Firstly, here's PART 1. I guess there's no excuse for posting the other half after 4 months! As you may have already know, I've always been an advocate of living in the moment and taking a healthy break from anything online. But, I'm here now and ready to give you the other installment of practical things to bear in mind while traversing the Land of the Rising Sun!
TIP 6: OBSERVE PROPER DECORUM
When
in Japan, you should do what the Japanese do. We've visited Osaka and
there's a plethora of shrines in there. One of which is Osaka Tenmangu.
They have different belief systems and as such, one word is always
necessary: RESPECT. Make it a point to keep quiet or minimise your noise
specially when somebody's praying or offering a 'sacrifice'. Be
cautious not to take pictures of people as much as possible.
TIP 7: WEAR FLATS (AND BRING A BOTTLE OF WATER)
Whether
it's summer or winter - it's best to trail with your comfortable foot
wear. Walking is a necessity on this side of the world so you need to be
BFF with whatever you're wearing. It may seem obvious and no-brainer
but believe me - when your soles are aching like hell because you forgot
this essential tip, you need to fake a smile on every picture.
Additional
tip: Usually, hostels give a complimentary water bottle. Take that with
you as stores charge higher prices in tourist destinations like these.
TIP 8: INTERACT WITH THE LOCALS
After years of reading travel blogs and doing my share of travel as well, I noticed one stark difference: seasoned travellers don't like to appear touristy! They want to blend in with the locals and immerse themselves with the culture as much as they could. Over time, I've learned to appreciate this bit. Before, I used to love wearing shirts with I ♥ (insert country here) logo but I've grown passed it.
Tip: Japanese are generally silent but they are extremely helpful. If they don't know how to speak English - just show them a picture of your question (i.e. place, thing, etc). They'd be happy to help, trust me.
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TIP 9: PLAN YOUR TRAIN TRIPS
I write this not to scare you but to warn you. Thing is, Japanese tubes are complicated {at least for me}. I guess it's a mixture of so many interchanges topped with station names that are foreign to us. Case in point: They have 3 osaka stations. I can only recall one. Shin-Osaka. Heheh! Since the transport fees are sky high, plan ahead and make sure you got the most efficient route as possible.
Additional tip: Some tubes don't accept credit cards (especially bullet trains) so you have to have Yens with you (see Tip 5).
TIP 10: DO YOURSELF A FAVOR: KNOW WHEN TO TURN OFF YOUR PHONE AND ENJOY THE MOMENT
It's easy to get high with the number of likes and comments that you get on social media but you know what? It's best to experience things as they happen. Don't you think it's plain ridic when you're on an extremely beautiful place but your eyes are glued on the phone? I am guilty! Here's the key: Be concious that we're being robbed of pure joy when we clamor for things that are less important (yes, like the superficial likes, etc.)
Additional Tip: Give yourself some time (a couple of minutes) to snap photos and put them in social media sites. After that - turn off your phone if possible. Chat with the locals. Breathe fresh air. Slurp your green tea ice cream. Now, that's life :) Enjoy your next travel! -CMK
Dream des.. :)
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