I visited Sikkim last April, which is my hometown and a Himalayan state northeast of India. It has a beautiful natural landscape with gigantic mountain ranges under a pleasant, fresh and cold climate. I took a break from the hustle of the city and relaxed while cooling off from the heat.

While I was in my hometown, I went to visit one of the monasteries called the Tsuklakhang Royal Monastery. It is a calm and beautiful place with monks chanting prayers in the morning. I remember sitting there for a while just to relax and appreciate the atmosphere. I also traveled with my friends to Gurudongmar Lake and Lachen, the northern part of Sikkim. Gurudongmar Lake is one of the highest lakes in the world at an altitude of 5430m, and it is completely frozen during winter but flows with fresh water in summer. I had a great time admiring the beautiful scenery while making stone towers. I spent a night at a homestay in Lachen where I came across an interesting Himalayan stove. The old Himalayan stove is connected to the entire home, allowing cooking and heating at the same time. It is a system very suitable for the cold Himalayan region.

I realized the aesthetics of the slow-paced world and humility in life through the people I met in Sikkim. I look forward to reflect this inspiration and energy I gained from this trip into my future design work.

On my last vacation, I visited Himeji Castle, one of the three greatest Japanese castles. In the morning, I took a train from Osaka to Himeji which ran along the coast. I was able to begin my trip in a good mood by enjoying the stunning scenery of the mountains and sea.

Himeji Castle is a structure coated in white paint that is located in the center of the city, and it is also known as the Castle of White Egret. The storages, arsenal, and the lord’s guard residence are well preserved within the castle and their previous functions are introduced in detail, much to the satisfactions of history fans like myself. They are great for grasping the big picture of how traditional Japanese castles were designed, built, and operated. When you climb to the 9th floor of the main castle, you can see a great scenery of the town, the surrounding mountains, and the coast in the distance. Apart from Himeji Castle, I also strongly recommend trying Kobe beef in Kobe, enjoying the night scene on top of Mount Maya, and visiting Nara to feed deer at Nara Park.

For design strategists as myself, traveling is a great opportunity to appreciate aesthetics, social trends, and cultural diversity. This was a meaningful trip that gave me inspiration for my work and energized my daily life.

I went to Bangkok for my first overseas trip since the pandemic. I chose Bangkok because of the convenient flight duration of about five hours from Seoul and its good public safety.

Whenever I travel, I always search for places where I can appreciate the traditional culture of the country. This time I visited Wat Arun, the main Buddhist temple in Bangkok, and it was an excellent choice. Wat Arun means Temple of Dawn and got its name because it is the first place where the sunlight touches. The brilliant light emitted by the setting sun on the tallest tower, Phra Prang, was so dazzling and beautiful that I cannot describe it. On the last day, I also visited the ‘Ghibli Studio Exhibition’. It was a very meaningful experience for me since I decided to major in art after witnessing Hayao Miyazaki’s works when I was young. Because it was a large-scale exhibition, I was able to admire a variety of works that greatly inspired me. It was a valuable time to reflect on my earlier dreams and passion for design.

Memories made in unfamiliar places become the driving force that renews our daily lives. I believe the various perceptions and inspiring experiences I gained from this trip will be great assets for me when I unleash my creativity in my next projects.