WRITER | TRAVELLER | AVID JOURNAL KEEPER

28 Japan

Journey with me through Japan in this visual and textual not-quite-journal of my 28-day trip through this enchanting, enigmatic and ultra-efficient country.

My first (self) published book, 28 Japan shares my personal travel tips, hopefully useful insights, moments of inspiration and the occasional frustration alongside many, many photographs I captured along the way. Use this book as a guide to help you plan a future trip to Japan, or indulge in a little wanderlust as I reminisce this memorably epic vacation through a country that charms me every single time.

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I write for work

Writing helps me pay the bills. From food to finance, I believe in writing clear, easy-to-understand articles to reach wider audiences, without compromising quality or your unique voice.

I've included some of my favourite work below. Email me to find out how we can work together, or if you'd like an extra pair of eyes to polish your written work.

And no, I won't write your homework for you.

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When life gets busy, health often tends to take a backseat. We skip workouts for that extra 30 minutes in bed to make up for all the late nights at work.

The Future Cannot Wait: Start Living Sustainably Now with Takaful!

The thing about sustainability is that it is not a concept for one’s own personal gain. In fact, sustainability is about ensuring everyone benefits without the detriment of others, or to put it simply: we only win if everyone wins.

A Rising Concern: An Increased Risk of Heart Disease Among Millennials

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in Malaysia. According to the Statistics on Causes of Death, Malaysia, 2020, 17.3% of males in Malaysia died of ischaemic heart diseases in 2019.

Financial Planning: Helping You Face Economic Uncertainties

An economic downturn is a real possibility when considering the prolonged global effects of COVID-19 – the question is, are you financially ready to face these uncertainties?

All The Ns

Face masks, stickers, scrunchies, bowls, cards, tees and more.

All The Ns is my handmade side hustle that's been around since 2008 (and possibly earlier). We've evolved a lot by then, continuously experimenting and designing new things in our bid to make our little mark in the crafty world.

Shoppers in Malaysia, please head to Shopee to take a look at (and buy!) our items, while shoppers everywhere else can visit our Etsy store.

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Instagram

My Instagram posts feature mostly travel and journal-related content, with a smattering of everyday life in Stories. Thanks to being home-bound during the pandemic though, my content has largely been focused on my journals. You have been warned.

Life is amazingly tenacious.
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Andy Weir, The Martian
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I have yet to watch this movie properly. I don’t really plan to though, and that’s ok. If it’s on, it’s on. In the meantime, I’ll just continue watching NCIS while doing my third Covid + quarantine. The last time I was positive was two years ago! Apart from a store throat and some tiredness, I am ok though, and wishing real hard I’ll be -ve by Sunday!
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Pen: TWSBI Eco Grey, M nib
Ink: Jacques Herbin, Gris Nuage
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#journal #journaling #nkjournals #journallove #paperlove #planneraddictmalaysia #thedailywriting #planner #notebook #write #planneraddict #stationery #deardiary #diary #dailyjournaling #travelersnotebook #トラベラーズノート #washitape #journalspread #stickers #fpgeeks #handwriting #fountainpen #fountainpenaddict #twsbi #twsbieco #jacquesherbin #jacquesherbinink

I’m not much of a beach bum, but having spent a couple of years as a university student living in Fremantle, it was sometimes where I found my feet taking me on days when my head was too full of ongoing assignments and needed some fresh air to get it all sorted out again. I wouldn’t really chill by the beach, or even touch the waterline. I would just stand there, in my shoes, breathing in the scent of salty air while the wind made a mess of my usually in-need-of-a-haircut hair. Sometimes I would have a scone on top of the little hill with the lighthouse on it, usually when I managed to drag a friend along.

This isn’t that same beach of course, but I enjoyed that post-rain early morning last May when the air felt clean and everyone else hadn’t quite woken up yet.
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#travel #malaysia #pangkor #pangkorlaut #wanderlust #travelgram #traveling #PassionPassport #islandvibes

I guess you could call it a failure, but I prefer the term “learning experience.”
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Andy Weir, The Martian
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Last spread from September *last year*! Don’t worry, I have shots from October 2023 all lined up and ready to go!
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Pen: Pilot Justus 95
Ink: Pilot Iroshizuku Ina-ho
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#journal #journaling #nkjournals #journallove #paperlove #planneraddictmalaysia #thedailywriting #planner #notebook #write #planneraddict #stationery #deardiary #diary #dailyjournaling #travelersnotebook #トラベラーズノート #washitape #journalspread #stickers #fpgeeks #handwriting #fountainpen #fountainpenaddict #pilotfountainpen #pilotjustus #pilotiroshizuku

Reading RF Kuang’s Babel was timely for me for two main reasons:

1. Having just read Monkey v4 (and many other books translated from 日本語), I was thinking how interesting a career translating fiction would’ve been, and wondered why a job option like that never crossed my path when I was a student. Why didn’t I study Japanese instead of journalism?  Babel is all about translation - the power of it, its intricacies, how a word evolves from its roots. This is something I’ve always been fascinated by, root words and the way one word and its similar variations are used throughout the world - kahve/coffee/kopi, alardi/earth, and, gosh, so many more.

2. Published in 2022 and set in 1830s England, Babel’s depiction of colonialism remain crucially relevant today, as we watch Empire’s merciless action against 🍉, all for selfish gain. And it’s not even a gain that betters the lives of Empire’s population - even those of the same skin-type - it’s all for power and to line the pockets of the privileged few, just like it is today.  Fiction (mostly) though this book may be, it covers colonialism quite well, and if you’ve never really understood what it’s all about and want to know more, Babel is quite a good glimpse into what colonialism often means to those who are being colonised. For reference, my country, Malaysia (formerly Malaya) is a colonised country, by the Portuguese, the Dutch and, finally, the British.

(Continued in comments)

We’re all capable of the most incredible change. We can evolve while still staying true to who we are.
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Doctor Who, “The Woman Who Fell To Earth”
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Sometimes we change slowly, sometimes it’s much more drastic, yet it’s nice to know that through it all we remain exactly who we are. My journaling style has certainly changed compared to when I first started out 2+ decades ago. I wonder how much further it will change in 2+ decades from now, although I hope it will still and always be pen to paper.
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Pen: Pelikan 400 PIF (vintage), Flex nib
Ink: Pelikan Edelstein Moonstone
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#journal #journaling #nkjournals #journallove #paperlove #planneraddictmalaysia #thedailywriting #planner #notebook #write #planneraddict #stationery #deardiary #diary #dailyjournaling #travelersnotebook #トラベラーズノート #washitape #journalspread #stickers #fpgeeks #handwriting #fountainpen #fountainpenaddict #pelikanink #pelikanedelstein

I haven’t done this in awhile… how am I going to speed things up? 😅 Oh well… I wonder how big the gap in my postings will be in 10 years… 😆
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#journal #journaling #nkjournals #planneraddictmalaysia #thedailywriting #planner #notebook #write #planneraddict #stationery #deardiary #diary #travelersnotebook #トラベラーズノート #scrapbookjournal #beforethepen

You never knew how chance could change things.
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Mizuki Tsujimura, Lonely Castle in the Mirror
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This brown spread is giving some serious cosy-day vibes that matches the gloomy weather we’ve been having lately. I’m warm and safe over here but the northern states of Malaysia are experiencing torrential downpours and heavy flooding, forcing many to evacuate. Stay safe wherever you are! 🙏🏼
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Pen: YStudio Revolve Copper, M nib
Ink: Laban Demeter Brown
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#journal #journaling #nkjournals #journallove #paperlove #planneraddictmalaysia #thedailywriting #planner #notebook #write #planneraddict #stationery #deardiary #diary #dailyjournaling #travelersnotebook #トラベラーズノート #washitape #journalspread #stickers #fpgeeks #handwriting #fountainpen #fountainpenaddict #ystudio #labanink

After being introduced to Monkey a couple of years back, I was happy to come across their latest volume in @snackfood. I started with Volume 2 and now I’m done with 4. Thankfully there’s no serial story contained within its pages otherwise I’d be kinda screwed 😅.

Short story compilations are my favourite way to discover new-to-me authors and things to read, though the ‘new’ author I am keen to read is, surprisingly, not a Japanese author at all - surprising because Monkey’s tagline is ‘New writing from Japan’. Perhaps Kevin Brockmeier’s work was translated into Japanese, and thus the inclusion, but I’m not about to get bogged down by technicalities, especially when it’s a story I enjoyed so much.

Time as a Perpetual Motion Machine is a story about a 50 year old man stuck in a lifetime loop - think Groundhog Day except he has to live his life over and over again - and he can’t make any changes either. All he can do is learn and be a witness as he lives his life from 18 to 50 again and again and again. Brockmeier captures it really well through his writing, and one of his titles is definitely on my list of books to buy next, or next next.

The next story that has me hooked is an excerpt by Hiromi Kawakami from her book The Third Love. Kawakami is an author I’ve read a few times before but this title is new to me, and that comparison between the protagonist’s extremely vivid dreams that seem more real than, well, real life, is just the kind of story that’s right up my alley, and I can’t wait to check the full book out.

I also got to practice reading Japanese a little bit, and I dare say I have improved ever so slightly compared to my first Monkey. The teeny tiny kanji was not very kind on these aging eyes though 🤓.

And yes, while this compilation did include a Murakami short story, it wasn’t one of my highlights, though his story certainly was creepy.

Now, I need to get my hands on Volume 1 and 3!
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#book #books #bookstagram #booklover #bookworm #booknerd #bibliophile #read #reading #bookreview #nkreads

School wasn’t a place where you could speak honestly.
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Mizuki Tsujimura, Lonely Castle in the Mirror
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@my.favorite_pastime Faii, nanti write more quotes that I can stick into my journals ya 🤭. Sometimes my green spreads come out looking nice.
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Pen: Pilot Kakuno Demo, M nib
Ink: Colorverse Walk the Dog

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#journal #journaling #nkjournals #journallove #paperlove #planneraddictmalaysia #thedailywriting #planner #notebook #write #planneraddict #stationery #deardiary #diary #dailyjournaling #travelersnotebook #トラベラーズノート #washitape #journalspread #stickers #fpgeeks #handwriting #fountainpen #fountainpenaddict #pilotpen #pilotfountainpen #pilotkakuno #colorverseink #colorverse

It was shenanigans as usual at Sunday Scribbles! Our 21st of the reboot series and second last of 2024. This time we ventured out to TRX, with a big thank you to @tuckerco.my for the space and great food - I think everyone enjoyed their meals and I told pretty much everyone to eat their triple cooked chips 😆. We were all just so focused during makan time 😂. Also props to @shelbybisou’s balak for capturing that epic moment at the end 🤭📚.

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#journal #journaling #nkjournals #journallove #planneraddictmalaysia #planner #notebook #planneraddict #stationery #deardiary #diary #travelersnotebook #sundayscribbles #sundayscribblesmy

I can only imagine blhow it must feel to be so preoccupied by the future that you’re blindsided by the present.
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Stuart Turton, The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle
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Sunny-gloomy-sunny-rainy-sunny-back to rainy kind of day. But it’s been a productive Saturday so far at least, including photos for October 2023 done. I’m limiting myself to 10 layouts per month for photos until I finally catch up…. Whenever that is! 💆🏻‍♀️

And now I need to go and rescue my laundry from the rain…
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Pen: Kaweco ALSport Stinewashed Blue, M nib
Ink: Pilot Iroshizuku Shin-Kai
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#journal #journaling #nkjournals #journallove #paperlove #planneraddictmalaysia #thedailywriting #planner #notebook #write #planneraddict #stationery #deardiary #diary #dailyjournaling #travelersnotebook #トラベラーズノート #washitape #journalspread #stickers #fpgeeks #handwriting #fountainpen #fountainpenaddict #kaweco #kawecoalsport #iroshizuku

I mean, wow, I do not know what took me so long to read The Sandman: Overture, which acts as a prequel of sorts to the entire Sandman series, and provides some sort of reasoning as to how Dream ended up being captured at the beginning of the series. There is also a very tiny glimpse post-Sandman contained within these pages, and as someone who just adores this series, I certainly wouldn’t mind seeing that tangent of Dream’s story become an actual series, along with, undoubtedly, millions of other fans worldwide.

The story is stellar, as always, and seeing so many manifestations of Dream was undoubtedly intriguing. But that artwork by J.H. Williams III… wow. His depiction of the Endless’ (spoiler alert) parents were something else.

I like the inclusions of interviews with the various people who were involved with The Sandman: Overture in this 30th Anniversary Edition. It was nice to hear from the colourist and letterist too, and Dave McKean as well, whose cover artwork was, if I’m honest, the main reason why I picked up The Sandman series and started reading it. Of course, we also hear from Gaiman and Williams as well.

And while I thoroughly enjoyed the series, I do have to say this though (and this is another spoiler alert), I certainly did not expect to see Dream full frontally naked 😅.
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#book #books #bookstagram #booklover #bookworm #booknerd #bibliophile #read #reading #bookreview #nkreads #neilgaiman #thesandman

For once, it would be refreshing to find somebody in this place who was exactly what they appeared to be.
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Stuart Turton, The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle
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It took me awhile to like my Galen Leather x Narwhal fountain pen. It was great to look at but heavy, the nib a little smooth, and much juicier than most mediums tended to be. And then I paired it with Diamond Cocoa Shimmer and the pen handled the shimmer ink like a champ! I may just have to stick to this combination forever 😄… or just pair it with another brown+coppery/goldy shimmer ink when I run out.
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Pen: Galen Leather x Narwhal Rose Gold, M nib
Ink: Diamine Cocoa Shimmer
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#journal #journaling #nkjournals #journallove #paperlove #planneraddictmalaysia #thedailywriting #planner #notebook #write #planneraddict #stationery #deardiary #diary #dailyjournaling #travelersnotebook #トラベラーズノート #washitape #journalspread #stickers #fpgeeks #handwriting #fountainpen #fountainpenaddict #narwhalfountainpen #diamine #diamineink

If you’ve never tried traveling Japan by Shinkansen, it’s definitely an experience worth having, especially with a Travel Pass in hand. But! It’s also important to ensure that you make the price of the Travel Pass worthwhile, especially with the somewhat recent increase in price. It’s best used if you plan to visit lots and lots of different locations within a certain timeframe, instead of longer, leisurely stops. If you plan on doing the latter, individual tickets might be a better option price-wise. We went to 12 areas on our 2-week pass, which is pretty impressive when you think about it 😄. To find out how we managed that, check out my book 28 Japan! I still have lots of copies left, so you better get one if you don’t have it already 🤪. It makes a good gift too!
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#nkxnippon2018 #28japan #selfpublished #selfpublish #travelbook #japantravelbook #japantravel #photobook

𝘕𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘴𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘺’𝘴 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘦 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦.
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Stuart Turton, The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle
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🎭

How is it that my postings are running more than a year late! 😫
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Pen: Lamy AL Star Pacific, M nib
Ink: Diamine Spearmint Diva
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#journal #journaling #nkjournals #journallove #paperlove #planneraddictmalaysia #thedailywriting #planner #notebook #write #planneraddict #stationery #deardiary #diary #dailyjournaling #travelersnotebook #トラベラーズノート #washitape #journalspread #stickers #fpgeeks #handwriting #fountainpen #fountainpenaddict #lamy #lamyfountainpen #diamine #diamineink

How did Terry Pratchett do it??? Seamlessly combining a world he created, satire, geopolitics, diplomacy, theft, intrigue, crime, murder, rivalry, humour into one book that is smart, funny, ruthless, absolute fiction, but also so very, very true?

The Fifth Elephant is a story about diplomacy in foreign lands, Discworld style, that is, which, let’s be honest, apart from living dwarves, trolls, golems, vampires, werewolves, and whatnot, doesn’t differ very much from our own. Lord Vetinari has made Vimes the Ambassador to Uberwald, to witness the crowning of the new dwarf Low King. Except a replica of a crucial part of the ceremony has been stolen from a museum in Ankh Morpork, and, apparently, so has the real thing in the mines of Uberwald. But once a policeman, always a policeman, and Vimes doesn’t quite have the upbringing for diplomacy…

There’s no bad Discworld book I reckon, but this is certainly one of my tops, even if I don’t remember anything about it from my previous read. Plus, diplomacy and politics would not have been as interesting to me back in, oh, the year 2000 compared to 2024. This is good stuff.
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#book #books #bookstagram #booklover #bookworm #booknerd #bibliophile #read #reading #bookreview #nkreads #terrypratchett #discworld

The truth is not always a kindness.
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Stuart Turton, The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle
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It’s a rainy kind of Sunday and I’m hoping it’ll help keep temperatures cool, even if my laundry didn’t get much sun.
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Pen: Kaweco Sport Demo, M nib
Ink: Platinum Sepia Black
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#journal #journaling #nkjournals #journallove #paperlove #planneraddictmalaysia #thedailywriting #planner #notebook #write #planneraddict #stationery #deardiary #diary #dailyjournaling #travelersnotebook #トラベラーズノート #washitape #journalspread #stickers #fpgeeks #handwriting #fountainpen #fountainpenaddict #kaweco #kawecosport #platinumink

Windswept hillsides…
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#travel #NKxニセコ2023 #Japan #🇯🇵 #IAmATraveler #TravelerinJapan #wanderlust #travelgram #traveling #PassionPassport #globetrotter #Hokkaido #hokkaidotravel #capekamui

How many injustices will I allow to walk by before I pluck up the courage to intervene?
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Stuart Turton, The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle
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I reckon there are many who need to ask themselves this question.
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Pen: Opus 88 Picnic Turquoise, M nib
Ink: Vinta Deepwater Blue
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#journal #journaling #nkjournals #journallove #paperlove #planneraddictmalaysia #thedailywriting #planner #notebook #write #planneraddict #stationery #deardiary #diary #dailyjournaling #travelersnotebook #トラベラーズノート #washitape #journalspread #stickers #fpgeeks #handwriting #fountainpen #fountainpenaddict #opus88 #vintainks

I first met the author of Breathe at the end of 2017. He’d already published his novel by then, but both of us were the quiet sort and didn’t talk much, so I didn’t think about reading his book until last year, when our paths ended up crossing more than a few times.

Still, it took me another year before I finally bought it, spurred on by, 1) me running out of things to read and, 2) the author mentioning that his publishers will not be reprinting his novel. Of course, as is my style, it took me a few more months to actually start reading it.

It’s an interesting experience reading a book written by someone you’ve gotten to know. I found myself comparing and contrasting between the main protagonist and the author regularly, and the author’s demeanour translates quite clearly through his words. The randomly-placed jokes, his love for cinema, knowledge, and occasional penchant for the dramatic. They say write what you know, and he certainly does that, giving much authenticity to the workings of a hospital and life as a houseman and onwards finding his feet in the world of medicine.

I admit I was a little worried that I’d dislike the novel, and was pleasantly surprised when I found myself actually enjoying it. It had enough twists and turns and doses of humour and tense situations to keep the momentum going, although I do think the closing chapters could have been expanded a little more. I also think the guidance of an eagle-eyed editor could have pushed Breathe to the next level, and I hope he gets a good one should he decide to put on his author’s hat again.

Still, writing a book, a piece of fiction no less, requires guts and some serious resolve of the heart (ha ha), and I am glad I got to delve into these slim chapters of the protagonist’s life, albeit belatedly.

Ok, go support a local author and read Breathe by Beni Rusani while it’s still around - you can still find some copies online.

PS… the book gets extra points for including a fountain pen, but since the author doesn’t actually use one, I’m revoking those points 😆

If only he’d sidled into continents and stolen entire cities, slaughtering many of the inhabitants in the process, he’d have been a pillar of the community.
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Terry Pratchett, Feet of Clay
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🙄 It’s insane how true this is.
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Pen: Lamy Safari Blue, M nib
Ink: Diamine Enchanted Ocean
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#journal #journaling #nkjournals #journallove #paperlove #planneraddictmalaysia #thedailywriting #planner #notebook #write #planneraddict #stationery #deardiary #diary #dailyjournaling #travelersnotebook #トラベラーズノート #washitape #journalspread #stickers #fpgeeks #handwriting #fountainpen #fountainpenaddict #lamy #lamysafari #diamineink

So @yijing1108 tagged me in a chain post for Fountain Pen Day 😆. I’m a whole 12 days late but if I didn’t do it I would be cursed with dry nibs 🤭. Just kidding!

So here are my current top five fountain pens:

1) @pilot_corporation Justus 95 - I can’t deny it, this is my favourite fountain pen in my arsenal. The ability to use it as a flex nib while also being very solid as a regular writer makes it 💯 in my book!

2) @parkerpen 51 - My first ever fountain pen was a Parker, and this reimagined classic is sleek and stylish and my first ever hooded nib fp. It’s a bit of an ink guzzler, but it writes wonderfully and it’s nice to have a Parker in my collection for nostalgic purposes.

3) @twsbi Eco - I have six of these babies in my current rotation… including a couple I have yet to unbox 🙈. Reliable pens, great writers, and that ink capacity makes it my favourite pen to travel with.

4) @ystudiostyle Revolve - I’ve had this one for awhile and I love the patina it has developed over time. Great weight, smooth nib, and just a great looker overall too!

5) @sailorpen.1911 Pro Gear Slim Blue Dwarf is probably the first fp I really saved up for. I just love that blue and the way it looks and it’s probably the cause of my obsession with Sailor 1911 PGS!

I wonder if my list will look any different next year - probably not if I don’t get around to unboxing more pens any time soon 😅. Ok, who wants to play next???
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#nkjournals #thedailywriting #write #stationery #fpgeeks #fountainpen #fountainpenaddict #pilotjustus #parker51 #sailor1911 #twsbieco #ystudio

When you have barely any moneyy anyway, having none at all didn’t seem that different.
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Peng Shepherd
The Cartographers
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I admit, sometimes my blue spread looks good 🤭💙. Also, I love my blue hourglass! Need them in all the sizes now 😬⏳.
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Pen: Sailor Compass Blue, MF nib
Ink: Visconti Blue
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#journal #journaling #nkjournals #journallove #paperlove #planneraddictmalaysia #thedailywriting #planner #notebook #write #planneraddict #stationery #deardiary #diary #dailyjournaling #travelersnotebook #トラベラーズノート #washitape #journalspread #stickers #fpgeeks #handwriting #fountainpen #fountainpenaddict #sailorfountainpen #sailorcompass #viscontiink

Neil Gaiman’s What You Need to be Warm doesn’t take long to read - a few minutes if you rush through it, an hour if you don’t, pausing to study the illustrations that accompany the different parts of the poem, and then repeating it again when you read the illustrators’ reasonings for their artwork, linking it to their words, to Gaiman’s words.

This book hits hard in this particular time, even though it was not winter when I read it (though it certainly is closing in now), but with everything going on in the world, has the refugee crisis ever been worse? It makes we wonder what everyone who contributed to the book thinks about what’s occurring right now before our very eyes.

Proceeds from this book will go towards UNHCR. My hope is there will one day not be a need for organisations like these anymore, because everyone has a home, everyone has rights, everyone has respect, freedom, justice, and access to everything they need to be warm 🍉🕊️🌏.
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#book #books #bookstagram #booklover #bookworm #booknerd #bibliophile #read #reading #bookreview #nkreads #neilgaiman

Christmas is coming soon, and my book makes a great, affordable gift for readers, travelers, journalers, and Japan-ophiles alike 😬. Plus, some of the stockists will be having 11.11 sales soon so it’s a great time to get the book on a discount! 1️⃣1️⃣.1️⃣1️⃣ Don’t say I didn’t tell you 🤪
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#nkxnippon2018 #28japan #selfpublished #selfpublish #travelbook #japantravelbook #japantravel #photobook

There was room for none of it, and all of it, and more.
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Peng Shepherd, The Cartographers
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I came across @robertostersignature’s booth at Tokyo International Pen Show and paused to browse a bit, but I wanted to get inks from makers I hadn’t heard of before and so had to move on 🤭.
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Pen: Lamy Vista, M nib
Ink: Robert Oster Motor Oil
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#journal #journaling #nkjournals #journallove #paperlove #planneraddictmalaysia #thedailywriting #planner #notebook #write #planneraddict #stationery #deardiary #diary #dailyjournaling #travelersnotebook #トラベラーズノート #washitape #journalspread #stickers #fpgeeks #handwriting #fountainpen #fountainpenaddict #lamy #lamyfountainpen #robertoster

A loosely linked prequel of sorts, Kotaro Isaka’s Three Assassins is quite a fun romp through the underworld of Tokyo, albeit with lesser gratuitous violence compared to Bullet Train - although there still is quite a decent amount of that. Isaka’s fascination for insects continue as a theme throughout this book, with characters like Cicada, as well as references to locusts and grasshoppers and not to forget the insect-obsessed kid who collects insect stickers - remember Lemon’s obsession with Thomas the Tank Engine (and his stickers!) in Bullet Train?

Former schoolteacher Suzuki’s wife was killed by Tokyo gangster boss Terahara’s son just because, and he decides to infiltrate Terahara’s organisation to get his revenge. His son, however, meets with a horrific road accident that flings Suzuki onto the trail of three different assassins: the Pusher, the Whale, and Cicada.

But Suzuki is no hero, and this also seems to be a prevalent trait in Isaka’s leading roles (so far). He’s flawed, has self doubt, and walks that fine line between good and evil, compared to his depictions of ‘the bad guys’ who are almost always cool and confident, although a few of them are also ‘off’ in their own way.

The main story of this book only spans a couple of days even though it feels like a whole lot more. It’s an interesting read that is not quite as on par with Bullet Train, but was still pretty fun anyway with well-developed characters and the right amount of surprises to keep you going. If there’s anything I thought was a bit iffy would be the effect the Whale has on Cicada and Suzuki, especially since it didn’t seem prevalent with his other jobs, but the latter two weren’t really jobs, so, who knows. I didn’t bother to read too much into it and decided to just enjoy the book as it was!

PS… the Pusher’s (alleged) name is Asagao. Some of you will understand why I found this piece of info so cool 🤣.
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#book #books #bookstagram #booklover #bookworm #booknerd #bibliophile #read #reading #bookreview #nkreads #kotaroisaka

The normal world has no room for exceptions...
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Sayaka Murata, Convenience Store Woman
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I gotta say, ANA’s in-flight wi-fi is pretty good! The cabin is really cold though 🥶

PS… posts may be sporadic over the next few days, but let’s face it, it always was sporadic 😆.
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Pen: Ferris Wheel Press Cerulean Midnight, M nib
Ink: Ferris Wheel Press Timeless Blue
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#journal #journaling #nkjournals #journallove #paperlove #planneraddictmalaysia #thedailywriting #planner #notebook #write #planneraddict #stationery #deardiary #diary #dailyjournaling #travelersnotebook #トラベラーズノート #washitape #journalspread #stickers #fpgeeks #handwriting #fountainpen #fountainpenaddict #ferriswheelpress #ferriswheelpressink

The paths of Kamui.

A dramatic, crazy strong winds kind of day that meant the more adventurous among us couldn’t walk to the tip of the cape, but the views were stunning regardless.

I think I have some videos of the wind in my Niseko highlights somewhere. 🌬️

Would love to see Cape Kamui in a different season on my third round!
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#travel #NKxニセコ2023 #Japan #🇯🇵 #IAmATraveler #TravelerinJapan #wanderlust #travelgram #traveling #PassionPassport #globetrotter #Hokkaido #hokkaidotravel #capekamui

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@nadiahkimie

YouTube

Since I was taking videos for IGTV, I thought I'd make them do double duty and upload them to YouTube as well.

My videos are mostly flipthroughs of my travel journals and before-the-pen monthly inserts, "silent fountain pen" and ink reviews, and other stationery and journaling-related content. I have a growing list of videos I want to do, I just need to find the time to get around to it.

In the mean time, I am still far away from the eventual goal of monetising my channel, so do give me a follow!

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Travel Journal: Chiang Mai 2019

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Hello

I'm Nadiah. I'm a 40-something year old writer, editor, avid journal keeper, reader, foodie, on-hold-traveller, maker, sometimes photographer, music lover, neat freak; sometimes all at the same time, sometimes more or less one or the other, and sometimes something else altogether.

I am a one-person show most of the time, but I also enjoy being part of a team. And while I am quite set in my ways, I am also versatile and look forward to new challenges and discoveries.

I don't have a personal favourite quote, but Green Day's "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life" is the closest thing to a personal mantra. I can't wait to travel again, to Japan in particular. In the mean time, I'm using this homebound time to catch up on significantly overdue travel journals.

Contact

Life is short, get in touch.

me@nadiahkimie.com