Solo Travel

Solo travel always leaves me feeling wonderfully whole. Eating whatever I fancy, going wherever I please, keeping nobody else's schedule but my own — living entirely at my own pace. For me, these moments are what it feels like to truly savour life.

This time, it was a short trip to the Osaka Expo. Just three days and two nights, but I knew straight away that I wanted to stay in my beloved Kyoto. I'm not entirely sure why I love it quite so much — but something about its quietness and its greenery just feels right. I stayed at the Oriental Hotel Kyoto Rokujo, nestled among streets that still carry the feeling of old Japan. The atmosphere was just lovely, and nearby there were long-established restaurants and charming little cafés — exactly the sort of neighbourhood that feels made for me.

It had been quite a while since I'd spent real time at an architecture exhibition, properly taking it all in. I'd almost forgotten what it feels like to genuinely explore. The Expo site turned out to be a brilliant place to go looking for fresh inspiration. I found myself drawn to around ten or twelve pavilions in particular, many designed by world-renowned architects — Kengo Kuma, Sou Fujimoto, Oki Sato, Carlo Ratti Associati, WOO Architects, Atelier Brückner, Foster + Partners, Shigeru Ban, SANAA, and others. And of course, the Thai Pavilion — designed by A49 — stayed with me in a special way. Seeing a space that connected to my own roots gave me a quiet little surge of pride. The crowds were thick and the heat was something else, but witnessing architecture from across the world gathered in one place was genuinely breathtaking. It reminded me, all over again, just how much I love this field.

The pavilion that left the deepest impression was Spain's. It captured something very distinctly Spanish — a sense of modernity and boldness — while weaving together technology, natural resources, and fashion into a single, cohesive space. The exhibition design was beautiful throughout: warm orange tones wrapped around everything, putting visitors instantly at ease. And the attention to detail was quietly wonderful. Collage-style postcards showcasing different corners of Spain made it feel as though you were already on a journey through the country. By the time I left, I found myself thinking — I really must go to Spain one day.

Perhaps new inspiration doesn't always come from somewhere far away. Sometimes, all it takes is setting off somewhere and reconnecting with the things you love. That's really quite enough.