008: Things to note on leather cover

This might be a wordy post, but worth reading! :)

Dedicated to all Traveler's Notebook user and fans, we have a valuable DO's and DONT's advise on things to note on leather cover. 

By user Mr Ashdee Khairuddin from Sarawak, Malaysia.

"

Let me share some of my TN history. 

I own 2; one regular and one passport, both brown. I bought the passport size first, but after finding out how useful it can be, I bought my regular sized on barely 2 months after.

I've been a leather junkie before I got the two TNs. Most of my leather products are the same color as the brown TN, which most of them are waxed oiled leather, i.e. shiny leather. I have various leather care products at home (ranging from Timberland leather care products + 1 generic leather conditioner) but did not use them at first as I've read that it will change the color and character of the leather. I eventually tried and tested a few different types with mixed results.

1. Never leave your TN in high temperature


I previously left my TN in the car on a hot day, and upon my return I found my leather started to dry up and my previous pocket stickers in my TN started to warp and peel off.

2. Don't use oily leather conditioners

Since my TN was dry, I thought putting some leather conditioner will restore the moisture. It did, BUT it made my TN a very dark shade of dark brown, almost black. It does, however, made it more resistant to scratches. Its a plus or minus, depending on the users preference.

3. Make sure it doesn't get wet

Normal water is fine. One time previously I got caught in the rain and got my TN wet, but once it dried off it returned to normal. What the TN cannot stand is beverages. I accidentally got some soy bean drops on the back of my passport TN, and the stain stayed till now.

4. Hold your TN more

The more you use, the more beautiful it becomes, the more resistant it is to wear. This is because it will absorb the small amounts of oils on your fingers, adding the protection barrier on the surface with a sufficient level.

5. If you want to clean and protect your TN:-

There's a lot of methods that can be used. If its oils stains, I would recommend dumping talcum powder on the spot overnight to absorb most of the oils out. Then clean off the powder and use water with a some soap to work the left-on stains. You dip your rag cloth into it and use a circular motion to clean it up. You can make the soap lathery too if the stain looks like it penetrated deep. Wipe off with only water to wash off the soap (leather is skin after all), and use a dry cloth to dry it up. Leave to dry after that.

Prevention is better than cure, so with my passport TN I've correctly used the right products for it. Amongst 2 products that I have found to be good on the TN are the Timberland boot sauce and balm proofer. Since timberland boots are suede (the most sensitive type of leather), these products can be used without discoloring the TN.

Use the boot sauce first and allow to dry. This will nourish the leather for many many months to come. Then apply the balm proofer after to give it a water repellent protection, which will not change the feel of the leather. Both are really good products. The best part is that it will allow you to still scratch your leather, giving it the rustic and used look.

Other leather conditioners are not specifically used for untreated leather, so be careful. Some will discolor your TN, while others will give your TN a glossy finish (since its made for waxed leather). The picture shows my regular Tn and passport TN, where the regular is very dark brown. Eventhough I use it more, but it does not sustain any visible scratches, unlike my passport TN.
"

Both Traveler's Notebook & leather product of Mr Ashdee :)

007: Halo!

Hi folks! How are you doing? It a bit late to say "Happy Halloween" now.
Anyway, hope you had a good time with your friends.

It is getting cold in Japan, it is the season to wear many layers of clothes, like an onion.

If you are visiting Japan soon, it is advised that not to wear the very thick inner wear.
Since when you enter the restaurant, it would make you feel stuffy.
There are many functional thermal inner wear available in Japan, the fabric is thin and won`t make you look bulky.

 

If you can`t stand the cold weather may be you can wear like them.

It is not hard to find this kind of costume in Japan. And, it is not rare that people wear them to sleep.

Also, wear them to halloween party.

I couldn`t help myself switching my eyeside to the Kamen Riders,

 they look even more shiny at night.

 Thinking to get any one?

006: Say kimchi ~

Haha, this is usually said when my korean friends are taking photos.

Everyone is looking at the camera and say `Kimchi`

Well,  Japanese usually say `ha-i, chi-zu!` (means cheese ) to give a good smile when they are taking photos. This is not the point of this post. Just wanna share some photos of mine that previously taken when I was making kimchi with my friends.

Very first step , cutting and slicing all the ingredients.

We were making two types of kimchi, one is using chinese cabbage , another one is white raddish.

The other ingredients including minced ginger, garlis, sliced onion, scallion, chili flake,

salt and korean fish sauce.

I think making kimchi is one of the good way to bring people together, especially family members.

Coz it needs a lot of work like washing, cutting the ingredients and mixing them.

Time to stuffed and spread the chili paste on the cabbage.

All mixed well.

 

Tadaang ~

Yay, done! all the kimchi were packed into boxes and stored in at room temperature for the first day to allow fermentation. The next day, it was put in to the fridge and ready to serve. 

My korean friend also made us the traditional drink, called Su jeong gwa. It is made by simmering the cinnamon stick, ginger and red jujube. Then, add in sugar and dried persimmon.

Masiseoyo!

 

 

005: The legendary Mouse

 What I love about the Disney in Japan is they always has special edition for some of their goods. Like below

There is a series of Disney character called Cubic Mouth released in Japan back to few years ago.

Designed by Satoshi Fumihara. Love them very much, with the special features on their face.  

With the square mouth and the facial expression which you`ll never see on the original one.

 Went to Disney sea in the early of September.

Minnie was greeting everyone in front of the entrance.

 Love to see how people decorate themselves with the disney accesories.

Duffy`s popcorn bucket sold in Disney Sea Japan.

 

 

The new attraction in Disney Sea Japan, Toy Story Mania. It is more impressive to visit the Toyville at night. The illumination is really amazing.

 Unable to get in since there a sea of people queuing for it.

According to what I watched from the tv, the guest will put on a 3D-glasses, board on the tram and find themselves under the bed in Andy`s room. Guest will feel like they shrunk as a toy cause everything in the room looks gigantic.

By the way, just found the masking tape printed with the lengendary mouse on the rack in a stationary shop.(ps: not found in the disney though) Very cute huh?

004: Awa Dance Festival

Just found out in the mid of August, Masking tape had a mt school project in Shikoku,` Making is fun`. The school is like you pay 1000yen for the workshop and learn to make cards, photo frames etc using mt products.  Here is their work http://www.masking-tape.jp/mtschool/gallery/

I was in Shikoku during August, not for the mt school but for another program.

My first meal in Takamatsu, the most famous food in Shikoku, udon!

 See, another footprint I got from this trip.

After having my lunch, continued my way to Tokushima, another prefecture in Shikoku.

Awa dance festival is one of the famous event in Tokushima, which held in the mid of August.

There are seats in some reserved area where you need to purchase the tickets to get in.

Performers wear the traditional obon dance costumes sing and chant as they parade through the shopping street.

Also, there are groups of dancer are called `ren`, dance through the streets during the obon.

Usually, the Awa dance festival is held for 4 consecutive days and there are competitions for

 dancing of each Ren as well.

The taiko drum`s performers.

The kids wear yukata.

Besides, there are many vendors selling food, toy and etc.

This also one of the common vendors you could see during the festival, it`s a game where you try to see how many toys you can net.

You could always find interesting choices of fizzy soda in Japan`s vending machines.

003: Some footprints on my notebook

What do you usually get for yourself when you travel around? For example, a postcard, some local craft etc...When I started travelling around Japan by JR train, I found that they usually would have a rubber stamp at each station. Always the image that has been carved on the rubber stamp is the most famous thing or food or spot of that place.

These are some stamps I got for my recent trip to Tottori Sandune.

For me, it is like you check in yourself at certain place at facebook, what you stamp on your notebook is like leaving a footprint of the place you`ve been travelled on your notebook. You will never get the same stamp from one to the other station in Japan.

And, these are the stamps I got at Kobe and Izumo station.

As you flip through your notebook, you will know how many footprints you left in your travelling life.

002 : Essence of Life

When I first started tabiyo, I was wondering how should I create public awareness to people in Malaysia, who don't have much knowledge about how amazing Traveler's Notebook is. So, I come out with all these drawings, to show the different ways of using Traveler's Notebook in different occasions: Travel, Outing, Work and School.

It has been some time for me to do drawing since I graduated from art school. Thanks god it still come out quite nice and cute :) Do you like this?

001 : MY Traveler's

Some of my friends are curious on how am I using my Traveler's Notebook. Here I would like to show you the contents! :D

This is my regular size Traveler's Notebook, my friend help me to get this from Tokyo 3 months ago. The leather appear quite different now if compare with 3 months ago. Now, it looks so much charming and full of characteristic! I tied the little kitty on the bookmark :) Few weeks ago, I bought a pen holder <medium size> from Kinokuniya at Singapore, there is a little corner selling series of items for Traveler's Notebook. This pen holder is very helpful to keep my pen in place at all time.

When open up the leather cover, I pasted one of the Pocket Sticker on the cover, to keep all my loose paper and a Double-Sided Stickers. 

This is my first refill notebook - Free Diary (Weekly). This diary is still empty as I'm currently holding another diary from Moleskin which I bought early this year. When approaching end of the year, I will start to use this! Anticipating :D
By the way, for your information, Traveler's Notebook is launching 2013 diary series mid of this coming September!

This is my second refill notebook - Blank Notebook, it come with the starter kit when I purchase Traveler's Notebook, I was so amazed by the quality of MD paper - this paper is good for you if you like ink based ball pen and the ink will not penetrate through the paper. I use this notebook to write, draw and plan out anything that happens or going to happen in tabiyo.

I downloaded all these useful information from the official website of Midori Traveler's Notebook and paste it on the cover/ back of each refill. This helpful download includes calendars, country information, conversion tables, world map and timetables etc.

At the back of my leather cover, I pasted on another pocket sticker to keep my name cards and other business cards. If you can see at the back of my refill cover, I'm still keeping the notes that come with my starter kits. The notes for travelers is very inspiring and I always like to read them again and again.

This is the kraft paper envelope that I made by myself. This is for me to keep receipts, articles, tickets and vouchers, especially during my trip to other country.

I did customized a refill for my diving log. I made this according to the usual size of Midori refills and bind them together. It was easy and is good if you would like to customize your very own refill base on your lifestyle.

This is my third refill - Grid Notebook. I use this refill to record down my schedules and memories during my travel. I will put in all necessary information into this so that I can use them as future reference if I'm going back again.

Here it goes for my Traveler's Notebook with 4 refills.

There are a lot more refills/ accessories that I'm hoping to get, stay tune for the next shipment! :D