Sail Croatia

Croatia is a huge county made up of amazing cities located both on the mainland and on the islands, as a result this can be quite difficult to navigate around. The costs of ferries, trains and buses from one island to another and the back to the mainland can be very expensive and exhausting. 

For me, the best way to get around this is to sail. When I was travelling around Croatia I went on a week long cruise that navigated in between the islands and the mainlands. Not only was the cruise your transportation but it was also your accommodation.

Sail Croatia is the company I traveled with, their prices are extremely competitive and they provide breakfast and lunch. If you want to splash out or save your pennies there are multiple type of boats you can pick from, there are smaller cheaper options, or larger more expensive options. 

View of the bow from the top deck of our boat

Sail Croatia is great as their route is shared with other boats, when they have all docked in the harbor there is lots of new people to meet. You become friends with these people as well as the people on your boat, you become a little family. They also arrange activities for you to do at every new location, taking the hassle and stress out of travelling between islands and allowing you to completely relax while you are taken on an adventure. 

Kayaking activity arranged by Sail Croatia

Quad bike riding arrange by Sail Croatia

Dinner is not provided on Sail Croatia, however with the vast choice of restaurants available at every new location this is not something you will complain about. 

View from dinner

Mozzarella and tomato entree

Seafood risotto

The view you get of the scenery while sail to your new location is indescribable, the beauty of Croatia is in it's crystal clear blue water, and their vast mountain ranges. Sail Croatia allows you to sit back and take it all of its beauty in ways that catching a bus or train would not be able to.

Top deck of our Sail Croatia boat

View of Makarska harbor

Sunset from our boat

- Alice -

Tokyo Must See Pt. 2

Continue with my post last week, today we'll dig more into the historical side of Tokyo.

Tokyo National Museum

Located in Ueno Park, Tokyo National Museum is a must go destination for those history junkie. Known as one of the biggest museum in Japan, Tokyo National Museum possesses the largest collection of Japanese art in the world. The collection ranges from ancient pottery, Japanese sculpture, Samurai swords to ukiyo-e (woodblock print). 

If you have no time limitation, you can as well check out the Gallery of Eastern Antiquities (Toyokan) with a collection of Buddhist sculptures of Asian countries as well as Chinese ceramics.

As Tokyo National Museum located in Ueno Park, you may as well visit the Kaneiji Temple and Shinobazu Pond.

You can get access to Ueno Park via the Ueno Station's "Park's exit". 

Sensoji (Asakusa Kannon Temple)

Sensoji is a Buddhist Temple located in Asakusa, one of the most popular temple. You will find a 200 meters shopping street. Best place for buying souvenirs!!!

Also there are plenty of shops selling Japanese traditional sweets and street food. Prepare to have sugar and carb coma hahaha, 

-Anne

Tokyo Must See - Pt. 1

Tokyo is a fantastic destination that is a mix of historical and modern culture. Visiting Tokyo can not only give you the impression of visiting a foreign country but also probably visiting another planet. From the historic sphere influenced by the Edo era, the mesmerizing animation world of Ghibli Studio museum to the timeless Meiji Shrine. All will be briefly introduced in this week post.

Meiji Jingu (Meiji Shrine)

Constructed in the late 19th century, Meiji Shrine is known as one of the most important as well as popular Shinto shrines of Japan. Tokyo is known for its concrete jungle with a lack of green within the city, 100,000 trees that were planted in the Meiji Jingu's forest during its construction is surely a place of tranquility and to escape from the hustle of every day busy life of Tokyo.

At Meiji Jingu, you can toss the coin into a box, clap twice, bow once and clap once more for wishes and good luck. Also, you can write wishes on provided paper and tie them on the prayer wall.

The shrine is located 10-minute walk from southern entrance near Harajuku Station and northern entrance near Yoyogi Station.

Ghibli Studio Museum

As a foreigner. obtaining ticket to Ghibli Studio Museum is slightly more difficult and expensive. If you are from Australia, you can buy the ticket from JTBtravel - a Japanese travel agency. However, they just have a limited amount on hand so you have to book for the tickets 1 or 2 months in advance as they are sold out very quickly. Or else you can get them at govoyagin for last minute tickets but it surely will be a lot more expensive. Luckily, I got my Japanese friend buy them for me in Japan since they are sold wildly in Japanese convenience store.

Unfortunately, due to the no photo policy of the museum, I could not take much photos. However, if you are a fan of Mr. Hayao Mizyazaki animation like Totoro, Spirited Away or Howl's Moving Castle, it is a must go destination. The experience there is truly amazing that I would recall it as one of my favorite place in Tokyo.

To get to the museum, take the Ghibly schedule bus from Mitaka Station (Bus stop #9).

To be continue..

Anne

Tokyo At A Glance

'Wandering in a smart Tokyo neighborhood is like wandering in a box of Quality Street: everything is different, everything tastes the same.' - Donald Richie 

Mr Richie got it right exactly how I felt when I first stepped into that fascinating land. For years and years fantasizing about one day visiting Japan, reading their manga and watching anime, it stroke right at my heart that this would be the country I would fall in love with. I finally made it to Tokyo last July and determined a goal to come back their at least once a year haha. You see how deeply in love I am with Japan.

Me at Meiji Jingu

It is true that no matter how much I heard about the Japanese people, I was still struck by how immaculate and professional they were right when I arrived at the airport. Everything was white, clean and shiny. With a minimalism freak like me, this kind of architecture really gave me somehow exciting satisfaction. The staffs there were the friendliest customs I had ever dealt with. Good impression right from the start.

Inside a subway carriage

Another thing that impressed was their train system. Trains arrived literally every few minutes and you would not have the feeling that you have been waiting for ages like here in Sydney and most importantly, THEY WERE NEVER LATE. Even though it was peak hour, people were stuffed inside one carriage but still very organized and people were exceptionally quiet and polite. You would not find people pushing each other on the train. I was always wondering why while Japanese hustling during peak hour to catch the train, they were always staring at their feet, this really gave me the feeling that these Japanese people are sad and depressed. Until a month ago, I read 'Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of His Years of Pilgrimage' by Haruki Murakami, and I finally found the answer. It is simply that they just don't want to lose their shoes. How interesting it is!

On the way from the airport to city central

Tokyo is beautiful both at day and night. I seriously cannot stop praising about my adoration for this city. I think I'd better save it for the next posts. My intended plan is to go through everything from very touristy spots to some hidden secret places I discovered. Stay tuned for some more interesting tips and reviews.

Tokyo to me is full of unsolvable enigmas and beautiful endless melancholy 

Till next time guys!

-Anne-

VIETNAM - A Stroll Through The Clouds

Hải Vân Pass.

Merry Christmas lovely people, and welcome to another installment of the Escapist Guide to things you need to check out on your travels around the world, when you're looking for something - just that little bit extra special.

This week i'm going to touch on what I believe to be one of the most beautiful locations that I have visited, and to top it off, a cheap trip for the day if you're running on a budget. 

So "Đèo Hải Vân" means Ocean Cloud Pass in Vietnamese, and the name could not be more apt. As you break the cover of the forest you can see nothing but beautiful blue sky and ocean, alongside the rich contrast of the lush forests available for your overall sensory pleasure. 

View of a coastal village, by the water.

The area itself has a rich history, for all you traveling buffs out there. I will not go too deep into it, because i'm hardly an expert, but the road that you will travel along is riddled with old bunkers that you get to explore, and has always been a major strategic point for the Vietnamese since the dawn of their country. 

History and beauty combined, the area has a captivating ambiance that instills that feeling of adventure that every traveller craves, and really imparts that sense of being in the midst of the unknown - out of the comfort zone - which is the point, right?

I'll just cap this one off by saying you can take a guided tour with a bunch of lovely locals if you wish, or simply explore as you go. Whatever you do, you're guaranteed an experience to remember.

One of the bunkers, ft. random tourists

Till next time, Escape Artists!

Sebastian Bull - Blogger extraordinaire 

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