It is now the winter season in Iceland, but I'm far from there. The summer was full of work and learning. I dived deep into learning web development and completed some beautiful brand identity design and web projects. But I started to feel the need for adventure. I had been thinking of travelling to Japan - a long dream of mine, since the beginning of the year. And since my 33 birthday was coming up, I decided to go big and celebrate it by going to Japan.

And what can I say... it was one of the best, most transformative adventures of my life.

a birthday in tokyo

I started the trip in Tokyo. It met and exceeded my expectations. By far. Tokyo is the best city on Earth (in my opinion). Some of my favourite things about the city:

The mix between old and new

It is incredibly inspiring for me to be amongst a city so big, so technologically advanced, so efficient, and yet so peaceful. At times quiet, even. Everything works perfectly. You can retreat from the hussle and bussle and find temples spread across the city.

The Expression of Self Through Fashion

I loved exploring the different neighbourhoods and get a different feeling of the city. People watch. Experience it. Become part of it. I loved the uniqueness of the people, the expression of self through fashion, the respect towards one another. Tokyo, blew my mind away. I am in love.

A City of the Future

Everything works so well. Everything is spotless, efficient, and convenient. The public transportation system is the best I've ever experienced. It's beautifully designed and so intuitive. Tokyo feels, in many ways, like an amusement park. The architecture also blew me away. Seeing the city from above (Shibuya Sky and Tokyo Skytree) was truly a feeling like no other.

I then headed to Osaka. Osaka is, I beleive, what people imagine when they think about Japan. It is a melting pot of amazing food, amazing nightlife, amazing street style, and A LOT OF PEOPLE. Osaka overwhelmed me, I'm not gonna lie. I spent 5 amazing days there (mostly eating) and then headed to Kyoto.

KYOTO: A TIMELESS DREAM

I was not prepared for what I was about to experience in Kyoto. Kyoto feels like a timesless dream. A sanctuary to beauty and peace. The city beautifully intertwines with nature. It is absolutely stunning with its minimalism. In Kyoto you can experience transformative moments of absolute peace. It is very turistic, of course, but once you manage to find a spot away from the crowds...Kyoto blew me away. I would return in a second.

One of my core memories is my visit to Fushimi Inari Taisha. The shrine is made up of what seems like an endless path of tori gates, one after the other, leading up to mount Inari. The entire path is guided and guarded by kitsune (foxes). And it represents prosperity, good fortune, and success in business. Each of the gates has been donated by a different business in order to receive a blessing.

I stood in front of a divine tree and prayed for direction, prosperity, and success for my ventures and for my life. It was a deeply moving experience. Then I kept ascending the mountain, going the deeper into the forest, and was surrounded by countless shrines, all guarded by kitsune (foxes).

It felt like a truly magical, and sacred place. It's one of the most beautiful places I've ever had the pleasure to experience.

Kyoto was the most social place I visited as well. I met amazing people. And could get a better feel of Japanese culture. I'll never forget what it felt like to experience Japan for the first time. Not ever.

It made me feel like I was in the right moment, at the exact right time.I can't wait to go back. Maybe this time for longer.

pescatori digitali: co-living in stintino

I spent 3 amazing weeks exploring Japan. But then my next adenture awaited for me. I was invited to an amazing project called Pescatori Digitali, a coliving/coworking experience pilot in Stintino, a small town in Sardinia.

I'll be spending the rest of the month coliving and coworking with 9 other creatives/digitial nomads from all over the world. The task is very straight to the point: experience and bring life to a town that would otherwise be lacking life during the winter season.

Stintino greatly resembles the town I'm currently living in Iceland: Ísafjörður. This is an amazing learning opportunity for me as I'll be learning how a successful co-living venture runs in a emote town. In the future, the plan is to replicate this experience in Iceland. Bring creatives from all over the world to experience rural life in Iceland while they colive and cowork.

The project is an initiative by Abstentia, in collaboration with their co-living partner Sende (one of the oldest co-livings in the world). I highly recommend to check out both initiatives if you're interested in experiencing this way of community living.

I'm staying in Stintino until November 30th and then I'll be heading back home to Iceland. I'm returning to slow down, rest and fully enjoy the winter.

I don't know know what the future holds, but I truly enjoyed these moments of digital nomadism and I will definitely be planning more of them in the future.

A QUICK STOP IN ROME

Pescatori Digitali was full of learnings and good times in community. But now it was time to head back home. So on the way back, I took the opportunity to make a stop in Rome.

I was completely shook with the beauty of the city. I've been extremely interested in learning about art and seeing humanity's greatest artworks with my own eyes.

I had the pleasure to visit the Colosseum, Pantheon, the Vatican Museums, visit the Sistine Chapel decored with Michalengelo's incredible works!!! It felt like a dream, like walking amongst eternity. All I could think about was being a young graphic design student and learning about all these pieces of ancient art. To see them in real life feels incredible and I feel so grateful.

This trip has been one of the biggest adventures of my life, and I feel in many ways transformed. You cannot witness some of the most beautiful art, temples, architecture, and cities on Earth to return the same.

I am now back in Iceland where I'll be spending the rest of the winter enjoying the peace and quiet of the winter season. The past two months have been filled to the max with beauty, art, music, community, delicious shared meals, and endless inspiration for the future.

I feel so lit up and full of sun, literally. I have returned so happy and hopeful for the future.

‍Now the winter season is for thought, rest, and as always, creation.
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Talk to you next time,
‍
Leiry. 🤎