About | Jeremy Jo Travels

"Don't count countries; collect memories." ~j. jo

My Insatiable Wanderlust

(def.) It is my never-ending desire to travel to places, admiring landscapes and architecture. It's that longing for new experiences to learn about local cultures, food, and way of living. It is also that urge to return to familiar places for the special things I have discovered and have come to enjoy over and over again.

Shibuya Crossing | Tokyo | Sep. '23

Neal's Yard | London | Jan. '24

Some places have become so familiar that I find myself visiting again and again. While feeling accustomed to these places, I know I am barely scratching the surface.

Chicago Theatre | Chicago | May '20

Truth be told, August 2026 is my eleventh year here in Chicago, and I have only explored a little over a dozen of its seventy- seven neighbourhoods. Talk about barely scratching the surface.

I guess what I am trying to say is, there are countless places one can visit in a lifetime. For a while, I wanted to get to as many countries as I possibly could. I was counting countries.

Then something happened that got me wanting to go back to the same places—gastronomic experiences. Food has become a travel priority. For example:

Fish and Chips: Mayfair Chippy in London, or Reykjavik Fish in Reykjavik

Hotdog: Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur in Reykjavik

Curry: Oretachino-curry ya in Osaka

Hamburger: Tropical Hut Hamburger in Manila

Yes, exploring new places expands our horizons. But returning to familiar spaces is just as vital—it anchors us, allowing us to relive wonderful memories and track our own growth in places we love.

Travel because money returns—time doesn't. But don't count countries; collect memories.

~j. jo

Mayfair Chippy | London | Jan. '24