In June we are bound for Japan. We stretch out our trips by researching them - tearing out articles, writing down restaurant names, reading novels. And then I lose the notes. I like tearing out the pertinent guidebook pages and adding them to my own book with xeroxes of 100-yr-old guidebooks, internet printouts, copies of paintings.
Moleskine has a line of City Notebooks that include a map with tracing paper, blank pages and tabs, and a little pocket. Of course they have many notebooks in different sizes that can be customized. Imagine doing a river walk using the Japanese Accordian planner, a bike tour with maps pasted into the A3 folio, or a custom big city details with the mini notebook. Imagine making a custom guidebook for your everyday life in your own town.
Have you seen or bought the Moleskin books? We're going to Italy in about a month and I like how you can add your own advice/notes/etc. But I wonder how useful it would be...
ReplyDeleteI love this idea - it's genius... pure, unadulterated genius. I am off to moleskine shop at lunch, though I doubt that moleskine has made a city guide for Davis, CA.....
ReplyDeleteEliza, I have the Tokyo Moleskine notebook. It's 3.5" x 5.5" and good for details and numbers. I use the larger watercolor notebook for painting and adding ticket stubs and pamphlets. In Italy I buy those beautiful marble paper covered books and Fabriano paper.
ReplyDeleteCamille, There is a pocket size "Info" Moleskine, which is really a city guide with no map. Paste your own custom map onto the pages! Get techy and use their template: http://www.moleskine.com/msk.php
ReplyDeleteAnd remember,
Bossy Cow-Cow
Honey Bee-Bee
Oleo Margarine
Oleo Butterine
Alfalfa Hay!!
SO exciting that you are going to Japan en famille.
ReplyDeleteI used the Paris Moleskine last time I was there and it was very handy. Plus it gives an excuse to buy yet another variation of Moleskine, which is useful to those who worry that they buy too many Moleskines. I also think it makes a lovely Christmas present for someone who is planning a trip (or should be planning a trip) to somewhere for the first time. A way of extending the trip by anticipating it long before the event, as you are doing.
Hope there will be time for some fabric shopping in Japan. oxo Kay
Good lord, Mrs. Lear!! Are you an Aggie?!?
ReplyDeleteI agree, great idea!
ReplyDeleteI too am working on my own travel notebook for cities I return to. I just took nice notebooks and added my own tabs. Restaurants come and go, and one learns about new shops or art galleries. I try to track some of the better walks or excursions.
Another option is the Quo Vadis Memoriae "My Travels" notebook. It already includes the basic sections.
I am using that as a journal of other travel.
I think the Moleskin city guides may be useful for those who don't use a lot of guidebooks, and return to a place. but then again I haven't tried them.
I love Moleskin journals! But even more I loved Japan! I am just back (well been back a month) and was absolutely blown away at the place - I cannot wait to go back. I've made a few posts about it and hopefully will get to some craft shopping posts and some food posts before long. I had great fun researching my trip to and have lots of hints and tips if you'd like - and I definitely want to make a journal now that I am back but the time is pressing and my memory fading of all the little details!
ReplyDeletePS I came over by way of Super Eggplant!
PS Have you seen the pop up maps that you can get for Tokyo and Kyoto - look up Kyoto popout map in Amazon - they are amazingly useful - fit in your pocket and have lots of handy info. ie the Kyoto map also has Nara and the surrounding countryside. Everyone in my tour group wanted one ;o)
ReplyDelete