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Dave Hippler
Dave Hippler

Dave Hippler

traveled in 42 countries Read more🇺🇸Madison
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  • Dave HipplerAntarctica - Lucky Number 7Traveler
    Humpbacks?The mock debate over the Falklands WarThe bridgeFundraiser auction on boardThe bridgeCrew talent showA Kwik Trip! No, wait. That's the Stanley visitor center.Sights of StanleyStanley MuseumExhibit on the Falklands WarPreparing for tomorrow's excursionFor the wildlife enthusiasts, here's a list of all the wildlife that was spotted on our cruisePDF

    Sailing to Stanley

    Jan 11–13 in Falkland Islands ⋅ 🌬 54 °F

    It took two leisurely days to get to the Falklands. That left plenty of time for a charity auction and a crew talent show. Those were lots of fun. Two people donated $900 each to be able to name a whale. The Happy Whale Project identifies whales by their markings and then uses photos from tourists to track where they are.

    There were lots of whale sightings on this journey. Every now and then our leader Hannah would get on the horn and tell us there's a whale on the port or starboard side. And over the two days there were plenty of lectures from experts on the wildlife we would be seeing.

    There was also time for two crew members to give a mock debate about the Falklands/ Malvinas War. Paul, the ship historian is a former UK commando. Santi, the kayak guide lead is the only Argentine crew member on board. They had a pretty fun banter and made some interesting points on both sides. Finally, we got to take a tour of the bridge and hear some interesting stories from the Ukrainian captain.

    We made a landing at Stanley in the Falkland islands on the 13th. This is the only day with rough weather. It was very windy. The city of Stanley was somewhat underwhelming. There was not a lot to do there except the insightful museum which gave details on the Falklands War along with their history.

    Photos and videos of the journey to the Falklands are here.
    https://photos.app.goo.gl/8yHWSwA8Piso2De98

    Photos and videos of Stanley, Falkland Islands are here.
    https://photos.app.goo.gl/7NZChwFBo8vpuQTf8

    An interactive map of the whole trip is here.
    https://photos.app.goo.gl/N3boKhjooRi1E7o46    Read more

  • Dave HipplerAntarctica - Lucky Number 7Traveler
    Eye to eye - Screencap from Nate's GoPro
    1It was just a fluke1Screencap from Nate's GoProScreencap from Nate's GoProScreencap from Nate's GoProScreencap from Nate's GoProScreencap from Nate's GoProFor the wildlife enthusiasts, here's a list of all the wildlife that was spotted on our cruisePDF

    Party with a Southern Right Whale

    Jan 10–11 in South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands ⋅ ⛅ 37 °F

    This was the highlight of the trip, something most people can only dream of. It was just another normal zodiac excursion: more penguins, more seals, more glaciers. At this point it was nothing too special because we were nearing the end of the trip.

    We were almost done with the excursion at Elsehul when one of the guides mentioned on the radio that there was a Southern Right Whale out at the entrance to the bay. The whale was so named because it was the "right whale" to catch.

    Our German guide Martin zoomed out and we waited. And the rest is magic. Those white things on its head are barnacles and collosities.

    It's not rare to see a Southern Right Whale. But it is rare for them to just hang out at a Zodiac and check us out for 10 minutes.

    As if all of that wasn't enough, we also saw lots of Macaroni Penguins and seals before the whale sighting.

    Here's my edited version from our zodiac.
    https://photos.app.goo.gl/bEUSYd1LpkEqofEN8

    Here is a full GoPro video from Nate, a different guide. This one's amazing since you can see what the whale looks like underwater.
    https://photos.app.goo.gl/4CkDNJU9vhdHSvQ87

    Here's an interactive map of the entire trip.
    https://photos.app.goo.gl/YkSRjQs3rmC1yBF87

    More photos and videos are here.
    https://photos.app.goo.gl/vvEfZCArscZxPQbi9    Read more

  • Dave HipplerAntarctica - Lucky Number 7Traveler
    1As far as the eye can see
    That's a lot of penguinsKing PenguinsThe ship schedule for the daySouth GeorgiaFind the sealSouthern Giant PetrelThey're good little climbersRockhopper PenguinsRockhopper PenguinRockhopper PenguinsRockhopper Penguins120,000+ King Penguins

    Salisbury Plain, Bay of Isles

    January 10 in South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands ⋅ ☁️ 36 °F

    This was our last landing on South Georgia. And what a doozy. This is probably the largest penguin colony we've seen on the trip. Over 150,000 King penguins? Hard to say. I never expected to see so many, or be up so close. Because of the bird flu, we had to stay about 5 meters from the animals. But that's close enough. Those molting brown juveniles look so miserable, waiting to blossom.

    Here's some fun facts from the trip:

    64.5 degrees south is the farthest we went. That's the farthest I've been. Tromso, Norway is the farthest north at 69.6° North.

    The ship had 106 crew and 140 passengers, a great ratio.

    We went 3,577 nautical miles on the trip and made 18 excursions! Wow. Not one was cancelled, a very rare thing.

    Wildlife
    Too many birds to count but especially Petrels, Skua and Albatross species.

    Dusky Dolphin

    6 of 7 penguin species
    Gentoo penguins
    Chinstrap Penguins
    Adelie Penguins
    King Penguins
    Magellanic Penguins
    Rockhopper penguins

    4 whale species
    Humpback whale
    Fin Whale
    Right whale
    Sei whale

    6 seal species
    Leopard seal
    Weddel Seal
    Crabeater Seal
    Fur Seal
    Elephant Seal
    Sea Lion

    More photos and videos are here.
    https://photos.app.goo.gl/U1aAQiZYooRTxJFC7

    And this is the highlight of the trip: a 5 minute high-def video of a Southern Right Whale sighting on January 10th. It's so rare for one of them to hang out next to a Zodiac, I'm posting it in every footprint.

    https://photos.app.goo.gl/A4h5sLzWvWtfjvcD7    Read more

  • Dave HipplerAntarctica - Lucky Number 7Traveler
    This was all covered in ice and snow for ShackletonStromness whaling stationStromnessThe daily agendaAn example menuView from dinnerThe dining room

    The Shackleton Hike/ Stromness

    Jan 9–10 in South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands ⋅ ☁️ 30 °F

    We were presented with the opportunity to hike in Shackleton's footsteps. The last part of his amazing journey was when he and two other men walked across South Georgia Island to the whaling station of Stromness.

    They were the first persons to walk across the island. It was 1916 and 2 years after his journey started. A large group of his men stayed on Elephant Island for over a year. About eight of them took one lifeboat and sailed to the wrong side of South Georgia Island. It was no small miracle that they landed on the island at all. Shackleton and two others walked across the ice and snow and somehow managed to find civilization. Everyone was eventually rescued after Shackleton heard the morning whistle to start work at the whaling station the next morning.

    It sounded fun so I decided to do it with about 40 others. After we started the hike, our ship sailed to the bay on the other side to meet us. There was no turning back! It only took about 3 hours but it was fun.

    More photos and videos are here.
    https://photos.app.goo.gl/4j5pnfaMfkToNupG7

    And this is the highlight of the trip: a 5 minute high-def video of a Southern Right Whale sighting on January 10th. It's so rare for one of them to hang out next to a Zodiac, I'm posting it in every footprint.

    https://photos.app.goo.gl/A4h5sLzWvWtfjvcD7    Read more

  • Dave HipplerAntarctica - Lucky Number 7Traveler
    Molting King Penguins
    Fortuna BayShip schedule for January 9Map of South Georgia1King Penguin ColonyHow do you count them?

    Fortuna Bay, South Georgia Island

    January 9 in South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands ⋅ ⛅ 30 °F

    Another day, another bay. Fortuna Bay has lots more King Penguins and Fur Seals. This was the only day that snowed surprisingly.

    Fortuna is a spot with over 100,000 penguins. That's a lot of poop, which filled our senses. The brown ones are molting juveniles.

    More photos and videos are here.
    https://photos.app.goo.gl/JTZYpSEharAtNYLL9

    And this is the highlight of the trip: a 5 minute high-def video of a Southern Right Whale sighting on January 10th. It's so rare for one of them to hang out next to a Zodiac, I'm posting it in every footprint.

    https://photos.app.goo.gl/A4h5sLzWvWtfjvcD7    Read more

  • Dave HipplerAntarctica - Lucky Number 7Traveler
    Grytviken, a former whaling stationFur Seal PupShackleton's graveAt Ernest Shackleton's grave, with Shackleton WhiskeyMourning Shackleton1King PenguinsFormer whaling boatThis held whale oilThe seldom used church. It became more of a meeting hall. 😆Love the list of old movies they hadAt the MuseumTools used in whalingAn interesting tour

    Grytviken, South Georgia Island

    Jan 8–9 in South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands ⋅ ☁️ 36 °F

    Pronounced GRIT vit kin, Grytviken is a former whaling station settled by Norwegians. What a nasty industry. Before petroleum and plastics, whales provided heating oil, lamp oil, and lots of other products. It shut down in the 60's.

    There's a small community that lives there now and it has a nice museum. We got a tour of the rusting facilities from one of the museum employees. The site was cleaned up about 10 years ago.

    It's also where Ernest Shackleton is buried. He and his men survived that arduous trip from 1914 to 1916. But several years later he made a return trip from England for another expedition and died shortly after landing here. His wife wanted him to be buried here.

    There were lots of pesky seal pups hanging around. We were lucky to have a sunny day.

    More photos and videos are here.
    https://photos.app.goo.gl/SmWWSwQQvnqehcP5A

    And this is the highlight of the trip: a 5 minute high-def video of a Southern Right Whale sighting on January 10th. It's so rare for one of them to hang out next to a Zodiac, I'm posting it in every footprint.

    https://photos.app.goo.gl/A4h5sLzWvWtfjvcD7    Read more

  • Dave HipplerAntarctica - Lucky Number 7Traveler
    Call it MacaroniLonely iceberg at Hercules BaySouthern elephant seal wrestling with Bull KelpHercules BayHercules BayMacaroni Penguins versus Bull KelpHercules BayElephant SealMacaroni PenguinsMacaroni PenguinsMacaroni PenguinsMacaroni PenguinsMacaroni PenguinsMacaroni PenguinsJuvenile elephant seal

    Hercules Bay, South Georgia Island

    January 8 in South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands ⋅ ☁️ 36 °F

    We moved up the coast to Hercules Bay, but had to stay in the Zodiac. This is home to a large Macaroni Penguin colony and a few Elephant Seals hung around. These penguins have distinctive fancy yellow feathers that look like eyebrows.

    The "Macaroni" has nothing to do with the penguins looking like pasta. The term originated in England in the 1760's for young, rich, dandy men who wore outrageous fashions after returning from their European tours. I guess lonely whalers thought these penguins looked pretty dandy.

    The song Yankee Doodle Dandy was written 10 years later by Redcoats making fun of naive rubes in the colonies who thought a feather in their cap was high fashion. I had to come all the way to Antarctica to learn this.

    More photos and videos are here.
    https://photos.app.goo.gl/teRn6nVw2fT9ZV1i6

    And this is the highlight of the trip: a 5 minute high-def video of a Southern Right Whale sighting on January 10th. It's so rare for one of them to hang out next to a Zodiac, I'm posting it in every footprint.

    https://photos.app.goo.gl/A4h5sLzWvWtfjvcD7    Read more

  • Dave HipplerAntarctica - Lucky Number 7Traveler

    Gold Harbor and St. Andrew's Bay

    Jan 7–8 in South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands ⋅ ☁️ 37 °F

    This was the first of 4 days at South Georgia Island. It ended up being the highlight of the trip. As you can see, there was sooooo much wildlife.

    At Gold Harbor, there was a King Penguin colony where over 150,000 of them nesting. These are the guys with the gold neck and ears. The awkward brown ones are juveniles molting their brown feathers. Also in abundant supply were the cute Fur Seals and their playful pups.

    Near the beach were lots of Elephant Seals. These are the big boys and the males like to fight a lot while the females just scratch their heads.

    In the afternoon we went to St. Andrews Bay for more of the same. Those seal pups are just like dog puppies. But they nip at you. We used ski poles to keep them at bay. If you touch their highly sensitive whiskers, they kind freak out and back off.

    Elephant seals video
    https://photos.app.goo.gl/auqmhRJzkwuLBtx7A

    Gold Harbor photos and videos are here.
    https://photos.app.goo.gl/GN33eqHNYdcf6HDe7

    St. Andrews Bay photos and videos are here.
    https://photos.app.goo.gl/R8nY6DweT8JhEVxq6

    And this is the highlight of the trip: a 5 minute high-def video of a Southern Right Whale sighting on January 10th. It's so rare for one of them to hang out next to a Zodiac, I'm posting it in every footprint.

    https://photos.app.goo.gl/A4h5sLzWvWtfjvcD7    Read more

  • Dave HipplerAntarctica - Lucky Number 7Traveler
    Ice fields in the Scotia SeaIce fields in the Scotia SeaIce fields in the Scotia SeaScotia SeaScotia SeaElephant IslandElephant IslandDessert every day. Oh boyThar she blows!A Fin Whale?Map of our trip so farA tribute to the Chilean captain that saved Shackleton's men stranded on Elephant IslandIceberg off of Elephant IslandElephant IslandElephant IslandWe heard an underwater fur seal calling for a mate at this iceberg. So rare....Lonely penguinsWho know a lecture on krill could be so interesting?Who know a lecture on the B15AB iceberg could be so interesting? At this point, it's 10 x 4 milesThe former UK commando, Paul, was the ship historianB15AB icebergListening for an underwater fur seal calling for a mate.Brrrrr

    Elephant Island and The Scotia Sea

    Jan 4–7, Scotia Sea ⋅ ☁️ 34 °F

    We had lots of time when sailing through the Bransfield Strait off of the South Shetlands. But never a dull moment from Polar Latitudes. They filled the time with interesting lectures on krill, Ernest Shackleton, and even the detailed history of an iceberg.

    I had no idea that large icebergs are named and tracked. Antarctica is split into quadrants: A, B, C, and D. When one calves off, the first letter of the name shows where it came from. The following numbers are the year it happened, and the last letters are given in order and if there are more than 26 in a year, they add a second column. The largest iceberg we saw was called B15AB which means it came from the SW corner of Antarctica in 2015. It was the 28th one that calved that year.

    So much for the background. Suffice it to say this guy was HUGE! Some are as big as Jamaica. They are miles and miles long and hundreds of meters high. We sailed past this guy and the expedition leader talked about it as if it was an old friend. And given the ocean currents and temperature, she wouldn't see it again.

    The lecture on the Antarctic explorer Shackleton by the ship historian was even more interesting. Long story, but a failed expedition in 1914 left them stranded on their ship, on ice, and islands for 2 years! And everyone survived. Great story.

    Elephant Island is where one group stayed behind for a year while Shackleton and a few others sailed on, looking for rescue. What a cold, lonely, desolate late place. But, they have penguins and seals!

    More photos and videos are here.
    https://photos.app.goo.gl/piSadFD3YmmLmgf48

    And here.
    https://photos.app.goo.gl/FyjD6iouwjCuUUNC9

    And this is the highlight of the trip: a 5 minute high-def video of a Southern Right Whale sighting on January 10th. It's so rare for one of them to hang out next to a Zodiac, I'm posting it in every footprint.

    https://photos.app.goo.gl/A4h5sLzWvWtfjvcD7    Read more

  • Dave HipplerAntarctica - Lucky Number 7Traveler
    Gull chick on Half Moon IslandWe saw more wildlife than we expected.Half Moon IslandGentoo Penguin colony on Half Moon IslandGentoo Penguin colonyHalf Moon Island1Half Moon IslandChinstrapHalf Moon IslandWeddell sealWeddell sealWeddell sealGentoo PenguinsWeddel SealBoarding after an excursionBransfield StraitOn the zodiacBransfield Strait

    Half Moon Island and Bransfield Strait

    Jan 3–4, Bransfield Strait ⋅ ⛅ 34 °F

    Next stop: Half Moon Island in the South Shetland Islands. We just left the Antarctic mainland. Most cruises only visit the tip of the Antarctic peninsula that's closest to South America. We're happy that we got on land several times but the real wildlife is in the other Islands nearby.

    We took another zodiac and saw Gentoo and Chinstrap penguin colonies and lots of Weddell seals. We are lucky that the sun was out. That's not always the case. Some days are pretty dreary

    More photos and videos are here.
    https://photos.app.goo.gl/zSf1CJS6f1iJ9hrd9

    And this is the highlight of the trip: a 5 minute high-def video of a Southern Right Whale sighting on January 10th. It's so rare for one of them to hang out next to a Zodiac, I'm posting it in every footprint.

    https://photos.app.goo.gl/A4h5sLzWvWtfjvcD7    Read more

  • Dave HipplerAntarctica - Lucky Number 7Traveler
    1
    With friends Wendy and BrianUnloading the kayaks at Charlotte BayCharlotte BayTandem Kayak? Lord help us.Prepping for the Polar Plunge after kayakingThe Polar PlungeHot drinks awaitPalaver Point on Two Hummock Island off the Antarctic peninsulaChinstrapsOur ship, the SeaventureDoin' the nastyPalaver Point

    Kayaking, Polar Plunge, Palaver Point

    Jan 2–3, Bransfield Strait ⋅ ⛅ 28 °F

    Our expedition company, Polar Latitudes, offered kayaking as an option. We chose to do it for one day at a place called Charlotte Bay. The water was calm and there were icebergs in the water. We spent a couple hours paddling around and saw a Humpback whale in the distance a few times.

    We enjoyed it but we would never have done the full immersive kayaking program. Those people went out about a dozen times and that meant the time you're in a kayak is time you are not on land walking around getting close to the wildlife. To each their own.

    Afterwards everyone had the opportunity to do a Polar Plunge off the side of the ship. We thought what the heck? I'd say about only a third of the passengers did it. While it was cold, they greeted us with towels and drink and there is a sauna onboard.

    The sun sets really late this far south, after 10:00 p.m. That gave us time to do an excursion to Palaver Point on Two Hummock Island after dinner. It was more penguins, more ice, and more beauty. We can't get enough.

    There was a Chinstrap Penguin colony at the point. We got to see them playing and move on the snow. Sometimes they'd push themselves on their stomach and sometimes they'd walk awkwardly across it.

    There is a threat of avian bird flu here so we have to stay 5 m away from wildlife and clean our gear before and after every excursion - a small price to pay for keeping the wildlife safe

    More photos and videos are here.
    https://photos.app.goo.gl/pib13VEnTV51KE3Z8

    And this is the highlight of the trip: a 5 minute high-def video of a Southern Right Whale sighting on January 10th. It's so rare for one of them to hang out next to a Zodiac, I'm posting it in every footprint.

    https://photos.app.goo.gl/A4h5sLzWvWtfjvcD7    Read more

  • Dave HipplerAntarctica - Lucky Number 7Traveler
    Off of Cuvervile Island
    I claim this Hip and FunkylandSo that's how they get on an iceberg.Lining up for a Zodiac expeditionOff into the wild blue ice yonderBrown StationParadise BayParadise BayImperial ShagChinstrap PenguinsWeddell SealA Leopard SealTime lapseIce, Ice, BabyAt Brown StationBrown StationParadise BayA daily itineraryMap of our route, including the out of the way pan pan call

    Cuverville Island and Paradise Bay

    Jan 1–2, Bransfield Strait ⋅ ☁️ 28 °F

    Finally! Our 7th continent.

    Cuvervile Island is home to the largest Gentoo penguin colony in the Antarctic peninsula. There were lots of icebergs and lots of penguins, including Chinstraps. Everyone was pretty ecstatic. Little did we know, we'd later see hundreds of thousands of penguins, including 6 of the 7 species in Antarctica. I now understand the name of this blog. We found penguins.

    After lunch we went to Paradise Bay and stopped at Brown station, an Argentine science station. It was unmanned. Our guide said " Yeah, the Argentines like to build these bases but don't have the money to staff them."

    Even though the Antarctic treaty has been in place since 1959, many nations still hold on to their original claims and there's a fair amount of these stations in the Antarctic peninsula. I think it's kind of a back-up plan in case things don't work out in the future.

    More photos and videos are here.
    https://photos.app.goo.gl/kZLigRgZ1tm5tQAh8

    And this is the highlight of the trip: a 5 minute high-def video of a Southern Right Whale sighting on January 10th. It's so rare for one of them to hang out next to a Zodiac, I'm posting it in every footprint.

    https://photos.app.goo.gl/A4h5sLzWvWtfjvcD7    Read more

  • Dave HipplerAntarctica - Lucky Number 7Traveler
    Malchior IslandsFinally! IcebergsBringing in 2026 in the Southern OceanOur route so farWe went to lots of informative lectures during down time.One of many recap/ briefing meetings.I could get used to this.Gentoo PenguinsGentoo PenguinsThe SeaventureThe SeaventureNew friends Patrick and Kay on New Year's EveParty like it's 2026

    New Year's in Antarctica

    Dec 31–Jan 1, 2026 in Antarctica ⋅ ☁️ 34 °F

    At some point in the night we crossed the 60th parallel. That latitude is what defines Antarctica. An international treaty protects the whole area between 60°and 90° and it belongs to no one country.

    On New Year's Eve we did our first excursion on a Zodiac raft, the first of 18. It took us a long time to suit up with all the layers of clothes, muck boots, and life jackets. On every trip everyone got faster and faster at it. It did remind me of my days in the Illinois National Guard, what with all the hurry up and wait, but all the standing around while waiting to get on a zodiac was well worth it.

    Our first stop after passing through the Gerlache Strait was on the Melchior Islands. On the zodiac in the bay we all celebrated New Year's Eve with some sparkling wine in paper cups.

    Later in the night, not long before midnight, the ship received a distress call called a "pan pan." It's one level of distress call under MayDay. Apparently someone on a small sailboat burned themselves while boiling water and requested medical help. The fact that the sailors were Russian and our ship's captain was Ukrainian meant nothing at the moment.

    Our ship, the Seaventure, changed course and went way out of the way to help him and give medical care until another ship that was heading towards Ushuaia went out of their way to pick him up and take him back to a hospital. That put us way off schedule but the crew was amazing and shuffled some things around and we didn't miss any excursions.

    More photos and videos are here.
    https://photos.app.goo.gl/VqSbEFMRCQ2NNdrS6

    And this is the highlight of the trip: a 5 minute high-def video of a Southern Right Whale sighting on January 10th. It's so rare for one of them to hang out next to a Zodiac, I'm posting it in every footprint.

    https://photos.app.goo.gl/A4h5sLzWvWtfjvcD7    Read more

  • Dave HipplerAntarctica - Lucky Number 7Traveler
    Meeting the captain and crew
    Drake Lake. Whew.Daily conditions reportSafety briefingThe food is pretty goodExample of our daily agendas. Never a dull moment.Old school map tracker

    The Drake Passage

    Dec 29–31, 2025, Drake Passage ⋅ 🌬 36 °F

    The first part of the trip passed through the Beagle Channel, which is a narrow and calm channel that separates Chile and Argentina in the extreme southern tip of South America. It empties into the Drake Passage.

    The Drake Passage is known as one of the most turbulent ocean passages in the world. It stands between the South American continent and Antarctica. Its nickname is the Drake Shake. But on the rare occasion when it's calm, it's known as the Drake Lake. We were amazingly lucky to experience the Drake Lake.

    For two days, the sea was calm and we had a fair amount of sun. Everyone here was relieved because we have all heard of the horror story of violent passages. Or they've experienced it. We met many people who've been to Antarctica once or twice before. 7 meter waves are not uncommon.

    When the trip started we weren't sure what the order of events were. It really does depend on the weather and the Captain's got the final decision. This is a long cruise and we're hitting the Falklands and South Georgia in addition to Antarctica. Fortunately we're heading straight to Antarctica. It will take 2 days.

    The crew is top notch. We spent the two days getting familiar with the ship, having safety briefings, attending lectures on wildlife, and getting to know fellow passengers. It looks like it's going to be fun.

    More photos and videos are here.
    https://photos.app.goo.gl/2CAErkB37hnDdUF99

    And this is the highlight of the trip: a 5 minute high-def video of a Southern Right Whale sighting on January 10th. It's so rare for one of them to hang out next to a Zodiac, I'm posting it in every footprint.

    https://photos.app.goo.gl/A4h5sLzWvWtfjvcD7    Read more

  • Dave HipplerAntarctica - Lucky Number 7Traveler
    Ushuaia and the Beagle Channel
    View from our hotelArriving at USHView from the hotelThere's a nice trail behind the hotelAhhhhGetting our gear at the travel agency office. Hats, ski pants, boots, coats,and gloves are included.Not our boat

    Ushuaia

    Dec 28–29, 2025 in Argentina ⋅ 🌫 41 °F

    After an almost 4 hour flight from Buenos Aires, we landed in Ushuaia (oosh WHY a) in Tierra del Fuego. We'll spend just one night here before we start our cruise. And afterwards we'll spend a few days exploring the area.

    The cruise package included one night at a resort outside of town. The travel agency we booked with sponsored a pizza party in town, so we got to meet several of our fellow adventurers. As it happened, all six people at our table were from the midwest. It sounds like we're with like-minded people. We were swapping stories about various travels right away. One guy had been to 193 countries and wanted to visit all of them twice before he died!

    We set off today and the itinerary is loose. We have a tentative route but it all depends upon the weather and the captain will change course to avoid any bad weather.

    More photos and videos are here.
    https://photos.app.goo.gl/3ipKrR7upv9Y89Jt8

    An interactive map of the whole trip is here.
    https://photos.app.goo.gl/N3boKhjooRi1E7o46    Read more

  • Dave HipplerJapan 2025Traveler
    Changing of the guard at Gyeongbokgung Palace
    Changing of the guard at Gyeongbokgung PalaceChanging of the guard at Gyeongbokgung PalaceKimchi potsNational Folk Museum of KoreaThe National Folk Museum of KoreaA statue on top of a building. Robotic Pieta?1Jogyesa TempleJogyesa Temple1Outside of a Lotte department storeThere's always someone with a stupid jacketMyeongdong Night MarketOutside of a Lotte department storePanmunjom at the DMZ. Now and then. I was there in 1995 but they won't let you near there now.At the DMZOutside of a Lotte department store1BibimbopBongeunsa TempleMucha exhibit at Alt.1Mucha exhibit at Alt.1Underground walkway between 2 mega mallsNational Museum of Korea. Amazing place!Starfield Library in the Coex mall1Lunch at the National Museum of Korea Cafe2Gangnam Style sculpture in Gangnam. Ride that pony!Dinner with friends Tom and Hye- JinYou can't leave Korea without a stop at an Olive Young.KFC- Korean Fried Chicken. Sooooo goodDongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP)

    Seoul Man

    Nov 28–Dec 3, 2025 in South Korea ⋅ ☀️ 43 °F

    I spent 2 weeks in Seoul in 1995 and loved it. This trip was no different, except everything is new and improved. We have five nights here before we head home.

    Unbeknownst to us, we booked a room in a trendy neighborhood full of foreign restaurants and lots of bars. However the last thing I wanted to eat was foreign food. I came here for Korean food! We had to leave the neighborhood for that.

    We bought a week-long transportation pass and thankfully it was relatively easy to get around town, although the buses did get stuck in traffic a lot. The subway system here is world class. The all-you-can-travel week long pass only cost about $15. The dollar is pretty strong against the Won.

    Even though we've been traveling for 5 weeks we wanted to get out and see all we could. First off, we booked a tour to the demilitarized zone (DMZ). That was the highlight of my 1995 trip and I wanted Deanne to see it. But ever since a troubled American soldier defected a couple years ago they don't let you see that fun stuff at the JSA (Joint security Area) at Panmunjom. Looking up and seeing a North Korean soldier glaring at me while I walked across a negotiations table to North Korea was interesting, to say the least. But there was none of that on this trip and it was somewhat underwhelming.

    But pretty much everything else was amazing: the museums, meeting up with new friends Tom and Hye-Jin for dinner (twice), the food, the markets, the modern architecture, temples, and even the crazy mega malls. They seem to be everywhere.

    At one point we took an underground moving walkway for about 3 blocks past shops to get between mega malls and then couldn't find the way out. The IFC mall must have been designed by a casino architect. Yes, there was a casino here, along with the highest end fashion stores in the world. We went there to see a small art museum on the top floor that had a great exhibit on Mucha, our new favorite artist. There was also a VIP lounge in the mall for people aged 21 - 45, ala an airport lounge. Must be a rough life getting so tired from shopping so much.

    It's been an amazing 6 weeks. We'll have to come back to explore more of Korea. And we are definitely coming back to visit Japan because it's become one of our favorite places in the world.

    More photos and videos are here.

    https://photos.app.goo.gl/dg6ZTL3i5Mr9mdQM6    Read more

  • Dave HipplerJapan 2025Traveler
    Americana is big here.
    Crabs and lobsters are big here.Sunset over Naha airportRiding the monorail into townOur hotel's rooftop poolThe beach in town is underneath the highway!Probably the longest and hardest way to make a cakeWe actually went shopping on the tourist street.A restaurant in a shopping arcade. There was a long line for these guys.We selected our seafood for lunch at the market.Naha's seafood market. Order downstairs and they cook it at a restaurant upstairs.Young Japanese tourists posing in front of Shisas, mythical guardian lion headed dogsBefore and afterDragons on top of Shuri CastleFlying to Naha from IshigakiOkinawan roll cakes being madeAn amazing set meal for lunchThe Japanese Navy commanders committed suicide in the underground naval bunker in Okinawa June 1945Former Japanese Navy Underground HeadquartersFresh oysters!

    Naha, Okinawa

    Nov 24–28, 2025 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 75 °F

    This is the main city on the main island in Okinawa. It's where there are several American and Japanese military bases. And unknown to us, it's where a lot of Japanese come for warm weather vacations. We've seen lots of Japanese from the north here just enjoying the warmer weather and shopping.

    They mostly shop for Orion beer t-shirts. That's the beer that's brewed here and it doesn't seem to be sold in the north. I would say at least 70% of the Japanese tourists I've seen have Orion t-shirts on. One phenomenon I've seen is groups of five Japanese young women all wearing the same Orion shirts and carrying the same Orion bags. Sometimes there's 4 of them, but it's odd that there are so many groups of 5 all wearing the same thing.

    It was warm, but not necessarily beach weather. There are several sites to see but the island is huge and we kind of ran out of steam. The bus tours take 10 to 12 hours and you spend half that time on the bus to see coastal views in the north. We passed on that and enjoyed our hotel with its onsen, or hot baths.

    We had several great meals, including buying our own seafood for Thanksgiving at the market and then having a restaurant upstairs cook it for us. I saw the largest king crabs and lobsters I've ever seen. I thought I'd go back the next day for a large king crab but it was $200. We opted for the largest prawns we've ever seen instead for a fraction of the price. They were like small lobsters and tasted like them too.

    Other than that, we shopped a bit. That's rare for us, but we're headed home in a week. We also went to the former Japanese Navy underground bunker. Okinawa saw some of the fiercest fighting in the Pacific in WW2. This was their last stand after a 3 month battle with the US. The officers committed suicide in June 1945 here.

    We leave Japan today for Seoul for 5 days before heading home. Japan was crazy fun and we absolutely loved it. We will definitely be back.

    More photos and videos are here.
    https://photos.app.goo.gl/AjwRu1r35N7oV5KN9    Read more

  • Dave HipplerJapan 2025Traveler
    Taketomi
    Flying into IshagakiGrilling a tiny piece of carrot at a BBQ jointHigh school PE? More fun than I had.Maesato beachFree Awamori and beer for 3 hours every night....Awamori selectionSweet potato dessertsFee-Fi-Fo-Fum1At an IzakayaOn TaketomiSukuji BeachSukuji BeachMangrove near the beachKabira BayKabira BayKabira BayKabira BayOn the ferry to Taketomi1

    Ishigaki, Okinawa

    Nov 19–24, 2025 in Japan ⋅ 🌬 68 °F

    Okinawa is an archipelago of islands that make up Japan's southern-most prefecture. We're pretty close to Taiwan but it just wasn't worth heading over there when we're flying out of Seoul soon.

    It's been said that Okinawa is like Thailand without the tourists. So far that seems to be true. We're in a very southern island called Ishigaki. It's still a touristy place, as evidenced by all of the T shirt shops. But high season is over and it's nowhere near as bad as Thailand now. Other tourists that we do see seem to be mainly Japanese, Taiwanese, and Chinese.

    The weather has been overcast but in the 70s so we can't complain. The city of Ishigaki itself is pretty ugly, the only one we've seen on our trip in Japan. The reason to come here are the beaches throughout the main island and visiting the smaller pristine Islands nearby.

    We've taken a ferry twice now to the small nearby island of Taketomi. You can rent bikes here but why? It's so small and flat that you can walk everywhere easily. We bought a 5-day bus pass when we arrived at the airport. That let us see several of the beaches on the main island and get to and from the small airport.

    The local drink here is called Awamori. It's another rice based alcohol like shochu and sake but it's distilled for more of a kick. The apartment hotel room we rented includes a 3 hour happy hour of drinking it or the local beer, Orion. Most of the t-shirt shops here are selling shirts of Orion beer if that's any indication of what there is to do here. I'm certainly not complaining though. After all the running around we've been doing it's nice to just relax and have beach days.

    More photos and videos are here.
    https://photos.app.goo.gl/LyDh85tKx9WprGV7A    Read more

  • Dave HipplerJapan 2025Traveler

    Mt. Aso

    November 17, 2025 in Japan ⋅ ⛅ 54 °F

    We took a day trip on a tour from Fukuoka to see this volcanic caldera in Mt. Aso National Park. It's the largest one in Japan. Half the time you can't get up to the rim because the sulfur dioxide concentration is too high.

    We wanted to do this on our own but I forgot to renew our international driver's licenses before the trip. It worked out because getting on a bus is a lot easier and probably cheaper, given toll and parking costs.

    It's a beautiful area surrounded by dairy and vegetable farms. This is the daiyland of Japan. That volcanic ash makes for fertile soil and there are lots of cows eating grass here. A different kind of grass also grows here. It's the kind that is weaved into tatami mats that are the flooring of traditional tea houses and Ryokan.

    After we left the rim of the caldera an alarm went off. Pretty soon people were moving rapidly away. Apparently sensors go off when the air gets too poisonous. We're lucky to have gotten views when we did.

    https://photos.app.goo.gl/Azsm9nUzXKUA443J6

    Our trip so far. Click on the photo to start the video.
    https://photos.app.goo.gl/rTydSg9nHMrMucMMA    Read more

  • Dave HipplerJapan 2025Traveler
    1Sumo wrestling festival
    Dancers at a Christmas marketDancers at a Christmas marketInteresting food at the Christmas MarketANYTHING with English on it is coolHakata bay boat race arena1Oh, the irony of a $300 Rage Against The Machine TshrtOur apartment in FukuokaI love how this kid is wearing his whole suit while playing soccer barefootAnother Host club adCinderellaThis is at the third Christmas market we foundHakata harbor - where the Mongols failed to invade in the 13th centuryNight time at the Christmas Market outside of Hakata train stationLobster at a French restaurant we found1Steak with fois gras at a French restaurantCanal City Mall art displayFukuoka art museumFukuoka art museumMy favorite piece at the Fukuoka art museumSumo merchIn the red light districtCanal City Mall at nightAt the Sumo festivalThe 12 generals at the Fukuoka art museum

    Fukuoka

    Nov 15–19, 2025 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 70 °F

    This is Japan's 6th largest city. Never heard of it before the trip, but we love it. It's big, but not crazy like Tokyo or Osaka. And it has a great subway and bus system.

    Christmas is big here. But shopping is bigger. We've stumbled on 4 European style Christmas markets. The one outside the main train station had groups of dancers in a competition when we arrived.

    Every other building is a mall. These people love to shop. Outside of malls, there are nonstop clothing stores separating the malls.

    The best part of our visit is that we just so happened to be in town during a Sumo wrestling festival. What luck. We spent hours at the arena and it was super fun and pretty interesting.

    There's not one thing I don't like in this country. Ok, they could use some public garbage cans. It's so clean here, but where are the garbage cans?

    We walked a lot, saw some fun neighborhoods, drank at a Christmas market and befriended a Japanese couple over drinks and Google translate. The food never ceases to amaze and delight us. We had a wonderful French meal including lobster, a bottle of French wine, steak with fois gras and a live piano player playing on stage. It was well under $100 out the door. Unbelievable.

    You could probably pay for your trip here if you brought all your old clothes that have anything in English written on them. The only expensive thing here is vintage Americana, especially US university sweatshirts. In one vintage shop, they were selling for over $300 a piece. We've seen several UW sweatshirts and even an Iowa State one.

    Kyushu is amazing and we would love to come back. We're heading south next, to some tropical islands in Okinawa.

    More photos and videos are here.
    https://photos.app.goo.gl/qDgcUECYKYPhjUmu5

    Sumo photos
    https://photos.app.goo.gl/vRvzc2wF9bsTCRpX8    Read more

  • Dave HipplerJapan 2025Traveler
    Sunset at Mt. Inasa Overlook
    Our apartment in NagasakiPeace Stadium and Happiness Arena. Love it.Glover GardenGlover GardenDessert at Glover GardenNagasaki Koshibyo Confucius ShrineMatcha ice cream in ChinatownGround Zero st NagasakiA model of The Fat Man1Sunset at Mt. Inasa OverlookGodzilla is coming!Nagasaki Koshibyo Confucius ShrineChina Historical MuseumChina Historical MuseumIowa Cyclones shirt in Nagasaki - it's Deanne's alma materSunset was fantastic on Mount InasaThe spectacles bridge, an optometrist's "Must See"Potato Chip Boy loves soy sauce flavored potato chipsThe old Dutch settlement of DejimaPeace Stadium, in the middle of a mallFukusaiji ShrineFukusaiji ShrineNagasaki Koshibyo Confucius ShrineThe RopewayGlover GardenGlover GardenMt Insa viewpointGlover GardenSuwajinjanagasakaJapanese Navy frigates

    Nagasaki

    Nov 11–15, 2025 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 63 °F

    The bus ride over the mountains from Beppu to Nagasaki waa beautiful. Some of the leaves are starting to change.

    We rented a fairly large apartment for four nights and it had a rooftop terrace. I thought it might be too many days but Nagasaki has a lot more to offer than just the nuclear bomb sites. It's history is rich and it's a major place where East met West.

    First it was the Portuguese who traded and spread Christianity here. Nagasaki has one of the best bays on this southern island, so it was only natural for foreign sailors to stop here because they were coming from the south.

    But the shogun's tired of the Portuguese and kicked them out and allowed the Dutch to trade from a tiny prison-like a compound called Dejima. This lasted for 200 years during the Edo period, when Japan was closed off to the rest of the world except for small trade with the Dutch and some Chinese.

    When Japan opened up to the world in the Meiji restoration, Nagasaki was crucial because it had coal, dry docks for shipbuilding, and steel works. Mitsubishi started here for example and still builds giant ships, among other things.

    But of course it's most famous because it was the second and last place where a nuclear bomb was dropped during war. The Peace Museum and ground zero, which the Japanese call the hypo center, are fascinating and sobering. Even in mid November the museum was packed.

    On August 9, 1945, the bomber Bockscar originally wanted to drop it on Kokura, an industrial city north of here. Cloud and smoke cover prevented that and Nagasaki was the secondary target. There was a lot of cloud cover here but during a break, they dropped the bomb. It missed the main port area and landed in a residential area just north. Six days later, the Japanese surrendered and WW2 was over.

    But there's so much more the city has to offer. We're staying near the train station, across from Stadium City, a giant mall. I'm not a mall person but I walked over alone at night to check it out. I didn't get the connection but it's a soccer stadium surrounded by two mall towers! There's also a basketball arena next to it. They're called Peace Stadium and Happiness Arena. How wonderful.

    Nagasaki is in a big valley that leads down to the bay, so some neighborhoods are hilly. Its name means Long Cape. There's an excellent bus and tram system but we did a lot of walking to see several shrines and temples. There's a large garden complex called Glover Garden on the hill above the bay. That's the former home of a Scotsman who helped bring the industrial revolution to Japan. Tea, coal mining, steel, ship building, you name it, he had his hands in the trade. Thomas Glover was the man.

    There's a cable car which they call the ropeway. It goes up to mount Inasa and we were lucky to have an amazing sunset and spectacular views of the city below. Of course the food here has been amazing. We just love the city and we're glad to have had four full days to take our time to see it.

    More photos and videos are here.
    https://photos.app.goo.gl/HrScJRTChxd5zzMd6    Read more

  • Dave HipplerJapan 2025Traveler
    1Outside of Sanso Kannawaen, our Ryokan
    Breakfast at our RyokanUmi JigokuA shrine in BeppuSanso KannawaenSanso KannawaenSanso KannawaenSanso KannawaenSanso KannawaenSanso KannawaenSanso KannawaenUmi JigokuUmi JigokuUmi JigokuUmi JigokuUmi JigokuSanso Kannawaen10 course kaiseki dinner menuSanso KannawaenThe groovy socks came with the roomModel touristsMulti course saiseki dinnerSanso KannawaenSanso Kannawaen

    Beppu

    Nov 10–11, 2025 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 61 °F

    Without planning it, we went to the two places in Japan that have hot sand baths on the same day. Beppu is the other major hot springs resort town in Kyushu. It was pretty hard finding Ryokan on short notice so went from the far southwest corner to the far northeast corner of Kyushu when we found some.

    Not too much exciting happened in either town except we totally splurged on ourselves. If the photos and videos seem pretentious it's because they are :).

    The Sanso Kannawaen is a modern Ryokan on a large hill above Beppu. The room was like a huge apartment and included our own onsen which was nice because the public onsens are separated by gender.

    The breakfast was absolutely fantastic with multiple food types. But the most amazing part was the dinner. It was a set dinner called kaiseki. These emphasize small portions of regional dishes and are multi-course. Ours was 10 courses! It included two servings of lobster and countless other items. I posted the menu if you're interested.

    Outside of the ryokan are several natural geysers and boiling springs like in Yellowstone National Park. They're called "hells" for some strange reason. We chose a random one to visit and it was pretty fantastic.

    More photos and videos are here.
    https://photos.app.goo.gl/Hm5ZLwQxZfWGVSxK6    Read more

  • Dave HipplerJapan 2025Traveler
    The hot sand baths of Ibusuki
    They have cool manhole covers hereA Ryokan dinnerOn Kagoshima BayOur Ryokan roomObi Wan Kenobe, babyOne of our 2 onsen bathsBreakfast at the RyokanThe hot sand baths, as seen from the bay1Deanne can't resist theseStairs to the hot sand bath onsenHot sand bathsMore haute cuisineBreakfastUnagi eelLots and lots of Shochu at the grocery storeCreative manhole coversA walk through a small Japanese townWe usually order food on touch screen devices or our phones at restaurants.

    Ibusuki

    Nov 8–10, 2025 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 75 °F

    I've never paid anyone to bury me alive before. But that's what travel is about isn't it? Trying new things?

    The sleepy town of Ibusuki is just what we needed after 2 weeks of large Japanese cities. It's an onsen town and its major draw is the hot sand baths. The whole town is nestled on some seriously hot spring water. Walking to our Ryokan on a warm day, we had to avoid the vented drains, where steam rose from the flowing water under every street.

    We checked our bags with the friendly proprietress and killed 3 hours in town until 3:00 check-in. She seemed to be the only one running this traditional Japanese inn with a built-in onsen. In this case, it's 2 private baths with the hot mineral waters.

    As far as Ryoken go, this was very reasonably priced. It's seen better days, but it's the real deal and is quite charming. You leave your shoes at the door and wear slippers inside. The room has traditional tatami mats for the flooring. Instead of beds, there are futons on the floor. You wear yukata robes with obis (black belts) to the baths. And for a guy who is almost two meters tall, you twist your legs into pretzels to sit on the floor under the small tables for meals.

    For some reason she couldn't prepare dinner the night we arrived. Usually breakfast and dinner are offered. Lunch in town was at a beautiful restaurant but the food was the only bland meal we've had. Dinner however was at a traditional izakaya, a restaurant pub and it was great.

    I've been sampling different types of shochu, the popular drink here made of sweet potatoes. It's usually 25% alcohol and you can drink it hot, mixed with something, or on the rocks. I'm usually drinking it on the rocks. It's nowhere near as strong as whiskey or vodka and it goes down easy.

    Breakfast was a delicious mix of pickles, rice, miso soup, and small portions of the local fried fish, omelette, a small cabbage salad and a pot of green tea.

    We soaked after we checked in and I soaked before breakfast the next day but the big draw for the day were those hot sand baths. On the beach, there is an onsen that hires people to bury you under the black, hot volcanic sand on the beach. The mineral hot spring water is running right underneath it into the bay.

    It's quite organized and there are pictures and videos and diagrams of the process so everyone understands. For about $15 each you rent a yukata and obi, get a small commemorative towel to keep, and a larger towel that you rent. You wear nothing but the robe and go outside and lay down and they bury you with the sand.

    They wrap the small towel around your head and kind of prop your head up so you can at least see the clock. You stay for 10 minutes and I must say it feels pretty amazing. But you can leave whenever you want and just kind of get up and push the sand off. Then you go inside the onsen to drop off the yukata and shower and then sit in the hot mineral waters inside. As far as a spa day goes, this one is pretty inexpensive. Too bad they don't allow cameras so there are no photos. The one posted here is from their website.

    Tonight we had the full Ryokan dinner experience. It was a multi course meal and the plates kept coming and coming. A boisterous group of Japanese retirees like us was having a grand old time and even apologized for laughing. No apologies necessary!

    The first Ryokan we booked is all the way up north in Beppu, so we're taking an early train to make it up there in time for checkin tomorrow afternoon. It just so happens that these are the only two cities in Japan with hot sand baths. We'll be in both cities on the same day.

    More photos and videos are here.
    https://photos.app.goo.gl/yMNvXYPoNTbQM5SU6    Read more

  • Dave HipplerJapan 2025Traveler
    Sakurajima
    Terukuni ShrineTerukuni Shrine 照國神社Terukuni Shrine1Wisconsin sweatshirts are coolThirteen Stone BuddhasA random sub in the bay1Sakurajima SelfieSengan-enSengan-enSengan-enSengan-enSengan-enSengan-enSengan-enSmoky SakurajimaA shrine on the volcanoA shrine on the volcanoA foot soak in the hot waters of SakurajimaOn a very crowded bus on SakurajimaSakurajima volcanoThe underwear of local hero, Takomori SaigoEvery meal is an adventureAt dinner in KagoshimaHeading back to KagoshimaBonito Sashimi. Melt in your mouth delicious!

    Kagoshima

    Nov 6–8, 2025 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 75 °F

    Kagoshima is the largest city next to an active volcano, closer than Naples is to Vesuvius. Volcano Sakurajima is right across Kagoshima Bay from us. This isn't a major tourist hotspot but we found a $70 flight here from Kobe and it's a good jumping off point for visiting the island of Kyushu.

    It's about the size of Milwaukee with a few tourists sites and a great transportation system. We rarely do this, but we opted for the Hop on Hop off pass to see everything in one day. A lot of the tourist sites have to do with the local samurai hero, Saigō Takamori. He is sometimes known as The Last Samurai and was important in the Meiji restoration. That's the modernization of Japan that ended the Shogunate.

    The highlights were Sengan-en, a Shogun family villa that is restored and has amazing gardens. The other one is the smoky volcano of Sakurajima. Many times of the year there's so much ash you have to carry an umbrella for that and wear a mask. But it wasn't active and we had great air quality.

    We took a short ferry ride across the bay and jumped on the tourist bus for views around the island, a foot soak in the hot waters, and an observatory on the top. On a random Friday in November, the buses were packed with Japanese tourists. We were one of the few gaijin (foreigners). It didn't hurt that it was in the mid 70s and sunny.

    I must say every meal here is an adventure. There's so much more to Japanese cuisine than sushi and tempura. We are picking random restaurants based on Google maps reviews, and almost every one of them has been fantastic. A bonus is the fact that the food and alcohol here are incredibly cheap. We're having a hard time spending $40 for meals for two with drinks. Last night I ordered (among other things) a "rice ball wrapped in meat." Delicious. It looked like a reverse corn dog, with something akin to bacon on the outside.

    The island of Kyushu is famous for all of its Onsen, or hot springs since we're right on the Ring Of Fire. Ryokan are traditional family owned lodgings with Onsens and with breakfast and elaborate dinners included. There are many Ryokan throughout Kyushu. Most are booked months in advance, so we're having a hard time finding any that won't break the bank and are near a main road. Ryokan are pretty much the only expensive thing in Japan and they are usually in a rural area so city dwellers can get away from it all. My international driver's license expired, so we can't rent a car.

    But, we found one in an onsen town to the North in Beppu. And after booking that, we found one in nearby Ibusuki. So we're headed down there next for two nights before heading north to Beppu.

    More photos and videos are here.
    https://photos.app.goo.gl/YjobZkTSFqdjvmTr9    Read more

  • Dave HipplerJapan 2025Traveler
    Kobe Beef!
    Our hotel in KobeNunobiki Herb GardensNunobiki Herb GardensFinally chilling outTouristingHarborlandKobe Port TowerSelfie spotBecause one is not enoughThe earthquake memorialChinatownKobe at nightBefore our first Kobe Beef mealOur personal chefKobe at nightMoegi HouseWeathercock House (The Former Thomas House)In KitanochoA yakiniku restaurant for Kobe BeefIkuta-jinja ShrineIkuta-jinja ShrineIkuta-jinja ShrineKitanocho

    Kobe

    Nov 4–6, 2025 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 61 °F

    Kobe is just a hop, skip, and a jump down the coast from Osaka. It's home to the fabled Kobe Beef, a trademark type of Wagyu beef that is arguably the best in the world.

    I sure picked the right hotel here. For $100/night, we have a spacious room in a central location, amazing bed, and free drinks and snacks for up to 3 hours each night. Damn.

    We got to check in early and went to the hills on a gondola for the Kobe Nunobiki Herb Gardens & Ropeway. The views were amazing and the garden was top notch.

    There was a horrendous earthquake here in 1995 that killed thousands. They've had 30 years to rebuild and there is still lots of high rise development going on here. Harborland is one of the results of billions in investment dollars. It's a large shopping area on the water. There are tour boats and a large park, along with a Ferris wheel. Nearby is the Kobe earthquake memorial which describes the event and has video and photos showing the devastation. We walked home through the small but vibrant Chinatown.

    We're in Kobe, so why not splurge on the best steaks in the world? We went to one of the oldest steak houses in town (Mouriya Honten) and went all out for dinner. It was the most expensive meal we've ever had, and probably the best. A personal chef prepared a Kobe sirloin steak along with a non-Kobe Wagyu steak. Both were melt in your mouth amazing. I didn't notice too much difference between the two, to be honest. You don't need a knife for these steaks, they are so tender and marbled to perfection.

    The next morning, we toured the Kitanocho neighborhood. It's where foreigners traditionally lived and many of them built houses like in their home country. We went into a couple from the early 1900's.

    Lunch was at a different Kobe steak place. This one was a yakiniku restaurant. That's a Japanese-style BBQ restaurant where you grill your own steak and vegetables at a table with a built-in grill.  It was great, but not as good as last night's meal. But, it cost 1/4 of the price! And it's still a Kobe steak.

    On the way back to our room, we stopped into Ikuta-jinja Shrine, one of the oldest Shinto shrines in the country.

    In the morning, we took the autonomous (no driver) Portliner monorail to the airport on a man-made Island in the bay. We flew to the island of Kyushu on SkyMark, a low cost carrier. It was on a new Boeing 737 and cost us $70 each with luggage. A bullet train would have taken much longer and cost more. Our destination is Kagoshima, a city on a bay across from a very active volcano.

    More photos and videos are here.
    https://photos.app.goo.gl/Jv3TrfVRxUYTLSwz7    Read more

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