My favourite things to do!

My ultimate favourite thing to do in Tokyo might just be walking around all day, watching people and taking photos. However, since I have kids, that has become a bit more challenging.

We still walk a lot, accompanied by strollers and even kickboards, but the guide is full of fun, local activities, gallery routes, pools and small, colourful museums.

Here are some of my favorite things to do when in Tokyo:

Ghibli Museum 

Don’t confuse this museum with the new huge attraction park in Nagoya! This is only a small museum in Kichijoji, a very charming neighbourhood.

The museum is really nice and full of lovely details of the films, but also of the studio itself. The museum is situated in Inokashira Park, which is very beautiful as well.

You can rent a (swan) boat and enjoy the lake.

If you visit during the Sakura season, this is a park that is less busy, but very suitable for hanami, flower viewing. It’s a 20-minute walk from Kichijoji Station, of which a majority of the walk goes through a park. Lovely!

Minami Aoyama Shimizu Yu

A sento is a Japanese public bath, not to be confused with onsen, hot water springs. We love visiting sento when we are in Tokyo.

However, keep in mind that the bathhouses, especially fancy and bigger ones, often don’t approve of tattoos.

The more local ones or brand new ones don’t seem to care. Outside of Tokyo it is even easier.

This sento is situated in the Omotesando, a popular shopping district, with four different types of baths!

There is a ‘milky bath’ which is not too hot and my kids love it. However, it’s a bit strict. You need to tie your hair, but so does your kid; and tattoos are a no go. It opens until 23:00 every day, also good if you suffer from jet-lag and such.

Taro Okamoto Memorial Museum

Taro Okamoto wass an incredible Japanese avant-garde artist, who created paintings as well as incredible, playful sculptures.

His studio and house for over forty years was turned into the Taro Okamoto Memorial Museum only two years after his death. His wife led the reconstruction because she wanted to pass on his knowledge and passion.

We are forever grateful she did. It’s one of the best museums I have visited and a wonderful experience with children.

His colourful works speak to them as much as to us.

By Charlotte

Coffee and Lullabies is more than just a guide—it’s a love letter to Tokyo, seen through the eyes of a mother, a traveler, and a storyteller. Whether you’re planning a family trip or simply dreaming of one, Charlotte’s insights make navigating the city with kids both magical and stress-free.

Grab her tips and start your Tokyo adventure!

The post A Tiny Tokyo Guide for Families appeared first on My Lemon Magazine.

The experience was exhilarating – racing down the smooth surface, the wind rushing past our faces, and the sensation of freefall combined to create a rush of adrenaline.

We reached the bottom of the slide with broad smiles and a sense of exhilaration, our hearts still pounding from the ride and longing for more.

Palm Hotel

DAY 8: A DAY OF EXPLORATION, RELAXATION, AND LOCAL TREASURES

Our last day in Ahangama was spent exploring the town’s charming pathways, picturesque beach, and vibrant local markets.

Excited and nostalgic, we set out to make the most of our final hours in this beautiful coastal haven.

The afternoon was blissfully spent lounging by the PALM Hotel‘s beautiful infinity pool, where we enjoyed refreshing splashes. After a rejuvenating stay at the PALM Hotel, we returned to the town feeling revitalised and ready for a unique and meaningful experience of getting a tattoo at Babi’s Tattoo, a local talented artist with the skills for fine line tattoos! I totally recommend it!

We decided to mark our adventure with a memorable souvenir – a coconut palm tree tattoo, symbolising our journey and the enduring friendship we celebrated throughout our travels.

Who we are, is a collection of all the memories, that we are as women and mothers, and soul free individuals who take the time to love and care.

Our trip to Sri Lanka was more than just a holiday; it was a celebration of friendship and the joy of exploring the world together. Each moment, from the bustling streets of Colombo to the tranquil beaches of the south, brought us closer and created memories that we will cherish forever.

With its rich culture, stunning landscapes, and warm hospitality, Sri Lanka provided the perfect backdrop for our adventure. We returned home rejuvenated, inspired, and with a deeper appreciation for the incredible journey of life and friendship. Forever grateful. Sththuthi!

By Nice Mum

The post Unbound – Mums Take Sri Lanka! appeared first on My Lemon Magazine.

By Carlota von Hafe Pérez – Nos No Mundo

Photography courtesy of Carlota von Hafe Pérez – Nos No Mundo

We are a down-to-earth family, drawn to the art of simplicity and the philosophy of slow living. For the past seven years we’ve been on a journey together, and in the last two years we’ve welcomed our beautiful children, Tata and Lua, just a year apart. Sebastião, a former commercial model, and I, Carlota, trained as a photographer, met accidentally. It was during this fateful meeting that we made a bold decision – we packed no more than two backpacks and a simple tent and bought two one-way tickets with no fixed date of return.

We spent over four years travelling the world, swapping work for accommodation, couchsurfing, delivering pizzas from a caravan, working in construction and gardening – all in search of self-discovery. Our travels have taken us to countries in South America, Asia, and even Australia, New Zealand and China.

Our desire to explore the world never left us, and with the addition of our two wonderful children, who are already fascinated by travelling, nature, animals and people, our passion for exploring only grew. For the past four years we’ve been running a small rooftop bar in Porto, Portugal, called Graça Rooftop Bar, where we welcome a mix of locals and people from all over the world. Here we share experiences with live music. It is the most relaxed terrace in Porto. The rest of the year we devote ourselves to our life project, Nos no Mundo (We in this world), a school of life for parents and children. Instead of focusing on celebrities and trends, we want to teach our children how to be real people, appreciating the little moments in life, the different realities, the names of plants and animals.

The way we like to travel takes time. These days we are bombarded with package holidays, trendy destinations and hotel chains that are the same all over the place. But where is the essence of a place? What really matters is the people, the local businesses and the accommodation that integrates and respects cultures. We have moved away from what we call “fast tourism”, a kind of “fast food” approach to travel. We want to experience the emotions, the essence of each place and, above all, to feel a deep respect for the environment, a concern for the local population, for the place itself, for the planet and for future generations. We therefore choose to travel based on ecologically sound principles. Ecotourism is available for all budgets; it’s just a matter of finding the destination and method that aligns with your values.

In this article, we share one of our recent travel experiences on Thinadhoo, a hidden gem in the Maldives, where we discovered a perfect blend of nature, tranquillity, and authenticity.

Thinadhoo: A Hidden Paradise in the Maldives

Thinadhoo is a picturesque island in the Maldives full of surprises, with just 40 residents, one student at the school, and a small market.

The entire island can be explored from one end to the other in a 25-minute walk.

Every corner of this island is so magical. We found ourselves sighing with gratitude for the opportunity to experience such a unique reality.

Thinadhoo’s magical moments:

Imagine walking into one of an island’s bays and stumbling upon a nocturnal gathering of sharks and rays. Witnessing over 50 of these majestic creatures coexisting peacefully after dinner made our children’s bedtime routine an unforgettable experience. Watching these sea creatures in the moonlight, we knew this special yet simple moment would be impossible to forget.

These routines continued and in the mornings, after a delicious breakfast of fresh fruit, we would take the kayak out on the sea.

The calm, transparent water and the breeze from the sea made the mornings a very special experience. At sunset we would walk along the beach just as the crabs emerged from their burrows and began to crawl across the fine sand. The colours of the sky enhanced our second to last dive of the day, and even when the sharks were playing close to the shore, we rarely missed the opportunity to dive in the moonlight.

Life on the island of Thinadhoo:

There are no cars or motorbikes on Thinadhoo, and the ground is entirely sandy, so shoes were never an issue for us. The people of Thinadhoo are Muslim, and there are certain rules that derive from their religion that we have come to respect and appreciate. While you are allowed to walk around in your bikini in the designated areas, it’s not allowed in the central area or in the restaurants. There’s no alcohol on the island, making it ideal for those looking to detox and make their holiday healthier. Prayers are heard at certain times of day and the small mosque fills with the few inhabitants of this special place, faithfully answering every call.

Beach bliss:

Fifty per cent of the island is covered in its original vegetation, mostly coconut palms, so you have to be careful of falling coconuts – that’s probably the only danger on the island. After just two days of walking, we were already saying hello to the villagers and getting to know their faces, and they were getting to know us as well.

The beach at Thinadhoo is simply perfect, with clear sand and crystal-clear water that allows you to kayak and see fish and coral in all the colours of the rainbow. With temperatures in excess of 30 degrees Celsius, it was impossible not to take a dip during the day and at night. Can you imagine swimming under a starlit sky?

Explore marine life:

Life on the island may be simple, but it is far from monotonous. Each day we boarded a typical Maldivian wooden boat, eager to showcase this destination’s most interesting aspect: its marine life. There was one boat that had a local captain at the helm who steered with his foot, in the company of two companions who knew the area like the back of their hands.

The most memorable experience was swimming with nurse sharks, which are common in the area and, although carnivorous, are harmless. It was a unique mix of feeling free while swimming with them and the adrenaline rush of knowing that these almost 2-metre-long creatures are still sharks. They even touch you, brushing their rough “toad skin” over you. Realising how small we are in the vast ocean was a once in a lifetime feeling. On other days we also saw turtles in the open water and had a swim with the rays. We even went fishing for dinner. With the wealth of fish in these waters, most of the island’s population live on fresh seafood. We visited a sunken ship which, with good lungs, could be explored to see its interior. It had become its own ecosystem, with corals and fish making it their home.

Just a few metres away, right in front of the hotel, and with the water up to your legs, we were able to experience one of the best snorkelling sessions we’ve ever had. Even the little ones were able to join in on the fun, looking for the little fish and enjoying the whole experience. It was truly magical, and I would highly recommend it to families.

Eco-friendly accommodation:

Our chosen hotel, Ecoboo, like all our recent choices, is eco-friendly, environmentally conscious, and respectful of locals and nature.

It’s made entirely of bamboo and is situated right on the beach, offering a breath of fresh air in what can often be a hectic world. On arriving, we were greeted with a refreshing lemonade and had an informal chat about how the island works and the rules designed to ensure that both visitors and locals feel comfortable and respect each other. We should never forget that when we travel, we are entering someone else’s world and must accept their principles and see the beauty in our differences. We were given a glass bottle to carry our water with us throughout the journey. Within the first five minutes we heard, “There are no plastic bottles here,” and you know what? We didn’t see a single plastic bottle for the whole of our stay in that hotel.

Rain and sea water are treated and used for a variety of uses, such as drinking, irrigation and bathing. Potable water is always provided by the hotel and free of charge. Most of the construction and decoration of the hotel is made of bamboo and other natural resources found on the island. Even the children’s playground has slides and swings made of wood.

In this hotel you can stay with meals included and a package of tours starting from $120 USD per person per day, depending on the time of year.

Conclusion:

Going to Thinadhoo left an indelible mark on our hearts and we want to share more. We are planning our first group trip with Nos no Mundo in 2024, taking a group of adventurers to this paradise. Be on the lookout for the programme and dates!

The post Discover The Hidden Gem Of Thinadhoo In The Maldives: A Slow Travel Adventure appeared first on My Lemon Magazine.

By Ana Roque
Photography courtesy of Karilyn Owen
Ilustration Marion Solhonne 

Karilyn Owen grew up hearing stories of travel. “Both of my grandmothers loved to travel. I grew up hearing their stories about living and exploring abroad.” Although her curiosity arose from an early age, Karilyn’s first international trip only took place when she was 24 years old. Now, at 44, travelling has become her lifestyle. But Karilyn doesn’t travel solo. Her grand companion is her ten-year-old son Cian, who follows her everywhere she goes. As for us, we can enjoy the adventures of this family from a distance through their Instagram and blog: No Back Home.

Karilyn is American but she lived in India for a decade. That’s where she met Cian’s father, got married, and became a mother. “When we lived in India, we would frequently make our way back and forth to Ireland [where Cian’s paternal family lives] and to the United States of America. In his first year of life, we travelled to seven countries mostly to and from visiting family.” 

The first trip she made only with Cian was a ten-day road trip in the United States, when he was about four years old. “It was a trip we had planned with another family and at the last minute my husband was unable to join. That was when I realised that even on a road trip with an active little one I was good to go on my own.”

Karilyn loves everything about travelling with her son and the word “fear” doesn’t appear in her dictionary. “There are kids all over the world. That makes every place kid-friendly in my book.” Moreover, all their shared experiences have brought them closer: “He is my favourite travelling companion. When I’m having a rough day he can always make me see the bright side.”

For someone who loves travel so much, 2020 has been a tough year. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought several limitations and international travel is one of them. “We travelled to Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands for my 44th birthday and returned four days before the lockdowns began. It was amazing!” But Karilyn still manages to see the glass as half full. “We really miss travelling so we went on a four-day trip to Yosemite before the fires started. It was a quick peek into what we had been missing and we felt so free to be back on the road exploring again!”

When all this is over, Karilyn and Cian will probably go back to Ecuador. “It really stole my heart and there are so many places we would still like to explore there. But I also wouldn’t mind a stint in Southeast Asia again. We had such an amazing time backpacking through it two years ago. I guess we will see who opens up and how safe things feel around the world.”

THE TRIP TO SINGAPORE
Singapore is a city-state in Southeast Asia. It is one of the largest financial centres in the world and has a population made up of people from all over the world, making it even more wonderful. Karilyn and Cian travelled there in 2018 and fell in love with its wonders. Check out their story!
LEMON Magazine [LEMON] – When did you travel to Singapore?
Karilyn Owen [K.O.] – We travelled to Singapore in the summer of 2018. We had flights from Singapore to Malaysian Borneo and stopped over for one day on the way over and for a week on the way back. We were lucky to have friends there that gave us the inside scoop. It was the perfect opportunity for us to experience the city from an insider’s perspective.
[LEMON] – Is Singapore a special place for you?
[K.O.] – I have a photograph of one of my grandmothers in a garden in Singapore. I have always loved it and wondered where she was when it was taken (in the 1980s). I have always felt a connection to the city because of that photograph and now even more after our visit. We had so much fun exploring all over and it warms my heart to hear my son tell others how amazing it is!
[LEMON] – Did you find it safe for travelling with kids?
[K.O.] – Yes. I have always loved Singapore but this was my son’s first foray into Asia outside of India and I was really excited to share it with him. I really feel Singapore is the greatest gateway to Asia for families. It is safe, clean and modern like the West, but also has pockets of busy chaos like you might find throughout Asia. The food is top-notch, safe and varied. It is the perfect place for families to dip their toes into Asia without a ton of culture shock.
[LEMON] – What’s the best way to get to know Singapore?
[K.O.] – By walking around! The weather is hot and the distances can be long, but we loved exploring by foot as much as possible.
[LEMON] – What do you think cannot be done with kids in Singapore?
[K.O.] – I would guess the only thing you can’t do with kids in Singapore is exploring the nightlife! We were home and in bed by 9 every night.
[LEMON] – What memories did you bring back from this trip?
[K.O.] – We have so many great memories of Singapore. I think some of the best were adventuring through the food halls and letting my son go up to the stalls to order his food with our friend’s daughter, who wanted to practice her Chinese. We also loved visiting the heritage museums as well and learning more about how Singapore became inhabited by Chinese and Indian people. But mostly, we just loved the adventuring time together: exploring, walking, eating and sweating.

WHERE TO GO

LITTLE INDIA
“We loved Little India! All visitors should make time to explore this area and get some mehndi [henna tattoos] too!”

Little India is a historic area and one of the most vibrant districts of the city. It is the perfect place to eat delicious Indian food, to shop, and to walk around learning about Singapore’s Indian community. You will also find a fantastic mix of Hindu and Chinese temples, mosques and churches.

NATIONAL GALLERY SINGAPORE

“If you are with kids and need some cool-down time, the National Gallery Singapore is amazing. During the summer, make sure to check out the Children’s Festival at the Keppel Centre for Art Education.”

The world’s largest public collection of modern Singaporean and Southeast Asian art can be found in this museum, situated in the heart of modern Singapore – the Civic District – and housed in two important national monuments that have been restored: City Hall and former Supreme Court. It’s definitely worth a visit!

Also in this gallery, people shouldn’t miss the Keppel Centre for Art Education. Its interactive spaces will stimulate the imagination and creativity of the whole family.

GARDENS BY THE BAY

“One of our top picks is the magical Gardens by the Bay. We were awed by the ingenuity that went into building this urban park. It definitely deserves a visit at night as well to get the full light-up experience. There is a cloud forest and flower dome that allows you to get up close to nature right in the middle of the city.”

This nature park covers around 101 hectares and consists of three gardens: Bay South Garden, Bay East Garden and Bay Central Garden. It was built with the aim of raising the quality of life in the city by improving green spaces. It is a true paradise in the middle of the city and one of the biggest attractions in Singapore.

SINGAPORE BOTANIC GARDENS AND JACOB BALLAS CHILDREN’S GARDEN

“We highly recommend spending some time at the Singapore Botanic Gardens and at the Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden. Cian loved exploring this area, playing with the zip line at the playground and spotting wildlife too.”

Singapore Botanic Gardens are an important plant research and conservation centre and a wonderful botanic garden. Its main attraction is the National Garden of Orchids, where people can find more than a thousand species and around two thousand orchid hybrids, but there is much more to explore. The Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden, for example, is the first garden in Asia entirely dedicated to children and it definitely deserves a visit. It has a farm, an orchard and a forest with its own stream and ponds. Kids can do anything they want while learning to love and cherish nature, from exploring the suspension bridge and the nature play areas to walking along the stream and climbing into the tree-houses. The more curious can observe how plants grow and pick up some gardening tips!

WHERE NOT TO GO

UNIVERSAL STUDIOS SINGAPORE
“For us, it’s not worth coming all the way to Singapore to visit places like Universal Studios, for example. We live in Los Angeles and have access to these types of places all the time. I would say seek out more local experiences that cannot be found anywhere else.”

WHERE AND 

WHAT TO EAT 

“We feel like no visit to Singapore is complete without eating at the various markets.”

RESTAURANT TIPS

Poori and Dosai at Komala Vilas

Chicken Rice at Liao Fan Hawker Chan

PACKING LIST ESSENTIALS

“We always aim to cover up and be as modest as possible when visiting Asia.”

Lightweight and breathable clothing;

Comfortable walking shoes;

A packable towel for when you find yourself near a water park (like Gardens by the Bay). 

nobackhome.com
@nobackhome

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