100 Questions About Overseas Travel | My Values in Travel 🌎

For a while since I started writing records of my travels, I have been reading articles by various people.

In the midst of that, I saw people doing the "100 Questions About Overseas Travel," so

I decided to answer them myself to look back and organize my own values.

I think it would be interesting if I could visualize parts I can empathize with and differences I have with everyone.

1. How many passports have you had?
・The first one
Scheduled to be renewed next year.

2. What was the first country you visited?
・France (Paris)
It was also my first time ever on an airplane.

3. How many countries have you visited so far?
・46 countries + Japan

Asia: Taiwan, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Hong Kong, Macau, UAE, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, India, China, Mongolia, Indonesia
Europe: France, Belgium, Netherlands, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Hungary, Romania, Poland, Italy, Vatican City, Switzerland, Turkey, Spain, UK, Iceland
North America: USA, Mexico
South America: Peru, Bolivia, Chile
Oceania: Australia
Africa: Egypt, Kenya

4. What was the best country?
・Switzerland
The magnificent nature of the Alps and the beautiful townscapes.
The cost of living is high, but it is worth visiting at least once.

5. Conversely, which country might you not visit again?
・Slovakia
The medieval atmosphere was nice, but I had the impression that it was not very different from neighboring countries.
It might be worth it if it were a trip touring the nature in the countryside.

6. What are your 3 travel essentials?
・Passport (+ visa procedures)
・Credit cards (several)
・Smartphone (eSIM)

These are like the three sacred treasures of overseas travel.
In addition to the above, I only bring
clothing, contact lens care supplies, glasses, an adapter, a charger, a battery, and alcohol wipes.

Other than that, I feel like I can manage locally even without them.
(If I were to add one thing, I would bring a small amount of cash just in case.)

7. Window seat or aisle seat on the plane?
・Aisle seat
For short-haul flights, a window seat is an option, but basically I prefer the aisle seat.
Because I want to drink alcohol on the plane and go to the restroom freely.

8. What do you always eat while traveling?
・Local specialty dishes + local beer
For now, I want to enjoy the local flavors of that country.

9. For overseas travel, are you an eSIM person or a Wi-Fi rental person?
・Ahamo person
With ahamo, I can use up to 30GB without additional charges.
Previously, I used a physical SIM or an eSIM.

10. Can you travel alone?
・I have more experience traveling alone
Both solo travel and traveling with friends have their own different merits.
Above all, the good thing about solo travel is that you can plan everything freely.
Traveling part of the way with people you meet locally is also a real thrill.

11. What are your top 3 countries you want to visit?
・Antarctica, New Zealand, Norway
Antarctica, the continent at the end of the earth, is attractive for its magnificent nature covered in ice and animals like penguins.
New Zealand, with its beautiful scenery of great nature and starry skies.
Norway, which boasts magnificent and beautiful nature such as fjords and the aurora.

12. Have you ever cried while traveling?
・No
Basically, I don't cry.

13. Have you ever fallen in love overseas?
・No
I haven't spent that much time with people I met overseas.

14. What do you always buy while traveling?
・Small figurines as souvenirs
I buy small figurines about 5cm tall in each country as souvenirs and line them up at home.

15. Are you good at choosing souvenirs?
・Relatively good
I often choose affordable items at supermarkets.

16. How many credit cards do you bring?
・3 or more
At least one Visa and one Mastercard each.

17. Have you ever been in a pinch abroad?
・Many times
A bridge I was supposed to cross collapsed in Kenya, I was dropped off in a mysterious location by a shared bus in Peru, a car tire blew out in Mexico, etc.

18. What moment gets you excited about a trip?
・The moment I leave the local airport
When I step out of the airport and feel the outside air, I finally realize that the trip has begun.

19. What moment makes you lose interest during a trip?
・Flight delays and cancellations
It forces me to make major changes to my plans, which is a downer, especially on short trips.

20. What was something delicious you ate while traveling?
・Tacos I ate on the street in Mexico
The handmade feel of them being made on the spot, the convenience, and the local atmosphere combined to make them the best. Other than that, Icelandic hot dogs and Belgian fries were memorable for tasting better than expected given how simple they were.

21. Are you a hotel or Airbnb person?
・Basically a hotel person
I do use Airbnb when there are multiple people, but basically, I stay in hotels or dormitories most of the time.

22. What is the most beautiful scenery you have seen while traveling?
・Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia
The view of the entire surface acting as a mirror was breathtaking, and the sunset and sunrise were especially beautiful; it was truly a spectacular sight.

23. What is something you bought while traveling that you regret?
・Mysterious drinks
I have bought juices or alcoholic drinks with packaging that looked delicious, only to regret it after one sip, more times than I can count.

24. Have you ever gotten sick abroad?
・A few times
The worst time was when I was hit with stomach pain and lethargy in South America. I recovered by buying medicine at a local pharmacy and sleeping as much as possible at my accommodation.

25. Do you collect miles?
・I do
I basically collect ANA miles, but the difficulty of booking international award tickets is a headache.

26. Can you speak English?
・Enough to not have trouble while traveling
I think my trips would be even more fulfilling if I could enjoy conversations more smoothly.

27. Can you ask locals for directions?
・I often ask
I sometimes ask on purpose to try out the local language I've learned. However, it's a bit sad that Google Maps is so convenient now that I can get by without asking.

28. Are you a suitcase or backpack person?
・Backpack person
I basically travel in a backpacker style, so I just use one backpack.

29. What color is your suitcase?
・Black
I hardly ever use it for overseas travel.

30. Do you bring Japanese food with you?
・I don't
I want to enjoy the local food since I'm there.

31. What is something you always do at the airport?
・Walk around the airport
It's a moment that gets me excited before the trip, and I end up looking around at souvenirs and brand-name goods every time.

32. Are you good at handling travel troubles?
・I'm on the stronger side
I'm used to trouble, so I can handle things flexibly. Having accumulated overseas experience, I've become less fazed by minor troubles.

33. What is an absolute no-go abroad?
・Letting your guard down around others
Especially when in a group, it's easy to let your guard down, but staying vigilant at all times is the way to spend your time without risk.

34. What do you do before traveling abroad?
・Research tourist spots, food, and souvenir candidates
The time spent thinking about this and that beforehand is fun; I just surf the net like crazy, and if something catches my eye, I take a screenshot and save it.

35. What is a habit you have while traveling?
・Stopping by markets and supermarkets for no reason
The local ingredients, processed foods, and even the way they are displayed are completely different, so it's fun just to look at them.

36. What is your favorite airline?
・Emirates, Qatar Airways, etc.
I don't have a particular preference, but I have the impression that Middle Eastern airlines have great in-flight content. Just having good in-flight meals is enough to get me excited.

37. What is the furthest destination you have traveled to?
・Santiago | Chile
South America is indeed far, and just the time spent on the plane took nearly 24 hours. It's not a distance I can travel to many times, so I want to take a long trip.

38. How many times a year do you want to travel abroad?
・2-3 times
If I had the time and money, I would go as often as possible, but realistically, I'm happy if I can go 2 or 3 times a year.

39. Which country do you want to visit but are afraid of?
・Venezuela
I want to see Angel Falls, but I'm a bit worried about the security situation.

40. Who is the best travel companion you've had so far?
・I can't choose
I respect all the friends I travel with, so no matter who I go with, there are unique benefits and fun aspects to each.

41. What frustrates you while traveling?
・Unexplained delays
I get frustrated when unexplained delays occur on trains or other transport, causing my plans to fall apart. (Mainly in India)

42. What makes you nervous while traveling?
・Public transport with unknown destinations
I often hop on transport just to get going, but I'm always nervous because I'm never sure if the destination is correct.

43. Do you speak any languages other than English?
・Spanish?
I can manage to understand the phrases necessary for travel, but at this point, it would be tough without studying again.

44. Are there any languages you want to study in the future?
・Spanish and the Cyrillic alphabet
Spanish is useful in many situations depending on the destination, so I'd like to learn it again.
It's frustrating that I feel like I should be able to read Cyrillic but can't. I'd like to learn it properly once.

45. Are you good at packing?
・Yes
I usually pack from scratch on the day of departure.

46. Do you wear makeup while traveling?
・No
Maybe I should at least bring some toner.

47. Which World Heritage site do you want to visit?
・Mont Saint-Michel, the Parthenon
I am drawn to beautiful landscapes and historical buildings.

48. Do you buy flight tickets early for a discount or at the last minute?
・Early bird
When I was a student, I would wait for early bird discounts, but now I buy them as soon as my time off is confirmed.

49. What is your budget for traveling abroad?
・Under 100,000 yen
If there's a place I really want to go, I don't worry about the budget, but I aim for around 100,000 yen for casual trips.
Recently, however, both flights and accommodation have skyrocketed, so it's difficult...

50. What is the most important thing when traveling abroad?
・Whether I find it genuinely appealing
It's important that there is something that makes me think, 'I want to go!'

51. What was the scariest place you've traveled to?
・Dark parks or narrow alleys at night, regardless of the country
It's even scarier when there are people around whose intentions I can't figure out.

52. Which country are you planning to visit next?
・Undecided
I want to go somewhere next year.

53. What is your favorite foreign TV show?
・'Suits'
It's stylish and cool, and the story is interesting too.

54. What is your favorite foreign movie?
・'The Imitation Game', 'Bohemian Rhapsody'
I find myself more interested in and drawn to works that involve real people or history.

55. Do you post on Instagram while traveling?
・Yes
I post stories during the trip and then make a summary post after returning home.

56. What cosmetics do you buy abroad?
・Basically none
I might buy something if it's famous as a souvenir.

57. What do you buy at the airport?
・Water
I always buy some before boarding the plane.

58. What style of clothes do you wear when traveling?
・Casual
I wear the same clothes I usually wear when spending time in Japan.

59. What do you like to take pictures of while traveling?
・Beautiful scenery, everyday views, food, maps, things I've never seen before, etc.
To keep as much of a record as possible, I take many photos of things that catch my eye with my smartphone.

60. What is your go-to travel app?
・Google Maps
Google Maps is just too convenient these days, so I rely on it heavily.

61. What music gets you excited while traveling?
・EDM, etc.
I don't have any specific music, but EDM gets me excited.

62. Have you met any Japanese people while traveling abroad?
・Yes, many
I often exchange information with Japanese people I meet on local tours.

63. Can you sleep while traveling?
・Yes, I can
However, my desire to fully enjoy the trip is so strong that I end up sleeping less than usual.

64. What is the best dessert you've had abroad?
・Sachertorte (Café Sacher) | Vienna
The first thing that came to mind was Sachertorte, but the chocolate I ate in Belgium and the Nobel banquet dessert served at the Nobel Museum cafe were also delicious.

65. What is your number one forgotten item when traveling?
・None in particular
I basically don't forget things, but I did leave a folding umbrella at a hotel once.

66. For breakfast while traveling, do you prefer the hotel or eating out?
・Eating out
I prefer eating out in search of local cuisine. If the hotel breakfast has local specialties, that's an option too.

67. What made you love traveling abroad?
・My first trip to Europe, which I decided to take on a whim
I had wanted to go someday since I was a child, but I became completely hooked after I took the plunge and went abroad when I was a university student.

68. What is your favorite drink while traveling?
・Beer
Beer drunk locally is exceptional. Though water is something I never go without.

69. Have you ever had any trouble locally?
・I couldn't unlock my dormitory door
The passcode for the lock didn't arrive, and I thought I might have to spend the night outside.

70. Do you talk to locals while traveling?
・I talk to them often
If there is a chance, I want to actively interact with the local people.

71. What do you care about when choosing a hotel abroad?
・Security
I care about whether there are any issues with the safety of the room or the place where I store my luggage as a prerequisite.

72. What events would you like to attend abroad?
・Yi Peng Lantern Festival | Thailand
Because I often hear that it is a beautiful sight.
I would also like to watch major sporting events locally.

73. What is your favorite English word?
・creativity
It doesn't have much to do with travel, but I have a longing for something called creativity.

74. What Japanese phrases have been well-received abroad?
・I can't think of any in particular
Greeting phrases make people smile wherever I say them.
In Southeast Asia, people often asked me to teach them popular comedy phrases, perhaps to attract customers.

75. What is the best hotel you have ever stayed in?
・Ohla Barcelona Hotel | Barcelona
I rarely stay in resorts or luxury hotels, but this hotel I stayed at in Barcelona is one that remains in my memory.

76. What is your personal rule while traveling?
・Challenge everything
I actively try anything that interests me. I experience recommended food, places, and culture as much as possible.

77. What was the most useless thing you brought on a trip abroad?
・Neck pillow
I thought it was useless because its usage is limited and it takes up space.
Long-haul flights have pillows and blankets, so I don't really have any trouble without one.

78. Which remote island do you want to visit?
・Easter Island
I want to see the real Moai statues.

79. Which country did you take the most photos in?
・Bolivia
Especially at the Salar de Uyuni, I had many opportunities to take photos because the beautiful scenery changes depending on the time of day.

80. What local culture surprised you?
・Toilet situations
At first, I was surprised that in almost every country, the bathroom floors were wet and you couldn't flush toilet paper.

81. Which art museum were you glad you visited?
・The Louvre Museum
The sheer size of the museum, where you could spend an entire day, and the number of exhibits were overwhelming.
Famous works like the "Mona Lisa" and the "Venus de Milo" were also impressive.

82. A place you want to visit again
・Spain
The food is delicious and there are abundant tourist resources, so there are still many places I want to go.

83. Is there a place you would like to live?
・The Netherlands
Because of the beautiful townscapes, numerous art museums, and the calm atmosphere I felt there. In addition, it seems easy to travel to other countries from there, so I would like to live there.

84. How do you relieve stress while traveling?
・I don't get stressed while traveling
If I am looking at beautiful scenery and eating delicious food, my stress naturally dissipates.

85. Which beach do you want to visit?
・Cancun | Mexico
It has a reputation for being beautiful, so I definitely want to go there at least once.

86. Which airport were you most excited by?
・Changi Airport | Singapore
It was a huge airport packed with things to see. The famous indoor waterfall, "Rain Vortex," was particularly breathtaking.
I generally get excited by clean, spacious airports.

87. What do you want to do abroad?
・Jump into the Antarctic Ocean
It's not an experience you can easily have, so it feels special.

88. Is your travel luggage heavy or light?
・On the lighter side
I pack the bare minimum into a backpack and just walk around as much as I can.

89. What comes to mind when you think of traveling abroad?
・A series of new things!
It's the best hobby because no matter when I go, there are new discoveries and I never get bored.

90. What was the scariest vehicle you rode?
・The bus to Machu Picchu
It drove along mountain roads right on the edge of cliffs, so I was almost too scared to look out the window.

91. Which cafe were you glad you visited?
・Nobel Prize Museum Cafe | Stockholm (Sweden)
It was packed with charm, such as chairs signed by Nobel laureates and desserts from the banquet.

92. Have you ever been to a Japanese restaurant abroad?
・A few times during long stays
I ate sushi and ramen, but I felt there was no need to go out of my way to eat them abroad.

93. Do you buy local clothes while traveling?
・I buy them if something catches my eye
I rarely buy them, but I will purchase something if I find something I like.

94. When are you happiest while traveling abroad?
・The moment I am looking at a spectacular view
It is the moment I truly feel glad that I came, and it is the real thrill of travel.

95. What cute animals have you seen on your travels?
・Puffins in Iceland
I was captivated by their cute appearance and adorable movements.

96. What is your goal for traveling abroad?
・To visit as many countries as possible and accumulate new experiences.
There are still so many places, landscapes, unknown experiences, and cultures in the world that I haven't visited, so I want to experience as many as I can.

97. How long will you continue traveling abroad?
・Until I die
I want to keep traveling as long as my health and funds allow.

98. What song comes to mind when you think of traveling abroad?
・"Step Out" by Jose Gonzalez
This is a song from the movie 'The Secret Life of Walter Mitty,' which was also used in the movie's trailer. It's a refreshing and pleasant song that makes me feel like, 'I'm going on a trip!'

99. What Japanese food do you want to eat while traveling?
・Nothing in particular
If it were a long-term stay, I might start missing a set meal with rice, miso soup, and grilled fish.

100. When is your next trip abroad?
・Unfortunately, it is undecided
However, I plan to set off somewhere within the next fiscal year.

Thank you for reading until the end.

By answering these 100 questions, I realized once again that I have my own way of thinking about travel and unconscious preferences.

I feel that the greatest joy of traveling is, after all, breathing in the air of a new country and experiencing unknown cultures and beautiful scenery.

I think everyone has their own travel style, but I want to continue traveling in search of unseen landscapes while cherishing the feeling of encountering a new world.