8 minute read
VMAN Travel
Around the world in four pages. We roam from the West Coast to food and fighting meccas in Asia, as seen through the eyes of VMEN.
Los Angeles
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The Flats of Beverly Hills
Walking around the tree-lined streets of Beverly Hills is so beautiful. I love them all. I took this shot around San Ysidro Drive.
Downtown L.A.
I took this from inside an abandoned building downtown that my mates and I were exploring. Walking around the halls was like being the last person on earth.
Venice Beach
This photo was taken on Venice Beach using my Hasselblad 503. Everyone should make sure to walk down the Venice boardwalk when in L.A.
Junk Yards
I love visiting junk yards, and L.A. has some awesome ones. I always find small things and objects for my apartment or my car.
Tattoos by Dr. Woo
Brian Woo, aka Dr. Woo, is the best tattooist. His studio is in the Roosevelt hotel. Here’s me being inked by the man himself.
The Grove
The Grove is a very L.A. place to go if you’ve never been. I took this timed self-portrait there this December because the sunset was beautiful alongside the Christmas lights.
Malibu Pier
It’s a great place to think and watch the world go by. Everyone should come to the Malibu Pier. I love sitting [on the benches].
Malibu Beach
Taking long walks on Malibu beach at golden hour is one of my favorite things to do. That’s the best time of day to go—when its quiet and it feels like it’s just me there, alone with my headphones, watching the tide and listening to music.
Jon & Vinny's
This is one of my favorite places to eat and has become an L.A. tradition of mine. I have a serious sweet tooth and they have the best desserts.
Ko Samui, Thailand
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Talingngam Muay Thai Gym
The Thai [gyms] brought me in. I was training seven hours a day, six days a week, with kids as young as four, and with 25-year-old pros. You’re just one of them here.
Marine Beach Resort
[Reminds me of] summer camp; you get your own little cabin but eat together in a hut on the beach. I slept how they sleep and trained how they train.
Mit Samui
It’s like the Thai Cheers; the owner always remembers your name. I would just tell him, “Make whatever is best today.” There are no walls; you’re just in a kind of parking lot.
Halfmoon Festival
It’s otherworldly; a speedboat drops you deep in the jungle, and you dance for hours under this huge mushroom. On the boat back, you’re like, yeah I am going to die again.
Na Mueang Waterfalls
If you hike all the way, you can sit under this 70-foot waterfall in a cold pool that’s the cleanest water you’ve ever tasted, full of minerals.
Starcat Tattoo
Ko learned [to tattoo] from a monk in a Buddhist temple before spending seven years in prison. He’s one of the best traditional artists and one of the nicest humans ever.
Kagawa, Japan
Yukihide Harada: The model and fifth-generation foodie shares his freshest picks
Harada Shoten
Harada Shoten is our family grocery store in Kanonji City, Kagawa. My great-grandfather founded our store in 1907 and I’m the fifth-generation president.
Shoten-To-Go
We offer a mail order–based seasonal box of fruits and vegetables (available in Japan). I will choose the best ingredients to suit each client, suggest recipes and connect clients with our favorite farmers.
Wild Life
It’s tough to name a best date spot, but I love chilling outdoors. I go camping by the Shimanto River in Kochi and I fish at Hiuchi-Nada lake in Kagawa!
Spring Harvest
I often travel to other cities’ farmers markets. I recommend them to my clients to prevent those local “foodie” cultures from fading away. Most recent city I visited Ohara, an ancient farming village north of Kyoto.
Farm to Tempura
Toraya is my favorite place to eat out in Kagawa. My childhood friend is the chef/owner and it’s definitely my local soul food restaurant. [Otherwise] my mom and grandma’s home cooking is the best [laughs].
Tattoo Tourism
I had to venture outside Kagawa for my tattoos, which I’ve had since 2013; they are by a Tokyo tattooist called Ryuji. He isn’t [very famous] but he draws so well, I think.