Nagasaki - Ten Attractions for Tourists

Nagasaki on the island of Kyushu, Japan, is most famous for the Atomic Bomb dropped at the end of World War 2, causing total devastation. The city is now intent on promoting world peace with their huge Peace statue in the Nagasaki Peace Park, and museums promoting world peace.

The Atomic Bomb Museum is very well presented with the history displayed in photos, reconstructed settings, artifact retrieved, videos etc.Their hope is that no other city will ever suffer as they did.

This fascinating city with a strong Portuguese and Dutch influence, is nestled into the surrounding hills, overlooking the busy harbour.

For tourists there is much to see, and you can easily fill three days sightseeing around Nagasaki.Below I have listed ten attractions for tourists that you should try and include in your sightseeing programme.


Ten Attractions for Tourists to visit in Nagasaki

• 1) Atomic Bomb Museum
• 2) Nagasaki Peace Park
• 3)Kofukuji Temple
• 5) Spectacle Bridge
• 6) Dejima Dutch Village
• 7) Glover Garden
• 8) Mt Inasa Ropeway and Lookout
• 9) Oura Catholic Church
• 10)China Town

For more detailed information on these attractions go to Nagasaki Sightseeing.

Getting around the city is very easy with a good tram system and buses running regularly.You can walk between many of the attractions, if you plan your route carefully.

The harbour is the centre and if you can find accommodation near the Dejima Wharf area you will be very centrally located.Here you can enjoy a choice of restaurants, and there are department stores and shopping.

Jeju Island - A Beautiful Destination BUT Very Expensive to Fly To!

We are about to take a trip to Jeju Island. A small island off the coast between mainland South Korea and Japan,it has been geared for Conventions and Sporting Events .When South Korea hosted the Soccer World Cup it was on Jeju Island that it was held.The latest ASEAN meeting was recently convened there also.

Known as Honeymoon Island by Koreans,it is one of the main destinations for honeymoon couples from South Korea, and is also very popular with Japanese honeymooners. A World Heritage Site with lava tubes, good diving in the beautifully clear waters off lovely beaches, and very scenic ..........this is an island for tourists as well as those there for work or sporting events.


Few Direct Flights and Very Expensive


Getting to Jeju is proving a headache! We are finding that booking flights is not simple.There are many flights every day............but they are VERY expensive.Flying from Fukuoka to Jeju is going to cost us almost as much as from New Zealand to Fukuoka.Perhaps a package deal would have been more cost effective.

As we plan to meet up with our son and daughter-in-law in Fukuoka it was logical to fly there. Our daughter is living on Jeju which is why we originally planned this trip.If you plan to take this trip I suggest you do it all together so you can co ordinate your flights. Unfortunately we booked the New Zealand Fukuoka leg separately.

Few flights are direct, which turns a one hour flight into anything from 3-8 hours depending on the stopover times.Cheaper fares become available only a month prior.......but may be booked out at the higher prices quoted.Asiana, Japan Air, Korea Air all fly from Japan most days while Jeju Air.......probably the cheapest option is only available to those who can speak Korean! We have struggled to find an affordable option......there are plenty of expensive ones!

I will update on Jeju Island once we return.......... first hand information on the island, accommodation, airfares etc Meanwhile I will continue to look for an affordable fare!

Thailand Holiday Activities

Thailand holiday activities are many and varied. Whether you want to lie on the pristine white sandy beaches soaking up the warm and the sun...... swimming in the crystal clear water by day,experience the culture and traditions in the cities, have a close encounter with some fascinating wild animals - tigers and elephants in particular, observe the many wonderful craft centres or take a Thai cooking class.......it is all here.

If you plan carefully you can enjoy some of all these Thailand holiday activities. Most tourists pass through Bangkok and you will want to spend a couple of days here if you do.If you are looking for a Thai beach vacation

• Phuket
• Koh Chang
• Koh Samui
• Krabi
• Pattaya

..........are but a few options.

Chiang Mai in the north is a fascinating city.....the craft centre of Thailand and offering many different cultural experiences.

Kanchanaburi is so near to Bangkok............yet so different.You can visit this city........the home of the famous Bridge on the River Kwai as a day tour or take two or three days to really enjoy the area.

Thai culture includes may beautiful temples and interaction with the Thai people as they go about their daily lives.Visit their markets,temples,canal areas and craft centres to see how they live.

Shopping is another reason for visiting Thailand. Here you can buy beautiful handmade crafts...wood ware, silk clothing and home decor items,umbrellas, hand embroidered linen, silverware, and fake anything.........enjoy the hunt and bargain for a good deal.

Thai food whether from out door stalls or the huge choice of restaurants and nightlife for those who seek it........ will make for a full and fantastic holiday.
You really are spoilt for choice when it comes to Thailand Holiday Activities.

A Tiger Temple and an Elephant Sanctuary in Thailand

I have just put up pages on two animal oriented Day Trips which are a fascinating look at magnificent jungle creatures at close quarters.

The Tiger Temple - Kanchanaburi

Run by monks this is a wonderful experience. The temple has been somewhat controversial lately as the Tiger Island planned for the tigers to be let to run free has not eventuated.However, bear in mind these lovely animals would not have lived had they not been rescued by locals and brought to the Temple. Here they may be used to satisfy the curiosity of tourists, but they are well feed and looked after....and they have a lovely relationship with the monks who with the help of volunteers , care for them.You can read more at http://www.fascinating-travel-destinations.com/tiger-temple.html

Elephant Sanctuary - Chiang Mai

This was a wonderful day tour and you experienced the elephants in different guises. They put on a show displaying their talents, you have a ride for an hour, and see them in the water having a load of fun with their mahouts.Set in the midst of a village it is interesting to experience somehting of the village and surrounding farming lifestyle.

Both these activities are part of tours that include other sights and experiences and come highly recommended.

Read more here at http://www.fascinating-travel-destinations.com/elephant-sanctuary.html

Planning Our Trip To Japan

I have just finished a Skype call to my son in Japan. He lives in Tokyo, and called for Mother's Day. It is celebrated in Japan today as well. Last year was lovely. We were actually in Okayama - famous for it's Korakuen garden at his Mother-in-law's place ............ so the two Mum's were together on Mother's Day.

Some of conversation was about where we want to go when we visit Kyushuin September. He and our daughter-in-law will join us and we will share a rented car to travel around.

I know I want to see Nagasaki. This city has a European background and apparently this is reflected in the architecture.There is much promoting peace after having rebuilt after the atomic bomb.

This whole island has many thermal areas with hot springs a feature in many areas. Beppo with it's thermal area and monkeys bathing in steaming pools always seems very exotic !

Pottery towns are also famous so I imagine we will be wanting to visit some of these traditional potteries as we tour the island.

Kumamoto looks a lovely city. The Shakain Koya Temple, Kumamoto Castle and Suizenji Jojuen Park all sound like places I will definitely be wanting to visit.

Fukuoka is of course also a city we will want to spend some time in! Already I can see some serious planning will be needed to fit it all in! As one week will be a little like Golden week and a public holiday we will need to book early.

I love Japan. There is just so much variety in the architecture and landscapes in the different islands.

Booking Airfares To Fukuoka,Japan and Jeju Island - South Korea

We have just booked our air fares from Auckland to Fukuoka, Japan. Cathay Pacific had some well priced fares via Hong Kong. We will have two nights as a stopover, so we can enjoy a day catching up on changes to the Hong Kong we visited back in 1986!

However, we are finding it very difficult to come up with a reasonably priced airfare from Fukuoka to Jeju Island, South Korea. Our daughter and her partner are living in the resort town of Soegwipo at the moment, so after a week with our son and daughter-in-law who live in Japan, we were hoping to visit Jeju Island, which is popular with the South Koreans for honeymoons..... thus it is nicknamed "Honeymoon Island".

It seems to be very pretty, and has a nice climate. While the Koreans say it is the Hawaii of Korea I am assured while lovely...... it is definitely not a second Hawaii!However, there are beautiful beaches, lava tubes, good deep sea diving and some interesting sightseeing spots to visit.

So far the cheapest airfare from Fukuoka to Jeju Island is about half the cost of flying from New Zealand to Fukuoka, and we have yet to find accommodation........our offspring's accommodation is minute!

One tip.......had we not asked our travel agent about him doing the bookings for the same price as the internet, we would not have been able to do the stopover in Hong Kong via the internet. Sometimes it works better to use a travel agent.......and he got exactly the same price for us as on the internet.

Drive from Melbourne to Adelaide - The Great Ocean Road

The Great Ocean Road is a fabulous piece of Australian coastline. The scenery is stunning, and there are many geographic features of interest along the way.


The most famous is the Twelve Apostles, and this whole coast, rich in history........has wonderful arches, caves, beaches, and walks. The towns along the way are very picturesque. Port Campbell is a beautiful little town so close to the Twelve Apostles it is a good option for overnight accommodation.


Torquay at the start of the Great Ocean Road is a real surfy town, Lorne a holiday destination for Melbournites. Port Fairy is a very beautiful boat harbour with historic interest like so many of these small towns along the way.


The Otway Ranges National Park has several interesting activities from going up the Cape Otway Lighthouse, to the Otway Fly - Tree walk.


Robe is a pretty little town at the end of the Great Ocean Road, before you carry on to Mt Gambier, the Coorong and on to Adelaide through the Langhorne Creek wine area.


You can read about the trip from Melbourne to Adelaide along the Great Ocean Road in full detail at Fascinating Travel Destinations.