Hello Muse Review: Part 3/3

Click for Part 1

Click for Part 2

After what felt like forever... It finally came!

For some reason, I expected the package to be a small parcel, but it ended up being about 3 ft x 2 ft! The "photo frame," which I thought would just be an A4 paper-sized frame, was actually a super large and lovely piece of wall art, in the most perfect style fitting of our photo aesthetic!

Just a corner!

Inside were a photo album with our pictures in a pleasing order, and a CD in a nice case with all of the retouched pictures!

I'm sure the experience differs depending on the studio and the dress/tux rental places, but Hello Muse was perfect each step of the way. I'd give them 5/5 stars for sure.

Sposa Monique (the bridal dress shop)
Several dresses from the online sampling were gorgeous, but maybe because I was a size 4 instead of a 0 or 2, they wouldn't have fit me? I wasn't blown away by the selection, but there were a couple of dresses I thought were very pretty. Out of the 5 I tried out, I really liked 2, and didn't like 3 at all.

I was asked about the general aesthetic I was looking for, and they picked dresses that were suitable, but I didn't see the ones from the online sampling for some reason. And I guess I would rate them 3.5/5 overall.

Arco Baleno (the tux shop)
Supposedly this is where some celebrities go to rent tuxes, and even though the interior isn't the most posh, they do have a crazy selection of blazers/jackets, some plaid, some checkered, and in tons of colors. They also include several bowties, but the selection was supplemented by Sposa Monique's bowties (we rented a tux from each shop), and for that I tip my hat to Sposa Monique as well. My husband isn't a super picky guy, so we'd probably rate it a 3.5/5.

Soon Soo (hair/makeup salon)
It was very, very crowded, and they shuffled us around quite a bit. I don't get bored easily, so I was fine just sitting and waiting and looking around at the other people getting ready for their own weddings. They didn't do what I would have liked for my hair, but I blame myself partially for not being a more bossy person, and I sort of just trusted them instead.

Just like I do at most hair salons.

The makeup was pretty heavy, but in the photographs, it turned out well :) 3/5!

White Africa (photography studio)
They were definitely patient with us. They made us feel at home and we enjoyed the experience overall. I can never be as glamorous and as gracefully dignified as most of the people they photograph, but I am as God made me.

I'd rate the photographer at about 4/5! or 4.5/5!

Hello Muse made it all happen! They get a solid 5/5, of course. I would love to go back and get more pictures taken someday, maybe for an anniversary years from now. I would go with a different studio and different wardrobe rental boutiques, just to see what else is out there, but I would def book with Hello Muse again!

How to Use Coin Lockers in Japan

Whether you've just arrived in Japan or are planning to leave tomorrow, coin lockers at train stations can free you from the cumbersome baggage you've brought (or accumulated) and have to tote around during your travels!

Some people arriving from the airport make their first stop at Tokyo Station, and want to explore a bit while they wait for their hotel's check-in start time. Others (like me) carry around a single backpack that has just enough space for all of my needs, and then get blindsided with lovely, heavy souvenirs from friends and business associates.

Coin lockers are a cheap way of storing your luggage for the day, with lockers ranging from 300 to 500 JPY (approx. $3-5 USD), depending on the size.

Small lockers are approx. 35cm x 43cm x 57cm (13in x 16in x 22in), and can fit a carry-on back comfortably.

Medium lockers are approx. 57cm x 43cm x 57cm (22in x 16in x 22in), and can store a couple of smaller bags, or large totes containing bulkier items you'd rather not carry around.

Large lockers are approx. 117cm x 43cm x 57cm (44in x 16in x 22in), and can store your typical roller suitcase.

To use these lockers, find an open one (easier said than done sometimes) and make sure you have the right change for the size you're looking for (prices are shown in stickers on each door). Using the touch screen for that particular cluster of lockers, you can pay for the locker and print out a receipt that has information on the location of your locker and a time stamp of when you were there!

By far, the most challenging thing is finding a free locker during a peak travel weekend. On top of dealing with your heavy luggage, you will also find many people before you are waiting their turn next to lockers where others are removing their luggage. I've had people come up to me as I was removing my belongings from a locker, so that they could politely call dibs.

In Kyoto during Kobo-san at Toji Temple, I literally could NOT find any open lockers, and being the light traveler that I am, all of the souvenirs I'd been given had no place to go other than in monstrous bags on each of my shoulders. As I wasn't staying in a hotel in Kyoto that day, I decided to skip that part of my itinerary and head to my next destination, where I found some coin lockers in which to store my things overnight!

Something I didn't think of when I arrived at Tokyo Station- arguably the largest train station in Japan- was that I would somehow forget my way back to my locker. I wanted to walk through the Imperial Palace grounds the next morning sans backpack, and since I didn't want to waste any time looking for my old locker group, I picked a new set of lockers to store my backpack in, walked in all directions around the Palace grounds, and then came back to begin the search for my lost Minecraft treasure. I found my backpack fairly easily, but where I left my things from the previous night was a different story.

Each midnight marks the end of a day, so you can technically store your things for less than a full 24-hour time period, but still pay for two days, and in order to retrieve your belongings, you have to drop in another 300, 400, or 500, depending on the locker size you used. I think it's totally worth it, but I only used the small and medium lockers and would gladly pay that much to not lug around my stuff. 

Happy travels!

Where to Buy the JR Pass Online

While there are tons of third-party sites where you can buy a JR voucher and mailed to you, there is no official JR Pass online storefront. And wherever you get your voucher from, you will still need to exchange it in person at a JR kiosk at valid train stations BEFORE you can begin using it.

JR website with information on official retailers (English)

Step One: Purchase a JR Voucher

$237 (for a 7-day voucher) is no easy sum to part with, so rather than buy something online and pay for shipping, I just called up a local travel agency in the area and asked if they sold JR vouchers. 

I came in with my passport and it took less than 20 minutes to receive my voucher!

Step Two: Look up train stations where you can exchange the voucher for the JR Pass

JR Passes must be redeemed within 90 days, and are then valid from that day until the end of the purchase period you selected (7 days, 14 days, etc.)

You can exchange your voucher at specific locations, including some airports, travel centers, and train stations (within a specific time frame). Make sure you go to the right place, because some cities have more than one station!

Step Three: Locate the JR Kiosk (or JR Office)

In many train stations, there is a free-standing kiosk near the JR Office that has a big question mark on the side. These are information booths where you can redeem your voucher for an official pass. (You can also ask the JR Office if you are unsure!) Again, they will require your passport, and you will need to fill out some information to go on your pass as well. They'll explain the rules of the pass and give you a chance to ask them any questions as well. In about the same amount of time (15-20 minutes), you're done!

Step Four: Get Your Pass Stamped

When you make your JR journeys, rather than going through the turnstiles, you will need to visit the staffed counter where an employee will stamp your Pass to mark its official use. After that first stamp, you can just show them the stamped page and whiz on by!

Note: JR Passes are only valid for JR trains (excluding Mizuho and Nozomi Shinkansen trains). Some legs of your journey may not be JR, and you will have to pay for those sections. But! With some careful planning on Hyperdia, it's very possible to make it on just a JR Pass if you make some concessions here and there. If you purchase pocket wifi at the airport, you'll have added flexibility by using Google Maps to plan out the destination points of your journey and double-checking official times on Hyperdia.

Note #2: If you ride on the Shinkansen bullet trains, you will always need a ticket, whether reserved or unreserved. Buy these at the JR Offices at the train station! Although many employees speak enough English to understand tourists, I also encountered many who didn't, and my destination points and times written in English and Japanese really sped up the process! During peak-seasons, you will want to reserve as much of your trip as you can so you can have a better idea of what changes (if any) will affect your itinerary.

If you use a local subway line, you don't need to reserve tickets. Just show your JR Pass to the staff as you pass through the gate!

Courtesy Note: I've reserved seats on Shinkansen trains and decided I wouldn't be using them anymore, and whenever that happened, I always informed the person at the JR Office so they could "release" the ticket and give someone else a chance to purchase it. It takes two seconds, and it could really help other people, especially during busy travel seasons!

Hello Muse Review: Part 2

Click for Part 1

So as soon as I received word that the raw files were ready (about a week and a day after the photo shoot), I had to leave on a week-long business trip, which went really well, but I was so impatient to get back to review the photos!

Anyhow, part of my review from before was that my husband and I were very easygoing about everything and let them weigh in much more regarding our hair, makeup, pictures, etc., and at one point during the middle of the shoot (during an outfit change), the person doing my hair put it in a ponytail, which was nice and all, but ponytails in general are just not the best look for me.

I asked her if she could leave it down, but she said it looked better up.

WELL, when I got the pictures back and scrolled through, I saw the ponytail pictures, and let's just say I respectfully disagreed.

Also, I didn't know this until yesterday, but they posted my husband's and my photos on their Facebook and blog, as I'm sure they do with all of their customers, but since I pride myself on being virtually (pun unintended) un-Googleable, it came as a shock since it wasn't discussed in either the contract or through e-mail. I have no doubts that they would take down the pictures if I asked, but had they asked me in the beginning, I would have declined.

Something wonderful that they did do was Photoshop the hell out of my arms!! Yiss! So I'm not really upset that they put up our pictures, since they worked a miracle on my unphotogenic figure. It's like the equivalent of a friend tagging you in a series of pictures on Facebook, but instead of leaving them as is, they Photoshop them ahead of time to make you look good.

So while most of our raw pictures had our goofy smiles and my fat arms, occassionally I would stumble across one that, if processed appropriately, had potential to be THE one.

And the photography studio did what they could to do what I could not: slim this girl down! And for that I thank them.

Our album should be arriving in a couple of weeks, so Part 3 will be posted soon after!

Click for Part 3!

My Experience with Our Beijing Tour Guide

Their official website: http://www.beijingtour-guide.com/

True to their TripAdvisor rating, Beijing Tour Guide was a worthwhile choice! Our driver was waiting at the airport for us and brought us where we needed to go. Since my husband and I were just going to be shopping and having some dinner, we just had a driver for the main portion of it. The cost for the two of us was 1000 CNY total (approximately $157.10 USD in Aug. 2015, not including tip).

In depth detail below:

I spoke with Kong Lin via e-mail and he was very prompt and attentive in his replies. When I gave him the exact locations I wanted to go (including the Panjiayuan Market), he was able to tell me which places were doable and also informed us that the Panjiayuan Market was closed on weekdays.

I said that if he had any recommendations as to where to go besides our dinner and shopping plans, we would welcome any suggestions of places in the area, and he said we could speak more about it when I arrived! And also that since we were only going shopping and to dinner, we would probably only need a driver instead of a "guide" guide.

I misunderstood how much the tour actually was, so I ended up paying the whole amount in full (instead of just the deposit) and I was over by quite a bit, but Kong Lin immediately refunded me the extra amount, giving me the choice of having a refund of everything except the deposit, or just the amount by which I overpaid. I said that just the extra amount was fine, since I have a lot of faith in PayPal.

He asked for our flight number and arrival time, as well as my full name so that the driver would be able to hold a sign up for us as we exited Arrivals. And when we did arrive (a bit late, but not too late since we were luckily able to go through the 72-hour Permit line instead of the normal line for foreigners), we met up with Eric, who was our driver for the majority of the afternoon. Since Kong Lin was tied up working the IAAF World Championships, he wouldn't be able to meet us until later when he picked us up for dinner.

So I told Eric it was completely fine, and could we stop by the hotel first instead of at the end of the tour? He was very quick to acquiesce and brought us straight to the hotel so we could drop off our bags first. After that, I said maybe we could go to one of the shopping places listed in my original request, but Eric surprised us by saying first we would go to *something that sounded like a museum." Not too keen to go to a museum, my husband and I were like, "eh," but I did tell Kong Lin that we were up to any suggestions, so off we went!

By the time we arrived, we realized it was a silk museum, which obviously is not okay. But as we were already inside, I hoped by "museum," we would just be able to learn a bit more about how silk was made/is made via some displays, paintings, sample fabrics, etc. But.... No. It was the bad kind of museum. Thank God we didn't see any live silk worms being cooked, but we did get to see how their carcasses were turned into silk via live demonstrations.

And as my stomach was churning, the lady who was showing us around began the tourist-trap part of the demonstration, encouraging us to look around and let her know if we wanted to purchase any of their products or souvenirs. We politely informed her that we weren't interested, and she told us how to show ourselves out.

Photo Source: TripAdvisor

I know it wasn't the driver's fault since he didn't know, but since one of our desired locations was the Vegan Hut in Beijing, I would have hoped that the tour company's suggestions wouldn't be such a place as a silk trap.

So then Eric dropped us off at Vegan Hut, which was just a lovely experience and made us feel 100% better. Kong Lin came inside to pick us up when we were done, and was such a friendly guy that we completely forgot about the silk museum business and were excited to go to our last place before heading back to the hotel.

Unfortunately, instead of Yandai Xiejie Street, we were brought to another shopping location, which wasn't terrible, but less aesthetically what we were looking for. Basically, it was a tall building with tons of shops inside, and I suppose it did the trick, but because of the high price tags, even knowing we could haggle, my husband and I hesitated to buy anything.

So, we went to 1/3 of the places I wanted to go to initially, 1/3 was so-so, and 1/3 was really sad. Because we felt completely taken care of and safe while we were being shuttled around, I would still give them 4/5 stars, but next time I will probably ask one of my Beijinger relatives to show us around so we won't have to go anywhere we don't want to (although fighting over any bill will be on a whole different level).

My Experience with Beijing Vegan Hut (Vegan Hut 维根小屋)

Located in Beijing's Jianwai SOHO, there's a lot of walking and shopping to be had before and after visiting this lovely restaurant, owned by the sweetest people ever.

Incredibly fresh fruit salad

Stall 9213, 2/F, Bldg 9,           维根小屋. 
Jianwai Soho, 39                   北京朝阳区建外
Dongsanhuan Zhonglu,         soho 9号楼2层9213商铺
Chaoyang District 
Beijing, China 100020


SOHO is made up of a cluster of modern standalone buildings, each numbered on the outside, so finding Building 9 is very easy. The restaurant is upstairs on the second floor!

Ordering was incredibly easy since the menu had item names and descriptions in English as well, and even though the server didn't speak much English, she was so kind and brought out some waters for us without our asking.

My husband and I ordered a mapo tofu dish, a bowl of fruit salad, and a cute little quiche (which was surprisingly filling), and our bill came out to 99 CNY (approximately $15.55 USD in August 2015)!

I'm so glad that Happy Cow exists!

Packing for 1 Week in a Carry-On Backpack

Everyone is different, and each person on this green earth has different packing needs. But what is very important to remember is that we humans can get by on very little, but we aim to feel 100% comfortable, 24/7. It's totally okay if you're one of these people! But if you'd like to break away from the baggage, lose the luggage, maintain the minimum, etc., ask yourself these questions:

1) If I were kidnapped, stranded, and had no money on me, what would I wish I had?

2) What do I need to feel absolutely fresh and clean before I go to bed at night?

Let's start with #1. For me, it's a toothbrush, some toothpaste, and deodorant (of course!).

Luckily, they make travel sizes for all of these things, so if you have $10 USD to spare, you can pick them up at Target and they will take up virtually no space in your bag.

As for #2, it's a little trickier, especially when it comes to nighttime routines and whether you're a skincare enthusiast or not. The following will definitely not apply to everyone, so just take it all in stride. Ideally, I would have:

- makeup remover
- cotton pads/rounds
- cotton swabs
- facial cleanser
- facial toner
- moisturizer
- chapstick
- hand lotion

If you insist on having all of your liquids, lotions, cleansers, etc., you can buy empty mini-bottles at Target or a similar store for under $5 USD, and that includes a pack of 4 bottles.

$2.99 at Target

If you're a bit spendier, you may also choose to get mini-versions of everything you own, but if you really want to keep your packing list short, think about what you really need and adjust to that list.

If you're backpacking/hiking, I would suggest buying organic, environment-safe mini-versions of what you need, but if you're traveling to a city and will be hanging out in the same hotel(s) for a while, you might as well live like a local, and that includes shopping for things only if you desperately need them, instead of packing for every contingency.

Most of what I listed above was making sure every trace of makeup was removed from my face at the end of the day. But to those of you to whom this applies, do you really have to wear makeup on this trip? If you do, keep it minimal and natural. The less makeup you have on, the less effort is required to take it off. Focus instead on the experiences you'll have, and not so much on your curated image you've sculpted of your normal life. The exception to this would be business trips, which unfortunately, is a somewhat inflexible social structure compared to vacationing with just friends and family, and requires just a smidgen more attention to image.

This is a pretty handy alternative to about three items on my list already:

$1.97 at Target

Luckily, this inexpensive pack contains 7 wipes, one for every day of the week you're traveling! Be careful not to rub too hard, especially around the eye area, and if possible, use warm water to remove what you can before using this to take care of the rest.

...If only.

As for washing your face after this, more sensitive skin may require a specialized cleanser, but if it's just for a week, I just double-up and use my shampoo as a quick face wash. Be careful to watch your face for any signs of stress, and if your skin isn't particularly hardy, a quick trip to the store for a mini-cleanser will get you back on track.

That being said, you know yourself best and should bring whatever will keep you in good shape during your trip, but the danger in overpacking is greater with those who require a lot more than what is absolutely, truly necessary, and this snowballs into packing things "just in case."

Makeup (for some people)

Without cleanser, toner, or cotton pads, I've freed up just the tiniest amount of space to put in my very minimal makeup kit, which includes:

1) mini foundation (dry finish)
2) mascara
3) lash curler
4) eyeliner

Makeup needs are different across the board, but you have to admit how much easier it is to travel with a makeup-free face, or at least one that has just enough to highlight your natural features.

If you really insist on bringing your whole makeup arsenal, brushes and all, try to take some time to pare down your makeup kit for this one-week "stripped" version of you!

Clothes

Clothes-wise, I tend to dress every day based on mood, but that is a dangerous game while traveling.

Planning out your outfits in advance and seeing what can be reycled will save so much space in your carry-on bag!

If you are hiking in the wilderness, having quick-dry clothes and an environmentally safe way of washing them can cut your clothing needs in half, but if it's just for a week, packing simple ensembles won't take up much space at all, so it's really up to your preferences!

For those who have the luxury of a hotel room or even a nearby coin-operated laundry facility, you can wash clothes during your trip, just like a local would! Be careful when planning your outfits for a hotel-sink wash, as some fabrics will take ages to dry, and carrying them around in your bag while they're still damp won't help anybody.

Quick-drying fabrics are available in the form of travel clothes, but fashion-conscious travelers may want to steer clear of them. Some of your everyday clothes are unintentionally made of quicker-drying fabric (like polyester), so the next time you do some laundry before your trip, make a note of which articles of clothing seem less wet than others when pulling them out of the washing machine, or even try line-drying them if you have time for a trial run so you can see exactly what you're dealing with! If you're the type to wear 100% cotton T-shirts (aka, the non-quick-drying kind), feel free to pack more on the clothing side and see what else you can pack less of.

The important thing is balance, and understanding your must-haves and what you can maybe live without for a week.

Shoes

Shoes are difficult. As many people will suggest, wear your bulkiest shoes on the plane with you, and pack the smaller ones in your bag.

But what if your bulkiest pair of shoes is some kind of monster?

If you must, must, must... Then pack them. But all of your other shoes should be flats or flip-flops. Also, take some time to evaluate if this is a must-have, or a want. Also, how long will you be wearing these shoes? Sometimes I think I must have a certain pair of shoes to complete a look, but if I think outside of the box and change my outfit, I may realize I don't really desperately need it after all.

That being said, if none of this resonated with you, and you absolutely have to pack all of these items, three pairs of pumps, ten completely non-repeating outfits, an entire MAC Makeup counter, and every product in your bathroom, just one carry-on backpack may not be for you. It would be a challenge to fit all of that within 22"x14"x9" and wear it comfortably.

So for those special days and the must-have experiences, bring a full-size suitcase and enjoy. Your trip will be unique for different reasons, and that's completely okay!

And for those of you who are rushing through the airport, hopping on and off public transportation, and excited to travel as yourself with just the contents on your back and an open mind, try out the carry-on system at least once! You'll be surprised to see how strong you are, and what you're capable of living without.