Top 3 Favourite Countries: Sarah Belizaire-Butler of Eat Drinks and Sleeps
September 12, 2021 | Tagged: Top 3 Favourite Countries
I 'met' Sarah via a series of blog post comments regarding Georgia (and red wine). We shared lockdown time together. Me in Kenya, Sarah on the island of Antigua. We finally met for real last December in Mexico City and again this past week.
If you are a traveller, blogger or both and have a story to tell and would like to be featured on this series, just contact me.
Here she talks about her top 3 favourite countries.
If you are a traveller, blogger or both and have a story to tell and would like to be featured on this series, just contact me.
Here she talks about her top 3 favourite countries.
Hi, I’m Sarah, curious traveller and cocktail drinker and sometimes runner and writer. I blog sporadically at www.eatsdrinksandsleeps.com but mostly collect stories and fail to publish them as I’m too busy working or collecting more.
I’ve travelled since I was a kid, when my Dad used to put a mattress in the back of a transit van and drive us to Germany, Denmark or The Netherlands for Christmas. I studied languages as a teen – French, German and Italian – although don’t ask me to speak anything now – and used to save up my part time job monies to fund school trips or exchange trips to France, Italy etc.
None of my grandparents were born in England, so I have quite an international family. They are scattered all over the world, but the biggest concentration of family is located in the Caribbean and the UK – although I also have fam in The Philippines, Germany, Canada and lots of places in between.
In my last job I used to work internationally, splitting my time between the London and New York office and organising and hosting 30+ events or overseas trips a year.
I’ve visited maybe only 30+ countries but have been lucky enough to visit the majority of places multiple times, either for work or fun or a combination of the two.
I did an #ExitBeforeBrexit strategy and semi moved to Spain three years ago; first Granada and later to Madrid. These days, I’m spending more time away traveling for work as it’s hard to get back home. I usually stay somewhere for a few weeks at a time, pulling long days in the week, leaving the weekends free to explore. I like to stay in apartments where I can get a feel for a neighbourhood but this isn’t always possible everywhere. I try to find some drink-related experience wherever I roam, and you’ll usually find me at either a dive bar or craft cocktail bar, enjoying street food tacos or super fancy inventive food.
So, my top three countries…
None of my grandparents were born in England, so I have quite an international family. They are scattered all over the world, but the biggest concentration of family is located in the Caribbean and the UK – although I also have fam in The Philippines, Germany, Canada and lots of places in between.
In my last job I used to work internationally, splitting my time between the London and New York office and organising and hosting 30+ events or overseas trips a year.
I’ve visited maybe only 30+ countries but have been lucky enough to visit the majority of places multiple times, either for work or fun or a combination of the two.
I did an #ExitBeforeBrexit strategy and semi moved to Spain three years ago; first Granada and later to Madrid. These days, I’m spending more time away traveling for work as it’s hard to get back home. I usually stay somewhere for a few weeks at a time, pulling long days in the week, leaving the weekends free to explore. I like to stay in apartments where I can get a feel for a neighbourhood but this isn’t always possible everywhere. I try to find some drink-related experience wherever I roam, and you’ll usually find me at either a dive bar or craft cocktail bar, enjoying street food tacos or super fancy inventive food.
So, my top three countries…
1. Japan
This one is easy. Japan!
As a kid I never got the itch to travel much beyond Europe. When everyone was heading off to the three A’s - Asia, America, Australia - I was happy to criss-cross around Europe and discover all the amazing cultural gems right on our doorstep.
But going to Japan for the first time back in 2014 proved to be everything I love most about travel.
There’s that quote from Pam Mandel, of The Same River Twice, I heard on the Rolf Potts podcast that spoke to me, ‘I love that thrill of being somewhere else, and not knowing how things work and being a little bit untethered to the confines of what you think of as your daily existence. I love that. It’s like a drug.”
Japan for me was the biggest cultural headfuck in the best possible way -- somewhere I feel totally lost and out of my comfort zone yet entirely safe wandering solo at the same time.
I’ve been lucky enough to do multiple trips out to Japan for work and one for fun.
I love the bar culture. Japanese bartending is some of the most precise and incredible in the world. I love the whisky – Suntory will forever have my soul. I love the whisky bars that have 600+ whiskies and just 8 seats, the little hidden apartment bars, the izakayas with whisky highballs on tap – Kaku-hi turned me onto highballs in a big way.
It’s not just whisky you can find here, as you can also find wonderfully delicate and subtle wines. I loved wandering through exquisitely trellised vineyards in Yamanashi and finding vending machines with Boss Coffee on seemingly deserted streets in the Southern Japanese Alps.
I love the intricacy of the art, tattoos, the beauty of a traditional tea ceremony. The customs and cultural norms – like how to greet people, exchange business cards, show your appreciation. I’ve messed up all of these at some point but love how respectful and considered every little gesture is here.
The food is insane. Matcha ice cream is my favourite thing in the world. Chicken kara age is the best fried chicken in the world. Yes, there is incredible sushi, sashimi etc but there is so much more to Japanese food than that, and I’ve loved being introduced to it all.
I also like how everything is so considered and thought through. Japan takes things and perfects them. I love the high-tech toilets and the fact that there’s a machine to wrap your umbrella to stop it dripping all over the floor in pretty much every department store – seriously UK you could learn a thing or two!
I’m always ridiculously jet lagged when I get there but I just don’t care. I’ve loved running around temples and taking in the incense after just an hour or two of sleep.
I actually even love karaoke when in Japan. And ramen only makes sense to me as part of a 5am sober up to try and catch a flight ritual.
As a kid I never got the itch to travel much beyond Europe. When everyone was heading off to the three A’s - Asia, America, Australia - I was happy to criss-cross around Europe and discover all the amazing cultural gems right on our doorstep.
But going to Japan for the first time back in 2014 proved to be everything I love most about travel.
There’s that quote from Pam Mandel, of The Same River Twice, I heard on the Rolf Potts podcast that spoke to me, ‘I love that thrill of being somewhere else, and not knowing how things work and being a little bit untethered to the confines of what you think of as your daily existence. I love that. It’s like a drug.”
Japan for me was the biggest cultural headfuck in the best possible way -- somewhere I feel totally lost and out of my comfort zone yet entirely safe wandering solo at the same time.
I’ve been lucky enough to do multiple trips out to Japan for work and one for fun.
I love the bar culture. Japanese bartending is some of the most precise and incredible in the world. I love the whisky – Suntory will forever have my soul. I love the whisky bars that have 600+ whiskies and just 8 seats, the little hidden apartment bars, the izakayas with whisky highballs on tap – Kaku-hi turned me onto highballs in a big way.
It’s not just whisky you can find here, as you can also find wonderfully delicate and subtle wines. I loved wandering through exquisitely trellised vineyards in Yamanashi and finding vending machines with Boss Coffee on seemingly deserted streets in the Southern Japanese Alps.
I love the intricacy of the art, tattoos, the beauty of a traditional tea ceremony. The customs and cultural norms – like how to greet people, exchange business cards, show your appreciation. I’ve messed up all of these at some point but love how respectful and considered every little gesture is here.
The food is insane. Matcha ice cream is my favourite thing in the world. Chicken kara age is the best fried chicken in the world. Yes, there is incredible sushi, sashimi etc but there is so much more to Japanese food than that, and I’ve loved being introduced to it all.
I also like how everything is so considered and thought through. Japan takes things and perfects them. I love the high-tech toilets and the fact that there’s a machine to wrap your umbrella to stop it dripping all over the floor in pretty much every department store – seriously UK you could learn a thing or two!
I’m always ridiculously jet lagged when I get there but I just don’t care. I’ve loved running around temples and taking in the incense after just an hour or two of sleep.
I actually even love karaoke when in Japan. And ramen only makes sense to me as part of a 5am sober up to try and catch a flight ritual.
2. Mexico
Another country work took me too and I’ve fallen in love with. Obviously tequila makes you happy, right, but more recently I’ve discovered Mezcal hits that spot too.
Some people have been freaked out by Mexico - the way the country is portrayed on films is all cartels and death. My experience has always been for it to be one of the most friendly, colourful, noisy places - I love it!
Mexico has everything - the beach, the mountains, cities, lakes.
I feel like I’ve just scratched the surface and want to do more. I’ve have at least eight different spots written down that I want to visit soon.
I eat so well here as mostly everything is so fresh and cheap and I can get away with eating healthy without needing to cook. I spend a lot of time outdoors here as well - that makes me happy! I hate being penned in.
I’ve become enthralled by Mexican fashion designers - such incredible quality for the price and a great fusion of tradition, style and craftsmanship.
I’ve spent a good amount of time in Guadalajara, Jalisco over the years for work. I’m fast falling in love with Mexico City after spending more time here not just on transits -- the bar scene is amazing and the people are really cool! Oaxaca is so culturally rich. Zipolite was an experience I’d actually love to repeat.
Although I’d probably recommend avoiding the rainy season if you can and the earthquake season in September - while that earthquake this week was an experience, it’s probably not something I’m in a hurry to experience again anytime soon!
Some people have been freaked out by Mexico - the way the country is portrayed on films is all cartels and death. My experience has always been for it to be one of the most friendly, colourful, noisy places - I love it!
Mexico has everything - the beach, the mountains, cities, lakes.
I feel like I’ve just scratched the surface and want to do more. I’ve have at least eight different spots written down that I want to visit soon.
I eat so well here as mostly everything is so fresh and cheap and I can get away with eating healthy without needing to cook. I spend a lot of time outdoors here as well - that makes me happy! I hate being penned in.
I’ve become enthralled by Mexican fashion designers - such incredible quality for the price and a great fusion of tradition, style and craftsmanship.
I’ve spent a good amount of time in Guadalajara, Jalisco over the years for work. I’m fast falling in love with Mexico City after spending more time here not just on transits -- the bar scene is amazing and the people are really cool! Oaxaca is so culturally rich. Zipolite was an experience I’d actually love to repeat.
Although I’d probably recommend avoiding the rainy season if you can and the earthquake season in September - while that earthquake this week was an experience, it’s probably not something I’m in a hurry to experience again anytime soon!
3. Trinidad and Tobago
This is a hard one.
When I was a kid I probably would have said Italy: the food, language, art, architecture, history is incredible and the difference between life in the north and south is striking.
I guess until recently I would have said Spain, which sounds like a boring choice but, honestly, Spain has surprised me in so many ways. I was anti visiting it to begin with as I’d assumed it was one big tacky tourist resort, but after visiting Sevilla on an interrail trip years ago I fell in love with Spain. I’ve travelled extensively through it twice, got married in Sevilla, lived in two different Spanish cities for a while, Granada and Madrid. I love the regional differences of food and drink culture - regionality of wine and food all of a sudden makes sense when you visit. Living in Granada made me appreciate the sunset and a different pace of life. Work to live not live to work. Madrid is one of the coolest capitals where you can truly live without needing to be super rich.
But I guess the place that has blown me away most in recent years has been Trinidad & Tobago. I’m familiar with the Caribbean having spent a ton of time with fam in Antigua. A beautiful paradise of sea and sun but not somewhere I thought I could be for more than a few weeks at a time. It's perhaps too quiet and chilled for me, although during the pandemic I’ve discovered it turns out three months there is my optimum refresh and recharge time.
I’d perhaps not written off, more underestimated, Trinidad as just another beautiful Caribbean island - beaches and not much else. But the fusion of culture there makes it a captivating country. For a bunch of historical, political reasons there is this vibrant West Indian, Indian, Chinese, Portuguese, British fusion of culture.
The music scene is epic - I can’t help but smile and wine when I hear Soca or calypso tunes. Carnival - wow, I have never partied like that anywhere in the world - jouvert morning is the most life affirming experience on earth. Playing mas has made me love the way my body jiggles for the first time and embrace my ass rather than try and minimise it.
The food culture is insane. I don’t think I could deal without having the occasional doubles and roti in my life.
The temples, the beaches, the rum, the bitters, the pure joy for life. I love it and can’t wait to get back there!
When I was a kid I probably would have said Italy: the food, language, art, architecture, history is incredible and the difference between life in the north and south is striking.
I guess until recently I would have said Spain, which sounds like a boring choice but, honestly, Spain has surprised me in so many ways. I was anti visiting it to begin with as I’d assumed it was one big tacky tourist resort, but after visiting Sevilla on an interrail trip years ago I fell in love with Spain. I’ve travelled extensively through it twice, got married in Sevilla, lived in two different Spanish cities for a while, Granada and Madrid. I love the regional differences of food and drink culture - regionality of wine and food all of a sudden makes sense when you visit. Living in Granada made me appreciate the sunset and a different pace of life. Work to live not live to work. Madrid is one of the coolest capitals where you can truly live without needing to be super rich.
But I guess the place that has blown me away most in recent years has been Trinidad & Tobago. I’m familiar with the Caribbean having spent a ton of time with fam in Antigua. A beautiful paradise of sea and sun but not somewhere I thought I could be for more than a few weeks at a time. It's perhaps too quiet and chilled for me, although during the pandemic I’ve discovered it turns out three months there is my optimum refresh and recharge time.
I’d perhaps not written off, more underestimated, Trinidad as just another beautiful Caribbean island - beaches and not much else. But the fusion of culture there makes it a captivating country. For a bunch of historical, political reasons there is this vibrant West Indian, Indian, Chinese, Portuguese, British fusion of culture.
The music scene is epic - I can’t help but smile and wine when I hear Soca or calypso tunes. Carnival - wow, I have never partied like that anywhere in the world - jouvert morning is the most life affirming experience on earth. Playing mas has made me love the way my body jiggles for the first time and embrace my ass rather than try and minimise it.
The food culture is insane. I don’t think I could deal without having the occasional doubles and roti in my life.
The temples, the beaches, the rum, the bitters, the pure joy for life. I love it and can’t wait to get back there!
This Top 3 Favourite Countries series features 30 other travellers and bloggers, such as Jonny Blair of Don't Stop Living, Steve Rohan of Morbid Expeditions, Lavdi from Kosovo Girl Travels and Alex from Adventure to Every Country.
Be sure to check them out.
Be sure to check them out.