A Lai Family Trip to Japan!

Wanderlust once propelled most of my travels, many of them solo. But I've slowed down and now value more who I experience adventures with rather than what.

I'm most grateful I got to experience such a beautiful country with my family. The conditions remind me of the saying, "Youth is wasted on the young." Indeed my parents seldom had the resources to travel when they were younger. Ironically now that they're older and can through hard-earned savings or support from my sisters and me, their age starts to limit them physically.

This presented a fine sliver of time where we had both the financial and physical means to huff up Chureito Pagoda and watch the Fuji sunset together. So I'm damn glad we took this time!

Strangely, this makes me welcome the future when my knees might buckle after a long day or I learn to fear heights in the face of a simple ferris wheel. Because if I'm lucky, I'll have raised children who would cheer me on up those colorful hills or hold my hands into that intimidating gondola.

Maybe I'd revise the saying: Youth is just a mindset, and there is never waste when it comes to love.

Note: Originally a post on Instagram 5/15/24. Had more thoughts on this, but thought it already sentimental enough and long form than usual for Gen-Z IG. So glad it's to find a home here

-Brian Lai