• Hobart then home

    10 Mei, Australia ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    There was a beautiful sunset over Mt Wellington for our last evening in Tassie. Not wanting to give up a precious parking spot at our accommodation we walked to the Vietnamese Restaurant to pick up some dinner. We sorted and packed ready for an early departure on Saturday morning so that we could visit Salamanca Markets before returning our hire car. We were expecting to get an Uber to the airport but the lovely lady at Leisurerent Car Rental dropped us at the airport for our flight home. There was some lovely scenery as we flew over Tassie, the Bass Strait and the mainland before arriving at Sydney.Baca lagi

  • Cape Raoul Wilderness Cruise

    9–10 Mei, Australia ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    We entered the Port Arthur Historic Site to get to our Cape Raoul Wilderness Cruise. We boarded, received the safety talk and set off. We passed the Isle of the Dead and were soon into rough seas with 2 metre swells. We went close to the rugged coastline, seeing beaches, cliffs and arches of the Tasman Peninsula. We also saw some NZ fur seals lounging on the rocks. As we got close to Cape Raoul, unfortunately one of the passengers fell and hit her head so our trip was cut short as we returned to Port Arthur. We stopped for lunch at the Port Arthur Visitor Centre before heading back to Hobart via the Tessellated Pavement and scenic coastal road.Baca lagi

  • Swansea to Port Arthur

    8–9 Mei, Australia ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    We travelled from Swansea to Port Arthur past some coastal and farming communities. We arrived at Port Arthur at around Midday, had some lunch in the car and then went in to the Port Arthur Historic Site. We looked at the informative displays in the centre then headed down for the 20 minute cruise out into the harbour and around Isle of the Dead. For the rest of the afternoon we explored the various buildings and ruins and learned more about life in the penal colony for the convicts and other inhabitants.
    We checked into Port Arthur Motor Inn and shared a pizza for dinner in our room.
    Baca lagi

  • St Helens to Swansea

    7–8 Mei, Australia ⋅ 🌬 14 °C

    We drove along the coastal road from St Helens, through Scamander and Bicheno to Swansea stopping a scenic spots along the way. Just out of Swansea we took a look at the Spiky Bridge which was built by convicts in the 1840s. We stopped for lunch at Spiky Beach and then returned to Swansea to have a look along the waterfront. It's fine but very windy today. As Swansea closes early in the evening, we purchased a frozen Fettuccine each to heat in our cosy room for dinner tonight.Baca lagi

  • Bay of Fires and St Helens

    6–7 Mei, Australia ⋅ 🌬 17 °C

    We farewelled Malcolm's sister Vicki and, after fueling up and a brief stop at Woolworths, drove to the Bay of Fires. We drove through some grazing land and small towns. It was very windy and threatening rain when we arrived but we still explored "The Gardens" and a couple of other pretty coastal spots and stopped for lunch with a sea view. We arrived to check in at St Helens and were disappointed that our oceanview room was a carparkview room. We were eventually changed to a superior room but with a town view instead. We went to the Hotel Bistro for dinner.Baca lagi

  • Tamar Island Wetlands

    5–6 Mei, Australia ⋅ 🌩️ 19 °C

    This morning we visited Tamar Island Wetlands, a pretty spot with long boardwalks over the wetlands. Not much birdlife about today as it was a bit windy. After a relaxing afternoon we met some 'old' school friends for dinner at Rosevear Hotel.Baca lagi

  • Sheffield and Legana

    4–5 Mei, Australia ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    We stopped at Sheffield to see their famous wall murals. As well as the traditional ones on the sides of their buildings they have an annual mural competition and the winning murals are on display near the tourist information centre. We stopped briefly in Launceston on our way to Malcolm's sister Vicki's farm in Legana where we spent the afternoon exploring the property, seeing her renovations and future plans for the outbuildings. Vicki cooked a delicious creamy mustard chicken for dinner.Baca lagi

  • Cradle Mountain

    3–4 Mei, Australia ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    We travelled to Cradle Mountain, parked and caught the shuttle to Dove Lake. We decided on tackling the Crater Lake walk which begins at Dove Lake and ends at Ronny Creek. It took us about 3 hours. There were lots of steps, great views, a couple of waterfalls, several lakes, many boardwalks and 4 wombats. We were also lucky to see the autumn colour at Cradle Mountain with the turning of the Fagus, a native Australian deciduous species. A very nice but tiring day, challenging the ankles and knees. We then travelled to Moina where we are staying at Cradle Forest Inn.
    Hot chips and home made Lasagne for dinner from Cradle Gateway Cafe.
    Baca lagi

  • Strahan, and the Gordon River

    2–3 Mei, Australia ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    We boarded the Red Boat at 8.30am for the World Heritage cruise. First on the route was Hells Gate, the narrow entry between the Southern Ocean and Macquarie Harbour. Next we went ashore at Sarah Island, the harshest convict settlement in Australia. We joined the informative tour and learned all about life on the island and its ship building yard. Next we enjoyed a delicious lunch as we slowly cruised along the Gordon River to Heritage Landing where we disembarked for a stroll along a board walk. Here we learned more about the various trees in the ancient cool temperate rain forest. After a relaxing cruise back to Strahan we stopped at the historic saw mill to see a demonstration and some crafted items. Just snacked on cheese and bickies this evening.Baca lagi

  • Hobart to Strahan

    1–2 Mei, Australia ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    Due to a road closure we had to take a longer route out of Hobart towards Strahan. We travelled through some lovely countryside and through some tiny towns. We stopped for a couple of scenic walks, one was the Franklin River Nature Trail and the other to Nelson Falls. Then some more long and winding roads through Queenstown to Strahan. We checked in to Strahan Bungalows then went to have a look around the wharf area and pick up our tickets for the Gordon River cruise tomorrow.
    Picked up a seafood basket takeaway for dinner back at our lovely accommodation.
    Baca lagi

  • Hobart and Richmond

    30 Apr–1 Mei, Australia ⋅ ☁️ 7 °C

    We left a drizzly Sydney morning and arrived to a sunny, but brisk, autumn, Hobart day. We were picked up at the airport and taken to collect our hire car (Kia Stonic). We set off for historic Richmond seeing the oldest span bridge in Australia and St John's Catholic Church. Next we headed to Mt Wellington. Unfortunately the Pinnacle Rd was closed for roadworks but we did the short Lookout walk to see the views of Hobart. For the rest of the day we explored Hobart including Constitution Dock and Battery Point. We picked up some groceries and enjoyed some Vietnamese takeaway for dinner.Baca lagi

  • Some Japan travel tips

    20 November 2023, Jepun

    Just wanted to share some travel tips.

    Before you leave

    Buy a JRail pass. Our itinerary was planned around a 14 day JRAIL pass which commenced on our 3rd day in Japan. Fortunately we got in before the big price rise. The airport JR office wasn't open for our early arrival but we found a JR office at Ueno to trade our vouchers for passes. Also try to book seats on the Shinkansen as early as possible as the window seats are popular. Bookings can be made at JR Offices or via a machine.

    Organise a WiFi router. This proved invaluable to navigate public transport, walking routes and for Google translate. We just made sure it was charged overnight and then carried it with us for shared hotspot. Then with our usual Messenger and Whatsapp there was no need for a Japanese sim. We used Fox WiFi and had it delivered before arrival at our first hotel. We hired ours for 21 days and it cost ¥10742 which was about $A110 in Oct 2023.

    Accomodation Bookings
    We booked all our hotels before we left for Japan and usually stayed 2 nights or more in one place. This gave us full days at destinations to explore. Check in at hotels isn't until 3pm but all hotels we used were happy to store our luggage if we arrived early.

    Cash
    Get some Japanese Yen before you go. We travelled with about ¥97000 about $A1000 which worked well for us for the 3 weeks along with an HSBC global debit card. Many attractions, shops, restaurants and Suica recharge only accept cash.

    In Japan

    Suica Card
    Suica and Pasmo cards are rechargeable cards which can be used for public transport, convenience stores and vending machines. We got a Welcome Suica card at the airport and charged it with ¥4000. We topped it up a couple of times. We used it for the monorail/train journey from Haneda airport to our first hotel. If you have a balance at the end use it at the airport.

    Coin Lockers
    These are great for stowing luggage while you explore if you haven't reached your hotel. There are banks of them at stations and popular tourist spots. Save your 100yen coins to use for them. Some also take Suica cards.

    Convenience Stores
    There are 3 major brands of convenience stores, 7 Eleven, Lawsons and Family Mart. These are great for purchasing ready made meals (they will heat them for you or your motel may have a microwave to use). Also a great selection of hot food, danishes, noodles, ice creams, alcohol and snacks. Some have an eating area as eating as you walk is considered very poor manners. Bring your own enviro bag.

    Transport
    Utilise Google maps including platform and exit information to navigate subways and public transport. There are different train lines owners so check which line your station is on, especially in Tokyo where there is JR, Toei and Metro. In Tokyo we purchased a 48hr and 72 hr Tourist Subway Pass for the metro and Toei subway from the Tourist Information office at Ueno. We used our Suica card once our JR pass expired and for the lines the Metro pass didn't cover. Try to keep your luggage as small and as light as possible to easily stow in the Shinkansen luggage racks.

    Discounts
    There are often discounts for Seniors (over 65) at tourist attractions. All you need to do is show your passport. There are also some discounts available in the tourist brochures.
    Also look out for passes for the area you are in eg Hakone Free Pass.

    Accomodation
    We mostly stayed in large chain hotels such as APA, Livemax, Wing, The One Five and Mystays. All provided good quality shampoo, conditioner and body wash. Hotel rooms in Japan are small so try to pack as light as possible as there's not a lot of space.

    Toilets
    There are plenty of public toilets at tourist sites, shopping areas and train stations. All had western style, most with the added extras of heated seats, bidet cleaning, auto flush etc. In the ladies toilets they even had little seats for Mothers to put their babies!

    Hope these tips help!
    Baca lagi

  • Leaving Japan

    19 November 2023, Jepun ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    We leave Japan late this evening so we spent the day redoing some Tokyo sights, riding the subway, and browsing the shops and arcades. We had stowed our luggage with the hotel so we were unencumbered. Our 72 hr subway pass expired at 2pm so we made the most of it until then travelling to Ueno, Shibuya and back to the observatory before having a late lunch/snack of dumplings and rice at Asakusa. We wandered about the Sensoji Temple area before returning for our luggage. We packed our last minute purchases, put our Fox wifi rental in its package for posting and set out for the subway. We had done a reconnaissance and found the best subway entry with an elevator (some stations have many long stretches of stairs). We boarded a train at Asakusa which took us all the way to Haneda Terminal 3 for our flight home.Baca lagi

  • Ueno Zoo and more Tokyo

    18 November 2023, Jepun ⋅ 🌬 15 °C

    Our last full day in Tokyo we decided to go to Ueno Zoo. It has the distinction of being the oldest zoo in Japan as it first opened in 1882. Having booked online we were able to enter quickly once the gates opened at 9.30. It only cost ¥600 for adults and ¥300 for seniors so it was under A$10 for both of us. We headed straight for the Panda exhibit and weren't disappointed as they were both easy to see. The female is called Shin Shin and the male is called Ri Ri. They have been at the zoo since 2011. We spent the rest of the morning exploring the rest of the zoo. After the zoo we stopped for a while in the park then walked along Ameyoko Shopping Street before catching the subway to Skytree. It's very busy in this area as it's Saturday and many families and groups of friends are out and about. We caught the subway back to Asakusa where we had some dinner and did some shopping before returning to the hotel.Baca lagi

  • Sea Life and Night Lights

    17 November 2023, Jepun ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    The day started very rainy so we took the opportunity to rest and start sorting our packing. We had some noodles for lunch then headed out into the rain to catch the train to Tokyo Sea Life Park. The rain had stopped when we reached our destination but had kept the crowds away so we enjoyed the exhibits without the usual hustle and bustle. The Aquarium only cost 840 yen after senior discount and Tokyo guide book discount and had some great displays, especially the penguins. We spent a couple of hours there before catching a train to Rappongi where there were some street sculpture and also Christmas Lights. The lights came on at 5pm and were worth the wait, very pretty. To our amusement they had a road warden at the crossing allowing people to take a photo down the road with the walk signal and then blowing his whistle to get them off again. After wandering about for a while we caught the train back to the station near our hotel.Baca lagi

  • Tokyo - Museum and more

    16 November 2023, Jepun ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    We started by getting a train to the Tourist information office at Ueno Station to get a 72 hour subway pass. Job done we decided to visit the Museum of Natural History and Science. It was free for Malcolm (over 65) so just paid for one 670 yen. It's a great Museum with a good variety of displays. We spent a few hours there then sat in the park while we had an icecream. (Malcolm was impressed with the packaging!) Then we caught the subway to the Metropolitan Government Building to go to the observatory which is on the 45th floor (202 metres). As it's a clear day we were able to see Mt Fuji in the distance. We went to a nearby park and shops for a while and then returned to the observatory to see the view of the city as it got dark. Afterwards we caught the subway back to Asakusa where we had dinner (Ramen for me and stir fry combo for Malcolm). We had a look around Sensoji Temple at night and then walked back to the hotel.Baca lagi

  • Asakusa Sights

    15 November 2023, Jepun ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    No trains today! We explored our local Asakusa area starting with Sensoji Temple and the nearby Five Story Pagoda. It was reasonably quiet as the surrounding shops don't open til later. I even tried my luck and spent 100 yen on an Omikuji (fortune). Luckily it was a good one so I didn't need to tie it to to a hanger. We had a look in the well known Don Quijote Shop and nearby arcades and found a nice place for lunch. We ordered via a screen and soon our food arrived at our bench. We had a brief rest at the hotel before continuing to explore the area and some shops on the other side of the river. We walked back to the hotel in the early evening via the Skytree.

    PHOTO COMMENT: Uryū Iwako (February 15, 1829 - April 19, 1897), also known as Uryū Iwa, was a noted Japanese Social Worker during the Meiji period. She established a midwifery research institute and relief facility to care for orphans and the poor, and promoted social work and girls' education. The statue was erected in 1901.
    Baca lagi

  • Hakone Highlights

    14 November 2023, Jepun ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    It was a very chilly morning as we left our Kyoto hotel to catch the Shinkansen to Odawara to see the sights of Hakone. We caught our first glimpse of Mt Fuji from the train. It took about 2 hours to reach Odawara station where we stored our luggage in coin lockers then bought a Hakone pass. First we caught a train and then a bus to the port where we boarded the Pirate style ship for a cruise across Lake Ashi. It cruised past a Tori gate to the start of the Hakone Ropeway. The ropeway's gondolas depart every minute and fit around ten people each. Traveling the full length of the ropeway takes around 30 minutes. Along the journey, we had amazing views of Mt Fuji as well as the active, sulfuric hot spring sources. After the ropeway we caught the very slow cable car back to the station. We collected our luggage and were able to catch an earlier Shinkansen to Tokyo where we transferred to a local line to get to our hotel in Asakusa. Our hotel has the usual tiny room but lovely river and skytree views.Baca lagi

  • Kyoto - Gion and Nishiki Market

    13 November 2023, Jepun ⋅ ☀️ 11 °C

    It was a cold, wet morning in Kyoto. Having just finished reading Memoirs of a Geisha I was keen to visit Gion (Kyoto's Geisha District) so we set out to catch the train to the area. First we found Yasaka Shrine (once called Gion Shrine) which has several buildings, including gates, a main hall and a stage. Next we wandered through the Gion streets where some tourists were dressed in traditional kimonos. We crossed the river and found ourselves in a main shopping street and large arcade. We had some lunch and shopped for a while then eventually found Nishiki Market which is a narrow, five block long shopping street. Known as "Kyoto's Kitchen", this lively retail market specializes in all things food related, like fresh seafood, produce, knives and cookware, sake and sushi. The rain had stopped when we made our way back to the station and returned to the hotel.Baca lagi

  • Kyoto sights - Nara Park & Inari

    12 November 2023, Jepun ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    In an attempt to beat the crowds we rose early and caught to train to Nara where we caught a bus to the Park. The journey takes approximately two hours so we arrived at around 9am. Nara Park was already bustling with tourists so we headed straight for Todai-ji Temple to see the Vairocana Buddha. Housed in an impressive structure it is almost 15 metres in height. It is made of cast bronze, plated in gold. The Great Buddha Hall is one of the largest wooden structures in the world. The 660 hectare park contains other interesting buildings, a bell tower and is also home to hundreds of freely roaming deer. Considered the messengers of the gods, Nara's deer have become a symbol of the city and have even been designated as a natural treasure. Deer crackers are for sale around the park, and some deer have learned to bow to visitors to ask to be fed. Next we walked back to the station and caught the train to Inari. Fushimi Inari Shrine is right at the station exit and is an important Shinto shrine in southern Kyoto. It is famous for its thousands of vermilion torii gates donated by companies and individuals. Foxes are thought to be Inari's messengers, resulting in many fox statues across the shrine grounds. It was also a very popular tourist destination. This ancient shrine was founded in the year 711 to house the Shinto deity Inari Okami, making it a site of worship for more than thirteen centuries. The name “Inari” comes from Inari being the god of rice. We spent a couple of hours walking the trails and exploring the shrine before heading back to Kyoto.Baca lagi

  • Arrival in Kyoto

    11 November 2023, Jepun ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    We left Osaka and travelled by train to Kyoto successfully making the required transfers with our luggage. We found our hotel in Kyoto and left our bags. We decided to visit Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion). It is a Zen Temple - the top two floors are completely covered in gold leaf. Formally known as Rokuonji, the temple was the retirement villa of the shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu and according to his will it became a Zen temple of the Rinzai sect after his death in 1408. Getting there was by train and crowded bus and it was a very busy destination. It is an impressive structure on a large pond. We left the crowds and walked back to catch a bus back to the station where we found a little Japanese restaurant to have lunch. Next we walked to Nijo Castle but decided against paying to go inside the grounds (we've already seen a few castles!). Then we wandered up to the Imperial Palace grounds. The grounds are extensive with wide gravel paths, lots of different tree varieties, various buildings, a shrine and impressive gates. We caught a couple of trains to get back to our hotel to check in and relax.Baca lagi

  • A Rainy Day in Osaka

    10 November 2023, Jepun ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    We decided to see Osaka Aquarium so booked online then set out in the rain to the station. The Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan is one of the largest aquariums in the world. It has a huge tank housing an array of sea creatures including two enormous whale sharks, rays, sharks and fish. It also has many other displays of other sea life such as otters, dolphins, seals and penguins. We spent a few hours enjoying the exhibits along with many school children. After the Aquarium we headed to catch a train to Dotonbori shopping area. This is a very busy area near a canal. It has long wide arcades with many restaurants, boutiques, high end stores, cafes etc. We looked around and stopped at a restaurant for lunch. Later we realised we were close enough to our hotel to walk back.Baca lagi

  • Himeji Castle and Osaka Castle

    9 November 2023, Jepun ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    We rose early to catch the cable car to the station to catch the Shinkansen to Himeji. When we arrived we stowed our luggage in a coin locker and walked to the Castle. Himeji castle is also known as White Heron Castle and is both a Japanese National Treasure as well as a World Heritage Site. We toured the Castle and then walked to the Kokoen Gardens, a lovely Edo period style Japanese garden. We decided to catch an earlier train than originally planned so that we would have some time to see some of Osaka today. We successfully navigated the train system and found our hotel. We checked in and headed to Osaka Castle which was about a 20 minute walk away. We wandered around the castle grounds, saw the sun set over Osaka and looked around the neighbouring Tamatsukuri Inari Shrine at dusk.Baca lagi

  • Ferry to Miyajima

    8 November 2023, Jepun ⋅ ☀️ 13 °C

    This morning we walked to the station and caught a train to Hiroden Miyajimaguchi Station where we transferred to the ferry to Miyajima. We walked along the shoreline to the O-torii Gate which is about 16 metres in height and 24 metres wide. The giant, orange, gate is partially submerged at high tide and marks the entrance to the Itsukushima Shrine, which was first built in the 12th century. We wandered about the island enjoying other sights especially the Daishoin Temple Complex which is located on the side of Mt Misen and has many temples, halls and statues. We particularly liked the paths lined with 500 Rakan statues with red knitted hats. Each statue represents a disciple of Shaka (Buddha) and each one is totally unique. While at Miyajima we tried a Momiji manju, the maple leaf shaped cheesecake which is a speciality specialty of the island and we witnessed one of the wild deer steal and eat a tourist's brochure. We returned to the O-torii Gate to see it at low tide before catching the ferry and train back to Hiroshima where the JR rail lady helped us book further train journeys on the ticket machine. We caught the street car back to some shops then walked back to the hotel.Baca lagi

  • Hiroshima Sights

    7 November 2023, Jepun ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    In Okayama we caught the street car to the station where we caught the Shinkansen Hikari to Hiroshima. On the way we spotted the Hello Kitty Shinkansen. We arrived at Hiroshima and caught the street car to our hotel where we dropped our luggage. It is located close to the Hiroshima Peace Park so we set out to explore the memorial park. There are multiple reminders and memorials of the terrible day in 1945 when the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. There were many school groups visiting the park and we witnessed a moving scene where one group paid respects and sang at The Children's Peace Monument. After the Peace Park we visited the reconstructed Hiroshima Castle which was originally built in the 1590s, but was destroyed by the atomic bombing. It is surrounded by an impressive moat and large grounds and inside there is an interesting museum and great views of the city. We left the castle and walked to Shukkeien Garden. What a beautiful garden...Shukkeien literally means shrink-scenery so it has many miniaturised landscapes. The centre is a pond with inlets surrounded by mountains, valleys, bridges, arbours, bamboo, tea houses all connected by a path. As a senior (65 and over) Malcolm once again was admitted for free! As we weren't sure of the correct street car to take we walked back to the hotel via the Peace Park and checked in. It has an amazing view over the river and once settled we went to a local Japanese fast food restaurant for chicken and rice bowls.Baca lagi

  • Okayama and Kurashiki

    6 November 2023, Jepun ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C

    Our first stop today was to visit the lovely Korakuen garden which is located close to our hotel. This quintessential Japanese garden was created roughly 300 years ago by the area’s daimyo (domain lord). Centered around Enyo-tei House, which was built as living quarters, the garden covers some 13 ha and includes a Noh Stage as well as ponds, hills, plum groves, and a tea plantation. Next we crossed a bridge over the Asahi River to reach Okayama Castle which features a black exterior and gold leaf tiles. After a brief stop at the hotel we caught a street car to the railway station and caught a train to Kurashiki then walked to the Bikan Historical Area. This townscape, known for the characteristically Japanese white walls of its residences and the willow trees lining the banks of the Kurashiki River, has earned recognition as an Important Preservation District. Afterwards we caught the train back to Okayama, then had another ride on the street car, before returning to the hotel to rest.Baca lagi

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