#92 Good news, everybody!

So after about a year of travel draught, I have just booked my flights for a trip to Bratislava, Budapest and Vienna in October!

If you're not sure where I'm talking about - Bratislava is the capital city of Slovakia, Budapest is the capital of Hungary and Vienna is the capital of Austria. So basically I'm going to Eastern Europe.

Why? Mostly because it's different - everyone raves about Paris and Rome but I want to go somewhere less explored - somewhere more exciting! They're also cheaper than the major European cities, which is a big bonus.

Why these three cities in particular? Well we're flying into Bratislava, and from there Vienna is only about one hour away by bus, and on the other side Budapest is about 2 hours away, so it would be a pity not to visit since they're so close!

So I'll keep you updated on my plans and picking out what I'm going to see, and feel free to comment and add your own suggestions!

A map to show you where I'm talking about

The old town in Bratislava

The Hungarian Parliament in Budapest

The city centre in Vienna

#91 Slow on the old posting-front I'm afraid

This is a courtesy post to let you know I'm still here, but won't be posting so much for the time being.

Please feel free to browse through my other posts using the blog archive or search labels to the right >>

I know many people are heading over to Japan around now for the JET programme, so for my Japanese related posts look from 2012 to January 2013, and if you have any questions don't hesitate to comment :)

Anyway, here's a picture of beautiful Ireland to brighten up this post a little!

#90 Why package holidays to the Costa Del Sol are a terrible idea

1. It's mainly full of English and Irish people anyway 

2. You end up eating a full English breakfast every day
3. You rely entirely on the prospect of good weather - if it rains you're screwed
4. You learn nothing about the country or culture you are in
5. You sit on your ass all day - might as well be at home watching Jeremy Kyle

#89 New post. . .finally!

So I just checked this and can't believe it's been over a month since I last updated. I promise to write something in the next few days to make up for this!

Anyway, after a busy year I've finally finished college exams and I'm now job hunting, so if you're reading this and want to hire me let me know! My degree is Journalism and New Media (with Japanese and Sociology) and I'll do pretty much anything once you pay me. . .and you don't have to pay me a lot, just enough to live somewhat comfortably i.e. not in the gutter - @philippabrennan.

Help me, Captain Hindsight!

#88 New Blog Update

This blog has gone through a few updates, and I've decided to update the design again. I changed it at the start of the year to make it more plain and basic, but after looking at it for awhile I think it was a bit too basic and a little boring, so I have updated it again. I'm still working on it, but I think it looks a bit brighter now.

#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.

#85 Summertime Sadness

There is arguably nothing worse than when all your family, friends, neighbours, co-workers and casual acquaintances all go on holiday and you're left sitting at home. Summer is peak season for that, and while I have been dreaming about going somewhere - the reality now appears to be that I will not be going anywhere for the months of May, June, July or August.

Sarcasm. It's great!

I do have plans to visit a friend in London in Autumn, and I can be happy in the knowledge that it won't be too hot, there will be less crowds and prices will generally be cheaper. However, holding out over the summer will be tough, very tough, and I fear I am already starting to feel that mixture of jealousy and hopelessness creeping under my skin as I hear friends talking about booking their own trips.

Last summer the weather in Ireland was unusually good, and those who were left at home laughed with glee at those who had wasted money on a sun holiday to Spain where it rained for a week. The problem for me is that even if that happens again this year, I hate hot weather and I would never book a sun holiday to anywhere.

The main issues that have resulted in my lack of holiday plans are; (a) I have no one to go with: Everyone appears to have already made plans with someone else, to go somewhere else, to do something else - and I am not invited to the party (b) Insufficient funds: While I do have savings I could dip in to, I am dictated by prices as to where I can go and for how long (c) Lack of options: I am recently craving a trip to Eastern Europe - The Western Europeans dream! Prices are insanely cheap and the countries have a lot to offer. Getting there is a problem, and from Ireland it is either very difficult or very expensive - defeating the purpose of the insanely cheap prices when you get there. Eugh.

So, is anyone else starting to feel this summertime sadness, or is it just me? I plan to spend the summer saving up money and planning a holiday to end all holidays in the Autumn, but in reality I will likely spend more time creeping on Facebook and begrudging everyone else's good time, whilst simultaneously questioning how much money they spent on it and how exactly they are able to afford it.

Sad owl understands my pain

#84 The Travel Show + Instagram

I have been absent from the radio sphere for the past two weeks, but I will be making a triumphant comeback this Tuesday 8th April at 12pm (GMT).

Tune in for some big things!

www.ulfm.ie/listen/

Also travel-related, I've started uploading some of my old photographs from Japan, Sweden and Europe on my Instagram account. I promise there's not a selfie in sight!

instagram.com/philippabrennan

#83 The Travel Show 11/3 - New York

Last week I was discussing fabulous New York city with self-proclaimed expert Tom Horan.

Listen back here:

The Travel Show 11-3-14 by Ulfm on Mixcloud

#82 Spring!

So here we are in March, the days are getting longer, blue skies are creeping in, daffodils are blooming. . .and it's time to get booking those summer holidays!

The key is to book early and book in advance, which means you need to get your family/friends together and fight out where you want to go this summer (or alternatively, if you have no money you can start planning a nice trip in the autumn instead, when prices are likely to go down.)

While deciding where to go, there are a few places you could look, for example if you're booking independently then the low cost or sale prices for some airlines, while websites like TripAdvisor are also great for telling you what kinds of things are there to do.

You also need to be realistic, while you might be imagining a paradise in your head, the reality is likely to be very different. Sun holidays attract all kinds of people, however you are more likely to find big families and unruly children running wild.

Left; island paradise Bora Bora, and Right; a packed beach in Salou, Spain

I would also say not to be afraid to go somewhere different, and just because it is summer doesn't mean you need to go on a sun holiday, and sit by the pool all day. The weather in Europe is gorgeous during the summer, and a city break could be the answer for someone looking for something a little more exciting, while still getting a good tan out sightseeing.

While it is blatantly obvious for most people to book everything separately online, there are still Travel Agents in business and they could be something to consider. Although they are likely to be more expensive this isn't always the case (especially in group bookings of 10+), and most [all?] of these companies are bonded so you will be refunded if there are any issues.

#81 The Travel Show Podcast 25/2

This week, discussing Amusement parks with special guest Luke Hogg!

The Travel Show 25 Feb 14 by Ulfm on Mixcloud

We discussed some of our favourite theme parks, including places in America and Japan, and parks like Six Flags and Disneyland.

Also in the show we had 'Tuesday's Travel Trivia' where you have 5 hints and have to guess where we're talking about, our top Irish Destination of the Week, and some top tips for the best amusement park experience!

#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

#79 Japan: It's the small things

This is a list of interesting things that I noticed/happened to me in the four months while I was living in Tokyo. I gradually added to it while I was there, meant to do something with it, and forgot. I've just read through it, and just over a year later, I'd forgotten quite a few of them! So here you are: some of my unedited musings.

• I saw a weasel the other day climbing on a telephone wire

• I saw a granny on a moped

• I saw a man holding his daughters hand and walking her halfway to the school gate, then her walking backwards waving to him until she got to the front door.

• The cars don't stop for the green man they just keep going. . .

• First day as a teacher in Junior High School and I'm asked do I have a boyfriend

• I'm not saying they push you out of the way to get off the train. . but they kinda do

• The supermarket fish section. . .so much fish. . .lots of fish with heads on, lots of octopus and squid (both tentacles and the whole thing) lots of whole shrimp and prawns. . .not for the faint hearted (or the vegan)

• Book off has 100 yen manga books. 98% of these contain porno. One series had 35 books in all. Each book had sexual position diagrams halfway through.

• I've seen children aged 5 at most walking home from school alone

• They shout things at you both outside and inside the shop

• Some elementary schools had unicycles for the students

• Japanese girls love cats. It is a country that applauds crazy cat ladies

• Japanese dogs are awesome. No mongrel or labrador in sight. More like poodles (both toy and regular) chihuahuas, pomeranians, and akitas.

• Japanese insects make a lot of noise. It can be deafening outside at first.

• You will probably not get groped on a train. Or have your underwear stolen

• In summer, you will get really sweaty. You'll think "It's not even that hot today" and you will be sweating from your forehead, back of your neck, back, stomach etc. Basically everywhere

• Some dude came up to me on the street, told me he spoke English, said he was single and went in to kiss me

• I saw a guys head get caught in the doors of a train

• They all have their phones on the trains, a lot read too but they all have covers on their books so you don't know what they're reading

• The trains all play funky little tunes before the doors close, each station has a different tune

• The subway has barriers and gates up around it, presumably so you cant fall down. The trains don't have this

• They all wear masks to prevent spread of infection

• They don't tend to wear raincoats, instead they just use umbrellas

• They love crocs

• They pour water or something where their dogs pee on the street. And they pick up the poo!

• Businessmen eat really fast at lunch

• A high percentage of manga (comics) are just porn

• There is often very little discipline in Japanese junior high schools

• Cat cafes are a real thing

• I ate a fish (including the head) as part of school lunch the other day

• The Japanese aren't so good at simplifying - you either speak fluent Japanese or no Japanese.

• They're too polite - I went in a shop and I thought it closed at 9pm, but at 9.05pm the staff were still walking around greeting people so I assumed it was open longer - it wasn't - they were too polite to mention it was closing. Then at 9.10pm there's an awkward encounter when they try politely explain "it's a little late" or something along those lines

• Japan is great!

A very rare picture of me, in my apartment, in Japan