The Traveling Piggy decided to embark on yet another adventure, but this time in writing and publishing an e-book dedicated to Backpacking. I created this book to share my experiences and tips about backpacking with those who may be considering it for the first time or just want to learn more about it. About the … [More…]
If you’re a savvy and budget-conscious traveler, you want to get the most out of your international trips without breaking the bank. Here are ten tips to help you make the most of your travel budget. Be Flexible with Your Travel Dates. One of the easiest ways to save money on international travel is to … [More…]
Miyajima is known for one of Japan’s most famous shrines – the UNESCO World Heritage site of Itsukushima Shrine. Hiroshima is known for its historic landmark the Atomic Bomb Dome and the Peace Memorial/Park. Both can be visited on a day trip from Osaka. It will be a long day but will be well worth … [More…]
When the weather is nice, why not take a walk? A nice, easy urban walk (30-40 min) is to walk from Tsing Yi MTR station to Tsuen Wan West over the Tsing Tsuen Bridge. With the locations being so convenient for transportation, you can take public transportation if you decide not to walk back. For … [More…]
When you are in Osaka, you may want to check out Himeji Castle, a UNESCO world heritage site and Japan’s most beautiful feudal castle. It is just a 30-40 min shinkansen train ride away. On the way there/back, you will pass by Kobe, so you want to also stop by the city of Kobe to … [More…]
A week is simply not enough time to explore all that Japan offers, but unfortunately many of us don’t have the luxury of time and will have to pack it in. Here is an itinerary that helps you get a taste of what Japan has to offer while maximizing the use of the Japan Rail … [More…]
Japan has finally opened up for tourists! It’s been a rough couple of years, and it is so refreshing to have travel options open up again. For those who want to travel around Japan, you may want to consider purchasing a Japan Rail (JR) pass. What is the JR Pass? The JR Pass offers unlimited … [More…]
I recently renewed my Global Entry membership with the Department of Homeland Security, and I was pleasantly surprised at how efficient it has become! Compared to the 6-7 month delay in getting interview time slots we experienced 5 years ago, this was a world of difference! How did the enrollment program change in the last … [More…]
On March 25, the Hong Kong government imposed travel restrictions to all inbound travelers to Hong Kong. Those traveling in from overseas will need to undergo 2 COVID-19 saliva tests and a compulsory 14-day quarantine at home or other accommodations (like a hotel). Violators of the quarantine are faced with HKD $25,000 in fines and … [More…]
019 marks the beginning of the long awaited Southwest flights to Hawaii. The first flight took off from Oakland to Honolulu in March 2019. At the time of this post, Southwest offers 4 direct flights from the mainland: Oakland (OAK) to Honolulu (HNL) on Oahu, San Jose (SJC) to Honolulu (HNL) on Oahu, Oakland (OAK) to Kahului (OGG) on Maui, and San Jose (SJC) to Kahului (OGG) on Maui. Southwest also flies to Kona (KOA) on Big Island via Honolulu. Besides Hawaiian Airlines, Southwest is the only other major commercial airline that flies inter-island routes*, which is great news for creating some competition in Hawaii!
For my trip this Memorial Day weekend, I flew to Kona (KOA).