JAPAN

I feel like I am back on vacation – at least I am able to leave my room and walk around a bit. I love Japan! It is so modern, clean and friendly. They love their pets – mainly small dogs – they seem to carry them or roll them in buggies and DRESS them in outfits. Ian figures it’s because they don’t want them to do their business any where as they would have to carry it with them. There are very few trash containers around. We were told to carry our own trash bags and dispose of them when we are back at the ship. Yet there is no trash left around anywhere. Very clean – most washrooms have bidets with heated seats. We were here towards the end of the cherry blossoms – it must have been beautiful when they were in full bloom.

We went to Nagasaki and took in the museum and site of the atomic bomb – very sobering. then to China town.

Tokyo was amazing. We had arranged a private driver/guide to take us around – there were six of us. The ladies went to the most amazing art exhibit (thank you Fri for telling us about this). The exhibit is called Team Labs Planet. They have several Team Labs around Japan and it is a must see! You become one with the art – it touches on all senses from walking in water to smelling flowers and so much more. The photos don’t do it justice but look it up on the internet. The fellows went touring a market and then for some chicken wings. When we got back together we went for lunch in a local ramen bar – delicious! Especially when you haven’t eaten in many days!   Then it was off to the busiest intersection in the world. A crossing of about 1500-3000 people every three minutes. WOW was it busy! The cool thing about the crossing is that it was also the site of Hachiko (Hachi) statute. Hachi – A dog’s tale  is a Richard Gere movie about a dog – great movie and real story. I was in awe how this area has been transformed since the telling of Hachi (which would have been the early 1900s). We also went to the largest Chinatown – we enjoyed dim sum.

In Shimizu we went in search of an art supply store. We found what we thought was the store but we were wrong however the man who was there too, us to the store and opened the persons door (it was definitely closed) and yelled for them to come help us. A very nice elderly woman came to assist and added up my total on an abacus. Cool. We then found a Temple to the god of agriculture and a museum. Both very interesting! We had lunch in a food court at the mall by the ship – best fried rice ever! Great shots of Mt Fuji off the ship as we were leaving.

Yesterday we toured Osaka – went to a Temple and a Castle. I went back to the ship and slept in the afternoon. I woke at 5:45 and Ian was nowhere around so I called him. Turns out they (Ian and our friends Ron and Linda) were enjoying a local Saki bar – apparently best Saki ever! I was a little concerned that they would not get back to the ship on time but they made it with time to spare – albeit a little on the happy side.
We are now beginning a set of four sea days before we arrive in Vietnam.