Category: Travel

Weekend getaways from Tokyo’s top day trips

Tokyo’s day trips: Some of Japan’s most stunning temples, hiking trails, and natural wonders are only a few hours away from Tokyo.

Gunma Prefecture (群馬県)

One of only eight landlocked prefectures in Japan, Gunma is the north western most prefecture of the Kantō plain.

Misato Pink Moss Park (みさと芝桜公園)
Misato moss phlox Park is a park known for its moss phlox that blooms all over the hill. 260,000 moss phlox flowers bloom on a 2.9-hectare site.

Strawberry Picking:
Gunma where you can enjoy strawberries fresh from the farm and pick them yourself at locations. Don’t miss out on Gunma’s original brand of strawberries, Yayoihime, as well as many other delicious varieties.

Fukiware Falls:
Known as the “Niagara of Japan,” Fukiware Falls or Fukiware no Taki, is in Numata City, Gunma Prefecture. The lovely Katashina River turns into an impressive series of falls that drop from 7-meters high and span 30-meters wide.

Kawagoe (川越)

Kawagoe, also known as Koedo or Little Edo, is an Edo-period (1603-1867) castle town with well-preserved medieval streets and buildings that have maintained its old-fashioned ambience.

Many of the ancient buildings and warehouses have been turned into charming stores and restaurants, making Kurazukuri Street a must-see. When you see the Toki no Kane bell tower, which stands 16 meters tall, you’ll know you’ve arrived. At 6 a.m., 12 p.m., 3 p.m., and 6 p.m., the bell rings four times a day.

Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine is a short walk from the town’s main street and organizes several festivals throughout the year. This so-called “love shrine” conducts a wind chime festival in the summer, where you can walk through a tunnel of tinkling furin chimes. The river returns in the spring.

Yokohama (横浜)

If you want to get out of Tokyo without spending too much time on the train, Yokohama is the place to go. Yokohama, located just south of Tokyo in the Kanagawa prefecture, is famed for its ocean vistas and wonderful Chinese food in Motomachi-Chukagai, popularly known as Chinatown.

At Yokohama Landmark Tower and Plaza, Minatomirai is a modern waterfront with a high-rise observation deck and elegant boutiques.

Yamanashi Prefecture (山梨県)

Landlocked Yamanashi Prefecture (山梨県, Yamanashi-ken) is located immediately west of Tokyo in the Chubu Region. The northern half of Mount Fuji and the Fuji Five Lake region are located in Yamanashi Prefecture.

Chureito Padoga is part of Arakura Sengen Shrine and is located close Shiomyoshida Station. Visitors must climb a nearly 400-step stone staircase to reach the pagoda, but in doing so, they will rise above the town below and be treated to a spectacular view of Mount Fuji.

Mt. Jinba (人馬)

Mt Jinba, on the border of western Tokyo and Kanagawa, is a less crowded alternative to Mt Takao. The trip to the summit is better suited to advanced hikers: at 857m, Mt Jinba is taller and has a greater diversity of pathways than Mt Takao’s more predictable, not to mention shorter, trails. If you really want to work up a sweat, climb Mt Takao, then veer off to Mt Jinba, snap a fast photo of Mt Fuji and the strange-looking horse statue at the summit, then descend Mt Jinba and reward yourself with fresh soba noodles and beer. Don’t worry, the hiking pathways are well-marked, and most of the signs are in English.

Zushi Beach (逗子海岸海水浴場)

Zushi is a popular beach destination that is less than 90 minutes from the center of Tokyo. There are a lot of people who come (as seen in the video) and have a good time.

The Zushi coast is a beautiful beach in Zushi City, Kanagawa Prefecture, distinguished by shallow and calm waves. It is well-known as a family beach suitable for families, and it is very crowded in the summer. There are also many beach houses, as well as a large number of free children’s life jackets and play equipment rentals.

Sakura Tulip Festa : Chiba ken Sakurashi

Enjoy the 2023 Sakura Tulip Festa at Sakura Furusato Square!

The annual Sakura Tulip Festa, held close to Tokyo, is one event that just must not be missed. Springtime in Japan is synonymous with gorgeous blooms. A stunning Dutch-style windmill is encircled by an incredible 650,000 bright tulips during this event, which is held in the town of Sakura, which is located just east of the city. The scene is breathtaking and Instagram-worthy, guaranteed to turn your pals envious!

Oktuma River (奥多摩町)

Okutama is a beautiful natural area just a short drive from Tokyo, where you may relax and unwind, as well as get a great feel for the countryside of Japan. Swimming, fishing, camping, and BBQ are all available here. You don’t even need a car to get there. You should go at least once during the summer.

Enoshima (江の島)

Enoshima Island and its beautiful coastline are just a short distance from Kamakura. It also has one of Tokyo’s most easily accessible beaches. Walking along the coastline, visiting Enoshima Shrine (dedicated to the goddess of love), or sampling the local specialty, shirasu, are all good ways to pass the time on the island (whitebait).

The Moominvalley Park (ムーミンバレーパーク)

The Moominvalley Park is a theme park based on the Moomin characters developed by Tove Jansson, a Finnish novelist and illustrator. The theme park, which opened in March 2019 around 40 kilometers northwest of Tokyo in Saitama Prefecture, is the first outside of Finland and gives tourists a glimpse into the author’s world. A Japanese animated TV series made the hippopotamus-like figures particularly popular in Japan, among the various programs and films about the Moomins that have been created over the years.

Tobu World Square (東武ワールドスクウェア)

Everything from the Great Pyramids to the Burj Khalifa can be seen at 1:25 scale in this theme park. Models of 102 famous structures from around the world, 46 of which are World Heritage sites, are on display, all created with impressive craftsmanship and attention to detail. Over 20,000 real bonsai trees and plants dot the park, allowing you to experience the changing seasons, and in the colder months, the models are beautifully illuminated after dark.

Hakone (箱根町)

Hakone Mountain is just 90 minutes by train from Tokyo, making it a popular day trip or weekend vacation destination. It has a long and distinguished history as a hot spring town, with its name appearing in Edo-era (1603-1868) rankings of the best onsen in Japan. But there’s a lot more to Hakone than bathing. It has it everything, from world-class art institutions to an active volcano, as well as a breathtaking vista of Mt Fuji on clear days.

Mount Takao (高尾山)

Take a train to Tokyo’s western outskirts, and you’ll arrive at the foot of Mount Takao. For foreign and native Tokyoites alike, it is undoubtedly the de facto go-to nature spot. There are pathways for hikers of various abilities, as well as a ropeway for the less athletically inclined.

Yakuoin Temple, a monkey park, and an observation deck on the top of the mountain offer views of Mount Fuji. Make your way down to Keio Takaosan Onsen Gokurakuyu, a hot spring near the station, for a well-deserved dip at the end of your journey.

Tokyo Bay Ferry Kurihama Port

The ferry that connects Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture, and Kanaya, Futtsu, Chiba Prefecture docks here. The ferry ride takes about 40 minutes one way and is a convenient way to see Tokyo Bay’s sights. The ferry terminal also has a food court and restaurant where you can try Yokosuka specialties like Yokosuka Navy Curry and Misaki Maguro Nakaochi Bowl.

Vloggin Tips:
Make awesome video with 10 best travel vlogging tips

May 15, 2022
The 10 Best Spots in Tokyo for Instagram Photos

Do you enjoy filling your Instagram feed with stunning travel photos? Where can you find the best places to capture historic or modern culture, or to make your photos stand out? Consider our recommendations for the coolest places in Tokyo to practice your photography.

Tokyo has many iconic sights and is a photographer’s best city worldwide.

1. Shibuya Scramble Crossing

The Shibuya Scramble Crossing is the most notable place to visit “Megalopolis Tokyo,” which is surrounded by neon lights, with thousands of people passing the junction. There are several great spots to photograph this world’s most famous crossing in Shibuya area.

2. Asakusa Sensoji

What’s the first thing you could imagine when you think of Japan? The Temple of Asakusa Sensoji, with its huge red lanterns of historic temples and pagodas, is the site of “Authentic Japan” in Tokyo.

Asakusa is a location where people go on a tour or film for a commercial client.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CO0N2ryhqZ6/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

3. Tokyo Skytree

Since it was opened in 2012, Tokyo Skytree is the newest landmark in Tokyo. The Tower looks from a distance brilliant, as do the views of its 350 m and 450 m observatories that are obviously some of the highest in the world.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B4H3TpxBHX0/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

4. Shinjuku Kabukicho and Omoide Yokocho

This is the best place if you’re looking for a photograph at night. The neighborhood is called the place that never sleeps and becomes lighter and more lively as the night deepens.

Omoide Yokocho (思い出横丁), is a narrow street that lines up numbers of small Izakaya. In this retro and smoky alley, where photographers from all around the world are also attracted, visitors can experience authentic Japanese-style drink cultures.

5. Metropolitan Government Building

Tokyo has many skyscrapers, and Shinjuku in particular is the great area for amazing skyscrapers. Government Metropolis building is one of Tokyo’s best-designed buildings, and also has “FREE” observatories from the 45th floor to view the city (202 m high).

https://www.instagram.com/p/CHTC_KCFUnL/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

6. Harajuku Tokyu Plaza & Takeshita-dori Street

The Kawaii Mecca, Harajuku has a range of photogenic places like fashionable cafes, candy stores and shops. The Tokyu Plaza’s fashion building, designed as a kaleidoscope, is where most of the instagrammers cannot simply overlook it.

Takeshita-dori Street, Harajuku, Tokyo
Tokyo’s most established center of street fashion. While other areas rival it in terms of hip, Harajuku still reigns when it comes to streetwise and cutting edge.

7. Tokyo Tower

It is likely that for several decades, the Tokyo Tower has been the best landmark in town and will always be. This 59 year-old tower is still standing and is favored by many of us, even after the new Tokyo Skytree icon opened.

Please keep in mind that the white tree illuminations are only available during the Christmas season. If you happen to visit Tokyo at the end of December, the white lights will stand out against the blueish foreground and orange tower.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CSwo4MpBAxO/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

8. Tokyo International Forum

I would recommend that you take pictures of it if there is a building in Tokyo would only be a Tokyo International Forum. The Tokyo International Forum is one of the Great Buildings in the World which is famous for Rafael Vinoly’s high technological modern architecture of 1989. The Tokyo International Forum looks like a transparent giant elongated boat with white steel truss curves from outside. You immediately know why this building is seen as one of the great world buildings, when you enter its lobby.

Tokyo International Forum is a great place to photograph if you’re looking for a unique structure.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CMUzPo9FIc5/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

9. Tokyo Station

The Tokyo Station neighborhood is known for its fascinating coexistence of magnificent historic buildings and towering, modern skyscrapers. We will show you the most popular tourist attractions in the area, as well as hidden gems that should not be missed when touring Tokyo Station, the heart of the Japanese capital.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CTuYfpZBYTl/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

10. Ginza

The Ginza (銀座) is Tokyo’s most well-known upscale shopping, dining, and entertainment district, with a plethora of department stores, boutiques, art galleries, restaurants, nightclubs, and cafes.

One square meter of land in the district’s center costs more than ten million yen, making it one of Japan’s most expensive real estate. It is home to the infamous $10 cup of coffee, as well as nearly every major fashion and cosmetics brand.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CMUz5cOhkdd/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

You may like night photography: Shinjuku Night walks, after dark.

November 9, 2021
Make awesome video with 10 best travel vlogging tips

Do you have no prior experience creating and editing video? Don’t worry! I have 10 best travel vlogging tips for you.

Everyone has to start somewhere, no matter where they are in their filming or editing careers.

Videos on the travel come in many forms, from the usual style of vlogging and talking to a more street-style gun shoot and it is important for you to know what kind of videos you want to make before you start shooting. Personally, I myself prefer a cinematic, fast-cut, inspiring video with little or no story.

For photography and vlogging, I use a Canon T4i with a 50mm lens and a GoPro Hero 9 Black camera. I started editing my first videos with Adobe Premiere and Sony Vegas because they were simple to use. I now shifted to DaVinci Resolve 17, which in a single software combines editing, color correction, visual effects, motion graphics and audio post-production.
Please subscribe to my YouTube channel

The style of my videos can be seen here.

Here are my best top 10 tips to make your travel video awesome

1. Don’t film everything

Of course, it may be a super enhanced experience to visit a new place. The thrilling things that you have witnessed are very natural in exploring a new area. Your viewers don’t have to know it all, however. Actually, each and every moment of your trip must not also be recorded. Do not take so much part in travel that you forget to spend a good time on your trip.

So put it a little while to clarify what kind of video(s) you want to make. In this way, you save a lot of time with your camera battery, and have a better overall journey experience.

2. Keep your video steady, not shaky

Nobody likes a badly produced video. Even if the scenes are jerky or shaky, will you just skip the video or blog, right? Shaky video prevents people from watching your video longer. The shake occasionally when walking a path is good, but it’s a video that is always jerky that will keep people off.

By walking slower, you can reduce shakiness and make a conscious effort to stay on your camera. You can also use video stabilization tools available in software or applications for video editing. If possible, invest money in equipment for stabilizing your video.

3. Choose good music that emphasizes your video’s mood

Good music certainly always amplifies the mood, whether it’s movies, videos or vlogs. The songs you select and your vlogs have a background score that changes the atmosphere of the video to the next level.

For instance, when people watch your Bungee jumping vlogs, you certainly would want rock or pop music to rush adrenaline. Or you might want to make a cool video of your time at the beach by using chill, tropical beats.

The audio library on Youtube is an excellent place to have free music.

4. See many traveling videos

I love travel videos, they always put me in a good mood. It inspires and encourages me to do something new.

Most skills are best acquired by example and travel movies are no different from each other. I watched tons and tons of videos every week. I like to see how travel videos work, what formats they have used, why they have placed this clip in front of the other clip, why and how they shot some frame and I’d like to go, experiment, make a shot, and create my own style.

Watch some of the videos, pick and learn from your favorite.

5. Come up with a story

To create a chaos story, you need sufficient material to connect the dots and to come up with a start, a middle and an end. After a trip I would open all of my footage one at a time and try to find a common thread that can be connect into a story, for instance. You just have to make a loose story that fits your footage. This allows your viewers to stay busy enough to watch your videos until the end.

6. Include other people in your vlog

When other people are included, vlogs always get more interesting. You can include your friends or some locals you met during your trip. You can include them.

Try to involve your friends and ask them what they think or how much they liked about the journey so far. This definitely gives your video more taste and personality. They might even spill some beans on places to explore and things to do in the neighbourhood that will help your followers!

7. Short and sweet

Keep your videos short and sweet at all times. Understand that people’s ability to pay attention to videos has a time limit. The shorter the video with more content, the better for the viewers to spend their time on your channel.

The best time for videos is three minutes, because when videos are longer, a lot of people begin to lose interest. Also, segments of speech should not be longer than 30 seconds. It doesn’t seem like that for 30 seconds, but the people on social media are impatient and will move forward quickly if a video doesn’t hold their own.

8. Establish a clear point of interest

This is probably one of the toughest and longest time editing parts. You should pay attention to how the clips are connected if you wish to create a great travel video and distinguish it from others.

The first thing you should do is sit down and watch all of your footage, then ‘trim the fat’ – remove any unwanted, unnecessary, or poorly shot footage from your video reel. The more you can trim, the easier it will be to edit your video.

9. Get feedback

Find anyone who can provide you with feedback. Get them to tell you how from the outside you look. A new pair of eyes can see a better picture and can tell you how better to say something.

10. Properly export it

Finally, export your video with the correct setting to avoid the miserable finished product ruining all your hard work. A good rule of thumb is to export it with the source settings in the maximum quality possible.

July 2, 2021
Shirakawago: Japanese Countryside Fairytale

In the remote mountains that range from Gifu to Toyama Prefectures, the Shirakawa-go (almost, Shirakawagō) and neighboring Gokayama (almost) areas line the Shogawa River Valley. They are renowned for their traditional gassho-zukuri farmhouses, some of which are more than 250 years old, and were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995.

Gassho-zukuri means “constructed like hands in prayer” as the steep thatched roofs of the farmhouses resemble the hands of Buddhist monks pressed in prayer together. Over many generations, the architectural style has developed and is designed to withstand the large amounts of heavy snow that falls during winter in the region. The roofs, which were constructed without nails, offered a wide attic.

Gassho-zukuri houses are the primary reason for visiting Shirakawago. With these regionally unique homes, there are whole villages filled. Literally, Gassho-zukuri means “built in prayer like hands” and comes from the fact that the roofs of the houses look like two hands coming together in prayer.

The Shirakawaga-go Tour was planned for the six of us friends. It’s a journey of two days. AHK Indonesia – Tur Lokal Jepang has a good deal for us. For bus ride, we have gone to Ikebukuro. The bus journey is pleasant and comfortable. On the way, we smashed jokes and teased. Bus stops for snacks and toilets in various places. We got Shirakawaga-go at last. It’s like a fairy tale in the film. It’s cold weather and snow is falling. It’s my first touch of snow and it’s good. We went back to the bus and went to our hotel.

Season (February – December). Winter is arguably the most recommended season for a Shirakawa-go Tour, because the design and construction of these ancient structures are deeply rooted in the cold temperature of the area and strongly related to the heavy snowfall.

You may like to visit: The 10 Best Spots in Tokyo for Instagram Photos

January 28, 2021
Tips for Photographing Water Reflections at Night
One such type of photo is one in which a mirror image is created with a water reflection. It takes several different camera settings and only the right lighting conditions to create a wide range of water for the desired look.

Reflections can be a great addition to your photographs at any time of day or night, but they are especially appealing at night. Adding reflections can help you solve compositional issues that arise at night. Furthermore, the steps you must take to capture photos at night, such as using a tripod and a slow shutter speed, actually make it easier to capture reflections.

When capturing reflections in your photography at night, get down close to the water. That way, you’ll include much more reflection in your photos.

It is amazing when all comes together after sunset; the city lights start glowing and those reflections produce brilliant results. The key to successful night photography is a solid tripod, as long exposure times are common and a bit of patience.

Nighttime Water Reflection Photography: 5 Tips and Tricks
- Set your camera to manual mode because auto-focus does not work sufficiently in low light.
- Night photography requires slow shutter speeds. Because it is dark and your camera needs to hold the shutter open a long time in order to gather sufficient light for the exposure.
- Utilize the camera’s self-timer, a cable release or remote release to trip the shutter.
- Use a smaller aperture (around f/11 for landscapes or f/5.6 for smaller objects and area size)
- When taking still photos at night, it’s a good idea to set your ISO to the lowest setting possible on your camera. Try not to go above ISO 400 or 800.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B4VGYXohVeF/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
I hope I explained some of my quick tips for better night photography. If you have any questions regarding this post, please leave them in the comment section below.

Check out How to use the rule of thirds in photography

Thanks for reading!
May 7, 2020
Enoshima Island Day Trip
The last day before the holidays, we were having our lunch. this idea came to my mind. Oh, how about going on a trip? Then and Sanjeev started browsing the internet looking for beautiful destinations to visit around our place. Sanjeev came up with a beautiful destination Enoshima Island.

It is one of the small islands west of Kamakura. There were two alternatives while going to Enoshima Island by train through the Odakyu line. Either going through Odakyu Romance Car from Shinjuku to Enoshima without transfer or getting from another train of Odakyu line with the transfer. So we took the second option and our Journey starts from Shinjuku Station to Enoshima. It costs us JPY 630. The journey takes about 1 hour 15 minutes.

We four friends (Anil Shrestha, Sanjeev Budha, Sagar Giri, and Me) gathered at the Odakyu gate at Shinjuku Station. We’ve taken the South Entrance of the Odakyu Line. And our destination for that day was Katase-Enoshima Station, which was one of the nearest stations to Enoshima Island on the Odakyu line.

Reaching there we found Enoshima island was a very relaxing island to visit and every location can be accessed by walking, strolling around enjoying the most beautiful sights.

Katase Nishihama Beach (片瀬西浜) was another sand beach in the western opposite of Enoshima Island. The scenery of the beach was really beautiful and Mount Fuji, Izu Peninsula, and mountains in Hakone were seen in the west. The scenery in the dusk was splendid, too. This beach was most popular with Japanese, so it used to be crowded during the summer season.

Enoshima Shrine has three parts to it: the Outer Shrine (Hetsunomiya), the Middle Shrine (Nakatsunomiya), and the Inner Shrine (Okutsunomiya). It’ll only take a few minutes, if that, to reach the Outer Shrine area. It just takes a 20 min walk after crossing the ocean via the connecting bridge to Enoshima Island. Give yourself a little time to explore and look around. You’ll see quite a few restaurants on the way to the Inner Shrine, and it’s a good time to fortify yourself.

Lastly, we visited the Iwaya caves of Enoshima again by following the signs on our way on the island. These caves are located on the southern coast and you get an amazing view of the ocean. In the caves, you will find a statue of the legendary Dragon. It costs you an entrance fee of 500 yen.

Overall we had a great new year’s eve at Enoshima island.

Enoshima island travel vlog
- Shinjuku Station
- Writing my Brand name KRP
- KRP – Brand Name
- Free like a bird
- Happy best friends (Anil Shrestha, Sanjeev Buddha, Sagar Giri)
- Surfing may be all about being one with the great ocean
- Views of Mount Fuji from Enoshima
- The gate to Enoshima Jinja Shrine.
- Two handsome hunk in a single photo
- Breathtaking view
- This is where you send a prayer by throwing a coin in the box
- Building on the Sea
- Random fortunes are written on strips of paper at shrines temples in Japan.
- Temple
- Mount Fuji: Mesmerizing
- Mount Fuji on the way
- On the way to Enoshima Island
- Ocean at Enoshima Island
- Red danger dragon inside the cave
- Lunch time
- Ocean view from inside the cave
- Golden view
The 10 Best Spots in Tokyo for Instagram Photos
December 31, 2019
Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple)

Located atop a hill west of Kathmandu city, the Swayambhunath complex has been in use since the 5th century A.D. and consists of a magnificent domed stupa, as well as a variety of shrines and temples. Each temple is extremely ornate and richly decorated with gold and vibrant prayer flags, though it’s not only the spiritual décor that draws visitors.

Located on a small hillock named Swayambhunath, this temple is a famous one located to the northwest of the Kathmandu Valley. Famously known as the monkey temple, this tourist destination receives pilgrims and tourists from every nook and corner of the world. According to mythology, the glory of this destination started from this structure. The central white stupa is topped by a golden spire that depicts Buddha’s eyes in all the four directions. It is surrounded by beautifully-carved temples, statues of deities, fluttering prayer flags, and Buddhist prayer wheels.

The central white stupa is topped by a golden spire that depicts Buddha’s eyes in all the four directions.

A powerful earthquake measuring 7.8 has killed hundreds of people in Nepal. Many historic buildings have been damaged – such as Swayambhunath temple complex.

It is best to visit the temple early in the morning before 9 am. This is the time you can find many rituals and pilgrims in the complex. With regards to climate, the spring and fall are the best times to visit Kathmandu. September to mid of May is the right time to visit the temple.

The temple is easily accessible by foot, bike, or taxi from Kathmandu.

December 19, 2019
My US Visit 2016
I still remember my first day in the office. It was Tuesday, November 10, 2009. Back then, this company was just a start-up. Today, we can proudly consider Deerwalk as one of the largest and best IT companies in Nepal. The growth has been phenomenal and I consider myself lucky to be a part of this outstanding growth. At Deerwalk, I have always felt myself at home, from day one, where I am able to freely share my ideas, knowledge, and expertise. When the company decided to let me visit our US office located at 430 Bedford Street, Lexington, MA,

It was an opportunity for me to see the other side of the world from my own eyes.

it was an opportunity for me to see the other side of the world from my own eyes. I love traveling but this would be my first experience traveling outside the country and I was excited to experience American life.

The route was Kathmandu – Doha – Boston. My flight was scheduled at 9:30 PM on July 10, 2016. I reached Doha, Qatar at 11:30 PM and my flight from Doha to Boston was the next day at 8:20 AM. So, the airlines offered me a room at Retaj Al Rayyan Hotel to spend a very comfortable night at Doha. I must say, the Qatar flight was simply awesome as they have very good service and delicious food. I reached Boston on July 11.

Boston
As I got out of Logan airport in Boston I could see two familiar faces with a big smile in the crowd: Sanjeev Tuladhar and Manish Luintel. They drove me to Sanjeev’s apartment in Belmont. My first day at the US office was just like my first day at school; I was a little nervous but super excited to learn new things in a different environment. I would like to thank all the staff there for being so caring and helpful which helped me settle easily. A normal day at Lexington office starts with a morning standup where we discuss issues and plan for the rest of the day. Soon after, everyone becomes busy with client calls, followups, and calls with Nepal Team. It was a pleasure getting to know fellow Deerwalkers especially Smriti, Liana, John, Messi, Namita, Rob, Ashay, Manish, Sagar, Dave, Jeff, Gerardo, Sushant, Ed, Obina, and Kevin.
Manish was the “designated” tour guide/photographer. He showed me around Boston to show some popular places in the city: namely Harvard Square, Quincy Market, Harvard College, and Boston Harbor. I also got to see the Downtown skyscrapers. I also tasted various cuisines: Japanese, Indian, Chinese, Mexican, and Thai. Nepal is a landlocked country and we do not have a beach which is why I really enjoyed my time at the beach in Boston.

Taking a stroll on the beach is such a calming experience and taking photos in the beach felt even better.

Taking a stroll on the beach is such a calming experience and taking photos on the beach felt even better. The most American thing I did during my stay in Boston was to watch a baseball game with Abanish. The tickets were provided by Dave (God bless Dave and America!). I also got a chance to visit different supermarkets and malls which were very different from the ones we have in Kathmandu. I went to a casino where I lost $ 5 and though it is not my proudest moment it definitely tops the list of exciting things that I did.

New York Visit:
New York City is a fast-paced, globally influential center of art, culture, fashion, and finance. I was desperately waiting for the weekend to begin and set out to explore New York. I traveled by Go Bus from Alewife Bus Station on Thursday. My brother-in-law picked me at Manhattan and he took me to his apartment at Jackson Height, where I was warmly welcomed by his beautiful daughter and gracious wife. We went to visit the most popular places in New York: the World Trade Center Memorial, Statue of Liberty, Rockefeller Center, The Brooklyn Bridge, Times Square, Central Park, and Far Rockway Beach. I was traveling by train most of the time, which again was a new and exciting experience for me.
The month-long US stay was a good time to rejuvenate in a new environment, reconnect with old friends, make new friends, and learn the American culture and lifestyle. I made lots of memories in this US visit and look forward to making more in the days to come.
August 25, 2016