A letter to tell you who we are
Hello, my friend !
At this moment, I am sitting on a small island in southern Thailand. After drafting several versions of the introduction for Mirrored Journey, I finally abandoned all conventional formats and decided to approach you in a more sincere way.
If I were to tell this story in a formal and commercial manner, I could include many currently popular concepts, such as: we have recognized the problems brought about by capitalism and consumerism and aspire to establish a new way of practice through concepts like "sustainable development," "post-capitalism," "complex systems," and "gift economy." Or, in a world built upon "separation," we seek to rediscover the path of "oneness" and "wholeness." The path of this practice is to design journeys that embody these elements, allowing people to visit places with hands-on experience, to explore, to feel, and ultimately to gain insights.
But I am growing weary of this narrative. This is not entirely a project "for the world, for humanity." In reality, it is a story and a project shaped by my values, cognition, experiences, and capabilities.
Because there exists an "I"—who once felt doubt and dissatisfaction with mainstream societal systems, leading me to search for "another path." Along this journey, the many external practices I encountered intertwined deeply with my own personal growth, profoundly moving me and ultimately transforming my way of life. I yearn for more people to see and feel what I once saw and felt. At the same time, I am fully aware that what I share is not necessarily the truth, nor is it the only answer.
The beauty of the world lies in its diversity, and what Mirrored Journey attempts to offer is merely a small ripple in this vast ocean of possibilities.
As time has passed, I have met many friends, visited many different places, and accumulated some experience. I have started to feel that I am well-suited for this endeavor. Friends have also begun to join me in moving forward together, and thus, we have formed a small team.
And so, Mirrored Journey was born.
At its core, it is a travel platform where anyone can showcase and lead their own designed journeys. However, I hope that you yourself are deeply moved by the journey you create—whether it is the destination, the people, the scenery, or the story that inspires you. More importantly, your intention should be "sharing," just like when you see a shooting star at night—you would instinctively urge those around you to witness it too. You yearn to share this sense of wonder with more people.
On this foundation, all Mirrored Journey trips adhere to three fundamental principles:
- Awareness of the Earth – Being conscious of how our actions impact nature and traveling as responsible pilgrims of the planet.
- Awareness of the Local – Being mindful of how our actions affect others and fostering relationships built on mutual respect and sincerity.
- Awareness of the Self – Observing how external experiences influence our inner world and truly seeing them.
How do we charge for these journeys?
Since we assume that all journeys are created out of a strong desire to share, Mirrored Journey is also based on the "gift culture" that we cherish. This means that profit is not the sole or primary objective. The specific pricing mechanism works as follows:
We offer three pricing options, allowing participants to choose freely based on their financial situation:
- Cost Price – This covers all expenses incurred by the journey initiator during the initial scouting trip, all accommodation, food, transportation, and experience-related costs during the journey, as well as a basic stipend for the journey leader (500 RMB/day). Additionally, it includes essential operational costs for the platform (such as website maintenance, auditing, and taxes).
- Market Price – This includes a reasonable profit margin, representing what is typically understood as the "market price." The additional funds help sustain the platform by supporting designers, marketing staff, product development, and administrative personnel.
- Contribution Price – This includes a donation above the cost price, which goes directly into the Mirrored Journey Fund. This fund is used to support two groups:
- Those who strongly wish to participate in a journey but cannot afford even the cost price—such as a young community member eager to learn from another community or a student deeply drawn to the experience but financially constrained.
- Host communities of Mirrored Journey destinations that may face unforeseen difficulties, such as natural disasters (e.g., floods or wildfires).
No matter which pricing option you choose, you will receive the same experience. We will not publicly disclose how much each participant pays, so there is no need to feel pressure if you pay less, nor will you receive extra praise for paying more. However, for transparency regarding the fund’s management, please refer to the relevant pages for further details.
This is the essence of Mirrored Journey. I hope this introduction has not exaggerated, concealed, or distorted anything. If it has, please forgive me. I am still on a slow learning path toward being more honest with myself. I also hope that you can kindly remind me, helping us better align with the vision we truly wish to embody.