The Elliott Podcast

Wellington is a city of vertical hills and horizontal rain, a place where the sophisticated hum of Parliament meets the raw, salt-sprayed edge of the Cook Strait. It’s the next stop on our around-the-world adventure—and as we quickly learned, “Windy Wellington” is more than a nickname.Technically, it’s late summer here, but the Antarctic gusts didn’t get that memo. We nearly got swept into traffic a time or two, and locals joke that if you stand between two buildings at the wrong time, the wind might knock you down. You really have to watch out.Our question of the week: What’s the most traumatic weather experience you’ve ever had?We love your comments, and read them on every podcast. This week we’d like to know about your most traumatic weather experience. Have you ever been swept away by a storm or snowed under by a blizzard? Our top commenter gets a free one-year subscription to Elliott Confidential, our sister newsletter.A colossal catch at Te PapaIf Wellington has a spiritual center, it’s the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. We spent hours wandering through its halls, coming face-to-face with the world’s only intact colossal squid—a massive, oil-preserved specimen that will keep you out of the water.But the museum isn’t just about the deep sea. It’s also a deep dive into the heritage of the Māori and Moriori people. We marveled at the whaka (traditional boats) and the intricate Rongo Marae Roa meeting place.Pro Tip: Don’t miss the Gallipoli exhibit by Weta Workshop. The wax sculptures are 2½ times life-size and shockingly realistic—it’s an unforgettable, emotional gut-punch.Radical kindness at Everybody EatsOne of the most impactful stops on our trip was a restaurant called Everybody Eats, located just off the vibrant Cuba Street, where we lived. This isn’t your typical bistro. It’s a mission-driven space that rescues food from grocery stores and transforms it into three-course meals. (I wrote more about it in Forbes.)The concept is pay-as-you’re-able, ensuring that everyone—from travelers to those experiencing homelessness—can sit down to a high-quality meal. They are even turning banana peels into banana sugar in a quest for zero waste. It’s a beautiful, chaotic, and deeply human heart in the center of the city.Heights, harbors, and high-stakes landingsTo truly see Wellington, you have to get above it. We took the iconic Wellington Cable Car from the Central Business District up to the Botanic Gardens. The view from the top is a panoramic sweep of the city and the harbor, nearly rivaling the vistas from Mount Victoria.From the Mount Victoria lookout, you can watch the planes landing at Wellington Airport. Because of the fierce northwesterly winds, pilots often have to bring the planes in sideways—it’s a spectator sport for the brave and a nerve-wracking reality for the passengers.Pro Tip: If you find yourself in the capital on a Sunday morning, head down to the waterfront for the Harbourside Market next to Te Papa. It’s the oldest and most popular market in the city, and even in a cold summer, the atmosphere is electric with live music and the smell of roasting coffee. While the seasonal produce is world-class, the real move is to grab a hot snack from one of the many food trucks and huddle behind a concrete barrier to enjoy it out of the gale. (Just keep a firm grip on your compostable plate, or your breakfast will become a high-altitude snack for the seagulls.)Our verdict on New Zealand’s capitalThis is a city that rewards the curious. Whether you’re getting caffeinated on Cuba Street watching manta rays glide through the harbor, or eating vegan pastries from Vonuts that taste like a sugary dream, Wellington never stops moving.Our next stop is Christchurch, New Zealand, but we’re leaving a piece of our hearts—and probably a few umbrellas—behind in the wind.Don’t forget this week’s question: What’s your most traumatic weather experience? We’re giving away a one-year gift subscription! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.elliottshow.com

Auckland is a city of skyscrapers and cedar masts, a place where the high-gloss world of international business meets the cobalt embrace of the Hauraki Gulf. And it’s the next stop on our around-the world adventure.New Zealand’s seasons are famously temperamental. Technically, the calendar says summer, but the air begs to differ. It’s a hoodie-and-shorts kind of weather. It’s been a minuteWe made a few changes to our newsletter. We’ve merged Elliott Advocacy and Elliott Confidential into a single newsletter called Elliott Confidential. Our Substack newsletter (the one you’re reading) will exclusively feature our podcast. You can also subscribe to our new YouTube channel.The jacarandas are in full, explosive bloom, painting the streets in a hazy lilac that makes the city feel like an impressionist painting. But there’s still that sharp, Antarctic-derived chill in the morning that reminds you that you’re on an island at the edge of the world.We spent the mornings wandering the Viaduct Harbor, where luxury yachts the size of small destroyers bob in the harbor, their hulls polished to a mirror finish. But Auckland has a funny way of checking its own ego. Just as you’re admiring an overpriced vessel, you hit the Wynyard Crossing. This pedestrian bridge is the city’s favorite comedy of errors—it always seems to be broken for repairs. The waterfront isn’t just for the elite, though. Beneath the shadow of the masts, you’ll find the real Auckland. Local kids on rental scooters weave through the tourists, their portable speakers blaring a mix of Pasifika hip-hop and chart-toppers. This is the stage for the Sailing Grand Prix, an event that has transformed the harbor into a high-stakes, wind-powered arena. It’s fast, it’s loud, and it’s surprisingly gritty for a sport usually associated with blue blazers and gin-and-tonics.If Auckland has a spiritual home, it might be the bread oven at Amano. Travel, for us, is defined by the quest for the perfect loaf, and we found it in their kumara sourdough. Kumara is the native New Zealand sweet potato, and when it’s folded into a fermented dough, something magical happens. The crust is dark and caramelized, while the inside is soft, purple-hued, and slightly sweet. We usually try to avoid processed carbs, but for this bread, we would fly another 18 hours.Jet lag is the tax you pay for visiting Auckland, and we were deep in the red. Our salvation was the Espresso Workshop in Britomart. New Zealanders take their coffee with a religious intensity, and the “long black” here is a sacrament. I ordered a triple-shot that smelled like old leather and dark chocolate. I told Iden that if this didn’t wake me up, I’d likely need CPR. Luckily, it did the trick, jolting me back to life.There’s a beautiful slowness to Auckland, especially during the summer holidays. Of course, that tempo extends to the infrastructure—we arrived just as the entire train network shut down for renovations. But even in the disruption, there’s progress. The “tap-to-pay” system is a dream for travelers. No more hunting for “AT Hop” cards; you just tap your credit card and hop on a bus. It’s a preview of a frictionless future in a city that still values its heritage.This is our third visit in three years, and people often ask why we keep coming back to the same harbor. The answer is in the podcast: it’s the way the light hits the water in the afternoon, the smell of the sourdough, and the feeling that you’re always just one boat ride away from an adventure.But the clock is ticking on our stay. Next, we’re heading south to Wellington to see if the coffee there can truly compete with Auckland’s best. Stay tuned.We’d love to hear your comments. As always, we’ll read them on a future podcast. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.elliottshow.com

Bula from Fiji!We’ve just returned from a whirlwind tour of these South Pacific islands. And we saw a lot. Before we get into it, here’s this week’s question: What is your favorite island? It’s that time of year when everyone is thinking of visiting a warmer place, so please cast your vote in the comments.Ah, the famous overwater bungalows! We didn’t stay in them, but they sure took a nice picture. These accommodations are at Likuliku Lagoon Resort on Malolo, one of the islands we visited that’s trying to protect the endangered iguanas.We were honored to visit a part of Fiji few visitors get to see, deep inland. These rivers are teeming with fish and other wildlife. We saw this during our visit to Nanuku Resort, a property that specializes in authentic experiences. A kava ceremony at Six Senses Fiji. This is one of the most important rituals in Fiji, but be warned: Kava can be a little bit intoxicating.Today’s podcast looks a little different. Iden just finished his MA in communication from the University of Florida and is putting his editing skills to good use for our reformatted podcast. I hope you like it!Hey, don’t forget our question of the week: What’s your favorite island? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.elliottshow.com

Ia ora na from Tahiti.This is our first stop on our South Pacific tour. We’ve never been here and I can’t believe it’s taken us this long to discover this part of the world.Before we get to it, here’s this week’s question: Have you ever had a farm-to-table experience in your travels? It’s a big deal here in the South Pacific, where responsible tour operators have doubled down on locally sourced food. What did you think of your food experience? Was it worth the farm-to-table premium? Our comments are open.Our podcast format has changed a little. We’re reading your comments first, but there’s still a very good reason to stick around until the end because we’ll reveal our travel secrets. (This week, we have a few.)Even though Aren gets really seasick — I mean, really seasick — we coaxed him out onto into our friend Max’s outrigger canoe to get some pictures. As I was reviewing this week’s images, I thought a prankster had gone into my drive and Photoshopped a few of them, that’s how unrealistically beautiful they were. Alas, these are real images. No adjustments.The interior of Tahiti Nui, the largest island in French Polynesia, is equally beautiful. We did a half-day jeep tour and saw dramatic volcanic peaks, waterfalls and ancient temples. Wow.This is our friend Vicky, who we met on Raiatea, in the Society Islands. Her small wellness retreat offers a farm-to-table experience, which we really liked.That’s Vicky’s famous quiche, made from breadfruit and coconut. Yummy!We’ll have much more from Tahiti in our next podcast.Don’t forget this week’s question: Have you ever had a farm-to-table experience? Was it everything you hoped it would be? Do tell! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.elliottshow.com

Hello one last time from Arizona. This week, the three of us were tourists in our adopted home state. But before we talk about what we did, here’s this week’s question: What’s the largest group you’ve ever traveled with? Usually, it’s just the three of us. But we’ve also been part of much larger groups, like tours with busloads of people. Tell us your stories of being part of the crowd.The hikes in Phoenix are awesome! This week, we had a little bit of rain from Hurricane Priscilla, which cooled things off. We’ll talk more about our hiking adventures in the podcast, of course.The Musical Instrument Museum is one of our favorite museums ever. Iden has a video in this podcast that will give you a great overview of their fascinating exhibits. He’ll also introduce you to the museum’s largest — and smallest — instruments.The most moving 9/11 memorial I’ve ever seen is the Hall of Flame, the largest firefighting museum in the world. None of the firefighters who were working in this truck on 9/11 made it back alive. Their names are inscribed on this beautifully restored fire truck. We have more details in this episode.We loved being back home in the States and look forward to our next trip home. But in the meantime, the road beckons …Hey, don’t forget this week’s question: What’s the largest group you’ve ever traveled in? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.elliottshow.com

Howdy from Phoenix!Yes, we’re back in the U.S. for a brief visit. I know, I know. It feels a little weird.Before we get any more weirded out, here’s our question of the week: Have you ever returned from a trip to find things were not as you left them? Please tell us about it.We hiked to the top of Camelback Mountain earlier today. Oh boy, that was a real thrill! Half of Phoenix was there to get a workout, climbing up the steep rock face of Echo Canyon. Still, the view is totally worth it.Another favorite hiking destination is in Sedona. This is Teacup, with a nice view of our old neighborhood. We miss living here and I think about coming back all the time. One of our Sedona rituals is getting pizza and heading to the park. Best picnic ever!Don’t forget our question of the week: Have you ever returned from a trip to find things were not as you left them? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.elliottshow.com

Hej med jer from Copenhagen! It’s our last podcast from Europe, and this one is a little different.Before we get to the details, here’s this week’s question: Have you ever visited a place that you liked so much that you wanted to move there? (And did you?) We’re asking because a lot of Americans are drawn to Denmark and end up moving here because of its high quality of life. We like it here, too.Here’s one of the Orbital showers that recycle water at our extremely sustainable hotel, the Bryggen Guldsmeden Hotel. (And if you’re Danish, I apologize for my pronunciation in the podcast.) Everything here is very green and sustainable.We kind of geeked out on Danish architecture during our visit to Copenhagen. Everywhere you look, there’s a cool building to see. And, as we explain in the podcast, they’re multi-purpose spaces, so they also conserve space.Another highlight was Funga Farm, a mushroom farm that uses extremely sustainable methods to raise exotic mushrooms like this Lion’s Mane. The mushrooms are delicious, too.Here’s our parting shot from the top of Church of Our Savior. If you can climb to the top of the spiral, you definitely don’t have a fear of heights. Scary, but the photos were worth it. Don’t forget this week’s question: Have you ever visited a place that you liked a lot — so much that you wanted to move there?We’ll see you next week. We’ll be back in the States for a rare visit. Details to come. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.elliottshow.com

Goddag from Denmark!We’re on a whirlwind tour through this nordic country, and we have a lot to talk about today.Before we get to that, here’s this week’s question: What’s the most you’ve ever spent on food while you’ve traveled? (Denmark’s food prices have left us with sticker shock, but we love the bread here.)Here’s the inside of Frederik's Church in Copenhagen, and 18th-century Lutheran church with the largest dome in Scandinavia. We’ll talk more about this remarkable building in the podcast.The Wadden Sea National Park is remarkable on so many levels. It’s a stopover for migrating birds on their way from Southern Africa to Siberia. It’s one of the few places you can walk to the other islands at low tide. And there’s lots of sea life, like this crab Iden is holding. We definitely want to come back soon. Here’s the roof garden at the Salling department store in Aarhus. It’s beautiful this time of year, but if you have vertigo, don’t look down!We’ll have much more in this week’s podcast. Don’t forget to answer our question: What’s the most you’ve ever spent on food while you’ve traveled? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.elliottshow.com

Hello from Paris. We just spent more than two weeks here trying to do the opposite of what most visitors do. We avoided the touristy areas. We walked in lesser-known neighborhoods. In short, we behaved like locals. (Well, kinda.)Before I go into detail, here’s this week’s question: Have you ever gone on a trip and done nothing? We’d love to hear about it. As always, we’ll read your comments in our next podcast, which should be very interesting.OK, so here’s why we didn’t want to do the tourist thing. This boat looks like it’s about to sink into the Seine. If you want to avoid the crowds, don’t come to Paris in August!The reason we came to Paris, of course, is the bread. The boys and I toured many boulangeries while we were in town. (The whole-grain baguette in the podcast came from a place called Pain & Beurre, about a block from our apartment in the Latin Quarter.)The first Sunday of every month is free museum day, but don’t forget to check to see if the museum is open. Iden wanted to go to the Centre Pompidou, but it’s closed for the next five years. Oh well!We have much more about Paris in our podcast de rien, which I promise will be a lot of fun. Of course we’re turning it into a food podcast, so don’t forget to wait until the end to see what we have in store!Once again, our question of the week: Have you ever gone on a trip and done nothing? Sometimes the best trips aren’t about seeing more, but about doing less. Has that ever happened to you? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.elliottshow.com

Bonjour from the Loire Valley in France! We have an exciting podcast for you today, including a river tour, a visit to a mushroom farm and lots of delicious food.Before we go there, here’s this week’s question: What’s the most clichéd thing you’ve ever done in your travels? (Like, I don’t know, visiting Paris?) We admit, we’ve done it! We’ll read your responses in our next podcast.This is the Château de Candes, a wellness and art resort along the Loire. It’s about two hours by train from Paris. We stayed in the tower and when you open the window, you can smell fresh lavender from the garden. It’s so calming. Here’s the co-owner, Monique Pignet, showing us the absolutely stunning view of the river from the castle’s master bedroom. Monique and her family had a way of making us feel right at home.We took a brief tour of the Loire on this authentic fishing boat. Check out the podcast for some video of the adventure.A lot of the action happens underground. Here’s Iden sampling the oyster mushrooms at La Champignonnière du Saut Aux Loups. We’ll explain why he was sniffing the mushrooms in the podcast.And last but not least, our remarkable lunch with Chef Kazaaa from Take a Chef, a platform that connects people with private chefs. We had a simple but very tasty meal of roasted cauliflower with black garlic, ravioli filled with spinach and cashew ricotta, and silky chocolate mousse. Mmmm.Don’t forget this week’s question: What’s the most clichéd thing you’ve ever done in your travels? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.elliottshow.com

Greece is a hot but beautiful place in August, and today we’re going to tell you what happened to us when we visited.Before we do, this week’s question: Where’s the must unusual place you’ve gone swimming in your travels? We saw people swimming in the Seine this week. Insane! I remember when I was growing up, no one would go near the Seine because it was so polluted. Now, it’s not (we’ll have more on the Seine and Paris next week.)Athens was really crowded, but I managed to get a shot of the boys in front of the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Annunciation when everyone was out for lunch. We stayed in the suburbs and took the Metro into town a few times. The Athens suburbs are not at all like other suburbs. They’re like mini-cities, with plenty of cafes, restaurants, and grocery stores. Note: The grocery stores are all closed on Sunday.This! Is! Sparta! (Ok, I just had to say that.) We were in town for a family reunion because that’s where my grandfather emigrated from. This is a statue of Spartan king Leonidas I. You know, the guy from the movie 300. It was great to see our family and explore Sparta, which had almost no tourists this time of year. Hot tip: If you want to experience authentic Greek culture without all the crowds, this is the place to visit.Yep, there’s even a beach. We drove over the mountain to Kalamata, which is famous for its olives. This part of Greece is so scenic and the food is delicious. We have an entire section in the podcast dedicated to Greek food. Actually, we can’t stop talking about Greek food. We are still talking about it.Don’t forget to answer this week’s query: Where’s the strangest place you’ve gone swimming in your travels? As always, we’ll read your comments in our next podcast. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.elliottshow.com

Hello from Paris. In today’s long-awaited podcast, we’ll tell you about our adventures in eastern Germany. But first, this week’s question: What’s the buggiest destination you’ve ever visited? We ask because there’s no air conditioning in our apartment, and we opened the windows last night, and … well, you’ll have to see the rest.Our tour took us from Frankfurt all the way to the Germany’s Baltic coast. We lived in a houseboat. We hiked through the marshland. We saw medieval castles. We even walked to Poland. The border is only a kilometer or two from where we stayed in Ahlbeck on the island of Usedom. Americans rarely visit these places, so we can’t wait to show them to you! Here’s our houseboat. I’ve never lived in a houseboat, so this was a real treat. The ripples rock you to sleep at night.There’s so much more. I hope you’ll tune in to the full podcast. Just scroll up and click the play button.Don’t forget to answer our question: What’s the buggiest destination you’ve ever visited? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.elliottshow.com

Hello from Lenzen, Germany. We’re halfway between Berlin and Hamburg in a small town along the Elbe. Did you miss us?It’s been weeks since our last podcast, so we have a lot to talk about. But first, our question of the week: Have you ever traveled to a place to do something that you thought you would like, but ended up not liking?(We have. We’ll tell you about it in the podcast.)Okinawa is one of our favorite places in Japan, and we’ll tell you why in this podcast. From Blue Zone menus to our favorite burrito place in American Village, we’ll show you what we found. It is also stunningly beautiful and it feels half a world away from the frenetic pace of Tokyo. (Above is a picture of one of the hotels we saw, Hoshino’s Okinawa property.)Next stop: Seoul, South Korea. It was our second trip and this time we didn’t waste any time getting to know this fascinating city. We found the best bakeries and coffee shops, where they specialize in extra-strong cafe Americanos. Mmmm. Here’s a picture of Aren at Gyeongbokgung, the former royal palace in Seoul. Please don’t make me pronounce that in the podcast.It’s great to be back in Germany. We’ve been hiking through a lot of forests, paddling through canals, and exploring wetlands on this trip. I can’t wait to tell you more about it. We’ll have a full report on Germany in our next podcast.In the meantime, I’d love to get your thoughts on this week’s question: Have you ever traveled to a place to do something that you thought you would like, but ended up not liking? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.elliottshow.com

Lí hó from Taipei! It’s been two weeks since our last Elliott Confidential podcast, and we have been on the move. We’ll do a lightning round on hotels, and we also have a hotel-related question of the week: In all of your travels, what’s been your favorite hotel experience?The Grand Hotel in Taipei. This is a landmark in the Taiwanese capital and well worth a visit just to see the lobby.Our hotel this weekend: The Kimpton Da-An in Taipei. Close to everything.We didn’t stay in the presidential suite at the Mandarin Oriental, but we got a tour. Iden looks like he’s right at home, doesn’t he? The MO has a legendary customer service culture.The Grand Hyatt near Taipei 101, the famous skyscraper. They made us feel really welcome here.The helipad at the Grand Hyatt with Taipei 101 across the street. Aren was trying to get the shot in a heavy downpour.The teas in Taiwan are truly incredible. Our favorite is the Alishan Jinxuan Oolong, which tastes like flowers. The high-altitude tea (grown above 2,000 meters) is the best.Don’t forget this week’s question: What’s your favorite hotel experience? Our answer is in this week’s podcast. We’ll read your responses in our next episode. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.elliottshow.com

Hello from Hong Kong!We’ve been exploring this fascinating city and hiking around town for the past few days. We’ve also taken a side trip to Phuket, Thailand, and we’ll share details in this podcast.But first, this week’s question. Last week, we asked where you’ve felt the healthiest in your travels. This week, we want to know where you’ve felt the most unwell.This is Tai Kwun, the old Central Police Station in Hong Kong. It’s now a shopping and entertainment complex with a museum. We had lunch at LockCha Hong Kong, a tea house and restaurant. Yummy dim sum!Today we went hiking with our friend Gabi from Dragon’s Back to Big Wave Bay, a local beach. It’s not the kind of experience you would expect from Hong Kong — lots of lush vegetation and birds and a white sand beach. The Anantara Layan Phuket Resort’s new Layan Life medical spa. If you’ve got a problem, they will fix it. I had a bad shoulder and they got it back to almost 100 percent.Here’s Aren with their physiotherapist, Pat. She showed us a few exercises to keep us in shape while we’re on the road.Don’t forget to answer this week’s question: Tell us about the most unwell you’ve ever felt in your travels. We’ll read your responses in our next podcast. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.elliottshow.com

Sabaidi from Luang Prabang, Laos!We’re coming to you today from Phuket, Thailand, but we just got back from Laos and we have a lot to share with you.Before we get there, here’s this week’s question: In all of your travels, where have you felt the healthiest? (I’m working on a series of stories about wellness, so I will have more on this topic soon.)One of the highlights of our visit was the Kuang Si Falls, which are some of the most beautiful waterfalls we’ve ever seen. We’ll have more about the falls in our podcast.The National Museum in Luang Prabang contains artifacts from the old royal capital. It’s a must-see stop on your tour of the city. Although Laos is a communist country, they’re not preachy about it. People here love tourists and they are extra friendly.Everyone gets around on mopeds in Luang Prabang. If you want to fit in, all you need to do is rent one. We recommend helmets.Although Luang Prabang has lots of hostels, but also a few high-end hotels like the Avani. We were lucky enough to stay here a few nights. We’ll have details in the podcast.Hey, don’t forget to answer this week’s question: In all of your travels, where have you felt the healthiest? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.elliottshow.com

Hello from Yokohama, Japan!We’re in Japan’s second-largest city today at the Westin Yokohama. I’m researching a series of stories on wellness (I’ll have more on that soon). In the meantime, we’re just checking out the place.Our question of the week: Since it’s Golden Week here in Japan, we thought we’d ask — what’s the one holiday you’d never travel on? (Golden Week is four national holidays rolled into one, so it’s got our vote.)Yokohama is more spread out than Tokyo. There’s space to walk around. We’ll tell you more in the podcast.Here’s our room at the Westin Yokohama. Maybe you’ve heard of the Heavenly Bed 2.0. This is the first property in Japan to have all-new Heavenly Beds. I wrote about the Bed Wars many years ago, which were actually started by Westin. We had a chance to try the 2.0 bed, and it was very comfortable.Ginza is nothing like Yokohama. It’s a frenetic shopping district in Tokyo with crowds of tourists. We stayed at the Yotel Ginza, a hotel for a younger crowd that emphasized efficiency (much like Japan).Here’s Iden checking into the Yotel. It’s all automated, so you don’t have to talk to anyone if you’d rather not. Iden is a people person, so he also struck up a conversation with the hotel employees. Such a friendly guy!Don’t forget our question of the week: What’s the one holiday you’d never travel on? We’ll read your comments in the next podcast. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.elliottshow.com

Hello again from Tokyo! This week we’re going local with trips to a Japanese grocery store, a park with lots of Americans (and one with almost none) and we have more funny signs.Before I get to that, here’s this week’s question: Since this is a holiday weekend in the U.S., we wanted to know — what’s your favorite holiday to travel? This is Mejiro, our neighborhood. We live on the 16th floor of a high-rise apartment (here’s a view from our balcony). But behind us there are homes and a much more residential feel. It’s perfect for walking.Shopping for groceries is an adventure. There’s a three-step checkout process — the cash register, payment and bagging. It’s very efficient, but it takes a little getting used to.We discovered two vast green spaces in Tokyo, and they couldn’t be any more different. Meiji Park, with its beautiful temples, is where you go to meet other Americans. Yoyogi Park is where all the tomin go to ride their bikes or hike. We liked them both, but Meiji was a little crowded. (In this photo, Iden and I are marveling at all the tourists in Meiji. Honesty, I felt like I was back in the States.) We’ll have more on the parks and Tokyo’s urban spaces in the podcast.Don’t forget this week’s question: What’s your favorite holiday to travel? We’ll read your comments in the next podcast. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.elliottshow.com

Kon'nichiwa from Tokyo.We’ve been here for more than a week and are adjusting to life in Japan. Early April is the perfect time to be here — the weather is still cool and everything is in bloom.That brings us to this week’s question: What's the longest vacation you've taken?Where did you go — and was it worth it?We thought the cherry blossoms would be gone by now, but they aren’t. You can still walk around Tokyo and see the famous sakura. We’ll tell you more about this famous Japanese spring performance in our podcast.Everything must be kept clean in Tokyo. Sweeping up the cherry blossoms is a full-time job. The moment they’re finished, the sakura resume their fall — it looks like a blizzard — and the process starts all over again.Tokyo is also famous for its camera stores. Here’s Iden with a lens we would never buy (where would we put it?), but it sure takes terrific pictures. The camera retailers carry all the Japanese brands you know — Sony, Fujifilm, Nikon. And the prices are pretty decent, too.And then there are the vending machines. You can buy almost anything from them, but most of them carry a variety of cold beverages. Iden’s favorite is a peach soda. We’ll have more on the vending machine scene in the podcast, of course.Our Tokyo adventure will continue next week.Don’t forget this week’s question: What's the longest vacation you've taken? We’ll read your comments in our next podcast. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.elliottshow.com

Surprise! Iden has joined us after almost two years of traveling abroad and starting a gaming channel. We’re so happy to have him back. Yep, it’s cherry blossom season in Tokyo. You can see them everywhere!Which brings us to this week’s question: Have you ever visited a place that you keep coming back to? For us, it’s Japan. And New Zealand. And Qatar. And … well, the list goes on.We love Ramen. This is from one of our favorite places in Shinjuku called Ippudo.Spring is absolutely spectacular in Tokyo. If you have a chance to come here this time of year, take it! We know it’s special because all the locals were out enjoying the blossoms and taking pictures. (They have the best cameras here.)We’ll have more on cherry blossoms, a full Iden update and all the news from Tokyo in this podcast.Don’t forget this week’s question: Have you ever visited a place that you keep coming back to? We’ll read your comments next week. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.elliottshow.com