Modern Simple Living

Road Trip & Travel Log ★   ★ H-Town Weekend Coffee, Cuban Food & Buc-ee's Finds I-45 The Route 3 Stops 2× Buc-ee's Visits Took a quick weekend trip to Houston — nothing too planned, just wanted to enjoy a smooth drive down I-45 and check out a few spots in H-Town. Just the kind of low-key reset I needed.   Stop 1  ·  Coffee Carino's Coffee Kicked things off with coffee at Carino's — a solid start to the day. Exactly what a morning drive deserves.   Stop 2  ·  Lunch Cafe Piquet — Cuban Food Stopped at Cafe Piquet for lunch. Tried the Ropa Vieja (shredded beef) — savory, tender, and full of flavor. Definitely a fan. → Ropa Vieja — shredded beef, well-seasoned, tender. Highly recommend → C...

Airport Lounge Review  ·  Narita International ✦   ✦ IASS Travel Lounge Narita Terminal 1 Worth It If It's Free NRT Airport Code T1 Terminal ¥0 My Cost 🍺 Best Perk I've tried several options at Narita Airport over the years, and this time decided to visit the IASS Travel Lounge after previously using the Travel Pay lounges. The difference is noticeable — while I was able to access IASS for free, you really do get what you pay for, and it's not on the same level as Travel Pay.   That said, Narita is one of the cleanest, most comfortable airports around. Even the basic lounge here is less essential than what you'd find in U.S. airports like LAX or DFW, where the terminal-to-lounge gap is far more dramatic. Table of Contents ① What You Get ② Com...

Flight Review  ·  Low-Cost Carrier Zipair Tokyo NRT → LAX — Comparing Zipair to ANA and JAL $150 Savings Threshold ¥1,800 Curry Rice À La Everything For my return trip I booked a flight on Zipair to see how it stacks up against ANA. Whether it's the right choice really depends on your travel style and priorities. Table of Contents ① Fares & Value ② What to Expect ③ No Window Blinds ④ Onboard Meals ⑤ Verdict Section I Fares & Value Zipair's fares are typically cheaper — appealing for budget-conscious travelers. But flying solo, basic economy on ANA or JAL can also be quite affordable.   Unless the savings are more than $150, I'd still choose ANA or JAL over Zipair in basic economy. Section II What to Expect on Zipair The experience is clean, simple, a...

Drinks & Izakaya Culture  ·  Japan ◆   ◆ Japan's Canned Highballs A Surprisingly Delicious Upgrade 5 Highballs Tried No.1 Suntory Kaku Shinjuku Best Izakaya I've always enjoyed a classic Scotch & Soda, but Japan elevates this simple cocktail into something much more refined — and readily accessible. Whether picked up at a konbini or ordered at an izakaya, canned highballs are a staple of Japanese drinking culture. Crisp, refreshing, and often better than what you'd expect from a cocktail bar back home.  Table of Contents ① Canned Highballs ② Fresh Cocktail Highballs ③ Where to Enjoy Them   Section I Canned Highballs I Tried During my trip I made it a mission to try a variety of canned highballs. Here are my top picks. ...

Travel Planning My Next Adventure: Hawaii & Japan Two weeks of relaxation, re-discovery, and exploration 15 Total Days 3 Destinations 4 Hotels Table of Contents ① Overview ② Honolulu — 4 Days ③ Osaka — 4.5 Days ④ Tokyo — 6.5 Days   The Trip Overview I'm gearing up for another exciting trip to Hawaii and Japan, this time for two weeks of relaxation, exploration, and re-discovery. Having visited both destinations multiple times, this trip will be more about unwinding and exploring new places, rather than the usual tourist checklist. What makes this year even better is that the prices are surprisingly affordable, and the exchange rates are favorable — meaning it's actually more budget-friendly than my 2023 trip. Destination Duration Hotel ...