How an apocalyptic comic book prediction hit Japan's tourism industry
Hong Kong travel agencies reported up to a 50 per cent drop in Japan bookings during the Easter holiday, with some agencies seeing up to 80 per cent fewer inquiries.
The comic gained a cult following after Tatsuki's previous prediction coincided with the 2011 Tohoku earthquake, leading to amplified warnings on social media by psychics and influencers.
Despite scientific consensus that earthquakes cannot be precisely predicted, and warnings from Japanese officials against unscientific rumors, the fear-mongering has impacted tourism from China, Hong Kong, Thailand, and Vietnam.
The manga artist, Ryo Tatsuki, has reportedly urged travellers not to be "overly swayed" by her dreams and to act appropriately based on expert opinions.
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Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Revealed: Why you should ALWAYS put your luggage in the hotel bath tub - and it's not to clean it
After arriving your destination, it's easy to want to quickly put your suitcase on the hotel bed or sofa, unpack and begin your holiday. However, a travel expert has revealed that travellers should avoid that at all costs and is instead urging tourists to put their case in the bathroom. Travel writer Lydia Mansel has said soft furnishings, like beds and chairs in hotel rooms, could be harbouring pesky bed bugs. To protect your belongings, Lydia recommends putting luggage either in the bathroom, the entryway, or somewhere away from the bed and carpet. She told Travel + Leisure: 'This way, my belongings are far enough away from any furniture where bed bugs usually reside—and I significantly lower my chances of bringing them home.' However, she has experienced instances where the hotel cleaner may have moved her luggage out of the bathroom. She advises leaving a note for them to ensure the cases stay put because luggage racks can also be carriers for bed bugs too. Others agree with Lydia's advice, including Daniel Clarke, director of holiday home rental platform Parklink. He describes how it is easy to sanitise a bath and has had great success with the hack. 'The bath can easily be washed down first and is likely to be one of the cleanest surfaces in the room due to its frequency of cleaning,' Daniel says. 'The bathtub not only proves itself to be an efficient use of space if you have a small room, but I have found no unwanted bugs or insects have stowed away in my bags since storing my luggage there.' While the British Association of Dermatologists advises, 'Keeping your suitcase on a raised suitcase stand (rather than the floor) in hotels' to help reduce the risk of bed bugs transferring to your belongings. 'It is important to understand that bedbugs can be found in the cleanest of homes and hotels, they simply need a food source,' they add. Daniel carries antibacterial wipes with him, too, since finding ants and bed bugs on his belongings on separate trips. He uses them to sanitise any hard surfaces he wishes to store his items beforehand. It comes after it was recently revealed hotel rooms may have surprising levels of bacteria and viruses lurking in overlooked places. Beyond the usual suspects, like sinks and toilets, common 'touchpoints' such as remotes and light switches are also crawling with germs, studies say. University of Houston research found hotel rooms had up to 10 times more bacteria – including fecal strains – than are allowed in hospitals. One reason? Hotel staff often spend just 30 minutes cleaning each room, and some decorative items may be skipped entirely, according to Enza Laterrenia, head of housekeeping at Canne Bianche Lifestyle Hotel in Italy.
Times
5 hours ago
- Times
Six of the best backpacking routes across southeast Asia
Southeast Asia is still the ultimate destination for backpacking adventures. The region spans 11 countries, from Myanmar to the Philippines, and is a kaleidoscope of cultures, landscapes and flavours. Today it blends classic routes with modern-age comforts too, making it easier than ever to chase the big moments: think high-speed trains, eco-stays and better connectivity. Whether it's sunrise over Angkor, motorcycle rides through misty limestone mountains or late-night bowls of noodles in Bangkok's buzzing Chinatown, there are well-known sights and those you'll want to keep secret for yourself. To help you plan, we've mapped out six journeys that highlight the best of the region, plus options for group travel. Here are southeast Asia's best backpacking routes. This article contains affiliate links that will earn us revenue Recommended time two to three weeks First-timers can experience southeast Asia's highlights — rich nature, buzzing cities, epic beaches — in a journey between its top travel hubs, Bangkok and Singapore. In Bangkok, visit the sprawling Chatuchak weekend market, sip cocktails at BKK Social Club — one of the city's best bars but with a price tag to match — and feast on Michelin-starred street food at Jay Fai. Then head to the island of Phuket, a 1.5-hour flight or 12-hour bus ride away. For extra room, book the 24-seat VIP sleeper buses that depart from Bangkok's Southern Bus Terminal in the Taling Chan district. Five days affords enough time to explore the city of Phuket, where colourful 19th-century buildings house boutique hotels, hostels, lively bars and cafés, and places to try dim sum. Although most come to idle on some of the province's thirty or so beaches, including seven-mile Mai Khao right next to the airport. Take a flight or overnight bus to Penang across the border in Malaysia and wander around the Unesco site of George Town. Gorgeous Sino-Portuguese architecture sits next to Buddhist shrines, Hindu temples and mosques, while hawker centres serve everything from Hokkien noodles to nasi lemak (Malay-style coconut rice with sides) and roti canai (flaky Indian flatbread served with curry). Head to your next stop, Kuala Lumpur, by train. Malaysia's efficient railway network is among the region's best, and you'll reach the capital in about four hours. Spend a few days here to eyeball the Petronas Twin Towers, visit the Islamic Arts Museum and explore the Batu Caves, a Hindu pilgrimage site known for its large statue of Murugan, god of war. Venturing two hours south to the city of Malacca allows you to explore another Unesco site, which showcases its British, Dutch and Portuguese influences in windmills, forts, shophouses and fusion dishes such as Portuguese-style devil's curry. End your adventure in Singapore, but beware the backpacker budget may go out the window here if you're not careful. Hostels are more expensive and the city is known for its luxury hotels and Michelin-starred restaurants; instead head to the hawker centres for the best no-frills food. Look for the stalls with the longest queues and it's hard to go wrong. Intrepid Travel's 15-day Bangkok to Singapore tour takes groups of up to 12 adventurers on a similar itinerary. But, instead of Phuket, you'll spend two days in Khao Sok National Park, exploring vast caves and one of Earth's oldest rainforests; then two more in Krabi at the resort town of Ao Nang, sea kayaking and wildlife spotting, with free time for beachcombing or rock climbing. • Best hotels in Bangkok• Best affordable hotels in Singapore Recommended time one to two weeks Get off the beaten track in northern Vietnam's remote Ha Giang province. This road trip — a loop between the districts of Dong Van and Meo Vac — is revered for dizzying mountain passes, jaw-dropping limestone karst and deep cultural experiences. Travellers typically rent a motorcycle and enlist the services of a local guide in the laidback provincial capital of Ha Giang, then spend three to four days navigating roads that curve through quiet villages and rice-terraced hillsides near the Chinese border. Homestays with H'mong, Tay or Dao families offer a brief and unforgettable immersion into highland life, while the route itself delivers major highlights: the rolling peaks of the Dong Van Karst Plateau, the vertigo-inducing Ma Pi Leng Pass and the Lung Cu Flag Tower marking Vietnam's northernmost point. The ride usually ends back in Ha Giang, where regular night buses return to Hanoi. But the journey can be continued with a few easy detours. Keep riding or take the bus to Cao Bang, where the tiered, turquoise Ban Gioc waterfall crashes across the border into China — and where Nui Thung Mountain (Angel Eye Mountain) defies logic with a hole right through its middle. Then visit Ba Be National Park for a break among limestone cliffs and the jungle-fringed Ba Be Lake. This is another incredible place to explore the region's diversity. Tay, Dao, Kinh and H'mong communities all live around the lake, and many villages offer homestays. When it's time to end the tour, take the bus to Hanoi and indulge in cups of ca phe trung (the city's signature egg coffee) and drinks at the growing number of cocktail bars. Contiki is your best bet for partly replicating the above itinerary courtesy of its Ha Giang Loop — a five-day circuit offered as an extension to longer Vietnam tours. Participants trek to the Ma Pi Leng Pass, cruise along one of Asia's largest canyons, discover local culture in Dong Van and overnight in humble homestays. • Best hotels in Hanoi Recommended time three to four weeks Most travellers start in Bangkok, but Thailand's underrated second city, Chiang Mai, can captivate you for weeks. The former Lanna kingdom capital has teak temples such as Wat Phra Singh, mellow Burmese-influenced dishes like khao soi (yellow curry with egg noodles) and vibrant areas with snacks, shopping, street-side massages, music and more. The city also serves as a gateway for adventure travel, offering treks to Karen and H'mong villages, plus thundering waterfalls like the 280m-high Mae Ya. For an extended trip, take a minivan to Chiang Rai province, about four hours north, and explore its diverse attractions: blissful eco-lodges, national parks, the blue and white temples Wat Rong Suea Ten and Wat Rong Khun, and the Choui Fong tea fields in Mae Chan. Consider the overnight slow boat from the Thai border town Chiang Khong to Luang Prabang, Laos's imperial capital. This one-of-a-kind journey rumbles along the Mekong, past dense jungles, offering snapshots of rural life you won't find elsewhere. Otherwise, Chiang Mai airport offers direct flights to Luang Prabang. Unwind in Laos's cultural capital, immersing yourself in the city's numerous temples, the turquoise Kuang Si waterfall, the dawn tak bat (alms-giving ritual) and a Lao massage. For about £15, a modern high-speed train takes you to Vang Vieng in an hour. This revamped backpacker hub is now Laos's outdoor adventure hub, primed for bike roads and treks around the stunning limestone karst formations. Take the train once more to the capital, Vientiane. After exploring the Patuxai war monument — Laos's answer to the Arc de Triomphe — head to the riverside for larb (minced meat salad) with a cold Lao beer. With travel restrictions in place at the Thai-Cambodian border, heading south by bus is out, so instead fly to Phnom Penh. The Cambodian capital has cruises along the Mekong, hip bistros and buzzing markets to explore. You should also allow time for its Tuol Sleng and Killing Fields museums related to the Khmer Rouge genocide. End your tour in Siem Reap, where impressive temples await. Nothing tops watching the sunrise over Angkor Wat. Contiki, which has an age limit of 35, operates a 16-day tour that starts in Bangkok before heading north to Chiang Mai and onto Chiang Rai's temples. Entering Laos, you'll cruise along the Mekong to Luang Prabang to meet monks before taking the train towards Vang Vieng and Vientiane. A flight to Phnom Penh follows, and a full day at Angkor offers a fitting finale. • Best places to visit in Thailand• Best things to do in Thailand• Is it safe to travel to Thailand and Cambodia? Recommended time two weeks Journeys to Borneo tend to start in one of two places: Jakarta or Singapore. While the Indonesian capital has its charms, Singapore's transport infrastructure (including Changi, frequently ranked the best airport in the world) makes it the easier choice. From here, fly to Kota Kinabalu to hike up 4,095m (13,435ft) Mount Kinabalu for sunrise, then join a tour to see orangutans in the jungle. If time is limited, go to the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre instead. After a one-stop flight to Bali, spend a week exploring the Island of the Gods. Bali is well-trodden, but you can still find places away from the crowds. For example, skip overrun Kuta and Seminyak in favour of the brilliant white-sand beaches of Bingin or blissful Nunggalan in Uluwatu. Take a day trip to Nusa Penida island to hike, dive or lounge in the sand, or head to the backpacker hub Ubud, where you'll find plenty of others who want to join you in a visit to the Tegallalang rice terraces and Tirta Empul, the sacred water temple. If you have more time, take the ferry to the car-free Gili Islands, which are prime spots to snorkel and encounter sea turtles, or neighbouring Lombok, a larger island known for its pink beach and hikes around Mount Rinjani, an active volcano. Of the three stunning Gili Islands, Gili Trawangan has a lively party scene, while Gili Air and Gili Meno are much quieter. Group tours almost never combine Bali with Borneo, so it may mean booking two separate packages. For the Indonesia leg, Intrepid's Jakarta to Ubud itinerary spends two weeks crossing Indonesia; instead of Kinabalu you'll hike up Mount Bromo at sunrise, while, in lieu of orang-utans, the Seloliman Nature Reserve delivers jungle and photogenic rice terraces below a sacred volcano. Some beach time rounds things off nicely. • Best hotels in Bali• Best hostels in Bali Recommended time two weeks For intrepid travellers, tackling Vietnam on two wheels is a rite of passage. But those who don't want to drive motorcycles on the country's challenging roads can do the same journey via the Reunification Express, the train linking Ho Chi Minh City with Hanoi. After slurping pho and visiting markets and museums in frenetic Ho Chi Minh City, travel to Dalat, the cool highland escape encircled by pine forests, lakes and waterfalls. Visit Vietnam's beachy Nha Trang for two days of R&R, then hunker down in Hoi An. The Unesco site enchants travellers with its boutique shops, cooking classes and cultural shows — try to visit during the full moon, when lanterns light up the town and local people stage traditional performances on the river. Nearby Danang might be less majestic, but the rapidly developing city is also a great base, thanks to its abundance of hostels and hotels, beaches, amazing street food scene and craft breweries. Step into the past in Hue, where Nguyen dynasty emperors once ruled. Although Hue suffered significant damage during the war, the imperial city has been carefully restored. Then finish in Hanoi, where centuries-old architecture lines the capital's lanes. Do as the locals: settle into tiny plastic stools for bun cha (grilled pork balls with noodles) and bia hoi, the beloved — and staggeringly cheap — fresh beer. Budget extra (from £30 to £100 per person depending how fancy you want to go) to spend a night on a junk boat among the karst in Ha Long Bay too. Note though that the bucket-list site has been plagued with rubbish for several years; a rowing boat trip in Tam Coc has become a popular alternative for its equally splendid landscapes minus the floating heaps of plastic. For anyone aged 18-39, G Adventures' 18-to-Thirtysomethings range of tours includes a 12-day trip from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi. Riding buses and overnight trains, you'll visit both Nha Trang, Danang and Hue before a drive through Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park's lush mountains and a cruise around spectacular Halong Bay in a traditional sailboat. • Best things to do in Vietnam• Best hotels in Vietnam Recommended time one to two weeks Manila, the capital of the Philippines, is your starting point for this island-hopping adventure. Skip the city's chaotic traffic and make straight for the beach with a one-hour domestic flight to Coron. This island is full of postcard-worthy scenery: limestone cliffs tower above electric-blue waters in Twin Lagoon and sugary sands line Banol beach, where rustic huts hang over the water. Next is El Nido, at the tip of Palawan island, via a four-hour ferry ride from Coron. To explore El Nido, it's mandatory to book one of four island-hopping excursions, labelled A, B, C and D. The most popular, tours A and C, take you to lagoons and hidden beaches, including the can't-miss Big Lagoon and Helicopter Island. Book in advance through a reputable tour operator such as Discover El Nido or Hello El Nido. While you can book these tours privately, group trips are great ways to meet other travellers. Take a bus four hours south to Puerto Princesa and fly to Bohol. The jungle-covered island is best known for its Chocolate Hills — thousands of grassy hills, scattered across 20 sq miles of land, that turn brown in the dry season. Budget five days here to go cliff-diving into turquoise pools with Kawasan Canyoneering; spot the tiny tarsiers at the island sanctuary; and unwind on Panglao, an island with white-sand beaches linked to Bohol by a bridge. If there's time to spare, take the two-hour ferry from Bohol to Siquijor. Meet the island healers who cast off evil spirits with their bolo-bolo rituals, cool down in emerald Cambugahay Falls or explore the 23 coral reef dive sites, before taking one of the regular ferries to Dumaguete City on Negros — a 50-minute trip — and flying back to Manila. As El Nido and Bohol are 300 miles apart, most tours focus on one or the other. Contiki's Ultimate Philippines Island Hopping With Boat Expedition fits in both during a 22-day epic, however, with time for home-cooked meals and floating along an underground river. It concludes with four camping-based nights enabling visits to 15 remote, idyllic islands. • Best beaches in the Philippines Any we've missed? Let us know in the comments
Daily Mail
6 hours ago
- Daily Mail
US records more cases of virus prompting Covid-era restrictions in China... as travel warnings take effect
Cases of the debilitating chikungunya virus sweeping through China are also surging in the US, health officials have warned. CDC officials have reported four more cases this week, bringing the total to 50 cases of chikungunya in the US, all of which are in people who traveled to areas where it is more common like Asia and South America. It is unclear how many are linked to China's outbreak. The virus, which is spread by the Aedes mosquito, can cause sudden, agonizing joint pain in the hands and feet that can be so severe that it leaves sufferers unable to move normally for months. Chikungunya is tearing through China with more than 10,000 cases, leaving the nation battling its largest outbreak ever. The outbreak has prompted the CDC to issue a level 2 travel warning for China, which urges Americans to take extra precautions when visiting the area. The notice also applies to Brazil, Colombia, India, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines and Thailand. Chikungunya is a 'nationally notifiable' condition in the US, meaning health authorities can voluntarily report cases to the agency for national tracking and monitoring. While a handful of cases pop up in the US every year from people traveling to high-risk areas, it hasn't experienced local transmission since 2019. But with 1.6million people traveling between the US and China every year, mosquitoes in America could bite an infected traveler and begin transmitting the virus locally to Americans. Dr Louisa Messenger, a mosquito researcher in Nevada, previously told 'This outbreak in China is very concerning. It [the virus] could already be here in the US; and really it's just one plane flight away.' Along with the CDC, travel agencies and cruise lines have also issued warnings about preventing mosquito-borne diseases, including chikungunya, dengue and Lyme disease, all of which have been detected in the US so far this year. Last month, Norwegian Cruise Line warned guests traveling to Italy this year to use insect repellent and wear clothing treated with permethrin, which can repel ticks and mosquitoes. Aedes mosquitoes are common in Italy, especially around coastal areas. Authorities in Italy reported the first locally acquired cases of both dengue and chikungunya, prompting the warnings from Norwegian Cruise Line. The Massachusetts Department of Health also urged in a recent health bulletin not to travel to areas with known outbreaks of mosquito-borne illnesses and get necessary vaccines if you are traveling to these areas. Health officials in New Jersey also stated: 'The best way to prevent chikungunya is to prevent mosquito bites and avoid travel to areas with ongoing chikungunya outbreaks.' Chikungunya is spread to humans from a bite from the Aedes mosquito, which also spread dengue fever, yellow fever and Zika virus. The infection does not spread from person to person through bodily contact or saliva. However, pregnant women who become infected near the time of delivery can pass the virus to their baby during birth, which can result in severe illness in the newborn. About 15 to 35 percent of people infected with the virus are asymptomatic, the CDC reports. The incubation period is typically three to seven days and the most common symptom is a sudden onset of a fever over 102 degrees Fahrenheit (39 degrees Celsius). Other symptoms of chikungunya virus include headache, nausea, rash, muscle aches, swelling and redness of the conjunctiva (the white part of the eye and inner eyelids) and joint pain that is sometimes severe and debilitating in the hands or feet. In severe cases, life-threatening complications involving the heart and brain can occur such as inflammation, irregular heartbeats and organ failure. Symptoms usually last seven to 10 days, but patients may experience lifelong complications such as persistent joint pain. There is no specific treatment for chikungunya, and doctors mostly focus on easing symptoms like over-the-counter pain and fever medications. However, there are two vaccines available for people visiting an area with an outbreak. China has recorded approximately 10,000 chikungunya viruses this year, making this its largest outbreak of the virus. Mitigation efforts, including using drones to spray insecticide in mosquito-infested areas has led to a slow down in new cases, though more than 1,000 were still recorded in the last week. According to the CDC, chikungunya was rarely detected in American travelers before 2006. But between 2006 and 2013, the US logged around 30 imported cases a year, all in people who had recently visited affected regions in Asia, Africa or the Indian Ocean. In 2014, a total of 2,799 cases were reported - including 12 that were locally acquired - in states and territories such as Florida, Texas, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, making it the country's worst year on record for the virus.
