Tag Archives: japan

Tokyo DisneySea

DisneySea’s Tower of Terror I’ve always wanted to write a feature about Tokyo Disneyland. It seems like the most mysterious of the Disney Parks because it’s always the one I hear about the least. Its website isn’t as well translated as that for Disneyland Paris or Hong Kong Disneyland, so I can never find its special offers page or really much else substantial about which to write. Tokyo DisneySea has always intrigued me the most. For all that I say I don’t see a lot written about Tokyo Disneyland, I see the name DisneySea pop up a lot, more than … Continue reading →

Bamboo Flooring: A Great Alternative to Hardwood

If you love hardwood flooring and are thinking about placing some in your home, you may want to consider bamboo flooring. It is a great option for homes that is simple to clean, has anti-microbial properties, and is environmentally friendly. Bamboo grows quicker than any other type of tree. Unlike some trees that take 15 to 100+ years to grow, bamboo can be harvested every 5-7 years. The minimum aged trees used for most bamboo flooring is three years. The hardness of the flooring usually depends on what type of bamboo is used as well as how long it is … Continue reading →

Hello Kitty Goes High Tech

This may be the only time you will ever see me reference my young daughter in the same post alongside Mariah Carey and Britney Spears. But when it comes to Hello Kitty there might not be a bigger fan. The famous female singers may have more money to spend on paraphernalia featuring the fictional feline, but my daughter is not far behind (click here to see her posing in her latest Hello Kitty jacket) and what’s more, the loyalty my offspring has shown to the big headed cat in her lifetime is something Carey and Spears have yet to illustrate … Continue reading →

Unique Summer Getaways

If you are tired of taking the same summer sojourn to the local pool or neighborhood quarry to soak up the season’s rays then you might consider the following unique travel destinations. By venturing off the beaten path you will be rewarded with the joys of experiencing sun-filled summer adventures minus the summer crowds. ITALY Italy’s island of Ischia is well known to European and Asian travelers, but most Americans have never stepped foot on the green and mountainous island. Most travelers from the U.S. overlook the tiny island and set their sights instead on the more popular island of … Continue reading →

Asian Adventures

I have always dreamed of sending my parents on a cruise of Japan and China, but Asian sailings are among the priciest on the market. And with the price of airfare skyrocketing these days I can barely afford tickets to see them in Hawaii so I don’t know how I would be able to round up the money it would take to cover a dream cruise. Still, I’m constantly on the look out for great deals on high sea adventures, with the hope that one day I can gift my mom and dad with the trip they have longed to … Continue reading →

Japan Warns Parents about Kids and Cell Phones

In Japan, concern about cell phones has nothing to do with cancer. Instead, the focus is on the dangers that cell phones pose to children. In fact, the Japanese government feels that the threat is so real, that it is starting a program to warn parents and schools that they must restrict cell phone use among children. In Japan, cell phones are packed with features, such as high speed Internet access, although Masaharu Kuba, a government official overseeing the new program told the Associate Press (AP) that �Japanese parents are giving cell phones to their children without giving it enough … Continue reading →

Hello Kitty Says Hello to New Travel Job

Regular readers of this blog know how completely obsessed my young daughter is with Hello Kitty. The popular fictional feline with the oversized face is a staple in our home. From shirts to pens, purses to sheets, pillows, sandals, stickers, sunglasses, hair pins, tote bags, duffels, backpacks, hats and banks, Japan’s No.1 export has invaded every inch of our living space and it looks as though she will be sticking around for a while. Hello Kitty is known for winning over the hearts of girls my daughter’s age, but now her cuteness is being marketed to another sector of the … Continue reading →

Giant Panda Ling Ling Passes Away

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The fifth-oldest male panda in the world passed away at the end of April. Ling Ling was Japan’s oldest giant panda. He was born at China’s Beijing Zoo in 1985 and was given to Japan as a symbol of friendship in 1992. Ling Ling was a star attraction at Tokyo’s Ueno Zoo for more than fifteen years. This is the first time in a long time that Ueno Zoo has not had a giant panda in residence — Ling Ling’s predecessors arrived from China to commemorate the signing of a peace treaty between China and Japan in 1972. The Ueno … Continue reading →

Dog Breeds: Shiba Inu

I once saw a Shiba Inu puppy at a pet store and totally fell in love with the breed. Shibas are the smallest of the native dog breeds that come from Japan. It is one of the breeds declared national monuments by Japan — that list also includes akitas and the Japanese chin. The breed nearly went extinct during World War II — I’m very glad it didn’t! The Shiba Inu was developed to be a hunting dog — both a scent hound and a sight hound. The breed is built for hunting in the dense undergrowth found in Japan’s … Continue reading →

Cruise into Spring—ASIA

You’ve sailed around the Hawaiian Islands, did the cruise to Alaska and the Caribbean and now you’re looking for new shores to discover. Well, how about Asia? Many travelers who seek out high seas adventures shy away from Asian sailings because they are among the most expensive on the market. However, if you take advantage of early-bird savings you can avoid draining your bank account on a single trip. Take a look: HOLLAND AMERICA This upscale cruise of China and Japan comes highly recommended by several travel publications. The epic 14-night odyssey aboard Statendam departs on March 26, 2008 from … Continue reading →