Told to "eat more" my whole life, I turned food into a chore – until travel taught me to savour each bite, even if I’m still the world’s slowest eater.

Choosing a career in travel lets me earn an income while exploring the world, breaking free from the 9-to-6 routine I once thought was my only path.

I joined one of those group tour packages to Japan, and it made me realise just how much I value independent travel. Here’s why it didn’t work for me.

Oshino Hakkai was crowded, cold, and full of reflections – of Mount Fuji, the sky, and a tourist fumbling to enjoy it all anyway.

On my first trip to Japan, I set out in search of autumn leaves, and found them in the quiet beauty of Nikko, surrounded by red forests and stone paths.