From Yokohama through the Kanmon Passage to Beppu.

Third Cruise from Yokohama - 8th July 2014.
Because of a typhoon hitting the south of Japan we couldn't take the intended course to the south to Kobe where we were to spend two nights, so we could enjoy the delights of cruising the Inside Sea of Japan the next day. Instead we were compelled to cruise to the north, around the largest island of Japan - Honshu - and down the western coast to the Kanmon Passage, a narrow strait separating Honshu from Kyushu. This diversion, of three sea days, meant we would completely miss out the city of Kobe and the sight seeing cruise. For this we were recompensed to the tune of $100. each - better than naught!
The passage through the strait was quite interesting and reminiscent of going through the canals. The traffic was quite incredible and the shore lines full of heavy industry - this was really the only time we encountered heavy air pollution.
Not only was this a major shipping channel from Sth. Korea shortcutting the route to Osaka and Tokyo but also accessed the Inland Sea - but from the wrong side for us, and a day late. Never mind - on this - the third cruise - I had determined we would relax a little more, still living in hope of blue skies and swims, even if it was just in the ships pools. Having missed a port we hadn't visited yet we were about to revisit two others.
We arrived at Beppu on the north-eastern coast of Kyushu. This is a city of 122.000 which boasts visitor numbers of 12million per year. The main attractions are the numerous hot pools and bathing resorts. As a consequence the town view was dotted with columns of steam rising slowly to the sky.
We joined our bus for a half day tour to the boiling hells!!! The main pool was coloured red from the minerals therein - hence the name thought to resemble hell. It certainly was a hell of a hot!! I bathed my feet in a foot bath said to rejuvenate. It certainly was soothing. We visited a second pool - this one brilliant blue - the influence of copper in the surrounding rocks.
Next visit was to a mountain. Here the local monkey population had been causing a nuisance by stealing the food crops. The locals decided to feed them. It worked. But now the monkeys are somewhat dependant on the daily feeding - well every half hour actually. There are three groups of monkeys but as the late summer natural foods are plentiful one group decided not to come down so the occupying group had a feast!! When the feed buckets came out it was like a plague of rats!!! All running and screeching with babies hanging on to wherever they could get a grip even if it was up mum's rear!! Although these monkeys are wild, I think the regular and over feeding has probably caused a population boom. Monkeys I saw in the Tokyo Zoo much later looked heaps more healthy, but they're always so cute. Of course this is now a huge tourist attraction. The fact that the mountain is beside a busy motorway is not  problem - build a car park out into the sea and make a huge walkway over the motorway, complete with elevators for those not so able!! Nothing is a problem when you have a large population and amazing technology and know how - roads, bridges, tunnels, cable cars.
I will add some photos later as, being home now, the big PC is much easier to use BUT the photos are on the laptop!!OOOps.

Busan and Nagasaki - second time 'round.

Busan – Sth Korea (14/7) and Nagasaki (15/7) – second time ‘round.

Well there’s not much to say about Busan but the shopping if good. This time we had a BBQ lunch. Another fascinating experience – very tasty pork belly and no hot sauce this time. Hoppy wants a gas ring in the middle of our dining table!!

Hoppy fulfilled his ambition to buy a Samsung Galaxy 4S. It was comforting to see all the ship’s crew there too. Hop was assured it was not locked but “open”; would work; was in English; but to date, even after a few emails to William and some bothering of hotel reception staff no joy! We live in hope; he thought the US$330 was worth the risk.

We had also hoped to visit the Marine Museum on the pier side but it was closed on Mondays. Don’t particularly like museums but there was a walk through tunnel with fish swimming all around – that’s fun.

Nagasaki provided some brief fun – we walked a km or so in the pouring rain to get the tram. It wasn’t so much fun at the War Museum. In fact Hoppy spent maybe 1 ½ hours there. I couldn’t take it so found a comfortable seat while he scrutinised all the details of the bomb that was dropped here in 1945, including a replica bomb. I must say all very well done but how gruesome, devastating. It wasn’t the first intended target actually, but as the prime target wasn’t visible this poor unfortunate populace copped the drop. “Fat boy” exploded 500 metres above the ground.

One positive feature was the time line recording all the wars in the hope that there will be no more.

We went down into the epicentre. All the neighbouring areas have been rebuilt  and we wandered around the residential area. There is a massive Peace Park there too, with huge statues donated by various nations. The focal point is a huge statue of a man with one hand pointing at the sky to remind you to be watchful because the enemy can come, unexpected, from there, and the other in a meditation pose on his knee praying for peace in the world.

Kyoto.and lots of cute little cars for William!!!

Last day in Kyoto.

 

24^th July 2014.

I was woken by drumming albeit distant. Oh yes - the parade – how could I forget Gion Matasuri? This festival was first held in 869AD to give thanks for the deliverance from a plague which had ravaged the region. It also marks the beginning of summer after the rainy season. Now the present temperatures of up to 35C will go between 35C and 40C. and accompanied by high humidity.

I thought we were very fortunate to strike a parade. Our guide for yesterday afternoon tour had told us all about it and suggested we walk two blocks along, two blocks the left then down one of the side streets to see the construction of the floats. Ten were expected – each towed by 40 people. Apparently it would be a good time to see them in the cool of the evening. How lucky were we? The floats are kept in storage when not in use and then ceremoniously taken out to be reconstructed each year. They are totally held together by string and are about 6 metres high and on four huge wheels about 1 ½ metres high. I imagined I wold see dragons and things but no – just the carriage. But the people!!!

The police were on every corner directed the crowds, yelling loudly and waving red light batons. We saw a great gateway of bright white lanterns shining up a street and followed the crowd. I don’t know how the Japanese do it but they just seemed to flow, in a liquid form, around me, but I couldn’t see the opening to move forward. Just before the wagon were school children seated and singing; a stall selling stuff and giving out samples of sake. I later asked Hop what it was liked but he said the sample was too small to tell. Maybe they knew he wasn’t going to buy any. When we finally arrived at the wagon all we could see were some ladies climbing up a staircase erected inside a tent that covered the entire construction. Lots of ladies were wearing kimonos as per the tradition. I noticed the huge wheels having ladles of water poured over them. The main part of the huge “thing” was red and gold but covered with clear plastic curtains. There were lots of young and not so young men around wearing black and white outfits – jackets and straight legged pants – the “pullers” of the wagon. All was very exciting – well they were all excited. The whole populace turns out for this apparently. Even Mums with little babies sleeping, oblivious to the noise, in front carriers. There was actually no crush – a funny thing as I recall now. All I know is that they moved to no space and overtook me easily, without touching any one.

We had intended getting up for the parade BUT…when the drum woke me at 7.40 I tried to ignore it. It thumped out again several times. The parade was due to start at 9 am. Hoppy did stir but shame to wake him. Suddenly it was 10 o’clock!!! Time for the cuppa. We had to check out at 11. For once I wasn’t organised, in fact Hoppy had packed before me – well I was impressed til I found some of his gear still in the wardrobe. He wasn’t impressed – didn’t have any room left in his little case. We had travelled light for these three days. Reception rang at 11.15 to see if we were checking out.

I was less impressed later when I realised I couldn’t find my kindle anywhere. If it’s not in my little bag I’ve left it on the shinkasen –what a disaster.

Yes maybe we should have got up earlier to see the parade but the thought of that crowd again!!! There was every possibility we wouldn’t be able to see a darn thing. Anyway later on, as we walked the streets waiting for our 5.35 pm pick-up, we happened upon the dismantling process. Interesting.

Pics from Tokyo Zoo - the brown bear is huge - actually kills one person a year in the North!!!

Tokyo Zoo

 

21^st July 2014

I know I haven’t finished the ports yet but Hop has left the info back at Tokyo and we are now at Kyoto!! I will do it ------------eventually.

Decided to go to the Tokyo Zoo today. We’ve got quite proficient (well we think so) in using the trains. It’s not too bad but we haven’t strayed from the Yamamoto line as yet.  We have had to change lines once!! And succeeded!! There are trains, buses, the Metro (underground), there are 15 lines or so, streetcars and private lines…and then some. We purchased a Patchmo card which allows us to use any line and we are thankful everytime we go through a gate and it “beeps”. We have had to recharge it once but hopefully it will see us out. Hoppy lead me through the wrong gate at first and it wouldn’t let me out. I pushed through the gate to be confronted by a local insisted I “go back” What could I do. I then realised we could go through an office and the girl reversed our wrong charge. Apparently you are supposed to just stand there with your hand in the air and wait for an “official” to help you.

We got off at Ueno Station. I think Hop didn’t believe that that was the right stop but I had listened to the guide yesterday and gleaned as much. Actually I really remembered because it sounded like Reno!! It’s the first day of the summer school, holidays so the place was crowded – like everything in a city of 30million!!

The Zoo was great value as seniors we even got in for ½ price!! It’s always worth a try. The animals looked in great condition although some of the areas were a bit bland and lacking greenery. Especially interesting were the giant pandas. They looked just like you would expect and we were able to watch them for some time.  In our four hours we covered only half the zoo but it was well worthwhile, well set out, and you could actually see all the animals/birds etc.

Again we spent some time looking at monkeys – they were in better condition than the ones we saw in Beppu in the wild (soz – I know I haven’t done that yet) It’s never a quick look with Hoppymoto on photo patrol. He has more patience than I have and he does get some great shots.

Yokohama Mark 2 - the people are so friendly - some one insisted he take our photo. Must say "hello, hello, hello hello" - the only word they know.