Singapore and Japan Wrap-Up

Danielle

Steps taken: 352,000

Kilometers walked: 210km

Kilometers travelled: 23,480km

This Singapore and Japan trip has been life changing. Not only have I come home with a husband, but I have had the most magical experiences in countries that I love with some of the people I love most in this world.

Singapore was such an eye opener for what is possible in a metropolitan setting. They have perfected the art of bringing nature into every element of their everyday lives. It was hot and it was sticky, but I have never felt so rejuvenated every single day. Their Cloud Forest Dome, Flower Dome and Sky Tree exhibits have been some of the most beautiful areas I’ve ever been able to walk through and experience. I have fallen in love with the country, and look forward to the next time I get to visit.

Now Japan. How do I sum up Japan? This has been only my second visit to this country, and I can honestly say, hand on heart, I could happily pack up and move to this beautiful country in a heartbeat. This is home. The Goshu-in book that we have been working on has very quickly become one of my most prized possessions. Collecting the stamps has lead us to have some magical experiences and to see some beautiful places. We’ve learnt so much about the Buddhist and Shinto beliefs along the way, and I’m so grateful that I have been able to share it with Drew and the group of people we’ve travelled with.

Obviously our wedding day was the highlight of the trip, and was without a doubt the best day of my life so far. This group is a second family to me, and I will be forever thankful for those who made the trip over to see Drew and I get married. It honestly means the world.

Now I’m onto planning our next worldly adventure. There’s so much I need to see in such a small time! I wonder where our next adventure will take us?

Drew

Singapore was really great. The people were so friendly and helpful and the things they are doing in that country in order to help protect and maintain the environment are amazing. There are so many little things that they did to try and make a difference that I will definitely try and include in my own life. The places we visited were all fantastic, everywhere from Sentosa to the Gardens by the Bay looked fantastic and meant there were so many things to constantly do. This is a country that I would very much like to come back and visit again, just to see the little bits and pieces I missed and to learn about what else I can do to help maintain the environment. My highlight of Singapore would have to be the Cloud Forest with the indoor waterfall. We spent hours in that place just wandering around and taking in all of the beautiful scenery. Being there when they completed a ‘misting’ to re-hydrate the air walking through literal man-made mist clouds was spectacular.

Japan will always be a special place to me. Firstly because it was my first big overseas trip alone (without my parents when I was 15), but now because it is the place that holds so many special memories. I love Tokyo. I love how it is busy and there is always something happening. I loved Osaka this time so much more than last time because we discovered the frantic, energetic buzz that we did not discover last time. Kyoto is now officially my favourite part of Japan. It has just the right amount of busy meets calm with its beautiful shrines and temples. It also happens to be were we got married. Honen-In Temple will forever be my favourite place in this country. I had so many different experiences and a whole heap that were very similar to the last time I was over here. The highlights from this trip included the completion of the Temple Book with all of the amazing Goshuin stamps and the TeamLabs Borderless experience. The wedding obviously is on that list as well. I am already looking forward to the next trip over there where we are going to explore Northern Japan next time. The country will be missed, the people will be missed, our American Reverend will be missed… But I know that I will get to see all of that again in the future!