Tell us about you and your company and how you got started down this path.
My path to this work was a journey of “un-selfing” in itself. I began my career in a very different world as a management consultant at Pricewaterhouse Coopers, but my soul eventually demanded more than a corporate trajectory. Driven by a desire to understand the human narrative, I spent two decades as a photojournalist and anthropologist, capturing human drama and the beauty of nature for media like CNN and the South China Morning Post. My first step into hospitality was actually through the palate. I opened a private restaurant in Hong Kong called Cuore, where I served as chef. It became a space for intimate, story-driven dining, and I found that evenings spent sharing stories over dinner naturally evolved into travel advice.
Blueflower emerged in 2016 from those conversations, transforming my stories into tailored journeys for travelers who want to be participants, not just spectators, in the world’s unfolding narrative. It was also born from a realization: that many people wanted the same life-enriching experiences I sought as a journalist, but they lacked the time or connections to make them a reality. I founded Blueflower for people like me: not as a booking agent, but as a craftsman of journeys that get under the skin of a destination, that bite into its flesh.
While my expertise spans the globe, my home and mastery lie in Asia, specifically Japan, Indonesia, China, India, and the Himalayas. I’ve been based in Hong Kong for 24 years, and I return to Japan at least twice a year to keep our roots deep and our connections. I uncover layers of culture, nature, and local life that most travelers never see.
What is your travel philosophy?
Life Enriching – Travel is not an escape from our life, but when done right, an experience that enriches it. At Blueflower, I believe that travel can serve as a powerful catalyst for wonder and joy, with my trips aiming to leave my clients returning as a happier, more fulfilled individual. My itineraries are personalized to my clients’ interests and passions, whether rekindling a long-held hobby or discovering a new interest, sparking a sense of enthusiasm and creativity that follows them home. I design moments to invigorate the spirit, offering a balance of adventurous quests and serene indulgence, all while supporting them in achieving significant personal milestones.
My aim is for my clients to create enduring memory assets, experiences that become significant and cherished parts of their life story. I understand that the true pleasure and enrichment of a journey are more dependent on the traveler’s mindset than on the physical destination; it is not merely about where you go, but about how you see. By cultivating a sense of curiosity and openness, our journeys transform even familiar environments into exciting places of discovery, proving that a fresh perspective is the ultimate souvenir.
Encounter with the Real – In a world of mass consumerism and “Travel without really traveling,” where people tick off sights without feeling the pulse of the place, I aim to offer the antidote. I refuse the sanitized exchange of the all-inclusive resort or the pre-packaged tour, which is a palliative approach to life: an illusion that we can consume the world without any presence.
Instead, I design inspired journeys that restore the broken bond between the traveler and the world. Traveling is an act of un-selfing: the moment you stop being the center of your own universe and truly see the landscape or the person in front of you. Whether it is lingering over a slow conversation in a village home or witnessing the raw power of nature in the Himalayas, these moments are not time lost, but what I call contemplative lingering. I invite you to step out of the spectators’ seat and into the carne, the flesh, of the destination. By choosing real connections over a guaranteed schedule, I ensure you return not just rested, but truly alive, having turned a simple holiday into a life enriching experience.
What is the sweet spot of your expertise?
What our clients value the most are:
WOW Experiences – We craft experiences that instill a sense of awe: dinner on a section of the Great Wall, a private blessing at a hidden Balinese waterfall, or a trek with a master in the Himalayas. We focus on depth, not just luxury hardware.
The Guardian Angel – This is what my clients value most. Throughout the trip, my clients have a dedicated WhatsApp channel monitored in real time by me and my team, so they can reach us immediately for anything, from a small question to an unexpected snag. It’s Privacy and Emotional Guardianship: a discreet layer of care that lets clients move through the experience feeling utterly held. Savvy travelers are moving away from big-resort theatrics toward intimacy, choosing anticipation over reaction and a host devoted to their rhythm. The result of the Guardian Angel is peace of mind, so even in the wildest places, you feel safe, understood, and genuinely cared for.
What’s the entry level to talk to you?
We do not charge planning fees or membership fees. Our guidance comes at no extra cost because we believe in adding value, not hurdles, and our agency is sustainably supported through hotel commissions and wholesale pricing.
To ensure we can deliver the minimum quality of trip that defines a Blueflower experience, where every detail is curated and the “Guardian Angel” service is viable, we ask for a commitment deposit to begin the work. This is not an extra fee; it goes 100% towards the cost of your trip.
We fight for the client to get the best value, but we are realistic about the cost of excellence. The entry level depends on the real cost of the country. Naturally, a journey through Japan will have a higher baseline than one in Nepal.
A few favorite experiences/trips/itineraries you’ve planned that best represent your philosophy…
The Great Wall with the Master (China) – In China, I move away from the crowded tourist sites to a very remote and beautiful section of the Great Wall. Here, I arrange a hike with an expert guide like William Lindesay or his family. It is not just a walk; it is a dialogue with history in solitude, far removed from the masses, allowing you to truly grasp the magnitude of this human endeavor.
The Yamabushi Ascetic Experience (Japan) – Rather than just viewing temples, I arrange for guests to stay in the mountains of Nara at Sasayuri-Ann with my friend Tetsuji-sama, a Yamabushi monk. Here, you don’t just observe; you participate. You might engage in waterfall meditation or blow the conch shell on a mountain peak. It challenges the Western idea of conquering a mountain; instead, you learn that it is god that is pushing us from the back. It is a profound shift from seeing nature as a resource to seeing it as a partner.
The “Death and Rebirth” Walk in Varanasi (India) – India is often stereotyped by chaos, but its soul is deep and transformative. In Varanasi, I organize a night walk that traverses from the land of the living to the houses of the dying. You visit the cremation grounds of Shiva and might even encounter Aghor Sadhus. It sounds intense, but it is actually a journey toward peace and understanding what is right and good in life. It captures the intimacy of India, where life is unapologetically on display.
The Kingdom of Lo (Mustang, Nepal) – For the seeker, I plan journeys into Upper Mustang, the Tibetan Plateau beyond the great Himalayan Mountains. This is a journey of self-discovery where you cycle or trek along ancient caravan routes, meditating in caves used by tantric masters. It is about touching a happy land where contentment comes from devotion and community, not material wealth.
A few favorite hotels/lodges/houses you love that reflect these destinations…
Teshima Private Villa (Seto Inland Sea, Japan) – This is a secret gem, not found on Google Maps. While everyone rushes to the usual hotels of the Art Islands, always booked out, this villa offers a sanctuary on the tranquil island of Teshima. It is the ideal base for immersing yourself in art and the coastal landscape without the crowds. It is a place to step away from the ordinary and be fully present in a uniquely Japanese world.
The Happy House (Phaplu, Nepal) – Located in the Khumbu region but far away from the tourist trail of Lukla and the Everest crowds, this is a home away from home. It is steeped in history, owned by the descendants of the first governor, and has hosted the very first Everest climbing expeditions. The house allows for a direct encounter with Sherpa culture and Tibetan traditions, there is even a local monastery led by a young reincarnated Rinpoche, the Destroyer of Illusions, teacher of the Dalai Lama. It is hospitality defined by history.
Raja Ampat Private Charter (Indonesia) – I consider this one of the last paradises on Earth. Experience aboard a private charter, the majesty of nature here is no less powerful than the Sahara or the Amazon. The biodiversity underwater is science fiction forms of life so strange and abundant they defy imagination. It is a place where you realize that inside the ocean, there’s significantly more life than on land.
Suján Jawai (Rajasthan, India) – This camp reveals the best of the Indian wilderness. It combines the thrill of leopards roaming free with a sense of royalty. The experience is elevated by the local Rabari tribesmen in their vibrant red turbans who guide you. It is “wild dining” and luxury that rivals the best African camps, but with a distinct, majestic Indian soul.
A few of the most memorable meals you can arrange while traveling there…
Food in Asia is fantastic, but my favorite meals are theatrical experiences where no restaurant exists. I believe dining should be boundless, limited only by fantasy.
- A “Castaway” Picnic (Indonesia/Maldives) – I love arranging picnics à la Robinson Crusoe on deserted beaches. Just you, the white sand, and the blue world.
- The Great Wall Picnic (China) Imagine a picnic on a secluded section of the abandoned Great Wall of China. Away from the masses, it is an intimate encounter with history, just you, amazing food, and the ancient stones stretching into the horizon.
- The Cherry Blossom Picnic (Japan) – A private setup over river banks under the full bloom of Sakura. It is about capturing the fleeting beauty or Aware of nature.
- Jungle Dining (India) – Dinner set in the heart of the jungle, where you are surrounded by the night noises that… make one big silence.
- The Temple Dinner (Cambodia) – A curated meal next to an ancient, hidden temple, away from the masses of Angkor Wat.
Underrated location, overrated location, personal favorite, recent discovery?
Overrated: The “Golden Route” of Japan (Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Hakone). While these cities have incredible history, they are currently suffering from monstrous overtourism. The “peacefulness” and “Ma” (negative space) that define Japanese aesthetics are often lost in the crowds. Tokyo and Kyoto are essential, but travelers shouldn’t stop there. Similarly Nusa Penida (Bali) , the famous Bali,is a trap of “Instagram reality”, monstrously busy and soulless, instead I bypass the traffic for a cycle through local villages in the rice fields, moving at the pace of local life before a purification ritual at Sala Waterfall, a wash away of the modern world.
Underrated: Niigata Prefecture, Japan. This region offers a quiet, authentic Japan that many miss. From the snowy mountains to the coastal villages, it is deeply atmospheric. It is also home to the Echigo-Tsumari Art Field, which I find superior to the Art Islands, because it is an immersive contemporary art experience set across a vast rural landscape, far from the crowds.
Recent Discovery: The Artisans of Kanazawa’s Hinterlands. While Kanazawa itself is becoming popular, the region around it is full of villages where no tourists go. I have found artisan studios that can be visited for an intimate, under-the-skin experience of Japanese craftsmanship.
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