My Dream Cherry Blossom Trip to Japan

                           

 This year, I finally made it happen — my long-awaited cherry blossom trip to Japan! It’s something I’ve been dreaming about and planning for almost six years. Every year, something would come up — work, life, timing — and the dream would have to be pushed back again. But not this time.

Cherry blossom season in Japan is all about perfect timing. The blossoms don’t wait, and they bloom for such a short time that planning a trip around them can be tricky. But this year, I got lucky — and a bit strategic. One of my sister’s friends shared the latest cherry blossom forecasts with me, and that changed everything. After the third forecast, I started mapping out the cities and rough travel dates. Once the fourth forecast came out, I booked my flights. And by the fifth forecast, I had all my hotels and trains sorted. And guess what? It worked out beautifully.

I've seen cherry blossoms in Germany before — and they’re lovely — but witnessing them in Japan is something else entirely. It had been on my bucket list for so long, and now that I’ve seen it with my own eyes, I can truly say: it’s worth the wait.

One of the highlights of my trip was Aomori. The cherry blossoms there were absolutely breathtaking — like something out of a dream. It felt different, special, and magical in a way I can’t quite put into words. There’s just something about the atmosphere, the people, and the way Japan celebrates this season that makes it unforgettable.

Another beautiful surprise I experienced was seeing cherry blossoms at Mount Fuji. Honestly, I wasn’t expecting it at all — but luckily, the blossoms were still there when I visited. That view was absolutely incredible: Mount Fuji in the background and pink cherry blossoms in the foreground. It was like a scene from a postcard and truly one of those moments you never forget.

While traveling around Japan, I encountered so many kind and helpful people. Yes, the language barrier is real, but kindness goes a long way. My best friends on this trip? Translation App and my eSIM data package from Airalo — honestly, lifesavers! I don’t think I would’ve managed without them.

A few fun cultural shocks: Japanese people love to queue — and I mean for everything. Even at the train station, they wait in line so patiently. It was kind of amazing to see. And the silence! I remember coming out of a crowded train station, expecting noise and chatter, but there was nothing. Just quiet. Even on trains, everyone’s glued to their phones — no talking, no disturbance. As a tourist, it was a little surreal, but also fascinating.

People are so polite and helping. once I Gave order for my food and coffee but somehow the girl got it wrong and gave me 2 coffees. One glass black coffee and another with milk with caramel . so then I explained her again that just need a coffee with soy milk and caramel on the top. thats all. She then gave me the right coffee but then she saw that she actually charged me more because of 2 separate coffee and milk and now the price should be less. so she cancelled my first payment and then charged me again for the correct price. I was very impressed by her honesty. I am sure in any other country they would have maximum given me correct coffee again but never would have made any price change once charged.

And then there’s the train system — oh my god! Especially at Shinjuku Station and Tokyo station. I got lost, confused, and even bought the same ticket three times. Still got it wrong. That place is a maze. Finding the right exit felt like a mini adventure in itself. But hey, that’s all part of the journey, right?

Another thing I experienced was how important cash still is in Japan. So many places only accept cash! I was under the impression that Germany was the only country lagging behind when it comes to card payments — but nope, Japan too! That was a bit annoying, honestly. I mean, who wants to carry cash around all the time? In many other Asian countries, I hardly ever use cash anymore, but Japan is definitely an exception. So, a tip: make sure to always carry some cash with you when traveling there.

Now, on to something amazing — the food. Japan is an absolute food heaven for me! Sushi and ramen are two of my favorite foods, and I just loved every bite here. Whether it was a small local shop or a famous restaurant, everything tasted so fresh and delicious. I could have spent the entire trip just eating my way through the country!

But I must say, Japan is still an expensive country. Compared to Korea, I felt the costs here were quite a bit higher — especially when it came to taxis and eating out. It’s definitely not the cheapest place to travel, but honestly, for the experience you get, it’s worth every yen.

Japan truly is a fascinating country. I loved every bit of it — the food, the culture, the nature, the people. I’m already dreaming about my next visit, maybe to Osaka and Kyoto. Let’s see when that happens.

But for now, I’m just incredibly grateful that my cherry blossom dream finally came true. The universe delivered, and I couldn’t be happier. Let’s see what the rest of the year brings!

 

 

 

 

 

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Rental Boyfriend Experience in Japan

 This year, I finally went on my long-awaited trip to Japan. While casually browsing travel content about Japan, I came across several YouTubers talking about the “rent a boyfriend or girlfriend” concept in Japan. Naturally, anything that’s a little unusual or out of the ordinary quickly finds its way onto my bucket list.

Curious, I started looking for websites that offer rental boyfriend services. To my surprise, there were plenty of options for renting a girlfriend, but almost nothing for boyfriends. After trying out several different keyword combinations, I eventually stumbled upon a website called Warm Relation, which provides rental boyfriend services.

The idea behind Warm Relation is simple: a male companion, known as a “cast,” gives you a dating experience for a set amount of time. It’s not physical or romantic in a traditional sense—it’s more like a wholesome first-date experience.you can always express your wishes as to what type of date experience you are looking for.

When I checked the website, two profiles caught my eye, and among them, I chose Mitsuru, mainly because his profile clearly stated that he could speak English and he is very handsome .That made the decision easy.

I emailed him to express my interest and proposed a few dates and times. Mitsuru was incredibly polite and responsive. We exchanged a few emails discussing what kind of experience I was looking for, and he thoughtfully planned the entire date based on my preferences.

From the moment we met, the experience was fantastic. As someone who is always in a leadership role—whether at home, at work, or socially—it felt refreshing to let someone else take the lead for a change. Mitsuru was attentive, thoughtful, and made sure I felt comfortable and cared for throughout.

Surprisingly, it didn’t feel like we were meeting for the first time. The conversation flowed effortlessly all evening. Not once did we face an awkward silence or wonder what to do next. His English was also good and for few times when it was difficult to find the right words we used the translation app so all worked really well. 

He had reserved a table at a sushi restaurant, where we had a lovely dinner. After that, he took me to explore the vibrant nightlife of Shinjuku, something I probably wouldn’t have done alone. With him by my side, it was not only fun—it felt safe and exciting. For once, someone else took the lead, asked what I wanted, and made me feel cared for. It wasn’t about romance—it was about connection, conversation, and a bit of playfulness.”

We talked about everything under the sun, walked around hand in hand, and shared that sweet feeling of a first date. It was a magical evening.

As a solo traveler, especially in a country where language can be a barrier, this experience gave me a new way to connect with the city—through the eyes of a local, with warmth and care. It made me feel good about myself, valued, and genuinely looked after.

So yeah, I went on a date with a rental boyfriend in Tokyo, and I enjoyed it a lot. It was unique, heartwarming, and gave me a whole new way to experience the city.”

I wish such service exists in all countries .

If you ever find yourself in Tokyo and want to try something new and meaningful, I highly recommend booking a date with Mitsuru through Warm Relation. He will definitely make you feel special.

https://warmrelation.com/cast/masaki-mitsuru/

 My Immersive K-Beauty Experience in Korea

Korea is globally renowned for its thriving beauty industry, often referred to as "K-Beauty." From innovative skincare products to cutting-edge treatments, the world is captivated by the trendsetting influence of Korean beauty practices.

Recently, K-Beauty has become a worldwide trend. Social media, K-dramas, and K-pop stars have helped make it even more popular. People from all over want to try Korean beauty products and treatments.

After watching too many K-dramas and a real big fan of Korean food and beauty ,this year i decided to go to Seoul to experience this k- beauty treatments.  Here's a glimpse into my K-Beauty journey in the vibrant Gangnam district.

I been to Korea already 2 times and i am a big fan of this country. last 2 times it was just doing sightseeing, but this time I wanted to do something different. I use k-beauty products a lot. Last year I also watched many you-tubers showing their different skin care and hair and many other treatments done in Korea so I also decided to do some of these treatments.

There is no point in just following some influencers but need to do own study and research. After some research and also consulted my Korean friend in Seoul I decided to go with the SEOUL GUIDE MEDICAL company. they are government approved company specialized for foreigners to find the right clinic and right treatments.  I consulted them and finally decided on three different treatments. They also provide a English translator for you at the time of treatment in the clinic.

I did these 3  treatments: Pico toning for even toning my pigmentation, scalp scaling and K-glow package for skin tightening, pore reduction and improving the texture of my skin.  All my clinics were in Gangnam. It is a rich and glamorous area. It’s also full of beauty clinics. These clinics offer many treatments, from simple skincare to high-tech cosmetic procedures.

Every building on both sides of the road has at-least 3-4 clinics. You name the treatment and you have the clinic for that. The area is teeming with state-of-the-art facilities offering a range of treatments, from skincare enhancements to advanced cosmetic procedures.

One might expect such high-quality treatments in a luxurious setting to come with a hefty price tag. Surprisingly, the costs in Korea are remarkably affordable compared to similar procedures in Europe or the United States. All together I Paid around 900 euro for all the treatments. 

you can watch the reviews of all my treatments here: 

https://youtube.com/shorts/jFECD9CU_kk?si=LAjdL76xyfQ31cg9

https://youtube.com/shorts/IGLunxmEZHw?si=3B_BhOe00Aj3E8NT

https://youtube.com/shorts/kCeBJqrcMDw?si=ppUQ6nVXg_mgIWH7

I am really happy about my K-beauty treatment experience and hopefully can go once a year to Seoul for such treatments. Its suggested to do these treatments at-least once a year for better results. I really love doing such things and getting pampered. Next time may be will stay a bit longer and do some more treatments. 

K-Beauty continues to captivate and inspire people across the globe. Whether you’re looking for high-quality treatments or a glimpse into the future of beauty, Korea is undoubtedly the place to be.

 

 

 

 

Glacier Express journey

Glacier Express journey

Glacier express journey was in my bucket list since really long time and  finally this year I got a chance to travel in glacier express. Let me tell you this is definitely expensive but worth experience one time. 

Me and one of my friends found a a good deal on glacier express website a very good deal for 3 nights , 4 days for just 700 euro and we decided to go for it. our journey started in St. Moritz and ended in Zermatt in Switzerland.

The Glacier Express is one of the most famous and scenic train journeys in the world, offering a breathtaking views through the heart of the Swiss Alps.  The train was designed to connect the two major mountain resorts of Zermatt and St. Moritz efficiently, traversing the scenic but challenging terrain of the Swiss Alps .

The Glacier Express travels between Zermatt and St. Moritz, covering a distance of approximately 291 kilometers (181 miles) and taking around 8 hours . The train navigates through 91 tunnels and over 291 bridges, demonstrating remarkable engineering feats in challenging alpine conditions .

We started in the morning at 9 from St. Moritz and reached around 5 in the evening to Zermatt. The train has a panoramic windows and you can experience the beauty of Alps. the views are really beautiful. just frame after frame the scenic journey. At the end I just stopped clicking photos and videos as I was not able to decide which scene is more beautiful. The best was to capture all the beauty in my eyes than in the camera. 

We booked the ticket for second class but if you have money you should definitely go for the first class carriages. 

The food and drinks are also served in the train for the extra price. But I must say the food was really not that impressive. Me and my friend are originally smart :) so we did not book any food in the train from the start. So we saved some money. We brought our food and drinks with us but bought some coffee and swiss special nut cake which was very delicious. But a bit expensive. any way once you are in Switzerland you should not think much about prices as they are going to be expensive. 

When we reached Zermatt we also visited 2 highest mountain peaks in Europe namely Matterhorn and Gornergrat. We need to take the multiple cable cars to go to Matterhorn. The cost is 55 swiss franks with discount of Swiss travel pass. the swiss travel pass was also included in the glacier express tour package. else it would have been really expensive. the view from the top is so beautiful. i just don't have words to express its beauty. 

The second mountain peak is Gornergrat. We need to take a small train from Zermatt - the train goes through the mountain showcasing scenic views . 

Zermatt itself is a very small town famous for skiing and winter sports. very expensive but very beautiful. 

After this trip i could give you few tips to save some money. its better start the train journey from Chur than from St. Moritz. Also there is no need to book the glacier express on both ways but only one way and the other way you can book the cheap train as the view is going to be the same on both ways. From the cheap train also you can experience the views . So only one way glacier express experience is not a bad idea. 

I am really happy that I was able to tick one more thing from my travel bucket list and experience this beautiful views and luxurious journey through Alps.

The Glacier Express remains a symbol of luxury and scenic travel, providing an unforgettable experience through one of the most beautiful and rugged regions of the world. Whether for its historical significance, engineering marvels, or simply the stunning views, it continues to be a must-visit attraction for travelers to Switzerland.

 

 

 

 

 

Vanuatu

Vanuatu

This year started on a good note. Past 3 years I did not travel as much as I normally do. I have been to few places in the past 2 years but not many new countries. Always new cities but same countries in Europe. But this year I travelled to a small new country called Vanuatu. This is my 42^nd country. The new year started good, and I am hopeful that this year I will visit a few new countries.  I feel lucky to have this opportunity to travel around the world.

I never heard the name of this country before, but my sister suggested me to travel there during my stay in Australia. I agreed immediately and started searching for this country. Vanuatu is a South Pacific Ocean nation made up of roughly 83 islands. It is a beautiful small island country. Their currency is called Vatu. The country is not very chip for the tourists, and it is always better to have cash with you when you go around.

I never saw in any country such a happy and smiling immigration officer as in Vanuatu airport. When we landed there and went through immigration, the officer smiled at us and asked about us and wished us a happy stay in his country. This one thing we experienced during our stay is that everyone is very thankful to the tourists and says often that they are thankful to us for choosing their country as a tourist destination.

People are very relaxed and always ready to help and smiling. Most of the population is Melanesian and some Polynesian. There are More than 100 local Melanesian languages and dialects are spoken; Bislama, an English-based Melanesian pidgin, is the national language and, along with English and French, is one of three official languages. They also write in a broken English e.g. True is written as Tru. Or belong is written as blong.

The main attraction for me was to go to the Tanna Volcano Day trip but unfortunately all the trips during my stay were full and I could not go there. I was very disappointed. But this means I will go there again who knows. I was then in the main city called port vila during my visit to Vanuatu. I was still able to enjoy it there. Did a few good day trips and the rest of the time just relaxed in our resort.

One day I went to 83 island distilleries for Rum tasting. The interesting thing about this rum is that it is made from sugarcane. Normally rum is made from molasses but in Vanuatu distillery they make it from locally produced sugarcane. This way the local farmers get some money. This distillery is new, only 6 years old and small. Currently they supply the rum to all the hotels and resorts on the island but soon they will export it to Australia and New Zealand too. I got to taste 6 different rums. The sugar cane rum was very smooth. In the rum production area, there was always this sweet smell of sugarcane which was very similar to the jaggary we use in India. Also, this smell made me nostalgic and took me back to the old days in Pune where we used to drink this sugarcane juice very often.

The lady who gave me the tour was very nice and friendly. Luckily, I was the only one on that day for the tour, so it was like my private tour.

We also did the bush walking tour with the tour company Vanuatu Ecotours. This was the best tour. The walk was very easy and informative. Our guide took us through pure nature, showed us different trees and fruits and took us to the house of the village chief. This chief was very nice and generous. He gave us the taste of the fresh fruits from his trees. Showed us how they really live ecofriendly. He told us to become a chief you should have many trees, pigs and chickens because if local people come to you asking for help you should be able to give them something. His garden, well it’s much bigger than the garden, was full of fruit trees and vegetables, chickens, and pigs.

One day we also did a trip to see the culture and the traditional ways the people follow in small villages or in some tribes. One can also do many day trips to nearby islands where you can go snorkeling, kayaking, or just walking on the sandy beach.

The island people are very relaxed, and they are not very rich, but they are happy and enjoying their nature and ecofriendly, sustainable lifestyle. Thanx to my sister I was able to travel to this beautiful country this year.