This was the first day of our road trip. We collected our self-contained motorhome from Wellington, took some time to familiarise ourselves the layout, and after putting our luggage away drove to a nearby cafe for a late breakfast.

Our first pitstop was Martinborough to visit some wineries. We’d been driving for a little while but were still able to squeeze in two different wine tastings and a cheese platter before they were all closed for the day.

We found the holiday park that we’d planned on camping out for the night, plugged ourselves in and set up the bed.

Before calling it a night, we stopped by a pub in town for a cheese platter, and dinner of sausages and mash, finishing off with a tarte tatin for desert.

Monday, 9th July

After a surprisingly comfortable sleep in the motorhome, we got ready for breakfast at the Clareville Bakery. I had some delicious french toast with fruit and bacon.

On the way to our stop for the night it begain to snow ever so lightly, so we decided to stop at a pub for dinner before camping for the night. By the time we had finished dinner it had snowed so much we couldn’t make it to the motor park as intended. So we stayed a little longer, played some snooker and freedom camping it was for the night… in the carpark of the pub!

Tuesday, 10th July

We woke up the following morning to a surprising (and alarming) amount of snow.

Driving out, at snail pace, through slippery and snowy roads we eventually made it to some hot springs. Not having done the correct research we didn’t realise that these weren’t baths, but since we were there we decided to have a walk around the walking paths through the springs and mud baths.

I was determined to take a dip in a natural hot spring, and not long after, we came across one with private baths. They had some delicious garlic mussels which we had for lunch afterwards.

We made our way to the camping spot for the night at Mt Maunganui. After parking and plugging into our spot for the night we walked through the little town and had some amazing Italian food.

Wednesday, 11th July

As we progressed northward we stopped by Tauranga for some breakfast and a litte walk around the town. By this point we were both extremely tired.

For lunch we stopped in Hamilton, had a drink and a bahn mi and later came back for dinner at a Japanese teppanyaki restaurant.

Thursday, 12th July

This was Hobbiton day.

First we stopped for breakfast at Cambridge at a Deli, the Cauliflower and Cheese soup was divine. And then we were onwards to Hobbiton!

For more photos see my Hobbiton post!

After accomplishing one of my bucket list items, we continued driving northwards, and after a burger dinner we freedom camped for the night in a small town called Thames.

Friday, 13th July

For the final day we were going to be camping out in a farm-stay. Before checking-in we visited Hunua Falls, a short distance away.

We went to John Hill Estate Vineyard & Restaurant and had a decadent last dinner for the road trip.

The following morning we packed up all of our things, dropped off the motorhome and made our way to the final few days in Auckland.

Visting Hobbiton was a must. It was first on my list of things to do when planning our New Zealand travels. We pre-booked the tickets and two days into our 6-day motorhome road trip from Wellington to Auckland, the day finally arrived.

In my excitement, we ended up arriving half-an-hour ahead of time, giving me ample opportunity to peruse the gift shop.

From there we were driven by bus to the movie set. On reaching the start of the guided tour, we were greeted with this Hobbiton sign… and so was the start of many selfies.

We started on the guided track throughout the set, viewing different hobbit-holes. The doors were created at different proportions, to accommodate the illusion of making some actors look larger, or smaller, according to their character’s size.

These doors were exteriors only. They were created in different proportions for exterior shots so the different characters would appear larger or smaller. One of the doors had a retaining wall 2 metres in, where we were all able to stand and get those essential selfies.

Along the way, we were taken through the variety of houses, from the farmers, to bakers, to cheese makers.

After about an hour and a half, the final stop was the Green Dragon Inn, where we went to collect our complimentary drink, a choice between ginger beer, ale, stout or cider and a beef and ale pie.

As our time came to a close, we were collected by bus to take us back to the Shire’s Rest.

Try as I might, I was not able to leave before stopping by the gift shop where I bought myself THE ONE RING! For the rest of my time in New Zealand I wore the ring on my gold chain.

About a year ago, I purchased the FOREO LUNA Play Plus and with each passing month I saw my skin improve. Breakouts happened less often and my skin looked brighter and more alive! Since then, I’ve raved on and on about this gadget to friends and family.

The one damper on the otherwise perfect experience was the rusting of the screws on the bottom panel. After this happened I was no longer able to replace the battery, rendering the device unusable.

Knowing how much I enjoyed the LUNA Play Plus I had already started saving up to upgrade to the LUNA 2, the one for ‘normal skin’ which comes in a light pink colour.

What is it?

The LUNA 2 is a facial cleansing brush with an anti-aging system to reduce breakouts and effects of ageing skin. It is said to remove 99.5% of dirt, oil, dead skin cells and makeup residue, enhancing absorption of skincare products. For men, this creates conditioned skin for a closer and smoother shave.

There are four models: blue for combination skin, pink for normal skin, teal for oily skin, and purple for sensitive skin.

The extra features of LUNA 2 include larger brush head, longer and softer bristles, 12 intensity levels, and a built in timer with two modes, Mode 1 for cleansing and Mode 2 for anti-ageing.

The pulsations pause every 15 seconds for Mode 1 and every 12 seconds for Mode 2 to signal the transition to another area of the face. Pulsations will pause 3 times after 1 minute for the end of Mode 1 and again after Mode 2 indicating the end of the routine. The device will switch off after 3 minutes to prevent overuse.

What’s in the box?

As usual, the shipping was super fast and the package arrived in only a few days and the box included:

LUNA 2 device: with 3 different bristle sizes and waterproof charging port on the back.

Travel pouch: a stretchy material with a drawstring closure.

USB charging cable: that works with any regular phone charger.

Magnetic scratch card: with a code to register your product for any warranty claims.

Instruction manual: which can also be found here.

How is it used?

I use it twice a day after removing any makeup:

1. Apply a small amount of cleanser to the bristles
2. Start working it into the skin in small circular motions
3. Wet the brush if more moisture is needed
4. Continue around the face, jawline and neck for a total of 1 minute
5. Rinse well
6. Use the reverse side of the device for anti-ageing
7. Pat dry and proceed with skincare

Does the anti-ageing feature work?

I have only had it for a few weeks and haven’t noticed any differences yet. Stay tuned for updates!

Comparing LUNA Play Plus and LUNA 2

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Material: made of medical grade, non-porous silicone which is bacteria resistant, softer and more durable than nylon bristles
• Hygienic: The silicone is 35 times more resistant to bacteria build up than nylon bristles causing less breakouts
• One-time purchase: no replacements brush heads needed
• Travel-friendly: one charge lasts over 7 months and sits easily in my toiletries bag
• Quick: 2 minutes is all it takes
• It works: noticeable improvements in a couple of days
• Travel lock: pressing the + and - button simultaneously will lock the device so it doesn't spontaneously turn on during travel

Cons

Expensive: my only negative is the cost but I had used and loved the Play Plus for almost a year. I knew I wanted an upgrade and it is definitely worth the investment.

Final thoughts

I would recommend this to anyone ready to invest in a device to improve their skin. If the cost is a concern, try the more affordable LUNA Play or LUNA Play Plus first, to give you an idea on how the product works and whether it will suit your skin.

Sydney has amazing variety and amazing food. I set myself a challenge for the next time I was back home - to have as many different types of cuisines in a short space of time as possible. I managed to have 6 completely different types of cuisines in the space of just two days!

1. A Hipster Brunch

The first meal of this ‘challenge’ was a café breakfast at Le Cafeier which was only a few minutes walk away when I used to live in Balmain. With a wonderful Turkish influence there’s always something mouth-watering on menu.

I always start with a soy chai latte…

…and we decided to share two dishes, one was a simple (but so perfectly done) smashed avo on sourdough with cherry tomato, ricotta, poached egg and almond slices.

The other was the Menemem, a Turkish dish made with eggs, tomatoes and green capsicum.

2. A Late Báhn mì Lunch

Chicken rolls are my obsession.

Anytime I’m back in Sydney, I hop on a train and make my way to Cabramatta to get one of these magical things! As I write this post, I’m stuggling, knowing I can’t get one right now ?

I especially love this lady, she makes them in lightening fast speed!

3. A Coq au Vin Dinner

Every now and then I get cravings for French food and The Garden Court Restaurant was my first choice. My favourite thing on the menu is the steak tartare but sadly they had changed the menu and it wasn’t available anymore ?

I wasn’t disappointed for long… straight after ordering our meals we were presented with a creamy cauliflower soup (so yummy) along with break and butter.

For the entree was half a dozen freshly shucked oysters with yuzu mignonette. They disappeared far too quickly!

For the main course I went with the coq au vin… and oh my god it was amazing!

4. A Man’oushe Breakfast

Try as I may, I can never resist a good Man’oushe… ok, ok so I never actually resist ? My favourite one comes with ground meat and my second favourite is topped with Za’atar ?

5. A Ravioli Lunch

I’m a sucker for pink sauce. And for ravioli. Aaand for Newtown. So, I love going to Pastizzi Cafe in Newtown for my fix.

If you fancy having this amazingness at home, you can purchase bags of their pastizzi and ravioli from their cafe! ?

6. A Fuska Dinner

For the final meal of my ‘challenge’ (wasn’t really that difficult eating all this delicious food ?) I decided to head back to my roots… and my ALL TIME FAVOURITE food - fuska!

It’s a chickpea mixture, stuffed in a deep friend shell with various toppings on it. Just before eating it, drizzle some tamarind sauce and enjoy the burst of flavour.

You’re welcome!

Of course, in a Bangla restaurant, we don’t stop just there.

We went with a variety of bhorta (mash), small dried fish, potato and a vegetable mash to be eaten with two types of rice.

For drinks we got some lassi, yoghurt drink, and malai tea, made with thickened milk.

This April marks one year of having moved away from Sydney, and it just so happened that I was back in Sydney! I couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate than being in Balmain, with my husband, eating the foods we loved while we lived there for 5 years.

Breakfast

Victoire Boulangerie, is one of my all time favourite bakeries and is located in Rozelle. They have the most amazing savoury tarts, one made with cherry tomatoes, goat’s cheese and pesto and the other made with sautéed mushrooms and cheese. I love having one with a cup of tea or a chai.

Lunch

When I still lived in Balmain, this was my weekly cheat meal! A perfectly cooked cheeseburger, beer battered fries and a mixed berry smoothie at Bar Contessa in Balmain.

Dinner

Dinner was a four-course treat with an early dinner at One Ford Street, a traditional Sicilian restaurant in Balmain. I can never pass up a chance to have tartare and was lucky enough to find an amazing beef fillet tartare with saffron mayo, pane guttiau and pistachio on the menu for starters.

The pasta course was a chestnut & sage tagliolini with mixed mushrooms, crema di porcini and chiodini… disappeared in a matter of 2 minutes!

This was my first time trying swordfish and it came with breadcrumbs, raisins, pine nuts, green tomato sauce & roasted cherry tomato.

Somehow I still had room for dessert… but let’s be honest, even if I didn’t I’d order some anyway! The dessert of the night was seadas, deep fried semolina with sheep ricotta & cherry filling, honeycomb and quince al passito.

The end of 2018 will see me through my most travelled year with a grand total of 15 flights. Don’t we all wish there was an alternative to flying economy class without having to pay bucketloads for a business class ticket? With this in mind, I decided to try out ScootBiz - business class on a budget airway, which was roughly the same in price to a regular economy class ticket on Singapore Airlines.

Singapore Airlines Economy

Most of my flights have been on Singapore Airlines Economy Class and I’ve become very familiar with it. The seating arrangement is 3-4-3 and I always select an aisle seat in the middle section.

As soon as I get to my seat I get comfortable. Off come my sandals, on go the compression socks, and up goes the foot hammock. I don’t store anything in the overhead lockers - I can’t reach - so store my carry on under the seat in front.

Singapore Airlines is a full service flight and there is plenty of food and drinks available. Every now and then I’ll order a special meal so I get my meal sooner - the sooner I get my meal, the sooner I can wind down for a nap.

ScootBiz

ScootBiz offered priority boarding so we were able to put our things away and get comfortable with plenty of time. The seating arrangement was 2-3-2, more spread out and spacious.

There was plenty of leg room and the seat recline didn’t disturb the person behind. However, the foot rest wasn’t elevated enough and my feet were slightly swollen by the end of the flight.

None of the seats on ScootBiz had a screen, we needed to download the Scootv app onto our tablets before the flight. The free content was very limited and there was an extra charge for additional content. I ended up watching my own TV shows I’d downloaded prior to the flight.

A few hours into the flight my neck got quite sore as I was looking down at my iPad.

The ticket didn’t include a meal, and since it was going to be an 8 hour flight, we paid extra for a meal. While we were offered unlimited water, this was the only food provided, unless we were willing to pay even more for additional food. By the end of the flight I was starving!

Comparison

Verdict

I’m quite particular in what makes me comfortable on a plane and being petite, I require less leg room for comfort. Instead, full meal service, blankets, and in-flight entertainment keep me content during long flights, so in this comparison Singapore Airlines Economy Class outweighs ScootBiz.

I’ve become a bit carried away with all of this alternative period care… and Google noticed! My browser became very period-centric.

I came across a device that claims to stop period pain without the use of drugs! Living with endometriosis, I’m always hoping there will be some magical cure that will appease, if not eliminate, my symptoms. I wanted it to work so very badly.

It was tricky finding reviews of people who had used this device for an extended period of time. Of the few I did find, the verdict seemed 50-50. I was resigned to the fact that each person would respond differently to this this device and that I’d have to try it out for myself. For some it meant going drug free and for others it was just a gimmick.

As I was away from home for a few weeks while Livia had their 25% off Christmas deal I sent them an email asking how long they would keep this offer live. I didn’t want to order it and risk not being home to collect the package. In reply, I was provided with a 25% off coupon code that I could use at my convenience!

When I finally went to make the purchase, it was already 20% off with an additional 6 month supply of gel pads included. I added the coupon code for a further 25% off from the sale price! This made me feel a little better about how much I was spending.

What is Livia?

Livia is a wearable device designed to provide relief from period pain. It works by sending electric pulses which stimulate the nerves and trick the body into not feeling the pain.

How does it work?

Livia’s technology is based on the Gate Control Theory where pulses are transmitted to keep the nerves “busy”. Busy nerves mean the nerve-gate is closed, therefore pain signals cannot pass through and are unfelt.

The idea is that the vibration from the device travels faster than pain, and the brain likes the signal it gets first. If you get a vibration signal that will then shut the door to pain.

What’s in the box?

Livia device: I chose the purple colour and it measures at 5.5cm x 5.5cm x 2cm in dimension

Travel case: is a white plastic case that has room for the device and the charging cable

USB charging cable: measuring at 50cm in length

Gel pads: the box includes two extra gel pads and the special offer included an additional 6 sets

Flower electrodes: which attach to the device and are 30cm in length

User manual: make sure to hang onto this as it has a lot of useful tips on how to best use the product

How is it used?

1. Stick electrodes to your lower abdomen (I like the wires to be pointing upwards). Reposition to find where they work most effectively.
2. Plug the electrodes to the Livia device.
3. It will start with the lowest setting, so press the + button to find your ideal level.
4. Clip it to your waistband, underwear or bra-band. Even if you're wearing looser fitted underwear it will stay just fine!

Note: it is recommended not to leave the electrodes on the body for more than 10 hours at a time.

Are there any risks?

Livia states that there are no risks, however, it should not be used if you:

• have a pacemaker
• are pregnant, in labour, or breastfeeding
• are experiencing ovulation pain
• are undergoing fertility treatments (they note that it does not have any effect on fertility itself, but shouldn’t be used during treatments)

Is Livia just a TENS unit?

“Isn’t it just an expensive TENS machine?” is what I’ve seen on almost all forums. Livia makers have stressed that there are some differences. According to them, Livia operates on a different frequency and wave shape, ensuring it’s been developed to focus specifically on menstrual cramps.

I’m no expert but from all the articles I’ve read, both Livia and TENS seem to use the same principals for pain management. Basically, it’s a prettier, feminine, more compact and portable version of a TENS machine… and you’ll pay quite a bit for it. This seems to bother some people but for me, if it works, I don’t mind at all.

I may do a comparison review of Livia and a TENS machine so stayed tuned.

My Experience

Month 1

Already having pre-charged the device I went ahead and placed the electrodes on my lower abdomen and switched it on. At first I couldn’t feel anything until increasing the intensity - it felt a little bit like ‘pins and needles’.

As I had no idea about which setting to use, I increased the intensity to the highest setting I could handle. This turned out to be a bad later on. After about 10 minutes, the pain subsided.

At around 4pm the skin where the electrodes were became numb, so I re-positioned the electrodes and it started to work again in relieving pain.

I had used Livia continuously, and by 8pm, the battery ran out. I took two pain killers, popped it back on charge and was ready to use again after about an hour on charge.

At night I only took it off while I had a shower, and on again in bed. Sometime during the night I’d unconsciously taken it off as I woke up without it!

The following day I noticed that the skin where I had placed my electrodes were quite sore and had started to mildly bruise because I had the intensity set too high.

Overall, I was quite impressed with how well it worked! Even though I needed the aid of two pain killers when the battery died, and despite the irritated skin from the electrode, it did significantly decrease the painful cramps.

Month 2

This time around I was much more cautious of increasing the settings too much and aggravating my skin.

After placing the electrodes on I gradually increased the settings until the pain became a dull sensation, but much lower than the previous month! As I kept the settings low, I did feel mild pain throughout the day, but it was nothing like the debilitating pain I usually experience. I was able to get on with my day without the aid of painkillers.

This month I didn’t use this device when I went to bed - I just didn’t need it! It was one of those rare cycles where my symptoms weren’t too severe.

Overall, this second month of testing was much more successful. Learning my lesson from the previous month, I didn’t increase the setting too much, which meant that I had a more constant source of pain relief without causing skin/muscle irritation.

Month 3

This was a month from period hell. My cramps began a couple of days before my period even started, but now were especially bad. In the interest of getting a good night’s sleep I took two pain killers in anticipation of the blinding pain that usually wakes me up in the early hours of the morning.

Pre-medicating was the right choice. I got up, got dressed, and placed the electrodes on… but I just had a feeling that this was going to be a difficult cycle.

My spidey senses were right. By late morning the pain was so blinding I took off the electrodes, took some pain killers and made myself a hot water bottle. It was particularly bad this month and I abandoned all efforts of trying the device from there.

As most will know, each month does not bring with it identical symptoms, especially with endometriosis. I expected this to happen eventually - since I know how bad it can get - but I wasn’t sure how helpful the Livia device would be in combating the really bad pains.

Sadly, after a certain point, it Livia doesn’t help. I also suspect my my other endo symptoms hindered in allowing Livia to work optimally.

Showering with Livia

It is not a waterproof device so remove it while you’re showering!

Exercising with Livia

It is a very lightweight item so clipping it to the waistband of your tights will be no issue while you’re out for a walk, jog or run. However, I don’t think the electrodes will stay on for more bendy and stretchy activities such as yoga or pilates. I haven’t tried it myself though!

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Drug free: this device offers an alternative pain management from drugs.
• One-time purchase: you won't need to purchase the product again and should last you a very long time.
• Travel friendly: it is compact enough to slip into a toiletries bag and comes with a small case that will fit the device and your charging cable.
• Aesthetically pleasing: it is much smaller and nicer than other TENS machines which can be very bulky.

Cons

• Exercise: for workouts which involve stretching and bending, the Livia would come off, but for running or jogging it should hold fast.
• Pins & needles: the sensation is that of pins & needles which some people dislike.
• Skin irritation: this can occur if the settings used are too high.
• Battery life: if used without break the battery may not last the whole day.

Does Livia really work?

On my first month of trial I was blown away by how well it worked. Sadly, as I was experimenting with the levels of intensity throughout the day, the battery ran out of charge and I had to rely on pain killers to manage my cramps.

The subsequent cycle, unlike the previous month, was an exceptionally bad one, as is common with endometriosis. Everything was super duper painful with all sorts of other symptoms messing up my day. For this reason the I didn’t persist with the Livia and gave up after about an hour into the day.

For those with symptoms like mine, where some months their symptoms are easier to bear than others, there is a good chance that it will significantly reduce the amount of drugs required for pain management, but is unlikely to completely replace pain killers.

This device has surprised me on how well it works during ‘average’ months but not as effective against more severe symptoms.

To know for sure, I’d recommend taking advantage of the 60-day trial, as well as the coupon code below, and testing it yourself.

Coupon code

25Livia for 25% off

Ryokans are a traditional Japanese inn that haven’t changed much since the Edo-era. Where ordinary hotels are usually just a place to stay and/or eat, Ryokans are a complete destination where one can enjoy a traditional Japanese lifestyle and hospitality from single-room living to public bathing to dress code.

You can choose to have meals included, however, I haven’t done this yet but will update this post when that time comes.

Ryokans vary greatly in terms of size, cost and style.

Arrival

Upon arrival, you will be kindly greeted by a staff who will usher you to a parking spot. They usually won’t be able to speak English very well, but by now they’re very good in dealing with foreigners and will be able to get by. And the Japanese are so very friendly, they make everything smooth and simple.

You’ll then be lead into, what I like to call, the shoe-taking-off area. You’ll notice an elevation in the floor. At the bottom, you must take of your footwear and either take it with you to your room or hand it over where a Ryokan staff will place it in a common shoe closet. Only socks or bare feet from the elevation and onwards.

After checking yourself in, you will be guided to your room and your luggage brought up for you, and no need to tip as tipping is considered offensive in Japan. Their philosophy is that they should always provide the best possible service at no additional cost and show their appreciation to patrons who have chosen their service.

Your Room

Once you arrive at your room, make sure to take off your sandals. A Ryokan staff will show you around the room and show you all the features - KAWAII! You’ll find the tatami-mat floors that cover the entire room, all the better that you’ve taken off your yucky outside shoes.

Table

At the centre of the room you will find a table with chairs around it (the same number of chairs as guests staying in that room) with a flask of hot water, some fun treats and green tea to be had at your leisure. One time I had the kind lady come in and make us some green tea and serve it to us.

Toilet

Each room will usually have a private toilet that is within that room, although I think there are Ryokans which have shared toilets and not one in the room.

Beds

One of the first things you’ll notice is the absence of beds. Given that, traditionally, these are one-room stays, housekeeping will come into your room when you’re out at dinner and make up your beds. While you’re having breakfast, They will come in and put away your beds and also provide you with refreshments and fresh yukatas.

Room Key

Whenever you leave the Ryokan you will be required to hand in your room key to the reception area. The idea is that the key never leaves the building. On your return, simply give them your room number or room name and they will provide you with your room key again.

Dress Code

This is one of my favourite aspects of a Ryokan stay. As mentioned, you will have already removed your footwear and put on sandals provided by them to wear while in the building.

When you get to the room, you will be brought yukatas, one for each person. This is a traditional garment, similar to a kimono, but lighter and more casual, that functions as a bathrobe and loungewear. It is to be worn around the Ryokan and sometimes can also be worn outside too.

You’ll wear the yukata over your underwear, left side over right, and tie in place with obi (the belt). Begin by holding the obi at your front, wrap around your back and tie it in a bow at your front, but slight to one side.

In cooler weather, you’ll also be provided with an outer jacket to be worn over the yukata and tied at the front.

Note: make sure your hemline is even for both right and left side, make sure the collar area isn’t too loose or that your yukata doesn’t open up at your legs.

Baths

Similarly you may, or may not, have a bathtub/shower area included in your room. When selecting my room, I usually go without as I prefer to enjoy the onsen. Make sure to follow the rules and etiquette involved with the onsen experience.

Departure

Leave your yukata in the basket, hand in the key and check-out as normal. They will bring down your luggage for you if you prefer!

Note: you may have to pay an additional ‘spa-tax’ for onsen use, this is usually not very expensive.

Before I discovered the joys of the onsen with their magical powers  said to cure a variety ailments and skin conditions, I was completely baffled by this custom of strangers stripping down naked to wash their bodies alongside other naked people. My self-consciousness metre has always been off the scale.

During an unusual bout of adventurousness, with a pounding heart, I decided to give it a go and by then end I absolutely loved it. Despite feeling vulnerable in my nakedness, as I entered, three elderly women who were already there, washing, turned around, bowed slightly, and went right back to their washing and onsen-ing.

My fears dissolved.

Form that point, no one looked at me, they were only interested in their own relaxing experience. And so was I! I left with a newfound appreciation for this traditional Japanese experience and always long for the next time I can go back!

What is…

...an onsen?

An onsen is a Japanese hot spring that can be either indoor or outdoor. As a highly volcanic country, there are onsens everywhere, some belong to ryokans and others are sentōs (public bath houses).

...a sentō?

In the past, many homes in Japan were not equipped with a bathtub. To fill this void, the neighbourhood public bath was a place where the locals could go to wash themselves, soak in a tub and socialise with neighbours.

...a ryokan?

Ryokans are Japanese style inns found throughout the country, especially in hot spring resorts and vary in terms of size, cost and style.

Note: not all ryokans have an onsen.

How to

Pre-onsen

Before you leave your room, put on your yukata, similar to a kimono only more casual, left side over right. I’ve worn it wrong so many times!

You will be provided towels in your room to take with you, a small wash cloth inside a plastic bag and a larger towel to dry yourself off. All onsens are different and provide different items for use in the changing area. Mostly commonly they will provide hair dryers, cotton buds and plastic brushes around the sink areas. If you want to do your nightly routine like taking off your makeup, brushing your teeth or moisturising you may need to bring your toiletries bag with you.

Inside the onsen you’ll find shampoo, conditioner and body wash. If you prefer to use your own bring them along in a shower caddy to make it easy to carry around.

Also, make sure you haven’t been drinking… you will feel unwell very quickly. While some public baths offer alcoholic drinks it’s best to wait till after the bath.

Note: toiletries provided in the onsen can vary so make sure to check beforehand.

In the onsen

1. Make sure you enter the correct onsen as the genders are separated and alternate during the day and night.
2. Undress and place your belongings into baskets provided. The only thing you can bring into the onsen area is the small towel to wash.
3. Wash, wash, wash and do it very well! Find yourself a free spot and take a seat on the small stool. Wash with the small towel and use water collected in the small bucket and pour to rinse. There is also a shower nozzle. But conserve water while you’re doing it.
4. Rinse off all soap, shampoo and conditioner well before you get into the bath and make sure your area has been rinsed well, ready for the next person.
5. Use the towel for modesty while walking around the onsen, and be careful, it’s slippery!
6. Place the towel either on your head or on the side, somewhere it will not touch the bath water.
7. Enter the water gently and relax!
8. Once you’re done, squeegie yourself with the little towel before entering the changing room so you don’t drip water everywhere.
9. Once you’re back in your yukata, take a seat, sip some cold water and take it easy before heading back to your room.

Some places have an outdoor, as well as indoor, onsen area which you can enjoy as the outside air is cooler. Other places have both hot baths, which is the ‘normal’ onsen, as well as a cold bath that you can switch between.

Post-onsen

The onsen is hot. You’ll find you can’t really stay in there for more than 10-15 mintues (depending on your body) without feeling faint… and it’s best not to let it get that bad! The whole point is to relax and unwind - not to make you ill.

Directly after you get out of the onsen, wipe off excess water before entering the changing room. Dry your hair, moisturise and any other post shower ritual you may have.

There is usually an area where you can sit down and have a cool drink, usually water and is a nice way to end. It is recommended that you don’t do much, physically or mentally, and use the following half hour to continue in relaxation and contemplation.

The issue with tattoos

My experience

The prohibition of tattos was one of the first thing I learnt about onsens. I have a small one on my left rib area and another on my right shoulder blade. Every single blog post I read, and every person I spoke to, said the same. You simply cannot enter if you have a tattoo, even if it’s a small one.

But I haven’t found this to be completely true.

There are certain onsens which explicitly display signs banning people with tattoos, see examples below¹. If you happen to have tattoos, be respectful and don’t go to those particular bath houses.

The onsens inside ryokans aren’t guarded or monitored and it has been absoluately fine for me to go in. I’ve now been to 5 different onsens with no trouble!

Another option is to book out the private onsens (which most ryokans have) and enjoy the onsen experience all on your own for the allocated time.

Tips and tricks

Depending on where you tattoo is located and it’s size:

• Cover up with skin colour band-aid
• Cover with the small towel provided
• Have your back agains the wall if you have a back tattoo
• Pick the end stall when washing to strategically hide your tattoo

The rules

✔️ the do's

• Naked: take off your clothing, underwear, jewellery and put your hair up so nothing but your clean and washed body touches the water.
• Modesty: use your little towel to cover yourself for modesty while walking around.
• Wash well: yep... all the nooks and crannies.
• Conserve water: don't leave the tap running while you're lathering up.
• Quiet: don't have to be silent, just respectful of your surrounding bathers.
• Children: so long as they are toilet trained! Yes, grandmas, mothers, daughters are all in the same onsen naked.
• Period: Wear a cup if you have your period, tampons are usually not allowed as the string hangs out and touches the water.

✖️ the don'ts

• Swimsuit: only your pure naked self can enter the water.
• Cleaning: soaking and contemplation, not washing. Wash before you enter the bath.
• Tattoos: this used to be a very strict rule but not so much anymore.
• Hair: always tie up your hair so it doesn't touch the water. You don't want to swim around in others hairballs, do you?!
• Photography: for very obvious reason... everyone is naked!
• Towel: only your clean and washed body should touch the bath water, not your hair, the towel or anything else.
• No swimming: it is meant for relaxation, meditation and contemplation.

ESPADA, sword in Spanish, is a tool that attacks blemishes using blue LED light and T-Sonic pulsations to tackle acne-causing bacteria. It comes in three colours: Magenta, Light Pink and Cobalt Blue.

How does it work?

It combines blue light and T-Sonic pulsations to spot treat blemishes painlessly and non-invasively. The silicone surface inhibits growth of bacteria on the device itself.

The pulsations begin when the device is placed on the skin, supporting natural blood microcirculation and facilitating the skin’s renewal, and gradually increases in speed until the 30 second cycle is finished.

Some features include:

• 50 uses from a single charge
• 415nm blue LED light
• 30 second treatments with built-in timer
• Waterproof, silicone coating for bacteria resistance
• One switch ON/OFF

How is it used?

1. First cleanse your face
2. Press the button to switch on your ESPADA
3. Hover over the spot on your skin you wish to treat, you’ll see a small red cross, the close you get the more accurate the cross will be
4. As you touch it to your face the blue light will turn on and the T-Sonic pulses will begin
5. After 30 seconds the device will stop
6. Repeat this up to 4 times for each spot

What’s in the box?

ESPADA Pen: with an ON/OFF switch on the front and charging port on the back.

Travel pouch: a stretchy material with a drawstring closure.

USB charging cable: that works with any regular phone charger.

Magnetic scratch card: with a code to register your product for any warranty claims.

User manual: which can also be found here.

My Experience

My skincare routine has become second nature and straight after I cleanse, I automatically reach for my serums and moisturisers. However, ESPADA should be used on freshly cleansed skin and I kept forgetting to use it and went onto moisturise.

After placing it directly in front of me on my table where I get ready every morning and wind down at night it was easier to incorporate this device into my skincare.

When using the light pen, I clearly noticed my pimples were reduced significantly overnight. The more I used it the faster my skin healed. At its best, I used it each morning and night, 4 times on each blemish. I sat there for a loooong time some days where there were multiple spots to treat!

More recently, after using the blue light pen, I applied EradiKate as a leave on treatment overnight and by the next morning each pimple was almost healed!

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Material: made of medical grade, non-porous silicone which is bacteria resistant, softer and more durable than nylon bristles.
• Hygienic: the silicone is 35 times more resistant to bacteria build up to cause less breakouts.
• Travel friendly: compact, lightweight, and no spillage involved in bringing this along on your travels
• One time purchase: plug in to recharge the device, no need to buy any additional products to use
• It actually works: I was sceptical, but as I used it, I noticed my breakouts disappearing overnight

Cons

• Expensive: it is a fair chunk of moolah
• Time consuming: at 30 seconds per round of treatment, and a maximum of 4 rounds per spot, it can take a very long time to cover multiple areas of your face
• Not for very problematic skin: it works wonders for the odd blemish, but if you have major concerns it is best to seek dermatologist advice

Final thoughts

The obsession is real - I love FOREO! Every time I try their products I’m blown away with how well they work.

Prior to this I’ve never heard of blue-light acne treatment and thought it might be a bit of a gimmick. As I used it more regularly, my blemishes diminished much faster than using nothing. The best results were when I used this light pen along with EradiKate pimple cream.

It’s amazing for travel, when I don’t want to bring my EradiKate and risk leakages throughout my luggage and don’t have to worry about charging it unless I’m going away for extended holidays.

We often visited Singapore before moving there, sometimes for a few days and other times for weeks. Many people didn’t understand, they’d say “but it’s such a small country, you can do everything in two days!”.

If only they knew!

Putting aside the tourist attractions, some of which I’ve included, there is so much more to explore. We’ve hosted many of our friends since moving to Singapore, showing them around and making recommendations for things they would enjoy, as well as taking them to our favourite places to go, food to eat, and things to do. This is the guide I wish I had the very first time I came to Singapore.

Food

Chicken Rice

What is it?

This is the national dish of Singapore, a bowl of yellow rice served on a plate, where the rice is cooked in leftover chicken fat and broth. On another plate are the chicken slices, you can choose between roasted chicken or steamed chicken, mine is always the former. The chicken comes with a slice of tomato, a few slices of cucumber and a sprig of coriander, surrounded by a beautiful concoction of light soy sauce and oil.

To accompany this is a bowl of delectable chicken broth garnished with coriander (you can ask to leave the coriander out if you have such aversions), add chilli sauce and crushed garlic to taste.

Location

Tong Fong Fatt Hainanese Boneless Chicken Rice at Kim Keat Palm Food Centre is my favourite place to satisfy the chicken rice hunger... and I went there almost daily.

This one is my preferred location, but there are several branches scattered across Singapore, notably in Marina Bay Sands food court, where you can enjoy this dish in a shopping mall, in air conditioning, when the heat and humidity inevitably get to you. However, this will set you back by $8 where the hawker centre charges $2.50-$3.50.

Kaya Toast Set

What is it?

This is an all-day breakfast item common in Singapore and Malaysia. Kaya is a coconut jam made with coconut milk, eggs and pandan. Between two slices of toasted bread (either white or multigrain) is a layer of this delicious jam and a slice — yep, a slice — of butter.

The set also comes with teh or kopi, which you order according to how you take your tea or coffee, and two soft boiled eggs.

Crack your egg onto a saucer sooner for a runnier yolk, or leave it longer for a harder consistency. Add some salt, pepper, and soy, dip your kaya toast in your yolk. Prepare to be surprised at how much you like this strange mixture of flavours.

Location

There are many locations that serve kaya toast ranging from Toast Box and Ya Kun Kaya Toast, to almost any hawker centre. Just ask for a 'toast set' at the drinks stall.

Hawker vendors will charge around $2-$4 for the set, where the chains will charge $5-$8. The main benefit of the chains is the air conditioning and relief from the heat.

I've found the quality and taste varies greatly from hawker to hawker whereas the chain stores are consistently good.

Roti Prata

What is it?

Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, roti prata hits the spot every time. This flat-bread is made by frying stretched dough, that has been folded over several times in ghee until golden brown, and smooshed together by smooshing it from both sides. This technique gives it a flakey texture. You can add almost any filling to your prata: onion, egg & onion, meat filling, banana, condensed milk… the list is almost endless!

I prefer mine to be plain, which usually comes in sets of 2, along with curry or dahl or both! Eat it with your fingers, as those from the Indian-subcontinent do. Trust me, it tastes better that way!

Location

My favourite place to curb that insatiable prata craving is at Senthil Murugan Cafe.

The friendly couple who own this hawker stall not only have some of the best prata but their veges, curries, biryani and other sides are mouth-watering.

If I'm not having chicken rice then there's a good chance you can find me here, if not for prata, then just for a yummy snack of veges or tandoori chicken. The addiction is real.

Teochew Noodles

What is it?

These hawker stalls offer a selection of delicious noodle dishes and mine is always the ‘Mushroom Minced Meat’. You also select the type of noodles you prefer, for me this is mee pok, a flat, egg noodle, equivalent to fettuccine. It also comes with a small bowl of broth.

This delicious bowl consists of slices of delicious stewed mushrooms, minced meat cooked in broth, thinly sliced pork, bak chor mee (crispy fried lard pieces) and garnished with lettuce and chopped shallots.

If you are sensitive to spicy foods you can ask them for no chilli but I would recommend having at least a little as it’s a sambal chilli paste they make themselves and has all sorts goodies like ikan bilis (small fish) and other spices that make the dish extra special.

Location

Ding Ji Membina hawker market is open 24 hours, everyday, not an uncommon phenomenon in Singapore. After all, why should our hunger be dictated by the convention of meal times?!

However, this teochew noodle place shares its stall between two different vendors, my favourite being the morning/afternoon session, and changeover just after the 'dinner' round.

Their stewed mushroom and and the sambal chilli really make this bowl of noodles something to behold.

Tiong Bahru Bakery

What is it?

Tiong Bahru Bakery offers a European-style cafe where you can find both sweet and savoury baked goods, coffee and fresh pressed juices. It’s a significant change from the Asian-style bakeries you’ll undoubtedly come cross and find yourself leaving with bags of goodies you didn’t intend to buy… but they just look so good!

My order is always the Brie & Roasted Mushroom Croissant with freshly squeezed orange juice. It’s just so simple, yet perfectly done. I don’t have much of a sweet-tooth so can’t offer any advice there. You can select to sit in and enjoy your cafe meal or take away if you’re in a hurry.

Location

It can be a little tricky to find! Located at Eng Hoon, Tiong Bahru, surrounded by the colonial style lower-rise HDB blocks brings you back to a different time. It has generous seating and despite its popularity, I've always managed to find a place to sit with my husband and enjoy my croissant and orange juice. It also helps to go during off peak times!

The other two locations are in Orchard, adjacent to Tangs Plaza which is very easy to find, and Raffles City.

AMK Curry Puff

What is it?

Ang Mo Kio Curry Puff. Just yum.

These curry puffs are magical. The aunties make each curry puff by hand from scratch, starting from rolling out the buttery curry puff shell, to making pots of diced curried potato, to hardboiled eggs and chicken, all waiting to be put together into small pockets of wonder.

The curry filling is a mixture of the chicken, potato, spices and egg and the shell is neither too thin, holding in the contents well, nor too thick, allowing it to be crispy and moist, striking the perfect balance. Everytime, it’s a treat!

Location

Located at Toa Payoh Central, AMK Curry Puff is easy to access as from the Toa Payoh MRT.

While you're waiting in line, you can watch the aunty sitting inside making the curry puffs before your eyes.

Try to head out there in the morning or afternoon as they sell out of these little goodies fast - once they're out, you'll need to wait till the next day.

Lobster Laksa

What is it?

This luxurious dish is found at Chatterbox in the Mandarin Orchard Hotel. It comes in a beautiful coconut broth garnished with laksa leaves, with thick vermicelli, Boston lobster, quail eggs, fish cakes and dried bean curd.

The serving amount is far too large for one person, so I take my husband and ask them to split the laksa into two bowls. It’s the perfect amount for two people. You could try to split the bowl into two yourself… just be prepared to spray your top with laksa broth!

The messier it is, the yummier it usually is… am I right?!

Location

Located on Level 5, you'll be guided by signs and corridors through to the casually seated, cafeteria-style, restaurant.

While they pride themselves on their chicken rice, the main attraction for me is their lobster laksa. It's a great location, where you can stop and have a lovely lunch in air conditioning after walking around in the heat all day.

Drinks

Mr Stork Rooftop Bar

Forget Marina Bay Sands, Mr Stork, located at the topmost level of Andaz Singapore, you can have a drink, nibblies AND amazing views of Singapore's skyline. You'll see so much more than you'd think! Aside from the amazing views, they have relaxed seating (snuggle up inside the teepee huts), very friendly staff and a selection of cocktails, mocktails and food.

It is recommended you get there around sunset and stay till dark to see the sky darken and the city light up before your eyes.

Bar Stories

With a lack of drink menus and the creation of bespoke cocktails Bar stories is one amazing place. Located in Haji Lane, this intimate setting will immediately put you at ease. The mixologist will come around and greet each guest individually. They will determine the flavours you like best in your cocktail and make you a signature drink that is all yours - and they are amazing!

Atlas Bar

Inspired by the 1920s Jazz age elegance, Atlas Bar is a swanky, regally decorated lobby and bar, perfect for celebrating a special occasion or just for a treat. It is located on the ground floor of Parkview Square in the Bugis neighbourhood. They have extensive menus and offer a large variety of food and drinks.

Making a reservation is highly recommended if you have your heart set on spending some time there - it can get very busy.

Activities

Merlion

Get that quintessential Singapore shot of yourself with the backdrop of this half-lion half-fish statue spouting water. A pier takes you out onto the water with more views of Marina Bay Sands, the ArtScience Museum, and the skyline.

Get there by train (MRT) to Raffles Place (take exit H) and make your way to the Merlion on foot. Along the way you'll find Boat Quay and the Fullerton Hotel, still holding its grand colonial look, and many great spots to snap a few selfies.

Cloud Forest

A mysterious dome veiled in mist, surrounded by diverse vegetation and hidden floral gems. Learn about rare plants and their fast-disappearing environment.

You'll be lifted to the top of the dome where you will go along the Cloud Walk and the Treetop Walk, slowly leading you back down to the base of the waterfall - there's even a secret garden!

While you're at the top, and hopefully a bout of vertigo won't hit you, notice the view of Singapore's iconic landmarks.

Gardens by the Bay

I've been to these gardens so many times and it still takes my breath away. The Supertree structures not only look amazing, they're also functional. Measuring from 25m to 50m, the inverted-umbrella shaped canopy is designed to provide shade during the day and provide a spectacular light and sound show at night.

There are over 162,900 plants of more than 200 species planted across the 18 supertrees.

Get there by train to Bayfront Station and take exit B and it's a short walk after that.

ArtScience Museum

This is a pretty cool building... just take a look! It is shaped in the form of a lotus flower, which matches the flowers in the water feature that surrounds the building. And just WAIT till you get inside, many of the walls are curved! I love all things unconventional.

Get there by MRT to Bayfront Station, take exit C or D to Marina Bay Sands and follow the signs to the ArtScience Museum. It's pretty much all air conditioned and undercover from the train to the museum!

Cable Car Pass

Taking you from Mount Faber to Sentosa and many stops in between, you'll get to experience Sentosa Island from above! By getting the pass you can hop-on and hop-off at all of the stops and spend as much time at each individual stop as you like at your own pace.

And if you happen to be going to the waterpark Universal or the aquarium, this is a fantastic way to get there.

Look out for dolphins below as you fly over the water park and aquarium.

East Coast Park

East Coast Park has something for everyone.

Along this 15km stretch of beach front (no swimming unfortunately) there are 185 hectares of endless activities including bicycling, tandem biking, roller blading, skate boarding, sandcastle building, barbecuing, camping and restaurants, bars and cafes for dining and having a drink.

There is a wakeboarding park for those who prefer water sports. Be sure to check their website for opening days/hours.

Getting Around

Public Transport

Trains

Public transportation in Singapore is amazing. Covering virtually the entire country, you can get anywhere by the bus or train affordably. To do this make sure you get yourself an EZ-Link card, more info here. The trains come so often, every 3-6 minutes, there are no timetables.

Busses

Busses come a little less often and the times depend on the bus route you want to take, the most I’ve waited for a bus was 12 minutes, which in Sydney terms is a short wait!

Nevertheless, should you wish to know when your next bus arrives you can download the SG Buses app where you select your stop by nearby locations (the stop names are always written on the bus stop signs) which then shows you all the busses that come to that stop and their arrival times. By tapping on the bus number you can see the bus route and where the bus is in it’s route at that moment.

Private Transport

Grab provides the same service as Uber. You can also hail or book a taxi and you’ll find them to be fairly priced and very friendly… not a common trait for taxi drivers in many countries! Some taxis only take cash so make sure to check before getting in.

For me Grab and taxis are the most useful when going to and from the airport with heavy luggage where you just don’t want to drag yourself and baggage through public transport.

Data Roaming

Before you leave, get yourself a data package or get a SIM card in Singapore. This will help you have access to Google Maps and save lots of heartache when you’re not sure where you are. Look up the public transport connections to get to your destination.

If you’re in a pinch, you will also be able to use Uber or Grab and get you back to your hotel in a jiffy. If you do get lost and your phone isn’t helping you, just ask someone, Singaporeans are very friendly!

For the past several months I’ve enjoyed the freedom that comes from using a menstrual cup and it has opened my eyes to the world of alternative period care.

Since moving to Singapore I’ve been frustrated with the (severe) lack of choice in period care - and I happen to be very picky. From almost the first go, using a cup was a more comfortable, and easier, alternative to my monthly tampons, pads and liner routine. My Lunette Cup Review has all the details.

As I used to do with tampons, I continued using liners as a supplement to the cup in case of leaks. Continuing along the lines of reusable products I found my answer in period underwear. I came across THINX and after some research decided to purchase black pairs of the Hi-Waist and the Cheeky.

First Impressions

Purchasing clothing online gives me the jitters. The puzzling choice on whether to size up or risk sticking to your measurements is terrifying. My measurements put me in the size S category but THINX noted that their underwear fit snug so I sized up and got M for both pairs.

I received my package after two weeks of placing the order and tried them on anxiously. As it turns out their measurements are true to size so the underwear sat a little loose on me.

Being less than a week away from a trip to Japan, I decided to take advantage of the 60-day trial and test them out anyway. If they didn’t work out while I put them to the test I’d make use of the 60-day trial period and request an exchange before I returned home.

My Experience

When I initially received my package of two THINX underwear (Hi-Waist and Cheeky in black) I wasn’t able to really put them to the test so, I wore them out and about on some ‘normal’ days. Happy to report, they’re surprisingly comfortable, despite getting a size too big!

Month 1 (with a cup)

The first time I was able to put the underwear to the test and I happened to be away from home and I don’t like to experiment too much in case of messy situations! For the first month I decided I would use it as a supplement to the cup and use the THINX underwear as extra protection and ditch the disposable liners.

Day 1

Day 1 is always the worst for me. Debilitating pains, bloating, horrible moods and if that wasn’t enough, my digestive system decides to completely betray me (anyone else?).

I generally have a light period throughout, and was using the cup, but just in case of leakages I decided to wear the Hi-Waist (said to hold up to 2 tampons worth). While I had worn this in the size Medium I had already decided it was too loose - and wearing it during my period only confirmed this fact. There was some sagging action in the bum area, which, if I were using the underwear only, would not end well.

I contacted THINX and requested an exchange for the size Small. This happened to be on the 31st December, 2017 and thought I’d get a head start on the process thinking their support team would be on holiday. To my surprise, just a few hours later, I got an email requesting some additional info and by the next day I had the shipping order ready to go! On top of that, since this was my first purchase, they informed me that I could keep my two pairs (either pass it onto a friend or women’s shelter) and they’d send two extra pairs! I was very happy with that. Excellent service.

On this day I cleaned out my cup once during the day and once before bedtime. I had no leakage to my underwear.

As I was in a hotel and there were no laundromats nearby I hand-washed them in the bathroom sink and used cold water, following their instructions and hung them up to dry.

Day 2

The Hi-Waist dried completely overnight, so I wore them again on Day 2. I cleaned my cup once after waking up and once before going to bed and that was sufficient. There were no leakages and I washed the underwear again in the sink, same as the previous night, and it dried completely overnight.

Day 3

This was much the same as the day before so nothing to report here expect that the underwear didn’t dry enough to wear the following day.

Day 4

There was some spotting so didn’t use the cup and went with underwear only. Cheeky this time. Was fine and rinsed it out in the sink.

And that’s it for Month 1. At no point did I notice any odours (and I’m usually quite sensitive with that). The underwear was very comfortable to wear and I often forgot it was different to any normal underwear.

Month 2 (on its own)

A few days after I returned from my wonderful trip to Japan (which you can see here and here) my smaller pairs arrived.

I tried them on straight away and to my delight they fit perfectly! So now I had four pairs of underwear to trail for my second month!

Day 1

I could feel it coming… I can always feel it coming, so I put on the Cheeky pair the night before and went to sleep. Overnight there was only a bit of spotting so no big deal there. I changed into the Hi-Waist pair because it provides the most protection and on my first day is when I bleed the most, and this month was no exception.

It was an inside day (I had planned it that way because I didn’t want to risk being out and about during this experiment with blood stains on my bottom) and I could feel that I was bleeding quite a bit, but once it soaked into the underwear it didn’t actually feet wet anymore. A pleasant surprise.

I decided to have a shower earlier than normal (around about 7pm) and had the Hi-Waist pair on for a total of 11 hours and didn’t experience any leaks or accidents! However by the end of the day it did feel a little damp.

I was surprised to find that there was no smell as I went about my day. It was only when I went to swap out my underwear when it became too soaked or when I went to the toilet that I could smell some funkiness.

There were no leakages.

Day 2

By the second day it had already started easing up so getting through with just one pair was plenty. By the end of the day I started noticing some smells as I hadn’t changed at all.

Day 3

Only a little spotting and my flow just tapered off from here.

During Day 1 did I feel any wetness as that was my heaviest flow day (and I have a light flow anyway). By Day 2-3 there was no wet feeling at all.

How does it work?

They are made with four layers:

• Interior Innermost - 95% Cotton and 5% Elastane
• Middle - breathable PUL, 95% Cotton and 5% Elastane
• Outer - 89% Nylon and 11% Elastane
• Trim - 100% Polyester

The four layers work together to create an anti-microbial, moisture-wicking, absorbent, and leak-resistant underwear. The top layer fights bacteria and absorbs any liquid into the thin layer beneath it.

The Hi-Waist holds up to 2 tampons worth and the Cheeky holds up to 1.

Care Instructions

The care instructions are very simple:

• Rinse immediately after use by hand until the water runs clear
• Place in a cold wash cycle inside a garments bag
• Don’t use fabric softener which diminishes the absorbency of the fabric
• Hang dry, not in the dryer, as it also diminishes the absorbency of the fabric

Of course, this will be a bit harder while you’re travelling. I was away in Japan during my first month of trialing the underwear. I thought it was going to be very involved but the process was very simple!

I just rinsed it out, soaked it in the hotel bathroom sink for about 5 minutes, and hung up to dry.

In the hotel’s air conditioning, the underwear usually dried by the next afternoon allowing me to alternate each day. Back in Singapore, in the humid, but hot weather, it takes a little longer to dry.

Comparing Sizes

The difference between a size S and size M is only very slight but for me it made a significant difference in the comfort level while wearing them.

Cheeky

Hi-Waist

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Less waste: These underwear easily replaces the need for liners
• Looks good: With all the different styles available, they don’t looks like grandma undies or nappies, they’re still shapely and sleek
• Comfortable: They don’t feel like swimmers or nappies
• Cost effective: In the long run, you’ll be able to reap the rewards of eliminating or significantly reducing your need for liners

Cons

• Wetness: depending your cycle day you may bleed a little heavier than you expect (happens to us all and our unpredictable bodies) and you may feel the dampness, similar to wearing a pad, which is why a lot of women start using tampons/cups. You'll need to change your underwear throughout the day.
• Drying time: the underwear has tech involving four layers of fabric to absorb the moisture without leakages, so it follows that after they've been laundered, it would take extra time to dry those layers. Living in a hot climate such as Singapore, they took a full two days to dry completely.
• Multiple pairs: following on from the last point, you'll need several pairs to see you through the month. I bought two pairs to start as I knew this was going to be an issue but for those in a cooler climate (where clothing takes longer to dry) you'd need at least 4-5 pairs. Same goes for those who have a heavier flow and have to change their underwear more often.
• Pricey: with prices around $30(USD) for one pair, this is definitely an investment, and while they will last a very long time, it may be a struggle for some to afford.
• Limited colours: this didn't bother me too much. Their main colours are black (which makes sense), beige and they have a red pair available in the hipster style. While this may not be in the forefront of our minds while feeling bloated, in pain and just generally, horrible, it's nice to have some choice about what's going on underneath ?.

Final thoughts

My experience in using THINX period underwear was so much better than I thought. They were comfortable, fit well, didn’t leak or feel like a wet nappy.

However, it involved extra loads of laundry/hand washing, and long drying times, and is an investment to have a full set to see you through a full cycle. It would be difficult to rely on just a few pairs of underwear throughout a cycle. Depending on your flow, you may need seven or more pairs and that initial cost is pretty steep!

Having said all of this, I don’t like the feeling of ‘free-bleeding’, and prefer the underwear as a supplement to the cup, as well as a replacement to liners.

If you seek to use period underwear only, you may need to consider the additional laundry, initial costs, and your flow.

Coupon codes

Click here to get $10 off your order.

After our 6 days in kusatsu we came back to Tokyo to spend the remainder of our time in Japan.

We checked into the Hilton Hotel in Shinjuku, Tokyo and for the final two nights we were upgraded to the Junior Suite.

The Bathroom

Fun Fact: this was the place I took the photos of me washing my THINX Underwear.

A Night out in Shinjuku & Harajuku

New Year’s Eve

It just so happened that New Year’s Eve lined up with our stay here. We decided to go downstairs to this bar and have a drink before winding up for the night. We are such party animals.

For the following three days we had a really tough time finding places to eat for lunch and dinner - every restaurant was closed for the holiday! 7-eleven was our friend.

We met up with some friends and travelled to Kusatsu, a small snowy town, surrounded by lots of great ski fields. Having snow boarded before, and not having such a great time with it, I made the decision of opting out.

Kusatsu is known for its natural hot springs, 5000 litres of water per minute at temperatures of 70℃ with the pungent smell of sulfur it makes for an interesting walk around town. After about two days, I acclimatised to the smell and didn't notice it too much.

Having a dip in the onsen is said to cure all variety of ailments and skin conditions, not to mention it’s super relaxing.

We stayed for 6 days at the Kusatsu Hotel, a ryokan, a traditional Japanese inn. Since I didn’t go to the snowfields any of the days I had lots of time to catch up on work, take in all the amazingness of the hotel and make good use of the (surprisingly) excellent internet speed.

We had a single room with attached bathroom. During the day the table would be set in the middle of the room with two floor chairs, green tea, and some different treats each day. While we were out for dinner someone would come around and lay out our beds and blankets on the floor with the table pushed to one side (we suspect a magical Japanese fairy).

Most of the time I didn’t take too many photos (because, to be quite honest, I was just too cold for my hands to be out of my gloves).

The days slip by and our next stop was the Hilton Tokyo.

After our stay in Asakusa at the Wired Hotel we spent 6 days in Kusatsu. I had  no plans to ski or snowboard so I stayed back where my time at the Kusatsu Ryokan Hotel was spent shuffling lazily between the onsen, the coffee shop to complete some work with their incredibly fast internet, and exploring the little town.

The Ryokan

Ryokans are so lovely and spacious with a real luxurious feel from the onsens, which is definitely my favourite part.

The Baths

This was the best bit. I used the onsen every single day. I would alternate between the inside and the outside bath - with the temperatures at -7℃ outside it was nice to being submerged in >40℃. And there was also a small foot bath just outside the entrance of the Ryoken itself.  

Scattered throughout the town of Kusatsu, you’ll find smaller hand and foot baths where you can just stop, take off your shoes and warm up your frozen exteriors. This ryokan also had it’s own foot bath adjacent to the coffee area.

The Room

The room was a small, single room, standard with most ryokans with a private shower and toilet area. I always used the onsen but it’s nice to have the choice!

Each evening the hotel staff will come in and make the beds while you’re out at dinner and pack the beds away in the morning when you’re out having breakfast.

When we were taken to our room, and our luggage close behind us, there was a kindly lady hotel staff who came in and made us a welcome green tea drink with some fun sweet treats.