AN INTERESTING TRIP.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 206, 6 October 1900, Page 1

AN INTERESTING TRIP.

TO TH> EDITOB. Sißj—Having recently returned tram a lengthy tour in Japan and other Eastern countries, I will, through the medium of your paper, give a short sketch 0! what I consider to be a most enjoyable trip, My derire is to aid those who contemplate taking a few months holiday to choose a route that shall embrace seeing as mnch of Eastern life and Eastern conntrie, as a six or eight months travel will permit of. The best time of the year for starting is in May or early in Jane—by doing so this wet New Zealand winter is avoided and the torrid zone is traversed at a time when the cool monsoon blows, If the tourist has seen bat little of this colony he sheald proceed overland to Wellington, by stenmer to Lyttleton, from Christchorch by rail to Ximara, o*mara, and Danedin, from Otago he will take steamers to Mel- . . bourne via Hobart, at Melbourne he can go to Adelaide by train (the railway department granting a one-third redaction on ordianary fares to oversea passengers continuing their journey), at Adelaide he will join the steamer for Colombo—after a day or two in that city he should go to this hill country at Kandy, spending a few days at the pleasant and comfortable hotel " Florence Villia," as there are Beveral most charming drives in; the neighbourhood, including one to the far-famed botanical gardens, Capt, and Mrs. Walker, who have recently 'taken over the management of the hotel, and have had long experience of Oeylon and Indian life, will be able and also pleased to give valuable advice u to the part of Oeylon, moat worth visiting, and also as to the best way to reach Bombay. From Bombay proceed by train to Calcutta* Nob less thaa two weeks should be devoted to this overland journey, as there are bo many places of historic interest and oities of magnificence to be viewed oa route, such as Delhi, Agra, Oawnpore, Lucknow, and Benares. At Calcutta take passage by one of the British- . India boats for on reaching Rangoon (at which, place most of the passenger steamers call on their way) take train for Mandalay and Upper ' Burmab, then go by steamer down the Irrawaddy River as far as Frome, from there by rail back to Rangoon, then oontinue the voyage to Singapore, a couple of days in which place will be sufficient, to see all that is most worth viewing,: Should one of the steamers belonging to " Nippon Yasen " Kalsha Ce.," be then available, I should advise taking passage in her to Japan, not only on account of their being good boats, but more especially because the ships' companies (except ' some of the officers) are entirely composed of Japanese, and it is desirable to see something of their mode of life, ftfid to pick up a few words of their language, At HongkpDg, the ships belonging to this. Company usually remain two or three days, This will give ycu time enough for a visit to Canton (a j city purely Chinese). The first port in Japan the steamer oalls at will be Nagasaki, from there going through the Inland sea she goes to Kobe, and from their to Yokohama, her final destination; it will be found convenient to nuke this city one's headquarters whilst in that part of the country, leaving there as much of one's luggage as possible, whilst making excursions to the North and the summer resorts in the hill districts, Leaving Yokohama for the South with the intention of joining a steamer for the return voyage at Kobe, Moji or Nagasaki, the tourist) should spend a few days at Mioncshita (considered by seme as the mcst enjoyable place in Japan) amongsb the bills. There are ether places en route to Kobe of special interest, to wbich a few days should be devoted, such Shidznoka, Nagoya, Kyoto and Bira, Nara, and Osaka. Each of these towns has something of -peculiar intarcsli to itself, and which deserves special inspection. By the time Kobe is reached perhaps the most interesting, certainly the mcst commonly visited paifcj of the country will have been seen. If the traveller is not afraii to try natives nodes of Jiviog at the Japanese inns, (there are always good once in the larger towns). I adviße ' him to continue his land journey proceeding by the Sanyo railway as far as Tokoyama, where be will find a comfortable small Bt r amer wbich rurs daily frem that town to Moji, l ha trip across occupies about six hours, tie ccursa is amidst green c'ad islands and is very prdtty. The island of KinshiD, on which Moji is situated, has mueh that would well repay a somewhat; lengthy visit. There are ths many coal mines at Nogata and other plates, the nnv&! dockyards at Sasebo, silk weaving of a very special quality at Hakata, the beauties of Kiaaomoto, aa well os the many hot springs and mineral waters in various parte, and lastly there is Nogasaki with i.-'s many at.faction". I I feel sure it will V e with regret tV>t "S:»yonara" (got.'-bye) *iil ho said to ; that most interesting osiiitry r.ud people, and wish a desire u visit it again. Leaving Japan by one of the bar; ; 1 , 'some new steamefs belonging to N Y. Co,, Hongkong will Dgnin to a port of call, and whilst dr.tair.ed ti c r\ the time can be profitably spent in either going t> Canton or taking a drive in the i'Happy Valley," spending a day

at the Peak, etc, Manila, Thursday Island, Townsvills and Brisbane, are eaoh touched at by these steamers; from the last place the journey to Sydney might be performed by train, so as to see some of the pastoral lands of Queensland and New South Wales. I will now offer a few suggestions to those who msy decide to take some such trip as I have outlined. In the first plaee try to find a pleasant companion, if you can find one who has had some previous experience in travel so much the better, speaking from my own experience I must emphasise this point strongly. Take but little luggage, clothing, etc. is obtainable at almost all places called at, and in some places at a cheaper rate than is charged here. " Murray's Hand-Boek to Japan " is an almost indispensable necessity, when travelling in that country, A tourist when going into the interior of Japan, away from inns conduoted on European lines, should provide himself with sheets, towels, soap, tea (the Japanese tea, being unfired, tastes net unlike Senna), coffee, cocoa, biscuits, etc. Sugar is to be procured at most villages, but mitk is frequently not to begot, Native guides are strongly, recommended at the various hotels, but very often they are a great nuisance, and generally quite unnecessary. Most of the time I was in the country, I preferred to travel without one, hiring a coolie to carry my bag, if I had to walk, The assistance and information given by the " Welcsme Society of Japan" I found moat useful. A good supply of visiting cards should be taken, as an interchange of cards with the Japanese is expected. There is one more point I wish to bring to the notice of tourists; and that is in regard to the too frequent noa-observanee of the Sabbath, y those who travel; they not only neglect themselves to keep the day sacred, but they by their conduct hinder the suecass, that should accompany missionary teaching, The Sunday rest, looked at from a purely materialistic point, is mentally as well as physioally of mach advantage when travelling, The following list of hotels in Japan I can recommend (that is provided they are still under the Bame management as when I put up at them) they are roa on Baropeon lines ;~Ulab Hotel, Yokohama; Metropole Hotel, Tokio j I Kamakura Hotel, Kamakura; Kanya, Nikko; Lake side Hotel, Chuzenji; j Yamadaya Hotel, Yumoto; Mampie Hotel; Karuozawa; Kindayo Hotel,! Ikao; Fojiya Hotel, Miyanoshita; Kyoto Hotel, Kyoto j Oriental Hotel, Kobe.—l am, etc,, A, Kthodox, New Plymouth, 3rd Oct. 1900.'