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Japan – A place of Contradictions

August 4, 2019 by Notourguideneeded 3 Comments

Going to Japan was a last minute decision for us and I did not realize how much research I would need to do to make the trip enjoyable.

First, as you start to prep the trip, you get a sense of a completely different world. Then it starts to get quite confusing. Will there be signing toilets or holes in the ground? Will the restaurants be four star cuisine or street food? I could go on…

The truth of the matter is that Japan has everything in extreme. I hope this article give you some insight into the country and what to expect.

The main thing to consider is the timing of the articles you read. Japan has changed a lot in the last five years and some of the information is a bit dated. You wouldn’t think five years is a lot but it is.

Things to Remember:

  1. The Japanese are the most kind, friendly and stand off people you will even encounter. Kind of a mixture right? What I found was if you are sitting at a communal table (think Hibachi grill), they will not acknowledge you at all. But then ask what they are eating and they will go out of their way to help you order and ask tons of questions about where you are from (all in Japanese of course!)
  2. Most people do not speak English (or Spanish, French, etc). This isn’t like going to Europe where most of the words sound alike. However, google translate works just fine and you will find a lot of signs just have pictures. Japan has a huge tourist economy, mainly from other Asian countries, so they are quite accommodating.
  3. Food is different. If you are picky, you should leave all your reservations of food at home. I heard from a lot of people that especially westerners get their meals from 7-11. That sounded so strange, but they did have some basic foods like noodles and sandwiches. Don’t be afraid to look at what others are eating and just point to what they are eating when ordering.
  4. The 7-11s are crazy. Think your local service station, in the middle of downtown. Then add a section for anything you can possibly think of buying. They are still small like the ones in the West but their selection is unlimited. Will buying snacks, we saw a bottle of scotch that was about $5,000 USD. Not behind the counter. Just there on the shelf right next to the other expensive liquors.
  5. You will eat a lot of fried foods. Tempura at the next level. They fry everything from veggies to meats.
  6. Kobe beef is just okay. We had it three times in three types of places and our expectations were not met. It was good, don’t get me wrong, but if you are thinking it will be as you imagine, my guess is it won’t be.
  7. The department stores have tons of restaurants. In the basements of some are little stands that sell anything you can imagine from juices to beautiful pastries. The full restaurants are on the top floors. Again, lots of pictures to tell you what you are eating.
  8. Sleeping on the floor is cool for the first night. And only the first night. If you are going to spend a bunch to have an authentic experience, I recommend it but only once. The floor isn’t really the issue as that when you walk into your room there isn’t a chair to sit on and places to put your things. If you are staying long term, this gets obnoxious. Ours didn’t have a tv so you couldn’t just lounge around for a bit and relax. If we wanted to take a nap, we had to call for them to make our bed.
  9. The metro is super easy to navigate once you figure it out.
  10. The whole idea of being ‘pushed’ into the metro car was not for me. However it was done and wasn’t really that bad. They are so polite about it that you don’t really realize it is happening.
  11. The Japanese love order and queuing in lines. I saw lines everywhere from stores to getting on the subway. It is really amazing to see when you are used to just hanging around until the train stops.
  12. The city of Tokyo is really quiet considering it is the largest in the world. On the train, there is no one really talking. They whisper. Even the park had a sign that said, “do not have behavior that would be irritating to others”. I fell in love with Tokyo then and there!
  13. You will read that they dress up more than other cities. While this is true, it isn’t overly complicated. If you go to Kyoto or touristy areas, people just seem to be dressed like tourists. In Tokyo people wore pretty much anything. The whole “keep your body covered” seemed to be a bygone because I saw plenty of short/tank tops and short skirts.
  14. I was really really concerned with the toilet situation. Tip: all Starbucks have modern toilets. Yes, I saw ‘holes in the ground’ type toilets, but they were few and mostly in parks. This seems to be a thing of the past as well. The modern toilets have all kinds of features from music (privacy) to water pressure options for the bides. Do not fret because the basic go and flush are pretty explanatory.

Keeping these things in mind, you will not have any trouble navigating the culture. The country is wonderful and you will enjoy!

  • Japan Food 7-11
    Japan Food 7-11
  • Japan Food 7-11
    Japan Food 7-11
  • Food at Train Station – note everything has a photo of what you are ordering

Filed Under: japan, NEW POST, Travel tips

Benefits of Staying at the Marriott

October 15, 2017 by Notourguideneeded Leave a Comment

Shopping on Michigan Avenue Chicago

This past weekend we ventured to Chicago so my husband could run the marathon.  Traveling to a different city for work, play or marathon running can be stressful in an of itself.  You are staying in a strange environment, people talk different, food is different, etc.  This is why we prefer, generally, to stay in main name hotels.  While the outside can be different, we know what the Marriott should smell like.  We know how the SPG property lounges should be.  We can expect a certain level of consistency in the places because they are chains.    This trip had a few reminders of why we love staying in the Marriott.

 

Safety

The biggest consistency that we appreciate is the security.  You can rest assure that the Marriott will always have a process and people to help you if there is an unsafe situation, or even an annoying one.  This past trip, we stayed at the Marriott on Magnificent Mile.  There were many events happening this weekend: the marathon, the Cubs playing, Blackhawks, conferences, etc.  The hotel was definitely hopping.  So as we made it to our room, the ladies next door to us were clearly having a good time.  We could hear them from the elevators.  Sleep before a marathon is super important.  We didn’t want to be “those people” and report them, but what do you do in this situation.  We called the front desk.  We planned to be blown off.  We decided to give them 30 minutes and then we would move, so we sat patiently waiting before unpacking.

Then, less than 10 minutes after calling, we heard someone knocking at our neighbors door.  I looked out the peep hole and security was very nicely asking them to be quiet.  And this was not your average Joe security.  I am pretty sure these guys were former military, make you disappear, not to be screwed with.  I even commented that if that guy told me to keep it down I would not say another word while in his city.  The Marriott handled it quickly and kindly.  I was impressed.   Of course the remainder of the trip, we kept lowering the volume on the tv because we knew they meant business.  To add to this situation, they called us back after handling to make sure the noise was over, and we received a note from the hotel asking if they resolved our issue.  Yes, sir, you did.

 

Bar

The second reason we enjoy staying at the Marriott is the consistency of the bartenders.  I know, weird one right?  We pick the Marriott on Magnificent Mile specifically because of the bar.  We do not stay at certain hotels because they do not have a decent bar.

Now, this has nothing to do with alcohol.  My hubs was running the marathon so there wasn’t much drinking.  If a hotel has a good bartender they will take care of you random things.  One night it was raining and we didn’t feel like going out.  We ordered a pizza and the bartender got us plates and silverware (and I have been places were they will not do this for you).   A good bar in a hotel will give you a place to sit while your partner is finishing getting ready.  The bartenders at the Marriott in Chicago made us laugh and laugh so much that we wanted to be there even if we were not drinking.

 

Door Guys

Finally, there are the door guys.  Listen, you can go wait in line at the concierge and they will give you the best places to go as tourist.  I’m not knocking them, as sometime they have helped us to get tickets and ideas.  However, if they hotel has good door guys, they can tell you where to really get bacon and eggs.  They’ll tell you the easy way to get to a place and who to talk to.  And usually, they will tell you a joke or something interesting to make the day a little better.  Talk to the door guys.  They know the best bars.  They know that Eggs three blocks up and four down is worth the wait.

 

Read more on Trip Advisor

We like to stay in Marriotts and SPGs (who are the same now btw).  I have a ton of reviews on TripAdvisor.  They are consistent, safe, and the ones we pick have a good social scene at a great bar.

Filed Under: Travel tips, United States

Ideas for a Vacation

June 11, 2017 by Notourguideneeded 1 Comment

French Open Nadal

I try to accomplish ‘things’ when we head out for a vacation.  We want to have good ideas for a vacation, not just a tour.  Is it a historical site that I want to see?  Did something spectacular happen there?  Is something amazing going on in that city.   In order to help this and see places of the world that I may never go to (and some I would) I use a google search and find events going on in the city.  TimeOut, City Search and Google can all help in these areas.

This morning was a nostalgic one for a few events that we have attended.

 

French Open

First, we started Sunday morning watching Nadal win the French Open in Paris.  The French open is held every year in early Summer in Paris.  Last year we saw Nadal play and it was outstanding.

Here is the thing about the French Open.  You buy your tickets in advance and you aren’t sure who you will be seeing play.  We lucked out that day Nadal was playing in the court where we had tickets.  The year before we went earlier in the season and there were matches by people we didn’t really know.  Still cool, but not as cool as watching someone you know/like.

Unlike many other sporting events, watching tennis in Roland Garros is definitely a great experience.  You can see the whole court and really watch the game and not the monitors.  It was crowded, not really organized, and was really really fun!

There are two main courts and then a ton of outdoor open courts.  Even if you aren’t into tennis or if you do not want to pay a ton of money, walking around and watching the up and comings on the open courts is a lot of fun.

This morning after watching Nadal win, we moved on to Formula One.

 

Formula One

I love racing.  Not a big fan of Nascar but Indy and F1 are awesome.  But here is the thing: unlike tennis where you can watch the match the entire time, if you are at a Formula One race you really still watch the monitors and then see the cars zoom by.  It is really cool to see, but watching them go around the track after awhile is kind of uneventful for the event itself.

We tagged our F1 trip a few years ago into a roadtrip across Europe.  It started in Barcelona, driving up through France and into Belgium, going out of the way to see Amsterdam.  We went to the F1 Spa in Belgium.

The day before the race we went to the track and got to see a lot of really cool things: drivers, cars, expos etc.  Then the day of, we took our seats.  Zoom!

I am really glad we went and to see that part of Belgium as I would have no other reason to drive to Spa. If you have never seen a race before, I highly recommend you go to one as the energy and thrill of how fast those cars are really running is unbelievable.   At one point I wanted to go to all the races, and maybe we will hit Monaco or some other place, but going to all of them is not on my list anymore.

So, there you have it.  Find an event, go to it and see how it is.  You may find a hidden gem in a city or town in a country you never thought you would.  It is much better than signing up for a tour and having them take you around like cattle to see the sights that everyone always sees.  These are experiences that give you a story to tell about life.

French Open Nadal
Nadal Playing in 2016

One of the courts at Roland Garros
One of the courts at Roland Garros

 

 

Formula One
This shows you general admission at Spa, Formula One

Formula One
The Track at Formula One Spa, Belgium

Formula One
Our seats overlooked the pit for entertainment

Formula One
The Track with FanFare

Formula One
The cars were amazing to watch run!

Filed Under: Adventures, NEW POST, Travel tips

Going to Copenhagen via a Train on a Boat

May 21, 2017 by Notourguideneeded 2 Comments

Canals in Copenhagen

A few years ago we went to Berlin and were looking for a second place to go on this leg of the vacation. My husband wanted to go to Copenhagen and I was rather indifferent.  Since that trip, Copenhagen has become one of my favorite cities and I cannot wait to return.  Getting there was worth the trip itself.  We took a train up to Hamburg.  Then the train to Copenhagen.  But wait – how did the train go over the water?  The train got on a boat.  

 

Logistics of the Train on the Boat

Well, it is actually a ferry.

Think about a ferry that one would take normally.  You park your car and get out and the ferry takes you across.  It is basically the same concept.

The cars and pedestrians are loaded first.  Then on the next level the train follows tracks and boards the ferry too.   Once the train comes to a stop, the passengers are asked to leave the train and go to the ferry.

A gentleman sitting next to us said that we need to remember which doors we go through because sometimes there is more than one train on the ferry and people get lost.  I’m glad he gave us this tip, because there was in fact another train and coming back down was a bit confusing.

 

The Ferry to Copenhagen

The ferry seemed to be like a very small cruise ship.  There were shops to buy clothes or random items. There was a duty free store with candy and liquors.  The cafe sold food cafeteria style and it was a good stop for a snack.

The time on the ferry is about an hour, so just enough time to stretch your legs from the train ride.

 

The Route

The route from Hamburg to Copenhagen is roughly five hours.  You will start in Hamburg and then take the ferry from  Puttgarden in Germany to Rødby in Denmark.   Once the train disembarks the ferry, you will then travel along to Copenhagen.   Check the route for which stops there are between.  This site here will give you some good information too.  Also review what Seat61 has to say about the route.

 

I highly recommend taking this option if you have the chance.  Anyone can ride a plane, but not many people can say they rode a train onto a boat!!

 

Canals in Copenhagen
Canals in Copenhagen

 

Filed Under: Adventures, amusing, Europe, NEW POST, Travel tips

How to Peacefully Travel with your Partner

April 22, 2017 by Notourguideneeded 21 Comments

The popular saying of “You do not really know someone until you travel with them” is quite true. This is why many couples go on road trips together before deciding to get married. It is impossible to maintain any sort of falsehoods that you may have during extended travel.  My husband and I have traveled to all sorts of remote areas of the world. The saying is true. You are missing out on a big part of your partner’s personality until you have your living conditions or safety compromised.
 
Before your trip, I recommend you spend some time discussing your pet-peeves and expectations. Learning them on the road is a waste of time and can lead to hard feelings. Here are some things I wish we would have worked through before heading out the first time:

 

The Order of Things

The biggest challenge that we have during travel is order. My husband is highly organized and very minimalist. I am in the process of working on my clutter. This can cause a lot of unnecessary stress if not discussed early on and with open dialogue.I thought that using the chair and desk for my things was a common practice. Unpacking my items and putting them in the dresser never crossed my mind. My disorganization was driving him crazy. On the flip side, it was stressing me out with his constant organizing and spending time putting things away. Let’s get out and see the world and unpack later! Over time, I have learned to appreciate the organization. When your temporary home has clutter, that creates unnecessary stress for everyone.
 
To keep organized in my own way, I bought myself a hanging packing cube set. Everything stays neat and organized. Packing is easier. He is in a better mood and the time in the room is much more enjoyable. I am also able to find things much easier so it is a win for me as well.
 

Eating

Our second biggest challenge is food. We have very different eating habits and they are noticeable when traveling. I do not eat meat or gluten. Meat makes me ill and gluten makes me bloated.

My husband’s favorite thing to eat anywhere is a baguette with ham. We will be walking around any city and both starving. He sees a sandwich shop (they seem to pop up when he is hungry) and inevitably that is what he will want to eat. Most sandwich shops in America will usually have a salad for me, but in Europe it is not always the case.

So, I will have a choice – make a fuss and have us both mad because we are hangry, or have a darn sandwich. I have eaten a ton of mozzarella sandwiches across Europe.

Perspective of Time

Another thing to consider is how you both perceive time. If a flight is boarding at 5pm, I would get there at 5pm. My husband would like to be the first to stand in the line and arrive at the gate at 4:30. So, I line up with him and then go to the bathroom, buy stuff from the shops etc., and meet him back in line. It drives him crazy.
 
If we have dinner reservations at 8pm, I feel we should arrive at 8pm. My husband likes to get there early, have drinks at the bar and mingle. On the road this conflict creates tension. His perspective is: we are in a foreign place, lots could go wrong. My perspective is: so what?
We have learned to work around this by coming up with a schedule before hand. We agree on what time we want to arrive, how much time to get there, and then agree on a “leave time”. That has helped us so much because that “how much time to get there” is very different for each of us.
 

Personal Space Invaded

Then there are the basic hygiene factors to consider. In our first trip to Paris, the hotel booked us a single rather than a double. A single room is only for one person. It has a twin bed and is so tiny. We were there for a holiday weekend and the hotel was completely sold out.
 
It was early in our relationship and we thought it would be romantic to share a tiny room, so we went with what they gave us. I had not considered how well we were going to get to know each other using that tiny room. The bathroom was closet sized where you could shower while sitting on the toilet. That also meant the toilet was 3 feet away from the bed.
 
How was this going to work?? He also had the same concerns and would leave me to get ready and wait in the lobby and I the same for him. This started a thing we do now of giving each other privacy of the room. I highly recommend it.
 
We seem to work better if we each have our space and not rushed by the other person. While we are over modesty issues, giving each other space to prepare the day is a sign of respect.
 

Have a Plan

Traveling with a partner, spouse, or anyone else for that matter can be tough. Consider your differences before the trip, and work on plans around them to reduce the stress. Yet, it is those little nuggets that you had no idea about that you must handle as they happen.

It is also good to remember to tell your partner what is bothering you before it becomes an issue. Plan on things bothering you and have a plan on how to handle it.

And to quote my favorite priest: When things get stressful have a nap. You will make everyone happy.

Below are pictures of places we called home for a few nights.

camping in Venezuela jungle
You have to sleep like this in the jungle. Bugs, animals, etc.

Hotel in Venezuela
This was our hotel room in Canaima. That was it.

Hotel in South France
This is a hotel.

Filed Under: amusing, NEW POST, Travel tips

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