A Product Review: Huawei P9 as a Traveling Tool

Being a travel junkie in this modern world, owning the latest gadgets and devices gives me advancement in terms of documenting my trips. Today�s modernization offers a lot when it comes to entertainment, capturing moments and sceneries, giving directions, and most specially connecting people. These features are really essentials to backpackers slash office guys (like me) since we are out there exploring different realms.

Mobile phone is considered to be the most important gadget one must have when wandering. With all the features that are coming out in the market, phones can ease the stress incorporated when traveling. That�s why I am blessed and lucky enough to be contacted by a PR representative to do a review on one of the newest releases of Huawei�s mobile phone --- the Huawei P9.

I received my Huawei P9 two weeks ago and from that day on, I got ecstatic to try out the different things this phone can make. Huawei has been there in the market for quite some time now and already proved its name on producing quality phones. But what I targeted to discover is how P9 can make a difference and how it can help me on my journeys.

Design (display and sound)

I didn�t check the Internet to see what this phone does look like because I want to surprise myself. So during my unboxing moment, I must say that this phone didn�t fail me to amaze. Huawei really step up their game with Huawei P9. The phone has a full aluminum body which projects rock-solid and sturdy feels in all the right ways. I can visualize it with me on a rough travel without the worry of breaking it.

Huawei P9

When it comes to display, it stands stunningly at 5.2� with 1080p Full HD display. Its screens stretched out until almost to its edge so you�ll experience mostly of that 5.2 inches while viewing stuff to this phone.  Plus, I find it not that big so you�ll have a good grip on it.

Bottom part of P9

Under the phone, you�ll notice the small grille where sound is projected. Despite being small, it was a surprise because of the quality audio that comes out of it. The quality I mentioned doesn�t mean it can be used for striking up a party.  But its perfect for some crisp and clear hands-free call incase you forgot your headset.

Camera

As a blogger, taking photos is a must! I used it on my blog (of course) as well as on posting to different SNS sites. So I am very anxious on the tools I used for shooting.  That�s why I am very thrilled to test the camera of Huawei P9.  Co-engineered with Leica, Huawei promises to �reinvent smartphone photography� with its ground breaking dual-lens.

Imagine this: Huawei and Leica combined to build stunning dual-lens camera in a smartphone. It only means one thing -- having more light and better clarity for a more amazing photos and videos.

Sharp quality photos with advanced shooting functions

With all honesty, I had a blast using the camera of Huawei P9. Its ad about reinventing smartphone photography really lives it up. Its two 12-megapixel sensors take solid and great shots as if it was not taken by a mobile phone. I also love how I can shoot manually to get the mood of my photo based on my desired. It�s like I am using my DSLR camera playing on exposures and shutter speed but on a lightweight and handy device in the form of Huawei P9. In addition, its low light performance is impressive and has accurate auto focusing system. You can even easily shoot on a subject with little light available.

Actual shots from Huawei P9. These are resized but unedited photos from the unit:

In terms of its front camera, Huawei P9 is packed with 8-megapixel lenses, which assures to capture fair and sharp shots. Sending selfies having a beautiful beach as a background and taking video calls will not be an afterthought on using this phone.  

For ladies, you�ll be happy on its �beauty-slider� that can smooth away those blemishes during bad-skin day.

System and Performance

I got the device installed with the latest Android OS, which is Android 6.0 Marshmallow. A Kirin 955 Octa-Core having 32 GB storage and 3GB of ram is running P9. Everything runs smoothly from downloading applications, to playing games, to streaming videos. I even installed it with latest craze app, Pokemon Go, and I had no issue on its GPS capabilities as well as connecting over the web. I must say that this is a blazingly fast phone. I was able to kill time watching clips and videos without experiencing clashing of apps during my trips.

My P9 with the latest mobile application

Note: storage is still expandable up to 128 GB. (but other says up to 256 GB) so rest assured that this phone can hold more files.  

When it comes to battery life, P9 is in stored with a 3,000-mAh-battery pack. Although it has a higher battery size compared to other phones, I discovered it to consume a lot of power whenever connected to LTE. In an intensive day of use, I found myself needing to charge my P9 by the afternoon. Especially whenever I am out and using Waze app for directions. For me it was not a big of a deal since I am a self-confess extremist when it comes to using my phone and Internet over the day and even at night. So I understand the need of charging devices after hours of use. Plus, I have my power banks with me all the time.

I also make use of the power saving battery mode whenever I want to squeeze the potential usage of my P9. The said feature switches the screen resolution to 720p and displaying a simpler layout which evidently saves the battery of Huawei P9.

Others

What I also like to highlight about P9 is its fingerprint sensor. Security is important when traveling because you don�t want things to slip off your way during exploration.

Sensor is located at the back of the unit

P9 sensor is located at the back of the phone and it is unfailingly accurate and fast. It easily detects the registered prints and same goes with blocking those unrecognized prints. I love how easy to unlock my phone in an instant whenever I need to text someone or opening an application. I would say that its response time is much quicker compared to my IPhone 6 sensor. Moreover, I also use the sensor to activate functions such as taking a photos, answering calls and turning off an alarm, which is very convenient. It also recognizes swipes that can be used on browsing photos and web pages.

The Verdict

P9 is perfectly a great smartphone and nice of a deal. I strongly recommend it to travelers and non-travelers. I would say Huawei took a huge leap forward with this latest release. The design is so sleek and ridiculously thin and light but packed with great specs and capabilities.  It is incredibly fast and has the latest security innovation. I can say that Huawei P9 can be a seamless buddy when traveling.

Also, let�s not forget the amazing camera this phone is installed with. Huawei�s partnership with Leica is undeniably a huge factor of P9�s success in terms of its photography side. I enjoyed the bunch of shooting modes this phone has and how I can dig to manual settings to dictate the outcome of my photos. It is a very handy photography tool in a form of mobile device which is a great advantage when you�re traveling. Huawei shows that smartphone photography can be pushed extremely instead on taking small steps.

To wrap this up, if you�re a photo fanatic that is looking for a stable performing device then Huawei P9 deserves a serious consideration. It is now available on local malls and stores. Visit Huawei and experience P9 for yourself.

Okinawa 4-Day Itinerary: Day Four

Read Day 1 here - Cape Manzamo (???), Churaumi Aquarium

Read Day 2 here - Ocean Expo Park, snorkeling in Blue Cave, Sunset Beach

Read Day 3 here - Okinawa World, Gyokusendo Cave (???)

Read Day 4 here - Shuri Castle (???)

View from Shuri Castle

This was my last day in Okinawa. There are two types of passes for the Yui Monorail: 24 hours for 700 yen and 48 hours for 1200 yen. Counting the hours allows you to make full use of it and even travel over two days! I bought the 24 hour pass and we took it to the last stop, Shuri-jo (??? Shuri Castle).

It started raining halfway through our visit there and then back to 30C glaring sun. We got a 100 yen discount for the admission fee because we had the monorail day pass. The castle had a lot of Chinese influences with dragons and gold paint. It�s not particularly large and can be finished in an hour or two.

Shuri Castle

Throne room

Model of Shuri Castle

Shisa faucet inside Shuri Castle

Leaving the castle, we took the monorail to Miebashi station ???? and walked to Kokusai-dori ???? for lunch. We chose a Hokkaido ramen place which was ironic since Hokkaido is at the opposite end of the country from Okinawa. For dessert it was Blue Seal ice cream once more and I tried the beni-imo soft serve.

Hokkaido ramen in Okinawa

I picked up my bag from the hostel and took the monorail to Naha Airport. In this regard, the monorail really was one of the most convenient transport systems I have used getting to and from an airport. The ride to downtown was short and the fare was inexpensive.

Overall it was a great taste of Okinawa and I hope to visit the smaller islands next time because everyone kept saying how those islands had even more beautiful scenery.

Read Day 1 here - Cape Manzamo (???), Churaumi Aquarium

Read Day 2 here - Ocean Expo Park, snorkeling in Blue Cave, Sunset Beach

Read Day 3 here - Okinawa World, Gyokusendo Cave (???)

Read Day 4 here - Shuri Castle (???)

Okinawa 4-Day Itinerary: Day Three

Read Day 1 here - Cape Manzamo (???), Churaumi Aquarium

Read Day 2 here - Ocean Expo Park, snorkeling in Blue Cave, Sunset Beach

Read Day 3 here - Okinawa World, Gyokusendo Cave (???)

Read Day 4 here - Shuri Castle (???)

Gyokusendo Cave at Okinawa World

Behind Kokusai-dori, I found one of my favourite food places of this trip. It was recommended to us by a friend who raved about the spam and egg onigiri she had there. Spam and egg rice sandwich is popular in Okinawa and is similar to the Hawaiian spam musubi. This shop is located across from C and C Breakfast (it�s on Google maps).

C and C Breakfast

Shop across from C and C Breakfast

I got a mentaiko (seasoned cod roe) one and a goya tempura (bitter gourd one). The salted seaweed, warm rice, sizzling spam, fluffy egg wrapped around the extra filling was a delicious experience in every bite. I was afraid the goya would be too bitter but it wasn�t and tempura style made it even better. I thoroughly enjoyed this meal which we brought back to the hostel to eat. There is no sitting area in this small shop so you can only takeaway. It�d be a great option to buy for a road trip before driving out of Naha to other parts of the island.

Mentaiko spam and egg rice sandwich

Goya tempura spam and egg rice sandwich

It started out as another hot and sunny 30 C day but began to rain in the afternoon. We went to look for the Naha bus terminal but it was under renovation and the bus stops were all scattered. When we found the right one, we realized we had just missed the bus and the next one was almost 2 hours later. So we waited around and that was when the rain began.

The bus ride to Okinawa World in Nanjo took an hour and was 580 yen. We alighted in the pouring rain and luckily the admission fare counter sold umbrellas so I bought one there. I bought admission for the Gyokusendo Cave ??? and Okinawa Village because I wasn�t interested in seeing the snake museum.

Inside the Gyokusendo Cave

Mini waterfall inside Gyokusendo Cave

Gyokusendo Cave at 5km long is the second longest cave in Japan. About 850 metres of it is opened to the public with walkways inside. At least inside the cave we were shielded from the rain. It was eerie inside especially since they played eerie music. The rush of water from the rain dribbled along under the metal bridge walkways. Stalagmites growing downwards from the ceiling dripped water and it felt like the cave would engulf us at any moment. In fact, some parts of the railing were overgrown by stalagmites extending downward.

Leaving the cave, we made our way to Eisa Plaza to see a Shisa dance. Shisa is the Okinawan protector and symbol and resembles the Chinese lion I see during Chinese New Year. There were no photos allowed during the performance but it was very entertaining. The dance was high energy with taiko (drums) and chants.

Photo with Shisa dance performers

After the show, we walked around Okinawa village which was mostly shops selling souvenirs. We waited around for the 6:45pm bus while the parking lot emptied out since most people drove. A taxi driver offered to take us back to Naha for 1600 yen so we agreed because it would have been another hour to wait for the bus to depart.

We asked to be dropped off by Kencho-mae monorail station and walked to Masara Izakaya for dinner. I had read good reviews online. The menu is only in Japanese but the chefs behind the bar spoke a little bit of English to explain the menu. My favourite dish was the garlic steak which had strips of fried garlic crunchy as chips. The beef was tender and retained its juiciness.

Garlic steak

Post-dinner we were walking down Kokusai-dori ????when we saw a place selling goya ice cream. We had to try this bitter gourd flavoured ice cream for ourselves and was surprised how well they were able to mix this strange combination. The bitterness was very subtle and its presence was there without being hard to swallow.

Goya ice cream

Read Day 1 here - Cape Manzamo (???), Churaumi Aquarium

Read Day 2 here - Ocean Expo Park, snorkeling in Blue Cave, Sunset Beach

Read Day 3 here - Okinawa World, Gyokusendo Cave (???)

Read Day 4 here - Shuri Castle (???)

Okinawa 4-Day Itinerary: Day Two

Read Day 1 here - Cape Manzamo (???), Churaumi Aquarium

Read Day 2 here - Ocean Expo Park, snorkeling in Blue Cave, Sunset Beach

Read Day 3 here - Okinawa World, Gyokusendo Cave (???)

Read Day 4 here - Shuri Castle (???)

Ocean Expo Park

Churaumi Aquarium

In the morning, we drove back to the Ocean Expo Park to see the free exhibitions that we missed yesterday. There were three sections all outdoors in front of the aquarium including giant sea turtles, manatees and a dolphin show. The dolphin show was energetic and entertaining and we got to see Oki-chan, the dolphin who is the face of the aquarium. While watching the show, you can see the vast ocean behind the tank which made you feel more connected to the sea.

Sea turtle outdoor tank

Sea turtle underground tank view

Manatee feeding time

Oki-chan at the dolphin show

From the aquarium, it was a 15-20 minute drive to the Nago Pineapple Park. The pineapple viewing part is small but the food tasting part is big. We rode in automated pineapple golf carts through a grid of pineapples from all over the world. Then we walked through a large shop (or several connected smaller shops) where we were given tons of samples from pineapple wine to vinegar to juice to cookies to cakes. It was like an assembly line of visitors who walked past the consecutive samples while deciding which items to put in their shopping baskets.

Nago Pineapple Park

Starting the tour

Pineapple golf carts

Automated carts didn't need drivers!

Pineapple course

At the end, we claimed our complimentary scoop of pineapple ice cream that came with the ticket and that was the end of the pineapple park visit. Leaving the park, we drove to Malibu Beach in Onna for our snorkeling lesson with Aru Guide. We had booked the last snorkeling time slot for the day at 3pm.

When we arrived, we signed a waiver and paid then we were directed to the change room to change into swimsuits. They asked for our height, weight and shoe size prior in a phone call. The instructor came back with wetsuits, life jackets, goggles, snorkels and fins for us. After some explanation on how to use the equipment and safety procedures, we hopped into a van and were driven down to the Blue Cave area.

We're ready to snorkel!

The area was very busy with divers, snorkelers and swimmers. The waves were more abundant that day which affected the clarity of the water. There was a sign that said it was unsafe and prohibited visitors to enter the water without an instructor but a lot of people ignored the warning. We went down slippery stone stairs to the water and wore our fins in the water which was a bit of a challenge but it would be difficult and dangerous to walk down the stairs in fins.

The water was warm so the wetsuit acted as a protective layer for your skin against the sharp coral rather than a warming layer. We were told the waves affected the clarity but I was still able to see a lot of colourful fish and coral not far from the shore. There were so many tourists stepping on the coral but the number of fish was still impressive. I can only imagine how beautiful a more protected area would be.

Rainbow fish

Swimming into the Blue Cave it got darker and darker, then we stopped and our instructor told us to turn around. The sky peeking out from the entrance of the cave shone brightly but the neon blue water shone even brighter. We couldn�t linger long here since many other snorkelers and divers were coming into the small cave so we had to circle out. I�d highly recommend doing an underwater activity in Okinawa. This spot close to shore was even more beautiful than when I went snorkeling in Australia and that spot required a dizzying 2 hour boat ride to get to!

Inside the Blue Cave

We returned to the office via the van around 5pm to shower and change. The shower area says no shampoo or soap allowed because I think the water gets flushed back to the ocean. They provided hair dryers as well which was nice.

After expending all that energy, we were hungry so we went to the nearby Onna no Eki (????? rest stop) to eat. I tried an Okinawan dish called taco rice. It was basically salsa, cheese and lettuce on top of white rice. It wasn�t amazing because I had eaten all these components before but the cold tomatoes were quite refreshing in the heat.

Taco Rice

Full and satisfied we drove an hour south to Sunset Beach by American Village. I looked up the time for the sunset which was 7:19pm that day but we just missed it when we got to the beach because there was no glowing sphere in sight although it wasn�t dark yet. Or perhaps it was too cloudy that evening. At night without the glaring sun it felt so comfortable and breezy to walk around.

Sunset Beach

American Village

American Village had a lot of US military walking around because it was near a base. The buildings looked westernized and there was a Starbucks at every corner. It felt very different from Honshu or any other island of Japan. We went back to Naha in the evening and stayed at a hostel by Kokusai-dori.

Pistachio flavoured Blue Seal

I had my first Blue Seal, an Okinawan ice cream chain that was everywhere. It seemed to be a favourite among locals and tourists alike. I had ice cream every day on this trip using the heat as my excuse :)

Read Day 1 here - Cape Manzamo (???), Churaumi Aquarium

Read Day 2 here - Ocean Expo Park, snorkeling in Blue Cave, Sunset Beach

Read Day 3 here - Okinawa World, Gyokusendo Cave (???)

Read Day 4 here - Shuri Castle (???)

Okinawa 4-Day Itinerary: Day One

Read Day 1 here - Cape Manzamo (???), Churaumi Aquarium

Read Day 2 here - Ocean Expo Park, snorkeling in Blue Cave, Sunset Beach

Read Day 3 here - Okinawa World, Gyokusendo Cave (???)

Read Day 4 here - Shuri Castle (???)

It was a goal of mine to visit all five of Japan's main islands in this year since visiting all 47 prefectures was too much. After this Okinawa ?? trip, I have reached my goal and have travelled from Hokkaido ???, Honshu ??, Shikoku ??, Kyushu ?? to Okinawa. My 4 day 3 night trip to Okinawa began at Kansai International Airport.

View from Cape Manzamo

The two hour flight arrived at Naha Airport by 1pm and the humidity hit me as soon as we left the plane. From the main terminal, I took the Yui Monorail to Kencho-mae ??? station then walked down Kokusai-dori (????International Street) to find my hostel. This is one of the busiest streets in Naha with lots of shops, restaurants and tourists.

Yui Monorail

I met up with my friends and we embarked on our road trip. Fortunately I had a friend in Naha ?? who owned a car and I concur with the advice online that renting a car is the best way to travel around on the main island. Buses are infrequent and currently the main bus terminal is under renovation so the bus stops are scattered around which could be confusing for tourists. There is a lot more English in Okinawa than some parts of Japan but not all signs are translated.

Our first stop of the day was to Cape Manzamo ??? which was an hour drive north of Naha. The scenery was gorgeous and the ocean glistened under the glowing sun. The famous sight here was the elephant-shaped rock. There is also a diving spot called Toilet Bowl but I�m not sure how it got its name.

Elephant rock formation at Cape Manzamo

Cape Manzamo

View from Cape Manzamo

Leaving Cape Manzamo, we drove another hour to Churaumi Aquarium ??????. Since it was after 4pm, we could pay the discounted admission fee of 1280 yen instead. The place was fairly small but the large tank was quite impressive. Although I do have to say that the lighting and design of the large tank at Sea World on Gold Coast in Australia was better. At Churaumi, you are able to go to the 4th floor to see the top of the tank which I liked because it gave a small behind the scenes view, especially during feeding time.

View from Churaumi Aquarium

Paying admission to the aquarium

Photo at the entrance

Main attraction at the aquarium

Top of the large tank

The free exhibitions at Ocean Expo Park where Churaumi Aquarium is located was closed by the time we came out at 7pm so we decided to come back the next morning. There are resort hotels and beaches at the park for you to explore but we didn�t stay long enough at the park to see those.

Beni-imo ice cream

For dessert after dinner, I had my first ice cream of the trip. The flavour was beni-imo (??? purple sweet potato) which is a famous food in Okinawa. Their speciality souvenir food item is the beni-imo tart and many products from cheesecake to KitKats are also made with the beni-imo flavour. In the subsequent posts on this trip, I even try goya (?? bitter gourd) ice cream!

Read Day 1 here - Cape Manzamo (???), Churaumi Aquarium

Read Day 2 here - Ocean Expo Park, snorkeling in Blue Cave, Sunset Beach

Read Day 3 here - Okinawa World, Gyokusendo Cave (???)

Read Day 4 here - Shuri Castle (???)