Japan trip planning part 2

As an independent traveler, it is vital to know how to get around if your idea holiday does not involve getting lost. And so i'll be relying on Nokia E71's GPS & a mapping software for navigation again.

Nokia Map is a free software which allows offline viewing of maps and it has good support of maps in Singapore, Europe, USA ..etc. Ive used it with great success in Berlin as evident here & here. It may not provide the fine granularity as GoogleMap or other payware does, but hey, its free and GoogleMap does not allow offline viewing.

However, I was little disappointed when Nokia Map presented me with a plain piece of land as the map of Japan :(

Map of Kyoto on Nokia Map (Near Kyoto station area)

Why the lack of support for Japan? could it be because Nokia is finding it hard to penetrate into Japan's market? just some harmless speculation .. hmmm.


Anyway, ive found an alternate nagivation software (MGMaps) and ive some screenshots to share.

Map of Kyoto on MGMaps (Near Kyoto station area)

Map of Tokyo on MGMaps (Near Ueno station area)

MGMaps allows the user to choose the mapsource from various providers, and theres a way to 'cache' the map for offline viewing.

So there we have it, a nagivation software for offline viewing of maps of Japan on Nokia E71!

Berlin new year

I'll be flying off to Berlin during Christmas for work (im not being a 'scrooge'). Will be back next year.

This will be my first trip to winter-land, and i'll be alone mostly. I think this will be a much needed experience and also a good time for some self-reflection before embracing year 2009.

Besides work, i'll also be doing some visits. As you can see ive been researching...


Have also 'bookmarked' some of the places im planning to visit on my E71 (Nokia Map). Will be relying on the embedded GPS for navigation.


And i'll be ushering the new year at Brandenburg Tor/Gate!


Its wet & cold in Berlin now (4°C), i actually prefer hotter weather :\
Oh well, lets hope i don't get drunk and get frozen lying on the street :P

Incase im not gonna post again within year 2008, Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to all!

Post Travel Syndrome

Ive been back for almost a month but some part of my soul is still in Vegas & Japan.
And am already searching for the next destination and travel companion too. Anyone interested in visiting HongKong, Taiwan or Australia?

The recent trip didn't make me reflect much on life, didn't really change me alot, except maybe made me more sinful .. hehe

So what are some of the signs of post travel syndrome?
For me, ive gotten the Transformers movie DVD just a week after returning home.
Because some of the shootings were done in Hoover Dam.

Transfomers DVD

Ive also gotten the PC game "Rainbow 6: Vegas" soon after Ive gotten back from last year's Vegas trip.

I guess im those who enjoys reminiscing my trip experience, and catch up on those areas i visited and say "hey, ive been there". Contrary to some who would visit some places after they've seen it on movie/tv, and they would go "hey, [insert_celeb_name] was here".

So which would you prefer to say? "ive been there" or "[insert_celeb_name] was here" ?

Tokyo 08 - misc

While casinos are everywhere in Vegas, Tokyo is covered with railways.

People queuing up on the bus stop, a culture I hope we'd adopt in Singapore.