Japan 2014: Things to Remember

After every trip away there are always a few things you want to remember for the next time.  Just little hints to make life a little easier on the road:

1. Always check all electrical devices in the power adapters before leaving home. Japan wasn't too bad as we were able to get an adapter for an Australian 3-pin plug but I reckon I might well be out of luck somewhere a little less technologically minded.

2. If you want to use an electrical device for something, take your own. Once we left Tokyo I found it hard to extract the PC from Will's grasp so I could write blog entries. Much easier if I'd take my own Mac.

3. Bring plastic coffee mugs. Japan is a tea-drinking country, and the cups they use are bloody small. If you are not getting breakfast included in your hotel deal you probably want to make yourself a coffee at some time during a day. It's a bit hard when the coffee bag is bigger than the actual cup.

4. Bring plastic spoons and forks. I'm okay for a knife as I always carry the Swiss army knife my father gave me almost thirty years ago, but I found it a bit hard using it to eat preserved fruit, or soup, with chopsticks. It's okay if you've got breakfast included - we normally don't.

5. Make sure the luggage is in working order. If it's on the edge and the wheels are about to part company with the body of the case then invest in a new one. If you travel on aircraft anywhere at all each year then you can only expect 10 years out of each item. You're asking for trouble if you try to stretch it beyond that.