Category: RTW

Italy :: Milan – La Familia Rides Again

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“Ah, it’s good to get away from home… You know, TRAVEL a bit… I bet you feel this way too…”
– Andreas

Teh Kollektiv [SIC] usually take a trip together once a year for a weekend. We take turns deciding where to go and it’s always the greatest of fun ❤ For obvious reasons we weren’t able to do this last year and we put the trips on hold for a while because of my trip, but when I realized I would be back in Europe for May I contacted La Familia and Andreas got to planning where to go (as it was his turn).
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Doing everything “right” doesn’t guarantee you a long life

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“Every step that you take, could be your biggest mistake.”
– Coldplay

We are conditioned from an early age to recognize what is “smart” to do. Pay attention in school, get good grades, figure out what “you would love to do”, take classes that put you on track to study these things, excel in these studies, get a job, get an apartment, find a partner (who’s run the exact same race) and make some new little people who can perpetuate the cycle.
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Taiwan :: Chiang Kai-shek Memorial

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“It is not worth it to sacrifice the interest of the country for the sake of my son.” – Chiang Kai-shek

Chinese military and political leader Chiang Kai–shek joined the Chinese Nationalist Party in 1918. Succeeding party founder Sun Yat-sen as leader in 1925, he expelled Chinese communists from the party and led a successful unification of China. He died in Taipei in 1975 and there is an impressive memorial built in his honour.

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Dome of Light

Taiwan :: The Dome of Light

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“How did you invent the imagery? The answer is simple. I invented it by pushing away everything that is unnecessary. I create an empty space and then the images find me. I don’t go find them – absolute quiet and then I just stood still and within days my place was crowded with images.” – Narcissus Quagliata

It may seem strange, but at the top of my list of things to see in Taiwan was the Formosa Blvd MRT Station. A metro station in Taipei.

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Japan :: Nagoya Castle

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“Nagoya? I heard about Nagoya, saw it on the map, I just didn’t think anyone actually got off the train there…” – Nathanael

I did a short pitstop in Nagoya just because I had time, and completely mis-calculated so my Japan Rail Pass expired while I was there… Moronic, but fortunately not fatal. Not even to my budget.

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Japan :: Osaka Castle

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“Tokyo may have more money and Kyoto more culture; Nara may have more history and Kobe more style, but Osaka has the biggest heart.” – Vikas Swarup

I had heard that Osaka used to be called “Naniwa” (like the StarCraft player!!11). Reason to go!
Just kidding. I went to Osaka to eat food and see the lights. In true Annie-form I found out about the castle just one day before I arrived 😛 Typical me…

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Japan :: Nagasaki Hypocenter

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“In Nagasaki, American planes did drop warning leaflets – but not till Aug. 10, a day after the city was bombed.”
– Lydia Millet

Nagasaki is the capital and the largest city of Nagasaki Prefecture on the island of Kyushu in Japan. The city’s name means “long cape” in Japanese. Just like Hiroshima Nagasaki was on my list because of the atomic bomb dropped there during WW2, I wanted to see what it felt like standing at ground zero.

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Japan :: Stuff to do in Fukuoka

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“I don’t really like udon noodles… I tried them three times. Each time they sad “oh, THESE are special udon noodles, very special to this area, but they were ever good… I’ve tried them now. They are not really for me.”
– Peter

Peter’s #FOMO (fear of missing out) is probably bigger than mine… But then, I went with him to check out the food stalls even though I just got back to the hostel and was exhausted from walking around the whole day, just cause I didn’t want to miss out on anything, so… We might be the same…

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Japan :: Miyajima Island

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“Go to MIyajima. See the Torii. Eat. Sleep. Get on boat.”
– Japanese dude

Sometimes I forget what I know and what I have read. There’s so many countries to see in the world and so much in each of them, even if I’ve researched where I am going I miss stuff I knew was there. The Great Torii of Miyajima is one such thing I almost missed.

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