So… Tom Bihn finally announced their new travel bag for the season – the Bixi 32L Travel Backpack.

I looked through the FAQ, watched the packing video…

Well…

Not exactly a huge fan. As a travel backpack, my Techonaut is fantastic (except for the lack of loadlifters). In fact, I very much appreciate the fact that the water bottle pocket on my Techonaut is zippered, instead of being exposed to weather elements like on the Bixi. In it’s zipped pocket, at least I don’t need to worry about it falling out if I happen to carry the bag like a briefcase. Yes it might take up a little internal space, but that’s something I can live with.

Bixi has the new admin panel, which is very commonly seen among big travel backpacks nowadays by other brands. I’m not a huge fan when it comes to that sort of organizational panel – it’s something that I can live without. I don’t need that much organization when I’m moving about – I’ll usually either have my Small Cafe Bag or my Aer Go Pack 2 with me at the same time too. Small/daily EDC items can go in there.

So… yup. Gonna give this Bixi a miss. I really wish TB will come up with a travel bag with load lifters though. Otherwise, I might have to look elsewhere once I really do start to do one-bag travel in the future.

Should I go change even more JPY later during lunch? I have lots sitting at home already though…

Finally took some time off my busy hours in office to book remm Kobe – and yes! Got the rooms! A tad more expensive than Brenza hotel which I had initially booked, but really I’d pay just that little extra more for the convenience. I really love staying in hotels that’s right in the train stations – you’d understand why if you have stayed in one before. After a long day of walking it really felt super exhausting to have to continue walking or taking a short bus from the major train station back to your accommodation. The thought that’d pop into your head will be “Oh gawd why did I book the hotel so far from the station..” While if you stay at the hotel right in the major train station itself, it takes you barely a couple of minutes after getting out of the train to be back in your hotel room. On the day of check-out, you also don’t need to worry about carrying heavy backpacks or dragging luggage while crossing roads and don’t need to worry about inclement weather, because you are IN the station itself – you can just linger around and saunter through the station fare gates when it’s time to board the train.

I really enjoy staying in hotels situated right in train stations so much, that even though I’d encountered some pretty fierce supernatural stuff in Via Inn Kanazawa, I don’t mind staying there again whenever I’m in Kanazawa. LOL!

Next up – to set reminders on phone to purchase the regional rail pass and to book the necessary train reservations, as well as booking the Kobe steak lunch.

162 days to go!