Peace, Joy, and Warmth

What Is My Favourite Place on Earth?

This is impossible.

How do you pick one favorite place on Earth when your heart is scattered across continents like confetti after a really good party?

I’ve tried to narrow it down, but every time I think I’ve got it, another memory pops up like, “Hey, remember me?” and suddenly I’m spiraling into nostalgia.

Let’s start with Miyajima, Japan.

Oh my gosh.

The deer.

The quiet.

The way the air feels like it’s been filtered through a thousand years of peace. I remember walking through the torii gate at low tide, barefoot, the sand cool and squishy, and these gentle deer just wandering around like they own the place (which, honestly, they kind of do). There’s this serenity there that just wraps around you like a warm blanket.

And the memories—laughing with friends, eating nato, feeding deer—it’s like my soul exhales every time I think about it.

Then there’s Brisbane.

Brisbane is like that friend who’s always down for a good time but also knows when to chill. The city beach? Unreal. Like, who decided to just plop a beach in the middle of the city? Genius. I remember lazy afternoons lying on the sand, the skyline in the background, the smell of sunscreen and eucalyptus in the air. And the people—so warm, so easygoing.

I have this one memory of a sunset ferry ride on the Brisbane River, golden light bouncing off the water, and I swear I could’ve stayed in that moment forever.

And then there’s San Diego.

My sunshine sanctuary.

It’s not just the weather (though, let’s be real, the weather is chef’s kiss), it’s the vibe.

It’s the tacos, the ocean breeze, the way you can wear flip-flops in December and no one bats an eye. It’s the year-round warmth—not just in temperature, but in spirit. I’ve had some of my happiest, most grounding moments here.

Long walks in Balboa Park, spontaneous beach days, the kind of laughter that makes your stomach hurt.

San Diego feels like home.

So yeah, I don’t have one favorite place.

I have a mosaic of places, each holding a piece of me.

Miyajima for peace, Brisbane for joy, San Diego for warmth.

And maybe that’s the real answer—my favorite place on Earth is wherever I’ve felt most alive, most myself, most loved.