Travel Guide - Bad Ischl, Austria

Bad Ischl is situated in the southern part of Upper Austria, at the Traun River in the centre of the Salzkammergut region. It is located at northern part of Hallstattsee. Bad Ischl is well-known as a famous spa town.
Transportation : by rail or by Postbus
You can take Postbus to Bad ischl interchange in Gosumuhle Umst from Hallstatt, the bus terminates at Bad Ischl Railway station.

Attraction:
Kaiservilla - Emperor Franz Joseph spent most of his summers at this villa. Kaiserilla is surrounded by the imperial park. It's a perfect place for a walk.
Photomuseum - known as Marmorschlössl, which used to be the teahouse of Empress Elisabeth, but currently it holds today the Upper Austrian Museum of Photography.

Museum Der Stadt – Museum of the Township of Bad Ischl
This museum holds historic, cultural and traditional collections depicting the development of the town of Bad Ischl, the importance of the production of salt for the town and the town’s rise to a spa town and imperial summer residence.



Useful link:
Official website of Bad Ischl -
http://www.badischl.com/en/5-02-0-73273/start/sehenswertes.html

Travel Guide - Hallstatt, Austria

Hallstatt is a small lakeside village in Salzkammergut, Upper Austria. It is situated in the south-western shore of the Hallstätter See (lake). This village is is a World Heritage Site for Cultural Heritage. The first known salt mine in the world is also in Hallstatt.

Transporation:

By rail:
Take train from Wien Westbahnhof or Salzburg to Hallstatt via Atnang-Puchheim. Once you reach Hallstatt railway station, then go to a Pier to take a boat ride to Hallstatt.

By bus:
Postbus operates in between Obertraun / Bad Ischl and Hallstatt.You can find the bus-stop in front of Obertraun and Bad Ischl railway station.

Accommodation: Gasthof "Weißes Lamm"
Dr.-F.-Morton-Weg 166, 4830 Hallstatt, AUSTRIA

Gasthof "Weißes Lamm" is run by the Holl's family. The hotel is decorated in a typical traditional German style combined with comfortable furniture. Its restaurant serves breakfast buffet, lunch and dinner daily. The meal is delicious and in reasonable price. It is located in town and just behind the tourist information centre. The location is very good. Each spacious room has balcony, bathroom and toilet with internet access (LAN connection only).

Attraction:

Hallstatt World Heritage Museum - It is a door of history of Hallstatt. Once you step in, you will have an impressive travel through time. You will experience the history and delevlopment of Hallstatt.
Salzwelten - the oldest salt mine in the world

Salt culture theme trail - experience the life of miners

Protestant Church - is situated within a churchyard bordering the dark waters of the lake

Catholic Church with graves

Useful links:

Austria rail: http://www.oebb.at/en/index.jsp

Hallstatt official web site: http://www.hallstatt.at/

The web site of Gasthof "Weißes Lamm": http://www.weisses-lamm.at/en/index.php

2Days / 1Nights Hakone National Park

If you would like to use your limited time to visit Hakone, here is suggested itinerary for your reference. Otherwise, I highly recommend to stay at least 3Days/2nights to enjoy fantastic natural scenic and experenice Japan culture by visiting museums and shrines and bathing in Japanese-style hot springs (onsens).

Day One in Hakone National Park

Gentle reminder : Make sure to purchase Hakone Freepass before start your journey to Hakone. All transportation I mentioned below are included in this valuable pass.

Shinjuku 新宿 -->(by Odakyu railway) --> Hakone-Yumoto station 湯本 -->(by Hakone Tozan bus) --> Motohakone 元箱根

Check in guesthouse and walk along lakeside to Moto Hakone-Ko 元箱根港.

Take a pirate boat ride(approx. 30mins) on Lake Ashi to Kojiri-Togendai 桃源台, where is the Hakone ropeway terminal. Then take ropeway to Owakudani 大涌谷(approx. 18mins) - the place offers magnificent views of Mount Fuji and hot springs (onsen) in what is still an active volcanic region.

Black eggs are the famous souvenir in Owakudani. These eggs are boiled in the sulfuric springs all around the mountain side. Due to chemical reaction between the egg shell and the sulfur in the water, it causes the shell to turn into black. The funny fact is "Each egg eaten is supposed to give you an additional 7 years of life".

,

Take Hakone ropeway to Sounzan 早雲山 and change cable car to Gora 強羅, where Hakone Tozan way terminates at. You can enjoy beautiful seasonal flowers in Gora-Koen Park. If you like to visit museum, you should go to Hakone Museum of Art, which specializes in Japanese ceramics. Here is a craft house where you can try blowing glasses, making pottery, etc.

Take Hakone Tozan bus to direction of Sengokuhara 仙石原

The Museum of Saint-Expupery and Little Prince in Hakone

Admission ticket: 1500yen (1200yen for advance ticket purchased in Lawson Ticket) Please refer to its official website for the updated prices.

Besides museum, there are a largest shop for mechandise in Japan. A French cooking restaurant and a cafe both opens daily.

After met Petit Prince, take Hakone Tozan bus down to Kojiri-Togendai.

Had a tea at terminal before taking boat back to Motohakone-Ko.

Motohakone is a small town. It is recommended to have traditional Japanese-style dinner at your guesthouses. Most of guesthouses serve dinner daily, but advance reservation is required.

Day Two in Hakone National Park

Had a nice breakfast in guesthouse and checked-out.

Had a morning walk along lakeside to Motohakone. Take Hakone Tozan Bus to Kowakidani 小涌谷,

where the Hakone Kowakien Yunessun is located at.

It consist of two zones - Yunessun Spa zone and Miro No Yu Spa zone, shopping mall and restaurant. Please refer to the below web site for details of the admission fee.
Yunessun Spa zone: Wearing swimsuit is required. This zone is more family-oriented. There are
25different kinds of spa and water activities, like japanese Sake Sap, Rodeo mountain (water slides), ...
Miro No Yu Spa zone: No swimsuit is allowed. This zone sections into private areas for female and for male and is based on traditional Japanese style including indoor and outdoor bathing facilities. Like Roten Burooutdoor bathing - you can experience an open-air bathing in Japanese garden. You can also enjoy bathing in a unique Taro (a huge wooden bath cask).


Useful link:
Hakone Travel guide - http://www.hakonenavi.jp/english/index.html

The Museum of Saint-Expupery and Little Prince in Hakone http://www.tbs.co.jp/l-prince/en/

Hakone Kowakien Yunessun - http://www.yunessun.com/english/index.html

Hakone National Park Travel guide

Transportation: Odakyu Railway

Take train from Shinjuku, Tokyo to Hakone-Yumoto station 箱根湯本

By Limited Express "Romancecar"(reserved seats): 1 hour and 25 minutes

By express train (non-reserved seats): 1 hr. and 50 min.

Ticket: Hakone Freepass (by express trains only)

From Odawara 3,900 yen for 2day pass and 4,400 yen for 3 day pass.
From Shinjuku 5,000 yen for 2 day pass and 5,500 yen for 3 day pass.

This pass includes unlimited travel on 7 different transportation within Hakone area, including designated bus service, Sightseeing cruise (Pirate boat ride), Ropeway, cablecar and Tozan trains and one round-trip between your departure station and Odawara Station on the Odakyu Line. Some attraction also offers discount for Hakone freepass holders.

The details you can find it from below link,

http://www.odakyu.jp/english/freepass/hakone_01.html

Accommodation : Lakeside Inn Charlotte in Hakone National Park

http://www.charlotte2.yad.jp/english.html

Direction to reach this inn : Reach at Hakone-Yumoto railway station. Take Hakone Toza bus to Moto-Hakone-Pier 元箱根港direction and get off at Moto-Hakone Bus Stop. Facing to the lake and walk to your right, then pass the Police Box of Moto-Hakone and just 5 houses away from Police Box on your left hand side.

This inn is in a pinkish building with terrace facing to beautiful Lake Ashi. The owner and staff are nice and helpful. The location is very conveinent to reach bus stop or the pier. The room is big enough especially compared to the hotel rooms in Tokyo. They have both Western and Japanese style rooms available. All rooms are with bathrooms and toilets. Free internet access is available in lobby and some rooms.

Twin-bed western-style room with mountian view

They also serve nice western-style breakfast

as well as delicious traditional japanese-style dinner (with Alaskan crab-legs) at their restaurant.

Oi-shi ! (Yummy!)

Day Trip to World Heritage of Nikko, Japan

Nikko is located in Northern Honshu, however, it is an easy day trip from Tokyo.


Transporation: Take Tobu Line from Asakusa to Tobu-nikko, which takes around 2hours and costs 1320yen (with extra for rapid trains).

If you would like to stay more than a day, you can buy this ALL NIKKO PASS, which includes round-trip train ticket between Asakusa and Shimoimaichi + bus pass + other discounts; this pass is valid for 4 days - Adults approx. 4,400 yen , Children approx. 2,210 yen, but SPACIA Special Express fare not included.

Walk along the 1km long avenue from railway station to Tosho-gu area, which is lined with souvenirs shops, restaurants and inns. You can find nice Nikko wood cravings and wooden sandals ("geta" in japanease) there.

Shinkyo Bridge arches over the Daiya River. Just Opposite to this red wooden bridge, there is the way to World Heritage - Shrine and Temple of Tosho-gu.

Walk up the stairs, you can pass-by the 1st temple founded in Nikko, Rinno-ji Temple. There are 3wooden and glit statues of Buddha which are each 8.5m high.

When you see a Japanese-style granite gate ("torii"), there is the entrance of Tosho-gu Shrine. When you step in, a 5-story Pagoda is on your left hand side. Each story represents an element - earth, water, fire, wind and heaven.

The famous sculptures of the 3monkeys: "See no evil", "Hear no evil" and "Speak no evil" can be found in an unpainted wooden building.

Futaran-san Shrine is the main shrine. Chugushi and Okumiya are located at the side of the Lake Chuzenji and at top of Mount. Nantai respectively.

Niomon Gate is the main entrance to Taiyuin-byo Shrine. Walk up plenty of stairs and pass through few gates to reach the sanctuary.

Useful link:

Tobu railway website: http://www.tobu.co.jp/foreign/tobulineguide/index.html

Tokyo Travel Guide - Transportation and Accommodation

Tokyo is the capital city of Japan.

Transportation

By Air:
Tokyo has 2 airports - the international Narita Airport (NRT) is located 60 km away from city centre, but the domestic Haneda Airport (HND) is located about 30 minutes south of central Tokyo. Recently Japan Airlines (JL) and All Nippon Airways (NH) also operate direct flights from Hong Kong to Haneda Airport.

From/To Narita Airport to city centre

By Railways:

http://www.keisei.co.jp/keisei/tetudou/keisei_us/html/o_express.html
Take the Keisei Limited Express from Narita Airport to Nippori Station (about 75 minutes, 1000 yen) and transfer to the JR Yamanote Line or JR Keihin-Tohoku Line to get to Tokyo Station (10 minutes, 150 yen). There are connections every 20 minutes.

By limousine bus: http://www.limousinebus.co.jp/en/
Limousine buses to Tokyo Station depart Narita Airport every 15 to 20 minutes. The one way journey takes about 80 to 100 minutes and costs 3000 yen.

From/To Haneda Airport to city centre

By Tokyo Monorail:
Take the Tokyo Monorail to Hamamatsucho Station (20 minutes) and transfer to the JR Yamanote or JR Keihin-Tohoku Line to Tokyo station (5minutes). The one way fare is 620 Yen.

By Keikyu Railways:
Take the Keikyu Airport Line to Shinagawa station (20minutes) and transfer to Jr Yamanote or JR Keihin-Tohoku Line to Tokyo Station.The one way fare is 560 Yen.

By limousine bus:
Limousine buses depart from Haneda Airport to Tokyo Station every 30 to 60 minutes. The one way journey takes about 40 minutes and costs 900 Yen.


Accommodation

For Budget hotel - Sakura Group
Sakura Hotel Jimbocho: http://www.sakura-hotel.co.jp/index.html
Sakura Hotel Hatagaya: http://www.sakura-hotel-hatagaya.com/
Sakura Hotel Ikebukuro: http://www.sakura-hotel-ikebukuro.com/
Sakura Hostel: http://www.sakura-hostel.co.jp/

For Ryokan (traditional Japanese inns, like guesthouses)

House Ikebukuro (metro: Ikebukuro): http://www.housejp.com.tw/
-Internet service and wireless access both are available

Kimi Ryokan - Japanese-style (metro:Ikebukuro): http://www.kimi-ryokan.jp/index.html
-WIFI is available on 1st floor only
-Shared shower rooms are available on each floor

Grand House Chang Yee Hotel: http://changtee.com/indexen.htm
-This guesthouse has two branches - one in Ikebukuro and another one in Komagome
-Internet service and wireless access both are available

Tama Ryokan (metro: Takadanobaba): http://www.tamaryokan.com/#about
-it is located in between Ikebukuro and Shinjuku
-Wireless access is available throughout the hotel


Useful links:
Japan Guide: http://www.japan-guide.com/
Keisei railway: http://www.keisei.co.jp/keisei/tetudou/keisei_us/top.html
Tokyo Metro: http://www.tokyometro.jp/global/en/
Tokyo Ryokan: http://www.tokyoryokan.jp/budgetryokan.htm

2010 Tokyo Marathon

Tokyo Marathon 2010 will be taken place in Tokyo on 28Feb2010. This event will include marathon and 10km race.
The official web site of Tokyo Marathon 2010: http://www.tokyo42195.org/2010/index_en.html

Only 79days to go! Have you planned your trip yet?

Transportation

Origin: Hong Kong
Flight: Hong Kong / Narita, Tokyo / Hong Kong
Airlines : Non stop - Cathay Pacific (CX), All Nippon Airways (NH), Japan Airlines (JL)
Flying time: outbound - approx. 4hrs / inbound - approx. 5.25hrs
Time difference: Japan's time is 1hours ahead of HK local time


Brief details of marathon and 10km race Runners should notice

Late Jan 2010 - Runners will receive the post for Guideline of participation to Tokyo Marathon

25-27Feb 2010 - Runners have to check-in and pick up their Bib numbers in Tokyo Big Sight West Exhibition Hall (東京國際展示場) ( nearest Metro: Kokusai-Tenjijo (Rinkai Line)). The check-in time is tentative from 10.00 to 19.30

By Train: From Ikebukuro/Shinjuku/Shibuya - take JR Yamanote line to interchange at Osaki station to Rinkai Line.

Please browse the following link for access map-http://www.bigsight.jp/english/general/access/index.html

28Feb 2010 (Sunday)

Starting time and area : at 0910am (Elite and Mass Race Start) - Tokyo Metropolitan Government building in Shinjuku (nearest metro: Tochomae)

Finishing time/area :

10km race - 10.50 in Hibiya Park 日比谷(Metro: Hibiya)

Marathon - 16.10 in Tokyo Big Sight

Course: Tokyo Metropolitan Government building -- Iidabashi -- Imperial Palace -- Hibiya -- Shinagawa -- Ginza -- Nihombashi -- Asakusa Kaminari-mon -- Tsukiji -- Ariake (Toyosu) -- Tokyo Big Sight

5 Weeks' Budget Travel in Europe

Origin : Hong Kong

Airlines : Air France

Flight itinerary: Hong Kong / via Paris / Prague // London / via Paris / Hong Kong


1st stop: 3days/2nights in Prague, Czech Republics

• Day 1: Check-in guesthouse and wander around


• Day 2: Visit Prague Castle, Lesser Town, Czech Senate, Kampa Island, evening walk through Charles Bridge


• Day 3: Check-out and left lugguage at Coach station. Had a morning walk in beautiful Charles Bridge, Old Town

Overnight coach : dep at 2300 at Florenc coach station, Prague and arr at 0600am at Nepliget station, Budapest

2nd stop: 2days/1night in Budapest, Hungary

• Day 1: Check-in guesthouse. Visit Royal Palace, Matyais Church and Fisherman's Bastion in Buda side, Central market, Vaci Utea, Vajdahunyad Castle,Heroes' Sqaure in Pest side


• Day 2: Wander along Danube (Rhine river) and walk across famous Chain Bridge

Coach: dep 1300 at Nepliget station, Budapest and arr ard 1600 at Erdberg, Wien(Vienna)

3nd stop: 3days/2nights in Wien, Austria

• Day 1: Check-in budget hotel. Wander around the Ring area - city centre, Stephans platz


• Day 2: Visit the Ring, Karlsplatz ,Staatsopera, Albertina, Josefs-platz, Volksgarten, Burggarten, Museums-quartier,Heldenplatz, Burggarten, Schonbrunn Palace


• Day 3 : Take morning train to Salzburg via Attnang Puchheim

4th stop: 4days/3nights in Salzburg, Austria

• Day 1: Check-in hostel. Wander around old town


• Day 2: take cable-car up to Untersberg, walk across Mozartsteg to Alter Market, Rathaus, take Salzach river cruise from Market bridge, Gstattengasse to take Monchsberglift (one of most stunning panorama terrace in Salzburg), Museum of Modern Art Salzburg Monchsberg, Residenz Gallery and Residenz State Rooms,Mozart's Birthplace in Old Town


• Day 3: visit Hellbrunn Palace -Trick fountains, Pavilion of Sound of the Music, Folklore museum, go to new town - Mirabellplatz, Salzburg Baroque Museum, Mirabellgarten, Mozart's residence and back to old town - DOM – Cathedral, Cathedral museum, Cathedral excavations, and take take railway cable car to Hohensalzburg fortress (another panorama view)


• Day 4: take train to Hallstatt via Attnang Puchheim

5th stop: 4days/3nights in Hallstatt, Austria

• Day 1: take ferry to Hallstatt town from Hallstatt railway station and check-in guesthouse. wander around the town - salt culture theme trail, World Heritage Museum, Protestant Church, Catholic Church with graves and walk along the lakeside.


• Day 2: Morning: Visit Salt mine – Salzwelten (highly recommend), Afternoon: take bus to nearby town, Obertrum


• Day 3: Visit World Heritage Museum in Hallstatt, then take bus to another town, Bad Ischl via Gosumuhle Umst - Kaiservilla, Kaiserpark, Photomuseum, Museum Der Stadt (Museum of the Township of Bad Ischl)


• Day 4: check-out guesthouse and take ferry back to railway station. Take train to Leoben Hbf via Stainach-irdning to catch the overnight train to Rome

Stopover in Leoben, Austria - Congress Leoben, Hacklhaus, Miner's Fountain, Plague Column and Angel's Fountain in Main Square, Schwammerlturm(Mushroom Tower), Town Parish Church St. Xaver,
Kunshalle Leoben

Overnight train: dep 2140 at Leoben Hbf and arr 0900 at Rome Termini

6th stop: 4days/3nights in Rome, Italy

• Day 1: check-in guesthouse and visit Vatican Museum & Sistine Chapel


• Day 2: Colosseo, Arco di Tito, Piazza Venezia, Monumento a Vittorio Emanuele II, Colonna Traiana, Pantheon at Piazza della Rotonda, Piazza Navona, walk across Ponte Sant' Angelo to Castel Sant' Angelo, Piazza S. Pietro XII


• Day 3: Go to Vatican again - Piazza S. Pietro and visit Bascilla S. Pietro and re-visit Vatican Museum, Fontana di Trevi


• Day 4: take train to Firenze St. Maria Novella station

7th stop: 3days/2nights in Firenze, Italy

• Day 1: Wander around city centre - Chiesa S. Maria Novella, Duomo, Uffizi, walk across famous Ponte Vecchio, P. zo de' Pitti


• Day 2: - Take one day trip to Pisa, Italy - take train to Pisa and visit Pisa Leaning Tower. - Back to Firenze and take bus to P. le Michelangiolo to view sunset


• Day 3: Take morning train to Venice via Bologna, Italy

Stopover in Bologna, Italy - Piazza Maggiore, Fontana di Nettuno (Fountain of Neptune), Bologna leaning towers

8th stop: 4days/3nights in Venice, Italy

• Day 1: Arrive at St. Lucia station, Venice in the late afternoon and check-in hotel. wander around - Piazzale Roma via St. Croce to St. Polo, walk across Rialto to Piazza S. Marco.


• Day 2: Wander around St. Marco area and visit St. Maria Della Salute, Dorsoduro


• Day 3: Rest day - just wander around all souvenir shops and seek for Tri-angels and face masks.


• Day 4: Take noon train to Milano Centrale station.

9th stop: 3days/2nights in Milano, Italy

• Day 1: Arrival at Milano Centrale in the late afternoon and check-in guesthouse. Go to Piazza del Duomo - Cathedral of Santa Maria Nascente, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
• Day 2 - A day trip to Lake Como, Italy - take train to Como Nord Lago from Cadorna station.

Lake Como, Italy - Walk along lakeside and visit Duomo, take cable car up to Brunate

• Day 3: Check-out and leave lugguage at Milano Centrale station. Visit Sforza Castle, Duomo and back to station.

Overnight train - dep 1945 at Milano Centrale and arr 0943 at Francia station (Estacio de Franca), Barcelona

10th stop: 5days/4nights in Barcelona, Spain

• Day 1: Reach at Estacio de Franca via Pg. Colom to La Rambla, St Josep market, Cathedral, Catalunya, via Pg. de Gracia to Casa Batilo, Le Pedrera (Casa Mila), and then take train to Pineda de Mar, where I stay at.
• Day 2: Picasso Museum, amazing Palau de la Musia Catalana, La Sagrada Familia, Parc Guell, The Magic Fountain of Montjuic, Poble Espanyol de Montjuic (known as the Spanish Village)
• Day 3: Drive to Figueres, Spain from Pineda de Mar. Visit Dali Museum.
• Day 4: Visit Montjuic and go shopping in city centre
• Day 5: Take British Airway to London Heathow, UK from Barcelona international airport

11th stop: 7days/6nights in Portsmouth, UK - Visit my friends

• Day 1: Take subway to Waterloo, London and take rail to Portsmouth, UK, where I stay at
• Day 2: Wander around the city centre and meet my friends

2Days/1night in Salisbury, UK

• Day 3: Take morning National coach at The Hard interchange, Portsmouth and arrive at Salisbury bus station around 1100am. Check-in hostel and wander around city centre. Visit Salzburg Cathedral
• Day 4: Join Stonehenge bus tour - take bus at Salisbury bus station at 1000am, visit Stonehenge site and nature trail and Old Sarum. Then take evening national coach back to Portsmouth.
• Day 5: Go to Fareham for lunch and visit outlet before return to Portsmouth

A day trip to London, UK

• Day 6: Take train to Waterloo, London and visit Dali Museum. Wander around city centre - Piccadilly, Regent Street and Oxford for shopping
• Day 7 - relax day in Portsmouth and take National coach to Heathrow Bus terminal, London around 1445. Catch flight to Hong Kong via Paris.