New year...New start!

Obviously this blog has been incredibly neglected! However, now that the new year is upon us and I am finally seeing some time to blog in the horizon, stay tuned for entries!

No I have not jumped ship...

Sorry for the complete lack of blogging this past month! I have so many things I want/need to blog about, but time is of essence and I have none of it right now! If you can hold on and stick with me til November I promise many MANY entries to come!

Places to See

Yakushima, Japan

It is very possible that many places in Japan may eventually wind up being discussed on this blog..but for good reasons, and Yakushima is no exception! Yakushima was one of my favorite places I visited while living in Japan. I loved how beautiful it was, I loved that it wasn't super touristy (it is kind of inconvenient to get there and there isn't a ton of published information about it, but I will give you some pointers), the people were warm and friendly, and the island itself just seemed magical. It has a beach (duh it's an island) and a mountain/semi subtropical forest in the center.

If anyone has seen Princess Mononoke, please know that the animation was inspired by this island. The artists actually went there to sketch. There is even a bit of the forest called Mononoke Hime no Mori (Princess Mononoke's forest). 

Some Must Sees & Dos

Some of the growth I saw along the way.

• Jomon Sugi hike- This was a grueling hike, I won't lie. It is about 9 hours return. However, it was VERY worth it. The first part of the hike starts following a neat old logging rail track, and then you start actually "hiking" uphill for the second half (where the grueling comes in). The flora and fauna is so gorgeous, and becomes more and more intense as you continue deep into the mountain towards Jomon Sugi. What is Jomon Sugi you ask? He is a very old tree... possibly 5-7,000 years old in fact (no one is 100% certain his age). However, I did not find him the best part of the hike. I found the way getting to him to be the highlight. For the real adventurous and well-prepared, once you get to Jomon Sugi, you can continue up to the top of the mountain where there are free mountain huts (that smell) and an amazing panoramic view of the island. If you don't rent a car, you can get to this hike by a special public bus that picks people up (and packs them in) around 5 am and returns to take people down around 4 pm which I believe costs around $20 each way...don't miss it though or you may find yourself an additional 4-7 mile hike down to the main road...in the dark...

• Onsen (hot spring) in the ocean- After exploring the mountains, it is a must to visit the beaches as well. There are several hot springs in the ocean in Yakushima! How cool is that? I was only able to visit one, because the other one depended on the tide and it just didn't jive with my schedule. However the one I visited was really cool. When you go down to the hot springs, there are several that are more "man made" outside of the ocean with a lovely view. These are a little more like typical Japanese hot springs, with bowls to wash yourself, and since it is outdoors, there is a little wall dividing the men from the women for a bit of privacy (yes you still have to go naked even though it is outside). However, if you walk a little more to the left, and down a small path towards the water, you will find a much cooler hot spring. I recommend this one. It isn't incredibly hot, but it is really neat to be sitting in it and being in the ocean at the same time. I believe it is about 400 yen (approx $4) to do this, and you put your money in a little box upon entering this area.

• Nagata Beach- If you go to Yakushima between May-July, you can watch sea turtles lay their eggs. This is a big yearly event on the island, and many people come out to observe this amazing sight. I wasn't there at the right time (one month early-darn!), but it is still a lovely beach to visit and catch some rays. There are a lot of other beautiful beaches around the island, and scuba diving is actually a very popular activity as well.

Staying in Yakushima

It can be difficult to make traveling arrangements to Yakushima if you don't speak Japanese. Guidebooks unfortunately don't give much information either. There is actually a lot of lodging of all price ranges (some of it even free- see mountain huts!) in Yakushima, but can be tricky to reserve as a foreigner. Several youth hostels cater a bit more to foreigners, but I have yet to see one that can be booked online. JR has a nice hotel that is near the hot springs for those with a little more money to burn, this could also be a lot easier to book since you could do it through JR and they have a lot of English speaking staff. Worst case scenario, if you show up on the ferry there is a visitor's office that has English speaking staff that can give you a list of places to stay and (if you ask nicely) try to call and reserve for you. 

I highly recommend renting a car or a moped while here, because the public transport is infrequent and stops running very early, making it difficult to see everything you want. 

To get to Yakushima, you have to book a four hour ferry in Kagoshima. There are a few jetfoil ferries you can take as well if you have more money, and only take about two hours. However, the four hour ferry is not bad at all. It has a bath house, several food stations, a large lounge with a TV playing movies, and even many compartments to sleep in. I found it rather relaxing. This ferry only runs once a day though, so it is important to know the time schedule and not miss it! If you are feeling really high class, or in a hurry, you can also fly to Yakushima.

Cuisine to Try

There are several kinds of fruit that are local specialties in Yakushima- try tankan and ponkan oranges as well as passion fruit. Flying fish is their meat of choice (and very delicious!). If you are a drinker, be sure to try Mitake Shochu (Japanese spirit-a little like whiskey but lighter) made from fermented sweet potatoes. 

Culture Tip

The locals joke that it rains 366 days a year in Yakushima. I somehow got lucky and managed to miss the rain my entire stay, but be ready for a downpour any minute. If you are hiking, be sure to buy protective rain gear that is breathable. You can also easily rent this from some local shops in town before you leave on your hike. For those of us who are concerned about looking cute while hiking in Yakushima with rain gear (you are going to be taking a lot of photos!), there are plenty of colors to rent it in, including pink.

There are a lot of wild animals roaming the island including deer and monkeys. If you have been to other parts of Japan already you may be used to "people friendly" animals, but just be aware these animals are still human-fearing and skiddish (the way wild animals should be). 

To Learn More About Yakushima (and maybe a tad about Japan itself as well)...

The Carry-On Craze

I have just recently been turned on to the concept of bringing a carry-on and ONLY a carry-on bag for a trip.

As a girl who loves her beauty products, I always just hid behind the rules disallowing liquids greater than 2 oz. "Sorry, my shampoo bottle is 5 oz. Guess I have to check it in!" The reality is, yes I know I can pour that shampoo into a smaller container, I just don't like feeling limited. I always want to bring an outfit for ANY occasion-what if we stumble upon a black tie affair on our hike?? Not to mention how horrible I am at packing/folding... a carry-on bag does not accommodate these issues very well.

However, with a recent trip I am planning, I have been forced to bring a carry-on as my main luggage (luckily I am gifted with a daypack allowance as well).

Yes, I will have to leave behind a greater portion of the salon under my sink. Yes, I may have to wear outfits over and over. No, I will not be able to bring three pairs of heels. No, that adorable wool coat I own cannot come along as it would take up 60% the bag.

BUT starting to shake those sad realizations, I am coming to realize all the benefits a carry-on can bless me with. 

For starters, we will be flying a lot. And I mean A LOT. Think every two days. To different countries mainly. On airlines I am unfamiliar with. Although I have never had my luggage lost (knock on wood), the reality that the chances of my luggage getting lost just greatly increased scared me enough into agreeing to a carry-on only. If my bag gets lost...I am kind of screwed! Also, to continue with flight issues, if we are late to catch our plane I have a better chance of making it if I am not checking luggage! Plus, this way my belongings will be more secure as I will be the only one handling my bag. 

In addition to the security, it will save me a lot of time too. We have limited time in some cities and it seems wasteful to spend an extra thirty minutes-one hour each time waiting for my bag to appear on the carousel when I can just walk off the plane with it in hand and be on my way!

Also, when I envision us getting out of the airport I like the thought of us smoothly gliding to the hotel, one bag each. Rather than dragging a ton of luggage up and down stairs and through crowds. 

Realizing how much better off I will be with only a carry-on (that is if I can master the packing-more on that to come later), I started thinking about all the other trips I could take in the future and how much easier it will be for me to learn how to live out of a carry-on. Not to mention the fact that most domestic airlines are charging ridiculously for checked luggage these days!!

Therefore, I am going to dedicate a monthly post to tips, tricks and suggestions to make traveling with a carry-on bag easier and still stylish.

Tip #1: You don't have to use a boring black bag. 


You can use a colorful, playful pattern like this bag:

Or, a classic style that is both fashionable and colorful (and look at the cute mini case it comes with!):

Cheers!

Places to See

Bali, Indonesia

This country has been on my list for quite some time now. After seeing the movie Eat Pray Love last night I was reminded how much I want to visit this peaceful land. Although there are some terrorist fears...I believe these fears exist in too many countries these days to waste time fearing the unpredictable!

Some Must Sees & Dos 

• Climbing Mt. Batur- a volcano near the village Toya Bungkah. The trek can take from 2-6 hours depending on the difficulty you wish to bring upon yourself. The view from the top is supposed to be brilliant and is especially worthwhile to reach by sunrise!

Courtesy TravelPod

• Visit Besakih Temple ("Mother Temple")-one of the most famous temples in Bali. Once again, a gorgeous view from the top. Just beware of being hustled for money and possibly having to negotiate a price to get in!

Courtesy FotoHorizon

• Take a bike tour around the island. Probably one of the best ways to see Bali! Take in the beautiful scenery of the rice paddies and learn about the traditional Balinese culture while your pedal down the quiet roads.

Courtesy Off Track Planet

• For those who wish to be a little pampered after all this sight seeing (like me!), be sure to visit one of Bali's many spas. Balinese massages and other spa treatments are famous and very cheap compared to Western spa prices! In fact I know a girl who went to Bali and ONLY got massages (although that is not how I would choose to spend an entire vacation to a gorgeous country, it's a good example of how plentiful and affordable their spas are!).

• Spend time at Legian Beach- located in Kuta, this gorgeous beach is relaxing yet exciting as there are a lot of surfers out in the water. Surfing is a big deal in Bali, so even if you don't try, be sure to watch!

Courtesy Accommodation Bali

Staying in Bali

Hotels range in all sorta of prices from $30-$1,000/night depending on your budget. However, it is clear that some of the "budget" hotels still offer a very comfortable and luxurious beach side getaway. If a hotel isn't your style, there are some great hostels starting at about $10/night as well. 

Cuisine to Try


Babi Guling- suckling pig that is spit-roasted. Apparently this can be a tricky dish to find in touristy areas..so I suggest making some friends with the locals!

Black Rice Pudding- hot natural black glutinous rice served with palm sugar sauce and coconut cream.

Culture Tip

Although Indonesia is primarily a Muslim country, Bali is Hindu-Buddhist. Look for the small offerings of flowers, rice and salt in bamboo leaf trays throughout the country in pretty much all businesses and homes. 

To Learn More About Bali...

Trekking or Hiking Pants for Women

As someone who is planning to do the Inca Trail this October, my mission has been to find some cute, yet practical trekking clothes to wear. I don't want to have an "Elle Woods" (Legally Blonde reference) moment and show up looking ridiculously girly, but I still want to show off my figure and not feel frumpy all week...even without such precious commodities like showers...

A LOT of women's hiking/trekking clothing is very unflattering, in my opinion. It took me a while, but when I saw the North Face's Horizon Utility Pants (see picture/link below) I knew I had finally found what I was looking for.

These pants are flattering in their fit-they hug your figure but still hang loose enough to be incredibly comfortable when you are moving or sitting. They look a little like snowboarding pants (well mine do at least, as they are in black) but are VERY light. They dry quickly, and even cooler-- they fold into their own pocket making them incredibly compact!

Some other cool features are that you can roll them up and fasten the rolls to discreet buttons on the side to quickly turn them into capris, and then back again into pants if it gets chilly. They are also SPF 50, giving your legs extra sun protection.

The bottoms fit nicely over your boots or hiking sandals, once again eliminating possible "frumpiness". Did I mention how COMFORTABLE they are?

Best of all, they will not break the bank! In fact, they are on the less expensive side of hiking/trekking pants I have looked at.

I highly recommend these for light hiking, trekking, or even traveling (sitting on a plane for 10 hours, etc) wear.

Welcome!

The Stylish Traveler is for those who love to travel, yet hate to sacrifice appearance and style while doing so.

Stay tuned for stylish travel gear suggestions, travel advice, and general travel commentary!