If you’re trying to get back to Kuala Lumpor from Japan, consider stopping over in Taipei. I found a cheap flight from Kansai International Airport to Taoyuan which got me back on the Air Asia network again.

Another thing worth sharing is a hostel I came across in central Taipei. Plenty of cheap food options and transport links within walking distance. A real result.

The hostel in question is called Holo Family House, situated on the 22nd floor of the KMall. The guesthouse also seems to be pretty earthquake proof, as I didn’t feel the aftershocks that hit Taipei recently.

I was expecting a big come down from Japan, so much so I had done no research on visa requirements  (free 90 day visa on arrival) or places to stay before setting off to the airport.

The friendliness of the people and great location nursed my Japanese come down a real treat. I’ll be back.

Kyoto has many things to offer the creative tourist. I could talk to you about the amazing temples and zen gardens or the delicious types of food and drink on offer, down to the intimate social scene going on in the evenings.

However, after a year of traveling around South East Asia, and traveling solo through Japan, I started to experience a “sight seeing malaise”. What seemed to inspire me more than anything else, was spending time with like minded people, and that’s exactly what I did in Kyoto.

My friend Kana (who I met randomly in Tokyo), put me in contact with architects “Geneto”. She told me we should have some common ground.

What started as a chat and dinner at their office, led to a couple of evenings out, and eventually me sleeping at the Geneto studio!

Trying to network at the AS2 art event, which included an eclectic mix of artists, poets, web & game designers, scientists and TV mafioso.

Myself and Ko-ji from Geneto settle down for some Chanko.

The lovely Asako from Geneto (left) and Mayumi (center) helped me out by translating my english at dinner and social events. I would not of been able to talk openly about design, business, love or life without them. Thank you both!

Myself, Keiji (left) and Eiichiro (right) from Geneto talk about women through an English to Japanese translation website. Some very funny “lost in translation” moments.

Conclusion

I was honoured that Ko-ji invited me to stay at his studio. It was a real inspirational experience to see how this creative collective operated. Although Ko-ji’s english was limited and my japanese just as bad, I felt that we had a strange sense of connection and similarity in values and ideas. He even told me how he dreamt in English sometimes - which I thought was hilarious.

I can’t wait to return to Kyoto, and be able to have a one-on-one conversation in Japanese with Ko-ji and Asako.

It goes to show, there may be cultural differences in this world, but we’re all made of the same stuff. Design and passion binds us together.

This experience has defiantly re-fuelled my inspiration tank, and made me even more curious about the wonders of Japan…

I’m also wondering where my Japanese phrase book disappeared to.

Keep loving, keep giving.

Links

• Geneto
• AS2 Art Event (Japanese Blog)