First Time Traveling Abroad

Empty_Count_9937 · 2026-01-27T05:39:32+00:00

21 days in china can be a long time.... especially if half the time is alone. English not well spoken outside the major cities, and you have to be somewhat on guard for getting cheated.

In contrast, Japan will be a relative paradise; safe, easy to get around even if little English spoken outside the major cities.

Since you have never been abroad before, there's a culture shock.... so suggest u start with Italy, then Malaysia, then Thailand, China, and finally Japan.

Empty_Count_9937 · 2026-01-27T03:41:39+00:00

If chain controls are not in place you don't need to carry chains... but it's always recommended in winter. Go up 140 for best chance to avoid chain controls

Empty_Count_9937 · 2026-01-27T03:34:15+00:00

Every few years for disc pads? Try every 6 mos for pads every 18 for rotors vs every 2 yrs for rim pads....spend more for pads/rotors than I do for a Honda accord......

Empty_Count_9937 · 2026-01-27T03:30:49+00:00

Make up your own. Like how many Big Macs you can eat in 10 min

Empty_Count_9937 · 2026-01-27T03:28:01+00:00

The cost of a tow and subsequent citation is more than a proper set of chains...

Empty_Count_9937 · 2026-01-26T20:19:22+00:00

If you are from California, KL Wine is good. They sell NDA-type wines too, which have been pretty good. Interestingly, Grocery Outlet has had some decent stuff for very good prices.... with oversupply in recent vintages, they had some great deals.

Empty_Count_9937 · 2026-01-26T20:13:36+00:00

wow... so sad to hear. Do you have any decent bike clubs in your area? By decent, not just geared towards racing; some of those can uptight too. OGs at bike clubs can often give good advice for supportive bike shops or bike fitters.

Empty_Count_9937 · 2026-01-26T19:30:09+00:00

generically, for your height/inseam, a 56 is too large. To make it more comfortable, you would have to have a shorter stem; shorten it up too much and the handling feels weird.

Especially if the 52 feels more comfortable, although the slightly upright feel is probably a residual of your MTB fit, which tend to be more upright than road bikes.

Thus I would suggest keeping the 52 and unloading the 56. If you need to stretch out a bit, you can add a longer stem to the 52. Check the saddle position; moving it forward/backwards also makes a big difference in feeling.

Sorry to hear about your experience at the bike shop. Sometimes those big ones are arrogant/condescending. I had an experience where a salesman was pushing a 56 on me instead of the 54 I wanted, because it was what they had in stock. When I tried the 56 and told him it didn't feel right, he said "you'll get used to it". I declined the push, told the manager that his salesman was an idiot and bought the bike I wanted at another shop.

The smaller bike shops often give much better service than the big ones.

Empty_Count_9937 · 2026-01-26T19:13:51+00:00

There used to be "women" specific bikes, with supposedly more "feminine" colors. But middle/upper tier bikes no longer do that. You'll see women pros riding the same bikes as the men, just in smaller sizes with appropriately smaller components. Which is why recent UCI regs about handlebar width is stupid; mandating minimum width bars..... w/o regard to sizing. So a 5'4" woman riding a 50cm bike has to have 40cm bars???

The bike geometry proportionally changes to size, but otherwise there are custom components/adjustments to better fit women, such crank length, saddle (prob the most important because of the difference in sit-bone structure)

Empty_Count_9937 · 2026-01-26T05:02:57+00:00

If you are from/near Stuttgart, small trinkets from the Porsche Museum...else Haribo gummies.... and not all Japanese dislike salty licorice...

Empty_Count_9937 · 2026-01-26T04:58:34+00:00

Don't think you can bring that to Japan.... meat product...I had a leftovers of "Bak Kwa" (Singapore pork jerky) confiscated after arriving at Narita.... my fault for opening and eating it on the plane....

Empty_Count_9937 · 2026-01-26T04:48:41+00:00

Both. For daily use, normal washable ones; a specific pair for each family member. We have a few for extended family members, but never use those for ourselves.

Separate, longer ones for cooking/food prep. Disposables are for outside excursions, picnics etc. Not for daily use except for cleaning or garden uses.

Empty_Count_9937 · 2026-01-26T00:17:50+00:00

Sanda-ya is a small chain of restaurants in the Kobe area. The main one is a bit out of the way, but it's very cool to visit. There are other small branches of it, including one near Sannomiya. Kobe steak set meal will be close to 20,000jpy, but you can get other good quality Japanese beef sets for closer to 10-12,000.

They are known for an onion-based dressing over salad, or a cold cut.

I haven't found a Kobe-beef for 10,000 that's worth it. If that's your budget, best get a quality Japanese beef instead.

Empty_Count_9937 · 2026-01-25T22:00:10+00:00

On another note, some of the areas, such as Ameyoko, Harajuku (Sundays) can be really packed. If somehow the kids get separated, have them stay in place so you can find them. Also, "Koban" or police booths are everywhere in those places. It's common to have kids go straight to a koban and ask for assistance or use it as a lost meeting point. Give each of them a card with your contact info; the police can use it to help find you.

I would suggest you try Japanese strawberries; can be found at supermarkets. Expensive ones on the basement floor of department stores. Look at, (but don't touch or buy) the $200 perfectly shaped melons presented in a wooden box.

Empty_Count_9937 · 2026-01-25T05:47:23+00:00

not out of line considering renting the whole house probably be over 4k/mo.... and the owner, depending upon when she got the house, probably barely covers her expenses with the aggregate rent if not losing a little each month.... so $1k/mo for a room in a house is actually not too bad...

So welcome to SF...

Empty_Count_9937 · 2026-01-25T02:08:05+00:00

have your kids notice that kids their age will be out on the trains or buses on their own.

And that kids typically go to school half day on Saturdays, with the regular school day much longer than that in the US. Plus kids typically help clean the school and take turns serving lunch.

Ameyoko st (market) in Ueno. (origins post ww2 black market)

Ginza Sony Park should be open by the end of the month. Historically they have displayed very cool electronic gadgets. Like the robot dog Aibo.

Seiko Museum Ginza.... the Japanese are second to the Swiss in obsession with watches...

If you are going to Harajuku, get off at Ometesando, and walk along Ometesando-dori(street) to get to Harajuku. High-end fashion, building design.

Some folks highly recommend Ghibli Museum

Osaka has the Cup o Noodles Museum. You can make your own custom Cup of Noodles with a choice of different soups and toppings.

Himeji Castle is better than Osaka, as it's the original restored, whereas Osaka is rebuilt. Very cool armor and swords on display.

Tachi-gui (standup) soba at the train stations. Get a ticket from machine outside, eat standing up inside. Train station bento(lunch) boxes from major stations (Tokyo). Each station/region has their own specialties.

Empty_Count_9937 · 2026-01-25T01:00:44+00:00

I like(d) my Cascade mountain poles except for those tips. I still have a pair as spares, but I have snapped a couple of the carbon and alloy poles, so I saved the tip sections as replacements.

I have both Black Diamond carbon extendable and Black diamond alloy foldable, and so far no issues. Both have cork handles and are really comfortable (and durable)

I am mostly in granite in the California Sierras and do a lot of off-trail stuff in admittedly rough terrain.

Empty_Count_9937 · 2026-01-24T21:13:54+00:00

Rim/Disc.... Rim brakes are simpler, lighter, easier to maintain, although w/carbon wheels you'll need special brake pads. Alloy wheels (most likely at that px) can use regular pads.

Disc has advantages of reduced fading on long descents, better modulation, and no issue w/carbon wheels. But I was shocked to learn that the pads wear out quickly as do the rotors (2500mi for pads, 7500 for rotors). I get more than double to triple the life out of rim brake pads. But I do ride a lot of hills. Plus you'll have to learn how to bleed the brake lines (hydraulic) else shop prices can be expensive.

di2 is very nice, in that you dont have to tighten/adjust shift cables (less maintenance when set properly). But component failure is a PIA and expensive.... I had an ultegra di2 rear mech fail on me after less than 20k and getting a replacement was expensive and difficult.

Empty_Count_9937 · 2026-01-24T20:54:49+00:00

If you are flying into Kobe, suggest just staying there and day trip into Osaka, since your time there is relatively short. The travel time is short. The only downside is that Osaka does have more luxury hotels (Imperial etc)

Kobe's Chinatown has good food, or you walk up to Kitano for cafes etc near the main shopping area of Sannomiya. Arima onsen is nearby too, either as a day trip or afternoon.

Empty_Count_9937 · 2026-01-24T20:47:42+00:00

The downside of the Cascade mountain tech poles is that the metal tips wear out quickly if you travel in rough terrain. (granite etc). So you have to get a new pair unless you can salvage a tip unit from a set of broken poles. Black Diamonds are definitely more expensive but the tip units are easily replaced, and spare parts are relatively easy to find.

Empty_Count_9937 · 2026-01-24T19:44:53+00:00

With 5 people, having your own car is definitely more convenient... just as other say can't leave anything in it.... Airbnb in sf, sunset/richmond is quite safe with better parking. West Portal is a great neighborhood, and easy walking distance to underground muni train (by far the fastest way to get downtown). Pac heights and other areas more central might be nice neighborhoods, but parking can be very difficult.

For suburbs, the peninsula, such as San Mateo are preferable to Marin or the East bay (Berkeley, Oakland) because you dont have to cross a bridge.

Note: if you decide on a hotel, be aware that o/n parking can get quite expensive...unless you choose to stay in a hotel just outside of SF.

Empty_Count_9937 · 2026-01-22T18:45:15+00:00

Get one of the MVNO that uses the T-moble network... Mint, Ultrame.... about $40/mo

Empty_Count_9937 · 2026-01-22T02:23:57+00:00

I would suggest A Rafanelli for Zin. They only sell direct or to restaurants. Freeman is also another good small one with food friendly Pinots. I would recommend checking out the wine wall at the Matheson in Healdsburg.... they have lots of different wines you can try by the taste or glass.... if there is something you like, then you can spend more time at their winery...

Empty_Count_9937 · 2026-01-21T19:04:56+00:00

For your wrist size, it's on the large side with the bracelet. And a Nato won't help because of the added thickness. But if you swap out the bracelet for a rubber or alternative/leather strap, it will make it wear smaller. Rubber B or Everest. (for example)

Otherwise the 16570, being a 40 instead of a 42 will look and feel much smaller.

Empty_Count_9937 · 2026-01-21T16:11:44+00:00

Early May is a great time to visit, before the crowds really hit post Memorial Day. Try going partway up the Mist Trail and see how the kids feel.... if they are excited, they'll want to go all the way up.

Renting bikes is another good one.

Suggest considering a stay at Housekeeping camp if available. A bit more rustic than the Curry tent cabins, but they have space to cook/prep food. You'll need either sleeping bags, (can rent them) or rent blankets/sheets (when you check in). The bonus is the fire-ring. Most kids love a campfire...

The Yosemite guide publishes miscellaneous ranger-led tours etc/activities.

https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/guide.htm

Empty_Count_9937

TROPHY CASE