A Travel Guide: Itinerary for 3 Weeks in Japan

You would have noticed that the date stamp on my travel essentials post is 5th April 2016. I wrote the post before we left but posted it when we got back. We took a trip to Japan for 3 weeks during March.  It was one of the best trips of my life. What struck me was the amount of people that we met on our travels who decided to wing their Japan trip and did not have an itinerary at all. I really applaud their spontaneity. Most of these travelers conceded that it took too much time and effort to put together an itinerary and winging it just suited them.

 I, on the other hand, spent weeks researching and compiling a hardcore excel spreadsheet. I thought I would share my itinerary because I know how much it helped to see other people's itineraries online. I am just going to briefly lay it out in point form as a lot of the information I inserted in the spreadsheet was copy and pasted from www.japan-guide.com & www.jprail.com.

We did not necessarily stick to this itinerary and when we changed our plans, I'll put a little star (*) next to the activity or day. This is certainly NOT the perfect itinerary and there are definitely things that I would change (and did change) but I am merely sharing the one I created in the hope that it helps someone else/ inspires them to create their own.


TOKYO (5 DAYS)

Day 1: (Tokyo)

- Arrive at Narita, Tokyo Airport.
- Explore the area around the hostel

Day 2 (Tokyo):

- Meiji Jingu Shrine
- Harajuku District
- Shibuyo Crossing
- Robot restaurant (*)

Day 3 (Tokyo)
- Day trip to Nikko

Day 4 (Tokyo)
- Tsukiji Fish Market
- Akhihabara
- Asakusa (*)

Day 5 (Tokyo)
- Day trip to Hakone*

NAGANO (1 DAY) 

Day 6 (Nagano)
- Travel to Nagano
- Stay one night in a Ryokan
- Visit Snow Monkey Park
- Experience Onsen

OSAKA (3 DAYS) 

Day 7 (Osaka)
- Travel to Osaka
- Osaka Castle

Day 8 (Osaka)
- Baseball Game
- Dotonbori Canal

Day 9: (Osaka)
- Sumo Wrestling*

NARA (1 DAY)

Day 10 (Nara)
- Feed the deer
- Todaji Temple

KOYA-SAN (1 DAY)

Day 11 (Koya San)
- Stay one night in Buddhist temple lodging


KYOTO (4 DAYS) 

Day 12 (Koya San to Kyoto)
- Morning prayer at buddhist temple
- Travel to Kyoto
- Nijo Castle *
- Manga Museum
- Nishiki Market

Day 13 (Kyoto)
- Kinkakuji (The Golden Pavillion)
- Arashiyama *
- Higashiyama District

Day 14 (Kyoto)
- Fushimi Inari Shrine

Day 15 (Kyoto)
- Free day to explore *

HIROSHIMA (1 DAY) 

Day 16 (Hiroshima)
- Hiroshima Peace Park
- Hiroshima Castle*

MIYA JIMA (2 DAYS) 

Day 17 (Miya Jima)
- Free day to explore *

Day 18: (Miya Jima)
- Climb Mount Misen
- See floating Tori Gate

TRAVEL DAY (MIYA JIMA TO TOKYO) 

Day 19: Travel day

TOKYO (2 DAYS)

Day 20 (Tokyo)
- Free Day *

Day 21 (Tokyo)
- Free day *

Day 22: (Tokyo to Johannesburg)
- Travel home

So that is the itinerary that was planned but changed as we went along. I think it is so important to learn to be flexible. Some of the activities planned had to be rescheduled to another day. Researching online is one thing but when you are in the country, it is easier to figure out what to see on a particular day. Perhaps our traveler friends were clever to wing it. Personally, I am happy with the way we did it. We had a plan but were flexible enough to make changes based on the weather, the budget, when sites were closed for renovations or for safety reasons.

I really hope this helps someone with their trip to Japan. Writing about it is making me incredibly nostalgic. 

Have you been to Japan?
xxx

** PLEASE NOTE ALL PHOTOS MAY NOT BE USED WITHOUT PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT. 

Big in Japan - My carry-on essentials

Next week Friday, I will be jetting off to Japan for 3 whole weeks! I am more excited than an audience member getting screamed at by Oprah to look under her seat... 

It has been four years since I last traveled overseas and I am relieved to once again quench my undying wanderlust. My mom is a travel nut, and even though we did not have a fancy car, or DSTV (or even a washing machine for a few years) growing up, we used the money that we would have to travel. I would choose to travel over constant reruns of Keeping up with the Kardashians anyday anyway. (Thanks mom!).  As soon as I started to work I began to put money aside to travel and I am finally off! 

After travelling to 25 countries, I think I have a pretty good packing system down so I thought I'd share my travel essentials that I bring on the plane, especially since I love reading about everyone else's ... #nerdface! 

My little stash so far that I have collected to take on the trip

Unless you are one of those lucky people who can afford to fly first class (*sigh*) then like me you will inevitably be stuck in "cattle class". You will be stuck in a seat next to the large human whose only possible profession could be a competitive Mcdonalds burger eater. That person will unapologetically take up half your seat as well. Not to mention that you will have the luck of sitting behind a family that decided to bring their 6 month old baby screaming monster from hell with them. The dad who is in the seat directly in front of yours will immediately recline his seat into your lap and fall asleep, oblivious to the shrieks of his angelic bundle of joy  monster from hell. The thirteen year old  directly behind you will be vlogging every second of their journey: what they ate, their toilet habits, what they watched. All the while, kicking your chair every two seconds.... 

It will not be that bad. 

Ultimately, flying can be very uncomfortable and thus the main aim of  everything I take with me in my carry on bag is to ensure maximum comfort. 

1. An empty water bottle to hand to an air hostess to fill up at the beginning of the flight. It is common knowledge how dehydrated one can get on planes. I have been stuck in a situation too many times when I was so thirsty but the air hostess would only fill up a tiny paper cup with water each time I asked and all I really wanted was a large bottle.   

2. Tissues. In case you have the sniffles. In case the impossibly large person next to you has the sniffles. In case you spill something. In case the bathroom has no toilet paper. In case you feel like spit balling wet tissues through a straw at the teenager behind you for funzies. Just kidding... 

3. Face wipes to take off your makeup before you attempt to sleep, or if you were confident enough to get on the plane bare-faced, to refresh your face at the end of the flight. 

4. Hand sanitizer. Germs. Are. Everywhere. 

5. Some snacks to keep your inner hanger-troll at bay. I tend to get hangry... I don't know about you but if I don't eat I can be quite unbearable.  Also the food on planes can be pretty gross. 

6. A moisturising mask. This may seem bizarre. But I think that since you will be sitting for such a long time, you might as well utilise the time to pamper yourself. I bought a moisturising mask that you can leave on your face while you sleep. 

7. An eye mask. To cover your eyes especially when the person next to you puts on their reading light and you want to try sleep. I bought the cutest panda eye mask from typo, you can get a similiar ones here.

8. I also grabbed some moisturising eye strips to place under my eyes while wearing my cute panda eye mask. 

9. Vitamin E Face Mist. Probably unnecessary but it refreshes and moisturizes your face. A few spritzes after sleeping makes me feel less-zombie like. 

10. A neck pillow. 

11. Some sleeping pills or mild sedatives to ease those pesky nerves and assist with sleeping 

12. A make up bag with samples of foundation, mascara, lip-ice, blush and eyeliner. Just before we land, I like to put some make up on. Not 100% necessary,  it just makes me confident. If I look great, I feel great too. 

13. A jersey and some warm socks. 

14. Gum. To prevent your ears closing when the plane takes off. I also take some decongestant tablets to take on the flight and it works wonders if you have problems with your ears hurting on take-off and landing. 

15. Your own comfortable headphones. 

16. A notebook. 

17. A magazine to flip through. 

18. A small perfume and a sample sized deodrant. 

19.  A hair tie to put your hair into a bun and if the flight allows, some dry shampoo to freshen up your locks on landing. 

20. Just remember to put all your liquids in a ziplock bag!

I would love to hear what your travel essentials are. 
xxx

2015 Favourites

Happy New Year!  I don't have an exhaustive list of new year resolutions to share but I do want to quickly share some of my favourite  things from 2015: 

1. The pursuit of the perfect manicure:

There are always those girls. Those girls who look like they have personalised stylists hidden in their closets at home. Perhaps in true Cinderella style, they have fairy Godmothers and an army of adorable fluffy critters who style them everyday? Just like I didn't get that highly anticipated letter from Hogwarts, I certainly don't have a fairy godmother. 

When I was at university, I would lust over the flawless manicures of those girls. It may be a weird thing to obsess over, but there is something so stylish about having a perfect manicure. It pulls a look together. It makes someone look so polished. You could be wearing a simple T-shirt and jeans, but that on fleek manicure screams sophistication. We use our hands so often, to greet, to indicate something important on a page, to grasp a steaming cup of tea to your lips, to write notes down on a page… I just tend to notice people’s nails. I have tried countless times to paint my nails at home but it just never looks salon quality. Perhaps it is my impatience? Or my knack for getting a nose itch just as I painstakingly finish my final coat of nail polish?

When I started working two years ago I made a conscious decision that the one treat I would allow myself every month was to get a professional manicure done at a salon. This year I started to try out Dream Nails. Their shops look a little tacky from the outside and I have always despised the fog of acetone that forms a toxic barrier around every store, but I found that the service was a lot better and that my manicure lasted much longer than when I had my nails done at any other salon. This year I have been IN LOVE with the Dream Nails gel overlay. It looks so natural but ever-so classy. One of my friends loved my manicure so much, she decided to get the same done for her wedding. I think I may just have to continue this trend into 2016.

2.  Learning how to be an adult from Youtube:

Of course, I have used Youtube before but mostly to watch cute pug videos or something funny that was trending. This year I have spent hours scouring Youtube for informative videos. It really is an invaluable resource. I finally learnt how to apply make up properly and have a better insight as to why so many teenagers are looking like Kylie Jenner these days. My favourite makeup guru right now is Jaclyn Hill. She is too funny and my makeup game has been changed forever because of her. If you haven’t checked her out, I really suggest you watch her videos here. I have received so many compliments on my winged eyeliner this year whereas a year ago I did not even know how to apply eyeliner to my upper lash. Just sad! My favourite cooking channel is definitely "Food Wishes" with chef John. I have recreated a few of the dishes and they were a hit every time.

3. Bubble baths and candles

After a long day at work, a long, reflective bubble bath is the perfect way to soak away that stress. Lighting a few candles, forgetting about the world and just floating in a thousand floral bubbles is my heaven. Showering is like a “get up and go” thing for me. 

My mom (who has a serious case of wanderlust and travels overseas at least twice a year) went to Czech, Austria and Vienna at the end of last year and brought back some beautiful tea-light candle holders. When they are lit it looks like a cityscape. Currently my favourite bubble bath is Sweetpea & Jasmine from Woolworths.

    4. Reading

I have always been an avid reader but when I started studying, I was forced to read all.the.time. (I completed my law degree a few years ago). I was completely put off even picking up an easy holiday-time read. This year I got back  into it with thanks to none-other than J K Rowling under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith. I devoured her new detective series and it was exactly what I needed to reignite my love of books. I also just read "Animal's people" by Indra Sinha which I cannot recommend more.

5. Flower Wreaths 

If I could wear flowers in my hair every. Single. Day I would. I just love it. I picked up a few flower headbands from Lovisa.

What were your favourite things in 2015?
xxx

How to get 220 000 followers on Instagram

A photo I took on one of the Instagram meets in New Town that Instagrammers SA organised 

A while ago I had the pleasure of picking the brain of Gareth Pon, the founder of Instagrammers SA. It was a ton of fun to write the article and amazing to meet so many passionate Igers at the Instameet in New Town, Johannesburg. If you are interested in photography and Instagramming, check out my article, "How to get 220 000 followers on Instagram", here. 

Here are a couple of photos that I took with my phone on my first Instameet through New Town, Johannesburg (certainly not as impressive as the photos that a lot of the other Igers took): 

Have you ever been to an Instameet?

xxx

A Travel Guide: Wilderness, South Africa - My favourite places

Wilderness is a magical coastal town on the Garden Route in the Western Cape of South Africa. Dale and I travelled there for the first time in December 2012 and again in December 2014 because we loved it that much (and it certainly won't be the last time we visit). 

Wilderness, South Africa

If you hate pristine beaches, beautiful hikes, friendly locals and waking up to a breathtaking ocean view everyday, then stop. reading. now. 

This is my list of 5 things to do in Wilderness, South Africa: 

1. Stay at the Dolphin Dunes Guesthouse. 

I actually can't believe I am sharing this secret with anyone. This is probably my favourite place in the world. Dolphin Dunes Guesthouse is a beautiful wooden guesthouse right on the beach, owned by the sweetest couple who will make you feel right at home. I am incredibly accident prone: the second time we stayed at Dolphin Dunes, I dropped an entire bottle of red wine as I walked in the door. I was mortified, but the owners were so kind about it and insisted I didn't worry about it. They remembered us from our first stay, and as always were so willing to offer advice about where to eat and visit.
 Everyday Dale and I would wake up and see dolphins playing on the waves in the distance. 

View from our room at Dolphin Dunes 

2. Take a hike on the old train tracks. 

Dale and I heard from some friends who are lucky enough to have a place down in Wilderness that there is a lesser known hike along disused train tracks. It was something we did not  know about the first time we visited Wilderness! 

The second time we went we made sure we didn't miss out and it ended up being one of my highlights of the trip. You can hike from Wilderness to Victoria Bay. I really felt like an adventurer as we walked over bridges and through tunnels.

A photo of Dale in a tunnel on the train track in Wilderness

There is also a secret cave that you will pass on this hike. A man lives there and he has decorated it with shells and created furniture out of driftwood. It is quite extraordinary. I did some research (because I was just too shy to ask the man who lives there for a tour) and apparently the cave is a temporary shelter for the homeless. You can read all about it here. 

The shells that decorate the cave

3. Go on a picnic

Dale and I ordered a picnic basket from The Wilderness Picnic Company. It was packed with yummy treats like little quiches, cheeses, fresh ciabatta, asian coleslaw, potato salad, seed bread, hummus and to-die-for chocolate brownies. We washed it down with a bottle of dark red wine. There are plenty of amazing picnic spots in and around Wilderness, but Dale and I decided to head up the hill near the look out point called The Map of Africa. The views of Wilderness are stunning, and it is the perfect romantic picnic spot. 

Our picnic basket and the stunning view from our picnic spot

4. Have dinner at Salina's Beach Restaurant

Salina's Beach Restaurant, is as it's name implies right on the beach. Dale and I booked a table on the upper deck so that we could order cocktails and watch the sun go down. After dinner (and a few more cocktails later), we took a night time stroll along the beach back to the guesthouse. 


5.  Have drinks at Cocomo

Cocomo has hands down the best jam jars and best drink specials by far! I love the vibey atmostphere especially the live music. 

This is certainly not an exhaustive list as there are so many things to do in Wilderness and along the beautiful Garden Route . 

Have you been to Wilderness? 
xxx

Brown Hair, Don't Care.

I made the transition from blonde to brunette this past weekend! 

 I just could not commit to brunette completely so there are still some blonde highlights. Overall I am super happy with the way it turned out. 

I think I needed the change. I was feeling quite down recently because I have opted to work through December so that I can take my leave in March. 
We have a really exciting adventure planned which I can't wait to write all about!

It has been really difficult seeing friends' posts on social media with daily countdowns to their trips to exotic places. 
And just when I put my phone down with a sigh and head to the office kitchen to soothe my pain with copious 
amounts of caffeine, I tend to overhear colleagues chatting about their plans to sleep in and spend quality time with family over the festive season. 
I think the hair colour change is just the pick-me-up I needed. 

What are your go-to pick me ups? 
xxx

Meet Django The Pug!

I have to admit something... Growing up I was just a teeny-tiny bit afraid of dogs. Not that I didn't love them... from afar. And it's not like I didn't beg my mom for a puppy like every other kid on the block. But I was pretty wary about dogs. 

My cousins grew up with many dogs. They still have a picturesque property down by the Vaal River with rolling lawns and a little woodland down by the water.  There was plenty of space for lots of dogs to roam. My aunt and uncle were particularly fond of Great Danes. 

And their Great Danes were particularly fond of me as well... In a knocking-me-down-licking-my-face-and-wagging-their-tails-so-hard-against-me-that-I-fell-off-the-jetty-into-the-ice-cold-river type of way. 

When you are a minuscule five year old that can be pretty daunting so I don't think this helped. Plus I grew up with fuzzy, soft kitty-cats that slept on my lap, desk , textbook while I was studying. I was just not used to dogs!

Like my cousins, Dale grew up with dogs, so when we moved into our new place, he felt like he was missing something.

We did a lot of research about breeds because we stay in an apartment (A Great Dane was not an option here). We read that pugs were pretty lazy little dogs that are great for people who have apartments. Dale's mom has two lazy, fat pugs called Black Betty (Bam-a-Lam) and Rooney, who are docile and adorable, so it seemed like a great plan to get a pug. 

And then one day, Django the pug snuffled his way into our hearts and lives. 

I don't think I was prepared for the hard work that comes with owning a dog. We have to walk him everyday, drive him to Dale's mom's house for puppy play dates at least three times a week, take him to the vet for his shots and make sure he is fed and happy. 

It was overwhelming at first, and to be completely honest, a big responsibility. But now I cannot imagine life without him. There is nothing more comforting then coming home to his bulbous skew eyes and wagging tail. 

5 Facts about Django the Pug: 

1. Remember when I said earlier that we liked the idea of getting a pug because Betty and Rooney are so docile and sleepy? Boy, were we wrong. Django is soooo energetic. We take him for long walks at Emmarentia Dam, throw tennis balls for him, take him to Dale's mom for puggy daycare where he is absolutely spoilt rotten and he just does. not. stop. playing. 
2. He loves water and trying to bite the little ripples his legs create when he splashes in the streams. 
3. He loves cuddles in the morning and will try to sit on your chest as if stopping you from getting ready for work. 
4. He can Hi-5. 
5. He understands. If you ask "where is your toy" because he fetches his tennis ball. If you ask, "Do you want to go for a walkies?", or "Do you want to see Betty and Rooney?", he gets so incredibly excited, wags his tail and directs us to the door. 

I no longer have that teeny-tiny fear of dogs anymore. At the park I even go to pet the lovable Great Danes. 

Do you have pets? 

xxx