• CathyJon
  • CathyJon

Tokyo/NY, 2025 Silver Dawn

Embarkation January 12, 2024. Traveling through Japan, China, Singapore, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Africa, Portugal, Spain, France, England, Belgium, Germany, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Iceland etc Læs mere
  • Start på rejsen
    9. januar 2025
  • Tokyo, Day Two

    12. januar 2025, Japan ⋅ ☁️ 37 °F

    Today, we are off to our second day on a private tour: Ancient Tsukiji Buddhist Temple, Hama-Riku Gardens, Yeno Fish Market, Ginza Shopping District, and Yushukan Shrine & War Museum.

    This evening, we will be attending our Silversea Welcome Dinner at the Okura Hotel.Læs mere

  • Embarkation Day!

    13. januar 2025, Japan ⋅ ☀️ 41 °F

    We had our final Okura Hotel breakfast buffet today, got our luggage out for the porters, and met downstairs for a coach to a fabulous venue - Happo-en - for a wonderful lunch which was to be accompanied by 20 children, together playing xylophones and drums meant to launch us with excitement and enthusiasm into our embarkation on the Silver Dawn, (it worked!).Læs mere

  • At Sea, So Coast, Japan

    14. januar 2025, Philippine Sea ⋅ 🌬 50 °F

    Up at 6:30am, ready to join the day beginning with an egg white panini, yogurt parfait, and a veggie smoothie.

    As we exited the Tokyo harbor, we had a great view of Mount Fuji from the Pacific Ocean. Good luck for the rest of the year!

    We enjoyed the gym and yoga, incredible brunch, and dinner at the Italian LaTerazza restaurant, and it was formal night!

    Tomorrow, we arrive in Osaka, where we have two excursions, including a beautiful dinner attended by geishas.
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  • Osaka, Japan

    15. januar 2025, Japan ⋅ ☁️ 45 °F

    We took a morningl excursion to Osaka Castle, Weapons, Armour, Artefacts; Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine, plus the Four Sanctuaries Shinto Shrine, built in the 3rd century.

    (The Sumiyoshi Taisha is the head of approximately 2300 Sumiyoshi shrines throughout Japan.)

    This evening, we attended the excursion, "Geisha Performamce with Local Dinner." Amazing!
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  • Hiroshima, Japan

    18. januar 2025, Japan ⋅ ☀️ 34 °F

    Today, we took the "HIJ-Art of the Japanese Brush" excursion to Kumano, where approximately 80% of the brushes made in Japan are still made by hand. The tour included the Fudenosato Kobo Museum, which presents the history of these renowned brushes. This excursion included an interactive drawing activity where we drew Japanese calligraphy on a hanging scroll to bring home!

    Following our return to the SD for brunch, we took the shuttle to the Hiroshima Peace Park and Museum in downtown Hiroshima ... ground zero for the first atomic bombing of people on August 6th, 1945.

    Sad, so sad for the enormous pain and suffering of the Japanese people.
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  • Beppu (Kyushu Island), Japan

    19. januar 2025, Japan ⋅ 🌙 34 °F

    Upon our early morning arrival, we saw many smoky steam vents dotting the port village. By 8:30am, we were en route to our first 'landing' in Usuki Village to visit the castle ruins (built in 1562). We then walked through the Samurai District.

    The next leg of today's journey was to a site of some 60 carved-into-rock images of Buddhas, (8th to 12th century carvings - over 1,000 years old). These figures are called Magaibutsu and are regarded as National Treasures. Magnificent.

    In the evening, we attended the Sunday Night Family Dinner.
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  • Kagoshima, Japan

    20. januar 2025, Japan ⋅ ☁️ 59 °F

    Another beautiful day in Japan. We sailed into a very nice port dominated by the imposing Sakurajima volcano. Our destiny today? A 60-minute coach ride ending in a tour through Chiran town where we walked through walled lanes, unique Japanese houses, ornate gardens, and more Samurai houses. Along our walk, we had such a unique experience walking beside a downtown Coi stream.

    Then, we headed to the highly honored Chiran Memorial Museum where most Kamikaze pilots were trained and lived out their young lives before flying off to try and sink American ships off the coast of Okinawa. Some 1100 pilots died, having sunk approximately 30 ships. I felt sad for the young men, their mothers and wives.... and the many Americans who lost their lives.
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  • At Sea

    21. januar 2025, Japan ⋅ ⛅ 45 °F

    Today was both the US inauguration day and Martin Luther King Day. A big day in Washington DC.

    The weather has finally turned warmer and I am out on our balcony drinking in the sounds of sailing through the magnificent ocean, smelling the fragrance...and standing in shorts and a long sleeve teeshirtLæs mere

  • Okinawa, Japan

    22. januar 2025, Japan ⋅ ⛅ 63 °F

    Today, we have a panoramic coach tour including Umikaji Terrace (Amalfi in Japan), then returning to Naha City (capital), and finally, touring the Okinawa Prefectural and Art Museum for about 75 minutes. We took what turned out to be a personalized tour with John, our 78 years-young guide; then back to the ship.

    Note: During the American invasion of Okinawa in 1945, approximately 240,000 military and civilians died (approximately 12,500 American soldiers; over 1000 Kamikazi pilots who sunk some 30 American ships.)
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  • Xiamen, China

    24.–25. jan. 2025, Japan ⋅ ☀️ 41 °F

    Establjshed around 282 AD, Xiamen is a major Chinese city located on the Taiwan Strait coast. We toured the charming Island of Gulangyu. We were treated to a ride around the island in a little electric cart, each one carrying 10-12 people.

    We walked through the starkly beautiful coastal Shuzhuang Garden, which also housed the Piano Museum, where over 100 magnificent pianos are available for public viewing.

    Finishing the tour, we had free time within which we had lunch and walked through the narrow, crowded streets of Gulangyu.
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  • Xiamen, Day Two

    25. januar 2025, Kina ⋅ 🌬 66 °F

    Today, we were up early to tour two sites, South Putuo (Buddhist) Temple Heavenly King Hall, Laughing Buddha, and later the Xieman Museum, Valuable Atiquities

    The temple was built more than 1000 years ago. It consists of 4 levels and truly inspired a sense of reverence as a mass of devotees flowed in there to celebrate Chinese New Year (Year of the Snake).

    Next, we visited the museum where we walked with Liilio, our expert guide, who added much depth and context to the displays.
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  • Hong Kong, Day One

    26.–27. jan. 2025, Hong Kong ⋅ ☁️ 61 °F

    Wow... I have never seen such a wall of highrises in my whole life! The city is teeming with life and so many, many people!

    Today, we independently visited the Hong Kong Art Museum and then took a 1pm tour to the Peak, Stanley Market, and Aberdeen Fisherman's Village, where we took a sampan ride through the harbor.

    In the evening, we stood out on the very cool deck to see the Hong Kong Bay Light Show

    Wow!
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  • Hong Kong, Day Two

    27. januar 2025, Hong Kong ⋅ 🌬 48 °F

    Our World Cruise is divided into many segments; durations of 8 tp 25 days each. Today is disembarkation day for some passengers and embarcation day for many new, excited cruisers coming on the next segment. Things will be buzzin.

    We took another 9am, four-hour tour, "Glimpse of Hong Kong:" we revisited the Peak Mountain, and walked through the Tin Hau Buddhist Temple and adjoining buildings (1865), Wet Fish Market, and the Yau Ma Tei Jade Hawker Bazaar.

    Cathy took a ton of pictures in the market -- not me; I was just chillin.
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  • Ha Long Bay, Vietnam

    29.–30. jan. 2025, Vietnam ⋅ ☁️ 59 °F

    Happy Chinese New Year!

    We landed at about 9am in this UNESCO World Heritage remarkable 1ocation.

    2,500 limestone, jutting out of the shallow sea, limestone karsts!

    Early in the morning, we shuttled about 20 minutes into what looked to be a ghost town and promptly returned to the ship--no shopping.

    At 1pm, we took a six hour excursion, mostly driving by the sea on our way to a Zen monastery, Thiemn Vieu Truc Lam Giac Tam, a visit with a Vietnamese family, and a brief stop at a shopping site featuring pearls.

    In the evening, we were treated to the Hoang Anh Traditional Music Band, which included extraordinary dancers musicians.
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  • Chan May (Hue/Da Nang), Vietnam

    31. januar 2025, Vietnam ⋅ ☁️ 70 °F

    This morning, we had the opportunity to partake in the "Hue Heritage, Culture & Traditions" tour.

    Cut in half by the Perfume River, Hue is home to a spectacular crawling citadel. Hue served as the capital of unified Vietnam under the Nguyen Dynasty from 1802 to 1945.

    It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a significant historical and cultural landmark in Vietnam, representing the country's last royal dynasty.

    The complex includes various structures like temples, pavilions, a library, and a theatre, all protected by impressive ramparts and gates, modeled after Beijing's Forbidden City.
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