GALWAY | IE | Ireland Series

Galway is another city that I enjoyed walking through during my visit to Ireland.

My experience is pretty much summed up with on video:

Minus the dart-throwing escapade and tattoo-getting spontaneity, the pub crawl and street browsing was pretty accurate. It's a lovely city that feels more homey than most other cities. There's a strong sense of community that oozes through the city centre.

It's very easy to walk through and Grafton Street is a must. It's not just a shopaholic's dream, it's also a foodie's haven its smorgasbord of dishes from all over the world. (Note: there is a lot in a small amount of space, so be prepared for heaps of fellow tourists.)

Pub-crawls are a must here. Don't fret, all the pubs are close to each other, so it's a safe trip from one pub to the next. Like all good pub-crawls, you have a guide who will buy your shots for you and get you from one pub to the next. If drinking is not your thing then just go for the music. Each pub offers a variety of live performances from local artists and you will always have a unique experience.

I'm definitely going to visit Galway again.

sL xxx

DUBLIN | IE | Ireland Series Pilot

Now for those of you who follow me on Instagram you would have joined me across my 5-day tour of Ireland. I wish I had done the 7-day tour, but alas life got in the way...as per usual.

Enjoying my trip around Ireland is an understatement. I LOVED IT. The scenery was something out of a book and the history is so rich you're practically walking in and amongst it. But I'm getting ahead of myself. Let's start at the heart of Ireland: Dublin.

Dublin is the Capital City of Ireland. Much like many cities, it is filled with commercial buildings, some skyscrapers and shopping districts. In true European fashion, its authentic architectures wrap around museums, pubs and - of course - churches. Writers like Oscar Wilde and James Joyce have been immortalised through plaques, marble bust or sculptures in local parks and gardens. 

I visited two museums while I was in Dublin:

• The Little Museum of Dublin - one thing you must know is that the Irish are proud of all of their accomplishments no matter how big or small - and so they should! This Museum houses many fun-facts and trivia-worthy items. I recommend going as a fun starting point to get your head around the modern history of Ireland.
• Leprechaun Museum - if you're more into folklore, this museum is up your ally. Kids will love this interactive museum. The staff are very energetic and full of stories that will entertain you for days. 

For literary nerds, must sees are:

• Trinity College - there are guided tours available when you visit.
• Oscar Wilde's sculpture and house - they're literally across the street from each other.
• James Joyce's marble bust - it is missable so keep your eyes peeled!
• Dublinia - a museum that showcases Dublin during the Viking and Medieval era.
• Literary Museum - it's opening this year!
• There are regular literary pub-crawls too!

In all honesty, all you need to do is walk around and you'll find picturesque buildings and beautiful parks. There are walking tours that you can book if you want to acquaint yourself with the city before you roam around on your own.  I loved spending extra time just browsing through the city. It felt like home away from home.

Until next time,

sL xxx 

Dubai | UAE | Stopover Musings

Alright, let's have a chat about my three-day stopover in Dubai.

Dubai is one big giant theme park. Think Vegas, but on steroids (and we all know how I felt about Vegas). I heard so many good things and bad things about Dubai. To be fair, what I heard was bias for each side of the argument. Majority of the positives came from seasoned travellers who truly suck on the marrow of life wherever they go and rave about each experience when asked. The negatives come from immigrants who suffer from political choices. Nevertheless, my personal experience is one that sits on the fence. I sit in the nonchalant centre because I was only there for three days and I don't live in the UAE, so I'm not widely affected by the political choices. I will say, my review-blog is more for the female solo traveller. I bolded the identifier because being a female in general is hard, but being a female in a country that is culturally and spiritually patriotic, it is helpful to keep in mind that as Western tourists, we still need to be respectful if their practices in their spaces. As a woman, there were some spaces where I felt unsafe and needed a male presence. 

As efficient and proper as all staff were from the entry point to the main tourist areas, I would not recommend doing too many independent trips outside the colossal man-made-theme-park-city. These are the safest parts for inexperienced travellers, solo female travellers and young families. For a short stopover like mine, there are so many activities that family and friends can do: beaches, theme parks, a trip to the Dubai Mall Zoo and Aquarium or, the ultimate activity, shopping. Dubai houses more malls than I can count or even remember. There are so many hop-on-hop-off tours that take you from mall to mall. But if you want a more authentic experience, as a female solo traveller, I have some tips:

• Budget to pay for or have an escort to and through the Souks. Although the hop-on-hop-off buses will take you there, they will not guide you through these markets. Essentially, book a guided tour rather than taking one of these self-guided tour buses. They're good for the site seeing, not for the authentic shopping experience. Remember the aim of these market places is authentic-advertising, that is, ALL of the store owners will confidently come up to you like a stand-alone-stall sales person in a shopping centre.
• If you're wanting to do outside-of-Dubai overnight tours, book tours that require numbers. Remember: power in numbers. This is not about sucking the fun out your trip with fear, it's about thinking logically and to get more out of your experience. The key is to make friends. Usually a "surrogate mother" will appear on these trips, believe me they can be a God-send when you're feeling unsafe.

My last tip is just a general one, it's for travellers who just want a taste rather than the full experience: stay in the city proper. There are lots of people minding their own business in the main tourist areas, you will always feel safe in these areas. These are the three main things I wish someone told me when I was travelling. If you have family in Dubai this won't be an issue at all.

I hope that was helpful, apologies for the less light hearted post. I thought it was essential to share this for my fellow solo travellers.

Until next time,

sL xxx

PS. Here are some highly recommended guided tours: https://www.viator.com/en-GB/Dubai-attractions/Dubai-Gold-Souk/d828-a1623

HANEDA (Airport) | JAPAN | Japan Series Finale

What is a finale without a great ending?

In the words of Albus Dumbledore, or J.K. Rowling, I open at the close.

Why not end with one of the entry points to this beautiful country. Haneda Airport is one of the most picturesque airports when you're in transit. There are so many lovely tourist stores to pick-up last minute souvenirs and gifts for friends and family. If you don't want to shop then there are many artworks for you to breeze through while you wait for your gate to open or your flight to be announced.

It's also accessible by train, which is great when you're going to and from the airport. I enjoyed my last few moments here and had a blast soaking-in the Japanese culture that I fell in love with. I am constantly planning a trip back to see other places I was not able to see. Still on my list:

• Osaka - properly
• Kyoto
• Hiroshima

I'll keep you posted,

sL xxx

OSAKA | JAPAN | Japan Series

I will have to disappoint you in this blog.

I will be honest and say that I spent most of my day in line to take a tour of the Hogwarts Castle and redeem myself on the internal ride - I passed out in Orlando. In saying that, I love the Wizarding World, so I wasn't actually mad about it hahaha!

Universal Studios is not the highlight of Osaka, but it is unique in its own way. Much like Ginza is nostalgic, Universal is for the family. Lots of Minions, Snoppy Dogs and other cartoon-esque feels. If you're looking for some family fun while you're in Japan, Universal is definitely the place to go.

I didn't go to Disneyland, Japan but I'm sure it's much like Orlando or Los Angeles where either theme park is fun for everyone. Lines are long, but patience is key.

Until next time,

sL xxx

HARAJUKU | JAPAN | Japan Series

Disclaimer: When I visited the Harajuku Culture was not "in season" in terms of practice. This will be more about their New Year rituals.

Yogi Park is one of the largest parks that showcases natural beauty and spiritual traditions. We stumbled through the park as we went looking for other iconic places. It was a great stumble, even though we didn't know the language, the park had incredible spots to show tourists how to they practice their culture to welcome the new year. Visits to the shrines, drinking from sacred fountains and iconic street foods.

Yogi Park is another chilled place to relax and observe the history where past, present and future collide. In the spring time it also hosts the beautiful cherry blossoms that all tourism packets display. I highly recommend it regardless of the season.

Until next time,

sL xxx

SHIBUYA | JAPAN | Japan Series

HAPPY BIRTHDAY striclyLeisure!!!

What better way to celebrate than with one of the better known places in Japan! Unfortunately I only had a video of the crossing, but this snapshot is the entrance to the fashion centre os Shibuya.

If there's one thing you need to know about the Japanese population it is that they're not only polite, they are very fashion forward. Every store in Shibuya was a boutique with it's own unique style. If there was any place you wanted to get a wardrobe update, it's Shibuya.

I loved just walking around this city. The hustle and bustle brought an energy that I felt from my head to my toes. It was a great city to just see and be.

Shibuya is not only highly recommended by Lonely Planet, TripAdviser and Google, it's highly recommended by every person who has visited. It is a fun little place to site-see and shop.

Until next time,

sL xxx