Your favorite sister duo chats with their guest Mia, who shares about her experience living in Japan. She discusses cultural nuances, travel tips, and hidden gems across the country outside of the top tourist destinations. Whether you're planning your first trip or dreaming of long-term stays, you’ll find valuable advice to enhance your journey.

Japan recommendations:

Activities:

• Takayama (Japanese Alps)
• Kanazawa (for art lovers)
• Wakayama (beaches and Sandanbeki Caves)
• Hokkaido (for nature lovers, skiing, Sapporo (beer), Otaru (music boxes, canals))
• Kyoto (traditional temples and shrines, bamboo forest, matcha)
• Osaka (comedy, great food scene)
• Onsen (do your research)
• Karaoke
• Izakaya
• Purikura (Photo booth)
• Kaitenzushi (Conveyer belt sushi)
• Festival food and researching interesting local festivals
• Anything from the vending machine
• Tea ceremony
• Donki (Don Quijote, but most just say Donki): Japanese pharmacy for some great products
• Get an omikuji (fortune)
• Shinkansen (Bullet train)

Helpful Resources

• Book, Learning to Bow
• Klook: booking transport and activities
• Tabelog: restaurants
• Suica app: tap to pay for public transport and vending machines
• Rail Pass: public transport

Music & Show Recs

• Hana Yori Dango (Boys over flowers)
• Any Miyazaki film (Spirited Away & Kiki’s Delivery Service, and My neighbor Totoro)
• Music (My personal favorites): Radwimps, Mitsume, One Ok Rock, For Tracy Hyde
• Terrace House is helpful when learning Japanese

Language Resources

• Italki (good for continued practice)
• Pimsleur - great for travelers
• HelloTalk (Essentially a social media app for language exchange)
• Genki books (grammar)
• Jdramas/Movies

Helpful Phrases

• Arigatou Gozaimasu (Thank You)
• Sumimasen (Excuse me/ Sorry)
• ……. doko desu ka? (Where is….)
• Betsu Betsu /Isho...Ishouni (Separate / Together) Used when paying bills.
• Koko de / ommochikaeri (For here/ Takeaway) Often used in Starbucks or other fast food restaurants and coffee shops.
• .....desu ka (phrases that end this way are always a question)
• Eigo no menu ga arimasuka? (Is there an English menu?)
• Onegaishimasu / Kudasai (Please)
• Konnichiwa / Konbanwa (Good morning / Good evening )
• Oishi / oishikatta desu (Delicious / That was delicious)

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Your favorite sister duo chats with their guest Anna about her transformative travel life and her immersive, off-the-beaten-path trip to Albania. Anna shares how she pivoted from a traditional career path to teaching abroad, later becoming a digital nomad based in Madrid, and how travel—and especially solo travel—reshaped her outlook. The core of the conversation focuses on Albania: how a last-minute, budget-friendly trip became a vivid, life-affirming experience in Tirana and the mountain town of Berat, the country’s landscapes, people, culture, food, and logistics. Anna also offers practical tips for travelers exploring Albania (and similar destinations) and reflects on the joy of slow travel.

Albania Recommendations:

Hostels:

• Tirana: Vanilla Sky Boutique Hostel
• Berat: Berat Backpackers Hostel

Restaurants

Tirana:

• Where the hostel was (Blloku area) had tons of good restaurants
• HANA Corner Cafe: coffee and breakfast
• Eja Restaurant: traditional food in quiet spot
• Odas Garden: beautiful terrace / patio

Berat:

• Friendly House: great views
• Homemade Food Lili: literal home-cooking
• Gorica area has beautiful restaurants and look-out bars

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Your favorite sister duo goes back to their OG days for an episode with just Halle and Kelcy. They start the episode by marveling over the 9 Power Principles of the Blue Zones, five areas of the world known for vitality and longevity. Then Kelcy shares about her recent trip to Aruba and why it is called “One Happy Island”. She gives recommendations on where to stay vs. where not to stay, must-do activities, and must-try restaurants. They discuss how Aruba’s predictable weather and location outside of the hurricane belt make it a reliable Caribbean destination. Don’t underestimate Aruba’s small size; there is a vast amount to do so it is a 100% MUST to venture outside of your resort!

Aruba Recommendations:

Beaches/Hotel Zones:

• Palm Beach (main hotel zone) - Marriott Stellaris Resort & Casino
• Eagle/Manchebo/Divi Beach

Restaurants:

• Koal
• Faro Blanco
• Papiamento
• Zeerover
• Eduardo’s Beach Shack
• Apotek Speakeasy
• Lima Bistro
• Ever
• Madame Janette
• Flying Fishbone
• Old Man and the Sea

Activities:

• Turtle snorkeling (Tres Trapi Beach)
• Arikok National Park
• Westpunt Trail (North end)
• Spa del Sol
• Ola Gallery
• Aloe Vera Factory
• Consider Flamingo Island - we didn’t do this but is a popular thing to do

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