We considered our trip to Japan in 2018 to be a very eventful one as we managed to discover many interesting places despite having been to the Land of the Rising Sun a few times before. When we were in Osaka, we paid a visit to a very photo-worthy (or should we say Insta-worthy) place, the Namba Yasaka Shrine, also known as the Lion Head Shrine.
Namba Yasaka Shrine is very conveniently located within a 8-minute walk from Namba Station. As our Airbnb was also around the area, we stopped by early morning before heading to Kuromon Ichiba Market.
The Namba Yasaka Shrine is the home of the Namba’s guardian deity and is also well-known for its enormous lion head-shaped architecture, which is often seen as something different and unique from most other temples and shrines in Japan.
Inside the 12m high by 11m wide lion head is a stage where several events are held throughout the year. The lion head is believed to ward off evil spirits by swallowing them, and hence brings good luck to worshippers.
Always remember to cleanse your mouths and hands before praying at a Japanese shrine or temple.
The temple beside the lion head structure reminds me of Osaka Castle because of its white, light teal and gold colors. What do you think?
Praying for good health, safety and happiness for the entire family.
Amulets are available for purchase at the temple.
There is also a small shop that sells a variety of amulets and wooden wishing plaques.
Write your wishes on the wooden plaque and tie it up at the temple.
Every temple and shrine has its own unique wooden plaque design. Of course, the lion head is featured here at Namba Yasaka Shrine.
We also chanced upon Hello Kitty omamori and decided to get one each for Chanelle and Cayla.
If you have time to spare, do explore Namba Yasaka Shrine and immerse yourself in its beautiful architecture.
Namba Yasaka Shrine Osaka 難波八阪神社 Address: 〒556-0016 2-9-19 Motomachi, Naniwa-ku, Osaka City Nearest Station: Namba Station Opening Hours: Daily from 6am to 5pm Admission Fee: Free
One of the major highlights of our recent 2018 trip was being able to take a couple of hours from parenting duties (thanks to my parents for helping us with the kids at our Airbnb) to experience Street Go-Karting in Japan! It has always been misterchewy’s dream to try out this activity, and now, he has finally fulfilled it! Psst.. Check out his ear-to-ear grins in some of the photos 😉
Since we had planned to dedicate three days in Tokyo Disney Resort, we didn’t have much time in Tokyo for street go-karting and decided to experience it in Osaka instead. Upon Googling, Akiba Kart Osaka is one of the more renowned and popular street go-karting tour service providers in Namba area. Guess what, the shop is a mere 7-minute walk from Namba Station!
The hubs and I are both huge fans of the Mario Kart Nintendo game, so we purchased and brought our own Mario and Luigi costumes to Japan. Do take note that Mario Kart costumes are not available at the shop.
Fret not! There are plenty of other costumes to choose from at Akiba Kart Osaka, such as Spiderman, Hello Kitty and Pikachu. We also noticed some quirky Sushi costumes.
Before the actual briefing, we were made to watch a safety introductory video on an iPad, which is very informative and easy to comprehend.
Customers of Akiba Kart Osaka from all over the world.
Taking more photos while waiting for everyone to get settled into their costumes. We were told that there would be 10 of us joining the street go-karting tour.
What a perfect day to for street go-karting in Osaka!
A briefing was conducted before we set off.
Our guide, Isao, taking the lead. If you notice, all go-karts have its own license plate.
Just in case you are wondering, the standard driving rules and regulations apply even for street go-karting in Japan. No driving beyond the speed limits, no using of mobile phones (including taking photos) while driving, and of course, no throwing of banana skins at other drivers. It is alright to take photos after your go-kart is put to a complete stop at the red light. However, you need to be quick and able to gauge when the green light comes on, if not you will risk getting horned at.
With kids, it is like a once in a lifetime opportunity to be able to experience street go-karting in Japan for misterchewy and I, so we took many photos at almost all the red lights. LOL!
We drove in a single file unless Isao signalled for us to line up in pairs when approaching the traffic lights. There was also another guide right at the back to ensure that nobody was left behind.
It was such an exhilarating experience being able to try out street go-karting along the busy streets of Osaka! Since all of us were in costumes, we attracted quite a bit of attention from passersby who stopped to wave at us and also took photos of us. Of course, we were sporting enough to wave back and pose for photos too!
It is also very memorable for misterchewy and I as the weather was quite cold then, and we were kinda freezing our butts off as we drove along the streets. However, being able to enjoy the view of Osaka city while street go-karting in our costumes also gave us that adrenaline rush we will never forget.
We had a stopover at Osaka Castle, where we took a short break for some photos. Are you able to identify all the characters?
Time to head back to Akiba Kart Osaka shop at Namba!
We are very lucky that Isao kept taking photos for us at every chance whenever we stopped at the red lights.
Passing by Namba Station while making our way back.
Important point to take note of: In order to be able to participate in street go-karting in Japan, Singaporean drivers MUST apply for an International Driving Permit (IDP) issued by a signatory to the 1949 Geneva Convention. Without presenting your IDP, you will be denied riding the go-kart, even if you have paid for your reservation online. We applied for ours at the Automobile Association of Singapore (AAS). IDP online application processing and delivery via local courier will take 7 working days, while IDP can be collected on the spot within an hour for walk-in application.
For walk-in application, do remember to bring along your NRIC and Singapore Driving License. Applicant’s picture will be taken on-site at no extra charge. The fee for IDP application is $20 and is valid for one year from date of issue.
For more information and reservation for street go-karting in Osaka, visit Akiba Kart Osaka. The Osaka Castle Park Tour is about 2 hours long and costs JPY¥9000 (SGD$112) per person. There is a discount if you post a review on Facebook. If you have always been thinking of trying street go-karting in Japan, hesitate no more! Sign up now with Akiba Kart Osaka!
“Where to stay near Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea?”
Trust me, I get this question from sooo many of you that I am providing a dedicated blog post on Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay, our choice of accommodation in Tokyo Disney Resort. This post will definitely be useful to you to a great extent if at least one of these points are applicable to you:
You are travelling with children.
You want to stay as close to Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea as possible.
You are on a mid-range budget and Disney hotels are out of the question.
Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay Hotel is a Tokyo Disney Resort Official Hotel
If you want to make the best out of your trip and wonder where to stay near Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea, we strongly recommend that you stay on property. It minimises all the hassle and travelling time, so that you get to do more and see more in the Disney parks. You can find a list of hotels on the Tokyo Disney Resort website that are categorised into Disney Hotels (Deluxe/Value), Tokyo Disney Resort Official Hotels, Tokyo Disney Resort Partner Hotels and Tokyo Disney Resort Good Neighbor Hotels. This should give you a rough idea on where to stay near Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea. Only the Disney Hotels and Tokyo Disney Resort Official Hotels are located within the grounds of Tokyo Disney Resort. Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay Hotel is one of the relatively affordable official hotels which you definitely should consider!
Besides the Disney hotels, Vacation Packages are also available for booking if you choose to stay at one of the official hotels. The Vacation Package includes a host of premiums such as fast passes and unlimited free drinks, etc which we will touch on later. We picked up our Vacation Package at the Tokyo Disney Resort Ticket Center at Ikspiari, the shopping and dining complex located in front of JR Maihama Station. PRO TIP: Check in directly at the Tokyo Disney Resort Welcome Center next to JR Maihama Station and leave all your luggages at the hotel service counter. Your luggages will be delivered to your hotel free of charge. With that, you can save time and head straight into Tokyo Disneyland or DisneySea!
To get to Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay Hotel, take the Disney Resort Line monorail from the Resort Gateway Station adjacent to JR Maihama Station and get off at the second stop, Bayside Station.
Disney Resort Line – Bayside Station
From Bayside Station, it is only a 1-minute walk to Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay Hotel. The hotel also offers complimentary shuttle bus service from Bayside Station, as well as complimentary shuttle bus service to and from JR Maihama Station.
Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay Hotel is just opposite Bayside StationSheraton Grande Tokyo Hotel Bay Standard Room
I’m sure we are all aware that hotels in Japan are generally on the smaller side which can be quite uncomfortable if you are travelling with family members and have a few pieces of luggages. Our Standard Room at Sheraton Grande Hotel Bay is extremely spacious and also luxurious. The overall interior design is somewhat lacking but we really find that the space makes up for it. PRO TIP: Don’t forget to request for child amenities such as bed guardrail, step stool, kids toilet seat, kids nightwear, tooth brush, slippers and towels.
Separate bathtub and shower
We got a very beautiful sea-facing view.
Casual Dining Galleria Cafe
Galleria Cafe features an All Day Menu (11am to 12 midnight) and all of us had the same thing for supper – Pork Rib Ramen (￥2000). The soy sauce flavored chinese soup was especially comforting after an entire day of being exposed to cold weather. The noodles were thin and springy, while the deep fried pork cutlet was tender and juicy.
As mentioned earlier, there are shuttle buses to get around Tokyo Disney Resort. If you would like to venture outside of your hotel for supper, take the shuttle bus.
Disney-themed shuttle busSeijo Ishii Supermarket at Ikspiari
If you love visiting Japanese supermarkets, you will be glad to know that Seijo Ishii offers a wide range of items, including fresh foods, imported wines, cheese, and also various home made deli products and desserts.
Breakfast Buffet is also available at Galleria Cafe from 7am to 10am. The range is pretty extensive and food is quite up to standard. We didn’t manage to try every single food item as we were in a rush to get into the Disney parks.
Alternatively, you can choose to have breakfast at Japanese Restaurant Asuka. Breakfast is from 7am to 10am. Do note that it is not buffet style.
Japanese breakfast set at Asuka Japanese Restaurant
Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay Hotel offers station delivery service at a fee as shown in the picture above. This is especially useful if you are planning to visit Tokyo Disneyland or DisneySea upon checking out as you can simply take the monorail straight to the Tokyo Disney Resort Welcome Center at JR Maihama Station to collect your luggages, instead of making another trip back to the hotel. The fee is applicable for transporting of luggages from the hotel to the station. Transporting of luggages from the station to the hotel is free of charge.
Tokyo Disney Resort Vacation Packages
If you are willing to splurge a little more, we highly recommend booking a Tokyo Disney Resort Vacation Package. There are two types of Vacation Packages – “Standard Plan” and “Enjoy Lots of Attractions“. The main difference is that the “Enjoy Lots of Attractions” package is more expensive than the “Standard Plan” but it really depends on your priorities and interests. If you would like to secure a show viewing ticket in Disneyland or DisneySea, go for the “Standard Plan” and if conquering as many rides as possible is your goal, the “Enjoy Lots of Attractions” includes more fast passes.
We wanted something which can cover a bit of everything, which includes trying out various rides and also being able to watch one of the show performances, hence we went ahead with the Standard Plan.
The Tokyo Disney Resort Vacation Package – Standard Plan includes:
5 fast passes per pax (can be used on all FP rides except for “Toy Story Mania!” and “Nemo & Friends SeaRider” at Tokyo DisneySea)
1 show viewing ticket per pax
1 original goods voucher per pax
1 ticket holder voucher per pax
1 free drink voucher per pax
1 original popcorn bucket voucher per room
Disney Resort Line 3-Day Pass
Hotel breakfast after the first night
We hope this post is useful in helping you decide where to stay near Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea 🙂 Going to Japan soon? Follow our updates on our Japan 2018 trip or read our popular Japan trip itinerary!
If you are thinking of what to do and eat in Asakusa, and only have a few hours to spare, this post covers what you should not miss in this traditional district of Tokyo.
We recommend visiting Tokyo’s oldest and most iconic temple, the Sensoji Temple, also popularly known as Asakusa Kannon Temple. Our family makes it a point to pay homage to the Buddha at Sensoji Temple every time we visit Tokyo. It certainly feels very reassuring to be blessed by the Buddha from a temple with immense significance.
Visitors enter Sensoji Temple through the Kaminarimon (Thunder Gate) with a gigantic lantern hanging in the middle. This is a highly popular photo spot among tourists visiting Sensoji Temple.
Right outside Sensoji Temple is an entire street of shops known as Nakamise Shopping Street.
Over there, you can find all sorts of souvenirs and bric-a-brac.
There are also plenty of snacks that you can munch on while strolling along Nakamise.
At the end of Nakamise Shopping Street, you will find another giant lantern.
A mere 3-minute walk from Nakamise Shopping Street, you really ought to stop by Namiki Yabusoba for lunch. This famous soba restaurant in Asakusa boasts more than 100 years of history and sees a long queue during lunch and dinner times.
Namiki Yabusoba’s buckwheat noodles are handmade from 100% buckwheat flour milled on the same day, giving it that clean taste and earthy flavor. When eaten together with the rich and flavorful dipping sauce, the zaru soba is refreshing and satisfying.
If you prefer something hot especially when visiting in winter, there is also a choice of hot soba soup with fish cakes.
I’m really glad I decided to try something different – the Yamakake soba, which is cold soba covered in a sauce combination of grated yam seasoned with dipping sauce. Give it a good stir so that the noodles are evenly coated in sauce. I loved that it was slimy and slippery, on top of being yummy.
If you visiting Tokyo on a tight schedule and still wish to spend some time in Asakusa, we hope this post on what to do and eat in Asakusa will inspire you.
No trip to Japan is ever complete without indulging in some sashimi! Well, unless you don’t take raw food. Most of us think of Tsukiji Fish Market as THE place for best sashimi in Tokyo since it is not just a fish market, but the biggest one in the capital of The Land of the Rising Sun. However, if you are not so keen to travel all the way to Tsukiji Fish Market just for a sashimi meal, Takamaru Sengyoten in Shinjuku is your best bet! Their seafood is purchased directly from Tsukiji fish auction, as well as from fishermen in various parts of Japan.
There are a handful of Takamaru Sengyoten chains scattered in Shinjuku. As you can see, this chain was packed that night so we were asked to visit the next one which is just down the street.
We visited Takamaru Sengyoten No. 2 and this particular store was also crowded. See that empty table near the entrance? That was our spot.
Many locals flock to Takamaru Sengyoten for its thickly sliced fresh sashimi which is also priced very reasonably. One thing about izakayas is that patrons smoke freely even indoors and there is nothing you can do about it. We felt very uncomfortable as there was a guy sitting right next to our table and he was smoking throughout his entire meal. I counted five sticks. If you are pregnant, or have children travelling with you, this may be a huge concern.
English menu is available for tourists.
We were really in the mood for sashimi, so we were game enough to order the Big Super Special Sashimi Assortment at JP¥4980 (SGD$60.20). When the sashimi was served to us, we were initially a little taken aback by the food presentation as we were expecting something more refined. Alas, we forgot that we were dining in an izakaya. Lol. I suppose the fish head was included as a testament to the freshness of the sashimi served at Takamaru Sengyoten.
Apart from the more common salmon and tuna, we truly enjoyed the uni, scallops, ark shell, mackerel, yellowtail, plus some other fish that we weren’t able to identify.
For the kids who can’t eat anything raw, the Fried Rice with Crab Meat JP¥1280 (SGD$15.50) was definitely very tantalising to their taste buds.
We also had some Tempura Assortment JP¥1580 (SGD$19.20) to share. Fresh seafood such as fish, squid and other vegetables were lightly battered and deep fried.
Takamaru Sengyoten’s dons are also highly recommended, such as this Una Toro Don JP¥1280 (SGD$15.50) which includes slices of unagi and minced tuna.
Total damage was about SGD$170. All of us agreed that it was money well spent at Takamaru Sengyoten. We also had 6 to 7 glasses of beer at JP¥300 (SGD$3.60) each.
If are in Shinjuku, be sure to drop by any of the Takamaru Sengyoten chains for a mind-blowing sashimi meal!
The husband really loves gyoza so I was determined to find a gyoza place that would impress him. My online findings convinced me to check out Shibuya Gyoza in Tokyo. Generally speaking, there are quite a few highly recommended gyoza eateries around Shibuya area. Shibuya Tokyu REI Hotel, the first hotel which we put up at in Tokyo, is within walking distance to many great gyoza restaurants such as Tiger Gyoza Hall in Udagawacho, Harajuku Gyoza-ro near Meiji-jingumae Station, apart from Shibuya Gyoza which has chains located near JR Shibuya Station and JR Ebisu Station, etc.
After checking into Shibuya Tokyu REI Hotel, we navigated our way to Shibuya Gyoza. Halloween was two days away and there were quite a number of locals dressed up in their Halloween outfits. It shouldn’t come as a surprise since the Japanese love dressing up.
Keep a lookout for the gigantic plate of gyoza! It’s hard to miss anyway. We have come to Shibuya Gyoza! It’s located on the second floor of Atlas Shibuya Building.
I suppose the sign indicates that smoking is not allowed but electronic cigarettes are allowed. It looks like a pregnancy test kit to me though. LOL. And you saw that right, Shibuya opens till 5am from Mondays to Saturdays.
Here’s a quick glance at the gyoza menu before we enter Shibuya Gyoza. There is a more extensive menu inside the eatery. 6 pieces of gyoza is priced at JP¥290 (SGD$3.50). The price per gyoza gets cheaper the more pieces you order. We were in luck since we went in a group. There is a choice of grilled, boiled and fried gyoza.
40 pieces of gyoza at JP¥1680 (SGD$20.50)! We ordered the grilled ones which are lightly pan-fried and crisp on the underside while the juiciness is still retained within. We love eating gyoza with vinegar! What about you? White vinegar is offered foc but red vinegar comes at a small extra charge. Gyoza goes really well when washed down with beer!
We also ordered Fried Rice at JP¥480 (SGD$5.80) for the kids. Not sure if they were just hungry or they found the fried rice yummy, especially since Cayla seemed to be wolfing down her food. There were tiny bits of black pepper so we had to pick them out.
My parents also had the Braised Pork Belly Rice at JP¥280 (SGD$3.40).
If you are looking for a cheap and good gyoza restaurant, look no further! Shibuya Gyoza will keep your tummies full and happy, while not burning a hole in your pockets 😉
OHAYO~! My gosh, our previous trip to Japan in 2016 didn’t feel too long ago and it was a very impromptu yet spontaneous decision on our part to book another trip to the Land of the Rising Sun this year! I left my previous company because I was so sick and tired of being a full-time working mum, and just felt like I needed to take a break from everything. Fast forward a few months later, I’m almost using up all my leaves at my current workplace for this trip. LOL. Oh wells, I suppose my itchy butt cannot stay at home for too long 😛
We jio-ed my parents along for this trip as we share a love for Japanese temples and shrines. Their last trip to Japan was a decade ago, so it’s time for some refresh and update! I was doing my research and stumbled upon this interesting and cute temple in Tokyo, Gotokuji Temple, otherwise known as Maneki Neko Temple or Lucky Cat Temple. I call it the CONFIRM HUAT TEMPLE. Hahaha. Go already come back sure strike 4D, Toto, Big Sweep, get big big bonus! HUAT AH!
Gotokuji Temple, located in Tokyo’s Setagaya ward, is a Buddhist temple that has an interesting story behind it, citing the temple as the birthplace of the Maneki Neko. These cats sit upright with their right paws beckoning luck and fortune, and are immensely popular enough to have their own worshippers from all over the world.
According to a temple legend, during the Edo period in the early 17th century, feudal lord Naotaka li and his servants were trying to escape from a thunderstorm and was led to safety after a cat beckoned with its right paw, inviting them into the temple. Since then, it is believed that the Maneki Neko brings good luck.
Today, hundreds of Maneki Neko figurines can be found at Gotokuji Temple Tokyo.
Hundreds of them in different sizes.
OMG don’t they all look so adorable? I love the teeny weeny ones! 😀
Rain or shine, may the HUAT be with you!
Before saying your prayers, you should first cleanse yourselves by washing your hands at the entrance of the temple.
I’m not sure where the water comes from but I drank a few mouthfuls by mistake from the bottle that my mum filled up with but thankfully, nothing untoward happened to me over the next few days.
Place both palms together and pray earnestly.
Swing the rope firmly to ring the bell.
Make a money offering.
I love this place already. The attention to detail is AMEOWZING!
Another reason why I love visiting Japanese temples is because I enjoying seeing the beautiful designs of the small wooden plaques (ema in Japanese) that are unique to each temple. Worshippers write their prayers or wishes on these plaques and hang them up at the temple, where the gods are believed to retrieve them.
2018 is the year of the Dog (chinese zodiac), hence the ema features the dog in addition to the Maneki Neko.
There is a small shop within Gotokuji Temple which sells various Maneki Neko souvenirs and good luck charms.
Good things come in small packages. Teeny weeny cute little Maneki Neko, you are coming home with us! Purrrrfect! 😉
Chanelle and Cayla were thrilled to see so many lucky cat figurines at Gotokuji Temple Tokyo too! A word of caution, these figurines are made of ceramic so always be extra careful. Cayla knocked over a large figurine with her foot on purpose and thankfully, it didn’t break. It was definitely a heart-stopping moment for us!
I think we spent slightly more than an hour at the temple, oohing and ahhing at the lucky cat figurines, in addition to taking plenty of photos. If you are heading to Japan, I strongly recommend setting aside some time to visit Gotokuji Temple Tokyo!
We travelled from Shibuya Station to Gotokuji Temple, which took about an hour of travelling time. If you are not travelling with young children, it should take you under an hour 😉
How to get there?
1) From Shibuya station to Sangen-Jaya station (2 stops via Tōkyū Den-en-toshi Line)
2) From Sangen-Jaya station to Miyanosaka station (6 stops via Tōkyū Setagaya Line)
3) Walk from Miyanosaka station to Gotokuji Temple (between 600m to 800m, Google maps may lead you to other gates that are closed so keep on walking along the parameter of the temple)
Hope you have a pawsome time at Gotokuji Temple Tokyo!
Have you been feeling an urge to visit a few countries? Traveling around the world will give you a chance to see exciting things, meet beautiful people, and experience different cultures. There’s no valid reason why you shouldn’t get a passport and travel abroad.
Some people allow fear and procrastination to deter their plans for visiting other countries. If you are facing the same dilemma, you can overcome these obstacles by taking action. Like everything in life, taking steps towards your goals will help you reach them.
Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to be wealthy to be a candidate for international travel. With proper planning, you can visit any country of your choice. In this article, we will look at five practical tips that can help you travel around the world. If you apply them properly, you will of course for a lifetime adventure.
1. Exercise Patience
It may sound weird, but exercising patience will help you enjoy your travels. It’s imperative for you to remember that some things will happen that are beyond your control. We cannot control all the circumstances that surface in our life.
If you get annoyed easily, you are bound to be miserable while traveling. Do you really want to experience this?
Let’s say that an ATM is out of money. Hey, it happens all the time. Don’t take it personally. Simply take it in stride while you walk or drive to another one. It’s just that simple!
Exercising patience will also keep your stress level under control. You don’t need to be stressed out while vacationing. As you can see, keeping your cool will pay big dividends.
2. Carry Extra Cash
There’s an old saying, “Cash is king!” This is especially true when it comes to traveling around the world. Carrying plastic is fine, but you may run into a situation where you will need paper currency.
It’s not unusual for international travelers to face an emergency that requires cash. For instance, you may need a ride back to your hotel. Many local drivers in foreign countries only accept paper money from tourists. Let’s pretend that you have your bank cards, but you are short on cash. What would you do? You would really be in a tough situation.
What would you do if you lost your wallet or misplaced your purse? Without money at your disposal, your grand trip will turn out to be an epic failure. Carrying extra cash will help you get through this situation. So, make sure you keep extra cash on you. Place some in your socks, in your shoes, or sew a few bills behind a patch in your bag. There’s nothing like having extra money on hand.
3. Meet the Locals
You may be tempted to focus on forming a bond with fellow travelers, but you should also make an attempt at getting acquainted with the locals. Conversing with the locals will help you to learn more about the country. They will also be more than happy to point you in the right direction if you are looking for a great restaurant, a cozy bar, or a hot nightclub.
Many people are under the impression that the language barrier will make it difficult for them to communicate with the natives. Nothing could be further from the truth! It’s vital for you to know that Basic English is spoken around the world.
Meeting the locals is one of the best things you can do during your travels. There’s nothing like meeting intriguing people and learning new ideas. You will be forming new friendships that could last a lifetime.
4. Have an Adventurous Spirit
Besides getting away from the daily pressures of life, traveling around the globe can help you become a well-rounded person. However, you must have an adventurous spirit if you expect to get the most out of your travels.
It would be a huge mistake for you to hold back while you are in another country. This is the ideal time for you to try new things. You will have the perfect opportunity to try new cuisines, new attire, and foreign customs. These experiences will stimulate your mind and spirit.
Having an adventurous spirit also means that you will not turn down a chance to visit some of the most beautiful locations in the world. According to https://santiagoways.com/en, global traveling will give you a chance to take part in many fun outdoor activities. You can see historical sites during a guided group tour, test your nerves on a jet ski, or play volleyball on the beach. As you are starting to see, traveling around the globe offers many wonderful benefits that are too hard for you to turn down.
5. Get Travel Insurance
The excitement of traveling around the world can distract us from taking safeguards that will protect us. Some of us don’t think that we could get sick, get robbed, or get injured while traveling. Unfortunately, these things can happen to us. This is the main reason why we must take proper precautions before heading abroad.
An experienced travel expert will not hesitate to tell you that you need to get travel insurance. Travel insurance will cover you if someone steals your one of your expensive items. It will also cover you if you have a medical emergency. One of a traveller’s greatest fears is having to manage unexpected trip delays. In this case, travel insurance trip delay claims can be made if you have travel insurance on hand.
There are many travel insurance companies offering their services these days. Simply pick up your phone and contact at least ten reputable travel insurance companies. Shopping around will help you get the best deal.
A global traveling is one of the best things that life has to offer. You don’t need to be a millionaire to see some of the most beautiful cities in the world. It’s not shocking to see people making a modest salary having the time of their life in popular locations like Brazil, Paris, and Camino De Santiago.
A passport and a reasonably priced travel package are your keys to the world. Taking heed to the five practical traveling tips within this article will help you enjoy your international voyages. Just make sure you have fun!
A Keto diet is the latest craze diet among celebrities; it promises weight loss without having to sacrifice your daily bacon. The diet involves a high amount of fat, moderate protein and few carbs. With this diet, you won’t even need a fruit on the table, and within a few months, you are promised to lose weight loss significantly. If you adhere to the diet, the Keto diet proponents claim that you will have a boosted energy more mental clarity among other benefits. The question is, is this diet really effective?
How Keto Diet works
Keto proponents claim that after cutting down the carbs that you consume and filling your diet with fats, you are entering into Ketosis state. This is when your body breaks down dietary and stored fats into Ketones. Three primary Ketones are made as soon as the fatty acids are broken down, these include the acetoacetate, the beta-hydroxybutyric acid (BHB) and acetone. With these ketones, your fat burning system now relies on the fat and not the sugar, for energy and this is the goal of the Keto diet. In other words, when your body becomes efficient at using the ketone bodies, as fuel, it burns more fats ultimately losing weight.
Foods included in Keto Diet
As noted, the Keto diet reduces carbohydrates containing foods such as the cereals, pasta, starchy vegetables, rice, couscous, and legumes. Instead, you are encouraged to consume high-fat food, like the fatty meats, butter, nuts, olive oil, coconut oil, avocado and other fatty foods. Basically, a standard Keto diet will comprise around 30% protein, more than 60% fats and 10% carbohydrates. So, for a 2000 calorie diet, this will contain 165 grams of fats, 75 grams of proteins and 40 grams of carbohydrate. You will find many versions of a keto diet, but all ban carb-rich foods. PureFit Keto is comprised of rice flour, Gelatin, Magnesium Stearate, Caffeine Anhydrous, and BHB blends, but all in all the total fat content is higher than protein and carbohydrates in its ingredients.
Is it effective?
Yes, but achieving true ketosis is not as easier as you may think; it requires discipline and persistence. This does not mean it is not achievable, a number of those who have used the diet, have claimed to lose an average of 22 pounds after two cycles of the diet. A report by Public Health collaboration, one of the most prominent UK non-profit organization demonstrates the Keto diet is not only effective in weight loss but also beneficial in other health outcomes. There are different versions of Keto diets including a supplement that aid in ketosis, but you still need to pair it with the low carbohydrates diet otherwise it won’t be as effective as you would want it to.
Evidence indicates that a high-fat diet, low carbohydrates and moderate protein is effective for weight loss and other health benefits. Nevertheless, to get the most out of this diet, it is important to stay physically active. Take it easier at the early ketosis period, and then choose an idea workout that can boost our energy further.
Your home is probably the most important investment you’ll ever make, and many people need a loan to pay for their home. But if you find yourself paying more than 2% interest on your home loan, then it might be time to find a lower interest rate.
To refinance your loan, it could mean changing your bank or signing up for a new package deal with your current bank. If you choose to do the latter, that is considered repricing. Though repricing means you do not pay new legal fees nor need a reevaluation of the property, it doesn’t mean that it’s cheaper than refinancing. Refinancing Home Loan Singapore brokers are more competitive than banks to provide homeowners with the lowest rates possible.
Who can refinance?
Basically anyone needing a loan. Outstanding loans of $500,000 or over are better to refinance than reprice.
You can refinance if you meet the following conditions:
1. Ended a bank’s lock-in period
You’re obliged to stay paying the rate you signed up for during this period if there is a lock-in duration. Start searching around for new, lower packages some months before ending your current deal.
2. Ended a bank’s claw-back period
Banks used to pay subsidies such as fire insurance or valuation, and banks would try to get that back when you try to break free. It has legal implications. Generally, claw-backs, since 2012, have been paid by the owner and not the lender. Yet, check to see if your current lender has a claw-back stipulation because you could wind up paying claw-backs to the old lender and subsidies to the new lender.
3. Finding other banks or companies with a better interest rate
At the time, you’re bound to come up with another bank or broker with a lower interest rate.
When should you refinance?
There are peak times when refinancing is a smart move. Usually, you will find low rates during the first two years of a loan from a bank, yet starting after that, loan hikes begin to happen and this is the time to make your move. An online search will show you what packages are out there and suitable for you. The whole idea is to find a cheaper rate, so you should be looking for at least at 0.5% difference between your current rate and the new one. If you have an outstanding loan, this will make a substantial difference in what you pay.
Loan tenure
It’s the monthly payments of a loan that is often the load on people. While you might have been comfortable with payments, you could lose a steady income for any reason over-night and stay that way for some time without a good income to pay the loan comfortably. Here, refinancing is helpful where you could extend the tenure for more years. While this means extra interest increasing the overall cost, it is a lower monthly payment.
If your loan interest rate was fine at one point, it might not be anymore. But you can find other options and better rates with home loan brokers and put your mind at ease.
