I’m Jacob Laukaitis, a 21-year-old digital nomad who’s already been to more than 35 countries in the past nearly three years. I enjoy creating travel videos and sharing them with the world. Here’s my newest one from my hike in Nikko, Japan. Nikko is located a few hundred kilometers north of Tokyo next to a National Park of the same name. Nikko National Park is geographically located in a range of mountains, some of which reach higher than … [Read more...]
A Treasured Stay, Ritz Carlton Reserve, Phulay Bay Thailand
One enters this refined state of opulence through a grand entrance - reserved for quiet of which there is plenty of on this property - and a place to decompress once you arrive. Stone tiles line a reflecting pond culminating in a pavilion and some welcome shade. Everyone can use a refreshing chilled towel infused with some pleasing exotic aroma on hot humid days; this along with an invigorating drink are served upon your arrival. If you are … [Read more...]
Experience the Epic Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto, Japan
I am Jacob Laukaitis, a 21 year old digital nomad, who’s already been to more than 30 countries in the last 2 years. I love making videos of places I visit so here’s one from my last trip to the Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto, Japan. The shrine predates the year 794 when the capital of Japan was moved to Kyoto. This shrine sprawls entirely around the mountain featuring hundreds of small shrines, thousands of sculptures and more than 10,000 … [Read more...]
The Pottery Village in the Mountains of Japan
In the final months of my last year at university, I took a trip to Hogsback, a small village in the Eastern Cape, to meet a potter named Anton. He agreed to be the subject of a soundslide I was producing for my portfolio and was kind enough to let me shadow him for a day. Tucked away in the forests of the Amatole Mountains, his studio overlooked a carpet of tree tops and was filled with the chirping of the forest’s louder residents. There … [Read more...]
Three Reasons to Visit Bandung, Indonesia
In anticipation of my trip to Indonesia, I was told by the trip organizers that I wouldn’t be able to visit Borneo during my visit. Subsequently, I was disappointed - my first thoughts were purely selfish. I had long nurtured a dream of going to this 'ultimate jungle' to view orangutans in their native habitats. But then I started feeling a different level of sorrow: Borneo is burning! The forest is being destroyed, the animals are dying, … [Read more...]
A Quick Guide to Tokyo’s Book Town
The ever-so distinctive smell of old books is a Floo powder that transports me to my childhood: the water heater in primary school that I spent most winter mornings propped up against, chasing like a second Timmy after Julian, Dick, Anne and George through hidden coves and mysterious lighthouses; my grandmother's couch, where I lost entire Saturdays exploring the Enchanted Wood and the Faraway Tree; the back seat of our family's car, where I … [Read more...]
Travels in Myanmar, with Buddha Behind the Wheel
If the Buddha was driving in heavy urban traffic, would he honk? Much as that sounds like some wisecracking riddle, it’s a thought that occurred to me while my taxi’s driver was navigating the maelstrom of traffic in Yangon, Myanmar. Yangon has over five million people, and at times during my days in the city, it seemed that most of them were behind the wheel. Yet, though traffic surged, darted and inched, drivers seemed patient, and honks—if you … [Read more...]
Myanmar, Lost in Translation
I’m in Myanmar, dining at the home of a local family, being serenaded with a nostalgic playlist of American pop tunes reminiscent of my favorite childhood radio station. It’s a surreal scene that looks like an outtake from a David Lynch movie. Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction. With one foot inching towards the 21st century, ancient and modern mingle with ease here. After consuming a lovingly prepared feast, my homespun hosts, joined by … [Read more...]
Little Known Adventures in Cambodia Other Than Lara Croft’s Angkor Wat
Cambodia immediately conjures up visions of the temples of Angkor Wat. OK, they are without argument, among the most awe-inspiring monuments ever built by man. But there are plenty of other things to see and experience in Cambodia. There is so much more to this beautiful country. While Angkor Wat should be on your checklist of must-see places, let’s get off the main tourist track and take a look at 10 other amazing sites. This country has … [Read more...]
Why I’m going to Burma (Myanmar)
When word got out I was thinking of taking a group to Burma this November, I received this email: Dear Mr. Bangs: I strongly advise you to drop travel to Burma. The treatment of the Rohingy minority is so appalling that I feel that no one should be visiting that country... This is not the first cease and desist-style communication I’ve received about travel to a destination whose politics are at odds with our own. When I received a permit … [Read more...]
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