#117 Kakegawa Bird and Flower Park

This is a popular attraction in Kakegawa, a stop on the Shinkansen in Shizuoka Prefecture, about an hour and a half south of Tokyo. There is also a small castle here, but overall, if you're not already in the area, don't bother stopping especially for this.



The entrance fee for the park for adults is 1,080 yen. It is then 100yen per food serving to feed the birds, so that’s probably another 500 yen. It’s then 500yen to get a photo with a penguin, or 300yen for a small owl. There is a footbath with fish which costs 300yen, and also a one hour buffet lunch for 1000yen. They do have free bird shows about twice daily.

Overall, the park is quite small. You see pictures and assume it’s much larger, but in reality there are only about 5 bird enclosures. For the price, which probably ends up around 2,000 yen for most people, I think it’s too much.

There is not so much information in English, apart from the bird names. They have notices that you must pay 100yen for bird food, but they don’t bother to translate safety notices like ‘These birds like to bite’ which I find typical of Japanese thinking of “Make sure the foreigners pay and don’t break the rules, but if they want helpful information they should learn Japanese or get out of the country.” (Maybe it’s a little unfair, but I have seen enough notices, or lack-of notices, that this mentality just can’t be ignored.)

For the flower aspect, there’s not really that much going on. There’s an indoor greenhouse where the buffet is served and there are many flowers hanging from the ceiling, and a large lilly pond, but that’s basically it. Comparing with something like the Garden Park or Flower Park in nearby Hamamatsu it doesn’t level up at all.

Yes it’s fun to get a photo with a penguin, have a toucan sit on your shoulder and an emu chase you around a field, but that’s all the highlights. You could be in and out in an hour if you wanted. While I enjoyed myself, I couldn’t help but think the price was too high and the park too small. This is in comparison with a zoo, the average price of a zoo in Japan is probably about 500yen and it would be much bigger with a larger variety of animals, although admittedly you’re not likely to get a photo with a lion.

Overall I would give it 3 out of 5. It’s fun and interesting, but you would get better value visiting Hamamatsu Zoo and adjacent Flower Park. The zoo is 400yen, and the flower park varies by season but can be free, 500yen with a 500yen shopping voucher, or up to about 1,000 yen．

If you’re only in Japan a short time I would skip it entirely, there are far better animal focused places to visit like Ueno Zoo in Tokyo and see Giant Panda’s for only 600yen, or take a trip to Nagano and see the famous snow monkeys relaxing in the hot springs.

#114 Manila, Philippines

One of the infamous Jeepneys!

Monument with the national flag

As a young, particularly pale white woman, I didn’t enjoy my time in the Philippines. This could have been different had I also been travelling with a male partner, as did other young foreigners I saw, but I was alone.

I don’t dress sexy, and on the average day I would never turn heads walking down the street. I live in Japan so I’m well used to being an outsider and getting side-eyed when they think you’re not looking. But in Manila I encountered staring and leering on a scale like never before.

On my first day there I was walking beside a busy road and I suddenly realized all the men in the trucks and vans were beeping their horns and yelling at me. I never felt more disgusted in my life. From that moment onwards I felt self-conscious and unsafe.

I couldn’t handle the taxi’s. Also on my first day I was at a mall, and trying to avoid the worst of rush hour waited until around 6.30pm and then decided to head back to my hostel. Being a Friday evening, there were people lining everywhere trying to get jeepneys and taxis, and I ended up standing near a slum with children running around me, but there was a city hall employed traffic warden who was kind and said he would help me find a taxi. Even with the city hall employee I still felt uncomfortable and unsafe and just wanted to get back to my hostel asap, and I had to wait maybe 15mins. It doesn’t sound like a long time, but it was hell not knowing when one would finally show, or if I was going to get mugged or hassled by the slum children (which sounds terrible, but it was scary). I think because it was a Friday it was especially bad, but it made me nervous going out again in case I had similar issues trying to get home again.

Crowds trying to get home on a Friday evening

Getting on/off buses etc. there are people grabbing at your suitcases and asking you where you’re going and if you make the mistake of answering, one will grab your bag and push you in whatever direction and then it’s too late when they rip you off. It’s disorientating and you don’t have two seconds to try figure it out for yourself, they’re on you like leeches, and you have people asking for a tip and you’re not even sure what they did to assist you in the first place.

For the taxi’s they say you should make them turn on the meter because it’s cheaper – but actually I found it was easier for them to impose a rip off price at first, that way at least they have no reason to go the long way around or delay you further.

SM City mall - not one of the biggest, but nice

I would talk about the cultural things, but I didn’t see them. I tried to go to Intra Muros the first morning, but the taxi driver said it was too hot and suggested an aquarium, I politely said “Oh yeah maybe later” but before I knew it he had dropped me at the aquarium. This is when I tried to walk to Intra Muros and failed. So I ended up at a mall and went to the cinema, so I could just get away from it all. The next two days I spent on a nearby island resort, and when I returned on my last day in Manila I had planned to try see Intra Muros again, or go to one of the famous giant malls. Neither of these happened – I was sick from the worry and stress. I knew I was wasting an opportunity, but I couldn’t deal with the stares and the people ripping me off. I didn’t even eat that day because the thoughts of even walking down the street and going to a restaurant was too much. This is very unlike me, so it really emphasized the impact. I just wanted to leave.

I know many people have travelled the Philippines and had very enjoyable times, but this was my experience. I’m glad I had the experience, but I could never recommend a solo white woman to travel here. 
While you might not be in immediate danger of rape or mugging, the stares and leers and the constant overcharging leave a stressful and distasteful impression of the people and the country. You’re constantly self-aware and on your guard, ready for the next argument. For me, it just wasn't worth the bother.

#112 Nara, Japan

I feel kind of sad for Nara, because it’s actually an entire Prefecture, and most foreign tourists (including me) only make time to go to one tiny area – Nara (deer) park.

However, the park is amazing. When I went I had spent already spent a few days in Kyoto and Osaka, it was my last day, my feet had blisters and I was physically exhausted. I would recommend against this, and encourage people to try leave some spare time (if they can) so you can relax and truly enjoy things instead of rushing around.

Cost

Entrance to the park and grounds is completely free. You can buy special deer cookies from vendors in the park for 100yen (I bought two packs). Maybe this is a bit mean, but to make the cookies last longer I actually broke them in half and quarters. You hear stories about the deer getting a little irate and attacking you, but I didn’t really see this happen. They’re quite small, and not many have antlers so the obvious thing to do is avoid the antler ones as they’re the ones that will hurt if they try headbutt you. I had a few corner me as I tried to go into one of the gift stalls, but it was more cute nudging than fearing for my safety. *If you have small children you need to be careful and watch them constantly, although the deer are small they could easily knock them over.

The park is also home to the world’s largest wooden structure – a big temple called Todaiji. You have to pay entry to this (500yen), and it is kind of hidden away so if you want to get a photo but not enter it’s a little awkward (but not impossible). Although it wasn’t expensive, I was tired and my main aim of the journey was to take a few deer selfies, which I had accomplished, so I decided not to walk any further and to head back home.

I have found during my travels in Japan (or around the world) that some places can never quite live up to your expectations, or the heavily photoshopped photos all over the internet. However, I am glad to say Nara is not one of these disappointments. The deer park absolutely lives up to expectations, it is magical, peaceful, fun, and quintessentially Japanese. A must-do if you are in Japan.

Access

Nara is easily accessible from both Kyoto and Osaka. I went from Osaka, it took about one hour and cost 800yen, but it usually requires changing trains at one station. From Kyoto it’s also one hour, and there is a direct JR train for 700yen.

To get to the park requires maybe 15min walk, and then walking around the park itself, so factor in a few hours if you want to do this at your leisure (and I would 100% encourage you to bring a picnic). There are shops and restaurants lining the streets from the station to the park, and at the station there is a lot of information for foreign tourists.

#110 Osaka, Japan

I went to Osaka after spending 2 action packed days in Kyoto. My feet were blistering, my legs had turned to jelly and I was exhausted. But I persevered!!

However, if you have time to spare I would recommend scheduling some down time as I felt very rushed (working in Japan = very little vacation time) and I felt I couldn't properly appreciate all of Osaka because I had overdone it in Kyoto.

OK! So would I recommend it? Yes! It's only a short trip from Kyoto (30mins on the local train) so there is no reason why you can't fit it into your visit to Japan.

While Osaka castle is mentioned as one of the main sights, I didn't think it was the most exciting thing ever, and it was also a little awkward to get to. I also thought Shinsekai wasn't as interesting as the internet had led me to believe.

My favourite area was around Namba and Dontonbori - with all the restaurants and flashing neon lights. We also happened upon a flea market at Shitennoji temple, by far the best of what I've seen in Japan - but it only happens on the 21st and 22nd of each month.

#109 Kyoto, Japan

Recently I went on a trip to Kyoto. I was travelling during a big Japanese holiday, which made a lot of things difficult. Obviously I would highly recommend against this - however it was my only time off work so I had no choice but to go then. I still had a good time, but I would strongly advise you to check the Japanese calendar before you plan a trip, as it is very busy, and trying to get photos or linger in one place is tricky surrounded by crowds (but still very safe, as always).


Getting There
Since I'm already in Japan, this involved me hopping on a shinkansen (bullet train). It was my first time on it (although I had lived in Tokyo for 4 months before) so it was an exciting day!

Big stops like Kyoto, Tokyo, Osaka will have trains that always stop, but the faster trains will skip many smaller stations, so always be sure to check that the train will stop at the station you want before you board.
Kyoto is only 30mins from Osaka by local train so that could be a good location to fly to. While it's easy and quick to get from Tokyo, the bullet train tickets are pretty expensive, at least 10,000yen each way (about €200 round trip). I would also caution people travelling during high season - reserved seats will sell out in advance, and with unreserved seating you could end up standing for 2 hours on a train that cost you €100....



Baggage Storage
Yes, I am giving this it's own heading. Kyoto Station has both lockers and a baggage storage room. Now, there are only a limited number of large lockers that fit big suitcases, and these can be difficult to find and sometimes can be full. Since we stayed in an AirBnB we had no option of leaving our bags and coming back later in the evening, and the lockers were all full, but we did get into baggage storage just in time (they were also full shortly after us). You cannot travel around Kyoto with a suitcase, so please be aware of the storage situation!!


Accommodation
While Kyoto is a big place, it doesn't have the selection of cheap hostels that Tokyo has. There are times when everywhere will book out (check Japanese holidays) and you can bet on the cheapest/highest rated accommodation being booked out on most weekends. I would recommend booking ahead, websites like HostelWorld take only a small 10% deposit so there should be no excuse! We had to use AirBnB because everywhere was sold out, and had a good experience, but I personally would always prefer a hostel.



Sights
Thankfully, most sights were actually free. This includes the treetop KiyoMizu Dera temple and the red gates of Fujimi Inari. The Ginko golden temple you had to pay for, and although it is one of the classic images of Japan I basically just took a photo and left...not so exciting, but one of those things you just have to do I guess.
When we went to Gion it was too busy with crowds to really the street, but we did catch a quick glimpse of a maiko walking down a side street. I could say similar about the Arashiyama bamboo grove...it was too full of people to get a good photo, and also it was disappointing anyway, very small (I think I have more bamboo in my back garden).

#93 Trip Planning like a Pro

I'm an organised person. And by organised, I mean it sometimes borderlines control freak, and this becomes much more apparent when I go on trips or try plan something with friends. I like to know the following before I go: the exact location, how long it will take to get there, the exact time, the exact price, the exact duration etc etc. And when I say 'I like to know', I actually mean 'I need to know'.

This sometimes annoys people I travel with when I shout at them because we need to hurry up and catch the 10.11 bus because the 10.14 bus would completely ruin our schedule. But they appreciate it when we save time and stress because we know exactly where to go, or when we stay at a great hostel in a convenient location for a good price.

Plan In Advance
I am a firm believer that if you plan your trip in advance, it will ultimately go much more smoothly and the experience will be more enjoyable because you will be saving time and money while getting the absolute best out of your trip.

However, I will also concede that plans should be flexible, and if you get delayed and can't catch a certain bus or visit a certain museum, all is not lost. Stressing because everything didn't go 100% as planned will mean you won't have a good time either, so relax!

Know Where You're Going
I think one of the most important things is knowing where you are going. I personally have a terrible sense of direction, so if at all possible I will designate someone else to be in charge of the map. Before I go on a trip, I will go on Google street view and examine the area around the hostel, for example, and certain areas along the route so they will be familiar when I get there. Up until recently I didn't have a smartphone, so I used to go on street view a few days before and take pictures of the screen on my phone, so when I arrived I could go back and check we were in the right direction.


Getting lost, for me anyway, is really stressful. It means you waste a lot of time that could have been spent doing something else. That's not to say that you won't have an adventure and come across some hidden gems off the tourist route, but especially if you're travelling alone I think it's vital you know exactly where you're going.


Money, money, money
I'm a total cheapo, which you may or may not have noticed. So when looking for a hostel, I have to reconcile the following: price, location and safety. If there's a big group safety becomes slightly less important, which leaves price and location.

I can spend hours on websites like Hostel World in search of the perfect hostel, constantly comparing ones closer to the city but slightly more expensive etc. A well researched and thoughtfully picked hostel should have all the things you're looking for. For me, that means a cheap hostel in a good location, with no hidden fees for breakfast, bed linen etc.

Regarding food, it's obvious that restaurants and cafés on the main tourist strips are going to be much more expensive. This can't always be avoided, but try not to make yourself a victim either. If you want to check out some places in advance, reading through Trip Advisor recent reviews is always a help. But beware of those restaurants marked 5 stars that have only been reviewed by six people, as opposed to the restaurants marked 4 stars reviewed by 3,000 people.

There are such things as free meals. . .well maybe
So we know where to go and where to stay, but what should we do when we get there? I always look up the best things to see, especially free things. It upsets me if I visit a place, come home and a few weeks later realise there was something really cool that I missed out on because I didn't research it in advance. Thanks to the internet there is an abundance of lists of best things to do etc, so there's no excuse not to research it in advance!

As a general rule, most major cities have free walking tours (well they expect a tip, but since you won't ever see them again that is entirely up to you. . .) and there are usually places where you can get a good view of the city for free - if you know where to look.

Also, be wary of paying entrance fees into places. Do you really need to go inside? Is the national gallery something you genuinely have an interest in, or is it just a 'must see' attraction you found on a list? Think it over before handing out the admission fee.

Take a chill pill
Well, not an actual pill. But you should relax and have a good time, it's a holiday after all!

#87 Staycation Ireland: Wexford

Wexford, known as the 'Sunny South East' and home of the 'yellow bellies'. The latter makes us sound quite cowardly, but as you'll see we have fought many historic battles over the years!

County Wexford is in the South-East of Ireland, just a little below Dublin on the map in the corner. It is a coastal area with many popular beaches, and the town is situated on an estuary where the river Slaney flows into the Irish sea.

New Ross
This is very close to County Waterford to the east. There is quite an old fashioned little town, but the highlight is the newly refurbished quay-front. There is a statue of US President John F Kennedy whose ancestors were from the area (and he visited there 50 years ago), and not far away is a park and arboretum dedicated to him. Also on the quay is the Dunbrody Famine Ship, a replica of the 'coffin ships' that were used to bring Irish people to America during the Great Famine. It is very interactive and a great exhibit to visit. Finally, there is an 'Emmigrant Flame', similar to the Olympic or Amnesty flame it never extinguishes, but burns brightly for all those who have left this country.
I should think that one day or even a few hours would be enough time to spend here.

Enniscorthy
This topsy-turvy town is full of hills and slopes, and character! It's home to Enniscorthy Castle and Vinegar Hill, where one of Ireland's many historic battles was fought. Every summer there's a Strawberry Festival with Irish music and cuisine, and in August there is a re-enactment of the Battle of Vinegar Hill which is interactive for the whole family.

Gorey
Yes, it is pronounced just like the word 'gory', but don't let this put you off a visit! North of the county, Gorey is a popular town bustling with charm. It has almost none of the commercialised chain stores you will find elsewhere, and instead has one long street filled with local small businesses. It is even starting to gain some fame nationally for it's large array of boutique shops! Coming from Dublin, this will likely be your first stop in the county.

The Main St in Gorey

Wexford Town
This is the hive of activity in Co Wexford, and the huge array of shops and restaurants here have led to a decline in business in the smaller surrounding towns.
There are many things to see and do here; first off is the quay and Wexford Bridge, which welcome you as you enter the town. The area is absolutely beautiful, and you can see fishing boats coming and going regularly. If the weathers right you can also avail of boat tours along the river Slaney and the estuary into the Irish sea. Second is the main street - one long street full of shops, cafés and restaurants. While there are all the popular chain stores and high street brands, there are also many privately owned 'mom & pop' shops too.
There is Wexford Opera House, a new state of the art building which is home to the famous Opera Festival every Autumn, and even if there is no show on during the day, you can avail of tours of the building and views of Wexford and the quay from the café at the top.

Located just outside the town across the bridge is the Wexford Wildfowl Reserve which is home to many wildlife animals and of course birds of all kinds, and on the other side of the town is the Irish National Heritage Park, which is home to many buildings from ancient Irish history.

The black square to the top left is the new Opera House

A look along the quay

A view from across the bridge

Other areas of interest
Of course Wexford isn't all about the towns and urban living! Down south of the county Kilmore Quay is a popular fishing destination and therefore top notch for fresh seafood, while Hook Lighthouse is one of the oldest working lighthouses in the world!
The 'R742' coastal drive takes you through many small villages, including Curracloe (whose beach was used for filming in Saving Private Ryan), Blackwater and Courtown Harbour.

A wet day out at Hook Lighthouse

Wexford is about 2 and a half hours drive from Dublin, and is home to Rosslare Europort, which has ferries to Britain and France. It is a popular destination for Dubliners, with many of them having summer houses there, but it also has a lot to offer for international tourists as well.

Map of Wexford

Links:
visitwexford.ie
facebook.com/visitwexford
wexford.ie
discoverireland.ie/Places-To-Go/Wexford

#86 Staycation Ireland

This will be the first in a series about some Irish destinations and what they have to offer! Since I am Irish myself I would like to be considered an expert and therefore any advice and information I provide will be infallible.

I'm going to suggest that some people take a 'stay-cation' here in Ireland, or if you're from another country perhaps you could just plain old vacation here. I don't want to brag, but we are pretty great. I mean, sure. We're kind of expensive, and the weather isn't great. But we have a lot of other great things going on, I can assure you, and you will find out throughout this dynamic and exciting series of articles!

If it rains, you can always buy some fancy raincoats and umbrellas and wellington boots.  Really make the bad weather work for you and your style! Okay I'll admit I'm clutching at straws here. . .but when you're visiting it mightn't even rain, last year we had some very hot weather and blue skies! Realistically it most likely will rain at some point, but there's always a chance it won't! You should hold out on that hope while packing your raincoat and umbrella. Hope for the best but prepare for the worst!


Quick note: The word 'stay-cation' actually annoys me, because it's a bastardization of the word 'vacation', which is a word we don't use here in Ireland. We're familiar with the meaning from American movies and TV shows, but we use the word 'holiday' instead. So really the word 'staycation' don't make much sense here.


At the end of every article I'm going to put in the following links to some Irish tourism websites, so if you're seriously interested you can get some information from the professionals.
DiscoverIreland.ie
VisitDublin.com
Ireland.com
CulturalTourismIreland.ie

This video is a little cringey because it only shows 'old and natural' Ireland. That is a large part of Ireland, but don't worry we have cities and shops and nightclubs too.

#80 The Travel Show Podcast - Russia

This is a topical destination considering the Winter Olympics are now on, but it's also very contentious considering the issues with gay and LGBT rights. Personally, I am an advocate of gay rights, and I think the treatment in Russia is extreme. However, I am conflicted because Russia is a country I have wanted to visit for years now. Would the issues with LGBT rights affect your decision to visit Russia?

If you're going from Ireland, you can get return flights from Dublin to Moscow for about €250, and you will also need a visa. This takes about 20 days (so plan ahead!) and costs €60.

To listen back, go here;

The Travel Show 18-2-14 by Ulfm on Mixcloud

#75 Croatia: The Travel Show

Unfortunately Croatia is still just a place on the list to visit for my great travels! When I was studying in Sweden I met some fantastic Croatians and they definitely encouraged me to visit their country, as well as telling me some great information.

From my experience, Croatia isn't one of the most famous countries so, if you're not sure, it's situated right across the Adriatic sea from Italy. Here's a map to help you out.

Croatia

The currency is the Kuna (pronounced a bit like 'ko-na' I think) and the exchange rate is about 7.5kn to €1. Croatia in Croatian language is 'Hrvatska', so that's why you'll sometimes see abbreviations like 'HRV' or 'HRK'. It's a cheap country in terms of prices, especially in comparison to the rest of Europe, but be careful as the recent surge in tourism along the coast means prices there for hotels, bars and restaurants are much higher, especially during the summer.

The capital city is Zagreb, which is located in the North. However, it is coastal cities such as Zadar, Split and Dubrovnik that are raising the profile of the country and bringing most of the tourists. 

Politically, Croatia is a young country, having been formed after the break up of Yugoslavia in 1991. It only entered the European Union earlier this year.

Dubrovnik, in the far south, is an ancient city which reminds me of places like Greece or Turkey. It has recently rose to fame in TV show Game of Thrones, in which some scenes were filmed here. 

Dubrovnik

Zadar has an airport, and is a likely place to fly into. There is a 'sea organ', in which waves crashing into the harbour makes tunes like an organ, and nearby is colorful a light up display built into the ground. I found a video on YouTube which demonstrates both better than words: Zadar Sea Organ

Croatia is becoming popular with party goers and young people, because alcohol prices are much cheaper than Ireland or the UK, and clubs often stay open until sunrise during the summer. The hot weather and clear seas make it popular with those looking for a cheap sun holiday, but Croatia has a lot to offer in terms of cultural capital and indigenous activities.

Blue Cave, located on the island of Bisevo

Also important to note, travel is cheap between neighbouring countries Serbia, Slovenia, Hungary, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, so a visit to Croatia doesn't have to just be a visit to Croatia, you could make it a wider travelling experience.

You can get flights with Ryanair to Zadar, and travel within the country is cheap, but I've been told that some buses (especially local transport) aren't air conditioned, so it can get a little stuffy in the soaring temperatures!

This article is linked to my radio show - The Travel Show. However, due to technical issues there is no recording available for this particular show. You can still go to the website and check out previous shows though. www.ulfm.ie/listen-back/ 

#73 The Travel Show on ULFM

I have a show on my student radio, called The Travel Show. Every Friday I take a city, country or region and discuss some of the highlights. Since I won't be doing any travelling over the next few months, I'm instead going to cover some of the same topics on my show as on the blog - linking them in.

My first show last week was a general introduction and asking for some favourite holiday destinations, and then last Friday I discussed Poland. Next week I have a show about France, and then up until Christmas I'll be talking about a few destinations, which will definitely Sweden and Japan, so watch out!

You can listen in from anywhere on Friday's at 11am (GMT) on www.ulfm.ie.

You can also listen back to previous shows a few days later on the same website.

27/9 Poland: http://www.ulfm.ie/week-3-listen-back/#tabs-1645-0-4

You can also like the Facebook page, www.facebook.com/ulfmtravel

#30 www.japan-guide.com

As I mentioned Hyperdia was my favourite website for looking up the Japanese trains and subways, www.japan-guide.com was my favourite website when I was in Tokyo for looking up tourist attractions. It's absolutely perfect for looking up things to do in Tokyo and the rest of Japan too. It's really useful and includes prices, opening times and the best ways to get to the attractions. Just like an online travel guide for things to do in Japan.
Give it a look! Japan-guide.com/Tokyo