General Travel

Starting 1st of June 2018, Ethopia has been allowing visitors to enter through an E-visa applicable to all nationalities. Prior to this initiative, nationalities of only 2 countries (Djibouti and Kenya) could enter Ethiopia visa-free while another 40 nationalities could enter by getting a visa-on-arrival.

Ethiopia had initially put the e-visa service on trial for selected categories of visitors in June 2017 but now everyone can avail of it. The e- visa is processed and issued online where applicants apply, pay and secure their entry visa in a few steps. Once the application is approved, applicants will receive an email authorizing them to travel to Ethiopia and they will get their passport stamped with the visa upon arrival. Do note that the E-visa service is available only when entering through Addis Ababa Airport. It is not available for entry in other airports in Ethiopia nor at land borders.

Ethiopian Airlines has expanded to Asia for around a year or so now with direct flights from the likes of Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Bangkok, Hong Kong and soon, Jakarta to Addis Ababa. With the newly relaxed entry requirements, visitors from Asia can now actually stop in Addis Ababa and explore one of the more interesting countries in the continent rather than just use Ethiopian Airlines as a transit carrier to elsewhere in Africa or Europe.

Application for the Ethiopian E-visa can be made HERE.

Price for the Ethiopian E-visa is USD 52 with a validity of 30 days and USD 72 with a validity of 90 days. Only single entry visas are issued at a time.

As of this writing, I observed that the website crashes often so you may need to check from time to time.

People visiting Japan tend to have a check list of things to buy. Local apparel brands such as Uniqlo are extremely popular as well as toiletries, cosmetics and even food items. The country is practically an oasis for consumers with just about everything available that money can buy. With the weaker Yen, visitors have been visiting Japan with an added reason – to purchase a luxury watch. The country is well known for its watchmaking industry with iconic brands such as Seiko, Casio, Orient and Citizen. In the upper end, it has Grand Seiko which compares favorably with Rolex in terms of finish and quality.

Purchasing a watch in Japan may seem overwhelming at first given the language barrier and the frenetic pace its major cities run. If you are looking to make that investment and acquire the timepiece of your dreams, here are things you should consider.

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The jetsetting lifestyle isn’t always as glamorous as it’s always portrayed to be. Unless you’re fully prepped in celebrity ways, armed with oversized sunglasses and a mini toiletry kit for landing, you’re likely to end a long-haul flight looking and smelling like you’ve been dragged through a bush.

The bad news is, this feeling goes more than skin deep and it can last for days. No matter how exciting the destination you’ve just arrived in, no matter how many plans you’ve made to tour the sights; you may ultimately not have the energy to do so.

Even worse if you’re travelling for business, when you’re expected to be ‘on form’ upon arrival. At times like these, you may have trouble remembering your own name, let alone the key points of that important presentation.

Follow these handy tips to beat jet lag and you’ll soon be high-flying with the best of them.

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I have previously written about cashback websites, or portals that provide rebates for purchases made via affiliates. The previous one I recommended was geared towards an international (i.e. American) audience. For those living within Southeast Asia, particularly Singapore, you can actually look at Shopback which essentially follows the same mechanism but has merchants closer to home and in many cases, higher rebates.

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As I am usually on the go, I never really pay much attention to personal care when I am traveling. I just bring my usual face wash and shampoo and that’s it. However, my recent trips this year prodded me to pay more attention, especially with the hair. I noticed my scalp really drying up as I was traversing the arid but bitterly cold conditions of Mongolia.  Ditto for my trips around Southeast Asia where the heat had caused some painful acne to appear on my scalp.

As I am no expert in hair, I have collaborated with the folks at Beijing 101 for some hair care tips while on the go. Make sure to scroll down to the bottom for a chance to win shopping vouchers and free hair and scalp consultation sessions.

Wear a hat

Prolonged sun exposure can dry your scalp or worse – cause discoloration. Wearing a hat is a great way to avoid hair damage whenever there is direct sun exposure.

Put sunscreen on your hair

beach volleyball by diego david garcia | cc 2.0

For folks who have greasy hair, do note that the heat can stimulate your scalp’s oil producing glands and can trigger folliculitis or hair acne. If you prefer to let your hair down uncovered, an alternative is to use sunscreen. Spray-on types work best for the hair instead of cream-based ones. The former is also easier to use.

Wash your hair frequently

If you happen to be traveling around a humid and hot country – most places around the region fall within this category – you would do well by washing your hair in the evenings after coming back from a day around town. This can help wash away dirt and excess sebum from your scalp – too much of which could lead to hair loss.

Be careful about pool water

Pool water is often filled with lots of chlorine that can unnecessarily dry up and damage your hair. One way to keep your hair from soaking up pool water is by using a swimming cap. Alternatively, slathering your hair with conditioner / moisturizer before a swim can help protect against the chlorine drying up your hair.

Just chill

Holidays are experiences to enjoy and cherish but sometimes, unforeseen circumstances could spell disaster. Prolonged periods of stress could lead to hair loss so remember to chill.

Consider going for scalp treatment after your trip

Traveling can expose you to foreign bodies or climates which your body is not accustomed to. This can have varying effects on your scalp – from excessive dryness or greasiness. In my case, my recent trips to Mongolia and Russia – places which are very dry – sapped my scalp of moisture. Going for a scalp treatment after your trip, especially when you visit places that are vastly different from Singapore in terms of weather, could help restore your hair to healthier conditions quicker. It will also enable you to identify any serious conditions before they become chronic.

Exclusive Promotion for my readers! Enjoy a Hair Gro Treatment for S$42 w/ GST (UP: S$366) and stand to WIN a Hair Care Hamper worth S$240. Sign up HERE.*

*You will be redirected to a third party site.

This post is brought to you by Beijing 101