Japan, South America and Oman
We had a Zoom meet with three travelers sharing their recent adventures. First, Pat—who previously shared her round-the-world trip at one of our meetups— discussed her post-retirement extended stay as a student in Akita, Japan.
Next, Sierra from Taiwan shared highlights from her journey across several South American countries. She has stunning photos from remote destinations like the Galápagos and Easter Island.
Next, Huynh from Vietnam talked about her solo trip to Oman. While most travelers heading to the Middle East opt for Dubai, Qatar, or Bahrain, Oman remains less visited—yet it may be the friendliest country in the region. We let Huynh make the case for adding Oman to our itinerary.
Below is a summary, made with ChatGPT and some additional editing.
Pat’s Experience in Akita, Japan
Pat started the meeting by sharing her experience studying in Akita, Japan. After retiring at the age of 57, she decided to fulfill her long-held wish of attending university. She enrolled as a freshman at Akita International University (AIU) in northern Japan. Pat explained that she had visited Japan many times before with her family, and loved the country’s natural beauty, safety, and culture. However, she wanted to experience Japan in a deeper way than just being a tourist, so studying there seemed like the perfect choice.
Akita is known for its beautiful seasons, especially its heavy snowfall in winter. Pat enjoyed experiencing these seasons up close, from the autumn colors to the snowy landscapes. At AIU, she studied liberal arts in English. The small university allowed her to have a personal learning experience. She found it surprising that university life in Japan was more affordable than she had expected, especially compared to other countries like the US or the UK.
While adjusting to life as an older student among younger classmates was challenging at first, Pat appreciated the international community at AIU. Her professors were around her age, which helped her feel more at ease. She also mentioned how different the culture was in Japan, like the expectations around cleanliness and the way food is prepared. She shared how at first she was surprised by the messiness of the shared kitchens but soon adapted by bringing her own cooking equipment.
Pat also spoke about the challenges Akita faces, especially the aging population. In many small towns in the region, people are moving to the cities, and the elderly are left behind. This has led to an increase in wildlife sightings, especially bears, which Pat found both fascinating and a little alarming.
Pat is online at
https://www.threads.net/@ajumma_traveler
https://bigontrips.com/
Sierra’s South American Adventure
Sierra shared her travels through Ecuador, the Galápagos Islands, Peru, and Chile. She began her journey in Ecuador, despite the political crisis that had been happening earlier in the year. She visited Quito, the capital, and described how the altitude there made her feel ill upon arrival. However, she enjoyed exploring Quito’s colonial architecture and historical sites like La Mitad del Mundo, where visitors can stand on the equator line.
Next, Sierra traveled to the Galápagos Islands, known for their unique wildlife. She highlighted the importance of preserving the natural environment, mentioning that visitors are required to stay at least two meters away from the animals. Sierra showed pictures of sea lions lounging on the beaches and blue-footed boobies, which are unique to the islands. She emphasized how important it is to minimize human impact on the environment in places like the Galápagos.
Sierra continued her journey in Peru, where she visited Machu Picchu, one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world. She spoke about the difficulty of adjusting to the high altitude in Cusco, the gateway to Machu Picchu, and suggested drinking coca leaf tea to help with altitude sickness. She also visited other ancient Incan sites like Pisac and Moray, which amazed her with their advanced agricultural techniques and impressive stone structures.
Her last stop was in Chile, where she visited the city of Valparaíso, known for its colorful street art and vibrant culture. She also traveled to Santiago, the capital, and even visited Easter Island, where she saw the Moai statues. Sierra explained that the statues were restored with the help of the Japanese government after they had been knocked down during tribal conflicts.
Sierra is on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/zrctr/
Huynh’s Solo Trip to Oman
Huynh shared her solo trip to Oman, a country that is less popular among tourists compared to neighboring destinations like Dubai or Qatar. She had never visited the Middle East before, but she chose Oman after researching its safety and quiet atmosphere. Oman is known for its deserts, mountains, and coastline, and Huynh found it to be a peaceful and welcoming place.
To visit Oman, Huynh had to apply for an e-visa.
She mentioned how she found traveling in Oman to be a bit challenging due to its vast desert landscape, where getting around without a car can be difficult. However, she was lucky enough to meet locals and fellow travelers who already had a car and were able to drive her into the desert.
One of the highlights of her trip was visiting the Wahiba Sands desert. Huynh described the experience of riding a camel through the desert as exciting. She also visited Wadi Khalid, a clear blue water oasis surrounded by dry desert land and palm trees. Oman’s coastline, with its many beaches and seagulls, was another memorable part of her trip.
Huynh stayed in Muscat, Oman’s capital, for a few days. She found the city to be friendly and welcoming, with locals often stopping to offer rides to travelers. Huynh was impressed by how much more peaceful Oman was compared to the busy cities in the region.
Huynh’s post on her Oman trip (in Vietnamese): https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid02PBouD1kwLaUvSRAKiZBjmvb67sZn6RGFRTbm24LRC5nFwrcFzsnRrB3n72pxucE1l&id=100086215947131
