World travel blog

12-Hour Layover in Tokyo: What to Do Clockwise from top left: Sensoji Temple, Tokyo Skytree, Ueno Park, samurai in Asakusa, Japanese cuisine, lotus blossom. You just landed at Narita International Airport and it’s 9:00AM local time. Your next flight is not until 9:00PM. What are your options? You can stay put in the airport and browse the duty-free shops over and over for the next 12 hours. Or you can skip out of the airport and go for an impromptu excursion. Thanks to Tokyo’s modern, fast and super convenient  metro systems , you can easily explore the city on your own. In this itinerary, from Narita International Airport you will hop on the train to go visit Asakusa and Ueno—two of the most popular attractions in central Tokyo—then return to the airport, also by train, and still have plenty of time to catch your connecting flight. Tokyo Metro Guide subway map   Narita International Airport Fresh off the plane, you go directly to a Visitors In

Why You Should Hire a Tour Guide in Japan In addition to showing you the best places in the city and teaching you about the country's history, Japan's licensed tour guides can also act as translators. With the Tokyo Olympics fast approaching, many new tourists will be visiting Japan. Whether this is your first visit or your fiftieth, hiring a tour guide is the best way to get around unfamiliar parts of the country. Though many parts of Tokyo and other major cities have English signs, some don't, especially in up-and-coming neighborhoods and towns. Plus, with the nation's infrastructure pushed to its limits during the 2020 Olympics, it will be helpful to have your own source of assistance. Licensed Tour Guides Really Know Their Stuff Tour guides that specialize in a particular area will know the best local spots for shopping and dining, as well as the quickest way to get around on public transportation. This knowledge is especially important in busy

10 “Rude” Behaviors That Are Perfectly OK in Japan Japan's culture is completely different from that of the rest of the world. This could be due to how well they hold onto old traditions, the lingering samurai spirit that affects daily life and thinking, and the country's 220-year isolationist foreign policy under the Tokugawa shogunate in the eighteenth century, where no one was permitted to enter or leave the country, thus cutting off any outside influence. Even in today's world, where trade and the exchanging of cultures and languages have never been easier, the country has many differences that lead to fascination and culture shock from visitors. Often, tourists are advised to study local customs and manners before visiting the country so as not to offend local people when we go. And remember that behaviors such as talking on the phone while riding the train or blowing your nose in public can be considered rude in Japan. But what of things that we think

Why You Should Visit Dubai Rich, Opulent Dubai Attention world travellers! Want to visit someplace exotic, yet where its easy to be a tourist? Have you always dreamed of traveling to the Arabian Peninsula? Its time to think about a visit to Dubai, one of the seven United Arab Emirates on the Persian Gulf. Sandwiched between Saudi Arabia and Oman is the very rich, very Westernized nation of the UAE. Dubai is most certainly not located within a Third World country. In fact, Dubai is one of the richest nations in the world, due in large part to its vast oil resources. My brother-in-law, who works for Microsoft, has been to Dubai a number of times. His one word description: opulence. Many of the residents in Dubai don't even have to work to support their luxury lifestyles. Supported by oil profits, they are free to shop and play all day! In 2003,  Condé Nast Traveler's  readers' poll voted Dubai the world's safest locale. People who live there claim there i

An Honest Report on Bali Safari and Marine Park I visited Bali Safari & Marine Park  http://www.balisafarimarinepark.com  "40 hectares of splendid natural habitat" at the end of January 2009. Forget about the Marine side of things because that is 'coming soon'. That said it was still a whopping great big $25 US to get in (there are more expensive packages). I wonder if they will be putting up the price when 'marine' arrives. If not then I want some of my money back. $25 is 285,000 Indonesian Rupiahs and is not cheap by any standards though I am pleased to learn that Indonesians get in at a lower price. Here again though we have this double standard. If we charged Indonesians more to enter attractions in the UK then the world would be at our throats for racism. The park is about a three quarter hour drive from Kuta beach. Presently there are two free shuttle buses a day from and to the park. On arrival you pay for your ticket before travel

Island of Dreams: Nusa Lembongan, Bali, Indonesia  A Guide to Doing Nothing on this Serene Tropical Getaway Looking to escape the winter chills? Or to take a break from the hustle and bustle of life? Head to a small island off the coast of Bali where the water is so blue, the sand is so white, and the sun is so bright above: Nusa Lembongan. Surfers head back to the beach after a morning of riding waves. Nusa Lembongan is part of a three-island group (the other 2 islands are Nusa Penida and Nusa Ceningan) which can be reached by a 30-minute speedboat ride from Sanur on the east coast of Bali. Approximately 8 km 2  (1,977 acres) in size and a population of about 5,000, the island is uncrowded, quiet and sleepy most of the time, even during peak season when the majority of Bali resorts are inundated with tourists. There are no cars allowed on the island, except for those small  bajaj  taxis that shuttle resort guests around. Walking is the best way to explore the isl