By Travel Bromo
Lifestyle Specialist

For some, Atlanta is a difficult place to navigate: the bustle of the big, vibrant city coupled with a plethora of places to call home for the night can be a bit daunting. However, the Hyatt Place Atlanta, Airport North gives us hope that there are places among the coming and going that allow one to unwind in style.

This recently-remodeled hotel is one of the Hyatt Place’s most strategic and hospitable options. Conveniently nestled between downtown and Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, the Hyatt Place Atlanta, Airport North is known for its southern hospitality with that lovable Atlanta twist. The front desk staff are some of the most welcoming and truly caring individuals within the Hyatt brand, and their emphasis on client relations while maintaining a beautiful lobby and quality rooms is impressive.

The rooms are spacious and can accommodate up to four people comfortably. The ultra-chic yet simplistic design of the room allows the business traveler to feel extremely en casa while also allowing a work-from-home feel. Complimentary WiFi is available in every room, which is quite fast and convenient. The rooms boast a mini-fridge, separate sink, European-style shower, and high-def television.

For the traveler that’s been sitting on a plane all day or for tne corporate gal that needs to unwind after a full day of meetings, the hotel offers a boutique fitness center that includes a full set of weights, treadmills, and ellipticals. While not the largest fitness center in the system, it is a very good gym for the bro that needs a quick lift and sweat game before using the hotel’s convenient shuttle to the MARTA and heading downtown,

The Hyatt Place Atlanta, Airport North is an ideal location for business travelers and those on a layover between flights. It is also a great location for those wanting to experience Atlanta without having to be surrounded by the ecstasy of the vibrant city 24/7. For guests who are interested in venturing into the city, the hotel offers a complimentary shuttle to guest at all hours of the day, twice an hour. The shuttle takes you within a 3 mile radius and to the airport. For guests wishing to use the MARTA, Atlanta’s public transportation rail system, one can get on the shuttle to the airport and walk to the train (located before security in terminal 1).

One of the distinct aspects of this hotel is the attention to detail that the front desk staff provides guests. Each guest is treated with superb service and attitude and you truly feel welcomed with every greeting they provide. Did I mention the hotel also offers complimentary breakfast for guests between 6a-10a? It is way more than a standard hotel buffet breakfast: this Hyatt Place location creates local delicacies, such as Cajun potatoes and grits, which is an Atlanta staple. Hungry, anyone?

Hyatt Place Atlanta, Airport North, rates start at $135 a night.
3415 Norman Berry Drive
Atlanta, Georgia 30344

By Travel Bromo
Lifestyle Specialist

The Galt Hou​se is one of Louisville’s local treasures to the rest of the Union. It’s an ode to the old, and a bourbon toast to the new. According to hotel representatives, in the early 1800s the original Galt House was a residence owned by Dr. W.C. Galt. In 1835, a 60-room hotel was opened as the Galt House Hotel across the street from the residence at the northeast corner of First and Main.

​In 1865, the hotel was destroyed by fire; but within weeks, noted architect R. Whitestone began plans for construction a block away from the original site. The new Galt House Hotel opened in 1869 and operated until 1919. It was razed in 1921.
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Over half of a century later, in 1972, Galt House Hotel was reestablished by developer Al J. Schneider as part of Louisville's Riverfront Urban Renewal Project. It remains Louisville’s only waterfront hotel.

The hotel is a delicate balance of old luxury and modern decadence. The Galt House suites are some of the most impressive in Louisville, and are perfect additions to those wishing to visit the city for a bourbon tasting or the Kentucky Derby. As the official hotel for derby days, it is a must while in Louisville.

Additionally, the bourbon trail is a cab ride away and plenty of local distilleries and breweries boast some of the city’s top culinary and beverage options. Our favorite nearby is the Evan Williams Experience, which is walking distance from the hotel.

The Galt House’s suites are decadent in the 1920’s fashion: big suede couches, handmade furniture, and large comfortable beds. While the decorations are left to a minimal, the space of the suite itself is incredible and great for both entertaining and sleeping. Rumor has it that the suites also come with paranormal friends during derby days, but during our stay we missed out on the action: no friendly ghosts to greet us, just a divine pillow to lay our heads on.

The Galt House, rates start at $183.35 a night.
140 North Fourth Street
Louisville, KY 40202

By Travel Bromo
Lifestyle Specialist

Serious chillaxing in Charlottesville, in particular at the Holiday Inn. The recently renovated hotel centrally located 2.5 miles from the airport and walking distance to the University of Virginia is ideal for a great overnight when visiting the college kids or attending a homegrown football game. With shuttle access to the university (limited) and regular trips to and from the airport, this hotel is perfect for a comfortable need with access to everything a college student and business traveler could desire: trails for running and hiking, boutique grocery and fashion shops, and local brew pubs.

The rooms at the Holiday Inn Charlottesville offer unfuzzy and comfortable beds, spacious environment for bringing the college son or daughter some much needed school supplies (or beer), and quality shower amenities from Bath and Body Works.

The bathrooms are awesome and feature some amazing light for exceptional selfies and post-shower admiration. One of the best features of the bathroom is also how quick the hot water runs, and how you can adjust the pressure of water to offer a very relaxing massage. Talk about a spa experience!

Whether you’re visiting for a college tour, making business deals happen, trying to connect with a friend in university village, or need a comfortable bed before heading to Charlottesville Albemarle Airport, the Holiday Inn Charlottesville is the best place to spend a night or two. This hotel receives a 4.1/5 stars and is a great place to start an adventure in C’Ville.

Holiday Inn Charlottesville, rates start at $101.99.
1901 Emmet Street, Charlottesville, VA 22901
435-977-7700

By Travel Bromo
Lifestyle Specialist

When in Milwaukee on a short business trip or a quick visit to meet relatives, make sure to book a room at the Sleep Inn and Suites Milwaukee Airport. A convenient step from General Mitchell International Airport, this conveniently-located hotel is only a short ride away from the airport and numerous bar and restaurant options. It’s a great balance of price, comfort, and fun.

This location, at an amazing $75 a night, boasts a complimentary breakfast buffet (yum, waffles!), an updated business center, and access to numerous nearby shopping options. For the business traveler, it’s the best choice for visiting the General Mills corporate offices in Milwaukee, as it is located across the street. The beds at the Sleep Inn and Suites are incredible and the service by the wonderful staff exceeds expectations: definitely a must-stay when on a business trip or quick leisure trip in Milwaukee.

The unbeatable balance of comfort, accessibility to business and leisure activities, proximity to the airport, and food and drinks options make the Sleep Inn and Suites Milwaukee Airport a 4/5 stars rating.

Traveling goes beyond just packing your suitcase, wearing some fancy clothes, taking your flight, booking a nice accommodation and sightseeing. As much as it is meant to be an all-fun time, it may turn out to be the most boring, frustrating and disappointing travel, especially if you go unprepared. Reviewed below is a list of the most effective traveling tips that will teach you how to be a better traveler so you can enjoy every moment of it.

1. Ask Around

Asking for recommendations from family or friends who have been to the place you want to visit is usually the number one factory for ideas. By doing so, you will have an idea of what to expect during your visit. This will also help you decide whether you should go to the destination as planned or look for an alternative. You may also ask about the best means of transport, best accommodation options and even the approximate cost of visiting that destination which helps in the better planning of your travel.

1. Read Before You Go

Reading about the destination you want to travel to is crucial in helping you plan for a smoother journey. You get to know what sites you need to visit beforehand, how to get there, best accommodation options and the cost of touring the location. You can read information and reviews about the destination in books, magazines, newspapers or the internet. You also get to know the different cultures, religions and customs, so you know what is expected of you when you get there as well as how best to interact with the locals.

1. Ask the Locals

When traveling to a new location, it is pretty obvious that you can never know more than what the residents know. Feel free to ask for directions and advice from the natives for the best experience. Even when it comes to food, don’t struggle to figure out what’s on the menu. Rather, talk to the waiter or bartender and let them treat you with their best foods and drinks, preferably something you never have back at home. As much as you may have read about the best sites in the area, ask your taxi driver to take you to the best areas they know as some of these sites may not have made their way to the famous websites on the internet yet.

1. Learn Basic Phrases

Visiting countries and destinations that use a foreign language can be so challenging at first, but there is nothing as rewarding as learning some of the most significant phrases in the respective language. It does not mean that you have to take a whole course on French before visiting Paris. What you need to do is learn the language’s basic greetings, gratitude phrases and how to request phrases. Not only will this make your interaction with the natives easier and faster, but it will be a good gesture to them. Most locals find appreciation in tourists who make an effort to at least learn to speak their language no matter how little they know.

1. Try the Foods

One of the major reasons you travel to a new destination is usually to experience its diverse practices, food being one of them. Traditional foods are usually a representation of a country’s culture, and if you plan to enjoy every bit of the cultural experience, then those new foods you may consider strange are worth trying. If you keep eating what you eat at home, then what is the worth of visiting that restaurant? Although you should still beware of food allergies, and if you are susceptible to them, make sure to ask about the ingredients used in foods before eating.
Related Article: Special Diet & Food Requirements While on a Villa Holiday in Thailand

1. Take Chances With Conversations

Interacting with locals and other tourists is important, even if you traveled to have specifically a quiet time. With proper conversation, you will get to have fun with the people you meet there. Even if you are not thoroughly conversant with the language being spoken, you could try incorporating some of its phrases into your original language. You could also make use of nonverbal cues such as gestures and body language to drive a point. All this makes for a more authentic experience, and you may, in fact, make new friends during your travel period.

1. Be Flexible With Your Plans

Traveling is one of the best ways to open up and enjoy different parts of the world. Unfortunately, this can never be completely achieved unless you let loose and decide to be flexible with your plans. Rather than sticking to your boring itinerary, you need to trust your instincts and go with the flow as it will expose you to new and more exciting stuff. Make friends, try new things and be open to different ideas. You don’t need to follow a strict schedule; you are not at home or work.

1. Show Some Gratitude

Tips exist for one main reason; to show tangible gratitude to people who have been of great help to you. Make sure to tip even the most under-appreciated and forgotten employees at the hotel and wherever you go, including the maids who make your bed, clean your room and ensure your living environment is sparkling clean and in good order. If your budget does not allow for a tip, just saying thank you and treating them right is enough.

1. Keep an Open-Mind

Open-mindedness is a skill that not only applies to careers and being at home. Traveling will take you to places with different kinds of people, a diversity of cultures and varied opinions of everything. Keeping an open mind will let you learn the various practices around the world. You will get to appreciate and respect different cultures, people’s opinions and customs no matter how different they are from what you are used to back home.

1. Experience Over Stuff

The most rewarding thing about any travel is the experience you get from it. There is much joy to be experienced across the world, and you only need to focus on the feeling no matter how terrible the journey is. At the end of it all, it usually turns out positive, and the experiences will forever be in your heart and mind. Don’t just focus on the stuff you see; you can just get them in the comfort of your home. The incredible experience you get from touring new places is what made you decide to travel, so you should enjoy it all.

1. Take Photos

Taking photos of new destinations will act as a lifetime reminder that you visited that destination and enjoyed your time there. Take funny pictures with sculptures and monuments, take a picture on a landmark such as the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France. Photographs captured perfectly, in good lighting, apparently make the most incredible souvenirs as they represent a moment frozen in time. Take as many photos as you can and have some of them turned into artworks for your walls.
Related Article: Vacation Snaps: The Ultimate Photography Guide for Your Next Travel

1. Get off the beaten path

Various travel destinations are known and glorified all over the world, and every tourist wants to visit. Such destinations may not offer the best experience for you, especially if you want to avoid the crowd. If this is the case for you, then you should keep off the busy city streets and such famous tourist sites. Rather, try something new, visit less popular destinations, meet the natives and interact with them and more so, be creative and discover the hidden treasures.

1. Travel Slow

Traveling for leisure should never be done in a hurry. You aren’t at work, neither are you participating in a traveling competition or race. Take your time to enjoy truly each site you visit to avoid anxiety or to be caught up in the frenzy of wanting to bite more than you can chew. Make your itinerary shorter with the most important activities at the top of the list. It is okay to miss visiting other places during your travel for as long as you have enjoyed each moment visiting the few important places.

1. Follow the Golden Rules of Guesting

If you plan on visiting someone, even if they are hosting you in their home, it is of great essence to follow the golden rules of guesting. You should never show up empty-handed; at least, bring a gift even if it is a book, a bouquet of flowers or wine. It is showing gratitude for their good gesture of hospitality to you. You also need to leave the place better than you found it, even it means just making your bed and making the place neat.

1. Have Fun

Even with all the above tips, the final rule of being a better traveler is keeping a positive attitude and having all the fun you can. As much as you expect to run into obstacles and setbacks such as delayed flights, lost luggage and catching a cold during your travel, remaining positive will make sure you enjoy this lifetime experience.

By Jorge Zavala | Creative Director

In high school and college it is likely that you will receive some kind of encouragement to travel, study or work abroad. It may seem like you have a lot going on so you don’t seriously consider these opportunities or maybe you write them off since you plan on traveling later in life. I would encourage traveling at any age, but the earlier you can learn the lessons travel teaches the better.

When you are young you are still finding yourself and preparing for your school and career. The skills and experience you gain from traveling abroad can give you life-long personal benefits as well as a leg up in the professional world.
In high school and college you have the luxury of having flexibility since you can study anywhere in the world and have relatively long study breaks. If you are an entrepreneur, like me, then you have some leverage to do traveling at your own pace, if you choose to do so. It is a prime time to take advantage of your freedom and energy.

1. You’ll Get Out of Your Comfort Zone
As young people most of us have a pretty established comfort zone. At home with mom and dad, in a community that has known you for probably a good part of your life. You have your established, friends, activities, hangouts and possibly jobs. We become comfortable in these daily roles and the idea of breaking out them can be scary and uncomfortable.

The problem is, you learn the most in uncomfortable, unfamiliar situations. In our daily routines, you know how to act and respond to people and your surroundings. Being in a new place, with different people, who hold different values and go about life differently (or not so differently you may find) strips all that familiarity away.

It can be scary, but once you figure out that you can connect with people despite differences, and you can navigate foreign environments, you become a smarter, more competent individual. Embrace the discomfort. Search for it, because it is helping you grow.

2. Traveling Builds Confidence
As you conquer the obstacles of figuring out how to use public transit in a foreign country, or asking for simple things in a grocery store, you are building a confidence and ability to adapt in foreign situations. I remember moving to a country where I spoke little to none of the language.

You realize that you CAN do things, despite the obstacles and suddenly the obstacles seem less obstructive and more like welcomed challenges.

3. You Will Develop Cultural Sensitivity
Being culturally sensitive is key in our globalizing world. It is not enough to say “people from X country are like this.” It is important to look for underlying values that may explain a certain behavior in order to practice cultural sensitivity.

Being aware of cultural values and norms is not only fascinating, but can help us understand international issues and conflicts, or even relate to the cultural norms of a foreign business partner. It is an important skill to be able to shift perspectives and see where someone else is coming from.
Cultural sensitivity will help you with your communication on both business and personal levels.

4. You Can Adapt to Globalization
Whether you like it or not, with the internet and social media, we are globalizing quickly. In our globalizing world it is important to be culturally sensitive and it can’t hurt to know a foreign language. In the business world, having lived abroad can give you a competitive edge. Use the confidence and cultural sensitivity that traveling helps you develop and help it make you successful.

5. Be Immersed in a Second (or Third) Language
I've always been bilingual. In high school, I learned two new languages at the same time - French and Japanese, making my a polyglot (fancy word, I know).  In the United States we don’t always encourage learning another language or encourage it. However, once you travel abroad you realize that especially in Asia and Europe, almost everyone you meet speaks at least two languages somewhat proficiently.

This is why traveling, especially for us, is even more important.  I would argue that in the globalizing world it really can only benefit you to speak another language. Not to mention, it opens up a whole new world of people you can now connect with and understand that you would never have gotten the chance to get to know had you never learned their language.

6. Infinite Opportunities to Network
I have volunteered and worked abroad and made some incredibly valuable connections. If you are interested in working internationally or even just having a couch to stay on in a country that you love, never underestimate the value of networking wherever you go.

One thing I have learned in my time abroad is that people are generally very friendly and love to talk about their home and culture. This is not always the case, but more than often it is. Making friendships abroad can make this big world seem a little smaller and help you feel more connected wherever you go.

The best advice I can give is to meet as many people on your travels as you can. It will definitely make your time abroad more enjoyable since the locals know best! Plus you never know when these connections will come in handy in the future whether visiting each other for fun or otherwise.

By Tiffany San Roman | Media Specialist, Travel Guru

I'm not much of a writer: I embrace that. However, I do take great pictures and I thought I'd share some of them with my favorite lifestyle and society agency, PdM. I recently took a brief vacay to upstate New York to visit family and captured a bit of everything on my weekend there. Here are some of the shots I enjoyed the most (and that I can publicly share). Enjoy!

At 7:30am, please give me the cruel tea, you evil wench.

Family. Chelsea and her new beau, Guillermo.

A patriotic pup, just in time for summer!

While I admit I didn't "go out" out as much as I'd wanted, we did make a few cocktails infused with rum, tequila, and plenty of ice tea lemonade. Fresh fruit was added to the top to give it some class.

Sometimes, hanging by the dock is all you really need to contemplate the next step in life.

xo

By Alexandra Howe | Travel Writer
All images by Alexandra Howe

In 1755, Lisbon suffered an earthquake so massive it literally rocked Europe into the Classical Age. It was a disaster so enormous it scarred the entire European psyche with the destruction it wreaked on the historical port city. One piece of the extensive infrastructure destroyed was the Praça do Comércio, a sea-front plaza dating back to the Romans that was crucial to the city socially and economically. Following its destruction, it was rebuilt with a vengeance, giving way to some of the most grandiose monuments I've ever seen, swaggering inside a plaza so big that it can easily fit Madrid's Plaza Mayor with room to spare.

Everyone says that Lisbon is charming and they're right - it is the most charming city I've visited as yet. For me, the key to Lisbon's charm lives in these paradoxes: it is simultaneously crumbling and glorious, mid-crisis and flashing its peacock feathers. When I visited Lisbon I stayed in its oldest neighborhood, Alfama, where many buildings escaped the earthquake and date back to the Moors, decorated by the tiles typical of Lisbon that also originated in that era. Immediately on beginning your tour of Lisbon, these tiles alert you to the fact that you're not in just any European city.

What fascinates me about Europe is the visibility of its lineage: the patchwork of novelty and innovation sewn into and around what pieces of ancient history still remain. Much of this visible history has been erased in the Americas - mercifully, architectural wonders still remain from Mexico on down. But in the US, on top of the shameful tragedy of genocide, our history is less of a patchwork and more like a concrete layer laid across your basement floor - clean, fresh, shiny, and more comfortable if you don't think about what you destroyed to get it. Don't get me wrong, we've built our own, diverse and flavorful wonders on that concrete floor, but in Europe that history, both the grand and the tragic, is out in the open: Grandma's patchwork blanket with all the rips and reworked threads of different colors that don't always match but are more beautiful for it.

Lisbon's patchwork is indeed endlessly charming: intricate tiles covering timeworn buildings; lively murals spray-painted the length of narrow, ascending side-street staircases that house minuscule specialty book stores and cutting edge fashion boutiques alike; old brothels converted into trendy bars on the famous Pink Street; ancient trees reaching toward the sea from the mountaintop Castelo, where peacocks roam freely; the ostentatious Arco da Rua Augusta crowning the once-destroyed Praça do Comércio.

For me, Lisbon's charm lies in its paradoxes, the way the ancient muddles with the new, the humble with the flashy, and more than anything, the way disaster is met with unwavering resolve. Earthquakes and economic quandaries bring out Lisbon's charm at its full wattage as it sews another square into that patchwork blanket and wraps you up in it.

Catch more of Alex and her wonderful travel experiences here!
For more exclusive, captivating images of Alexandra's European experience, "like" us on Facebook.

By Alexandra Howe | Guest Travel Writer
All images by Alexandra Howe

San Rafael is the patron saint of Córdoba. One of his likenesses stands at the center of the Puente Romano, the Roman Bridge, gazing patiently over the Guadalquivir River. If you notice him from afar, he looks grand, imposing. I never knew who he was exactly, but from my end of the bridge he looked lofty and larger than life, looming in that way that you expect of neoclassical statues around Europe. I teach English in Córdoba and I walk past the Puente Romano every week to get to one of my classes; I’ve settled into a route that takes me through my favorite plaza, Plaza de la Corredera, where I always find an excuse to stop for coffee and a tortilla española at La Paloma (the excuse being, it’s delicious), then through the Plaza del Potro, and finally to the river, which I wander down in the direction of the Mezquita, the Great Mosque.

Last week I finally crossed the bridge to reach the neighborhood across the river from the Mezquita and I passed San Rafael. He looked gangly. Well, not gangly, exactly. Skinny. He was short. He was several feet taller than me, but only for the marble block he was set on, decorated with a quote in Latin or Old Spanish that was too faded and worn away for me to know the difference, and partially covered by bouquets of flowers and candles left by the faithful. But if Rafael and I stood toe to toe I doubt he’d clear my forehead: not counting the halo. His arms were thin and boyish, which, to be honest, was disappointing. Angels carved into stone in Graeco-Roman style, in all their mythical elegance, should be, if female, curvaceous and regal, and if men – let’s be honest here - built. For San Rafael’s arms to be that skinny I expected them to be accompanied by a set of breasts, one of them, given the style for the age, nonchalantly exposed, popping out of a loose shift that never meant to cover both of them anyway. But San Rafael looked human – a little guy, thin, normal, probably starting to bald in the next couple years.

To be fair, lots of things are atypical in Cordoba. The greatest tourist attraction is the Mezquita, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Mezquita began as a mosque erected by the Caliphate back in 785, after Spain had come under Muslim rule. It was constructed on the foundations of a basilica built by the conquered Visigoths, which the Muslim ruler Abd al-Rahman I actually bought from them. The regime was anomalously tolerant of other religions. Later, when the Christians took over, instead of razing the mosque they built an enormous cathedral inside of it. You can find the striking mudéjar style – a beautiful meshwork of Muslim and Christian influences – all over southern Spain, but Cordoba’s strange history has created a singular monument to the interface of those cultures in the way that shifting tectonic plates create mountains.

Being the patron saint of Córdoba, Rafael enjoys a number of representations throughout the city, many of them magnificent, including the Triunfo de San Rafael de la Puerta del Puente, just a few hundred meters away from the bridge. The Rafael of the Triunfo is how I expect a monument to look – he towers on a huge column and hovers benevolently over the tourists taking selfies in front of the Mezquita. But it was Little Rafa, as I call him, who grabbed my attention and still hasn’t let it go. I didn’t know this at the time that I saw him, but Catholics know Archangel Raphael as the patron of nurses, doctors and medical workers (Raphael means “God heals”), as well as travelers. I like to think of this particular rendering of the Archangel watching over the city, vibrating with unseen majesty and glorious healing power, all packed into this skinny, average looking guy that I’d pass without a second look if I saw him on the street.

Córdoba is full of these inconsistencies. It is a city of unassuming magic. Its landscape, with its center rising patiently out of the Guadalquivir, its quiet streets rolling out to stout, comforting, ubiquitous mountains dotted blue with olive trees, belies its history as the light of Europe, the mighty Western center of philosophy and commerce in the Middle Ages. You arrive thinking, “Well, this is nice,” and then on looking closer realize you’ve stumbled upon something very special.

So here I’ve arrived in Córdoba, to an ancient city blessed, unbeknownst to me, by a saint bestowing the very thing I had thought I had left behind me. As I leaned against the stonework of the Puente Romano that day, watching flocks of birds eagerly wing their way up the Guadalquivir to the Albolafia woodlands, their resting place for the night, I occasionally glanced up at the unassuming angel beside me, a quiet reminder that the miracles, the cures, we’re looking for might just be in these skinny little packages, if only you stick around, take a closer look, and have a little faith.

Alexandra Howe is a native Chicagoan who spent the last five years in New York City. This past September she left her job as an emergency room nurse to live and work in Spain. She relays her experiences on her blog, www.lachiquitaviajera.wordpress.com.

She firmly holds that Chicago’s hotdogs are the best in the world – do we even need to ask about her stance on the pizza?

By Kunyarat Jothikasathian | Travel Blogger

When I travel, I love looking at nice and colorful things. I also like to take pictures using different lenses, programs, and angles to create a story. I am not big on words, but I am very interested in photography and capturing the human essence. These are some of my favorite pictures taken during a course of an afternoon in Okinawa, Japan.

Even though the southern part of Japan is much warmer than Tokyo, many Japanese girls still enjoy wearing a sweater because of how cold the temperature of offices are in the south.

This is Nobuko. She is a student from Tokyo University visiting family in Okinawa. Her biggest priority right now is to become a doctor and wants to live in the UK one day.

Okinawa has many types of cuisine, especially American. The US Army has one of the biggest military bases in Okinawa Prefecture and the presence is felt in the food, which we don't mind.

A young woman stares into the ocean. What could she be thinking? It is a long way from the capital city of Tokyo, but even in Okinawa big-city problems are the norm: crime has increased by 7% according to the Japanese Bureau of Health and Safety.

Okinawa has both very hot, very cold, extremely try, and also temperate climates, which makes this part of Japan very unique to both Japanese and foreigners. This is Mike, a photographer from Canada who is attempting to capture the diversity of Japanese landscapes for a university project.