Five Fun Things to Do in Tokyo

Tokyo is one of those cities that will always fascinate me. I think it's the mystery of the East which contrasts so much with all the high-tech 'Western' gadgets, neon-lights and architecture.

I could spend days just wandering around the streets, but if I had to pick, I'd pick one of these fun things to do in Tokyo:

• Sing your little heart out in one of the private karaoke rooms. I hate being the centre of attention  let alone stand on a stage and make an ass out of myself. So these private karaoke places are perfect if you're like me. You rent them for as long as you want, you pick your own songs and drinks are delivered to your room while you pretend to be Britney or Rihanna.

• Go around the food halls at the many department stores and feast on the samples that are laid out around the different counters. No lunch required.
• Visit the Tsukiji fish market at 5 am. The best way not to miss the most lively moment to visit this market, is to go out all night (Ropongi is a good place to do this) and take the first metro to Tsukijishijo. I swear, the fish I tasted here was the best fish I ever had. 

• Step in Bill Murray's and Scarlett Johansson's shoes and have a cocktail at the New York Bar & Grill at the Hyatt Park Hotel near Shinjuku. Even if you're not a 'Lost in Translation' fan, you'll love the views from here across Tokyo.
• Hop on a train to Kamakura, just south of Tokyo. Rent a bike and ride around the quaint little town, dotted with temples and there's a massive sitting Buddha in town as well.

Cuddling a Koala in Brisbane

Let's face it. A visit to Australia isn't complete without feeding kangaroos and cuddling a koala. Well, you can do both at the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary near Brisbane  For me and my travel buddy this was the one and only reason to stop off in Brisbane. (Sorry, Brisbanians, but we only had 10 days to visit the whole of Australia.)

The sanctuary lies in the leafy outskirts of Brisbane and can be easily reached by bus from the BCD. Lone Pine is home to around 130 koalas, but there are loads of other local animals that live here. There are wombats, platypus and the infamous Tasmanian devil. You can interact with some of the animals like the koalas, the kangaroos and the snakes. But we were for the koalas and the kangaroos.

You can cuddle a koala any time of your visit and have your picture taken too. You do need to follow the guidelines of the keepers though, because giving hugs is hard work for the koalas. They don't like being up during the day, but in saying that, they sleep the better part of the night away as well. You hold both hands out at waist height and wait till the keeper places your koala on them. Your new friend will grip onto you like you're a tree. Their paws are very rough and their claws are incredibly sharp. So standing still like a tree is your best option to avoid slasher situations.

As cute as they are, they smell like hell. Apparently this musky smell is stronger on older males and it's urine, mixed with a smell that comes from a scent gland on their chest. Finished off with a hint of eucalyptus. It gets stronger during mating season so I guess it must work wonders on the koala ladies.

My Koala's name was Bunker, a three year old male weighing what felt like 10kg  He hugged my tightly till our photo session was over. I could have hugged him a little bit longer, but Bunker decided I was a good spot for a number 1. So I handed him back to the keeper as fast as I could. But I was too late. So besides the cute photos of me and Bunker, Bunker left me a smelly memento to take home as well.

My Favourite Asian Food

One of the things I love about Indonesia is the food, in fact it is my my favourite Asian food. Living in Holland it was always easy to satisfy my craving for it. Not so much here in London. So when I went to Indonesia I was really looking forward to pigging out.

Photo by Adi Setiwan off Flickr

Most touristy places In Indonesia will serve the standard fare such as nasi goreng, sate and gado gado. But if you want to savour Indonesian food that's a bit more adventurous, I'd suggest to try the food from Padang in Sumatra.

Padang food originates from the people of Minangkabau in Sumatra, but you don't have to go to Sumatra to eat it. It's available throughout Indonesia and I tried it in the Kuta and Seminyak area in Bali.

The principle is very simple. The different dishes are all displayed in the window of the restaurant in stacked up bowls. The warm dishes are kept warm on burners.

You start with a plate of rice and you simply point out to the person at the till what you want. The food is halal since the people of Minangkabau are muslim. So typically you can choose between meats like chicken, beef and goat. There are loads of veggie dishes as well such as eggplant, beans and cassava leaves. There are eggs and tempeh (soy burger is the best way to describe this) and of course krupuk, prawn crackers.

Photo by P3rSeUs off Flickr

I was eating mostly on  my own, but padang food is for sharing. Pretty much like the Spanish tapas. Bowls with the different dishes are put out on the table and everyone helps themselves. And the best thing is, you only pay what you eat. No wasted food, but alas, also no doggie bags!

Just one tip: Do have a jug of water at the ready. Padang food is spicy as hell. Don't say I didn't warn you!

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Breda Jazz Festival

Every year starting on Ascension day Thursday, my hometown Breda turns into a temporary mini  New Orleans. For four whole days all that resonates through the city is the sound of saxophones, guitars and sultry voices singing. This is the time of the Breda Jazz Festival.

Every year since 1968 stages pop up around town, sound systems are installed and tents are pitched to keep visitors dry. It's a truly urban music festival with artists and visitors flocking to Breda from all over the world and the best thing is, there's no mud. Breda usually has a relaxed and laid-back vibe, with its outdoor cafes dotted around its main market square, but during the Breda Jazz Festival the atmosphere is even more vibrant.

I hadn't actually been to the Breda Jazz Festival in what must have been 15 years. From what I remembered the music had always been a bit more dixieland and something that appealed my grandparents more than me. I would only ever go to taste the buzzy atmosphere in town and to hang out in the crowded bars with my friends. But this year, it seemed that the music at the festival had evolved into something a bit hipper. With artists such as Hans Dulfer and Laury Fygi on the program this festival no longer was the stuffy festival I remembered. There were more wailing guitars and husky saxophones and fewer chirpy banjos and perky ukuleles.

My friends and I strolled past the numerous stages spread out around town. We listened to artists such as the Rythm & Bluesy Mike Sanchez and his band. We watched Preston Shannon having a jam session on his guitar and we practiced our salsa moves to the tunes of Latin Cruise. It was a shame that I only had one day to enjoy it all. Next time I will go for the full four days and I won't wait another 15 years either.