Organize…

The pieces are falling into place and I couldn’t be happier. I just placed an order for Yen and was able to specify how many 1k, 2k, and 5k bills I wanted. And instead of worrying about the money getting lost in the mail, they’re actually going to deliver it intra-bank to my local branch!! Now that my charges about 5% for the service, but it was cheaper than Travelex which was charging about 8%.

Also, an idea ocurred to me that might help me stay organized… after all, we’re talking about 14 days abroad. I’m going to create a booklet of sorts that contains:

1. Reservation info - with phone numbers, addresses, and confirmation numbers
2. Train times and numbers - showing all stations that will get me from point A-to-B based on the day
3. Maps highlighting places I want to go to and suggested routes

If organized per day, then staying on track will be so much easier! I’ll share it once I get back. And it’ll double as a memento too!! More to come on this!!

Many destinations…

Yesterday I finished with my reservations, not in order here, for security reasons:

4 nights in Tokyo

1 night by Mt. Fuji

1 night in Mt. Koya

5 nights in Osaka - homebase for daytrips to Nara, Himeji and Kyoto

2 nights in Hiroshima - will take a ferry to Miyajima Island on one of the two days

Types of accomodations include: Mostly hostels, one Ryokan (traditional inn), one Shukubo (Buddhist temple lodging), and one Capsule bed!! ^_^ Total for 13 nights? Approx $500, I’ll share reviews and dollar breakdowns when I get back. Now, with exception of the Shukubo, all other required a 10% deposit up front but I have to pay in cash when I get there. Mission today: To find a reasonable currency exchange house to get enough Yen for lodging, food and goodies. More to come on all this…

Last week, work took me to Cleveland, OH where the weather was similar to Tokyo’s. That presented another perfect opportunity to test gear. Here are a few updates:

>Privo Hayseed Waterproof Boots - They’re cozy warm and with the gel insoles I added, it’s proven to be a great walking shoe
>Naturalizer suede mary janes, which are easy to get on/off and are extremely comfortable.
>Reef flip-flops - they were comfortable and necessary when staying at hostels
>CalPak Cyprus 21” hardside spinner luggage in silver. Very lightweight and could work to carry all the loot I plan to bring back from Japan. Not 100% sure I’ll take it yet.
>Banana Republic fleece-lined goatskin gloves - they’re so supple and perfectly warm
>Jilbere de Paris, Porcelain Series flat iron - lightweight, easy to use and great results
>Columbia Just Right Fleece Tunic - perfect with leggings and boots
>Peruvian style hat made with alpaca wool and line with fleece - it’s the best
>Columbia Glacial II Fleece Half-Zip pullover - extremely lightweight, perfect for layering, dries fast

More to come… I did finish my reservations and got the Rail Pass, will post about it soon

What not to take:

Amongst other items, I had packed a micro fleece blanket to PA - very lightweight but took too much space in the 32L pack.

I packed a regular size and weight towel - a cheapo skinny scruffy one would’ve worked better and dried faster.

A large Nikon AF-S DX 50-300mm DSLR lens that I ended up using just once. The weight and worry of loosing or breaking it wasn’t worth it.

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Maybe will take:

iPad2 - For long train rides it’ll be perfect entertainment, the battery lasts long and I can have Jap-Eng translators. However, I’d be afraid to loose it!!

Goal Zero solar panels - the PA weather was cloudy so I didn’t really get a chance to test if it worked or not. It doesn’t weigh much so I might still take it.

A canvas purse/day bag - although the camera was accessible, taking my little Under Armour trail pack might be more comfortable for the long haul.

70oz Platypus bladder. Never made much use of it - doesn’t weigh much either. Will only take if I plan a day trip that involves hiking - maybe on Miyajima Island?

More to come on all this.

Although I have yet to buy the plane tickets for Japan, I’ve been buying and testing the gear I’m going to take. As I walked around the airport yesterday with a Deuter 32L pack, I started wondering if it’s big enough. Comfort is a non issue at this point but after this weekend I’ll have a better idea. I’m also testing a pair of Clark’s Privo Hayseed Waterproof boots, not so much for impermeability, but for comfort and warmth. Other items being tested include: fleece trench coat from British Khaki, wrinkle-proof travel skirt from REI, Nomad 7 solar panels from Goal Zero, a Platypus 70oz bladder and some Reef flip flops.

More to come on all this.

Heart beats faster…
…every time I think about arriving in Japan about 8 weeks from now.

I’m heading to Japan in roughly two months and packing part gets me all nervous… want to make sure I don’t miss anything. So, after almost a year of using the items below, some changes need to be made to the list.

Some important considerations:

-Want to pack light, stay warm since weather will be around 40-55 F, and have enough space for the gazillion souvenirs I want to bring back

Electronics:

Dell Mini 10v with charger <— I would rather take an iPad2 with me, less bulk :-)

5th Gen iPod Video 30GB <— low weight, long battery life, good for long train rides

Olympus E-PL1 camera with: 14-42mm M.Zuiko lens, 40-150mm M.Zuiko lens, 3 batteries, charger, camera cleaning accessories

Kodak Z8612 8.1MP with 12x Optical IS zoom with 2 batteries and charger

Samsung L100 8.2 MP with 3x zoom, 1 battery and USB cable

2 SD cards (1GB & 2 GB) for the older cameras. 2 SDHC cards (4GB class 6 & 8GB class 10) for the E-PL1.

3 Cameras? What was I thinking? Taking my Nikon D3100 with 1 Eye-Fi card that has wireless uploading, and two other larger capacity SDHC’s. Two batteries with charger, my trusty 35mm, and the large but useful 55-300mm zoomy. The iPhone 4’s camera will serve as backup if needed.

USB Card Reader - to upload pics in cafes without worrying about running out of card space

Goal Zero Nomad 7m Foldable Solar Panel <—Backup to charge all my USB devices. I mounted it on the outside of the Deuter pack, still in the process of testing charging times. Will review later.

Luggage:

Under Armour Trail Pack - review and pics here <— so far, it’s going unless I find something that makes it easier to access my camera lens.

Jeep Rolling Backpack - review and pics here <—It started ripping on the seams. Not going to risk the contents spilling out mid-trip.

Deuter ACT 32 Trail Pack. At 26x14x9, this 32L pack is just 3 inches more than United’s carry-on size.  Will post a review later.

Apparel: (Work in progress)

You might notice a lot of fleece in this list… It doesn’t weight much, easily compressible, moisture wicking and dries fast, just the right amount of warm.

Columbia fleece tunic - pretty in purple, long sleeves, warm, perfect with jeans or thick warm leggings.

Calvin Klein performance fleece jacket - warm, strategic zippers and mp3 pocket - good stuff.

Columbia water repellent jacket - with fleece lining, one size up so it covers the bum and can go over any outfit.

Black thick leggings - with fleece lining, can be work with anything, even under jeans if the temp dips a lot.

Fleece pajamas - because I sleep with them year round  

Old Navy jeans - trusty stretch pair in dark indigo, matches everything.

Fleece gloves, wool scarf, alpaca Peruvian-style hat

2 pairs of fleece socks to keep toes warm while sleeping

2 Naturalizer Mary Janes - One black, one brown. These shoes are made for comfort. 

Title translates to: Travel Alone. Another translation for traveling alone is Hitoritabi 一人旅

For the last couple of months I’ve been debating whether or not to invite any other friends to join me in my Japan adventure. The verdict, as you might’ve inferred from the post title, I am going alone.

I’ve spent countless hours on the internet trying to find articles and blogs about twentysomething gals traveling solo to Japan but haven’t found much. The few advice gems scattered about are mostly about common sense, specially after dark. Some of the articles and blogs are so similar, makes me wonder if people are plagiarizing each other’s content just to have something to blog about. Seriously. And having friends or acquaintances to stay with does not count as solo travel in my book. And yes, we can agree to disagree on the latter.

Enough pouting and more writing.

I have to revise my original itinerary to take into consideration the following:

• No one to split accommodations with - alternatives: couch surfing for a few days, stick to hostels, save more money for the trip
• Decrease risk to safety by avoiding any activities after sunset unless arranged by a hostel.
• Need to revise destinations and transporation methods. Train schedules might’ve changed and some businesses might no longer be around after the sad events of March 2011. 
• Find out how to carry less luggage and switch to a backpack that fits everything including a daypack. Possibly leave the netbook and/or laptop at home, but if so, need to figure out easiest way of recharging the iPhone. From solar panels to rechargeable batteries, I’ll test some alternatives and post my findings.
• Clothing - Since Sue and I use the same size, we would’ve split the load while still enjoying “variety”. My last trip to PR I experimented with a simplified travel wardrobe and I’ll post more on the subject soon.
• Maps, maps and maps - Need to print them, study them and have the main destinations in English and Japanese Romanji and Kana. More to come on this.

Will it be easy to coordinate? Probably not but that’s the whole idea behind this blog/diary/planner… while sharing the fruit of my research with anyone that stumbles upon this blog. 

Konbanwa!

Maneki Neko Kawaii!!

So my tribute to Japan became official on October 3rd, 2011, in the shape of a Maneki Neko tattoo on my upper back, right shoulder.

The artist and I incorporated the following elements and meanings:

Maneki Neko - Japanese traditional beckoning cat, considered lucky. Very popular mythological and/or cultural symbol. It’s also a living tribute to my cat Gordito, who is turning 11 in 2012.

Taino Indian Petroglyph - Instead of the Japanese symbol for wealth or a currency denomination, the coin has a tribute to my homeland. The petroglyph represents a Coqui, a tiny rainforest tree native to Puerto Rico and which was venerated by the native Taino Indians that populated the island back when Columbus discovered it in the 15th century.

Cherry Blossoms - To me, they represent how life is ephimeral yet the smallest moments can have the greatest impact on our lives.

So yes Japan, I’m seriously going. And I would looooooove to get the second tattoo over there, depends how much I can save up! Yay!!

Oyasumi!

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P.S. Chris Duarte from Immortal Images - your work is amazing! I’m definely going back to you for more ink!! Lots of love!

My favorite view every time in the air :-)

The short answer is no.

At least not in the case of persons who actually put thought into the subject, paragraph structure, grammar and visual presentation of their blog post. All those details translate into a time consuming endeavor that steals vacation time. Ideally some day my blogs will become my memoir, which published or not, deserve to at least be worthy of sharing with my future family. There are so many blogs and posts which I used to read but now they’re trash. Sorry to be harsh, but honestly, I don’t think anyone is really interested in knowing what brand of this or that you prefer… Except the marketing companies. It’s one thing to share unfiltered thoughts, it’s entirely another to dump trivial, unorganized thoughts in desperate need of proofreading and then expect people to “follow”… Argh!

I won’t apologize for the rant but I will wrap it up by saying thank you. There are countless, unmentioned persons who’ve made possible the technology that allows one to type a post from an app on a phone which then magically appears on a virtual space that millions of persons could potentially see. We take technology for granted and today I want to express my gratitude. :-D Thank you Japan, thank you world.

Yep… I’m thinking of getting tattoos.

First one’s going to be a cute, anime-ish, huggable, oh-so-adorable Maneki Neko incorporating a cherry blossom flower, a chrysanthemum, a flag from Puerto Rico, maybe a Koi fish, fans, paper lantern and sushi!!!

Location: Left shoulder Size: the cat itself is about 2 inches, the deco adds another 2 in height. Completed it should be max about 4x4 inches. Colors: bright hues of orange, blue, green, red, and pink.

m>(^__^)

The others, in no particular order…

An owl in a similar style from the neko, simple lines, has a heart on it’s chest and glossy eyes. No embellishments on this one though, just the bird by itself.

Location: about two inches below my right clavicle. The size: 1x2 inches. Max 2x2 Colors: Mostly bright purple, with a but of electric blue, neon red, and light gray.

<(O^O)> hoot, hoot!!

The kanji would be small like the owl, made to look like delicate brushstroke, and pretty simple. So far I’m leaning towards using the kanji for cat, but there are others I’m considering like mysterious, mischevious (can’t find the right symbol for this one), or perseverance.

Location: Two inches below my left clavicle Size: Same as owl, 1x2, max 2x2 Colors: Black and light grey could be used for shading

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The dragon, well the idea I have in my head isn’t too clear yet… I’d like it to be cartoony like the others but still have some traditional features like the claws and whiskers. If I choose the Japanese style then it’ll be decorating the front of my right pelvis. Alternatively, I might do a feminie tribal design which would then be like an anklet on my right foot.

Location: TBD Size: TBD Colors: TBD