Overseas stories

I was surprised by the sheer size of Soekarno-Hatta Airport and its surprisingly advanced digitalization. As you approach the airport, you can see mosques like these everywhere. Perhaps it's a typical sight in Indonesia, where 80% of the population is Muslim. I was so excited by these unfamiliar views. […]

The very first thing I notice when I come to India is that there's absolutely nowhere you don't see people. Seriously, whether it's outdoors or in an office, people are overflowing everywhere you go. It sounds strange, but even in toilets and elevators, the only place I've been where I didn't see people was my hotel […]

Along with the Taj Mahal... My business trip to India spanned a weekend, and since I had Sunday off, arrangements were made for me to visit the Taj Mahal. I was so thrilled because it's a place I've always wanted to see but never thought I'd get the chance.

Yep, Delhi has World Heritage sites too! On Saturday, I was working at the office of a startup CEO I'm deeply grateful to, chatting openly until about 3 PM. After that, I figured I'd have some free time, so my colleague and I initially planned to check out the nearby Lotus Temple. However, since Humayun's Tomb, a World Heritage site, was right around the corner, we decided to head there instead.

Waking up to a thunderstorm early the morning after arriving in New Delhi. I've been to India several times, but rarely experienced rain like this. Heading to breakfast, I noticed the floor was completely flooded! I almost slipped, barely realizing what was happening. Staff were diligently sweeping water away. "Is it always this chaotic with just rain?" I chuckled.

I had a business trip to Indonesia, and while looking at the required documents for the visa application – a scan of my passport ID page, flight tickets, and a passport photo – I didn't think much of it, assuming it was standard. But then I noticed something specific about the photo: "passport photo with a red background"... A red background?

I vaguely remembered my wife mentioning how an Indian toothpaste she got from a friend was surprisingly good. While on a business trip to India, I did a little research for souvenir ideas and found out about this Ayurvedic formula.

For a business trip to India, I first needed to get to Chennai. I was thinking of my usual route via Bangkok with Thai Airways, but with a nearly 4-hour layover and a midnight arrival, I felt bad about the local staff having to pick me up.

Rear-facing seats? I've been curious about ANA's THE Room ever since it was first announced, but with limited routes, I never really had the chance to try it. Then, a business trip to San Francisco came up.

The whirlwind started with, "I'm competing in the World Aquatics Championships!" My best friend's child from Sweden made it to the national team, causing quite a stir. Naturally, our family decided to go to Fukuoka to cheer them on, which involved a lot of planning.