Living the Dream

Kobe is for Beef. Sweet, Glorious, Expensive Beef

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremy Jones) — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 11:47:00 +0000

Kobe, Japan is an interesting city. If you would drop me there without telling me where I was and no local signs or people walking around I would guess that I was in a place like London or Chicago - most definitely not Japan. Hello Kitty and Cartoon figures are all but missing and replaced with upscale dining (mostly French and Italian), expensive stores (Dior, DG, etc), and English is almost always in a larger font than the comparable Kanji text for most big businesses. It is so eerie and cosmopolitan that I caught myself on multiple occasions wondering if I was even in Japan anymore.

There are really only three things that I could see coming to Kobe for. The first is the most obvious, to live there. Kobe constantly ranks the top city in Japan for expat living and there is no doubt of that after seeing the city. For me, all the french restaurants and pastry shops (mostly the latter) have me wanting to move there already as well. The second is as an entry and exit point into Japan via the nearby port of Kobe which has weekly ferries to and from Shanghai and Busan. Since I am not able to be classified in the previous two, the reason I went to Kobe falls into category number 3: Kobe Beef.

What makes Kobe beef the best? Well, the criteria listed for being called Kobe beef is extensive in itself. All cattle for Kobe beef must be born in Hyogo Prefecture and raised by farm feeding. All cows must be castrated to purify the beef and processed in a slaughterhouse in one of five cities within Hyogo Prefecture. But the real treat comes in to play with a Marbling Ratio required of level 6 or higher and an overall Meat Quality Score of 4 or 5 (good to excellent range for both criteria. Of course, the stories of cows being fed beer, massaged with saki, and fed the finest food doesn't hurt the reputation either.

This particular excursion probably does not fall within the line of budget travel, but more of the once in a lifetime experience list that is worth the extra cost. The reason for this is because of the massive fame that Kobe beef has around the world as being, quite simply the best, also has the price to match. To put it simply, it is not uncommon for restaurants to charge over 10,000 yen (~$120 US) just for one decent sized steak dinner. Going for lunch puts the serving size, and cost, to a more reasonable figure of around 5,000 yen (~$60 US) and can also include salad, soup, veggies, and rice if the right place is found.

What I found particularly astonishing about the whole endeavor is how few and far between places that actually sell Kobe beef are in Kobe, Japan. After walking around the city for over an hour and a half I had encountered only two restaurants that serve primarily Japanese steaks. The first had no discounted price for the lunch menu, so I continued onto the store that I consumed this prize beef at: Tor Road Steak Aoyama. With a good crowd sitting in front of one lone chef at a flat top skillet, I took my place and watched the beauty unfold.

The lunch menu, unfortunately, only consisted of one choice that was true Kobe beef. The other more affordable options were still highly prized Japanese beef, but not Kobe. So I ordered the meal that totaled 5,000 yen overall. Opting for the sirloin instead of the fillet was not for a lack of respect to the meat on my part, but rather to optimize the amount I can have. A fillet of Kobe beef sounds too good to be true, and for the price, I just wanted a little bit more than that unfortunately.

While the chef laid out ingredients I was served not only an amazing salad covered in salmon, but a decent bowl of soup of indeterminable flavor. Once finished my steak was brought out and shown to me and prepared, gloriously I might add, to a perfect medium and served with various chopped vegetables and a Japanese steak sauce that would give A1 a run for its money if sold back home. Cut up into tiny pieces, I was served my steak. Being a food nerd, I documented the entire cooking process on video for those eager to watch:

Wow. That is the only word that can be used to describe the first bite and all the components of the beef. Sure, part of the enjoyment might be the hype building up to the very first bite, but it is still even better than that. The extensive fat ratio in the beef produces something that is as close to melt in your mouth as any thing I've ever tried before. Not a single piece of gristle or chewy bit in the way, the meat just falls apart. It is almost as if angels came down from the heavens, trumpets blaring, and beautiful orchestral music fills the room as time stops for a few brief moments of ecstasy. Ok, maybe not that extreme, but the sensation is unbelievable, and an overwhelming sadness comes at the very last bite as, after all, it is only an ~8 ounce steak.

With my wallet a little lighter, and stomach not completely full, I had to exit the establishment. But for that brief moment, however short it may be, it was amazing. Kobe beef, you win. I will never look at a steak the same way again.

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For those wanting to visit Tor Road Aoyama and have the same experience I have felt, exit your particular train station (JR or local lines) and head west. Tor road runs North to South about 5 minutes walking and is illustrated on most maps. My best approximation would say that the establishment is positioned about halfway between the Mountains and JR Railway station if used as a reference, located on the right hand side of the road if looking uphill towards the mountains. No English menus are available, however a few employees speak well enough English to help you through.

Travel Photo Guide Part 1 - Basic Concepts

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremy Jones) — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 12:03:00 +0000

Photography while traveling is probably one of the most important souvenirs you can bring back from your trip. A lasting memory kept in a digital or print file will last a lifetime and be a constant reminder of the wonderful sites you have seen. If possessing great travel photos is a passion of yours, like it is mine, why would you allow yourself to return with something less than stellar for all the amazing places you have been? An amazing place deserves to be recorded in an amazing picture, and anything less does not give the location the justice it deserves.

You don't need a fancy SLR camera to get amazing photographs. Most point and shoot cameras only really need to be above 5 megapixels (MP) to capture the full beauty of the world. Now there are pocket sized cameras that range all the way up to 14 MP in picture size, with included HD video. A bit overkill if you ask me, but added features the camera's posses, other than picture size, is something that should be highly valued. In order to take some pictures that absolutely wow your friends and family, as well as become a travel keepsake worthy of display, I've come up with a list of tips that I use while taking photographs abroad that have allowed me to obtain some wonderful shots.

Avoid Blur - Use Anti-Shake/Vibration Reduction/Multi-Shot Mode

Image blur is the most common ruiner of pictures that I have experienced. The culprit? Low light conditions such as being indoors in restaurants, outside after dark, and more. In order for a camera to properly take a picture, the exposure time increases to allow more light in for the photograph. The longer the exposure time, the more camera motion comes into play. Most point and shoot cameras, as well as SLRs, often come with an optional anti-shake or vibration reduction mode which helps decrease blur in long exposure based images. However, this mode has to be turned on as it often consumes extra battery life in the process. Couple the reduction modes on a camera with a multi-shot burst, where the camera continues to take pictures while the shutter button is pressed, and you are bound to get one good shot. A good burst speed is 3 pictures per second although newer model cameras, especially SLRs can do near triple that value. Sure, retroactively deleting photos is a pain, but having a blurry picture forever is more of a buzz kill.

Optional more elaborate techniques: Use a sturdy base like a table or tripod and turn on timer mode. Even if you are not in the photo, timer mode allows for the camera to be perfectly still to take the shot. SLR cameras even have remotes to perform this task as well. (Photo taken with a Nikon P4 Point and Shoot on a mini-tripod with timer in Paris, France)

Lose the Crowds, They Ruin Pictures

Unless you are wanting to show the human scene in a photo, it is best to take pictures of sites with no people in it at all. Crowds often draw the eye away from the significant object being photographed and can take away from the overall enjoyment of the picture. Of course, getting to a location without any people involves off hours (first hours of location opening), during questionable weather, or just plain off season. If you can't avoid crowds completely, waiting around for a minute or two will sometimes provide a brief enough gap for you to snap an amazing photo. (Photos were taken towards the same object below at different times of the day on a Nikon D80 SLR - Nikko, Japan)

Get Up Close and Personal - Top and Bottom Too

Far to often every single picture of a site is taken head on, with the object being photographed displayed directly infront of the camera. While still stunning, you'll have the same picture a thousand other people will have just that day alone. Looking at the object at a different angle (from the ground up or from above) and close up in macro mode can produce some stunning shots that not everyone may think of trying. Can't get to the angle you want? Put the camera down and snap away. Digital film allows you to delete any bad ones, and a random attempt to get a shot can produce something wonderful. The picture illustrated for this point was taken without looking into the viewfinder on a point and shoot camera. Luck just oriented the camera perfectly for the beautiful image (Photos were taken on a Nikon P4 Point and Shoot in Amsterdam, Netherlands and Dayton, Ohio respectfully)

Use the Rule of Thirds Loosely - Offside Images Are Just As Nice

Any obsessive photographer will likely bust out the rule of thirds as something that is required to take wonderful pictures. While this does prove to be true, you don't have to be completely obsessive about lining up shots to the magical proportions for them to be amazing. For those who are unaware, the rule of thirds goes something like this. If you were to segment the vertical and horizontal of your pictures with two lines each, producing three segments in the horizontal and vertical, main lines within a picture should be oriented to fall along the imaginary lines. Whether that is a horizon line falling in the top or bottom third of the screen, or a person being situated to the left or right of the image, it is up to you. Most point and shoot cameras will actually incorporate the rule of thirds segmenting if you adjust your display features to show it.

I am not a fan of using the rule of thirds. I'm not obsessive enough to care to line up every shot within the particular designated areas and hate having the feature turned on my camera's display while taking pictures. Still, the important thing that should be noted from the rule of thirds is this: off-sided images look amazing. Like the previous tip, taking a picture of an item dead on in the center of the picture every single time will get order. Try putting the object to one side of the frame and capture more of the surroundings. Give it a bit of depth by recording more, or less of the overall picture. The results are often stunning. (Photo was taken on Accra Beach in Barbados with an Olympus 1030 SW Point and Shoot)

Pictures of You Are Good - But Do Something Interesting

I can only stand having pictures of myself standing straight up in front of a significant object so many times. After a while I want to start doing goofy things. Making faces, doing gestures, or my favorite: jumping. Multi-burst mode on a camera is great at capturing it, and something about pictures of a person completely in mid-air looks more unique than just about any pose that can be done. So next time you are at a travel site, do something different! You'll come up with something fantastic as a result. (Photo was taken in Wadi Rum, Jordan with a Nikon D80 SLR on multiple exposure mode)

The best part about all of these tips is that they are not for everyone. With the digital age being in full swing and almost everyone having a digital based camera, it is far to easy to take multiple shots and delete one if it doesn't turn out. With these abilities, why wouldn't you want to try some amazing and different shots? Sure, maybe 10 in every 5,000 pictures will be epic unless you wait around at your photo site for the right conditions, but you never know what you might come up with by changing it up a bit.

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In later posts in this series I will discuss specific picture taking techniques for unique scenes as well as some more advanced techniques for SLR users!

Much Needed Beach Break to Ioujima

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremy Jones) — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 05:23:00 +0000

I'm not going to lie when I say that Nagasaki wasn't even close to being on my original itinerary. After cutting out Mount Fiji due to the abnormal heat wave going on in Japan, I had a large gap in my itinerary before departing from Osaka to Shanghai on September 10th. After three weeks of constant travel and 6-12+ hour days of exploring each city, there was one thing that I needed: a break, and not just any break, a beach. Thanks to massive internet searching, and wikitravel, I found my spot.

One of Japan's most beautiful beaches called Miyazaki, located on the southern island of Kyushu, is famous for its amazing surfing and picturesque scenery. Being 5-7 hours away by JR rail, I unfortunately had to pass due to extreme inconvenience. Nagasaki located on the south west of the same island was the stepping stone to finding my beach, and a much shorter 3 1/2 hour ride from Hiroshima on the JR line was all it took to get down to the lesser traveled towns in Japan. Sure, there is the peace memorials dedicated to all those who lost their lives during the nuclear bombing in World War 2, but I was more interested in getting away from the temple, memorials, and castles that I have seen time and time again in Japan.

A few short walks, 20 minute ferry, and a 980 yen fee (~$11) got me to the nearby resort island of Ioujima (not to be confused with similar sounding Iwo Jima). While most visitors stay at one of the islands resorts for a relaxing getaway, I was there for one reason, the Costa Del Sol beach. After reaching the beach it was apparent why the reputation is so high as the entire 600 feet of coastline was paired with crystal clear water and only about a dozen other visitors during the course of the two hours that I was there.

Perfect water, fantastic break in the weather, and a cool sea breeze was all I needed to get energized for my last few days in Japan. An extra bonus was the onsen that was included free in the ticket price, so after working up a sweat playing in the hot sun and amazing water, I soaked in the views and nurturing water in an entirely empty hot spring spa. Could there be anything better to help recover after a massive amount of site seeing? I think not. Bring it on China.

Photo Essay: Hiroshima and Nagasaki Peace Parks

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremy Jones) — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 09:53:00 +0000

"Imagine all the people, living life in peace" - John Lennon

The cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan were completely destroyed in August 1945 by nuclear weaponry. In what was once thought of as lost for 75 years before any life could be sustained, the cities quickly rebuilt and plants began to regrow shortly after their destruction, much to the amazement of the world. Since then, both cities have dedicated the ground zero sites as Peace Parks in order to help abolish nuclear weaponry and bring about universal peace. It is hard to describe the parks in words, which infuse a mix anguish at the events that have transpired, and hope for what could occur in the future. Rather than discuss these sites to you how I experienced them, I believe a photos from each park would help convey the feeling of being in the two dedicated Peace Parks in Japan.

Hiroshima

1 - A-Bomb Dome, Surviving Structure Near Hypocenter
2 - Looking Inside A-Bomb Dome
3 - Peace Memorial with A-Bomb Dome in Distance
4 - Children's Memorial to Peace

Nagasaki

1 - Marker of Hypocenter, Location of Explosion
2 - Memorial Commemorating Deceased Japanese and the World's Aid in Rebuilding
3 & 4 - Peace Memorial Statues

"C" May Be For Cookie, But "I" is Definitely For Ice Cream

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremy Jones) — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 10:19:00 +0000

Outside of Hiroshima, Japan at the island of Miyajima, I gave myself a goal: climb Mt Misen. In order to encourage myself to hike the 90 minutes in blazing heat, I gave myself a reward to stay motivated. If I could make it to the top I would head down to the nearby city of Iwakuni and treat myself to a massive load of ice cream at the famous 100 flavor ice cream shop in the town. With ice cream as a motivator, I made the climb and attempted to get the sweet reward immediately after, and failed trying, quite miserably I might add. But the story does not end there, because the following day, I tried again.

Discouraged by wikitravel's lack of information on the topic, although clearly listed as a main site of the small town of Iwakuni, I figured out the correct area of town the shop was in and tried again. The previous day any questions to locals was met with the response "Ice cream? 7/11 convenience store on the left!" And now I can safely say that I understand why. The shop is located near the main attraction of Iwakuni, an arched bridge known as Kintai-kyo that was originally built as a samurai crossing (now tourists can pay for the ability to cross). While maps at the train station indicate that the park is nearby, it is far from true. In fact, the tourist area of the city is more than 15 minutes away from the train station by bus!

Still, that did not stop me from visiting. After crossing a nearby pedestrian bridge to the main site seeing area of town, I found the ice cream shop: Musashi 100 (translated via google). Located, quite literally, on the opposite side of the Kintai-kyo bridge for those who pay to cross it. With a video of their awesomeness repeating on a tv out front I knew I was witnessing a great establishment after my own heart. Even more hilarious is that there are actually 2 more ice cream shops in the same corner of town, one with about a dozen flavors and one with closer to 50. Of course, Musashi 100 has the only line, and shop owners are screaming for attention to draw people over. How they stay in business, I do not know. Fears of every item being listed in Japanese was quickly averted when the employee working the front handed me an English menu, and overall bliss ensued as I overlooked the options, from vanilla all the way to red pepper.

The amusement only lasted a short bit, as my original plan of trying 10-15 flavors was foiled by the site that Musashi 100 only sells cones! Flavors by scoop are not a huge thing in Japan, as most of the servings of ice cream come either in a cone or ontop of corn flakes in a serving cup. At this point in time I could only help but think that if this was Italy I would be having 5 scoops of different flavors on the same cone, but unfortunately it was not a reality. At 250-400 yen per cone, my dreams of sampling wasabi and habanero were put away for the sake of being thrifty.

I settled for 3 flavors at a cost of 1050 yen total for each in a cone. Those were strawberry daifuku (filled mochi), yuzu (chosen randomly, only to later find out it is a Japanese citrus fruit), and watermelon. Not knowing what daifuku or yuzu was before ordering, I have to say I was very impressed with the flavors and walked around Iwakuni most satisfied with the choices before making the hour plus trek back to Hiroshima. Maybe not worth the $17 or so that was spent for the entire endeavor, but entertaining all the same.

For your entertainment I've photographed the entire selection of ice cream flavors available at Musashi 100 and are shown below. I should note they also have special flavor selections at the store that are not on their standard menu! Enjoy!

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For those serious enough to take the time and money to visit the 100 flavor ice cream shop in Iwakuni, here is how. Take the JR Sanyo line to Iwakuni station (same line as you would take to Miyajima from Hiroshima, about 6 stops further). Grab the bus outside the station to Kintai-kyo Bridge (240 yen each way). Cross the nearby pedestrian bridge and make your way back to the opposite side of Kintai-kyo Bridge. Musashi 100 is on your right at that point. If you are in Iwakuni around the evening time, cormorant fishing is very popular to watch along the river banks as well.

A Day Trip to Miyajima Island and Mount Misen

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremy Jones) — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 10:42:00 +0000

For most travelers, Hiroshima can be divided up into two main sites. Inside the town itself, the major destination is Peace Park, the restored site of the first nuclear bomb explosion during warfare, now dedicated to world peace and the abolishing of nuclear weapons. The bomb was dropped on August 6, 1945, exploding at an altitude of about 1800 feet which virtually destroyed the city in an instant. The most notable feature within the park is the skeletal remains of a large building that survived the initial impact a few hundred feet away from ground zero. The park itself is beautiful (and entirely wifi free), however the history behind it and corresponding museum puts a somber mood on the entire area. The second site requires a quick day trip outside of Hiroshima city, to the island of Miyajima, and brings about a much higher spirit.

If Miyajima's fame can be classified into one attraction, it would be the floating torii gate, whose appearance takes on different tones throughout the day depending on the tide level. In fact, most of the islands shopping and business district is purely built up around the iconic gate and its nearby shrine (300 yen entry for nothing more than a dead center view of the gate. I passed on that one). Although the common advertising scheme of describing the gate as "floating in the water" falls a bit short, it is still quite amazing to see to break the monotony of the standard setup that is common in most of Japan's Shinto shrines.

There is, however, an even more amazing attraction on the tiny island of Miyajima: Mount Misen. As I was told, the top of the mountain provides amazing 360 degree views of the mainland and neighboring islands and is a must see for those visiting the area. A bit frightened by the 1800 yen cable car fee (round trip) I opted for one of the 1.5 to 2 hour long hiking routes to the top. At this point in the thought process, a little voice should have come into play slapping me silly for even thinking it as a viable option. I pressed on, giving myself a large cash prize payable in ice cream at the nearby town of Iwakuni's 100 flavor ice cream store as a reward for a successful climb.

In 35 degree Celsius heat (95 degrees F), 50%+ humidity, I walked. And walked. And walked some more, up some seemingly never endless supply of steps that offered minimal shade from the sun and zero breeze. Shirt completely drenched in sweat, I finally made it to the top in just under an hour and a half, much to my amazement. Before taking in the view, I had to rehydrate, and the overpriced sports drinks and colas set me back a good $5 before I was finally satisfied. The views, however, made it all worth while, and at the very top of the mountain, a breeze finally appeared.

Completely discouraged from hiking anymore for the day, I coughed up 1000 yen to ride the cable car back down in air conditioned style, although the hike to the cable car area was almost nearly as bad after the previous long hike to get there in the first place. I could finally get my ice cream reward, however that fiasco will be featured in an upcoming post, because as I write this, I am still, sadly, ice creamless.

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The video below is a compilation of the views from Mount Misen as seen from the 90 minute hike. Pardon the camera shake when I turn the camera around on myself. The views need to be seen to be understood.

Traveler Spotlight - Freedonia Post Pre-Trip Discussion

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremy Jones) — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 08:58:00 +0000

The traveler spotlight series is intended to highlight a different travel blogger who is living the dream by traveling the world for an extended period of time. Every traveler has different needs that planning websites and individual blogs may not provide. This series will feature responses from bloggers with their personal viewpoints on an array of topics to give a different perspective to some of the main problems that long term travelers may face while pursuing long term travel. Entries in this series will focus on travelers who are planning, currently on, or already finished with their adventure to see how feelings to certain subjects have changed during the course of traveling.

Joel from Fredonia Post worked in resort development and marketing for movie studios in LA prior to leaving on his trip. He was sad to leave but the urge to travel was too great. Of course, when you travel frequently for your job, what else is a better motivator?

I recently got a chance to talk to Joel while he was just beginning his journey around the world. His trip is a bit differently as he has a portable bike with him to accompany most of his travels! He took some time to answer a few questions about his experiences with RTW travel regarding all things in the planning phase.

Where all do you want to go and how long do you think you'll be gone?

Ultimately, I'd like to see a bit of everything, but right now my priorities are Europe and Asia. Because of how visa restrictions work, I'm planning to bounce between the two a bit. I'm really making things up as I go - the trip's already gone in directions I hadn't planned, so I'm open for whatever comes my way. My goal was to travel for a minimum of a year, but if it's going well (and I can start making a few dollars), I'll keep going. I'd estimate two years is likely at this point.

How did you decide upon your route?

I don't really have a route, but I do have some highlights planned. I knew I wanted to see Paris in depth, for example. I also knew that I wanted to go to La Tomatina in Spain and meet up with some other travel bloggers so that was a goal that's coming up soon. Beyond that, I'm finding that I keep stumbling on events that I didn't even know existed. Tall Boat Races in Antwerp, a huge Celtic Festival in Lorient, France - happening upon random stuff like that is what I truly enjoy.

How much did you plan on budgeting?

I knew Europe was going to be expensive so I budgeted quite a bit for that and included contingency money. I'm glad I did because exchange rates with the dollar have taken a turn for the worse over the past 2 months. Costs have risen about 10% just since June for the dollar. Once I get to Asia, I have places to stay in China and Thailand so that'll balance out a bit.

How did you go about saving for that, any special techniques?

Once I decided to do this trip, I just stopped spending money on anything but the necessities. Each and every purchase I considered making, I looked at it and said "do I have to have this to survive?" and "is this something I will need with me while I'm traveling?" The answer to those questions was almost always "no."

I also took advantage of the fact that I had previously been a hoarder. Quite honestly, for six months I didn't need to buy soap, toothpaste, deodorant, toilet paper or even many food items. I just used all the stuff I had accumulated over the years.

What experience are you looking forward to the most in your travels?

Time to write. While I'm inspired and love seeing the world and all its variety, what I'm really enjoying is sitting in a park somewhere I've never been, watching people and writing down ideas for books, stories and scripts I've never had the time to commit to.

Are you going to travel with anyone or meet up with people along the way?

I've got friends in various places around the world, so I'm doing what I can to meet up with them as I travel. In addition to the meet-up we're planning at La Tomatina, I'm also looking to get together with some friends for Oktoberfest in Munich and then hopefully, a traveler's Christmas celebration in Thailand in December (being spearheaded by Pamela MacNaughtan of www.spunkygirlmonologues.com)

How did you inform your job that you are leaving to go travel? Will you return there when you finish the trip?

It was a balancing act for quite a while. I wanted to tell them as early as possible to give them time to find a replacement (not an easy trick for my role), but I didn't want to risk being a "lame duck" executive for too long. So I settled on six weeks' notice. My boss was disappointed, but was also one of the people who was most supportive of WHY I was leaving.

I have NO idea when I'll be returning or what I'll be doing, but my position won't be around for me, most likely.

What inspired you to go off and see the world?

I have no idea where it came from initially. Honestly, I've just always enjoyed travel and never felt I had seen enough of other cultures and other people. To some extent, I credit Twitter for my ultimate decision - that was where I really discovered a community of other people already traveling like this and I realized it could actually be done. Reading travel websites was great, but really interacting with people helped give me that final push.

What kind of travels and durations have you traveled previously?

Quite a bit of business travel to Asia, Dubai and a little to Europe, with trips as long as 3 weeks at a time so I knew what it was like living with the same 5 outfits. For personal travel, I had done several bike tours - through Spain, France, Italy and the California Coast. All of those were with organized groups - not quite the travel without a net that this has been!

Are you traveling on any packaged tours, RTW airfare, or specialty packages while away?

Fortunately, I do have a fair number of frequent flier miles so my initial trip from LAX to London was a freebie. No plans beyond that, though I do plan to continue spending my miles on flights where I have to get on a plane. Riding the bike certainly cuts down on transportation costs (at times - when I don't have to hop a train to get longer distances).

Are you revisiting any destinations you have previously traveled on your journey?

Paris was the main one. I've been there several times, but always for short stays. I really wanted to see the city in-depth, visit places I hadn't on previous trips as well as really take the opportunity to absorb the culture. I participated in local events, went to community film screenings and rented a flat for a couple weeks. It was fantastic to be part of that and not just running from tourist site to tourist site all day.

What are your biggest fears regarding long term travel?

I've always been a planner. Whether it's what I'm doing next month or next year, I had a pretty good idea what I'd be doing. Now, I know nothing. I'm making it up as I go. It's scary as Hell for me, but liberating at the same time. That said, my next career steps will be on my mind eventually, I imagine.

Do you have any personal goals to achieve from the trip?

Okay, I'm going to sound really awful for this, but I really just wanted to NOT WORK for a while. I wanted to get back to my roots and see if I could dig out my youthful aspirations to become a fiction author. Time will tell how that goes, but I'm enjoying the exploration.

Any final comments for those about to head out or are on their trip presently?

Get to know other travelers, whether it's on Twitter, Facebook or whatever outlet you enjoy. There's great advice available, but more importantly there's a wonderful community and support system in place that didn't exist like this 10 years ago.

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Please visit Freedonia Post and see some of Joel's amazing tales from around the world and look out for new updates as he continues his trip of a lifetime! As mentioned before, Joel will be taking part in the During and Post interview sets to give his opinion of world wide travel as his trip continues and experiences occur!

Oscar the Roaming Gnome at Nara, Japan

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremy Jones) — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 14:53:00 +0000

"Wild deer you say?"

Unusual Temples and Big Let Downs in Kyoto, Japan

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremy Jones) — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 14:01:00 +0000

Kyoto is an amazing city, quite possibly my favorite in Japan. It is one of those places you can picture yourself living if you had to move abroad. There is little else that can be said to generalize the place better than that. Although Kyoto has well over a million residents, it is hard to tell except for the southern end of town near JR's Kyoto terminal which has a constant exchange of both locals and tourists alike. Unlike smaller towns in Japan, such as Nagano and Nagoya, the city of Kyoto has the benefit of having large town attractions as well, making it rather unique in the tightly packed country of Japan. However, like all big cities, some of the tourist attractions fall short, especially when compared to other, more unique options that are available. The following is my take on some of the attractions in Kyoto that I have visited in the previous 48 hours.

I must stress that this is my views after two weeks of travel in the country. If Kyoto was the first stop on a trip, the sites may have been perceived differently.

Epic Wins - Not the Usual Sites

Iwatayama Monkey Park - (admission 550 yen) - On the outskirts of the city, the Iwatayama Monkey Park is a welcomed attraction past the normal shrine, temple, castle, and palace route that most tourists see in Japan. A 20 minute ride on the JR line outside the city, and 20+ minute hike later, and you arrive at the top of the mountain which over 150 macaque monkeys call home. Yes, you read that right, 150. While the monkeys are wild and you are not allowed to touch them, they have become relatively used to the site of humans and do not flinch when even just a mere inches away, making for some great photographs. For 100 yen more you can feed them from inside a private feeding area or just watch others do it for the same effect. Although the monkeys are wild, they have learned quite easily that human inside the rest area means feeding, and flock to the fenced windows to get a treat in masses. Bonus points are issued for this spot as being ontop of a mountain on the outskirts of the city means spectacular views overlooking all of Kyoto (and monkeys too!). Quite possibly my favorite spot in the city.

Ryoanji Temple - (admission 500 yen) - Unlike most other temples which take their design purely from Shinto or Buddhist styles, Ryoanji Temple has a little bit extra and is more a complex of sites rather than a standalone temple. Sure, the standard style temple is there, but also a massively beautiful pond and a moderately sized rock garden. The rock garden is purely following Zen teachings and is not impressive as so much for its size (its pretty tiny) but there is something oddly beautiful and calming about it. In a modestly rectangular area, there are thousands of tiny stones that have been raked into a pretty ordinary pattern around about a dozen larger rocks located within the area. The purpose of the garden is to let your mind go while staring at it and makes for a pretty nice relaxation spot on a hot day. Looking into the stones is much like looking into puffy clouds, as random images will start to appear out of nowhere. One note, however, is that the rock garden would not be as special if you've visited others before, so only visit if it is your first time.

Bamboo Forest (no admission) - Just a brief entry into the list of sites in Kyoto that I've visited. The bamboo forest is briefly shown in most maps, however is a great stop over if visiting the Monkey Park as it is in the same area on the outskirts of the city. While difficult to find and only a short walk through the area, it is quite amazing to see 20+ foot tall bamboo shoots in a very thick density in one area. You just don't see that everywhere in the world. At the train stop heading to the monkey park there is an information booth with an enlarged map of the general area, the directions they give will help you find the entry to the walking path fairly easily.

Near Misses - Still Positive Overall

Gion District - (no admission fee) - The only thing that can be said about the Gion area of Kyoto is this: Geishas. If you want to catch a glimpse of the iconic Japanese persona, in full makeup and dress, head to the Gion district in the late afternoon and just wait for a while and see what appears (ask hostel or hotel clerks for the precise street on a map for ease of finding the area). The thing that I forgot to take into account when heading to find the infamous geisha is that every other tourist in the city is coming to see them too. In fact, I met a lady who flew in to Japan for a few days just to see one; although she can fly free due to her son being a pilot and does random things like that, of which I am very jealous. The geisha's were alright to see, even for just a quick glimpse. I was more amused by the 50+ people with large cameras waiting to take their pictures instead, and was a bit disturbed by it being such a large number in a very condensed group. Regardless, the Gion district of Kyoto is a very nice area to walk around, and worth a stop for a quick stroll, geisha or not.

Abysmal Failures - The Usual Sites

Imperial Palace of Kyoto - This actually goes for all Imperial Palaces in Japan. The back story to most of the locations is always interesting and attracts hundreds of tourists per hour, but the sites can be nothing but disappointing. Most are surrounded with parks and gardens that are, well, quite beautiful, but are just about the only thing open to the public without substantial pre-planning and registrations. In fact, both the Tokyo and Kyoto Imperial Palaces are surrounded by such large walls that even catching a glimpse of some of the lavish buildings is almost impossible. After very long walks to get there in the mid-summer heat, the disappointment was just that much higher.

Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Palace) - (admission 400 yen) - Unlike most major cities in Japan, where temples are free to enter, many of the temples of Kyoto are not open to the public. So, in order to make a profit to manage upkeep over time, most of the sites within the city are secluded off and a fee is charged to view the exterior of the buildings. Like the zen rock garden discussed above, the Golden Palace is housed in a large private area with garden, lake, and walking path. Although the palace lives up to its golden name, the general area was not as beautiful as the nearby rock garden (less than 10 minutes walking down the street). In fact, where many sites are not given justice by pictures online, I felt underwhelmed when seeing the palace firsthand. Sure, 400 yen isn't too bad, so I can't complain a whole lot, but after two weeks of temple viewing with Nikko being visited already, it ended up being a bit more of the same.

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Although some of the sites I've been to in Kyoto have been disappointing, the overall ambiance of the city and unusual site seeing offerings have made it far and beyond the best stop I've been to in Japan. Please let me reiterate, Kyoto is an amazing city. While many people visit Kyoto on a day trip from Osaka due to its close proximity (30 minutes by shinkansen bullet train) I highly advise on staying just a bit longer to take in all the city has to offer. However, if you have been in Japan for a few weeks prior to visiting the city, it would be best to take a second opinion on the sites you wish to visit. Things will tend to blur otherwise.

Shabu Shabu Feast in Nagoya - Worth Every Penny

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremy Jones) — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 09:34:00 +0000

Shabu Shabu is a Japanese style of cooking in which thin slices of meat, often beef or pork, is quickly cooked in a boiling broth. In a similar cooking style, vegetables and noodles are cooked in boiling water and combined in various combination of meat, vegetables, and sauces for a delicious medley of food. An employee at the hostel that I stayed at in Nagoya, Japan suggested I try out this Japanese cooking style at the nearby AEON shopping center. The selling point? 1570 yen (~$18) for all you can eat and drink in a 70 minute period. While I've been trying to keep meals below the 1000 yen mark, with sushi being the main exception, I had to give it a shot.

The AEON shopping center in Nagoya is hard to describe. With four floors and a great shopping space, the building contains not only three floors of mall style shops, a floor dedicated entirely to upscale restaurants, a grocery store that rivals the size of most Walmarts, and a decently sized arcade/casino/pachinko hall as well. One could easily be lost in the store for hours if they liked shopping. Thankfully, I don't, and I was on a mission for the food.

Not knowing what I was getting myself in to, I headed into a restaurant that appeared to offer the all you can eat option I was looking for. Of course, no employee spoke English, and my poor Japanese abilities was not enough to get a clear answer. With luck, it was the right spot. The rules were explained in a pretty clear manner, I had free reign of the restaurant for 70 minutes, and plates of meat would be brought out two at a time until I said stop or time ran out, whichever came first.

The options for shabu shabu are quite fantastic. On the veggie and noodle side there were thick and thin udon noodles, as well as multiple other noodle varieties I am unfamiliar with. Onions, mushrooms, bean sprouts, and at least a dozen other vegetables were available for choosing. So being a good little eater I had a little bit of everything. By the time I returned to my seat two of the most gorgeous plates of raw meat were waiting, as well as a pot of boiling liquid, half water, half my chosen broth.

The meat cooks near instantly, and the large marbled beef was clearly my favorite over the pork slices. Not to avoid losing any of the time limit I began the gorge session ala Man Vs Food, and ended up having

meat overload before the time period ended. That is not to say I failed miserably, I managed to consume for 50 out of the 70 allotted minutes, and did quite well in the process. For those who are interested in my gastronomical tally, it is below:

1 large plates of vegetables

3 1/2 plates of beef

2 plates of pork

3 small coca colas

1 bowl of vanilla ice cream

I think Adam Richman would be proud of my tally, but in this battle of Man Vs Food, food has the ultimate advantage and beat me in the overall time limit. One thing I can say for sure, the 15 minute walk back to the hostel was much more difficult than heading to dinner. Mmmm.

Nagano Olympic Stadiums - Saved From Ruin

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremy Jones) — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 08:02:00 +0000

Olympic stadiums have a notoriety for falling out of use within the years immediately following their brief existence during the world wide games. Years of planning, hundreds of millions of dollars spent (often with great contribution from tax payer funds), and the grandest of stadiums are only for a small period after their brief two weeks of fame. While it is necessary for cities to have a plan for stadium sustainability after the games, the years have not been kind to a vast majority of the establishments around the world. I am happy to say that from what I can see, the stadiums built for Nagano's 1998 Winter Games do not fall into this classification.

I cannot say that Nagano is an ideal tourist destination for Japan. There is hardly anything to do here at all outside of the beautiful grounds of Zenkoji temple. I wouldn't have even come if it weren't for the fact that a friend from high school has been teaching English in a nearby town for the past year. Having explored the temple in the better part of an hour, she suggested we travel out to visit the Olympic stadiums and see how they are holding up 12 years after their first use. About four stops along the local JR line, and a 30 minute walk later, we arrived at the stadium used for the opening ceremonies for the game.

The stadium built for the opening ceremonies suffers from the same condition most of the buildings of the time period did. Entirely built of concrete with a semi-artistic design, the building just comes off as ugly with the years passing their use. Luckily it is not desolate, as local baseball teams have used the stadium as a place to play. A brief walk around even let on to a small water and floral display around the remains of the Olympic torched, enshrined for the ages in a simplistic beauty that the stadium is just simply lacking.

Worth the distance to get there? Hardly. But for an afternoon trip in Nagano with an old friend it was a great chance to catch up. During the course of the conversation, my friend went on to tell me that the figure skating rink, The M-Wave, is still standing close to the main town of Nagano and also still in full use and even that world class figure skating shows take place there in the winter time. Something most impressive for a town that is not the largest or most centrally located in the country. While not as lavish as the Bird's Nest or Water Cube in Beijing, it does make me happy in just the slightest that the over the top show that is the Olympics did not seem to fail the beautiful mountain town of Nagano, Japan.

Traveler Spotlight - Travels of Adam Mid-Trip Discussion

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremy Jones) — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 12:00:00 +0000

How is your budget holding up? Did you do anything major to go against your original plan?

Hmm... well, Spain was actually cheaper than I was expecting—even though I stayed there longer than I was planning to. Morocco was right about on target. And Egypt turned out more expensive than I'd hoped. Now that I'm staying put in Israel, I can try and save some cash for the next leg of the journey—even though that should take me to even cheaper places.

What style transportation and accommodations are you currently staying in?

I've tried to avoid taking flights when possible. Sure, they're usually cheaper, but their is a big environmental cost I'm trying to remain aware of. So far I've only had 2 flights and covered 5 countries. Mostly I've been staying in hostels, with the occasional CouchSurfing host. In Tel Aviv, I got my own room in a downtown flat (only 15 minutes walk to the beach, too)!

What has been your favorite experience so far?

That's hard to say because there have been so many! I've met some incredible people (a lot of other travelers) and have had a lot of fun. I really enjoyed my week in Dahab (on the Egyptian Sinai peninsula) where I met a lot of other backpackers and just got to lounge around a bit—not to mention a sunrise climb over Mt. Sinai. I ended up traveling with a good group of friends from Dahab for over a week afterwards, too.

Outside of backpacking experiences, I'm actually rather excited about my internship here in Tel Aviv. The organization (The Geneva Initiative) is trying to promote a 2-state solution peace plan and gather some international support. It's a worthy cause and I hope I can make a bit of a difference in the short time that I've got.

What was the most difficult challenge you've faced since going abroad?

Most difficult? No clue. But I will say this: there have definitely been days when traveling has been HARD. And I mean really, really hard. But even while I was having those difficult days, I realized it wasn't actually so bad as it seemed. I knew I had to get through it, so I did.

I actually found it pretty challenging to leave my first country and move on to the next. I was going from Spain to Morocco; Europe to Africa. In my mind, it was this big hurdle to pass and I didn't know what to expect. Traveling in Spain is rather easy and I was worried about traveling in Morocco. You hear stories. You don't know what to expect. But once I got there and got used to things, it was actually rather easy. And enjoyable! Just a mental hurdle I had to cross.

Did you travel with any new friends for an extended period of time on the road?

Yes! Dahab, Egypt seemingly caters as a rest stop for backpackers. Traveling in mainland Egypt along the Nile can be difficult with all the haggling (you know this! --Jeremy comment: so true---) so Dahab is a nice vacation from that. It's also on the shore and has some of the most beautiful diving & snorkeling spots in the world. So while there I met a lot of different people and we were all generally headed in the same direction. Some of us went together to Petra, Jordan and others I ended seeing again in Jerusalem & Tel Aviv. It didn't entirely feel like a backpacker circuit, but I guess it was. And I had a lot of fun!

Any side trips aside from your planned route?

I didn't plan my travels through Spain hardly at all until I arrived. Didn't even know where I was going to stay my first night on the road until about an hour before my plane took off. So pretty much all of that was a surprise. Other than that, I'm still relatively on track though I skimped on my time in Jordan and missed some of the sights there.

Have you found any travel specials (cheap airfare, packaged tours, hostel specials) that made you change your plans specifically?

As far as travel specials, not so much. But when I found a really good city or really incredible hostel, I ended up staying in those places longer than planned. That happened to me in Valencia, Marrakech, Dahab & Jerusalem. Good places and good people—why would you leave?

How have you found blogging on the road to be?

Blogging on the road is great! Though difficult. Especially when you're traveling with a buddy or two. When you're alone, it's rather easy to update and post. And you get some great tips and feedback on Twitter and other social networks as well. It's also been great for meeting up with people. I've met...uh... at least 5 or 6 other travel bloggers on the road already. Finding internet is fine—so long as you make it a priority.

Do you contact home regularly, and what is your favorite method of conversation?

I didn't start using Skype until several weeks into my trip. And even then I was just using credits. Since then, I've bought an unlimited Skype plan and try to call home about once a week. Though it's more difficult when you're traveling to a new place every day.

Have you gotten sick on the road yet, what was it, and how did you recover?

Yep. It was a pretty stressful day, actually. I had taken a 3-hour bus from Cadiz, Spain to Gibraltar. I was just doing a day trip there, so I had a bus ticket back in the early evening. I got lost coming down Gibraltar rock and ended up climbing through some brush. By the time I got down to the city (and stopped at a place to get a beer), I noticed my eye was beginning to itch. A good 10 minutes later and my eyeball had puffed out to the size of a tennis ball. It was disgusting and I didn't know what to do, so quickly found a pharmacy. (And, of course, my bus—the last of the day—was leaving in under an hour.) The pharmacy thought my eye looked too severe to give me any meds, so told me I'd have to see a doctor. But there was no time! So I just sucked it up and got on my bus (hiding my hideous face) and waited until I got back to Cadiz to go to a doctor. It was only pinkeye, but I was annoyed.

There have been other days where I just didn't feel too well (whether from a hangover or just not paying attention to veggies & my general health) so I took it easy. You need those days.

Would you change anything that you have done so far, including adding a destination you skipped, or skipping a destination you visited?

There are a million destinations I wish I hadn't skipped! I should've stayed in Granada, Spain longer, or tried to figure out a way of getting cheaply to Tunisia. Shouldn't have missed a desert trek in the Sahara—I know, right? How on earth did I skip that?! I should have gotten to Wadi Musa and Amman in Jordan. But, alas, these places will still be there. And, mostly, they're countries I have every intention of getting back to if the opportunity presents itself.

What is your best advice for those who are about to go out on the road?

Just go! It's not as difficult as people may think. Also, don't worry too much about what to pack or where to go or what to do—you'll figure it out as you go. Because there's no other option!

Any other comments?

Blogging isn't for everyone—but it's incredibly useful. I've gotten some of the best travel tips just by putting out a query on Twitter. Or people seeing where I am and offering up advice. That's probably been the best part about having a travel blog—the instant network of other travelers. And don't be afraid to say hello!

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Please visit Travels of Adam and see some of his amazing tales from around the world and look out for new updates as he finishes his trip of a lifetime! Adam is also a big Twitter user and holds up great conversation so give him a follow! Once Adam has finished his trip, he will also be taking part in another edition of the Traveler Spotlight to answer some post-trip questions!

The next entry in the Traveler Spotlight will feature Joel from Freedonia Post who just recently left for his trip around the world. Having just started, Joel will be featured in all three question sets (Before, During, and Post travels). The next entry into the Traveler Spotlight is coming next week!

Oscar the Roaming Gnome at Nikko, Japan

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremy Jones) — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 21:00:00 +0000

"So who wants to go through the scary gate?"

Beat the Crowds - Nikko Shrines Best in Morning

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremy Jones) — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 23:39:00 +0000

For most, the city of Nikko is done as a day trip from Tokyo to see the three most famous shrines and temples in the region. The 90 minute train ride, and relatively affordable ticket prices, has made it a great destination for those on limited time. Having read a lot about the city and its tourist offerings, I decided to stay for 3 nights in hopes of exploring the region in greater depth. I could go on about that, and will in a future post, but really the best reason to stay in Nikko, at least one night, is to avoid the crowds at the temples.

With an hour and a half train ride separating 90%+ of the daily visitors from the temple, those who are in the city have near private access to the sites in the early morning hours, something I took advantage of while in Nikko. Opening at 8am, the 1000 Yen combination ticket gives you access to five sites within the park including the Rinnoji Temple and Toshogu Shrine, home of the see no evil, speak no evil, hear no evil monkeys. An additional 520 Yen allows you to visit the tomb of Ieyasu, for which the Toshogu Shrine (and the rest of Nikko) was built in 1634.

Bright and early, I made the 20 minute walk from town to the shrines and was the very first, and only, person present to buy the combination ticket. The mood was enhanced by the fact that the entire town of Nikko, shrines included, was covered with a dense fog that limited visibility significantly. Not good for hiking, but great for pictures and ambiance. Missing the entrance to the Rinnoji Shrine, I hit Toshogu first surrounded by less than 10 other visitors allowing for almost private viewings of the monkey carvings and one on one time with some of the most beautiful shrines in Japan.

The shrines are ornate, ostentatious, incredibly expensive. Use the words that you like, they are endowed with more gold leaf than anything I have ever seen. Still, beyond the next corner is another amazing site to be seen. While Toshogu is the most lavish of all, the Futarasan Shrine comes in a close second and uses the areas hilly scenery to its advantage to be a peaceful and beautiful area.

While most visitors come to see the biggest shrines, there is another smaller shrine set way off in the hills, about a 30 minute hike away, called Takino. Adjacent to a waterfall, the hike to the shrine was absolutely desolate. If it weren't for the fact that there is a parking lot nearby, I would have been completely alone as I was the entire hike. With everything in site covered in moss, it is hard to believe the shrine gets any visitors at all, and the five total visitors while I was there is a testament to that

After three hours of exploring the sites, with the last hour hiking to Takino Shrine and many smaller ones along the way, I made my way back to the main shrine of Rinnoji for my last viewing before calling it a day at the early hour of 11am. Upon making it back to the park entrance, I was greeted with the site I managed to avoid all day. The crowds had arrived. I walked away smiling as the crowds grew. The fog had lifted, and the shrines were ready for their audience.

Nikko Park Lodge Video Tour - Nikko, Japan

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremy Jones) — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 07:25:00 +0000

I just got to Nikko a little under a few hours ago and was greeted with something a little unexpected. Without having plans for the evening and a short burst of rain keeping me from exploring in greater detail, I decided to stay in the hostel for a few hours to catch up on some emails and blog post writing. What was unexpected? Well, the hostel itself! I'm currently staying at the Nikko Park Lodge (Tobu Station Location) in Nikko, Japan located just a few minutes walk from the train station, and about 30 minutes walking from the main temples and shrines.

After reading about the area in many online sites, I decided to stay a few nights rather than taking a day trip from Tokyo which is the most common thing for visitors to do. Staying in Nikko allows for being able to access the shrines early in the morning before the major tourist rush comes in from multiple large buses and the cycling train throughout the day. In addition, there are many onsens, mountains, waterfalls, and an abundance of beautiful scenery in the nearby area which, of course, is only accessible by staying in the town overnight.

Being a small town, there are limited choices for the budget conscious, and only booking 2 days in advance left me with one choice on hostelworld that had availability for 2900 yen per night (~$35 USD) for an 8 person dorm. Expensive compared to other hostels I've stayed in, but relatively affordable for Nikko standards, with the cheapest hostel being around 2700 yen per night. What is included in this cost and why am I so surprised by it? Well watch the video tour to find out!

Booking Engine Coupons - Unknown Money Saver

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremy Jones) — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 06:02:00 +0000

When you think of booking engines like Orbitz, Expedia, and Kayak, you tend to think that they are setup in such a way to maximize the best deal that you can get. In a previous post, I showed how this is not the case for Kayak, which misses some possible cheaper connections for the sake of convenience. With a little hardship, long international flights can be had hundreds of dollars cheaper than the advertised price. On the same line, Orbitz and Expedia are no different, and for those who take the time to look, many coupons are available on the internet.

Many Orbitz coupons and Expedia coupons are setup on sites in such a way that each various discount is listed in its own unique section. A quick scroll through each allows for a fast appreciation of the many discounts that are available, as well as an easy way to seek out some of the ones that may be applicable to your trip. Discounts are not just limited to airline bookings, but can apply to hotels, rental cars, or even vacation packages for massive savings.

There are two minor downsides to this coupon approach that, while minor, may cause a bit of annoyance. First, many coupon codes have rolling expiration dates, which are set to expire relatively close to the date that they were put up. Purchases in these categories are designed to be done quickly. Secondly, coupons may not work for all people depending on situation and validity of the coupon. This could be because it is a false coupon submitted by a prankster (removed quickly) or that the coupon is not applicable to your specific choice.

Luckily these two setbacks are a minor inconvenience because there are several coupon codes that are valid for similar purchases that can work when investigated far enough. I've used many of these sites in my own personal use for non-travel related products and have received many discounts and free shipping deals after a simple google search. So check out some Expedia coupons and Orbitz coupons and save some money to help travel longer!

Shibuya Crossing - The Masses Are Amazing!

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremy Jones) — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 07:42:00 +0000

My favorite spot in all of Tokyo is not one that you would normally think of. No, it is not a large shrine or one of the dozen of multistory electronic shopping centers; although the Sony store is quite amazing in its own right. While it is considered a tourist attraction, the place is also practical for tens of thousands of people every day. That is the world famous Shibuya scramble crossing, one of the world's largest cross walks.

The district of Shibuya is one of Tokyo's more famous regions, with the popular Meiji Shrine nearby as well as neon signs in just about every place imaginable. With one of the busiest subway lines in Japan, the mass entrance and exit of people produces the biggest crossing I have ever, and probably will ever see. Estimates for how many people cross during each exchange is disputed, but I would not be surprised if it broke 1,000 every crossing (~500/minute average).

For those who are not aware of the concept, a scramble crossing is one where the entire intersection opens up for pedestrians to cross, and traffic comes to a complete halt. The Shibuya crossing is famous as thousands of people cross within minutes, all day, everyday: morning, noon, and night. It is a little intimidating to see for the first time. In any given direction there is a wall of people 50 people wide, with hundreds of others hiding behind them. Then the cross light turns green and they head towards you, with you doing the same. Not just one direction, or two, but several. Each time there are dozens of people taking pictures, filming various angles, or even weaving in and out with a soccer ball as I hilariously caught during my first crossing.

You may think that the crossing will end once you make it over, but the walk light stays green for approximately 60 seconds; long enough to walk the entire cross in at least 3 different directions. A full minute still isn't long enough to have everyone cross, as last minute stragglers are always found to be running while cars are attempting to make it past. It makes people watching at the airport or in the Tokyo subway station look like child's play by comparison.

I can only imagine what the locals think of all the tourists in the way taking pictures while going about their business. As a visitor, the quantity of people is exciting, but having to navigate the masses twice a day would become tiring very, very quickly if done every day. I've only been in Tokyo 3 1/2 days, and I'm already wanting to get away from the crowds.

Still not convinced? Check out this video of one crossing in it's entirety:

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For those heading to Tokyo and want to check out the Shibuya Crossing, check it out from the 2nd floor Starbucks (one of the worlds most busiest) overlooking the chaos. Although I did not go inside due to a personal vendetta against the corporate giant, the view from there, I am told, is amazing.

Japan First Impressions - Organized Chaos

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremy Jones) — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 23:02:00 +0000

It is always a bit presumptuous to make impressions of a country after only seeing a small slice of one city. This is true especially when that city is a capital city, which often operates far differently than the countries more remote regions. Still, even with just a few days in Tokyo, a few first impressions have been made and has been a recurring trend of my first two and a half days in the city and likely to be repeated in the next three and a half weeks in Japan.

Incredibly High Population Density

Japan has always been said to have one of the highest concentrations of people per available land area. In fact, it is in the top 10 of all the countries in the world at 337 perons per square kilometer compared to 32 per square kilometer in the USA, ranking near the bottom. This high concentration of people, especially in Tokyo, has illustrated one fact very quickly: it is packed. Very packed. So packed that 90% of the time there is zero room on the subway, and the main underground stations are like mini-cities of themselves, taking over 15 minutes to walk across, and containing full shopping malls, food courts, as well as other services.

While getting out to smaller towns will help alleviate this problem, and Tokyo being on the extreme side of huge population densities, it is likely to be a recurring theme throughout the country. As one who does not like big cities, it has been daunting to figure out how to navigate the tight confines of the underground trains, as well as figure out where the heck you are relative to.. well, just about anything.

Old Meets New - Look Below the Surface

Tokyo reminds me of Cairo. The population densities are huge, highways are wide, and there is a general feeling that the city itself just doesn't ever quit. Most buildings, especially residential, appear to be old and dated on the outside much like Cairo. However, unlike the Egyptian capital, Tokyo hides an ultra modern interior for those willing to find it beneath the surface. This was first presented to me while exploring the Shinjuku District of Tokyo, which to many is about one thing: electronics. Not just any electronics, hundreds of gadgets that wont be State side for years, all for reasonable prices.

The outside of the buildings do not give the district justice. Sure, the old buildings are decorated with Neon and advertising on any space possible, but the insides really shock the senses. For underneath the appearance of an old building, lies a 9 floor shopping mall of all things electronic. Not only this, there are multiple of these style buildings on the same street. Of course, like most of Tokyo, right next door is a random shrine, offering an odd juxtaposition of old meeting new.

Itadakimasu - Please Serve More!

Food lovers dream anyone? Two days in Tokyo has already introduced me to a brief, but all encompassing cross section of Japanese cuisine. Hiroshima style Okonamiyaki? Tried it, loved it. Osakan style Takoyaki? Yep, delicious. The list goes on and on. Traditional style seating is available at full establishments, or you can do like the masses do with street vendors, eat around back on children's stools and small tables in the blistering summer heat.

I was initially prepared to be shocked at the price of food, hearing horror stories about ridiculously expensive meals. Figuring Tokyo would be the most expensive, I was pleasantly surprised to find that I was only spending around $8-$10 per meal for a medium sized portion that included meat and a beverage (often water). Sure, its not a feast for $4 like I'm expecting in Thailand, but a full meal for under 1000 yen is a win in my book. If only the rest of Japan can follow this trend.

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While not all of my first impressions are very pleasant, I am rather pleased with how Japan has been treating me so far. I am hoping that the crowds will thin out some in the other cities I am visiting, but my instinct is telling me that this is not going to be the case. Luckily I can spend that time when I'm crammed like a sardine in a train car day dreaming about playing with some new electronic gadget or eating another okonamiyaki.

How I Managed to Stay Sane on a 12+ Hour Flight

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremy Jones) — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 09:44:00 +0000

I finally arrived to my first destination: Tokyo, Japan and was met with little resistance in the process. Sure, figuring out the train system with the jumbo Japanese text and microscopic English text was a bit difficult when wearing only out of date prescription glasses (over my normally preferred contact lenses). But I ended up making it to my hostel with only a few minutes lost in the process. The biggest issue of the whole trip was mental rather than physical: spending 12 hours on a plane.

I've traveled for more than half a day before, when returning from the Middle East the direct flight from Amman, Jordan to New York City was over 12 hours as well, so I am all to familiar with the discomfort of the tiny airline seats for extended periods of time. This time, however, I thought it would be fun to document the major events from a 12 hour flight as something to help pass the time a bit. Below is the chronological time period of events covering my 12+ hour flight, normalized to zero at the moment I boarded the plane.

+0.00 hours: Boarded plane and took seat, 41C, in a Boeing 777 aircraft. The back four rows, beginning at 41, have one less seat in the middle aisle meaning extra leg room. Wasn't expecting bulk head style arm rests that couldn't raise up. Situated self three different times to get comfortable and played with tv screen.

+0.50 hours: Preparing for departure, the plane is taxing off. Stupid announcements keep interrupting my video feed. Raaa. Videos for the day include Shrek Part 80, Iron Man 2, and a random assortment of Japanese videos dubbed in English. First movie, Iron Man 2

+0.70 hours: Lift off! Pilot announces that expected duration is to be 12 hours and 2 minutes. Oh joy. Off come the shoes and seat in the reclined position.

+1.00 hours: Flight attendants bring around a hot towel. This is the life. I hope Steven Slater is not on the flight. Kind of. Actually.. I hope he is.

+1.40 hours: Drink and snack comes around. Asked flight attendant about the meals and was told there will be 3! Holy cow. In other news, someone turned the air conditioning on the plane to Arctic, and I'm freezing.

+2.20 hours: First lunch is served. Choices between curry chicken and mushroom beef. Curry chicken it is. Even served with a side of a little sushi! Vietnamese woman is pissed off because she didn't get a vegetarian option

+2.75 hours: Finished Iron Man 2, not as bad as I remember it being. Started Shrek part 2,750,034

+2.80 hours: Passed out

+3.20 hours: Woke up and turned Shrek Off. Trying Date Night instead. I remember liking that one

+4.95 hours: Date Night Finished and as good as I remember it being. Mostly played with iPod to learn some Japanese language quickly before landing. Started to choke through Shrek. Roast Beef sandwich for a snack? What is the world coming to.

+6.50 hours: Shrek is over, and makes me want to rip my eye balls out. Started Japanese documentary about current events

+6.55 hours: Passed out

+7.00 hours: Woke up and put on a Japanese movie about a magician and mystics. Not what I thought it would be.. another nap is coming!

+10.10 hours: Movie is over. Slept through half of it and was disappointed by the ending. Why can't there be good movies on planes anymore? More so, why can't there be good movies? 2 1/2 hours to go until landing!

+11 hours: Massive turbulence. The plane is getting thrown all over the place and I am not feeling it very well.

+11.90 hours: Dinner is served. Cheese pizza or Chicken and rice? Cheese pizza it is, and I got the last one on the whole plane. Suckers.

+11.95 hours: Maybe I should've had the Chicken and rice.

+12.90 hours: Landing at Tokyo Narita Airport!

The preceding was one tale of survival in the economy class of a twelve hour flight across the world. Hopefully my boredom resulted in some amusement! A later post will outline my top ways to stay sane on an international flight regardless of your available options! But enough about that, I'm in Japan! The next post will begin the around the world adventure!

Off to the Unkown

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremy Jones) — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 10:45:00 +0000

"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I --
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference."

-Robert Frost

As of 6:45am EDT, August 14, 2010, after two years of planning, I am officially off on a trip around the world.

See you in the Land of the Rising Sun!

First stop: Tokyo

1 Day to Go - Final Farewells

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremy Jones) — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 12:41:00 +0000

1 Day To Go...

In under 24 hours I will be on a 12 1/2 hour flight to Tokyo, Japan for my first stop on my journey. The weather forecast? Rain. Rain every single day I'm in Tokyo. While it is only a 30-40% chance, which essentially means it might rain for 10 minutes, it is only fitting as it is a bit of a somber mood to leave everyone I know behind, including the love of my life who is being beyond amazing to let me go do what I'm about to do. Still, having never lived outside of the Dayton area except for a few months on a summer internship a mere two hours away; and my longest vacation prior to this being 3 1/2 weeks, saying goodbye is a little difficult.

I'm not much of a party guy, nor am I one to go through life while being out in the forefront craving attention. So instead of doing the whole party scene that some do before leaving on an adventure, full of booze and interesting stories, I kept my departure pretty low key. Sure, everyone knew I was leaving, but I never met up with a huge group to go out with a bang. While this was due to scheduling conflicts, I'm not sure I'd do it any other way.

In total, I met with about about 10 close friends, family, and former co-workers over the course of the last month. Of course, each chosen meeting spot was nothing more than a restaurant or mini-golf, with some quiet time to catch up. It made me realize that, with the exception of former co-workers, I haven't even seen a few of the friends for almost nearly as long as I would have been gone for anyway. One married couple, a friend going to school out of town, another who is married. They all have lives of their own, and have had limited interactions in the previous months. We've stayed connected through AIM and Facebook thanks to the power of the internet, and I realized everything is going to be just fine.

I'm spending the final day stuck at the hip with my girlfriend, whom I am going to miss terribly every single day. We didn't start dating until I had already been planning the trip for almost a year (and we've been dating for a year and a half since, yes I've been planning *that* long). I'm hoping to keep discussion of the trip down to a minimum in the final hours and just enjoy the time we have, as I won't be seeing her outside of Skype until she flies into Singapore on December 27th at 11:59pm. And yes I'm counting down. Still, a few errands here and there that need to get done are going to be a constant reminder that yes, I am leaving in under 24 hours.

Am I excited? Certainly! Am I depressed? Also true. Either way, I'm headed off to Tokyo in the morning, and it should be an interesting time indeed.

2 Days to Go - Heading Out Check List

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremy Jones) — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 14:36:00 +0000

2 Days To Go...

With two days left to go, there is hardly much left to say for the planning phase of an around the world trip. My money is squared away, banks are alerted, bag is packed, and first hostel is booked. There are just a few final things that should be rechecked before heading out, and I am spending the better part of the day doing today:

Confirm Airline Reservations (check in within 24 hours of departure)
Have All Documents Printed
Get Directions to Hostel
Recheck Credit Cards for Travel Confirmation
Recheck Packing List for Missing Items
Purchase Missing Items (Razor..d'oh)
Visit Final Friends and Family Members
Relax
Freak Out
Relax
Chipotle... Sweet, Sweet Chipotle
Freak Out Again
Clean Camera Sensor
Work Out a Few More Times (30lbs of gear is heavy)
Hang Out With Girlfriend As Much As Possible

So I'll be chugging through this list for the better part of the day until my girlfriend gets here around 9:30, then all trip details come to a halt. I better get moving then!

We are less than 48 hours away from the adventure!

3 Days to Go - RTW Packing List

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremy Jones) — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 17:39:00 +0000

3 Days To Go...

How do you pack for a year on the road? That is quite simple: you don't. However, if you pack the same as if you would for 2-3 weeks on the road, and expect to re-wear clothes along the way, the packing experience isn't all that bad. Just expect to do 15-25 loads of laundry along the way, either on the cheap (sink) or luxury (washer/dryer).

Taking a step back, packing is not only limited by the amount of clothing that you are wanting to take with you. It is also limited to what you are able to fit within your pack under three notable conditions that need to be kept in mind:

1) Airplane weight limits - 20kg for most budget carriers often has the lowest fees
2) Comfort level - 20kg is way heavier than you'd like to carry
3) Available space - souvenirs build up quickly, clothes expand over time, and space (comparable to weight) is a valuable commodity.

There is a general rule of thumb that I've come across that is along the lines of 'pack your bag, empty it, cut it in half, and cut in half again.' I feel like this rule is good only for first time travelers, so unless your RTW trip is your first time abroad for more than a week, it is unlikely that would apply to you. That is, unless you want to do laundry every other day, which some people do.

I'm an overpacker, always have, and always will be. But many trips abroad have made me realize what items of clothing I need in abundance, and what items I can do less of. Generally, socks are good, long pants and shoes are bad. My recent purchase of compression packing cubes has also allowed me to impose a new limit to myself. If it doesn't fit, it doesn't go. One for shirts, one for pants. Period. The rule of thumb works out well. All items of clothing counted below include whatever I wear out the door as well as what is packed. But then again, it could be also that I am packing for one climate only, and only need warm clothes for the majority of the journey. Anything else will be purchased along the way.

Checked Duffel:

10 T-Shirts

3 Over Shirts

4 Pair Shorts

1 Long Pants

1 Night Pants

2 Swim Trunks

1 Fedora (Indiana Jones Style)

10 Pair Socks

Belt

1 copy of Information

Toiletries

Flip Flops

Chain Lock/Luggage Locks

Travel Towel

Sink Stopper

Clothes Line

Alarm Clock

Digital Luggage Scale

Carry-On:

1 copy of Information

Passport

Scuba Dive Log

Ipod Charger (AC and Computer)

Ipod Touch w/Ear Buds

Glasses

Camera Chargers and Batterys

Netbook

Netbook Charger

Mouse

Nikon D80 SLR

18-55mm and 55-200 mm VR Lenses

Olympus 1030SW Point and Shoot

Camera USB Cords

External Hard Drive

External Hard Drive Cables (AC and Computer)

Floating Strap for P&S

SLR Cleaning Kit

Memory Cards

Remote Control for SLR

Replacement Parts for SLR (lost some in Egypt)

Flip HD Camcorder

Tripods (X2 Large & Small)

Umbrella

Journal w/pens

Sunglasses

Oscar the Roaming Gnome

Travel Pillow

Money Belt

Playing Cards

Business Cards

Passport Photos

Power Adapters

Toiletries:

Toothbrush Brush & Paste

Deodorant

Face and Body Soap

Razor

Shampoo

Q-Tips

Nail Clippers

Tweezers

Claritin

Sunscreen

Lip Balm

Bandaids

Hand Sanitizer

Immodium

Contact Case & Solution

6 Boxes Contacts

Orajel
Dramamine
Bug Spray (with 15% DEET)
Floss

In the case of toiletries, many of the items are full sized. While there is an argument on whether or not taking full sized items on a trip abroad is worth while, I am lazy and do not want to go shopping for small toiletries every few weeks. Hopefully this will last at least for the first part of the trip. Weighing on my digital scale showed that the grand total is around 14kg for the checked bad. Not bad. My pack weighed less when traveling to Egypt, however using a bigger bag and larger toiletries increased the weight.

Once I return I will be posting an update to discuss how the packing list treated me and what I would do differently, as well as what my return weight is.

4 Days to Go - Updated Spreadsheets

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremy Jones) — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 12:45:00 +0000

4 Days To Go..

I am in the process of driving home from Pittsburgh today after spending a wonderful 3 weeks with my amazing girlfriend. She will be back in Dayton to say goodbye this weekend, but it was heart wrenching either way. Once I get home I'll be out shopping for last minute items for the trip, so this post will be short and sweet for lack of time for a proper topic. The topic of this post? The budget and spending spreadsheets have been overhauled!

Until now, the budget spreadsheet has been focused on spending calculations and projections for each country (under the title of 'Budget Spreadsheet' in the 'Budget' drop down menu). For better clarification, the spreadsheets have now been separated and updated into two categories for your ease of reading: Planning and Spending.

The planning spreadsheet is similar to the spreadsheet that was available in the preceding months of this project. My research and projections for all things such as visa costs, my personal savings, airfare, city-city transport, and hostels are all outlined on this spreadsheet and will no longer be updated after this post. All things considered, once I depart, the research phase is finished. Some values are actual costs of items I purchased pre-trip (and are noted) the rest are just projections based on online research for what things *might* cost.

The second spreadsheet is dedicated entirely to spending. In the first iteration of the savings spreadsheets, one worksheet was dedicated to tally items that were purchased pre-trip. This new iteration of the spreadsheet is more elaborate and has a breakdown of pre-trip, post-trip, as well as a worksheet for each country. Under each country, the daily breakdown of spending will be updated for such things as inner city transport, city-city transport, food, attractions, hostel, souvenirs, and more! Each day will be summed and compared to my overall budget and projection estimates. Once a country has been completed, overall estimates will be presented at the bottom of each worksheet to give an accurate daily spending account for someone traveling on my standard of living.

Separating out the spreadsheets should help give a better glimpse at the differences in pre-trip estimates to live, daily trip spending without having dozens of worksheets in a single spreadsheet. Of course, a full analysis will be done when I return for the actual cost of traveling over a substantial period of time.

I've also setup a blank spreadsheet to track daily spending for those who are interested in monitoring their expenses while abroad if on a fixed budget.

Quick Links: Planning Spreadsheet. Spending Spreadsheet. Blank Spreadsheet.

---------------------------

Have something you want me to track on the RTW trip? Please comment below and let your idea be heard! Spending and other major travel items will be counted on the RTW Tally on the side bar, so check it out!

5 Days to Go - Final Budget and Route Comments

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremy Jones) — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 12:53:00 +0000

5 Days To Go...

With 5 days to go before departing for adventure, my budget and planned itinerary is pretty much solid. While I may have been a little short of my $25,000 goal heading out, I am very close. I've spent the last few days re-evaluating my savings and have come up with some surprising numbers. Those numbers are $3,852; $17,250; and $3000. What do those mean? Well, read on.

It is hard to believe it, but between plane tickets, vaccinations, visas, electronics, rail passes, and other spending that I have spent a whopping $3,852 and haven't even left home yet (plus $400 of bookings that are paid upon arrival). To put that in perspective, I spent slightly higher than this for my entire trip to Egypt and Jordan last year when completed (final number was $4,142 +/-). Let me reiterate that, I spent the same amount of money on a 21 day trip that I have spent prior to even leaving for the around the world trip. Wow.

The second number of $17,250 is approximately what I have available to me in cash and stock equivalent at last check. I have roughly 2/3 of my money available to me invested in the stock market presently, and will be selling along the way to help fund my trip. It may go up, stay the same, or even go down. I'm hoping for a pleasant surprise and have more money when the time comes to remove it.

The final number, $3000, is my estimate of income that I have yet to receive from sources such as travel referalls to tour companies, next years income tax return (big chunk), and other ventures not yet collected. Compared to the other two values, this number is just an estimate. I can say for certain that $2,500 of that will come in by the time I am on the road.

Adding everything together, I will have ~$21,000 to spend while on the road and, including the ~$4,000 I've spent thus far, will just roll over the goal of $25k for the trip! At an average of $75/day for all items (including airfare, visas, and other non-standard expenses) my budget will last for ~11 months if I can make it that long.

With that analysis it is safe to say that my budget and itinerary can hold on unchanged for the time being. That is, unless 4 weeks in Japan will kill my budget. Numbers for that end of the budget will be calculated for the first country recap by September 12th at my arrival by ferry to the port city of Shanghai.