Day 68 - Kobe, Japan

Day 68 – Wednesday 19^th March 2014 – Kobe, Japan

Welcome to Kobe

We were alongside at 08.00 and had the local fire bridge band playing and a bunch of funny people welcoming us to Kobe.

After breakfast in the Britannia Restaurant we were at shore at 09.30 and onto the shuttle bus to the China town area, near to the city centre.

Not too far away was the Motomachi Railway Station, where we got the underground train to the main station at Sannomiya. Here we changed trains for the express to Nara, a journey or ninety minutes.

This was not the bullet train,but still a fast service in a very comfortable carriage, where there are  very informative signs and audio messages in English of where the train is, and the next stop.  The journey took is through the sprawling metropolis of Kobe and the adjacent city of Osaka, which are both hemmed in by the mountains.  On the outskirts of Osaka, we commenced climbing the mountain with fantastic views over the cities, through a tunnel and on the other side. For the first time after an hour’s journey, we were passing fields in amongst the buildings.

Yoshikien Garden

Isuien Garden

Colin had been to Nara twenty years previously, and had told be about the city, which once was the ancient capital of Japan before Tokyo and Kyoto.  At the station, the very helpful tourist information office gave us a map and the route we should take in the time available, we were on our way.

  

The first stop was the Yosikien, a beautiful landscaped garden, where there is no grass but they cultivate and look after the moss, you are requested to stay on the stepping stones to protect the moss.  Next door in the Isusien Garden another wonderful place with ponds, stepping stones, watermill and tea houses.

Tea House

Taking tea and saki

                   

We then moved onto the Todaiji Temple and what a magnificent building.

Todaiji Temple

Todaiji Temple was built in the Nara period (710 – 794 AD) and is famous for the massive Vairocana statue housed inside, known as Daibutsu (Great Buddha).  Founded in the 8^th century, the Daibutsuden Hall which houses the statute was burned down twice in fires that broke out, as a result of war. The present structure, which was rebuilt in 1709, was scaled down to two-thirds of the original size.  Nevertheless, it is the largest wooden structure in the world.  Height 57 metres; length 50 metres; width 57 metres.

Diabutsu

Great Buddha

The Great Buddha with height of body 15 metre, length of head 5.5 metres, length of eye, 1 metre, length of ear 2.5 metres is enormous and its sheer size takes your breath away, as you walk into the building.

Warrior

Warrior

  On other side are other great wooden statutes of warriors looking after and guarding the Great Buddha.

  

The whole wooden building is awe inspiring and a monumental achievement to the Buddha.

Deer

Alex and Bambi

Surrounding the temple is park land, where approx. 1200 wild deer roam around freely and they are so tame, you can make friends with them. 

Legends has it in the 8^th century, the dominant Fujiwaras, a dominant aristocrat clan invited god to come to Nara, and is said, to have come riding on a white deer,  since then, deer have been respected and protected as divine messengers by local people.  

South Gate

 

                                                                                

We left the park via the Great South Gate which is the largest temple entrance gate in Japan, suitable in scale to the great Buddha Hall.

Kasunga Taisha Temple

   

Lanterns

We walked for another kilometre to the Kasunga Taisha Shrine, where both paths to this shrine are lined with approx. 2000 stone lanterns, and the eaves of the shrine itself are decorated with around a thousand hanging bronze lanterns.

Pagoda

On the way back to the city centre we passed this five storey pagoda in the Kofukuji Temple, yet another world heritage site.  As time was pressing and how many temples to do you want to see in one day, we headed back to the station for our train journey back to Kobe.

Motomachi

I had been to Kobe before and an old stamping ground was around the Motormachi, it was 20.00 and most of the shops were closing and people on their way home.

A side street round the back used to be where all of the bars/restaurants were, but a lot had since gone but we found a one called Quarto and this was an excellent choice.  We sat down to refreshing beers and the famous Kobe steak, these steaks are totally different in taste and texture and do not cost a lot of money.   When we left all of the staff came out of the kitchen and too much bowing, smiles and goodbyes, we merrily went on our way.

Now being seasoned train travellers, it was back on the train to the main station and jump on the portliner, a monorail system, a driverless train running out to airport passing the ship at the passenger terminal, and we were back on board for 22.30.

We sailed at 23.30 and once more there were crowds cheering and sending us on our way, only the Japanese can do this; and it great to see.

It had been a different, wonderful outing, mixing with the people and thoroughly enjoying the experience, a great day out.

Day 67 - At Sea

Day 67 – Tuesday 18^th March 2014 – At Sea

A good work out in the gym and the joys of the sauna help to blow away the cobwebs and set you up for a quiet day at sea.

Choir practice at 13.00; numbers have been depleted with those leaving in Yokohama and insufficient new members have joined, so Tommi may find this one a struggle.

The weather has changed outside, with overcast skies and the wind on the nose, the ship is going along at 10/11 knots and not many people to be seen.

It is a formal night when the world voyagers are invited to the Captain’s cocktail party to meet the Senior Officers.  The displays in the Queen’s Ballroom of the Sydney Bridge, Chinese Junks, ice sculptures, all of which are surrounded by food and this time with a sushi bar on the go, are all a credit to the catering department.

We have got the hang of these gatherings; it is a chat with as many people as possible and two glasses of champagne before it is all over, then down to the Café Carinthia for a real gin and tonic before dinner.

Dinner consisted of snails/salad/snapper/ice cream, all very nice and back into the garlic snails.

In the theatre, a big Maori tenor, Ben Makisi, who was very good and stuck to the opera songs, while those we have seen before try to do the pop as well, which everyone wants to do now.

Finished off in the Golden Lion for the trivia wipe out quiz, and we were the winners again.  When you win you get points, and when you get points, you get prizes.  Laura reckons the prize could be a dishwasher, which maybe a box of marigolds.

Day 66 - Yokohama

Day 66 – Monday 17^th March 2014 – Yokohama

After breakfast in the Britannia Restaurant, we were ashore for 10.00, given guidance and maps from the tourist office in the passenger building.

The next hour and a half was spent going between the Post Office and Banks, trying to extract Japanese Yen from the cash machines; eventually this was achieved and I now know how the system works.

Yokohama Port

   

Yokohama Bridge

Not too far away is the Marine Tower built in 1961 and 106 metres high.  With it being a fine sunny day; the views from the observation platform were spectacular.  The views over the port and city skyline, and onwards to Tokyo, situated 18 miles away. 

The suspension bridge from our advantage point; it was unbelievable the ship got underneath it.

Motomachi

From up here, I was trying to work out the parts of Yokohama, I had been to before.  Of course, after forty years the skyline had changed, and there is now a six lane built up highway, passing through the district I used to know.

 After leaving the tower, we went to the Motomachi, (shopping area), which I used to know and I was really disappointed.  All of the shop fronts had been Westernised, the side streets where the bar/restaurants used to be had mostly gone, but some people call this progress.

We now resorted to Plan B, as Colin had been in Tokyo twenty years ago and travelled a lot by train. We went into the nearby Isikawacho Station and purchased return tickets to Tokyo, an overland journey of three quarters of an hour.  Of course, this city is one of the most populace cities in the world, with the hustle and bustle it creates, exhilarating.

Main Street, Ginza

Ginza

       

Not far from the station is the area known as Ginza which is the main shopping area, with all of the big name brands here and surrounded by office blocks. 

We were shopping for beer and could not believe most of the places we went into were closed, and did not open until 5 or 6 o’ clock.  Eventually, we found a basement bar and had an expensive cooling beer.

This is not our idea of having fun, a city with no beer, and decided to head back to Yokohama.

Tokyo, Main Railway Station

  

Kanni Station

I was very impressed with the local train services which run very frequently, they are clean with explanations in English by signs and voice.  We left the train at Kanni station and walked back to the ship through the Shinko area. 

This is a very modern area with earthquake proof high rise buildings.

Nippon Maru

In amongst these structures is the sailing training fully rigged sail training vessel ‘Nippon Maru’, very well preserved and floating in a dock, and beyond there was a very large fair ground.  With its ferris wheel and big dippers.  Towards the ship, the old warehouses have been converted into shops and restaurants; people were around in there thousands.

They all must like their evening strolls and with the fine weather and the attraction of the big ship, they were all here to take in the scene and enjoy themselves.

We ambled or found our way through this enormous crowd back to the ship for 19.30 and into dinner for 20.30 of soup/salad/veal/cheesecake.

The ship’s staff have been very busy with 700 passengers leaving today, so a fond farewell, to our Australian friends, to be replaced by just as many, with mixture of Japanese and Europeans.

The excitement of the build up to us leaving was very evident on the passenger terminal, and surrounding quays, they were crammed in everywhere.  We had to hold back until low water before leaving the quay to a crescendo of noise from the hundreds of people at the terminal and on the quay.  Flags and stick lights waving, shouts of sayounara (goodbye) from the quay and the ship, an absolute wonderful send off and not forgetting this is eleven o’clock at night.

Under the Bridge

The ship was lined up and we passed under the bridge at 23.30 with two metres clearance from the top of the funnel to the underneath of the bridge. There were people on the bridge and on the ship whopping and a hollering as we passed under.  A wonderful piece of seamanship.

What a day, it had been absolutely marvellous.

Day 65 - At Sea

Day 65 – Sunday 16^th March 2014 – At Sea

Today is another special day for the Sound Waves Choir; the practice went very well at 13.00 with Tommi the choirmaster in his full penguin suit, while we were asked to turn up in brightly coloured clothing.

Tommi & Sound Waves Choir

This 14.00 performance was held in Queen’s Room Ballroom with a full audience seated and standing around in the surrounding areas.

Our repertoire began with ‘Razzle Dazzle’ from the musical Chicago, followed by the one we had been having problems with ‘Impossible Dream’.  Then ‘Jerusalem’; followed by unaccompanied, without Shane on the piano, ‘Drunken Sailor’.

We had just learned an hour before; Tommi called it a canon (a round to you and me) of ‘Swing Low Sweet Chariot’; ‘Saints Go Marching In’ and ‘I Wanna Sing’ and finished off with ‘The Rose/Moon River’.  The choir received a good ovation at the end of each song, and on completion a standing ovation, but we did not do an encore.

Grand Staircase

Onto to the Grand staircase for the photo shoot and to those around, repeated two songs, Razzle Dazzle and the canon medley.  All done; up to the Commodore Club; to celebrate after all the hard work of actually putting on the performance.

I was in the Yacht Club for 16.00 for a talk on Japanese etiquette and useful phrases, as I had missed the first lesson due to the fashion show, I was at a bit of a loss.

An evening of gin and tonics in the Café Carinthia before dinner of soup/salad/lamb chops/lime cake.  By this time we had picked up the pilot and were making our way up Tokyo Bay.

It was critical the ship went under the Yokohama Bridge at low water which was at 23.15 and by midnight we were alongside the passenger terminal.

Day 64 - Kagoshima, Japan

Day 64 – Saturday 15^th March 2014 – Kagoshima

When we awoke the ship was alongside in Japan and in the Britannia Restaurant for 08.45 for breakfast. 

Immigration was done on the ship by a lot of Japanese officials, finger prints and photo identification taken and through the whole process within ten minutes.

Kagoshima

  

Mount Sakurajima

Kagoshima is situated on the southern tip of the Island of Kyushu and home to the tempestuous volcano Mount Sakurajima.

The city rests in the shadow of the island, its horizon dominated by the volcano, which regularly grumbles and belches out smoke and ash, as though reminding people of its existence, the volcano’s last real eruption was in 1914.

We were ashore for 10.45 and onto the shuttle bus which took us into the centre of town, a thirty minute journey.

It took us another hour wandering around taking in the sights and sounds of the city.  With its many modes of transport and quite of a lot of the population wearing face and nose masks, either they have a cold or are trying to prevent one.

Temple

Trying to find our way by the public transport proved a little difficult to our intended destination of the Senganen Gardens. One of the local helpers for Cunard spotted us at the bus stop, and informed us we were at the wrong one, while the correct one was on the other side of the road.  He advised in the time allowed ashore, it was better to stay in the centre of the city, and he directed us to a park not too far away.

In this wonderful quiet place we found the Terukuni Shrine, a small working temple; also in the park were statutes to the many noblemen who ruled here in the 1800’s.

Raku Raku Tei

  In our adventures we had not spotted any bars, although there were many cafes and restaurants. On leaving the park we were invited into the Raku Raku Tei bar/restaurant by the owner, as we were parched, we accepted his invitation; the quenching beer was just what we needed.

Likely Lads & Owner

I left Colin here for an hour, while I trudged up the steep cliff steps behind the bar, to an observation area to take photographs of the city.  When I arrived, exhausted at the top, there was a car park with two tour buses from the ship, but I had the last laugh, as I was going back to the bar.

Here the owner was on hand with beer and his staff cooked in front of us a magnificent lunch.  It was all very friendly and enjoyable but all too short, as we had to make our back to the shuttle bus.

Cherry Blossom & Carp

On the way, we passed this idyllic spot with ponds which had brightly coloured carp in, with overhanging cherry trees in blossom.  Somehow, I could not imagine this scene at home (fish would be in the pan, and blossom blown away).

Back at the quayside, it was party time, there were local people everywhere looking at the big ship and enjoying the entertainment.

 

   

Girls in their national dress were mingling with everyone and having lots of pictures taken.

Drum Band

The drumming band were a sensation, all young ones bashing away keeping up a pulsating rhythm while at the same time, it was telling a story.

There was a lot of bowing and thank you’s (arigoto), as we boarded the ship, and the final performance before sailing away were the stars of the show.

Little Cherries

 A school swing band based on the American Glen Miller Orchestra called ‘Little Cherries’, these were absolutely great, they had everyone on the quay and those watching from the ship, clapping and swinging along.

They were playing as we left the quayside, with all the others waving us off, a wonderful farewell.

There were orange flags in abundance waving as the ship’s whistle sounded three long blasts (sailor’s farewell) all very emotional and great to be part of it.  The orange flags are a symbol for the area, when Shogun Satsuma family ruled in the 1800’s, hence the orange colour.

The evening in the Café Carinthia was very enjoyable with our rum and coke, before going into dinner of soup/salad/crab and crayfish ravioli.  I had to forgo the pudding again, as I was full up.

Up on deck a clear night and I managed to pick out the Pole Star and delighted by a very bright shooting star.

Day 63 - At Sea

Day 63 – Friday 14^th March 2014 – At Sea

All polished this morning and congregated in the shop, the twenty of us, who are going to be models for the Queen Elizabeth fashion show, of which three of us are men.  We were not given much of an idea as to what we had to do, before being escorted down to the Queen’s ballroom.

The Jacket and Tie

We were lined up outside and given a position in which we were to parade, I was number three in line.  My little outfit was a $200 black and white stripped jacket with a black tie from the shop.

You had to walk to the end of the ballroom, when an escort (lady) linked up and made your way back to the entrance.  When all twenty had been through this, we all paraded again following the first to go out, who must have been into this, and we done another two circuits of the ballroom.

Sue, Alex, Rita

Then it was the photo shoot, and the so-called show was a bit of a laugh, and nobody tripped up, or made a fool of themselves, I think we all enjoyed the experience, but I do not think I will be putting it on my CV.

To calm down, after taking the clothes back to the shop, a few of us went to the Golden Lion for a rum and coke, before going to the theatre for the lecture.

This was given by the politician Lord Michael Howard about ‘The world in 2014 – Challenges and Opportunities’.

The best part was the questions and answers session, in which, he gave his own honest opinion and this was appreciated by the audience.

Our final choir practice, and it looks for our first performance in two days’ time, we will only be doing five songs, which is achievable.

With the mornings’ activities, the gym, sauna session was done in the afternoon, it was quiet in there at first, then began to fill up very quickly, so I definitely prefer the morning for the exercises.

There are not many people on deck as the wind has strengthened from the north and it is becoming decidedly colder.

We had a go at today’s cocktail Tropical Itch, vodka, spiced rum, maraschino liqueur and mango puree, but may give it miss next time.

After dinner, went off to bed and arrive in Japan in the morning.

Day 62 - At sea

Day 62 – Thursday 13^th March 2014 – At Sea

A very restless night has the bug has taken hold, the weather has calmed a little and the decks are open, so can enjoy the sea breezes.

The choir practice was an improvement on yesterday, and just maybe we can hold this thing together, though we appear to be running out of time, for our first concert in three days.

The rest of the afternoon was spent on deck, taking in the fresh air, before going to the shop, to pick up my gear for tomorrow’s fashion show.

We did not fancy today’s cocktail of Strawberry Daiquiri but had an old favourite of dark rum and coke.

Dinner was Thai fish cakes/salad/pork/soufflé and very nice.

Missed out on the theatre and went for a walk around the open Deck 3 before having an Ovaltine and Beechams powder, then bed.