A quick hello before we dive in...

On home, connections, and the newsletter I’ve been dreaming of creating

The logo inspo: 3-year-old me, with a juice box, bowl cut, and an attitude, cruising Sydney Harbour with my gorgeous mama.

Hi!

Hope everyone enjoyed a beautiful International Women’s Day! Berlin was buzzing with energy yesterday—the sun was shining, people were eating and drinking outside for the first time in months, and I’ve happily thawed from my apartment.

Before Thursday’s newsletter drops, I want to share the story behind starting Golden Hour and what you can expect from me moving forward. After that, I’ll step back and we’ll begin exploring together! ✈️

---

Last October, just a few weeks after my husband and I moved to Berlin, we grabbed dinner with a friend of a friend (Let’s call him Jim). This was our first time meeting Jim, and with no friends in the city yet, we were open to dinner with just about anyone. All we knew beforehand was that he was Chinese.

We said hello, dinner started, and since small talk isn’t my strong suit, the pleasantries quickly fizzled after our server brought over our noodle bowls (We ate at Kongfu Chili, which I highly recommend!). How long have you lived here? Do you like it? How do you survive these long winters? Are you dead inside yet?

But then we started talking about travel (ahhh, my favorite topic), and Switzerland came up. Like us, Jim and his wife had visited Grindelwald—a 4,100-person Alpine village—a couple of years ago. And similarly like us, after a week of rich and regrettable cheese and potatoes, their bodies were screaming for some 炒青菜 (stir-fried vegetables).

“We looked for a Chinese restaurant in Grindelwald and managed to find one…” I started.

“Jasmine Garden! In a basement, right?! That was such a good meal.” Jim practically yelled. We nearly spat out our noodles, because that memorable dinner in the cozy basement of Jasmine Garden was also a long-overdue reset for our guts and souls.

I barely knew this man, but I felt like he got us. It was a reminder that as much as people seek out novelty and thrills when they travel, they also search for a sense of home and connection. I still advocate for eating as much pasta as humanly possible when in Italy, but as I get older, I also understand why my parents—the ones who first sparked my love for travel—always long for a hearty bowl of wonton soup after days away from home.

---

Golden Hour is about fostering those “I see you, and you see me” moments with others. As a travel writer, I have the privilege of visiting some of the world’s most stunning properties and experiencing things out of my wildest dreams, but those stories often get told, and outlets for them will always exist. There is still a visible gap, however, in Asian representation in travel media, and I’m itching to see more stories written by and written about people who look like me—to give credit where it’s due, amplify cultures at risk of being erased, and support local businesses.

So, here’s what I’ll promise you:

1. If my pitches don’t land with travel publications, but they fit Golden Hour’s focus, I’ll bring them here.

I believe our community’s visibility is growing (You love to see it!), but unfortunately, some angles just don’t align with an editor’s or publication’s priorities for one reason or another. This newsletter will be a container for those overlooked or unsung stories that are stuck in editorial limbo.

2. I’ll cover everything from budget-friendly spots to luxury experiences, but authenticity will always come first.

There are plenty of well-crafted and visually pleasing Asian-inspired brands, but I’m prioritizing those that feel respectful of and rooted in cultural tradition—rather than simply capitalizing off of them. If a global luxury hotel chain takes the time to do their research, collaborate with local artists, or integrate local wellness rituals, I’ll give them their due too.

3. I’ll write to you as though I’m sharing my travels with my closest friends and family.

I’ll post the more unpolished and from-the-heart versions of my travel writing, not the top 10 lists. This newsletter will be an honest account of what excites me and moves me. Travel is a gift I don’t take for granted, and I can’t wait to share my experiences and discoveries with you.

---

Golden Hour is my personal passion project, but it’s ultimately for you! No matter where you call home, I hope you’ll find little snippets of it here and in your future travels. It’s not lost on me that I have some supportive non-Asian subscribers too, and I just want to say this newsletter is just as much for you. Thank you for showing up—your support means a lot to me and really gets to the heart of why I do this: to spread awareness even further.

One final thing! To everyone who has already pledged to become a paid subscriber, I am genuinely moved and humbled by your trust in me as a writer. Thank you! 🙏

Ok, that’s a wrap—enjoy the rest of your weekend, and I’ll see you on Thursday!

With love,
Laura

P.S. I owe a huge thank you to my super talented friend and fellow travel writer, Macey, for encouraging me to take the leap, start writing, and hit publish. She recently launched an amazing Substack of her own:

The Personal Perspective

(Go check it out!). Thanks for reminding me that stories worth telling are always worth telling 🧡

---