Getaway host Catriona Rowntree reveals common acts you should never do in Japan
After 27 years of hosting Getaway, Catriona Rowntree finally went to Japan for the first time this year.
After 27 years of hosting Getaway, Catriona Rowntree was “beyond excited” to finally visit Japan this year.
It was her first time in the country, which had been at the top of her bucket list for a number of years.
Escape asked her about her impressions of the Land of the Rising Sun, her top travel tricks, and the things that drive her crazy about other travellers.
1. What element of Japan surprised you the most?
Everyone who’s visited tells you about the cleanliness of Japan, however learning that when children start kindergarten, they have to clean not only their desks, but their classrooms and even the loos, I was pretty darn impressed. They learn from a young age “you are responsible for your own mess.” Wouldn’t the world be a better place if we were all at one with that concept.
2. What would be your top five recommendations for anyone travelling to Japan?
1) Learn these four words and you can’t go wrong – kon’nichiwa (hi); arigato gazaimus (thank you very much); sayonara (bye) and best of all, oishi (delicious!)
2) Don’t blow your nose in public
3) Don’t eat in the street
4) Accept everything with two hands, but bow with them by your side (not praying) and …
5) Whatever you do don’t talk on your phone on public transport.
3. What was the best thing you ate while you were there?
Ramen is addictive! If I could eat it every day I would, but I’d be the size of a house.
We went to Ramen Alley, to a tiny restaurant that Anthony Bourdain recommended where the lone chef uses a recipe passed down through his family and there’s no menu. It was also considered rude to tip there, even though it was one of the best meals of my life. The Japanese take pride in their work, their level of service is beyond and most consider good service a pleasure … let’s all move to Japan!
4. What is the weirdest/worst thing you have ever eaten while travelling?
I would have to say eating an omelette at a market in Malaysia that tasted like a fart, was pretty darn weird. Hard to describe, but true to form the de ja vu was spot on. Needless to say I only had one bite.
5. What are three items you always pack and cannot live without while travelling?
Earplugs, those sounds that go bump in the night always wake me.
A wool scarf, to layer on the plane as I always freeze, to cover shoulders or my hair if I go to a religious site, to cover my pillow when I’m in a dodgy hotel. It just makes me feel good basically.
A shower cap, not every hotel supplies them, I cover my shoes in them if dirty and it’s perfect to wrap your wet cozzie in when you take that last holiday swim.
6. Any hotel hacks that you swear by?
Never drink the water.
Turn off the aircon immediately to avoid catching a cold.
On a cruise, book a salon treatment the moment you board and get all the location goss from the beautician.
Never take candles or hair straighteners / tongs on a cruise ship.
Travel in the shoulder season, never the high.
Use a local travel concierge if you’d like a more authentic experience.
Never touch the mini bar they’re always overpriced.
Take a little sample of your favourite coffee/tea.
Photograph where you parked your car at the airport, as I guarantee you’ll return pooped and forget where you left it.
If you like boiled eggs, take an egg cup from home, no one ever seems to supply them.
Always be nice to whoever is checking you in, a genuine smile and kindness is always rewarded.
7. Is there a destination that you’ve been disappointed by, or didn’t live up to expectations?
I’ve not really been to dodgy locations, but I sure have met some d**kheads and we can all relate to that. If pushed, I’ll admit that Langkawi was just too oppressively hot for me to enjoy. I was literally perspiring into my eyes and that’s never attractive.
8. Which destination surprised you the most (in a positive way)?
I did this music tour, travelling through the American south that was an absolute joy. From Graceland, to the Grand Ole Opry I was hollering with the best of them, eating Shoo Fly Pie in an Amish town called Intercourse (I have the postcard to prove it), sipping mint julep at the drop of a hat and learning a ton of history. Thoroughly recommend!
9. Have you ever done anything while travelling that you’ve deeply regretted?
Never take away anything you’d be upset to lose. I’ve lost an irreplaceable photo of my Nan, that I used to travel with to ease my homesickness, left by my hotel bed never to be found again, not to mention a beloved piece of jewellery. Trust me on this, it’s not worth the heartache.
10. Where is your favourite beach in Australia?
It seems for me, the harder to access, the better the beach. On the Great Ocean Road is a tiny beach called Petticoat Creek, you can catch crayfish straight from the rocks (only one!) – it’s always quiet and so pretty. Chinamans Beach first thing in the morning is my Sydney ritual, you’ll often spot Ken Done picking up any litter that’s washed up, find pretty shells and although it’s close to the city it’s generally quiet. Let’s face it, in Australia we are spoiled for choice.
11. Do you have any rituals or rules you live by when flying long-haul?
I never wear a belt, anything that crushes and I dress in layers. I take any makeup off with those packets of wipes, so it can be done in my seat; try to watch a film made in the country I’m going to and I never drink alcohol while watching a sad movie on a plane. The low air pressure and high altitude make me cry like a baby. Consider yourself lucky you weren’t sitting next to me when I watched Bridges over Madison County, when drinking a red vino. SO embarrassing!
12. Window or aisle seat?
I don’t care where I sit, just get me there safely, please.
13. What behaviour from other travellers drives you ‘round the bend?
Bare feet on planes is repulsive. Everyone knows those plane loo floors are a petri dish of germs. So gross!
14. Aussie love travelling to Fiji, Japan, Bali and Hawaii, but is there a secret destination you’ve discovered that you think should be on people’s radars?
Aussie country towns. Since hosting Country House Hunters I’ve fallen in love once again with my own backyard. Harden in WA; Molong in NSW; Bruny Island in Tassie; Maleny in Qld; Tanunda in SA. I could do a whole TV a series about my love of our country towns … oh wait, I do!
15. Now you’ve ticked Japan off … are there any other destinations left on your bucket list?
Like my wine glass on a long haul flight, my bucket list is always being replenished. I’ve never been to Galapagos (Islands), I’d love to swim with Whale Sharks at Ningaloo, oh and the whales in Tonga, oh and Sicily sounds nice …. yep, the joy of travel is infinite for me.
This article originally appeared on Escape and was reproduced with permission
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