Tokyo Adventure III Day 1- Travel to Tokyo

Konnichiwa!  It is actually Day 3 of our Tokyo Adventure III, but we've been having a lot of technical difficulties, so I'm a few days behind.  So hopefully I remember what happened over the last couple of days!

As you may already know... this trip is a special trip to Japan for my mom.  She's never been to Japan before and always wanted to go.   I wanted to take her before she gets too old and can't walk... she's in good shape now and walks more than me, so I knew she could handle.

Also joining us on our adventure is my sister Denise.  She is the other half of Sister Stamps, in case you follow my other blog:  sisterstamps.blogspot.com.  She is an artist that freelances for Disney and other studios but lives in Italy.  Sis had to travel in the opposite direction to meet us for this adventure.

It all started about a year ago, I told Mom that we'd be taking her to Japan if she wanted to go.  After my stepdad passed away a couple of years ago, she was kind of in a daze.  But last year, she started to feel better and it seemed like the right time to plan the trip, so we booked our flight and never looked back!

As I mentioned before, my LA trip was postponed, so I was dying to get out of Hilo for awhile, but waited patiently because I knew my Tokyo trip was coming up in a few months.  After a few LONG months, our trip is finally here!!!

We left on Friday, April 24th and let me tell ya, that was the longest short week in the history of work.  I worked long hours that week to get my work done before my vacation, but I managed to get it all done in time.

Finally, it was travel day!  We had a tearful goodbye from Akemi and then we were on our way.  Here we are before our inter-island trip to Honolulu.

Paul took this photo of Mauna Kea from the plane...  Bye Bye Hilo!

After we arrived in Honolulu, we met up with Mom at our gate... or what we thought was our gate!  Luckily mom called and we found out our gate had changed.  Thank goodness!  Then we were off on our epic Tokyo Adventure III to Haneda on Hawaiian Airlines.  

Although the flight was shorter than anticipated, it still felt really long. I think its cause we tried really hard not to sleep the entire flight like we usually do.  Hoping that that will help reduce the jet lag.  I was happy to see my favorite movie Pitch Perfect was an option on the in-flight movies! Yay!

Finally, we landed in Tokyo!!  Woo Hoo!  We landed almost an hour early, which was good.  And Hawaiian now distributes the immigration and customs forms on the plane so we got through much quicker than normal.  Yay!  Then we headed to the monorail and hopped on.  Here's our first pic in Tokyo!

Then we checked in and went to bed.  The next morning we had to wake up early to meet my sister, so we needed to get some rest.  Will write more about that in my next post!  Sayoonara!

Tokyo Adventure III- A Word About Japanese Toilets

Although I'm Japanese, I'm definitely American.  I have a phobia about using Japanese "squat" toilets that are the most common toilet you'll find.  Most places in Tokyo will have at least one "western" style toilet that I end up waiting for because I'm too chicken to use the squat.

Once upon a time, I had to use the bathroom on the drive home.  The family stopped on the side of the road and instructed me to "go".  Needless to say without being too graphic, I ended up all wet and never fully recovered from that experience.

Now that I'm all grown up, I still can't bring myself to use the squat.  Especially in the winter!  I was so afraid that I would drip on my pants, that I waited until a regular toilet was available.  Yes, sometimes the wait is really long, but I will wait.

This is picture of one of the squats we saw in Japan.  This one is kinda dirty because it was taken at a park, but normally they are very clean.

I'm amazed at how quickly Japanese women use the squat toilet.  Several of them can use the toilet while I'm waiting for the one western toilet to open up.  Still, I'm not brave enough to conquer the squat just yet.

For one thing I don't even know which direction to face!  LOL!  I found some useful signage online that illustrates the proper way to use the squat.  I'm pretty sure I would have faced the wrong way.

It's times like these I really envy men.  My husband is kept waiting for about 15 minutes for me because he is so fast and I'm still waiting.  Oh well, never gonna happen.

On the flip side, the Japanese also have the most amazing automated toilet seats for their western style toilets!  Our hotel room had these automated seats that heat, spray, dry, and even make noise so that others can't hear you.  Now I'll admit that I was skeptical and intimated by the thought of using a bidet, but once you try one, you'll never look back.  We liked them so much that when we renovated our bathrooms at home, we bought one toilet seat for each bathroom.

So, just be prepared that not all Japanese bathrooms have regular western style toilets.  I heard that the more rural communities you go to, it is less likely they will have a western style toilet, so just be prepared.

Oh.. one last thought.  In places like Akihabara, there are many people passing out tissue packs on the streets.  I guess its their way of advertising... weird yah?  Someone told us to take the tissue because sometimes when you use the bathroom, you may not have tissue and will need it.  We only ran into them in Akihabara and haven't been to a restroom without tissue, so not sure how true that is.

Excuse me while I go mentally prepare for Japanese toilets for my upcoming trip!

Tokyo Adventure III- All About The Omiyage

Here in Hawaii, many of us follow the Japanese tradition of omiyage or giving gifts when we travel.  Not only do we bring gifts to people we will be visiting, we will also bring back gifts for those who did not come with us on the trip.  That can be a lot of people, so we keep a mental listing to keep track.  I think this year I'm going to add it to my google docs so I can check it regularly as not to forget anyone.

Going to Japan:  Some Omiyage Tips
My co-worker recently came back from her trip to Japan and shared with me some ideas for omiyage that she found out Japanese people love.  She said that they like those little cooler bags we use for lunch bags here in Hawaii, so you can give your gift in one of those bags.  She also found out from the Japanese interpreter at Big Island Candies that Japanese tourists love milk chocolate, so if you are buying for someone in Japan and don't know what type of chocolate they like, go for the milk.

From past experience, we've always taken Mauna Loa Macadamia Nuts.  I used to work there and found that people go crazy for them.  On our first trip, we decided to take a box of  the tetra packs (triangle shaped single serving size) and gave the whole box to the hotel staff upon check in.  They were soooooo happy.  We checked in late at night but the next morning the staff came up to us to thank us.  After that, they took good care of us!  Now we do that everytime.

We also brought a bunch of the Mauna Loa snack sized bags to keep with us.  In Japan, they do not tip at restaurants or other jobs that we are accustomed to tipping.  So instead, we might leave some nuts or other omiyage item.  We also gave some to this old man who was so nice to help us find Studio Ghibli.  He even found us later to make sure we didn't get lost and was so happy when we gave him a bag of the mac nuts.

We also "tipped" the cab driver with a bag of the mac nuts. He was so happy too.  I guess those things are like gold?

This time, we've asked some friends who live there if they want anything special from Hawaii since we plan on meeting up with them.  The last time one of our friends visited, we gave her a bottle of Lilikoi butter, but she said it was confiscated at the airport since it wasn't in her luggage.  So we got her a bottle that we'll bring on our trip.  She also asked for beef nuggets.. I believe its similar to beef jerky.  I guess she misses it now that she lives in Japan.

Our other friends love hula and right now its Merrie Monarch season in Hilo.  Gonna go check out the craft fairs to see if we can find stuff they might like.

Returning from Japan:  All About the Omiyage
Let's face it, Japan has the coolest stuff.  I traveled to Italy for my sister's wedding and I think I came back with only a couple of magnets as souvenirs.  But when I went to Japan, I couldn't stop hauling!

The main thing we all bring back is food.  Japan has the awesomest snacks!  Pretty much every arare you pick will be amazing so don't worry about which one to pick.  They also have the incredible kit kat flavors that you can't seem to get in the US.  They are Kit Kat crazy and even have a store in Ikebukro that I plan on visiting.  We've also tried to bring back some of the fresh food, but some of them don't travel that well.  More on food once I get there.

The first time we went to Japan, I decided that I wanted to collect chop sticks and also brought back chop sticks as omiyage for my office.    Here's some of the chopsticks I picked up along the way.

Most of them are from Disneyland, but I also got a lot from the Daiso- 100 yen store... which by the way is an awesome place to pick up omiyage!

I've also picked up washi paper for my crafty friends and went crazy on Rilakkuma for my friend Linda.  There is just so much good stuff to choose from that it makes bring an empty suitcase so worth it.

Probably the most unique omiyage item we brought back were these Puri cube figures that we got in Hakuhinkan Toy Park in Ginza.  Here's the link to my blog post featuring this fun omiyage gift!

I have some orders to fill for some special folks that I'll share as I find them on my trip.  Desperately seeking Tsum Tsums!

Tokyo Adventure III- Trip Planning Organization

I'll admit, I'm not the most organized person.  I love being able to find things fast, but don't like to put things in its proper place.  But when you are on the go, you really need to figure out a system that works for you to be able to find your stuff!  Let me tell ya, it sucks when you are not able to check if you left something at home.

That being said, the best organization tip I can give you, I learned from my brother-in-law.  My sister told me how he organizes everything he needs for his trip into a folder and puts them in the order of when he'll need them.  For example, the first page will probably be the itinerary or first flight out.  Followed by rental car reservations, hotel reservations, or whatever will come next.  I tried this out a few years ago and found it to be very easy and useful!  I was able to locate the documents I needed quickly and didn't have to keep taking them out of my bag and risk misplacing them. They always stayed in my folder (with clear sheet protectors) and it was easy to find.

I also include in my folder other information that will be useful on the trip so that I don't have to search for it on the internet.  For example, on my upcoming trip to Tokyo, we know we want to visit Tokyo Disneyland and Puroland.  Since these are theme parks and have seasonal hours, I looked up their hours of operation schedule for the week that we'd be there to determine the best days to visit.  We've been to Disneyland before and know that weekends are busy, so plan on going there during the week.  Also found a coupon for Puroland that I printed and will bring with me.

Another tool I got was a map of Ginza.  My friend Susan, who frequently visits Japan gave me the map to explain to me where the Kabuki-za is in Ginza, along with the Sanrio store.  I decided to take the map with me so I could reference it before we head to Ginza.

You can find one of these types of folders at Longs here in Hawaii. I have a couple of them in case I'm planning two trips at once.

Before I knew how to use google maps, I used to also print up the driving directions ahead of time.  But now I found that using my google maps on my phone is better than having to look at a physical map because it won't distract me from the road.

We also look for helpful apps to download on our phones prior to the trip. My husband found a Tokyo Metro app that contains the subway/train maps that we'll have access to whenever we need them.

I found that this is the best system that works for me because it is simple and easy to use.  Hope that helps you in your trip planning!

Tokyo Adventure III- What To Pack?

The countdown has begun!  We are less than 2 weeks away from our trip to Japan and I am super duper excited!  This trip has been in the works for some time and I desperately need a getaway.  So now that we are closer to lift off, I decided to share with you what I plan to take on my trip.  If you find this boring, I won't feel offended if you decide not to read this.  This is more for me to remember what to pack! LOL!

So this time, we are heading to Tokyo but it's at a different time of year than we have gone before.  The last two times were in the winter and early spring, so it was much colder than it is now.   The first thing I do is check the local weather to figure out what to pack.

I'll admit, I tend to overpack, but this time I'm determined to underpack so that I have more room for more stuff!  Our airline is allowing us two bags for free (on international flights), but because we travel a lot by subway/train, I plan on taking just one suitcase.  Albeit it is a very large suitcase!  I also plan on taking an empty duffle bag that will be inside my suitcase so that when we return, I'll have an extra bag.  Smart yah?

In addition to my luggage, I also plan on bringing my travel backpack and Vera Bradley carry on.  My Vera Bradley will not likely have anything in it, so I may also tuck that into my suitcase if I can fit it there.

My backpack will be my main carry on and will hold all of my essentials:

Travel folder- all travel documents including reservations, itinerary, etc.
Passport
Phone, charger and headphones
Snacks
Kleenx
doTerra Essential Oils (just in case)
pen
sunglasses
purse- I like my LeSportsac purse that can be a crossbody, lightweight and has zipper pockets on the outside.  This allows me to find my subway card quickly.
Toothbrush & Toothpaste  (just in case)
Jacket
Anything else I need- can't think of anything else at the moment.  I want to try bring some crafty thing for the plane.

My main luggage will contain mostly clothes- going lean this time so just a few tops and one pair of jeans.  Yikes!  Gonna wear one on the plane and rotate them.  Eek!  Plus underwear (duh) and toiletries.  I plan on wearing my walking shoes on the plane and bring a pair of slippers for short outings.

Now, I could just use the hotel toiletries, but I'm a bit spoiled and used to my own stuff, so I'm still bringing my own. My husband will likely just use what the hotel provides.

My husband will also pack his laptop and accessories in addition to his clothes.  Our suitcases will be relatively empty going over.  Yay!  We always bring at least one computer so that we can download pics to free space on our cameras.  I also use it to do daily blogs and may even try vlogging this time.  Wish me luck.

The only other things we plan on taking is omiyage (gifts) for friends and to use in place of gratuity.  But the good news is that it will disappear from our luggage and leave us with more room to fill with goodies!  I will write more on omiyage in another post. Until then- Ja Mata!

Tokyo Adventure III- More Trip Planning Tips

Ok, now where did I leave off?  Oh yes, more trip planning tips for your upcoming trip to Japan.

Let's see... here's my thought process when I start planning my Japan trip... How many days are we going to be there and what can we jam in those days?  Since this is my third trip, I have a better idea of what is doable and what might not be.  Also, since this trip is mainly for my mom, the focus is for her and what she wants to do on the trip.  My sister is also tagging along, so we let her pick one thing to add to the list.  Here goes:

Although mom wasn't really sure what to do in Japan when I asked her, I gave her a few suggestions to choose from.  Here's what she told me she wanted to do/see:
1)  See Mt. Fuji
2)  See Cherry Blossoms or other blooms
3)  Go to Puroland (Hello Kitty)
4)  Shopping for "cute stuff"

Easy enough right?

OK then I told my sis we could do one day for her.. here's what she chose:

Tokyo Disneyland!

Here's what I did:

Checked approximate bloom times for Cherry blossoms.  Its pretty much hit or miss, so difficult to predict and very costly to go during the season.  We decided that we'd not target cherry blossom for this reason.  Instead, I found some information on the Wisteria bloom, which is normally in late April/early May and is pretty accurate on timing.  There are several sites for Wisteria blooming, so we are planning our trip around this event.

Next on the agenda was to figure out our Mt. Fuji trip.  Hubby and I have never gone to see Mt. Fuji, so this was exciting for us too!  A friend recommended a day trip tour, but again, as hubby researched this, he thinks we can do it on our own.  OK, gonna try to do it on our own.. maybe we can take the bullet train this time!

Next, is Puroland.  This is one place that I have yet to visit.  You would think that as a sanrio fan, I would be all over this, but frankly, no one has wanted to go with me and the last time we "almost" went, the earthquake happened.  So this time I have a partner that likes HK as much as me, so I'm looking forward to it!  Hubby and sis are not as interested, so I think they will drop us off and then head to Studio Ghibli instead.  I've been there before, so I'm ok with missing that leg.  Good, then me and mom can have all the HK fun we want!!!

Last on mom's list is shopping for cute stuff.  I have tons of places we can go.  Harajuku, Asakusa, Shibuya, Ginza... but the place even I have not gone to yet is Ikebukuro- Sunshine City.  I hear this place is like 40 stories of stores.  I'm excited and scared at the same time. Scared cause I'm worried how I'm gonna bring everything home! LOL!

Sis's list is pretty easy as we have been to Tokyo Disney before.  Just gotta check the park hours before we go to decide which day is best.  I already figured out the ticket situation.  Found out you can buy your tickets at the Disney Store in Shibuya, so then you won't have to wait in the line.  Ah!  I think we definitely should take advantage of that!

So now that we have a tentative idea of what to add to the itinerary, here's what I came up with:

• Arrive in Tokyo (late night)- check in/sleep.
• Meet sis @ Narita next morning.  Hang out near hotel at Nakamise (shopping).  Hubby can go to Taiko store.  If we are not too tired, we can check out Ueno nearby.
• Head to Puroland/Studio Ghibli; possibly go to Ginza for dinner/shopping.
• Mt. Fuji adventure day!?
• Shibuya & Harajuku Shopping day/ Try to hit Tokyo Station for food and shopping
• Tokyo Disneyland
• Ashikaga Flower Park- Wisteria bloom
• Ikebukuro/Sunshine City
• Last day

Here's where we plan to hit when we go shopping:

Narita:  Heard they have a mall nearby we might want to check out.  UFO Catchers game?

Asakusa/Nakamise:  Gotta get agemanju (deep fried mochi), melon pan (sweet bread), and arare (fresh).  Also have kiosks with cute trinkets and the washi paper store.  Hubby to go to Morimoto (Taiko store).  Oh don't forget Shimojima (stationary).

Ueno:  Check out the park, Ameyokocho

Ginza:  Hakuhinkan Toy Park, Don K! (Don Quiote), Baumkuchen cakes, Itoya (Stationary Store)

Shibuya:  Disney Store, Tokyu Hands, Loft

Harajuku:  100 yen store, Kiddie Land, Oriental Bazzaar

Tokyo Station- Ramen and Character Street

Ikebukuro:  Sunshine City

We also want to hit a Samantha Thavasa Store!!  

I'm getting excited now.  Can you tell?  This schedule is not set in stone, but we thought we'd mix up the sight seeing, shopping, and attractions up so we are not overloaded all at once.  There are a lot of good resources on the internet that I check out before I go:

Japan-Guide

Asking for Trouble:  She has a great Tokyo Shopping Guide

Go Tokyo

Tokyo Disneyland

Puroland

Studio Ghibli

If I figure out more... I'll add them here.  Hope that helps!

Tokyo Adventure III Trip Planning Tips

Gee, it's been awhile since I last updated this blog!  I'm sorry, I had grand plans for 2015, but some of them got postponed for another year.  My crafty trip to LA with my friend got postponed, but we have happily re-scheduled to next year.  Can't wait!

Since that trip was supposed to occur in January, I have to say that I have ants in my pants!  I am itchy to get off this rock and get away.  Oh no, mini inter-island trips are not enough right now.. I need a real vacay...  Good thing I have a Japan trip planned for next month!  Yippee!

This will be my third trip to Japan.  You can read about my other Tokyo Adventures here.  Taking mom with us this time as she has never gone to Japan and always wanted to go!  Yay!  So excited to see if she will like it as much as we do.

Since we have gone twice to Japan on our own (no, we do not go on tours), I thought I'd share some helpful travel tips with you.  Just a few things I learned along the way and some that I wish we knew before we went the first time.

1)  Start checking airfares early to see how much it will cost to fly to Tokyo.  I'm a planner and can't afford to wait till the last minute due to family scheduling, work, etc.  (I may change my mind after I retire though).  Me?  I start checking about a year before we plan to go.  Then I wait a bit to see if there's any airfare specials.  If you fly during the off season, its way more affordable.  For example, we have never traveled to Japan during Cherry Blossom, Summer, or other breaks.  We normally travel in Jan/Feb or other off peak times.  For the past three trips, we were able to get our airfare only from Oahu to Haneda for ~$1000 each.  We have to pay an additional leg to get to Oahu, but overall that's not too bad.  I think domestic fares are comparable, so when we look at it that way, it's more worth it to us to go to Japan than the US!

2)  After we book our airfare, we start checking for hotels.  The first time we went to Japan we were on a budget, so my husband asked around to see if anyone had recommendations on reasonable hotels.  We were referred to check out a business hotel Toyoko Inn.  They are a chain, so they had many locations to choose from and their rates were much cheaper than regular hotels.  I think the first time we went in 2011, our weekly rate was a little over $500.  Since we had a good experience there, we keep going back.  I guess its just like our home away from home.

Now keep in mind, business hotels are no frills.  Its basically just a room to sleep and store your luggage.  For us, this is fine because we do not plan on spending all our time at the hotel.  This particular hotel included free breakfast that consisted of a mini buffet of miso soup, musubi, some kind of protein like egg or meatball, and salad.  There was also toast and coffee too.  Not bad for free right?  It was good to not have to think about our first meal of the day and gave us a good start for our daily adventures.

The beds are hard.  Let's face it, they used to sleep on the floor.  Just don't expect the best beds for the price.  We were fine with it.  You will be happy to find out though that they have the coolest toilets!  It's those automatic bidays.. love them.  You will want to buy one after you try it.  They also have shampoo and soap dispensers and provide other toiletries such as toothbrush, toothpaste, etc.

They also had a hard cable line for internet access in the hotel.  The second trip they had the same. They had free wifi in the lobby, but we had a hard time connecting for some reason.  More on internet stuff later.

If you plan on staying there, you should ask about their club membership.  It was free and they track how many nights you stay.  After so many, you get a free night.  I think it also gives you special access to their website.

3)  Order your yen early.  Start looking at yen exchange rates early.  The first time we went, the exchange was not so good.  I think we got like 85 cents to the dollar.  The second trip was a little better, but not great.  This time, we got a much better rate, but I think that's cause we were checking on it regularly.  You can order your yen through a bank, but not credit unions. I was also told that even though you don't get the yen that day, they give you the rate posted that day.  My bank charges a fee based on the amount you purchase, but it wasn't that much.

This year though, we went to exchange our yen in Waikiki.  There's a place called Pacific Yen Exchange in Waikiki across from Duty Free.  It's just a little kiosk on the street, so be prepared for that.  They said to call if you plan on exchanging a large amount.  The benefits are that the rates are good and they don't charge you any fees.

Do not, repeat, do not exchange your yen at the airport.  We learned the hard way.  Yes, we lost out on that exchange.  I heard you might be better off exchanging it in Japan.  I hear you can use an ATM at the post office??? Not sure, haven't tried this.  We pay everything in cash.  I hear not many stores take credit cards either.  Not sure about traveler's checks either.  Sorry!

This video has more info on money exchange:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-uLHGkgNso

4)  Getting around in Japan:  since we didn't go on a tour, we had to figure out how we would get around in Japan.  My husband researched this on the internet and felt that we could navigate it through their subway/rail system.  This was (and still is) intimidating for me, but he managed to figure it out.  There is an app you can download that contains the routes that you can store in your phone for easy access.  My husband took a picture of the map the first time we went so he could refer to it on the go.

The first thing you have to do is get a card and load up money.  They have a very good system there where most times you can use a card from one company on another company's line.  Those cards can be used for your fares, but also to purchase things in the station such as food or other items.

I think the average amount we paid was ~ $100 per person.  The good thing is that if you have leftover on your card, you can cash it in before you leave and get your money back.

The great thing about their system is that you don't have to wait very long in between subways/trains.  Plus the stops are not that far in between, so you can get to pretty much anywhere and its within walking distance.  Don't get me wrong... there's a lot of walking!

The other nice thing for us is that they used English numbers (not kanji) and the signage used English so we could figure out where to go.  While on the subway, the announcements are said in both Japanese and English, and so are the scrolling electronic signage above each exit.

There are also taxi's available and some shuttles/limousine bus you can take.  We only took one taxi and it was ok, but we usually end up taking the subway.

5)  Internet access:  In this day and age, we are prisoners to our phones and the internet.  The first trip we went on, we only had a laptop and used our phones for music and movies.  The laptop stayed in the room, and our phones did not work in another country.  So we basically had to communicate old school style... like meet back here at xxxx time, etc.  This scared me to death since my friend had told me once that her and her husband got separated on the subway once.. one got off and the other didn't make it off in time.  Luckily we didn't get separated on that trip.  But what was scary was the earthquake and contacting others back home.  Since our phones did not work and we had no idea of how to use their phones, we felt a little out of touch.  Thank goodness for facebook and skype. We were at least able to get messages back to our families to let them know that we were ok, and let us hear back from them about the tsunami back home.

So on our second trip to Japan, we decided to turn on the data plan while on our trip. It's only available in 1 month increments, so we had to pay for the month, but it was worth it.  This allowed us to use our phones for internet and texting, but not to make calls.  This was enough to allow us to communicate in Japan and back home if needed.  You can do this by contacting your carrier prior to your trip.

Getting back to our second trip... we did actually get separated at one time.  This happened while in Sapporo at the station when my daughter couldn't get through the gate and we had to call the attendant.  Meanwhile, my husband was leading the way and didn't realize we were left behind.  Luckily we could text each other and meet up eventually.  Stressful but I was glad we had gotten the data plan activated.  So worth it!

6)  Totally forgot to add you should check your passport!  Duh.  Ok... so if you already have a passport, you should check the date to see if it will still be current or if it will expire by the time you go on your trip.  Renewing your passport is much easier than getting it.. just need to take a photo (I got mine at Longs/CVS) and mail it in with your application/old passport.

If you don't have a passport, you should plan to get it done at least 6 months prior to your trip to allow for enough time.  All I did was look up the information online and had my photo ready and the required documents.  Online there should be a listing of sites where you can get your passport done.  I first went to the library.  When we had to get one for my daughter, we ended up going to the community college.  If we had filled out the application prior to our appointment it would have been much faster for us, but we had to fill it out there so it took a little while to complete.  Plus, because she was a minor, both parents had to go.  It was easy enough though.  I hear going to the Post Office takes much longer, so try to pick a place that is not as busy.

You can look up how to get a passport here.

Well, that is a lot of information for now!  I will be back soon with more trip planning tips.  See ya soon!