Turning Japanese

Day 29 - 19 July
Hakodate, Hokkaido, Japan
4.15 and it is light outside, not that it is time to get up yet.  We have an even earlier start than usual (6.45), so breakfast upstairs.  Thankfully it was pretty quiet today.  It goes without saying that we did not start our tour until an hour later than planned -due to .....Immigration.  Say no more, but they did us a favour as the early morning showers turned to rain while we waited and by the time we boarded the bus, the showers had pretty well gone.

Once again a half day city tour with the Morning Markets  (which are huge, but a lot of fish, fruit etc.)  The city emblem is the squid and it was amusing to watch young girls line up in some sort of competition to catch a squid from the tank.  It was then taken to the filetting table to be turned into breakfast - talk about fresh....

After the markets, it was up the aerial ropeway (cablecar) to the top of Mt Hakodate. While the peak was partially cloud covered when we started off, it cleared for some great photos of Hakodate.  At the peak we decided to have an ice cream - expensive at just over NZ 6.50 each for a soft serve.  Enjoyable though. 

Returning to base we did a walking tour for about 45 minutes taking us through the old areas of town.  Interesting, 4 major churches are basically adjoining - Buddhist, Catholic, Episcopalian & Russian Orthodox.  All had been reconstructed as much of the town was destroyed by fire some 100 years ago.  We expressed surprise that all the housing is European, but this is partially explained by the above and the influence from UK, US & Russia on the area at that time.  I must say however that the whole town was decidedly scruffy - but perhaps we were spoilt with China.

Back to the ship by midday and a quick bite at the International Cafe before an afternoon rest - don't like  these early starts.  Still have "the" cough, but soldiering on.  We don't sail until  9.30 tonight,  so open sitting again in the MDR.  Heavy clouds are hovering and I don't think that they'll get the spectacular sunset views from Mt Hakodate that many people are hoping for.

Day 30 - 20 July
Last sea day before Tokyo.  Today is Ash's birthday, so we joined with Margit & Jim and Margie & Ash at a separate table in the MDR.  Just like old times from last year!!  Being the last night of the sector we had the "Bombe Alaska" parade, so Ash had a special night & I had dessert for the first time!  All in all it was a busy day, as we actually had the singers & dancers doing a matinee performance and then Ray's ukulele concert, followed by the Princess Choir. After dinner it was the Kiwi connection - Will Martin & Russel Harrison.  Unfortunately the cough has gone to the chest now.  Darn it! 

Day 31 - 21 July
Yokahama (Tokyo)
Arrived earlish, but nothing to see as it was raining - just a little shower to start, but got really heavy by the time we got off the ship.  As this was our second Japanese port, no immigration so we were away by 8.00.  Our tour today was to see Mt Fuji, but as you can imagine THAT did not happen.  Margit & Jim went with us as well.  We visited the Hakone National Park,  which took us 3 hours to reach due to traffic, rain & it being school holidays.  A very interesting drive and as it turned out, we were lucky as most of those who stayed in Yokahama or went into Tokyo got soaked.  Out in the country there were a couple of showers but mainly it was mist and low cloud.

The National Park is a volcanic mountainous area, but we didn't go anywhere near it because "they" thought it may be dangerous for tourists!   We took a different ropeway up to the top of the mountain and had a good view for about a quarter of the way and then disappeared into cloud.  Japanese mountains are more like large hills to us of course.  It was a quick visit to the summit and back down again straight away.  We had time for shopping - well enough to buy a cup of coffee and then we were off to lunch at a nearby hotel.  Perhaps I should explain that the whole area is a tourist mecca, mainly for Japanese and many hotels, apartments etc. are owned by major corporates and offered to their staff for holidays.

Back to lunch - a magnificent hotel with views over the adjoining golf course (& presumably Mt Fuji in good weather ).  The dining room was magnificent and the food and service superb.  The best so far.  After lunch, when the bus left, the whole of the staff, from Chef to waiters & management lined up outside to wave us goodbye. I could almost imagine them crying as a symbol of missing us so much!

Back down to the crater lake and we had a boat ride along the lake, which was good until the mist descended to water level.  The ships were replica Pirate ships,  complete with resident pirate - yes, apart from us, was full of Japanese families.  After that it was another couple of hours back to the ship.  As luck would have it, the weather started to clear once everyone was on board, but that's the way it goes - we've had great weather at all our other ports.

We were scheduled sail at 8.00, but of course had to once again go through the safety lecture at 7.15 first.  Our dinner time was shifted back to 8.00 and obviously many decided to brave the Horizon.  Margit & Jim joined us later and said that they had tried upstairs, but the crowd was just too much for them.  A week at sea ahead of us and I won't comment any more on my health other than to say that the ship's cough is rife at present and I imagine that those who got soaked today are likely to join us.

Squid fishing Hakodate
Mt Hakodate from the shore
View from Mt Hakodate
Old British embassy

Mt Fuji
Mt Fuji as it was!
Shopping at Hakone
Main course
Staff farewell
Lake Hakone
Yokahama port terminal (x2)