Malia Yoshioka is a freelance Food & Travel Writer and ESL Tutor from Hawaii. She's slowly eating her way around the world, 43 countries and counting so far! Get behind the scenes news, travel tips and the best food stories from around the web in her weekly Savor the Journey newsletter.
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🚂 41 states later, I'm still finding surprises
Published 3 days ago • 5 min read
👋 Aloha from Fort Worth, TX,
In my last newsletter, I asked what type of tour you are most likely to book when you travel and the top answer (by far!) was a food tour.
As a former food tour guide, of course that makes my heart happy. ;) I've got a lot of catching up to do over the next few weeks, but I'll have some reviews coming up for another great tour with Culinary Backstreets from Tokyo (you might remember the one I took in Istanbul before I left) and also some updated Hawaii content.
For now, here are a few of my favorite photos from the rails over the past few weeks.
Pictured above: Many, many sunrises and sunsets on trains, coffee the size of my head on an (unplanned + extended) layover in Chicago, an upgrade to my train kit (my new portable kettle!) and the cool fossils (!!) in the station walls in Oklahoma City.
I'll also have a fun announcement next week... stay tuned!
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✨ In case you missed it
A free walking tour?!
Food tours are still my favorite, but lately I’ve also been testing VoiceMap's self-guided audio walking tours. I took one in Holland, Michigan and another in Chicago’s Loop and was surprised by how detailed they were! They’re created by local storytellers, guides, and historians and let you explore at your own pace. You can try your first tour free with code MaliaY or by clicking below.
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Destination Inspiration ✈
Tickets are on sale for next month's inaugural Wailuku Film Festival, to be held at the Historic Iao Theater in Wailuku town and featuring 100+ films! Categories include Hawaii, Indigenous, Water Sports, and Student.
Chef Ozlem Warren shares a recipe for a "cheat" version of Kayseri Yaglama which takes me right back to my time living in Cappadocia! She's also celebrating the release of her newest cookbook, Istanbul.
If you're on Maui, consider donating your extra fruit from the backyard to the Common Ground Collective to help local families dealing with food insecurityand reducing dependence on imported harvests
Good news and bad news in the skies: there'll no longer be free meals on Hawaiian Airlines main cabins starting July 1. Instead, you will be able to pre-order meals from Chef Sheldon Simeon. Pro tip: Huaka'i by Hawaiian members get two free meals to try it out. Be sure you register your Hawaii resident status by 6/24 to qualify.
🎧 Which decade's music makes you the most nostalgic? (BONUS: Reply and tell me which song or artist?)
Natura Wines and Trek Travel are giving away a 3-night travel vacation package for two valued at $2,500. Enter by 5/31. Details here.
Overseas Adventure Travel is giving away a free travel adventure valued up to $6,500, plus bonus prizes. Enter by 6/15. Details here.
Swissgear is giving away a trip for two to Switzerland including roundtrip airfare, a $1,500 travel stipend, and a premium luggage set valued at $5,000. Enter by 6/15. Details here.
Condé Nast Traveler and Viking are giving away a 15-day British Isles Explorer cruise for two, including flights. Vote in the Readers' Choice Awards to enter through 6/30. Details here.
✈ What's new in the community?
Join our Savor the Journey Facebook Group and get a daily dose of travel and food stories and a chance to engage with like-minded travelers. Come join us for discussions, recs from members and travel tips this week.
✨ My favorite food tours
I've started bookmarking my favorite food tours while I've been taking some in the US. Do you have any standouts that you'd add? Want an international version? Reply and let me know what you think! 🙏
There’s something about ink, paper, and faraway postmarks that feels like analog magic, don't you think? If you’d like a handwritten postcard from a surprise destination, just reply with your mailing address and I’ll add you to my list! ✨💌
👋 Hi, I'm Malia Yoshioka!
I'm a freelance food and travel writer and guidebook author from Hawaii, slowly eating my way around the world and sharing the flavors with you in these weekly updates and on ShoyuSugar.com
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Malia Yoshioka is a freelance Food & Travel Writer and ESL Tutor from Hawaii. She's slowly eating her way around the world, 43 countries and counting so far! Get behind the scenes news, travel tips and the best food stories from around the web in her weekly Savor the Journey newsletter.
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