Greetings from Beaufort!
I’m back from a whirlwind of a time in Bangkok and Tokyo, and what a journey it was. Physically, I’m back up on my feet. Mentally, emotionally, and psychologically, I may never recover.
If you’ve met me or follow me on social, you know that Tokyo/Japan is bar- none my favorite place on earth, so to spend three blissful days seeing, eating, shopping, wandering, and doing all the things I wanted to do on my own schedule during this solo visit was everything. I have to give some credit to my wonderful husband, without whom I may never have pulled the trigger on going to see Taylor Swift perform on the last night of her Era’s Tour at the Tokyo Dome. He convinced me this would be an iconic concert and moment, something I couldn’t pass up. I woke up one morning in Bangkok, and the StubHub ticket was in my inbox. I know I’ve said it before, but he’s a keeper.
But iconic doesn’t even begin to describe the sheer joy and euphoria I experienced at the concert because it was so much more than a few flowery superlatives can accurately describe. A few days before the show, I’d been texting a friend and self-described “Swiftie” about whether or not it would be weird for a woman in her late 30s to roll into a T-Swift concert solo. “I’m not even a big fan,” I professed. “Just go,” my Swiftie girlfriend told me. “It will not be weird. You’re going to make friends and have the best time.” She was spot on. I’ve been to many live concerts in my 39 years on this earth, and I have never experienced anything like this. Not even close. I not only met so many wonderful people, but the sense of community and pure and unadulterated happiness and love that filled the air of that 55,000-person sold-out stadium was truly akin to a spiritual (dare I say religious?) experience.
Moral of the story: When in doubt, do the thing, buy the ticket, go on the trip, and don’t be afraid to go it alone. I always learn so many things about myself when I travel solo and this trip was no exception. In the immortal words of Taylor Swift: “We're happy, free, confused, and lonely in the best way.” I mean, if this isn’t the throughline of solo travel in one lyrical nutshell, am I right?
Other than Taylor Swift, I managed to see and do a few other things during my three-day stint in Tokyo. You’ll be reading about a few of those things soon, including my private tour of the new Azabudai Hills complex, including the brand new teamLab Borderless (a must-visit!) that just opened in a forthcoming story for Robb Report. I also managed to squeeze in a tour with an expert guide from Inside Japan who took me on a journey through Tokyo’s Edo period on a visit to Sensō-ji Temple in Asakusa, which serves as Tokyo’s oldest temple and one of the country’s most religious sites.
I’m burying the Bangkok lead a bit here, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t talk about the interesting few days I spent at Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok at Chao Phraya River. A stunning property that provides a real sense of respite in the middle of this frenetic city, every time I find myself in BKK, I fall just a little bit harder for it. It’s one of those cities whose energy is so infectious, and food is so rich and layered that everything about it, the humidity, the smell of durian and jasmine, feels good to be a part of. It’s no wonder Anthony Bourdain once said “Bangkok was a city that is a lot of things, but boring is not one of them.” It’s certainly not boring. It’s a sensory overload at every turn, and I’m excited to go back and do more on-the-ground reporting later this year.
Next Stop: The Netherlands!
I’m heading off on my next assignment to The Netherlands this Friday, and I couldn’t be more excited! Parker and I are flying directly to Amsterdam for the weekend before we head out to Maastricht on the border of Brussels, where we’ll spend a few days wine tasting and castle hopping.
It’s been a few years since I’ve been to Amsterdam/The Netherlands, so please send all the recommendations my way!
That’s all for now. Sorry, I’m cutting this issue short, but I’m buried under a pile of deadlines that I have to get done before I go. In the meantime, thanks, as always, for reading, and I’ll see you bright-eyed and bushy-tailed with new stories and assignments in March!
Proost!
-Michelle
Just love your writing! Such joy with travel and seeing new things !!!