The art of getting lost (Japan)

I was talking about “The Art of Traveling Lost” at an event at Blue Jazz in Singapore. Incidentally, I used to live in the shophouse next door a few years back.  

One of my tricks of “lost travel” is to carry an outdated guidebook. You will surely get lost. But the best part is when you meet people, you can talk about things that used to be. Nostalgia is the best glue to connect with locals.

Go to a neighbourhood bar and enquire about the park that used to be at the end of the street (perhaps now it is some dull office building). The folks there will reminisce about their teenage years in that park, their first holding hands and that first kiss accompanied by a fast beating heart. And you will get a free refill.

I gave away my outdated guidebook (the very first Japan Lonely Planet) to a participant who was planning to visit Japan and wished her “happy lost travel”.

The note below is printed on the last page. Japanese men were more naughty those days. They are too busy on their phones now.