Letter from the Travel Editor

“The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.”—Saint Augustine

2020 has posed an unprecedented challenge to the tourism industry and travelers, but during a time like this, I’m extremely glad to have been a part of the travel section here at CONNECT, bringing stories from our well-travelled contributors to you. Having heard about one too many fascinating destinations and seeing one too many captivating images, my Japan bucket list has only grown as I eagerly await the time when I can frolic across this beautiful island freely again and perhaps meet a few of the contributors.

It was a difficult choice, but the two most memorable pieces for me can be found in the February issue— “North Japan’s Premiere Location for Spiritual Rebirth: The Dewa Sanzan” by Tim Bunting and “Journey Through Magic” by Lillian Seiler.

Why? Not only are the locations off the beaten path and the photos absolutely gorgeous, but the amalgamation between travel and other aspects of Japanese culture in Tim and Lillian’s pieces was also so powerful it struck a chord with me. Tim introduces us to the practice of Shugendo and previews how you can get a glimpse of it through hiking the enthralling, sacred mountains; Lillian’s article and fun quiz for Ghibli fans is a reminder (even for people new to Ghibli) of the need to pause and appreciate the detailed brilliance of Mother Nature, which is so close to heart for nature-loving Japanese people. When you plan your next trip, why not consider avoiding the crowd and ‘bathing in negative ions’ amidst the splendid nature Japan has to offer?

A shout out goes to all the contributors who have shared their memories with us through extended writings, pictures, recommendations or any other form throughout the CONNECT year. Here, I’d also like to bookmark a few informative, themed articles FYI. (I dare say I’m pretty proud of how they turned out, through a combination of my research efforts, the design team’s stylish work, and contributions from many kind people!)

> About Autumn—Autumn leaf-viewing spots across Japan > Bathing Bare in Hot Spring Heaven—The hottest spots around! > Blooming Bliss—The low-down on flowers and when to see them! > Nature’s Candy—Pin these fruits on your travel map!

Stay curious about the world around you, and travel safe! Thank you for coming on these amazing journeys with me.

Hoong Shao Ting @insakuraland Travel Editor

Shao Ting’s favourite from another section. . . It has certainly been eventful this past CONNECT year. Who can forget Typhoon No.19 a.k.a. Hagibis? Read up on our contributors’ experiences and stay alert! Afterall, Japan, which has been blessed with beautiful nature, cannot avoid its wrath.