Subscribe via RSS FeedOct|31|2006
Affordable Tokyo? Part Three
Posted by Zahir as Shopping, Tips, Asia, Backpacking & Budget, Cities
In my last installation on Affordable Tokyo, I’ll end this series on one my favourite parts of any trip - shopping!!
For the best bargains in town, look to further than the Ą100 shops found virtually everywhere in the city. Like the Dollar shops, everything in these stores is Ą100, and you’re sure to find something useful for all members of the family as there are usually different sections in each shop from homewares to children’s things, to pets and cosmetics.
Great Japanese gifts to take back home can also be found at the Oriental Bazaar, 5-9-13 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku. If the children are with you (or you’re into kitsch), drop into Kiddyland, 6-19-19 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, which is in …
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Oct|29|2006
Affordable Tokyo? Part Two
Posted by Zahir as Transport, Air Travel, Asia, Cities
Transportation
Lots of cheap flights to Tokyo are now available on a lot of carriers (even low-cost ones), and if you are travelling on one Japan’s two national airlines, JAL or ANA, you should look into purchasing any inbound flights you plan to take as it comes out cheaper this way.
Upon arrival at Narita Airport, make it a point to purchase the Tokyo Metro Tourist Open Ticket which buys you unlimited rides on all Tokyo Metro trains as well as a few others. A one day pass costs around $5. Getting around by train is by far the cheapest way to get around the city, with taxis being the most costly. Luckily, Tokyo …
Comments Off Oct|27|2006 Posted by Zahir as Asia, Backpacking & Budget, Cities Growing up, I always had the idea that Tokyo was one of the world’s most expensive cities in the world. And I think that many people still believe that today. However, some good friends of mine recently returned from there saying that the opposite was true, and that a decent holiday in the capital of Japan could actually be happily affordable. So inspired to learn more about the new “Affordable Tokyo” (and perhaps start researching for a trip in the near future), I found several articles online that agreed with my friends. Here’s the gist of it: Accommodation The best thing about cheap accommodations in Tokyo is that it is always CLEAN, unlike some of the fleabag places you’d …
Comments Off Oct|25|2006 Posted by Zahir as Air Travel, Website, Trivia, Food and Drink, Tips I was actually told to visit this site some time ago by my sister (who has a knack for sniffing out extraordinary sites), but never got around to doing so until today. Airline Meals is a site entirely dedicated to (surprise, surprise), Airline Meals. It has 8,484 images of airline meals from 534 airlines, gives you the latest news and trends on airline meals and even has a forum for those who want to discuss the meal from the skies which people (more often than not) love to hate. Quirkiness aside, the site actually has a lot of interesting and relevant information, especially if you find yourself on airplanes a lot, or planning your next trip (which …
Comments Off Oct|23|2006 Posted by Zahir as News, Asia, Cities As you may know, a few months ago I visited Sri Lanka and blogged about it in previous posts. So you can imagine my surprise when I saw the Galle suicide bombings on CNN and BBC news. Shock, horror….and even more surprise when the correspondent interviewed Karl, the owner and manager from the Galle Fort Hotel, who had become a friend. Galle, south of Sri Lanka, has never been attacked by the Tamil Tiger rebels before, and was considered by tourists to be a “safe” haven away from the attacks usually seen up north. But apparently, the rebels had a change in their tactics. The suicide bomb, which took place on the …
Comments Off Oct|21|2006 Posted by Zahir as Books, People, Reading Room, News Eric Newby, the thinking man’s travel writer and perhaps one of the best of the 20th century had died at the age of 86. The British writer was known for his keen eye for detail and entertaining style of writing about his travels around the world, the most famous of which was “A Short Walk in The Hindu Kush”. Prior to writing the 1958 classic in which he recounts his thrilling and funny journey while climbing Mir Samir in Afghatistan, Newby was in the fashion industry, with nearly no experience in mountaineering when set off on his Hindu Kush adventure. Born and raised in Hammersmith, London, Newby’s first adventure in travel was in 1938 when he gave up his …
Comments Off Oct|19|2006 Posted by Zahir as Business, News, Tips Connected in the internet sense, that is, and when it comes to staying online for business travellers, those in the know say that the only way to go is wireless. Here are some useful tips to stay connected even in the most difficult places: 1. Know the Hotspots Before you leave, visit websites which list down wi-fi access hotspots to know what you’re up against. Wifi Free Hotspot, Wifi Finder and Ji Wire are good sites to check out, having useful lists and/or search tools to find your location. Also including airports and hotels around the world. 2. Consider Hardware Aids You can now find hardware tools that combine wireless scanners with network adapters enabling you to scan your …
Comments Off Oct|17|2006 Posted by Zahir as Health & Wellness, Islands, Nature, Spa, Asia, Getaways The island of Koh Samui in Thailand is perhaps known more for its party atmosphere, large resorts, and action activites galore, but beneath the lively exterior are places where people can find some real mind and body relaxation - through yoga. Whether you practice yoga at an advanced level, are just a beginner, or want to get your children to give it go, the island has what you need. Here are some worthwhile places to check out: Located on Lipa Noi beach, this center offers yoga as well as a variety of health and rejuvenation treatments and activites such as meditation, breathing exercises, herbal cleansing, shiatsu massage, Thai herbal steams, dietary education, fasting, …
Comments Off Oct|15|2006 Posted by Zahir as Shopping, United States, Tips, Americas, Getaways, Cities If you come into Manhattan via the Staten Island Ferry, one of the first things you’ll notice is the plethora of street vendors hawking all manner of wares. Many items are counterfeit, especially designer bags. Others are of questionable quality. The street vendors are part of what give New York its charm, and part of what makes it hard to stomach at times. You see, women are starting to not carry designer bags because anyone carrying one is assumed to have purchased a counterfeit. And while I think the idea of carrying around a prissy pink $700 repository for your $300 in cash is a stupid idea, the purse pattern and fabric, etc., still belongs to the designer …
Comments Off Oct|13|2006 Posted by Zahir as United States, Tips, Americas, Getaways, Cities If you go to New York City, you need to know how to get around. There is a reason only about half of all New Yorkers over the age of 16 have a drivers license: driving in New York sucks. So here’s your strategy: you find every possible free mode of transportation first, and use it. Mine are my feet and the Staten Island Ferry, which deposits you at the tip of Manhattan Island. Simple. But you’ll probably need to get further up the island than this. So you have two main choices: a taxi or the subway/bus mass transit system. I suggest the taxi for short trips, and the subway for longer excursions. A cab will charge you $2 …
Comments OffAffordable Tokyo? Part One
Everything You Wanted To Know About Airline Meals
Is It Safe To Travel To Sri Lanka?
Eric Newby, The Original Travelogger
Staying Connected While Travelling
Yoga In Ko Samui
New York’s Street Vendors and Counterfeiting
Getting Around New York City
