january-2010

international adventures
A traditional
dance performance
HONOLULU
HAWAII
Honolulu, on the island of
Oahu, is one of the world’s
most exotic capital cities.
Encapsulating a modern
vitality with the delightful
charm of old Hawaiiana, it
reverberates with Aloha, the
spirit of welcome.
FROM THE AIRPORT
CBD 14km from Honolulu
International Airport
Travel time CBD is around
15 mins by car
Taxi Approx US$40 (AU$44.20)
VIP Stretch Limo From US$70
(AU$77.30) for two people
Airport shuttle US$9 (AU$10) and
taking around 20 mins
Bus Every 30 mins at US$2
(AU$2.20) for bus number 19 and
taking around 1hr 10 mins
ON THE GO
1. Buses Hotel shuttle buses, public
buses and quaint open-air trolley
buses — Oahu has an excellent
bus network. For a fl at fee of US$2
(AU$2.20) you can travel any
distance, including bus changes, to
all attractions.
96 JANUARY 2010
WELDON
KEKAUOHA
Singer-songwriter
Best breakfast: Eggs ’n’ Things
for great home-cooked, comfort
food at its best. Located in the
heart of Waikiki, it offers simple
breakfast recipes that’ll leave
you content and satisfi ed. Show
up early though as the line can
be quite long by mid-morning.
Local delicacy: Giovanni’s
Original White Shrimp Truck
in Kahuku on the North Shore.
The huge portions of tasty
crustaceans are best ordered
hot and spicy. They’re mouthblistering,
but delicious.
Best idea for a family
outing: Makapuu Lighthouse
trail. The two-mile paved trail
along the cliffs leads you to a
view of the lighthouse and a
breathtaking vista of windward
Oahu. December through April,
humpback whales and their
calves frolic and nurse in the
waters just offshore.
For history: Bishop Museum, a
wonderful place to experience
Hawaii’s people and culture.
Visit the newly renovated
Hawaii Hall or enjoy one of
the many interactive exhibits
at the Science Center. The
Planetarium shows you some
of the ways the Hawaiian
people navigated and settled
throughout all of Oceania.
Best place to party with the
gang: Kani Ka Pila Grille at the
Outrigger Reef on the Beach
hotel. It has wonderful food,
genuine Hawaiian hospitality
and the best in Hawaiian
music... what else can you
ask for? Tuesday nights are
my favourite.
Sumo wrestlers line up
before the start of the
tournament
OSAKA & TOKYO
JAPAN
Osaka is home to modern
architectural wonders and a
prolifi c creative scene.
Tokyo is Japan’s largest city
and capital with many intimate
and fascinating suburbs.
FROM THE AIRPORT
Osaka CBD 38km from Kansai
International Airport
Travel time 50 mins by car
Taxi Approx ¥17,000 (AU$213)
Limousine bus Every 45 mins at
¥880 (AU$11), takes 50 mins
Nankai Express Train Every
30 mins from ¥1,390 (AU$17.50),
takes 30 mins
FROM THE AIRPORT
Tokyo CBD 66km from Narita Airport
Travel time 60–90 min by car
Taxi Approx ¥20,000 (AU$250.60)
Limousine Bus ¥3,000 (AU$36.30),
takes 60–90 mins
JR Narita Express Every 30–60 mins
at ¥3,000 (AU$37.60), takes 60 mins
ON THE GO
1. The subway Easy to use,
effi cient and takes you everywhere
you want to go.
2. Bicycle Many Kansai hotels offer
bicycle hire due to the easy terrain.
CHRIS ROWTHORN
Lonely Planet Japan
author and travel
consultant
OSAKA
Best night out: The Dotombori
area of Osaka’s Minami
district has one of the world’s
thickest concentrations of
bars, clubs and restaurants on
the planet. You won’t believe
the characters you see in the
nightly human parade through
the narrow streets of the area.
Survival tip for tourists: On
Fridays and the 20th of every
month, you can get unlimited
rides on city subways and
buses for only ¥600 (AU$7.50).
This is part of the city’s
“No-My-Car-Day” campaign
to encourage people to use
public transport.
Unusual fact: Osaka Aquarium
has the world’s best collection
of sharks in its main tank. There
are two whale sharks, leopard
sharks and even a tiger shark.
Must eats: You can’t
visit Osaka without trying
okonomiyaki (savoury
pancakes) and tako-yaki
(octopus dumplings). The best
place to try these delights is the
Dotombori area.
Best place to hang out
with the locals: Head to the
Amerika Mura area of Minami
to check out what the kids of
Osaka are up to. You can join
the fray in the famed Triangle
Park — it’s the eye of Osaka’s
fashion hurricane.
Favourite local festival: Head
to the Tenjin Matsuri festival on
25 July to see festival barges
on the river and mobs of rowdy
Osakans carrying portable
shrines and fi reworks.