Modern Simple Living

Travel Journal A Quick Trip Across East Asia: Japan & South Korea Navigating layovers and family visits in a five-day whirlwind. 5 Days 2 Countries 3 Cities 90 Minutes Airport Downtime Table of Contents ① First Impressions & Itinerary ② Section I — Day 1: Narita, Japan ③ Section II — Day 2: Nagoya, Japan ④ Section III — Day 3: Busan, South Korea ⑤ Section IV — Day 4: Busan, South Korea ⑥ Section V — Day 5: Gimhae Airport (Busan, South Korea) Section I First Impressions & Itinerary I just wrapped up my first trip of 2017, spending five days in Japan and South Korea, primarily visiting family and exploring all the changes in the area. I wanted to stay longer, but I'm trying to budget my vacation hours wisely to last throughout the year. Section II Section I — Day 1: Narita, Japan I've visited Narita Airport several times before, and it remains one of my favorites for its logical layout. Once you understand how the terminals are organized, navigating the airport b...

Gear Review Audio-Technica ATH-MSR7 Review: A Traveler's Perspective Finding the perfect sound in an airport layover 15 Minutes Audition 30 Days Testing 290g Weight 45mm Drivers Table of Contents ① The Search in Japan ② Specifications ③ The Good ④ The Bad ⑤ Closing Thoughts Section I The Search in Japan One of my main objectives during my visit to Japan was to sample some headphones, and I stumbled upon a decent selection at the airport, including models from Sony and Audio-Technica. Although I couldn't find the M70x or MDR1a, I had the opportunity to try the ATH SR5, MSR7, and the new SR9. While the SR9 sounded better than the MSR7, I felt it required an amp to really shine. Ultimately, I focused on the MSR7, and after a 15-minute audition, I decided to purchase a pair. Although Amazon sells them for the same price, I wanted to support the airport stores so they continue stocking cool gear for future layovers.   Section II Specifications → Speakers — 45mm closed-back dri...

Gear Review Review: Pilot Con-50 Ink Converter A promising upgrade that fell short of expectations. 1 Pen Model 2 Converter Types 3rd Failed Amazon Order Section I Initial Impressions I recently picked up the Con-50 ink converter for my Pilot Metropolitan fountain pen. While the stock CON-20 ink converter that comes with the pen works fine, I found it a nuisance to gauge how much ink was left. It was especially frustrating when it ran out of ink in the middle of a business meeting. The Con-50 converter functions similarly to the Platinum ink converter, allowing me to fill the pen quickly and with minimal mess. Although it holds less ink, I appreciate that I can easily see when it’s getting low. This will help me start estimating how many days or weeks I can go between refills.   Section II The Failure (1/12/17) Unfortunately, my experience with the Con-50 took a turn for the worse. It cracked! I ended up with a total mess and had to disassemble and clean the pen thoroughly. I’v...