, the pool large enough, there was an air of 
The Shining about it. Especially with this bizarre space theme that didn’t quite 
match up to everything else. I mean, what is this all about? It really does walk 
that fine line between cute and psychopathic…? Something that will probably work for everyone 
though, is Langkawis tallest attraction. To get here, you’ll first pass through 
the aptly named Oriental Village. Now, nothing screams the orient more than 
elegant bridges, colourful houses and, a Union Jack, double decker bus, but it is 
nice for a photo stop. We’d bought a combo ticket which comes with a bunch of other 
attractions thrown in. Having the lowest of expectations we actually had a whale of 
a time at this 3D interactive museum. Yes, this is completely ridiculous but you can’t 
tell me you wont be having fun doing this. But the main reason we were here 
though, was the Skybridge. To get there, you’ll first have a choice of cable cars to 
reach it. There’s the glass enclosed gondola, the open bars gondola and the Gold Help Me 
Gondola, all climbing 700 meters along a 2km cable. Across the multiple viewing platforms, 
you’re not only rewarded with the Skybridge on arrival but uninterrupted views of Langkawi 
to the south and Thailand to the north… With our month in Malaysia coming to a 
close, Penang Island would be our last stop. Somewhere that had been on my personal 
bucket list since I heard about it, 3 weeks ago… Penang was the first British settlement in all 
of South East Asia. Its capital of George Town, would be our new temporary home, and 
one we took at a much slower pace. Shaped by centuries of intermingling 
between various cultures, it’s now a seamless mixture of street art, unique 
colonial architecture, and has become known as the foodie capital of Malaysia… There 
is undoubtedly a massive mixture of vibes here, and you never quite know, what to 
expect, around every corner you turn… After our previous space themed experience 
in Langkawi, George Town was also where we totally redeemed ourselves, this being 
our favourite stay in all of Malaysia. This 1920s shophouse has been turned into 
a cute boutique hotel but still manages an air of homestay about it, especially 
during its courtyard breakfast servings. 10 minutes down the road, George Town is easily 
best discovered on foot, especially for its hundred plus murals of street art. Since 2012, 
artists near and far have been commissioned to add their own work to the alleyways of Penang and it 
makes for a great few hours hunting them all down… Our favourite George Town attraction 
was probably this visit to the most photographed building in Penang; the Blue Mansion… Originally built in the 1880s, but 
rescued and restored 30 years ago, it’s now a magnificent blend of Chinese and 
European architecture. Working as a hotel, restaurant and time capsule, it’s best 
brought to life by its guided tours. What made this tour extra special for us, was 
that our tour guide was one of the actual owners, which I’m not sure if this is a regular 
occurrence, but the insights and stories she told so passionately and obviously from 
the heart, were fascinating as a result. By now, we were somewhat getting used to 
living out of 1 carry on suitcase each, and washing the same set of clothes every 
6 days or so. And things were feeling less like a holiday, where you’re always against the 
clock, and more, just a different way of life; where delays or time constraints didn’t matter 
as much, since you always had more time. But as great as Malaysia had been to us, all good things must come to an end 
and it was time for somewhere new. Christmas Day, believe it or not, was 
just 5 days away, so we wanted to treat ourselves to a nice hotel in an even more 
relaxed setting. And after some searching, we stumbled upon a potential gem, just 6 
hours away by plane, in Lombok, Indonesia… Our first full day in Lombok, was just getting 
acquainted with our new local town. Kuta largely centres itself along one road, where you’ll find 
a mix of cafes, restaurants and surf shops. The community here felt small enough, that we’d 
often recognise the same people over time, which, overall, was part of Kutas laidback charm. 
Ultimately, over our 5 days here, downtown Kuta is where we’d always gravitate back to, sampling 
whatever caught our eye, from the previous visit… Over the whole duration of 3 months, we 
were usually searching for hotels around £40 per room per night, which largely 
worked out. But as mentioned, since we’d be staying here over Christmas, 
this £70 room was the perfect gift, and became my absolute favourite 
stay over the entire Asian trip. This adults only resort caters to 17 
rooms altogether, so always felt intimate and friendly. We booked a Superior Villa with 
Private pool, giving us access to 1,200 square feet of space to relax and unwind… Breakfast 
here was always my favourite time of the day; we’d simply WhatsApp our order straight 
from bed, only for it to be delivered to our room shortly after. I enjoyed 
this so much, since coming back home, I have tried to get this into our own personal 
routine but, my Chiaki is having none of it. And then, of course, there was the open 
air bathroom, always a novel experience, for anyone who hasn’t tried this before. As 
liberating as it is to take a shower with nothing but sky above, the naked anxiety 
of having insects constantly eyeball you, whilst doing so, isnt recognised 
as the huge downside that it is. The worst example of this, there was this 
one night where Chiaki woke me up at 3am: “Paul, can you hear that?”… “Hmmm” Chiaki 
then mimicked the offending sound: “Chikka chikka chikka”. Still half asleep, I’m like “what 
are you talking about?” “Chikka chikka chikka”. Still none the wiser, I turn on the bedside 
lamp to be met face to face with a millipede, slowly making his way across my pillow, which 
is something the brochure certainly left out. Partly due to it being Christmas, much of our 
time in Lombok was either relaxing in our villa, chillin’ with the millipedes, or in Kuta. I was 
still editing of course every other day, so now my biggest problem was the delicate work/life balance 
between script writing and having a massage. But you can only do so little, until the 
urge to explore hits again. So that meant venturing further north, in search 
of Lombok’s most famous waterfalls. The double hitter of Benang Stokel and Benang 
Kelambu waterfalls is one of Lombok’s most popular natural landmarks. But whilst most people choose 
to only visit the two most popular sites here, there are actually 2 more waterfalls buried 
further along a makeshift jungle path. Although these “hidden waterfalls” as they’re called, 
aren’t essential or as impressive in size, there is more of a chance you’ll get them both, all to 
yourselves, as we did. And in this 30 plus degree heat, wading in the cold fresh water did make 
the extra hours diversion, worth it in the end. So for now, we ventured on one last time, 
towards our fourth and final waterfall… For our last full day in Lombok, we took life 
into our own hands, and by that, I mean quite literally; I’m about as skilled riding a bike as 
I am, a Segway through a hurricane, and fun fact, we did actually fall off into a ditch, at one 
point. But, no harm, no foul and since Kutas beaches leave a little to be desired, it was 
fun driving West for a couple of alternatives. Only about half an hours drive away, Selong 
Belanak is one of the most visited beaches in Lombok, mostly popular for beginners 
learning to surf. There’s a bunch of bars and restaurants dotted around but 
since we were hounded a little to book surfing lessons for ourselves, this turned 
into more of a pit stop than we assumed. Much more peaceful though, was Mawun 
beach, probably the nicest sand we found, and this time, we had it all to ourselves. 
Only 15 minutes from the first beach, this is all very minimal, with only a handful 
of restaurants and loungers to rent out, but its peaceful nature was more what we were 
looking for – meaning, a lack of the human race. Our best discovery though, was actually 
on the way back to Kuta, and only about 5 minutes out of town. Sharing its space with a 
full on yoga retreat, this hillside restaurant not only channeled some nearby zen, but gave us 
our best lookout yet, of Kuta from high above… The food here was also unique and 
flavourful, all locally sourced and with a constantly changing menu to 
keep everything fresh and in season. As our lunch settled, we drove back to the villa 
for one final rest up, before taking a taxi, to what would soon become, my all 
time favourite, sunset experience… What I enjoyed most about this lookout 
was the abundance of everyday activity happening in every direction, all on top, 
of ever changing shadows as you move from one location to the next. We were slowly 
moving away from the main hotspot area but there is also a bit of a festival vibe, 
so there’s also a good energy in the air. Whilst wondering where to venture next, our 
original plan definitely did not include visiting Bali. We’d heard, too many tourists, 
too much traffic, full of drunk party goers. And, as one couple potentially approaching a mid 
life crisis, seeing younger, more attractive people having fun, is no longer our idea 
of having fun. But since we were so close, and the connecting flights out of Indonesia 
were much better there than in Lombok, we next booked the 40 minute flight 
across the water, to see it for ourselves. We almost didn’t visit Bali. 
But I’m so glad, that we did… Once we decided on Bali, we tried our best to 
pick locations that would be more suited to couples over party goers. But, we still 
wanted to dip our toe in just a little, with our starting destination of Canggu. Out 
of all the places we were about to visit, Canggu was the biggest nightlife area, 
with neighbouring Seminyak and Kuta, even more. So we chose Canggu mostly out of 
curiosity, and booked a stay in this pleasant, affordable hotel, right on the edge. This put 
us away from the noise, but still a short walk from the indulgence of trendy shops, restaurants 
and cafes. And boy is this where Canggu excels… Yes it’s easy to write all this 
off as surface level tourist stuff, but we never found it insincere. The hospitality 
was amongst the best we received in all of South East Asia with locals frequently starting 
friendly chit chat. Bali might have gone all in on tourism, but they were showing 
their experience because of it. Turned out, our preconceptions were slightly overblown. I 
mean, even the party goers seemed respectful enough. And yes we were largely in bed 
by 9pm, but I’m sure they behaved after . So, the only real negative so far? Getting 
from A to B. You’re either stuck in a car not moving for minutes, or you’re hanging off 
the back of a taxi bike for dear life. So we just kept things local on foot. Crossing 
a road is an accomplishment in itself, but once you have, just make sure 
the pavement doesn’t kill you. Despite the minor risk of potential 
amputation, maybe it was just our incredibly low expectations but we quickly went 
from Canggu – boo hoo, to Canggu – who knew?! Ultimately, our guards were considerably lowered, and we were now eager what other surprises 
lay ahead. Tomorrow, we’d be escaping the heaviest traffic with some island exploration, 
visiting some of Balis most popular sights… The Ulun Danu Beratan Temple dates back almost 400 
years. One of Balis most iconic and scenic sights, it’s dedicated to the water goddess Dewi Danu. 
Although, this is undoubtedly the postcard shot, the surrounding compound will probably take up 
most of your time. Its high elevation not only lowers the temperature to a pleasant 
level, but its grounds are enjoyable enough to walk around with Balinese 
dance and music echoing throughout. Since this is one of the most popular 
tourist attractions on the island, you can also expect other quintessential 
Balinese traditions. There’s the swan boat ride, a bunny rabbit petting zoo, and 
everyones favourite Indonesian icon, Father Christmas. Despite the 
obvious clash of culture vs popular, I’d say this is a must visit stop, especially 
if it isn’t too far from your chosen path. Rather than taking a taxi from Canggu to our 
next hotel in Ubud, we instead booked a private driver for the day. This allowed us to visit these 
wide range of attractions with one easy solution, whilst still carrying our luggage 
to its final destination and wow, did we ever fall for Ubud, our 
home for the next 4 nights. Of all the places we visited over our entire 
100 days, Ubud sits in our top 3 memories we keep coming back to. We immediately felt a 
difference in the air and unfortunately for me, a difference that’s hard to show on 
film, so I’ll try my best with words. Compared to Canggu, it seemed more mature, 
more balanced and felt made for solo female travellers and couples. It still had all 
the trendy hang outs but was just more at peace with itself. The holes in the road 
were harder to fall down and there was even a pedestrian crossing. But by this time 
I’d already perfected the “I’m absolutely crossing this road and you’re just gonna have 
to deal with it” mentality that you need…. So, we’d gone from Canggu, who knew to 
Ubud. You absolutely should. I’m sorry… Don’t get me wrong though, Ubud is still 
catering to tourists, but it just felt a little more lived in. Balinese homes are often 
laid out in walk-through family compounds, and our accommodation formed part of one so 
it always felt like a homely return. Coupled with a nice pool for cooling off, and this 
peaceful balcony where breakfast was served, it was a good price for what it was. It was 
also nestled on this quiet street, just a few minutes from Ubuds most popular roads, and was a 
great base for some of the towns biggest sights… One ritual we were becoming very used to seeing 
were these offerings placed outside homes, shops and temples. Known as canang sari, 
they’re a symbol of gratitude and respect to the Gods. It’s worth noting 
that throughout all of Indonesia, Hinduism is practised by only 2% of people, but 
it makes up almost 90% of the population in Bali, which in turn, is a healthy difference maker 
to the islands unique vibe, especially in Ubud. Similarly, Ubud has also long been connected to 
yoga, and before arrival, I assumed my mornings would look like this. Unfortunately for me, 
they were still looking like this. But we were inspired enough to take this sunset yoga 
class, something that isn’t a regular thing for us. As the session wore on, the open ended room 
allowed for a natural soundtrack of cicadas, and rustling leaves. And as night fell, 
it was the ideal time to take a moment… For anyone keeping count, 
tonight was New Years Eve, and I can’t think of a more suitable venue to 
welcome in the second worst month of the year, than a Water Palace masquerading as a 
special paid event clubhouse. The night started as usual, with a brave group 
of sober men busting their best moves, with… some effect. And things were pretty under 
the radar until the inevitable countdown begun… What this massive crowd of people 
hadn’t realised, ourselves included, is that the venue had strategically 
placed fireworks around the dance floor, y’know the dance floor that was now filled with 
people, which the fireworks fell onto. Yet, somehow the shock of embers raining 
down onto us, is what we needed to push this party to the next level and the 
DJ finally kicked things into full gear… Ironically we almost didn’t visit Bali 
to avoid scenes exactly like this, but it was scenes like this, that ultimately 
made it one of our best new years together… This turned into our latest night out, 
but with only 2 days left in Ubud, it was strangely followed up, by one 
of our earliest morning wake ups… The reason for the early rise was simple. We 
fancied walking this popular hiking route, but also wanted to avoid 
the overbearing midday sun. Although the trail begins more rural, it 
eventually scatters a few much needed rest stops. It was at this point that, we almost 
turned back, but I’m so glad we pushed on, as the path eventually opened up, to what 
was the perfect 1st breakfast of the year. After our favourite breakfast, we struck lucky 
again for the evening. This popular family run restaurant settles nicely within the open air 
family compound setting. Their signature dish is an Indonesian favourite, Nasi Campur, essentially 
translating to rice being mixed with an assortment of small dishes; tofu, egg, deep fried corn, satay 
chicken, vegetables and sambal matah, a tasty slaw that brought everything together really well and 
it ended up being, our favourite Bali restaurant. This 3 hour electric bike tour was also one of our 
top Bali highlights. Our excellent guide Kadeck showed off various stopping points in and around 
Ubuds most popular local rice field – Tegallalang. It’s also here, where you can recreate THAT 
infamous shot… The giant Bali swing photo. Being just about the worst advocate for social 
media reach, I instead opted for this tiny, no fuss baby swing, and despite 
looking ridiculous in practise, you can almost end up, not 
looking like a massive bell end. The strangest part though was this coffee tasting. 
Introduced by the Dutch in the late 17th century, Indonesia has become the 4th largest producer 
of coffee in the world. And because of this, you’ll see coffee plantations all over Bali 
but what often makes them unique is Kopi Luwak. This is where the coffee beans are digested and 
then pooped out by these guys, locally known as luwaks. The beans are then cleaned, roasted and 
ground as usual, with the idea this provides a richer, heavier flavour. Putting aside the small 
question of how anyone discovered this difference in the first place, reactions range from calling 
it the holy grail of coffee to questions around animal welfare. This location did have an “animal 
welfare” checkmark on Trip Advisor with the Kopi Luwak being served as optional at a cost, still 
leaving a large selection of coffees to taste. As we Finished the day trip with 
another excellent Nasi Campur, we were now closer to the end of 
our time in Bali than the start. Tomorrow we’d be taking a car to Kintamani, 
and whilst it definitely has its positives, there was one unfortunate downside that 
might be too much for some of you to ignore… Only 1 hour north of Ubud, but with an 
altitude 4,000 feet higher, Kintamani started well. Upon arrival, we stopped at 
a row of restaurants and were immediately welcomed with a refreshing temperature 
drop and this stunning mountain range. Fortunately, this view never 
gets old and was even more peaceful from our accommodation. With an 
incredibly kind family looking after us, again the room itself was basic, 
but the wake ups like a dream… There was one unfortunate flip side to our 
time in Kintamani and that was just how many house flies there were. So either skip 
ahead 20 seconds if you don’t like looking at lots of insects, or just close your 
eyes and listen to my thoughts. Ready? Now, I’m perfectly fine with real 
life breaking into the tourist holiday illusion, but when I’m drinking it, I’m less so. I don’t know if we were just unlucky, 
sometimes the flies weren’t so bad, some times they were, but I have to mention 
it, so I’m not presenting a false illusion. The good news is that the main reason 
we were here, the Mount Batur hike, was fly free. The bad news was of the 3 sunrises 
we stayed in Kintamani for, 2 were idyllic, and 1 was not. And you can guess which morning 
we chose. So that’s why, the night before, as the rain, thunder and lightning grew in 
volume, we crossed our fingers for our 3am pickup… After a hundred minutes of walking, 
2000 feet of sometimes steep elevation gain and all done in a pair of socks and 
sandals, the summit did feel like a worthy achievement. The hike is difficult enough 
that the average person will feel tested, but still manageable enough for the vast majority. 
Which is why it’s Balis most popular hike, and although it was busy, it never felt 
too crowded that it became an issue. Even though I’d still recommend this hike, 
I’m hesitant to recommend Kintamani as a place for more than 1 night. If you 
were still interested in the hike, the tour we used, do also pick up from both Ubud 
and Canggu so that might be a better solution. But with our legs now sorely 
aching, and socks basically ruined, our final days in Bali would now 
be centred around total relaxation… Located in the southern Bali, and less 
than half an hour from the airport, is Nusa Dua. A loosely gated community, 
but still open to the public, it’s purpose built for luxurious 
resorts, and less crowded beaches. They say variety is the spice of life and this 
spotless, nicely cut grass, non authentic Bali, was a brief welcome change. Instead of haggling 
at the market, the prices were now just displayed. There was no getting stuck in traffic, and instead 
of animal shit in my coffee, I now, had sugar. You can of course stay in Nusa Dua for 
as long as you want to pamper yourself and your accommodation will play a 
large part in this. Just because our dates didn’t quite work out, we split 
our time over 2 separate locations. The first was in more intimate, cozy 
villa setting. The grounds here were small but really well laid out, along 
with the usual top notch Bali service, and it was just so nice to 
finally take a breather… Our second stay, was a much larger hotel resort, 
and again in terms of the facilities and staff, ticked all our boxes, without the price 
getting too crazy for what it was.… But it was our room here that we particularly 
loved, easily our favourite of the entire stay. It had this wide open living space, with 
all the mod cons and a breezy outside balcony… For both properties we kept the cost down 
by staying outside of THE prime location, which is mainly along these two beaches. 
The hotels found here are usually 5 star quality and if you can justify the price, are 
definitely worth checking out as an option… These hotels though, are still open to 
wander, even if you aren’t staying here, since you can enjoy them as a visitor 
for a breakfast, lunch or cocktail stop. And it was after leaving one of these hotels, 
we actually had this brief encounter with a whale and 2 dolphins, which turned 
out to be the perfect Bali send off. Although we didn’t know this 
at the time, by this point, we were just beyond the half way stage to our 
travels. We also felt good with the idea that Japan would be our final country to round 
things out, but we still wanted somewhere different in-between, and we settled on 
Thailand for reasons I’ll explain later. So it was here in Bali where our complete country 
list was finally set, we’d visit Thailand, spend a week or two there, before making 
our last stretch across Japan, the country that put this Youtube channel on the map and 
made this trip possible, in the first place. Our time in Bangkok was admittedly limited, 
partly because we’d both visited before, but it was largely just meant as a 
way to meet up with an old friend, and be a long layover to reach northern Thailand. But, now at Day 55, I was totally exhausted 
with the daily filming aspect of our travels, which explain why the 2 clips 
you’ve just seen amount to the total footage I have from Bangkok. And 
yes, what impressive clips they are. My memories of Bangkok though, are that 
its certainly cleaned itself up a lot since 2009 when I was first here and 
the food is spicier than I remember. Our highlight though, was easily the £5 
massages we took massive advantage of, with this spot near our hotel receiving 2 
visits from us in one single day. Fantastic. One hour away by plane though, was Chiang 
Mai, somewhere we had no plans on visiting, but heard it mentioned so often 
by other travellers we’d speak to, that we had to have a look. So this 
is how we ended up in what became one of our other top 3 locations from 
this whole trip, which in hind site, was partially helped by my continued reduced 
filming output, trying to live in the moment. Located in the Northern Thailand mountains, 
Chiang Mais higher elevation makes for a beautifully pleasant mid 20 degree temperature. 
Its main centre is known as the Old City, which is where we spent most of our 
9 days and we absolutely loved it. Founded in the late 1200s, the city itself 
is walled in by this 1 and a half km square enclosure. Inside of which, there’s this 
amazing eclectic mix of Buddhist temples, busy street markets, trendy 
shopping and bouji dining. Including this brunch restaurant 
that awarded Chiaki a 5% discount. To get around the city, everyone uses these 
Songthaews which are a great mix of bus and taxi. First, you hail them down and specify your 
bespoke drop off point just like you would a taxi, but then share it with everyone else doing the 
same. This means that although there is no set route and you’re journey wont always be direct, 
its £1 average cost makes it really affordable. But, better yet, since you’re facing other people 
in such a close space, it often sparks friendly chit chat amongst its passengers. There was 
even one conversation featuring 5 different nationalities bonding so quickly over our 
journey together, we almost didn’t want to leave. Overall, there was a really friendly 
atmosphere, for a city, and I could’ve quite happily stayed for a few months, 
especially after discovering this local cafe which I used for editing for most 
of the week. Chiang Mai also had our favourite food market of our entire trip. 
There was just so much great grub here, the energy was really positive and the addition 
of temples by night made it feel unique. But, by far, our most memorable day here was this… As I’ve come to learn, it’s always important to 
research elephant sanctuaries as best you can; how the animals are treated, what’s being 
asked of them, and going beyond their website. So this time, as much as we could, we 
felt very comfortable with this sanctuary, after reading a bunch of reviews and doing 
some extra research. This does mean though that direct interaction with the animals 
is purposefully limited, but due to this, we felt much more confident with what we’d signed 
up for, and the whole day was very special. And with that, our time in South East 
Asia had come to end. After 66 days of everything feeling so new, and different, every 
single day, I can’t tell you how much we were looking forward to something familiar once 
again, with our final flight back to Japan. For the best introduction to Naha and 
Okinawa in general, look no further than Kokusaidori… Stretching 2 kilometers, this 
high street is unlike any other in Japan, and that’s not just because you can be 
served coffee by this No Face monster. Which is either the most endearing 
business idea or the most concerning… Instead, this road is, unique, because of the 
surprising number of Okinawan influences that proudly sits on its sleeve. From signs 
of the locally produced Orien Beer, to Okinawan mythology, to the insane amount of 
Spam merchandise, and, we’ll explain why later, to the wide selection of glassware and, 
pottery, yet another regional skill. In fact, just a short walk from Kokusaidori 
is the Tsuboya District. A quaint cobbled neighbourhood that dedicates itself to 
these locally produced ceramics and is well worth the short walk 
for a potential souvenir… Looking back though, over all the lunches 
and dinners we had during our month in Japan, some of our best dishes were around Kokusaidori, with the restaurants falling 
under three distinct categories. First, you’ll find numerous diners 
featuring live Okinawan music. Most easily described as Japanese 
folk, it has a very distinct sound… And it was here, where I not only enjoyed my 
first Chanpuru; a local stir fry favourite, but also a single glass of this: Habushu 
or under its other name, snake wine. Adding further to the unique nature 
of Kokusaidori, you’ll frequently see these coiled up snakes, and 
it all comes back to this drink. Dating back to 14th Century Okinawa, 
these vipers are placed in jars of herbs and honey with the added alcohol 
dissolving their venom over time. This reptile association gave it the marketing 
position as a sort-of libido-boosting energy drink. Much like a better version 
of Prime, today, only, without the poison… The second category of diner here, was usually 
one or two streets removed from Kokusaidori. These would feel a lot less touristy, 
typically sharing a collection of plates, some with no spoken English at all, but some 
with an English menu. And if you are wondering, I’ve heard really good things about the 
ass chicken. It is very eggy, though… But, out of all of these, our favourite 
was probably Tsukumo. I’ll link our other preferred restaurants and hotel we 
stayed, in the description down below, with all attractions featured on 
a free downloadable PDF guide… The last category of diner we enjoyed in 
Naha, were all found inside this one building, a massive foodcourt where you can spend half 
an hour just trying to pick your favourite… The 2 times we ate here, both restaurants 
had a QR code to order through your phone, and auto translated to English 
when trying to choose, something we experienced a bunch of times 
over our final few weeks in Japan… We ended our first night with a couple of 
drinks at this cozy jazz bar, then headed back to our hotel, sitting on the far end of 
Kokusaidori. The room was pretty standard but came with a mini kitchenette and much needed 
clothes washer dryer. Doing the laundry was basically the only weekly routine we still had and 
being self sufficient for once, was a blessing. These first few days, being back in Japan, turned 
out to be a useful homesick remedy. Yes, it wasn’t London, but at least one of us could read the 
language and there was an element of comfort going back to some classic Japan staples. Like dining 
out with our robot waiter friend, who seemed to have a bit of a nervous twitch about him, but I 
did see him snorting a Duracell in the back so… Anyway it was during this time in Okinawa, 
that I finally finished editing the last video I wanted to work on whilst travelling. 
So although I’d started filming once again, this gave me so much more free time to relax 
and enjoy our surroundings. So after a few days cooped up, working, we were finally able 
to properly explore, our new island home. Over the course of 9 hours, our island 
tour would take in 5 different stops, ranging from 20 minutes to 2 hours each. It’s the 
easiest way to get a taste beyond the capital, but you could also consider renting a car over 
a couple days, for those wanting to take things at a slower pace. We were traveling in late 
January so all of this is their Winter time, with temperatures ranging from 17 to 25 degrees. Situated on the west coast, and 90 
minutes from Naha, is the most visited attraction in all of Okinawa; The Churaumi 
Aquarium. Once the largest in the world, it’s still considered Japans best, and is 
well worth a couple of hours to explore… Presenting all of Okinawa’s sea-life, 
it begins with all the usual exhibits you’d expect from any aquarium. That is, 
until you reach its most iconic room… The part of today I was certainly most curious 
about, was its finale. On first glance, The American Village feels like a bizarre 
Japanese attempt to recreate the United States. And if Military clothing, the Cheers Bar, 
the hometown of Aladdin, possibly, whoever this guy is, and pink skyscrapers doesn’t scream 
America to you, then I, don’t know what will… I do have to admit though, once the Power of Love 
belted out over the speakers across all of the village, even I got into it, and started walking 
like an American. This is how they walk, isn’t it? The background to the American Village though 
is once again, another Okinawan surprise. After World War 2, Okinawa was under 
administrative US control for almost 30 years. And it was during this time, the region 
was heavily influenced by American culture, and, this is where Okinawa’s love for Spam 
originates. Since the canned meat was a popular food ration for US soldier’s, 
it was then passed on, via the military, as an affordable meal for a rebuilding nation; 
And still today, Okinawans consume 7 million tins of Spam every single year, and it 
all dates back to this post war era. And so, after Okinawa was 
handed back to Japan in 72, the local authorities built an America 
themed Village. Partly to kick start their economy with tourism but also provide 
a familiar spot for the local military bases… Although this all initially 
seemed like a bizarre idea, by the time we needed to leave, I kinda 
wanted to stay just a little longer. Tomorrow would be another early 
wake up as for the first time, we’d be stepping foot off Okinawa Island and 
visiting somewhere a little more peaceful. Zamami Island is a short 50 minute high 
speed ferry from Naha’s Tomari Port. During the Summer months, it’s most visited 
for its beaches, snorkeling and scuba dives, with January to March best for whale watching, 
or simply those wanting a peaceful island escape. With a population of less than 
1,000, it has a very relaxed, small town feel. The nice man who 
cooked our lunch, for example, was also the same nice man who helped 
us board the ferry. This calming, undeveloped nature quickly rubs off on you, and 
it’s enjoyable just breathing in the fresh air. After talking with staff at the visitors centre, 
they suggested a bike rental service a short walk away, which was essentially someone 
back gate with an attached honesty box. What we hadn’t realised is that 
by visiting at the end of January, even though it was a pleasant 23 degrees, we 
pretty much had the entire island to ourselves… Taking the first and last high speed ferry means 
you only get about 6 hours for a day trip here, but that probably is enough. These winter months 
may not offer much for some people, but this day still sits as one of my favorite Okinawa memories. 
Especially after getting this surprise sighting… Our last day would be exploring 3 areas just a short monorail or bus 
ride away from downtown Naha. Shuri Castle is a former royal palace dating 
back 700 years, making it the most visited historic site on the island. This neighboring 
district was previously the political capital of Okinawa or as it was known then, the 
Ryukyu Kingdom, ruling for 450 years. Unfortunately due to a devastating fire in 20 
19, the castle is currently undergoing heavy reconstruction, estimated for a 2026 completion. 
You do have to admire their effort for turning the rebuild process into part of its story, making 
the regeneration a display in itself. But it does obviously impact the overall experience 
in the meantime. I still think it’s worth a visit if you have time though, especially when its 
neighbourhood is enjoyable for an aimless wander… Traveling to the south side of the island, 
we next made a trip to Umikaji Terrace, probably the most unique food court I’ve ever 
witnessed. A trendy complex split over 4 stories, it boasts more than 40 restaurants, 
cafes and boutiques all of which give you a stunning front row seat to… 
The Naha International Airport. Now, I’ve never been much of a 
flying nerd, but it turns out, there is something surprisingly enjoyable 
about hunting for an appropriate food snack around this terrace and then watching 
airplanes land over the seas in front… This Okinawan Taco rice serving was an 
unexpected tasty fusion, of Japanese cuisine and Tex Mex, yet another American influence, 
mixing rice and omelette with beef tacos. Chiaki also really loved this super fresh 
seafood restaurant, especially this tuna, served here with a side of Umibudo. Yet 
another local speciality, it’s otherwise known as sea grapes, and they’re actually a type 
of seaweed with a subtly sweet but crispy taste. The last ace Umikaji Terrace has up 
its sleeve, are its hot springs. If you really want to spoil yourselves, the Ryujin Hot 
Springs bathhouse is definitely worth a visit. But due to time, we instead opted for this free, 
faster foot bath. If you are daunted by showing another Japanese man your meat and two veg, 
this is probably your next best bet. That is, if you can ignore the waiting taxi drivers 
in front, and the sound of booming jets… Our final stop for the day, was back nearer 
Kokusaidori. The Okinawa Museum is the best place for those wanting to learn more 
about the fascinating lesser known history for these islands, although it was admittedly a 
little, shall we say, Japanese in its execution. Firstly, it’s important to note that along 
with photography, pencils are allowed here, which was certainly a weight off my mind. After 
buying our tickets, we walked around the first room, and quickly realised there must be 
an audio guide that we missed on entry. So we went back to the museum entrance to 
enquire and were told to collect the audio guides from the library, which I don’t know 
why we didn’t think of that. The collection process then involved filling out a form, 
for some reason. And then, you’re handed this. A large clipboard, with an attached 
digital pencil, which now made sense of this. Anywho, this pen attaches to a set of 
wired headphones and to select English, you touch an American flag, because they invented 
English. After we got through all of this, the system then worked as you’d expect, 
with some interesting little known history around the Ryukyu Kingdom, the Battle 
of Okinawa, and the island as of today. In summary, carrying a weighty clipboard for an 
hour will give you arm ache, and unfortunately, the cable for the headphones isn’t 
quite long enough so it kind of pulls at your head the whole time. So yeah, it’s 
a good idea, with some interesting history, and questionable execution. 
But for £2.70, it was fine. For those unaware, Okinawa is Japans most 
south western set of islands. And our plan was to gradually make our way Eastward towards 
Tokyo. Starting with our only domestic flight to reach Japans mainland, the rest of the journey 
would be taken by Shinkansen, moving city to city. Finally leaving tropical life behind us then, we landed in Fukuoka, the 
most populated area in Kyushu. After Kuala Lumpur, this was our first major city 
in ages and as much as we love touching grass, we are city people at heart, and having a hotel 
room with a bunch of rectangular lumps outside, was an unexpected highlight. And with 
on site washing machines twice in a row now, the extra convenience 
in Japan was already a winner. But, let’s address our first immediate issue in 
Fukuoka. In order to keep our luggage light, we’d only packed for temperatures around 30 degree. I 
didn’t even have any shoes, this whole trip had so far been achieved with one set of sandals. Now 
being in a more typical Japanese climate for late January, I was frankly, and pardon my 
French, freezing my nuts off. But one quick visit to Uniqlo and then the post office to return 
items no longer needed, set us up for the night… Fukuoka’s best known for its Yatai open 
air food stalls, typically serving ramen or grilled skewers. Dotted everywhere around the 
city, they usually only seat around 10 people, with the southern end of Nakasu island 
being its most popular collection. Battling the cold temperatures 
we were absolutely not used to, this steamy ramen was delicious and 
perfectly set the mood for our next 2 days… By this stage in our trip, we had well and 
truly finished with holiday mode and were acting more like locals having a busy weekend. 
Long term travel really takes it out of you, you can never truly settle, you’re frequently 
needing to research the next hotel and readjust to how everything works. But before you reach for 
the violin, I mention this to say that it was in Fukuoka that we finally made the decision 
to book our return flight back to London. Burning through too much money, a need to 
rest up properly and get back to a routine, and just to be back home, all factored into 
the decision. But, that meant we only had 15 days to go and we wanted to squeeze in as 
much as our energy tanks could muster. So we found ourselves Bento box food shopping 
in a train station quicker than we thought. Grabbing one of these well packaged delights to prepare for an upcoming trip on 
the Bullet Train never gets old, and is a great example of the journey itself 
being almost as enjoyable as the destination. That new destination was Hiroshima, 
located one hour east, and we immediately, felt a change of pace . Following the rise of 
subways across the country, these streetcars now only serve a handful of Japanese cities 
and make for a distinct, first impression… As we’d arrived so early, we dropped off our bags at reception and 
walked straight to our first destination… The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum is, without 
question, the most powerful and impactful museum we’ve ever visited. Whilst hearing and witnessing 
the stories that are shared here, isn’t what you’d normally seek out whilst on holiday, they are, 
nonetheless, essential to be heard. And, over the 90 minutes, despite the large number of visitors 
inside, the faint hum of air conditioning was often the only sound breaking the gentle silence 
of reflection. Whilst I can’t show what’s fully on display for obvious reason, the museum focuses on 
first hand accounts of what the following hours, and years felt like, which is obviously 
terrifying. But, stepping back into daylight, we both felt an unexpected feeling of 
hope; that despite what we’d just seen, this area was now a place for living, albeit with 
an iconic reminder for history never to forget… Whilst we’d be returning to central Hiroshima 
tomorrow morning, there’s another location that would steel us away for the rest of the 
afternoon. And that was a visit the centuries old, Itsukushima Shrine. And so, with time ticking, 
the most direct route for us was this fast boat, departing right next to the Atomic Bomb 
Dome. This 45 minute cruise was the perfect transport to somewhere that’s been on 
my personal bucket list for well over a decade… Whilst the islands official name is that of its 
most famous resident, Itsukushima, it’s more commonly known as Miyajima, literally translating 
to shrine island. With a population of 2,000, living across 12 square miles, it’s incredibly 
peaceful and perfect to explore on foot… The Itsukushima Shrine is considered one 
of the top 3 scenic sights in all of Japan, and the main reason people flock to this 
island. Known as O Torii or Grand Tori Gate, it stands almost 17 meters in height, 
and can be seen floating on the waves at high tide. With this island itself 
considered holy, the shrines specific position makes its a protector over sacred 
lands, a job its kept over 1,400 years… There is even more to Miya Jima though, with this 
Buddhist temple being the islands most important. It’s worth noting that whenever you see 
these prayer wheels, spinning them means you can still receive the benefit of their 
blessings, even without being able to read them. Which is useful since I didn’t have the time 
to read them, nor the understanding of Japanese. From here, you can next hike to the summit of 
Mount Misen, the islands peak at 500 meters, taking around 90 minutes. Or, alternatively, 
for those without time, or lung capacity, there is a ropeway which can be ridden 
instead, taking you up to an observation deck… Our final hour was spent wandering 
around the nearby streets. But, before we took the ferry back, we 
returned to the O Torii one last time, waiting for the sun to finally fall, 
and the waves to slowly catch up… There is something mesmerising about this 
view and this is easily one of my top Japan memories of all time. If I could do Miyajima 
again, my only advise would be to consider spending an evening here in one of the islands 
ryokans. Once the final ferry departs, only a fraction of Miyajmas visitors, remain, which 
I think would be a very special circumstance. After the short 10 minute ferry crossing, 
we still had two quick destinations in mind… The first was sampling Hiroshimas version 
of the dish, okonomiyaki. Typically a fried mixture of eggs, shredded cabbage, a 
combination of vegetables, meat or seafood, then all topped off with a sweet sauce and 
bonito flakes. But Hiroshima is specifically known for its own version, where instead 
of mixing everything together like normal, the batter is first cooked into a thin omelette, 
then layered with its ingredients on top, along with yakisoba noodles. It’s a meal 
that has to be tried and this restaurant right next to the slow ferry exit was 
both convenient and well worth the stop. To finish the evening, we took the train back to 
central Hiroshima and wandered around its central shopping district, before finally returning to our 
hotel. Our Shinkansen would be leaving tomorrow at 11:30 which would leave enough time for the final 
2 attractions on our wish list. Or, so we hoped… We arrived at the Hiroshima Castle 
literally as it was opening, trying to make the most of 
our time before check out. Originally constructed in the late 16th Century, 
it was largely destroyed by the atomic bomb, with this replica being built a decade 
later. For context, it is smaller than say the Osaka Castle and its inside paid 
exhibitions didn’t feel as thorough or as well produced in comparison. That being said, 
it is still an easy recommendation, at least either to walk around its beautiful grounds 
or for its panorama views of the city below. Despite its smaller size, I must admit, 
we were definitely moving faster through things than we normally might, aware 
we’d soon be meeting our friends 90kms away. We were very much quick pacing 
it to our final stop in Hiroshima, one that I’d loved to have soaked 
up way more, than time allowed… 24 hours after pulling into Hiroshima Station, 
we were now choosing our second Bento Box for departure. Located 90 minutes by train, 
our next stop for 2 nights was Kurashiki. Dating back to the Edo Period, 400 years 
ago, the city was once an important rice distribution centre, but is now most famous 
for its peaceful canals and historic flare… …Since many of the towns previous rice 
storehouses are now converted into modern cafes and independent boutiques, it 
really does make the town stand out. Surprisingly, Kurashiki is also the birthplace 
for domestically produced jeans within Japan and the appropriately titled “Denim Street” is 
great for modern day cowboys and Sydney Sweeney… Following an early check out the next 
morning, we took our third bullet train with another Bento Box beauty, and 
arrived, into the busy streets of Osaka… The over stimulation of Dotonbori 
cannot be underestimated. So much so, I almost jumped into the river, but fortunately, 
this well placed sign persuaded me otherwise… Over the coming hours, we happened upon 
3 different covered shopping streets, all with their own flavour. The first was 
filled with speciality cooking stores, perfect for window shopping, as well 
as this guy handing out leaflets… Then, not too far away is Kuromon Market, a 
fish market dating back to the Edo period, but is also popular for affordable 
clothing, homeware and street food… Next, heading north across the river, 
we ended up in the cities more modern, branded, shopping district, but 
still with some character… Finally we took one last evening stroll through 
Dotonbori, which is when it really comes alive… After heading back to the station, we 
returned to our lockers collected our luggage, and headed to our 
hotel. Whilst on the train, I always enjoy how refreshingly quiet Japanese 
public transport is, just have a listen… Rarely a screaming baby. No knob heads watching 
Tik Tok… No sense of…. (Off screen: SHHH) Sorry Our accommodation was half an hour outside 
the city centre and was perfect for our needs. For US$45 a night, it was pretty large by Japanese 
standards but ultimately it meant we could walk to Universal Studios Japan in 25 minutes, which 
is exactly what we did the following day… I’ve done a whole video on this park, more 
so about how to visit Super Nintendo World specifically, because it is new and popular 
and such an unnecessarily confusing process to visit. But, all you need to know for 
this video, is that it really is the best themed land I’ve ever visited, and is well 
worth a look for any Nintendo players out there. And as a life long Disney Parks fan, I 
definitely preferred my time at USJ compared to my 1 day at Tokyo Disney, which again I’ve 
made a video on which is linked at the end… With a history dating back 450 years 
with numerous attacks ands rebuilds, the five storey castle that stands today is 
essentially an impressive modern day museum. Inside, it probably wont be for everyone, 
but I really enjoyed its history and it’s told through a combination of text, maps, 
paintings, models, videos, and projections. But no matter how that side resonates, its 
outside architecture, large surroundings gardens and mostly the views from up 
top, should be worth the trip alone… Something slightly off th beaten path, 
since it’s only presented in Japanese, is this Disaster Prevention Centre. Starting 
small with why you should fasten your fridge to the wall, what to do during a stove fire, escaping 
a smokey room, to finally a full scale disaster, it’s ultimately about the every day threat of 
the next earthquake being just around the corner… It’s a sobering lesson and as someone 
who has never experienced such a thing, getting the chance to stand on this 
simulator was frankly terrifying. Mapped precisely to mimic an actual historic 
quake, it’s one thing being ready for it, it must be a whole other thing 
when you’re sat on your sofa… We finished our last day with probably the best 
meal during our entire month in the country. Kobe Beef is the famous Japanese delicacy. To 
earn the official trade mark label of Kobe Beef, the cattle needs to be raised in 
Hyogo Prefecture and pass a number of incredibly high requirements. 
All of this means that its flavour is guaranteed to be tender and delicious, 
with that marbled texture it’s known for. Osaka sits just across the Bay from Kobe, 
so seemed like a good enough place to splash $200 for the privilege. Now, 
if that cost sounds high, this is actually on the lower end for 
a good Kobe teppanyaki experience. A typical serving of 120g can be around $100, 
on its own, but this restaurant kept prices in check by serving a 60 gram serving of Kobe beef 
as well as another 50 grams of standard Wagyu Beef. It was also packaged into a 4 course 
set serving, complete with wine, all of which made the price slightly less eye watering 
than the other options we were looking at. The short version though, is that this was a meal 
to remember. Even though the Wagyu was best in class by any other dining standard, the Kobe 
Beef was on another level, with its tenderness and general juiciness outstanding. It probably 
isn’t something I’d do again for a long while, given what else I could do with $100, but 
it’s definitely worth it as a special treat… Stepping back out, with 92 days gone by, 
12 plane rides and 20 different hotels, we now only had 1 more stop to go. And 
that was the world’s most populated city. For those who got bored of this video 1 
hour ago but are only watching because you have nothing else to do, the good news 
is, it’s almost over. Not just because we’re near the end of our story, but this last week 
was less travel vlogging and more life living. To be fair, one day, we may eventually move here, so this was our chance to see what 
that everyday life might look like. Which is how I ended up at the Tokyo 
Nintendo store, which is so busy, its customers can’t figure out how to 
leave. I next got to fulfil a 25 year wish to see a Japanese pro wrestling 
show, and a New Japan show at that. I also had my craziest experience 
ever at a Disney Park theme but given the length of this video, whether 
you’re a completionist or a masochist, I’ll link that video as a 
separate story at the end. It was also my first time sampling a 
Japanese karaoke bar. But I should say, Chiaki does an excellent rendition of Barbie 
Girl and if Olivia Rodrigo is watching, I am available for your next world tour. But above all, what we mostly filled our 
last days with was food. So much great food, we didn’t want it to stop. It was almost as if 
we were fearing going back to London prices. As our return flight left us with a teasing 
view of Mount Fuji, the strange part was how much we were actually looking forward to coming 
back home. Being away for so long, does put your own country into perceptive and one of the key 
reasons we initially booked this trip, was we’d very much started to take London for granted 
and really needed to see it with fresh eyes. So despite all the memories across these 100 days, more continued to be made with a 
renewed excitement of being back home. I became a tourist in my own city, 
and everything felt fresh and exciting. Which lasted about… Ohh, all of 
3 weeks? Shall we do it again?

Join us for an epic 100 Days in Asia, travelling from Singapore to Tokyo with Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand in between. This is a full directors cut version of all our Asia videos edited together for the first time into a single movie. With around 3 weeks worth of never before seen footage, this has been re-edited to better show what long term travel looks like and our thoughts as we progressed.

Also visited are Kuala Lumpur, Cameron Highlands, Penang, Langkawi, Lombok, Bali with Canggu, Ubud, Kintamani, Nusa Dua, Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Okinawa, Fukuoka, Hiroshima, Miya Jima, Kurashiki, and Osaka.

*ALL HOTELS and NOTABLE LOCATIONS linked here* 👇
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1U6QmhO5yEdNB-6Ps0Kn7E_lrT8lNrToC/view?usp=share_link

👉* 10 – 15% discount for E Sim when travelling worldwide, link and coupon below (never expires so save for future):
https://airalo.pxf.io/c/2373656/1268485/15608

Use the codes after clicking link above when at checkout
Use code SUITCASE15 & get 15% off (new customers)
Use code SUITCASE10 & get 10% off (existing customers)

All shot on iPhone 15 Pro Max
Visited late 2023 and 2024

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0:00 100 Days in Asia
1:42 Singapore (WOW)
14:18 MALAYSIA (Kuala Lumpur)
24:58 Cameron Highlands (Peaceful)
28:10 Langkawi (Beach life)
33:11 Penang Island
36:24 INDONESIA Lombok
44:33 Bali Canggu (Unexpected Fun?)
49:21 Ubud (Fantastic place)
56:32 Kintamani (One problem)
59:54 Nusa Dua Relaxation
1:02:57 THAILAND (Bangkok)
1:03:45 Chiang Mai (A Favourite!)
1:06:43 JAPAN (Okinawa Tropical)
1:23:04 Fukuoka (Ramen life)
1:25:20 Hiroshima Reflection
1:27:50 Miya Jima (Top Japan Moment)
1:31:34 Hiroshima Return
1:34:09 Kurashiki (Japans “Venice”)
1:35:15 Osaka (City Life)
1:43:07 Tokyo (The End)

#travel #asiatravel #japanvlog