Arrivals & Departures Weekly Travel News & Views 18 March 2025

PRETTY IN PINK

Japan’s cherry blossom season fully kicks off in April.

The Japan Meteorological Corporation is expecting the first full bloom of cherry blossoms in Tokyo on April 2, followed by flowering in Kyoto, Osaka and Fukuoka (in that order).

And for those into flowers, I’ll add that there will be 600,000 blooms in this year’s Sakura Tulip Festa, at Sakura Furusato Square in Chiba’s Sakura City, near Tokyo. It is from April 1 to April 20 and there will be 100 different tulip varieties — oh, and a Dutch-style windmill. Of course.

LIVING IN HARMONY

While these days the act of flower-viewing, or hanami, is specific to sakura trees, the first recorded watching of flowers bloom was with plum blossom trees.

In kanji (the Japanese writing system with logographic characters), hana means flower; mi means see or view.

Shinto, the indigenous religion, emphasises the importance of living in harmony with the natural world, and the writings of Japanese poets over centuries has turned plum and cherry blossoms into a symbol for the nature of life.

AIRPORT KERFUFFLE

There was very little harmony at 13 airports in Germany on Monday, as a 24-hour strike brought them to a halt. Frankfurt, Munich and Berlin were among those brought to a standstill.

The trade union Verdi is demanding a collective wage deal for nearly 2.5 million public sector employees, including service workers, ground staff and aviation security.

FULL IMMERSION

A regular reader is planning a long-term stay in Europe.

She writes: “A friend and I are hoping to be able to spend three to six months immersing ourselves in a (not yet determined) part of Europe. I have done some preliminary investigations but am finding it very difficult to look at longer-term accommodation at a reasonable price.”

They are considering France (and Corsica), Italy and any of its islands or Spain and its islands.

I’d start with vrbo.com/en-au (an offshoot of Stays, dealing with long-term rentals), then gites.fr. And I’d certainly be considering shoulder seasons — northern spring and autumn.

MISSISSIPPI MEMORIES

In last weekend’s Sunday Travel, in The Sunday Times, our cover story was about spending a week on the Mississippi River in the US with Viking River Cruises. I particularly like their eight-day Mississippi Delta Explorer itinerary, which is from $8595 and includes New Orleans, Louisiana, to Memphis, Tennessee. vikingrivercruises.com.au

Our story prompted memories for regular reader Ted McEvoy, who sailed last November on Viking Mississippi. Ted writes: “Everything was top-notch. Prior to the cruise, we spent a few days in New Orleans. Our hotel was in the quaint French Quarter which was only a short walk to Bourbon Street and surrounds. There was fantastic seafood everywhere. I think I must have consumed my own bodyweight in freshly shucked oysters!”

LESOTHO IN A JEEP

Our story last week about Lesotho, in southern Africa, prompted a memory from 1965 for reader Jack Moore. He writes: “The part of my drive to Lesotho was in a Jeep — a big truck, like a F150.” Jack had parked the car he was driving at about 2400m when it got very steep, and started walking. He recalls: “My progress was slow — five paces and gasp for air.” Then he was picked up by a local in the Jeep: “Wow, on the hairpin bends. He reversed riding the clutch and kept the revs up. Looking back and down, there were several wrecks. I got up at the border and had a cup of tea. Nicest cup ever. Water boils at lower temp up there; still nice tea. Extra leaves.”

KEEPING MEMORIES

Another reader is interested in journalling electronically. She writes: “I once kept travel diaries but over the past years have moved to photo books as phone cameras have improved. However, I miss the more detailed text and somehow would like to combine both.” We have pointed her towards the favourite Apple app “Day One Journal: Private Diary”. It will combine notes, video, photos, audio, and more “wherever you are, whenever you want”. More than 15 million people have downloaded it.

WHITE LOTUS BANDWAGON

Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay is cashing in on The White Lotus juggernaut, offering poolside cabanas with food and spa experiences inspired by the HBO Original Series filmed in Koh Samui, Thailand. (We have more on the Bali package here.)

MICHAEL’S A WINNER

Our congratulations to Michael Middleton of Ignite Travel Group, who is “Cruise Champion Australasia”. Michael, above, a good friend of our little team, is a consummate cruise professional (even though he moved from Perth to Brisbane). He was awarded the title at the 22nd annual CLIA Cruise Industry Awards last weekend. And the company for which he is general manager cruise, Ignite Travel Group, was named Australasia’s Multi Location/Brand Cruise Agency of the Year.

Ignite runs mycruises.com.au, myholidaycentre.com.au and mybali.com.au

Seventy-five finalists from Australia and New Zealand were in the running for the 16 awards presented at a gala dinner at Sydney’s Star Event Centre last Saturday, March 8. All the winners are at cruising.org.au.

CAMP & CRAB FEST

Lake Brockman Tourist Park now has family glamping tents and a new camp kitchen. It received taxpayer money from the Australian Government via Austrade. The tourist park is set against State forest, 10 minutes away from Harvey, by Logue Brook Dam. lakebrockman.com.au

Channel 7 Mandurah Crab Fest is on this weekend, March 15 and 16, with free family-friendly entertainment, including kids’ activities, live music, cooking demonstrations and games. (And, dare I say, shellebrities.) crabfest.com.au

STITCH IN TIME

I’m looking forward to meeting the members of the Embroiderers Guild WA on Thursday, to share our interest in global textiles.

I’ll be taking some of my “Jackets of the World” and showing the fabrics that I bring home and hand sew onto them. EGWA is a learning community for anyone with a love of embroidery, stitch and textiles. embroiderersguildwa.org.au

PS I like EGWA’s motto: “Where needle art flourishes.”

JACKETS ON SHOW

There will be some Jackets of the World at our next Round the World Dinner on Friday, March 28. In fact, there will be quite a lot — in part because I’ll be wearing the jackets from Peru, Sri Lanka, Morocco and Greece for the courses that relate to them. Before each course musician Steve Richter and I perform a story-with-music from the place, then we’ll enjoy chef Costa Simatos’ bespoke menu reflecting their cuisine. (We have a few places left at the dinner.) westtravelclub.com.au/events