Pantanida shared that some of the trip’s most memorable moments were not necessarily the grandest ones, but those rooted in a strong sense of place.
‘In Japan, it was wandering through the quiet streets of Takehara after dark,’ she said. ‘With the town almost entirely to ourselves, it felt like stepping back in time and discovering a side of Japan that remains untouched by mass tourism. In Vietnam, it was strolling through the beautiful villages of Mai Chau, observing daily life and being welcomed into a local family’s home.’
People-led experiences stood out just as much: a private geisha dinner in Kagurazaka, a ninja workshop led by a descendant of the Musashi Samurai family, a tea ceremony with a local master, a family-run healing practice in Hoi An. Each offered a personal way to engage with local culture, creating genuine moments of exchange.
