Midori Traveler's Notebook - Star Edition in Camel

Photograph - Eclectic Psyche

CAMEL COLOUR!    Limited Edition.

The new camel coloured Midori Traveler’s Notebook seemed too interesting to pass up.

The camel colour 5th year edition notebook is a Midori Traveler's limited release only.  Luckily for me though, a very thoughtful stationery seller put one aside for me when their stock of the Midori Traveler’s Star Edition Notebooks first arrived in store.  (Not for free! They just reserved one for me as they knew I would want to purchase one.) 

What is it?

Photograph - Eclectic Psyche

The Star Edition is Midori’s passport size limited edition to celebrate the 5 year anniversary of the passport size Midori Traveler’s Notebook. The camel colour continues the theme set by the previous limited edition release for the full size Midori. The Star Edition is launched in collaboration with the "Star" Ferry Company, Limited in Hong Kong.  The Star Ferry runs between Kowloon and Hong Kong island at Victoria Harbour.  Its a traditionally classic ferry trip in Hong Kong that every traveller must experience at least once when visiting Hong Kong.  Since Hong Kong is one of my favourite destinations, I was intrigued with the Midori tribute to the Star Ferry (and HK). 

Photograph - Eclectic Psyche

The Midori Star Edition Notebook comes with one free ride coupon as a reminder to every traveller that the Star Ferry is an iconic part of Hong Kong.  The notebook refill also includes a number of maps and various history details of Hong Kong island as a unique memento. All in all, a limited edition with some unique features pertaining to the Star Ferry and Hong Kong. 

When I completed the purchase for the Midori Star edition, I also bought a few other stationery items that helped make the parcel more worthwhile, in a dollar sense.  

Photograph - Eclectic Psyche

I requested the parcel be sent EMS and it was posted the very day I paid for it!  I received it in less than a week from the day I made payment.  You can’t ask for more than that - all the way from Japan.  Very professional and quick for an international service.

Photograph - Eclectic Psyche

The parcel consisting of the Midori Traveler's Notebook and numerous additional stationery items was extremely well package in a fully sealed and padded box.  All items inside the parcel were also bubble wrapped and carefully arranged to ensure maximum protection in transit.   In all my years of buying from overseas I’ve never received a parcel as well packaged as those from Japan.  Professional Japanese packaging is a work of art. 

Inside the package was also a small "thank you" gift - a Spotliner highlighter pen in dual colours.  A very thoughtful, useful and appreciated gesture.  

What's it like?

Anyway, so what is the new Midori Traveler’s Notebook like?  Well, the passport size Midori Star Edition comes in the usual Midori packaging – wrapped in a protective material bag and inside a sealed cardboard box   Once out of the packaging the camel colour is a pleasant surprise, it is far better in person than it appears in the online photographs. 

Photograph - Eclectic Psyche

The leather is also soft, yet firm and has a wonderful texture to it.  It’s a delightful little leather notebook from Midori.  It complements the full size Midori Traveler’s Notebook.  On the back of the leather Midori has carved the inscription denoting the notebook as the 5 Year Anniversary - Limited Edition Notebook.  The notebook comes with a choice of two elastic bands - one green and one brown.  The green band (symbolic of the Star Ferry) is fitted as standard and offers a good contrast to the camel colour of the leather.  However if you don't like the green band its a simple task to swap it over for the spare brown band provided.

Photograph - Eclectic Psyche

The Star Ferry memorabilia included with the notebook are cute but nothing outstanding.  There are other items you can purchase as additional items issued for the limited edition release but I didn't feel I would use them and for the money I preferred to buy additional inserts and various notebooks. 

Photograph - Eclectic Psyche

The whole Traveler's Notebook concept from Midori is unique:- the feelable soft camel coloured leather Midori Traveler’s Passport Notebook, the carefully crafted passport size inserts, the high quality paper of the notebooks, the memorabilia commemorating the Star Ferry and the overall professional construction and design make this an item of beauty, collectability and practical functionality. 









The Verdict?

The Midori Star Edition Passport is a wonderful notebook that will be treasured and well used every day in conjunction with the full size Midori Traveler’s Notebook.  It is perfect for a pocket notebook, although it is much more than a notebook.  The next time I visit Hong Kong I will be proudly carrying my Star Edition Midori Traveler's Notebook, in the very distinctive camel leather! 

On a personal level, what you use the Midori Star Edition for is essentially up to your own imagination.  Daily diary, personal planner, field notes, mini journal, travel records or travel memento collections - the list is endless.  Half the fun is finding a unique or personal use for this clever little companion. 

All I know is that the limited edition, 5th anniversary camel Midori Traveler's Notebook is now a very prized possession.   

Photograph - Eclectic Psyche

If you have a Midori Traveler's or are about to buy one and you want some great ideas on how to create the perfect system for your Midori Traveler's Notebook- far more advanced and detailed than my humble suggestions - then check out Patrick Ng's website as he has a lot of innovative ideas. 

http://scription.typepad.com/blog/2011/11/scriptions-perfect-system-2011-2012.html 

Otherwise flickr has a Midori site with lots of photographic examples of how people use their personal Midori Notebook.  Well worth a browse.

http://www.flickr.com/groups/travelernotebook/pool/. 


Please Note: I have no affiliation with any supplier or group directly or indirectly mentioned in my post.  I am only an avid writer and journal enthusiast.