The trip begins….
March 12, 2024 in England ⋅ ☁️ 5 °C
Already broken the golden rule: Take half of the clothes you were planning to bring and twice the money……
All set for our trip down to Heathrow T5
Heathrow T5
March 12, 2024 in England ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C
Terminal 5…… Gordon Ramsey, ‘plane food’ Mike full English, Linda eggs Benedict (?Karen the same ) , Andrew Porridge!
Arriving Haneda Japan 🇯🇵
March 13, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 8 °C
Really pleasant overnight flight, comfy seat, sufficient leg room . Helped no doubt by a large gin n tonic.. Looking forward to the fun ahead.
Mutekyia restaurant
March 13, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ⛅ 9 °C
Decided to go for a Ramen….. restaurant has been open for 60 years…..picked the standard dish with side of 🥟. Really rich pork based broth. Washed down with a cool Asahi beer.
Tokyo walking tour
March 14, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C
Fast paced 5 hour tour with Patrick - French. / Canadian living in Tokyo. Lots of sights to see, great to get a locals perspective. Lunch at Asadori, traditional rice kettle lunch ( AW tuna to beRead more
Nizu Shrine
March 14, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C
Popped in a taxi to save our legs, black cab, automatic rear door ( do not touch!!) …. Only 1000 yen well worth it. Peacefully shrine, no tourists ,
Mount Fuji
March 15, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 9 °C
Lovely sunny day, clear view of Mount Fuji. Spotless coach.! Prompt noodle based lunch.
Owakudani
March 15, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 12 °C
Cable car trip ( Hakone gondola) to the top, sulphurous ambience; steam and sulphur pong.A bit windy suppose we were halfway up a mountain.Nobody fancied the black eggs cooked in sulphur. Followed byRead more
Yokohama
March 16, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C
Transfer to the ship, Yokohama is an attractive looking port. Our arrival / boarding procedure was very swift. Celebrity Millennium is 20 years old, had a major facelift 5 years ago, overall prettyRead more
Shimizu
March 17, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 13 °C
Trip by local train to the woodblock museum then 25min walk, lovely display of prints. Mike and Karen bought a book to collect stamps at each temple they visited. Tried some fried black fish from aRead more
Osaka
March 18, 2024 in Japan ⋅ 🌬 10 °C
Trip around Osaka, slight delay as only one gang plank functioning. Andrew eager to buy a Toyo toolbox ( made here) took a while to find the shop; Linda, Mike and Karen very supportive. Then off toRead more
Kyoto
March 19, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C
Quick day trip to Kyoto, caught the bullet train 15min! Group split Mike and Linda headed north , Andrew & Karen south east. Lots of sites / temples / shops +++
Kyoto..
March 19, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C
Mike and Linda’s high speed dash to the Pilgrims walk and the Silver Temple. Thankfully made it back to the ship on time…..it’s amazing how a glass of fizz can motivate you.
Kochi or not
March 20, 2024, Philippine Sea ⋅ 🌬 8 °C
Too windy !!! 50kt winds , captain tried 4 times to dock…..as we know best to give up rather than end up in your trunks. So chill out day ( good for all of us )… getting into ‘cruise’ routineRead more
South China sea
March 21, 2024, East China Sea ⋅ 🌬 15 °C
29deg10’15 N ,129deg 15’16 E
Chugging along at 12 kts, Linda & Karen doing a few laps before lunch. Lovely sunny day for snoooooozing and reading.
Okinawa ( Naha)
March 21, 2024 in Japan ⋅ 🌙 16 °C
Early arrival , quick breakfast ready to roll. Caught taxi to the memorial garden, serene, sobering memorial to the 200,000 who died in the battle of Okinawa 1945. USA still have a large ‘Read more
Kumamoto ( kind of )
March 24, 2024 in Japan ⋅ 🌩️ 17 °C
32deg31.60 N, 130deg32.17 E, docked at Yatsushiro about 1 hour away from Kumamoto town. Welcomed by an impressive electrical storm, at least we aren’t near any large metal objects 🛳️. ActuallyRead more
Jeju Island South Korea
March 25, 2024 in South Korea ⋅ 🌬 14 °C
Arrived at 0900, a little overcast, picked up by Mr Yang Gwang Bo our driver, speedy, jerky dash across the island, first stop UNESCO site volcanic crater, Seongsan Ilchulbong, climbed up to theRead more
Kagoshima
March 26, 2024 in Japan ⋅ 🌬 16 °C
Back in Japan, have to pass through immigration again. Windy, dry looks like might brighten up this pm. Taxi to the Sengan-en gardens. Japanese lunch pork Katsu with rice, pickles and salad. WashedRead more
Last night at sea…..
March 27, 2024, Philippine Sea ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C
Lazy day at sea, Linda and Mike attended talk by the captain, Andrew and Karen kept with tradition and enjoyed the 3 course lunch with wine. Enjoyable final dinner, ever smiling waiter Garry and ourRead more
Tokyo back again
March 28, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C
Departure from the ship on time, then transfer, quick subway to the Shinjuku Gyoen gardens, then metro down to the Tower. Andrew had his bento box at last!
Tokyo tower
March 28, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C
Metro over to Tokyo tower 🗼, impressive site. Stopped for a banana, caramel and cream crepe ( need to keep up the calorie load post cruise )
Digital Art Museum
March 28, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C
Special treat from Mike, first for everyone; a digital art museum, displaying variety of shapes, aromas and 3d light show in a selection of ‘rooms’ truly amazing.
Scramble crossing
March 29, 2024 in Japan ⋅ 🌧 16 °C
Rather soggy trip to the famous ‘scramble crossing’ and dog statue ( waiting for his owner who died whilst at work and never returned). Popped up for a hot chocolate from 8th floorRead more
Meiji Jingu
March 29, 2024 in Japan ⋅ 🌬 19 °C
Legs flagging a bit, weather cleared up a lot, now quite humid. Walk around the extensive park, with the very large tori gate. Mike got another stamp for his book, only 1993 to go….. then trek backRead more
TravelerSafe Travels - hope you have a wonderful trip