Leisure Special

After watching the “Bizarre food” and I forget the other one that both feature Japan specifically Tokyo. I got a little too carried away and search for the best things to do when visiting Japan. But, I decided to post about Osaka for a different info, which is the second largest city of the country.

Here are the lists of few things that you might be interested doing when in Osaka this month.

• Watch some Sumo. You may become a certified sumo fans after attending the Sumo Spring Grand Tournament usually held in March at the Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium. It’s too thrilling to see the live action between two hefty men with topknots as they try to push each other out of the circle.
• Visit the Floating Garden Observation Deck. The platform is usually a bridge that connects the two towers of the Omeda Sky Building and gives you a 360 degrees view of Osaka and it’s surrounding locales. The sights are breathtaking, but the heights of 170m us dizzying.
• Watch a puppet show. The National Bunraku Theater is one of the worlds where you can watch these traditional puppet shows that date back to the Edo period. Sounds childish? Well, think twice as the huge puppets require three operators each. Add the traditional Japanese narrative and music that are so captivating.
• Don’t forget to visit the 500-year old Fuedal Castle. Himeji Castle, located outside Osaka will require extra travel, but it’s worth it. It’s Japan’s oldest and most beautiful surviving castle. This UNESCO World Heritage site remains intact and undamaged by wars or disasters.
• Give Momofuku Ando Instant Ramen Museum some love. The world would have been a dreary place without instant ramen, so make sure that you pay tribute to its inventor, Momofuku Ando, at this campy museum. Get your hands dirty and make your own noodles from scratch or choose unique flavors and design instant ramen cups.

Through trial and error we learn that most of the aerosol sunscreens, while quick and convenient, tend to sting. The spray sunscreens don’t seem to have day-long staying power, plus you need to spend the time to rub them in carefully. Some of the smudge-proof, water-proof, rub-proof products do have staying power, but are too sticky and take too long to absorb into excited kids who are waiting to jump in the water or run around outside. So, after a lot of “eeww!” and “gross!” here are a few great sunscreen products:

• No-Ad Continuous Spray SPF 50, Alcohol-Free – this waterproof spray-on sunscreen is convenient and quick to apply, but because it doesn’t have alcohol like the other aerosol sunscreens, it doesn’t sting kids with sensitive skin.
• Baby Lizard & Blue Lizard-Australian sunscreen – this is chemical-free and fragrance-free with 30-plus SPF. Although a bit on the sticky side, it’s soothing and lasts (with one reapplication) through long days in the sun and pool.
• Sunscreen sticks (Coppertone Water Babies brand with 30 SPF) – they have great staying power and work well when applied to high-exposure spots like faces, ears and shoulders. Their small size makes them easy to have on hand — and kids can apply themselves.
• Sunscreen wipes – while not always waterproof, these are quick to apply and provide ample coverage for days at the park or in the yard.

Stay hydrated. It turns out that drinking plenty of water will not only counter the overall dehydrating effects of air travel, which can lead to headaches, stomach problems, cramps, fatigue and more, but can actually fortify your preemptive natural immune mechanisms to function considerably better. Of course, this is the case in normal daily life — when exercising, during prolonged sun exposure, etc. Even caffeine and alcohol consumption can dry you out. However, in an airplane, where your nose and throat are on the front lines of the war with exceedingly dry air, these are the first places to suffer. Sipping water or some other fluid regularly throughout the flight may be more effective than drinking a lot of water at one time before or during the flight; this will keep your protective system from long dry spells.

Nasal mists have been found to be very effective in keeping this system working in your nose. Additionally, hot drinks are a good way to keep your protective mucous membranes working — first, to assist in keeping you generally hydrated; second, by triggering the system into gear; and third, by directly providing moisture in the form of steam. Note that this is not a treatment per se. Rather, it just keeps your defenses strong and functioning.

Keep your hands clean. Your hands are the most consistent point of first contact with cold, flu and other germs. It is a direct line from armrest/seatback/handshake to fingers to fork to mouth to full-blown fever a few days later. According to a National Institutes of Health factsheet, the type of virus that causes the common cold and the flu has been found to survive for up to three hours on your skin or on objects such as armrests, TV remote control handsets, tray tables and other similar surfaces. However, the simple act of washing your hands with hot water and soap is a formidable rampart against this transfer of harmful microorganisms. Read the rest of this entry »

If the travel you’re planning is a vacation, consider the type of activity that would be best during pregnancy. For example, relaxing by the beach or at a lovely hotel would be far better than hiking in the mountains! A trip with a single destination would be better than a trip where you’re frequently moving from one location to another. Don’t plan too many activities in one day; pace yourself, for you will tire more quickly than when you’re not pregnant. If you’re traveling for business, arrive at your destination a day before the meeting or activity so that you can rest. Limit the length of your workdays, if possible, and take regular breaks.

Following a healthful pregnancy diet is also important when traveling. Splurging on delicious treats is always a fun part of a vacation, and that’s fine in pregnancy as well … as long as you remember to also eat the “good” foods that you and your baby need to stay healthy. If your travel takes you to countries where you’re not sure about the safety of the water, drink only bottled water or fruit juices. Avoid raw fruits or vegetables as well. Take some healthy snacks with you in case you’re not certain of the safety of foods. And remember to pack your prenatal vitamins.

With a little advance planning and some wise precautions, travel during your pregnancy can be safe and enjoyable. Bon voyage!

Basically, fear of flying can be caused by a number of factors, including claustrophobia or a fear of heights. Many fearful fliers feel an irrational anxiety that their plane will malfunction and crash, no matter how many times they hear the statistics about how safe flying is compared to driving. Other travelers worry about terrorist hijackings, or panic at the idea that they’re not in control of the aircraft that’s carrying them. So, here are a few tips on how to overcome fear of flying.

• Know what to expect. For many fearful fliers, learning the basics of how airplanes work can go a long way toward alleviating their anxiety. For instance, understanding how a plane can continue to fly even if an engine fails can help you feel less concerned about your aircraft malfunctioning.
• Familiarize yourself with your plane. Getting to know what your plane looks like can make it seem a little less scary. This fearful flier actually puts a picture of the plane’s cabin on her computer’s desktop; by the time her flight rolls around, the image is familiar, not scary.
• Choose an aisle seat. Most airlines and booking engines allow you to request a seat assignment when you book your flight. Request an aisle seat, particularly if you’re prone to claustrophobia; you’ll feel less hemmed in by other people, and you’ll be able to get up and move around the cabin more easily.
• Monitor your media intake. This may seem like a no-brainer, but it’s worth mentioning: avoid plane disaster movies, news coverage of plane crashes or other scary media images. Remember that the vast majority of flights arrive safely, but only the problem flights make the news. Don’t let that skew your impressions of flying.

More or less carelessness is the number one reason for a passport application being rejected or delayed or for a passport being lost, stolen, or damaged. What steps are necessary to prevent these things from happening? How can you take care of your passport? Well, here are some practical tips you can follow to acquire your passport, keep it in your possession, and preserve it in good condition.

• Check to see if you even need a passport – countries can, and often do, change foreign entry requirements. If you arrive at the airport without the required documents, you’ll be denied boarding privileges. And, of course, this isn’t covered by travel insurance. Currently, more than 80% of the world’s countries require a valid passport for entrance. It’s important to verify the foreign entry requirements for the country you plan to visit as early as possible.
• Apply for your passport early – you should apply for a new passport at least 90 days before your departure date. For a renewal, begin the process 8 to 11 months before your passport expires. Why so early? Many countries require that your passport have six to eight months of validity remaining before they will issue a visa.
• Fill out the correct form correctly – Each type of passport service has specific criteria that must be met. Make sure you get the right application form, and then fill it in carefully. Double-check each entry. Ask a friend or relative to verify it as well. Errors made on the application form can lead to delays, or even rejection of your passport request.
• Follow the specifications for the required documents exactly – When applying for a new passport, the most frequently used documents are a certified birth certificate for proof of citizenship along with a valid driver’s license for proof of your identity.

Your birth certificate must be a certified copy with a registrar’s raised, embossed, impressed, or multicolored seal, registrar’s signature, and the date the certificate was filed with the registrar’s office, which must be within 1 year of your birth. No photocopies are accepted. Your driver’s license must be more than six months old.

For a passport renewal, your previous passport serves as both proof of citizenship and proof of identity. To be valid, it cannot be mutilated, altered, or damaged in any way. You must send two identical passport photos taken within the last 6 months. These passport photos must be 2″x2″ with a plain white or off-white background. They have to be a full-face view with the head being from 1 to 1 3/8 inches from the chin to the top of the head. The photos can be either color or black and white.