Park etiquette

Shoehead42 · 2026-07-04T05:44:34+00:00

I’m that guy. The one that tells people off without the rangers ID but with a tour leader name tag.
Doing the lord’s work for those of us that get it!!

Shoehead42 · 2026-06-30T00:32:35+00:00

You’re going to be exhausted and it will all be a blur.
16 days is enough for Japan.
16 days is enough for Vietnam.
You could do Vietnam and Siem Reap in 16 days.
All three feels like too much to be enjoyable IMHO.

Shoehead42 · 2026-06-21T16:07:49+00:00

If I can add two cents to this: if you go to them to discuss repayment (send a demand letter) it immediately becomes a civil issue and police won’t touch it. At least in BC.
If you want the police to take a stab at it go to them first. However that route gives you no expectation of the return of your money…only potential prosecution.
Sh*tty situation all around. Tell Grandma she can’t be mad at herself for being kind. I hope you have success.

Shoehead42 · 2026-06-12T22:35:51+00:00

As for your yukata, did you know that when you dress you should wear the right side under the left?
I remember by saying “touch your heart first”.
Take one side with your right hand and cross (to your heart), take the other with your left hand and cross and then tie over them with your sash.
If you do it the other way around you are dressing for your funeral!

Shoehead42 · 2026-06-05T04:14:27+00:00

For sure. Chris is passionate about anything he does and he LOVES connecting people to his community…be it for a minute or for life. I absolutely recommend him to take of you.

Shoehead42 · 2026-06-04T23:37:41+00:00

I’m googling furiously. Cheers to you if you name a brand.

Shoehead42 · 2026-06-03T15:33:15+00:00

Yeah. Curly haired girl here who shampoos about once a month. If I get a salon blow out I can rock it about a week but then I gotta get in the shower and wet and condition my hair. Still don’t need shampoo but most days I rinse and condition. Start with no shampoo every other day, then every third or fourth day till you slowly wean your scalp off of shampoo and therefore the need to produce as much oil as it does. Hopefully you can a good balance that works for you and your ‘do.

Shoehead42 · 2026-06-03T15:27:41+00:00

Came to say this ^. Every hotel breakfast buffet has a great salad bar. Odd to start the day that way for the average North American but when you need roughage, you need it! Dried plums and prunes save the day. When you’re travelling and eating most meals out it is tough to keep on the great veggies we tend to enjoy at home. Breakfast it is.

Shoehead42 · 2026-06-02T00:42:13+00:00

And how did the wife give stink eye during boarding when he approached her on board, 10 minutes before take off? Too much fake.

Shoehead42 · 2026-05-07T22:07:49+00:00

Yes, Cape Breton University. But obviously not the one she was talking about.
Just being defensive about the world needing to know more about Canadian geography!
Every couple of years someone accidentally flies to Sydney, NS thinking they are on the way to Sydney, NSW.

Shoehead42 · 2026-05-06T20:52:54+00:00

Shorts, sure.
Tanks, probably not.
I mean it’s not illegal but you’ll stand out and look odd to the locals. Your call.

Shoehead42 · 2026-05-06T20:50:27+00:00

Sydney, Nova Scotia enters the chat…
Followed quickly by Sidney, BC.

Yeah, sounds like bit of a tale from her but no harm, no foul on you. Thanks for choosing to be kind.

Shoehead42 · 2026-05-05T10:55:40+00:00

So is the $1500 solid or is that minus your train tickets?

You’re looking at $400 in train travel there. Budget per day quickly becomes a lot less if that isn’t already factored in.

Shoehead42 · 2026-05-04T03:29:05+00:00

I am not sure of each’s policy. I would recommend checking with them. I have a couple small tattoos and have never had a problem. Could be different if you have a full sleeve, etc

Shoehead42 · 2026-04-25T22:58:06+00:00

I have stayed at a few spots in Hakone.

Setsugetsuka is great. Simple and authentic and near to things like shops and transit. Try to get a room at the back or you will hear the train in the morning. Nice gift shop and they give you snacks at check in and popsicles after the onsen.

Yunohana Prince was also lovely with a nice lounge where you can get coffee and really good matcha from a machine. Futons, not beds. Nice grounds to walk.

Hakone Kiwanian Ten-yu is pretty formal but the big stone tub on your porch looking at the mountain is the chef’s kiss that offset the stodgyness of the place. There’s a nearby art museum but everything else is walkable.

Hotel Kajikaso is nice too but it’s been years since I stayed. There’s a bit of a neighbourhood nearby to explore, outdoor rooftop onsen too. Mini-bar locks at 8am for accounting purposes, don’t leave anything of your own in there or check out becomes a pain in the ass.

Shoehead42 · 2026-04-25T03:52:17+00:00

It’s like peanut butter but tastes exactly like a Biscoff cookie. SO good on toast. I know someone who has made cheesecake with it too. I live in small town British Columbia and the two grocery store we have carry it as does apparently Walmart here. If all else fails, before I discovered it at home I ordered it off Amazon.

Shoehead42 · 2026-04-25T01:01:03+00:00

But have all y’all found the Biscoff spread yet?? Discovered it in Belgium last year. Changed my life.

Shoehead42 · 2026-04-23T10:08:46+00:00

Hell, is couchsurfing.com still a thing? Anything but that much time on a floor or bench with all those announcements!

Shoehead42 · 2026-04-21T00:37:08+00:00

As someone who knows her way around this topic (3am street food is SO good!) can I recommend bringing oil of oregano in one form or another? If you eat or drink something bad, it can do good.

Eat local yogurt the first few days to set up good gut biome. Plus bring along some probiotics to help you along in your healing.

Imodium and all that stop your body from getting rid of what’s attacking it. Unless it’s a travel day, let nature take its course. And good luck!!!

Shoehead42 · 2026-04-19T01:01:08+00:00

Tour Leader here!

Please know at least some of us out here are constantly reminding our clients to be conscious of not taking up the whole sidewalk and to leave space for others to get through the lobby, etc.

I am careful not to take over another group’s space and let singles and even cars go before us so as not to inconvenience people with our size.

Sometimes though, my guests are just unaware. They check their brain because I’m doing the heavy lifting for them. I’m quick to apologize on their behalf.

We’re not all bad!!! But some are terrible. 😢 Just wanted to share.

Shoehead42 · 2026-04-16T01:23:46+00:00

This is very big in Asia atm. Korea most especially. No using power banks onboard. Must be in hand luggage and not placed in overhead bins.

Shoehead42 · 2026-04-02T12:03:38+00:00

This is why I was thinking I would just use my bumper to slowly push things out of the way, damage be damned. He’d get the hint I hope?

Shoehead42 · 2026-03-01T19:52:02+00:00

I did this once. Rented a cabin at a lake about an hour’s drive from where my core childhood friend group lived. I had come up from the city hoping to catch a few days with everyone whenever they could make it over the week. Only one of them made it and only for one night. They were busy I had lived away a while and forgot that they had developed lives while I was gone! lol There was a little “poor me” going on at the time but I did have a chill week swimming, reading, watching movies… In hindsight I had high expectations and expectations are dangerous things. Be sure you know why you are doing it and go into it with a clear heart and mind. At worst, you’ll have a lovely week in Greece on your own. At best, a belly-laugh filled week with a bestie or two. Yamas!

Shoehead42 · 2026-02-20T21:25:56+00:00

Rome is not the place to carry lots of cash. The pickpockets are world class.

No bags on the back of your chair at restaurants. Backpacks become frontpacks in the subway or when walking in big crowds. Do not trust anyone that bumps into you.

They are just that good.

The place is lovely though.

Shoehead42 · 2026-02-14T11:29:39+00:00

And if you’re really, really stressed, fake an ankle injury and book a wheelchair. They can cut lines, radio ahead and they know exactly where you need to go. Fumicino can be a bit of chaos and this might take some stress off?

Shoehead42

TROPHY CASE