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Japan & China 2017

October 2017
A 19-day adventure by Greg and Cathryn Wignall Read more
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  • Greg and Cathryn WignallJapan & China 2017
    Day 7

    Shimizu

    October 14, 2017 in Japan ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    Our first port of call on this cruise and a short one, all aboard was 1:30pm. It is the port for Shizuoka and only about 44 kilometres from Mt Fuji. Unfortunately it was raining and there was a lot of low cloud so there was probably lots of disappointed people who were hoping to see Mt Fuji today. We missed the sign for the free shuttle bus and headed for the fish market instead. The Shimizu Market was about 1.2 kilometres from where the Volendam was docked. The market wasn't large but the seafood looked extremely fresh. There were stalls selling beautiful looking sushi and quite a few restaurants as well. We also saw the largest muscles ever. By the time we left the market the weather had improved. Our next stop was the S-Pulse Dream Plaza Shopping centre via the Shimazakinishimiya Shrine. We wandered the craft and food stalls for some time and then made our way back to the ship via Uniqlo. When we arrived at the dock a large group of kindergarten children were performing. They were amazing and all controlled by someone blowing a whistle. Back on board it was time for lunch accompanied by a very nice Alaskan Pale Ale (2 for 1 deal). After lunch we went to our first Cruise Critic meeting. We were hoping to meet some of the people we are doing our Beijing tour with but that didn't happen. We sat with a couple from Philadelphia who had been on the ship since Vancouver. Would we go to another, not sure. On our way back to the cabin we met up with a couple from Bundaberg we stood next to at the lifeboat drill. He loved to talk and they have travelled extensively, so it was easy to pass some time with them. After finally making it back to the cabin we changed and did 7 laps around the promenade deck. The Captain's toast was at 7:45pm and then on to dinner. It was gala night so escargot's were on the menu. After dinner we had a quick look at the shops and then headed to the show.Read more

  • Greg and Cathryn WignallJapan & China 2017
    Day 8

    Nojo-jo Castle

    October 15, 2017 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    We left Osaka at 9am on a wet and overcast day for the 1.5 hour drive to Kyoto
    It was Sunday but still plenty of traffic . First stop was at Nojo-jo Castle. Built in 1603, it was shoes off and no photography. The floors were designed to squeak to warn of intruders. It sounded like a flock of birds. Next stop was Heian Jingu Shrine.Read more

  • Greg and Cathryn WignallJapan & China 2017
    Day 8

    Heian Jingu Shrine

    October 15, 2017 in Japan ⋅ 🌧 17 °C

    We walked around (in the rain) a traditional Japanese garden at this shrine. Lunch was next at the Kyoto Hotel Okura. We went to the restaurant on the 17th floor and had a magnificent Japanese lunch with a spectacular view of Kyoto. Sarah and Ann were on the tour as well so we sat with them. After lunch we went to the Kyoto Handicraft Centre. They had lots of high quality items but we only spent 45 minutes there which was nowhere near long enough. We then set off for our last stop Kinkaku (The Golden Pavilion).Read more

  • Greg and Cathryn WignallJapan & China 2017
    Day 9

    Sailing towards Hososhima

    October 16, 2017, Philippine Sea ⋅ 🌬 19 °C

    Had our first sleep in for a week. We had breakfast and then went to the talk on Hososhima and Nagasaki. The presenter became quite emotional when talking about the Peace Park and Ground Zero Museum. Lunch was next, then a talk and demonstration about Kimonos. We stayed for the next presentation on Tai Chi. Time for some exercise so 7 laps around the promenade deck. We had dinner in the Canaletto tonight which was compliments of Cruise About. We had an early booking so we went to the 8pm show, The Fly Rights from London.Read more

  • Greg and Cathryn WignallJapan & China 2017
    Day 10

    Takachiho Gorge and Shrine

    October 17, 2017 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    We left the ship at about 9am for our tour to Takachiho Gorge and Shrine. It was another dull overcast day with a little drizzle. Sarah and Ann joined us again which was great. It was about an hours drive to reach the gorge. Our guide Norry was excellent. He is a TV presenter and commentator as well and gave us lots history and other general information about the area. We stopped for a short break on the way and we bought a Japanese sweet that a lady was cooking. It was about the diameter of a piklet and as thick as two with sweet white bean paste inside. I would describe it as interesting. Next was Takachiho Gorge. We walked down some steep steps into the gorge. Even though the weather wasn't kind it was still spectacular. We walked (slowly)through the gorge for around an hour and then a small shuttle bus took us back to the carpark. It was about a 10 minute drive to the shrine, our next stop. Although small it is very old and surrounded by cedar trees. One tree has two trunks and it is said that if you walk around it three times holding your partners hand you will have a successful relationship. Yes, we gave it a go! On the way back to the ship we stopped again at a small shop. On Norry's recommendation we bought a small bottle of Sake which we managed to sneak back on board. We also bought one of the largest apples I have ever seen for 200 yen. When we arrived back at the ship I purchased some grilled chicken which I took to the Lido for lunch. This was accompanied by the apple (very sweet). After our late lunch we went to the lower promenade to watch the sail away. There were some drummers performing on the pier. I headed back off the ship for some photos. Whilst there I was approached by a school boy to fill out a survey as part of his English studies. Not long after that two school girls approached me to do the same survey. I asked if I could photograph them and you can see the result. I also got a good shot of Sarah, Ann and Cathryn watching from the lower promenade. We were waved off by quite a few people which was great. We are sailing through a two metre swell at the moment and the ship is moving around quite a bitRead more

  • Greg and Cathryn WignallJapan & China 2017
    Day 11

    Nagasaki

    October 18, 2017 in Japan ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    We were up at 7am just in time to see the ship dock. Another dull and damp day. We left the ship at 9am and bought an all day tram pass for 500 yen. After getting some directions from the tourist information desk we caught the tram to the Peace Park. The park was crowded with school children and tour groups from the ship. The park features sculptures and a fountain that depicts butterfly wings. It is all aimed at promoting peace and making sure that nuclear weapons are never used again. Nearby is another park which was the epicentre of the Atomic Bomb. They have re-erected part of the wall of a church that was destroyed in the blast. Next we went to the Atomic Bomb Museum. A very well done and moving display of the destruction and misery that nuclear weapons and war in general inflict on ordinary people. It is hard to believe that out of a population of 240,000 around 73,000 were killed or injured and about 70% were women, children or elderly. We caught the tram back to Nagasaki Station and had lunch at a sushi train restaurant. We were made very welcome with hot towels and trays to put our bags on instead of the floor. Between each setting was a tap dispensing hot water, soy sauce, chopsticks and green tea powder. We really enjoyed our meal and at $12 for two, it was great value. After lunch we wandered around the shops and then caught the tram back to the ship. We had to change trams to go the last 2 stops, but there were so many people waiting we decided to walk. The rain was quite steady at this stage. Back at the cruise terminal we did a survey for the Nagasaki tourist organisations and we were given a gift in return. The sail-away was entertaining again with a school band performing. We gave the show a miss tonight and sat in the Ocean Bar and listened to the trio instead.Read more

  • Greg and Cathryn WignallJapan & China 2017
    Day 12

    Sailing the Yellow Sea

    October 19, 2017, Yellow Sea ⋅ ⛅ 11 °C

    We had a relaxing day at sea today. First up was a talk on Tianjin and Beijing. The five yearly meeting of the communist party will be taking place while we are in Beijing and we may not be able to access Tiananmen Square. We will have to wait and see. Next we went to the new American Test Kitchen which has replaced the Culinary Arts Centre. We enjoyed the presentation on chocolate very much. Chewy chocolate brownies and Chocolate pots de creme were featured. No samples unfortunately. After lunch (twoTiger beers for the price of one and a submarine sighting we went to another cooking presentation on flavours of the Mediterranean. Seven laps around the promenade deck and it was time to get ready for dinner. It was gala night, so we headed up to the Ocean Bar to listen to the trio and a pre-dinner drink. Dinner was excellent. The food has been the best of all our cruises so far. The show tonight was the Volendam singers and dancers performing "Dance". We put our clocks back tonight so an extra hour in bed.Read more

  • Greg and Cathryn WignallJapan & China 2017
    Day 13

    Sailing towards Tianjin

    October 20, 2017, Yellow Sea ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C

    Just a word about our cabin. This is our first time on Dolphin deck, the lowest passenger deck. We are near the forward stairs and also the stairway down to A deck (the gangway when docked). The cabin is very quiet, no noise from above or below. It is also very stable. We think it is bigger than the balcony cabin on the Noordam, the couch is almost twice as big. After breakfast we went to a virtual bridge and engine room tour in the showroom which was presented by the First and Third Officers, very interesting and informative. We visited the Future Cruise Planner Annette and she gave us some prices on cruises in Alaska. After lunch it was off to the movies to see Baby Driver. While we were doing our laps another guest pointed out the blue luminescence in the ships bow wake, apparently due to Algae Bloom. We were contacted by Dolores (the lady organising our overnight excursion to Beijing) and she informed us that she was in quarantine due to a fever. She may not be allowed off the ship, but her husband is still going to go. The ship docks at 8am but it may be 10am before we can disembark. We will have to wait and see.Read more

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