Patisseriephilippe

 

While Shibuya is known as the center of the youth fashion of Tokyo, Shimokitazawa is another aspect of Tokyo’s ever-vibrant youth culture. Shimokitazawa is known as vintage stores heaven—a home to dozens of hand-picked, often carefully curated selections of clothes. Luxury vintage items are not something that you’re short of when you visit Shimokitazawa. Often shortened as “Shimokita”, the district houses a large number of independent retailers that often consisted of indigenous artists and designers alike. Shimokitazawa can be reached through the Keio Inokashira Lines and Odayu Electric Railway. Unlike many parts of Tokyo, Shimokita has very a lot of alleyways and very narrow streets that highly intersect; something that the locals found as one of the distinct features of Shimokitazawa, making it feel like it’s an actual “neighborhood”.

 

Ocean BLVD

Unique vintage, one of a kind items are sold in this shop that is just hard to miss from the Shimokitazawa narrow streets. They don’t sell a lot of high fashion brands, but Shimokitazawa is all about quirky finds—and Ocean BLVD is definitely not short on that.s

 

MODE-OFF

Mode-Off is for fashion essentials where everyone can find something for themselves. There is a stack of clothes labeled as “Sales”—discounting the already-cheap finds here even cheaper. Prices in the sales rack are mostly at 300 JPY. Dig on!

 

Shimokita Garage Department

This store has an impressive collection of hand-made crafts along with their vintage secondhand finds. Also known as Toyo Department, finding one of a kind souvenir here would be a breeze.

 

CHICAGO Shimokitazawa

Chicago chain stores have reasonably priced secondhand clothes located at several locations in Tokyo. The Shimokitazawa store is the largest one. This store is famous for its cheap kimono and yukata that go as low as 1,500 JPY.

 

WEGO

Less on vintage clothing, more for everyday trendy fashion. WEGO is store with a bright interior and items of bright, attractive colors. Its a must-visit for those who love the Tokyo youth style with a bang for your buck.

 

Haight & Ashburry

This store is one of the most iconic one in the Shimokita neighborhood. Haight and Ashbury boasts authentic 19th and 20th century vintage items. The items are hand-picked, curated, and of the higher-end luxury items. Haight and Ashbury has operated for over two decades to date.

 

Who can resist the wildlife vibe of a Komodo trip? Far in the frontier of Indonesia, behind the bushes of Komodo National Park, lies the ferocious Komodo Dragons. The last descendant of Megalania, a gigantic ancient monitor lizard who once lived around four million years ago. The dragons got their endangered status just about 100 years ago—the only species left from their kind.

These days, they roams freely in their protected sanctuary—the Komodo National Park. And these dragons are the member of New 7 Wonders of Nature! Now pack your bag, it’s time to embark on Komodo trip and see this giant beast up close. The Komodo Dragons are only living in Komodo Island and Rinca, the two biggest island in the National Park. No one can come to the Komodo National Park without seeing the dragons. The question is, where to land?

A Komodo Trip to See the Komodo Dragons: Komodo Island vs Rinca

Komodo Island

Komodo Island goes as the most popular place without saying. It’s named after the wonderful lizard, after all! The dragons in this island are by no means friendly, but they are very well fed and behave quite good. They usually just laze under the shade of a tree or around rangers’  kitchen, too stuffed with food to move. That’s why the Komodo in Komodo Island are generally bigger and easier to spot on than those in Rinca.

The island itself is quite dry and dusty. There’s a little local settlement—mainly the rangers and their families. Beyond the dragons, there’s practically nothing else to see. However, the Komodo Island has some of the best beach in the area—and that includes the Pink Beach. Walking there right after a trek with the dragon is quite impossible, though. You need to hop on the boat once again to go around the island and dock on the blushing shore.

Rinca Island

Rinca is the biggest island in Komodo National Park and the closest one from Labuan Bajo. If you don’t have much time for the excursion, opt for Rinca. Unlike the dry Komodo Island, Rinca blooms with Palm Lontar Trees (Palmyra palm), savannah, and of course, the dragons. The island has several gate and walking trails to see the dragons. Rinca look more friendly and natural than Komodo, with a great scenery to offer along the trek. You can spot female dragons nesting their eggs, the food of dragons (buffalo and deers), and even monkeys. 

These giant lizard enjoy the wildlife to the fullest here, but they are also the most ferocious. They are also a little bit smaller with wider jaws than their siblings in Komodo Island. If you are an enthusiast animal lover with plenty of time, it’s worth to visit both on your Komodo trip!

It is not wrong to spend me of your hard-earning cash for dream vacation. You can even list the travel destination that you desire the most. In fact, there are must visit places in 2018 that you might be interested in. However, it is also important choose the one that not only because of its popularity.

You need to choose destination based on your own interest, find your own vacation goal. It is recommended that you find yourself interesting factors you want to find out once you land your foot in your destination. Thus, your travelling is not only about releasing all negative energy but also recharging the positive ones.

Recommended must visit places in 2018

The year of 2018 is already over the half. You still have time to arrange your dream vacation started from finding out the best destination to visit. Well, there are countless places in the world that you can visit.

However, your budget is limited, so is your time and energy. That is why you need to pick your favorite destination and here are some recommended places to choose:

1. Serbia

Serbia is one of the must visit places because its raw beauty is beyond words. It is time to step up your vacation level from mediocre cocktail and beach. In Serbia, you will have to visit Serbia’s Tara National Park. It has gorges with forested slopes. The view is beyond what you can see on high definition picture. From this place, you will find terrific scenery, rich history, and amazing geological spectacle.

2. Banff, Canada

It is surely one of must visit places in 2018 because this is where you can find the natural beauty of the oldest national park in Canada. If you are outdoor travel enthusiast, Banff is truly your heaven. This place is also a great getaway for couple who crave for romantic vacation.

The highlight of this place is the breathtaking Aurora Borealis that you can witness with your own very eyes. The colors are vibrant and beautiful to see.

3. Essaouira, Morocco

Essaouira in Morocco is a great place for adventurous travel. This is one beautiful port which is a heaven for those who are craved for adventure especially in the water. This is where you can enjoy sandy beach along the Atlantic coast. You can even test your surfing ability in this North Africa’s paradise.

4. Nagano, Japan

Nagano at Japan is also recommended as your place to visit for your dream vacation in 2018. This is a heaven for tourist because everything is already prepared to provide tourism needs. Enjoying the hot springs or skiing in the Hakuba Valley is just small part of heavenly vacation you can gain from this place.

5. Crete, Greece

Create is a city rich with archaeological treasures as well as cultural history. This place has become popular tourism destination. You can enjoy your time to the fullest by visiting Greece’s largest island, mountains, valleys, as well as sandy shore.

Not to mention that the highlight of this one of must visit places in 2018 is its 3,000 hours of sunshine a year.

Japanese lunch boxes, commonly referred to as bento, are of huge varieties and are almost always presented beautifully.

There’s your average rice boxes with meat and vegetables, sushi and sashimi boxes, vegetable bento, katsudon bento, donburi, gyudon, oyakodon, shredded chicken bento, and many others; while sandwich boxes tend to be slightly more expensive than rice bento.

You won’t lack options when you’re aiming for these super convenient lunch boxes, even when you’re on a tight budget. Aside from the supermarket and the convenience store (conbini), you can also find establishments specializing in bento.

Take note that bentos can easily go over the 500 Yen mark depending on how fancy the bento itself, or the stores/establishment from where you get your bento from.

At conbinis, the FamilyMart and Lawson have more bento varieties compared to 7-Eleven.

But it also depends on the stores themselves; so make sure to surf the area where you’re staying first and foremost for the convenience stores and supermarkets you can find, and take notice of their fresh produce and deli section.

Bentos sold at conbinis tend to be more expensive compared to the ones sold at supermarkets, but they do have the advantage of being able to re-heat your bento on the counter right away.

Some supermarkets have this option too. And since bentos can be found anywhere, you can also find them easily at stations, also known at ekiben (eki = station).

Do avoid buying bentos at the stations if budget is your top concern, as they are sold for people who particularly don’t have time to make their own or make a trip to the supermarket, so they are naturally more expensive. If you want fancy bento lunches though, bentos sold at the stations might just be for you to check out.

Supermarkets offer you discounts nearing closing time. Those located inside a department store (Seibu, for example) often close early at 8 to 9 pm, while supermarkets on its own building tend to close at a later time, at 11pm to 12 am.

In the hour or so leading to closing time is when ready made and fresh produce receive gradual discounts. Take notes of the sticker with the kanji 半額 (read: hangaku) or 50% 引き. Stickers with the characters 引き, for example, 100 引き, means it gets a 100 Yen discount, as the kanji on the tag indicates how much is being discounted.

If you’re an extraordinary cheapo, get one or two more bentos that you can store in the fridge to eat as breakfast and lunch the next day.

Vegetable bento or sashimi bento are great options for this. Don’t store rice or sushi bento in the fridge because obviously the rice will harden and it won’t be pleasant to eat anymore.

Don’t be shy to always re-check when you’re in your first ever supermarket discount haul. Some people are actually loitering around the aisle waiting for the sticker to appear, and even wait for an even bigger discount to get plastered.

When was the last time you were touring with your partner? With your best friend or the special one that fulfill your beautiful day. Traveling alone is good, but when at least you can do it with someone, it can be even better. And a double hammock for both of you can accommodate the best moment to enjoy the resting times.

It is not a must to get a double hammock, but if you need to get close to your partner all the times, then you can get one.

Many times, touring will also consume your energy. One of the reasons for that is also related to the transportation you will use. Imagine riding a car or motorbike for hours and even days, that will be really make you tired.

And while you are riding, you may need to stop a bit for getting your lost energy back. By doing that, sometimes you will be at the nowhere land where there’s nothing around but you and your partner and the trees besides the lonely road.

You need to stretch your body, drink something, clear your mind, makes yourself up or even need to sleep when the night is coming. So that, if it is possible for you to get a double hammock, then you will have your own shelter to be used with your partner.

It is a good preparation if you could brings one. Moreover, a couple touring to the camping ground is also a golden idea. If being at outdoors is the better idea for now, then doing it with your partner will be the best one.

Why double hammock is best for couple when touring?

Let’s say you are touring with your best friend using motorbike. We have known that it can’t be carry a lot of weights. And mostly, your luggage will be put into your backpack, right? Among many of the stuffs you are taking, doesn’t it make senses that a double hammock should be one of them?

I know it will depending on something, especially how long will you reach the destination and the terrain you have to passed through. But for many of the long-ride traveling, getting yourself ready for anything you may meet can be considered as your own preparation as well.

While writing this, I was also thinking about stopping by at the small tropic forest in the night besides the road and setting up your double hammock. And then set a small bonfire for getting warmer. Couple of minutes and hours left, and it’s time for you and your partner to sleep under the sparkling stars and the bright moon.

It is great to experience such imagination, and it is possible for you and everyone else to experience the same. Even better.

That’s what the double hammock size is capable to help you with. Not only as a bed for two persons, but will likely to create a romantic or intimate moment for all the couples.

And it can be used and more useful when you will reach your last touring destination. Before, most of us may not thinking about bringing a double hammock while traveling because we have reserved the hotel room and never intend to do camping.

The facts are, the hammock itself can be used for various activities rather than only for camping. You can take a nap in the beach with it, reading a book while hanging between the poles or trees, etc.

So for the next touring, make sure to invite your partner and enjoy a better moment while resting in a double hammock. There won’t be anyone who can separate you two.

The place you’re first stepping into when you get to Bali would be Ngurah Rai International Airport—Bali’s one and only airport hub located in Kuta. Although Bandara Ngurai Rai is considered one of the best airports in Indonesia in terms of facilities and services, sadly, there is one important aspect that is overlooked. The Ngurai Rai Airport taxi is definitely not the best transportation to escort you out of the airport.

Can’t you just chose other means of transportation then? No, it’s not as simple as that. Even Indonesia’s largest taxi company, Blue Bird, is not allowed within the airport grounds except for passenger drop-off.

They are not allowed to get passengers inside the airport. This also applies to all other means of public transportations except the Sarbagita, which we’ll get into later.

The taxis that are labelled as “official” Ngurah Rai airport taxi is easily the most expensive taxi fare you can find in Bali, with price that easily multiply the public transportations you can find outside of the airport.

Ways to avoid the expensive Ngurah Rai Airport taxi

As you step foot outside, you’ll be immediately greeted by a mob of seemingly random people offering you their service. This is especially apparent if you’re solo travelling. Countless of people will approach you and say “Taxi, mister?” “Taxi, miss? “Hello, Taxi?” To the point of being a complete nuisance.

However, don’t be surprised. This is an everyday occurrence at the paradise island’s one and only airport hub.

Even though most of the people who approach you are actually those from the official Ngurah Rai taxi drivers, they just seem shady because of the constant pestering.

Sadly, Ngurah Rai airport does not seem to have regulations when it comes to their taxi drivers’ communication with the customers. If they do, then they don’t enforce it. We don’t want to discourage you to visit Bali; but that’s just the reality. And there are plenty of ways to get outside of the airport safely without the Ngurah Rai Airport Taxi.

Be Indiscreet and Get an Online Taxi

Online taxis have the advantage of blending in well because they look just like any other car owned privately. It’s a bit tricky, but locals and savvy tourists alike do this everyday.

Online taxis are hundreds of times cheaper compared to most public transportation methods in Bali. However, you still need to be indiscreet. Once you have access to your online taxi applications, don’t let your phone to be seen obviously.

Ngurah Rai taxi drivers who greeted you will often try to take a peek at your phone screen. So make sure to use a screen filter app to help protect unwanted visions. Online taxi drivers usually avoid approaching passengers. Often times, they will tell you to find them in the parking lot.

This is a very common method used by locals everyday as it would seem as if you’re approaching someone you already known who have been waiting for you.

From Ngurah Rai airport to Holiday Inn Resort near the airport using a GO-CAR or GRAB costs you around 10K IDR, (only 7 mins drive) while the Ngurah Rai airport taxi will cost you 200K IDR; their fare for the “Kuta area”.

Ride the local bus Sarbagita

Sarbagita is a legit way to get out of the airport and to your destinations. It’s the cheapest way among all methods, starting from 3,500 IDR for adults and does not reach 10,000 IDR.

The catch is; Sarbagita routes are very limited, and they only stop at the very few bus stops they have around the route. But it’s a good way to go if you simply want to get out of the airport, then catch a bluebird or a grab/go-jek after. A pretty neat trick.

Go outside of the airport to catch a Blue Bird

Blue Bird is Indonesia’s largest taxi company, and you might want to use their service again once you’ve tried it on your trip to Bali before. This is totally doable if you’re not bringing huge or overly heavy suitcases and need that little walk after a long flight.

That’s the ways if you need to avoid the expensive Ngurah Rai Airport taxi. Give them a try and you will find the cheaper one.

I am going to inform you about the best villas in Seminyak for couples. So if you are coming alone, you’d better find one from now on. Nope, i am just kidding. But, traveling alone surely has its own advantages, while making a journey all together with friends, family, or the one you are care so much will be the more interesting and unforgettable trip.

Choosing an accommodation is not just about a place to put your bags, goods, or where you will take a sleep. It is more than that. Accommodation itself can be a way to enjoy you traveling. And staying in a villa at Bali that I will recommend you to be at Seminyak area, will be a start for your best travel experiences.

People from around the world included the Indonesian people as well, many of them are dreaming to stay at a best villas in Seminyak for couples for many good reasons. The first will be how it will so close to the beach to experience many attractions over there. Sea foods combined with your favorite drink would be the perfect fits when sun is sets or even when the day is still bright.

Surely you can enjoy the white sand beach along with swimming or surfing at certain season. It will really a best match for couple to spend and enjoy their quality vacation time at Seminyak area. Hundreds of restaurants, bars to enjoy are also easy to find with only walking at the street in few minutes. Need to hangout at the night club with your friends? I bet you will also find it easily since Seminyak is also popular with its night life.

You only need to find the best villas in Seminyak for couples so you won’t experience all of those alone. You have to share the happiness with someone you love so much.

Many of the villas around Seminyak are also facilitated with the private pool. That’s why I have said before that your traveling will start from an accommodation you have interested with. Enjoy the water, feels the moment and than you can plan what next things to do while you are in Bali.

Through this post, I have actually not just told you about the best villas in Seminyak for couples, but also where the best place to stay in Bali which is at Seminyak area as one of the most wanted area to lived in by the travelers.

But make sure that your villas location can be reaches the beach within just two or a bit more minutes by foot to help you save the budget. Seminyak area is quiet big and wide, so it is better to consider other aspects that may affect you during travel. You can also rent a motorbike if you could rides one since it will really cheap than paying a taxi to whatever destination you want to visit in Bali.

Traveling together and stay in the best villas in Seminyak for couples will be great to talk about your commitments and planning for the next days or the future, too. And the more important thing is, the better beach and another destination vacation is started from where you will spend the night.

DAISO had definitely taken the concept of a Dollar store to the next level. The astonishing development had also led the production of a huge variety of everyday tools and accessories to have their “hyakuen store version” (the 100 yen version).

Shopping at Daiso isn’t just for frilly accessory that would sit at the corner of your room and collect dust. Daiso is a brilliant source of practical everyday stuff. You can find an overwhelming variety of goods, assortments of homewares, home decor, and stuff you don’t know you need until you encounter them at Daiso.

Likewise, gifting some practical items that could actually be useful to your friends and folks is a good way to show that you think of them during your travels. Going to Daiso for souvenir-shopping is a brilliant idea if you are buying for a lot of people. Here are the some of the items you could always find across most Daiso all around Japan:

Stationery

From assorted notebooks, color pencils and pens, Daiso has everything that’s a staple to your everyday stationery needs. And just because they’re dirt cheap, doesn’t mean they look tacky. Stuff that can be found Daiso are just visually pleasing. Lots of adorable stationery for your everyday use.

If you’re someone who loves collecting them, don’t be surprised if you come home with basically every stationery item Daiso has to offer. With the price tags, you’d be tempted to buy a double, an additional one for yourself. Your friends will thank you for the souvenir notebooks you give them that are both useful and adorable.

Travel Accessories

If you are not the type who’s super organized on your travel stuff—your trip to Japan might just change you, as you step into Daiso. It’s heaven for travel organizers essentials—and because you’d likely need multiple items at once, price is still not something you need to worry about because well, it’s Daiso!

Use the travel compartments to categorize your clothes and easily organize your bathroom essentials using the clear compartments and pouches. Need an extra pouch or a totebag? Daiso got you covered.

Makeup

If this is your first time visiting Daiso Japan, you’ll be surprised at the overwhelming variety of makeup and all of the associated tools you’ll find. From makeup sponges to face powder—it almost seemed that Daiso provides everything. Fake lashes, face cream, hand cream, eyeliners, shimmer powder, blusher—you name it.

Because of its decently extensive selection of makeup, it’s been a popular topic among beauty bloggers and youtubers alike to do a “Daiso Only Makeup” challenge. Often times, the makeup challenge is presented in comparison to the use of “proper makeup”. And surprisingly, Daiso makeup products have been pretty decent.

Certain items such as the hand cream have been very popular and known to sell out very quickly. So don’t worry the next time you might run out of your makeup during your travels—head to the closest Daiso for an emergency haul to save you the headache. It also makes for a neat souvenir for your friends who love Asian makeup.