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Tokyo to Hong Kong
  • Don and Lee McLoughlin
Oct – Nov 2024

Tokyo to Hong Kong

Cruise around Japan, visit Korea, and end in Hong Kong. Read more
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  • Don and Lee McLoughlinDon and Lee McLoughlinTokyo to Hong Kong
    Dramatic display of seafood at the lunch buffet.
    Not much of an audience for the ice sculpture at the lunch buffet.Swimming pool was closed because of the motion of the ship.James and Beverly Hill, new friends from New Zealand.

    Day at Sea

    October 28, 2024, Philippine Sea ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C

    Today we continued cruising the open Pacific Ocean on our way to Tokyo where we will arrive at 8 o’clock tomorrow morning. The seas were quite heavy this morning, making for a wobbly walk to and from breakfast. By 10:30am after doing more work on our notes and pictures for the blog in our cabin, we were beginning to feel a bit uneasy. Lee took some Gravol and had a ½ hour lie down and I had a short lie down as well. After that
    we were feeling a lot better and decided to go up for lunch at the pool deck and found that they were featuring a fish and sushi lunch. Although the presentation was excellent, it may not have been enticing to those who were just on the edge of coping with the motion.
    For dinner that night, we joined Beverly and James Hill, a couple from Auckland, New Zealand who were leaving the ship the next day.(see address at end of blog). We were standing in line for the Sette Marie restaurant and asked them if they would like to join us and it was a lovely evening.
    The entertainment tonight was called My Revolution about the “British Invasion” of the Lulu, the Kinks, the Beatles and others in the 60's and early seventies.    Read more

  • Don and Lee McLoughlinDon and Lee McLoughlinTokyo to Hong Kong
    Display in the terminal of Gold Samurai armour worn by Shogun Tokugawa leyasu.
    Armour of General Honda Tadakatsu with the distinctive black antlers on the helmet.Halloween decorations also at Tokyo Cruise terminal.Looking from our verandah at part of the gangway to get off the ship.The beginning of another Tokyo subway adventure.Inside view.On the subway.On the Hop On Bus, we passed many picturesque streets and scenes.Trying to figure out which way we should go.Momonji Sushi restaurant.Modest homes with flourishing gardens seen along the way.Ministry of Justice Building.Fuji television building.Variety show entertainment that night.

    Tokyo, Japan

    October 29, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    Today, we arrived back at our starting point in Tokyo to end the first leg of our trip. This meant a day in port with no excursions planned so we decided to take the shuttlebus from the ship and head out to a drop off point in Tokyo. As we passed through the cruise terminal there were some interesting displays. One was a gold Samurai suit of armour, called kinabi gusoku, allegedly, worn by the legendary Shogun Tokugawa leyasu in the 1500s. The next one was the black suit of armour, with the famous helmet with deer antlers, worn by the powerful general Honda Tadakatsu. He is famed for participating in over 50 battles in his lifetime without suffering a major injury, which earned him the moniker "The Warrior who surpassed death itself." While interesting, the most fun one was the colourful Halloween figures.
    We decided to do the Hop On Hop Off bus experience in Tokyo but had to get there from the drop off point by subway. This began the second part of the two-part series of the Tokyo Subway System versus Don and Lee. Just like our first experience before we got on the ship, it did not go well, being hugely frustrating and confusing. Not surprising when they put something like 3 million people through that terminal per day. Final score Tokyo Subway 2, Don and Lee 0! If I could have found my way out of the system to the street, I would have taken a taxi back to the ship!! However, because of Lee's dogged determination we finally got to the main pick-up point for the bus and spent about an hour doing one of the routes. We passed many interesting scenes. The first one was the Momonji Sushi restaurant with a big gold boar over the entrance. This is a long established restaurant that has been around for generations. It is famous for its Boar Hotpot, which is characterized by its deep red meat and white fatty meat. The most delicious part of the boar is the belly meat and the longer you simmer it, the more flavor will soak into the fat and the deeper the flavor will become. Of interest, we found out that there is a Momonji Sushi restaurant in Mississauga and Etobicoke in Toronto. We also passed the red brick Ministry of Justice Building, rebuilt in 1950 after the war. It now houses the Research and Training Institute of the Ministry of Justice, and a Justice library and museum We also passed the iconic gold coloured dome of the Fuji Television station.
    When we arrived back at the starting point, we made a quick decision to jump on another Hop On Hop Off Bus that took us along a different route but this time, back to where we could pick up the shuttle that took us directly back to the ship. The weather was looking a bit iffy with drizzling rain, but we were lucky enough to get the last two seats in the bottom of the bus. All the other passengers behind us had to go up to the upper deck. Well were we ever lucky because it started to rain harder and then came down in torrents. We felt so sorry for the people on the open upper deck , who, despite being given thin plastic ponchos, not only got soaked, but cold because of the wind. After getting off the bus where the ship shuttle bus was waiting, we had only a few minutes wait before it returned to the ship.
    Because of the rain, the Bon Voyage celebration, normally held on the pool deck was relocated, to the observation lounge. We then had a wonderful dinner at Prime 7, after which we took in the evening entertainment which was an ABBA themed variety show put on by the Seven Seas Explorer Entertainment Team.
    And so to bed.    Read more

  • Don and Lee McLoughlinDon and Lee McLoughlinTokyo to Hong Kong
    Close up at the entrance.
    Approaching unique 2 tier Sengen style architecture of inner shrine.The straw, entwined rope hanging over the entrance to the shrine is called shimenawa.Selfie attempt in front of shrine.Shinto gate at end of walking path which led to next picture of a red bridge..Standing on a bridge over Wakutama Pond where climbers stopped to cleanse before climbingAnother view of the pond.Mt Fuji. No snow, some clouds.Statue of a first Shogun, Miyamoto no Yoritomo.The Great Wave off Kanagawa.

    Shimizu, Japan

    October 30, 2024 in Japan ⋅ 🌧 16 °C

    Today our minds were on the typhoon that was bearing down on Taiwan and what possible side effects that will have for us when we visit Taiwan on Nov 5th, not to mention what the seas would be like for our next few days.
    Today is the second time we visited the city of Shimizu. In addition to the shrine we were about to visit, Shimizu is known for its green tea, but even more notably it is known for its tuna which we would learn all about at a lunch following the visit to the shrine. There were 37 of us on the bus making it the largest bus tour we’ve been on so far. Our guide today was Mr. Yuki. It took us 50 minutes to reach the shrine and on the way, he showed a terrific video about Mount Fuji on a large screen at the front of the bus. We wish more of our guides would have shown videos along the way.
    The first of two stops was at the Fujisan Honshu Takaha Shrine, on Mount Fuji, which is 3736 m high. Fuji means the equivalent of long life being made up of two words that mean something like "no death". The most severe earthquake was in the 12th century, but the most recent one was 300 years ago. The mountain has significant importance in the art of Japan. The painting "Great Wave off Kanagawa" also sometimes referred to as  "Under the Wave off Kanagawa" was originally a woodblock print by Japanese ukiyo-e artist Hokusai, created in late 1831 during the Edo period of Japanese history. The print depicts three boats moving through a storm-tossed sea, with a large, cresting wave forming a spiral over the boats with Mount Fuji visible in the background. Kanagawa is a prefecture (state) just north of Tokyo. There are tons of prints of this in art shops everywhere and it is featured on many souvenirs such as t-shirts and coffee mugs.
    Today, some 400,000 pilgrims climb Mount Fuji every year, and many of them stop at the shrine first to pray for a safe climb. The shrine celebrated the 1200th anniversary of its foundation in 2006. The shrine was built during a period of intense volcanic activity on Mount Fuji, and was intended to appease the kami of the mountain. It is the largest of five shrines on the mountain, and has long been considered a guardian deity that prevents natural disasters and insures childbirth ( once again, I didn’t make up that childbirth thing. It’s actually in the write up for the excursion.) There are more than 500 cherry trees in the surrounding gardens that provide a wonderfully scenic setting, but unfortunately, at this time of year there were no blossoms.
    We learned that the straw entwined rope hanging over the entrance to the shrine is called Shimenawa. It represents the boundary between the secular and the sacred world. By marking the limits of a space, it signifies purity and serves to ward off negative or impure influences. The braiding of the ropes, often made from rice straw, is also a symbolic act. It represents unity and strength.
    We wandered the grounds which were very picturesque and particularly enjoyable because there were no crowds. There is a pond, fed by melting snow and ice from Mount Fuji, and it was remarkably crystal clear. Some of the pictures that we took were of the wooden wish/prayer boards, called Ema. They are small wooden plaques, common to Japan, on which Shinto and Buddhist worshippers write prayers or wishes and then hang on a special rack. There were also fortune telling forms that people buy and if they like the fortune they get, they clip them on strings on different racks. The interesting thing is that if they didn't like their fortune, they would then hang those papers on a "not so good fortune rack". These are burned later in the hopes that their hope for a better fortune would be carried up to the gods and finally granted. Sort of like a second chance, I guess. We also saw an impressive statue of Minamoto no Yoritomo riding a horse. He was the founder and the first shogun of the Kamakura shogunate, ruling from 1192 until 1199, also the first ruling shogun in the history of Japan.
    Yuki told us that there were only about 30% of the days in a year where you can see Mount Fuji clearly and today, even while it started cloudy and rainy, by the time we arrived, the sun had come out and we could at least see part of the mountain from the shrine.
    After the shrine, we went to a sushi restaurant where a Master Chef and assistant demonstrated how to dismantle an entire 5ft long tuna by meticulously cutting out the premium pieces. It is quite an art form that requires a long apprenticeship, especially for chefs that are interested to cut up a tuna that may cost more than a million dollars!
    There are six types of tuna used for sushi toppings: Pacific bluefin tuna, Atlantic bluefin tuna, Southern bluefin tuna, Bigeye Tuna, Yellowfin Tuna, and Albacore. The taste differs depending on the type.
    There are also several different grades of tuna, each denoting a specific level of quality and characteristics. A tuna grading chart can vary slightly depending on the region or market; however, some common grades include:
    • # 1 grade: This is typically the highest grade available for tuna. It represents superior quality with vibrant coloration, high fat content, exceptional flavor, and a buttery texture.
    • # 2 grade: Falling slightly below the top grade, #2 grade tuna still maintains good color and flavor but may have less fat marbling or a slightly less desirable texture
    • Sushi/Sashimi grade: Tuna specifically labeled for raw consumption due to its freshness and careful handling
    • Canning/Loins grade: This grade denotes tuna intended for canning or processing into loins. While still of decent quality, it may have lower fat content and might not exhibit the same attributes as higher-grade options when consumed.
    Before we sat down for lunch the chef and his assistant wearing a goofy tuna hat, completely dismantled the tuna starting with cutting off the head. After cutting the fish in half lengthwise the centre bone was skillfully removed and each half was then cut in half again. Each time the quarter section was available, a helper would run that big piece of tuna into the kitchen. They ran these four sections to the kitchen, but left the head so that at the end of our lunch, people could go up and have their picture taken with the assistant while holding the head, which Lee and I both did.
    For lunch, we were served a pre-delivered selection of four pieces of tuna, after which we went up to the extensive sushi buffet and made our own selections, consisting of other fish including eel, and octopus. And yes, we did.
    One of the interesting things that we learned about sushi had to do with the wasabi. You are supposed to put the wasabi between the sushi meat and the rice before dipping in the soy sauce, and then eat. You’re not supposed to put the wasabi on top of the meat. Who knew!
    After lunch, we wandered through an extensive array of shops and bought a few souvenirs.
    Back on the ship, we attended a lecture at 3:15 pm by Adam Tanner about how the Japanese people justified the attack on Pearl Harbour. It’s very complicated but basically had to do with their desire for geographical expansion in the world and the west applying increasingly crippling embargoes on them which limited the resources they needed to do this.
    Adam spent much of his career as a foreign correspondent and now is an associate and fellow at Harvard's Institute for Quantitative Social Science.
    Today we were again encouraged to wear pink in support of breast cancer awareness and at 6 o’clock, there was the captain's welcome reception, which gave us all a chance to do this.    Read more

  • Don and Lee McLoughlinDon and Lee McLoughlinTokyo to Hong Kong
    Kobe port terminal.
    Pilot boat guided us into port.Food vendors on the way to the Osaka castle.Popular cheese filled pancakes have design on them of ten Yen coinInteresting food choices.View of iconic Osaka Castle from surrounding gardens.Looking out at Osaka from the 7th floor of the castle.Close up of a gold dragon decorating the top of the Castle.Another view.Below the explanations about history and culture there were many animated screens.Reflection of the city in decorated window on the observation deck.Detailed depiction of war setting.Halloween decorations when we returned to the ship.Lobster fritters.

    Kobe , Japan

    October 31, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    Today, after docking in Kobe, we drove to Osaka to visit the famous Osaka Castle. For context, Kobe is a port city with the population of 1.5 million people. From Kobe you can travel approximately northeast another 73 km to the city of Kyoto with the population of 2.6 million. From Kyoto continuing approximately northeast you can travel another 34 km to reach Osaka with a population of 2.7 million people. As such our tours to Kyoto and Osaka, all started in Kobe.
    On the walk towards the castle, there were colourful food and souvenir vendors and, as usual, hoards of school groups with lots of hellos, goodbyes and pleased to meet you greetings from the young children.
    After a series of feudal wars dating back to 1583, and several rebuilds of the castle, its main castle tower was then struck by lightening in 1665, burned down, and was not rebuilt until 1931. During the war it miraculously survived the city-wide air raids. Major repairs gave the castle new glamour in 1997. The castle tower is now quite modern on the inside and even has an elevator for easier accessibility to the 5th floor. From there you can walk up 2 more floors to an open air observation deck with amazing views.
    On the 4th floor, there is an extensive museum about the castle's history and about Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who was a Japanese samurai and regarded as the second "Great Unifier" of Japan.
    The castle tower is surrounded by secondary citadels, gates, turrets, impressive stone walls and moats. The Nishinomaru Garden, which we walked through, has 600 cherry trees, a tea house, the former Osaka Guest House and iconic views of the castle tower.
    The Osaka Castle Park covers about two square kilometers with lots of green space, sport facilities, a multi-purpose arena and a shrine dedicated to Toyotomi Hideyoshi. The park is one of Osaka's most popular spots during the cherry blossom season, which usually takes place in late March and/or early April.
    There are two moats surrounding the castle, the outer one is dry and the inner one does have some water. The stonework they used was remarkable in that the enormous blocks of stone, one of which weighed 150 tons, had to be pulled using ropes and rolling logs from 150 miles away, When we arrived back at the ship, the main atrium was all decked out in Halloween decorations.
    The entertainment after dinner was a very authentic and loud Folkloric Performance of a Taiko Drum Show. Tonight, we are docked and staying overnight in Kobe.    Read more

  • Don and Lee McLoughlinDon and Lee McLoughlinTokyo to Hong Kong
    Lee getting information from very helpful Kobe information staff.
    Entrance gate to China Town.Colourful pagoda was a main attraction for picture taking. Girls took this of us.We took a picture for the girls.Main street of China town.Lots of interesting food.Lee looking for eye glasses at the 100 Yen shop.Booth selling roasted duck snacks.There was quite a lineup.The preparation.Duck food vendor had colourful signs and props.The finished product.The wrapper it came in.Delicious snack of fried chicken on a skewer.Don's fried chicken on rice.Lee's Donburi bowl with grilled chicken.Versace cover plate at Sette Marie restaurant.

    Kobe, Japan

    November 1, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    Yesterday and today marked the second time on our trip that the ship stopped at Kobe making this our fourth day in Kobe. The last time, we had a very long tour so we decided that we would pass on a tour today, and instead, take the free shuttle from the ship to Chinatown for a day on our own. ( kind of strange to have a Chinatown in the middle of a Japanese city, don't you think?)
    Chinatown is located on a 1.5 km street tucked in between modern buildings of Kobe. The entrance gate was very colourful and lots of people were posing for pictures before passing through. These included thousands of students who, again, because of the season, are on excursions at this time of year. It is great to see so many youngsters, in so many different places, all neatly dressed in their school uniforms, being so very polite, but laughing and smiling and having so much fun together.
    The street was lined on both sides with food vendors with large, colourful billboard like menus, lanterns and signs and packed with people coming and going. Because it was raining lightly, most people were carrying opened umbrellas, which made navigating the foot traffic somewhat challenging.
    Our original idea was to find a restaurant that served authentic Kobe beef and have that for our lunch but because the prices were extremely high with minimums of over $100 per person and because the signs and menus were all in Japanese it was almost impossible to figure out what you would be getting for what price. So on to Plan B and look for other alternatives.
    We were attracted to one vendor with a rotating roasting oven containing five or six ducks, which looked very much like Peking duck. The husband carved the skin and the meat into small shreds and passed it on to his wife. She then assembled it, along with shredded cabbage, into a rice paper wrap, topped off with a delicious thick, dark sauce. It cost a approximately four dollars and it tasted delicious. Further, along the way we bought a skewer of three chunks of deep fried chicken at a price of about four dollars which we also shared.
    After a visit to a public toilet, and yet again another interesting toilet control panel, we ventured bravely into a small, very Japanese restaurant. It was a bit smoky because of the barbecuing of all the meats, but it just made it more authentic. We both had Japanese tea and shared a miso soup. Lee had a small donburi bowl with grilled chicken and Don had deep fried chicken on rice. There were no other tourists in the restaurant and it was fun because we sat at the counter behind which the three cooks were doing the all the barbecuing and cooking.
    After lunch, we headed back to the main entrance and along the way saw a very colourful pagoda surrounded by people taking pictures of each other. We asked a group of young Japanese girls if they would take a picture of us which they did and we in turn, offered to take a picture of them, and then, in the blink of an eye, airdropped the pictures to their own phones, giggled a lot, waved, and said goodbye.
    Back at the entrance, we turned left for one block and came to another long narrow street but this time with more modern boutique type shops. We stopped at a 100 Yen store, (which was like our Dollarama stores) and Lee bought two pairs of reader glasses for $1.10 each.
    Don turned around and went back to the shuttle meeting place while Lee continued a bit longer and finally returned to the bus for the short trip back to the ship.
    It was a very exciting day for us to be more up close and personal with the Japanese people, food and culture and a very pleasant change from all the shrines and temples that we have been visiting.
    After some quiet time on our return, we went to Sette Marie, the Italian restaurant (which I call the meatball restaurant just to irritate Heather). The plan was to just have a pizza because we were still full from our afternoon lunch, but when we arrived, the restaurant was full so we went downstairs to a lounge for a drink before they called us for dinner. Unfortunately, it turned out they didn’t have pizza on the menu so we dug into the smallest meals we could find.
    Following dinner, we went to the theatre for another fantastic show featuring music of internationally known singers like ABBA, Ricky Martin, Shania Twain, Elton John and many others.
    And so, after a great day, it was off to bed.    Read more

  • Don and Lee McLoughlinDon and Lee McLoughlinTokyo to Hong Kong
    Looking out from our verandah.
    Wave action during our lunch.Reading in the Atrium while Gretha cleaned our room.Must have been really important.Popcorn during the movie.

    Cruising the Philippine Sea

    November 2, 2024, Philippine Sea ⋅ 🌬 28 °C

    It was a bumpy ride last night and it continued into the morning. Before we fully woke up, still well snuggled in bed, I felt like there were children jumping on the bed. There was lots of swaying, ups and downs and occasional loud banging noises from pounding through the waves. According to the navigation information shown on our television, the winds were gusting up to 89 km/hr.
    Neither of us were feeling badly from the motion so we had a full breakfast and attended a 10:00am lecture on the influence of early Japanese movies on western and international movies. It seemed like an unlikely link to me, but he showed side by side situations, screen shots and movie clips comparing many early Japanese films, and many western films that followed and it was quite remarkable how the Japanese situations had been incorporated into more modern day western films.
    The wind was so strong that despite the sliding door to the veranda being firmly closed, there was an almost ear piercing whistling. When we mentioned it to Gretha, our cabin steward, she reported it.
    We had a late lunch in one of the protected areas of the pool deck. The wind was so strong that they had removed all the towels from the chaises around the pool because they would have blown off. It was a shame because except for the wind and rocking, the top deck would have been full of people enjoying the pool, but it was closed. When we returned from lunch, the whistling was gone because they had taped over the locking side of the verandah door.
    At 2:00pm, we watched an excellent, 2hr.15 minute movie “Memoirs of a Geisha “. However, because the theatre is in the front of the boat and the wind had increased even more, it was indeed a bumpy time.
    The story was quite an eye opener as she started her life as an abused and orphaned little girl. However, through sheer determination she finally became a famous and well respected Geisha.
    Back up to the cabin and at 5.00pm, the captain announced that because of the heavy seas and the deployment of the stabilizers, our speed has been significantly reduced, which means it is unlikely that we will make it to tomorrow’s port Naha, Japan by the scheduled 8.30am.
    We thought that because of the motion on the ship, that the famous “block party" scheduled for 6.00pm tonight, would be canceled but it wasn’t, and as the captain came around, I asked him how high the waves were. The answer was 30 feet at noon hour!
    We did go down for dinner but can’t remember which restaurant it was.
    The entertainment this evening was a magic show which we did not attend.    Read more

  • Don and Lee McLoughlinDon and Lee McLoughlinTokyo to Hong Kong
    Shureimon Gate at the Shurijo Castle
    Gate to old guard house.Admiring the stone work as we continued to walk towards the castle.Wide, but high rise steps up to the ticket office.Gate at the top of the steps at the ticket office.Live cultural show just outside the ticket office.Picture of what the reconstructed castle will look like.Very friendly costumed guard at entrance to the top area behind the castle.Beautiful stone walls and view at the top.Another lookout point.Robes for rent for picture taking opportunities.All dressed up.

    Okinawa (Naha) Japan

    November 3, 2024, East China Sea ⋅ 🌬 25 °C

    Naha is the capital and largest city of the island Okinawa with a population of 1,457,000. The island is the southernmost Japanese prefecture (state) of Japan which lies 400 miles south of Kyushu and is only 66 miles long and 7 miles wide. It is known for its tropical, humid climate, broad beaches and coral reefs, as well, of course, as a World War II invasion site.
    Our first stop on the 4.5 hour excursion for today was at the UNESCO World Heritage site, Shuri Castle, the residence of the Ryukyu Royal family for more than 400 years. It’s surrounded by tall, curved walls of intricately, cut and placed limestone blocks. The bright red castle is a mixture of both Japanese and Chinese architectural styles. The Shureimon gate, the entrance to the castle is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and has become a symbol of Okinawa.
    There were well over 100 steps with a higher rise than normal, which made walking strenuous.
    The original nine facilities of the castle, including the Seiden (main structure) were burned down by a fire on Oct.31st, 2019. As a result, we could not see the actual castle but along the way, there were big picture boards surrounding the reconstruction area showing what the building would look like when it was finished. There were windows to look through to see the construction progress. When we got to the ticket office, there was a live, colourful cultural show but due to time, we couldn’t watch for more than a few minutes. The pathway eventually led to a high observation area where we could take pictures of the impressive landscape below. From there, we returned to the bus.
    Our next stop was at the Shinkiba-en gardens. Shikinaen contains many architectural and design elements borrowed from both Japan and China. Shikinaen is a circuit garden, a traditional Japanese layout centered on a pond. The pond is fed by a spring known as Ikutokusen, enclosed by low, curved walls of coral limestone. Two stone monuments near the spring are engraved with commemorative messages from two envoys from China. A Chinese-style arched bridge crosses over the pond, and a smaller bridge leads to the Rokkakudo, a hexagonal, Chinese-style pavilion. The Udun, a statehouse with a traditional red-tiled roof, is on the opposite side of the pond. We walked, often over uneven and winding pathways, through a very pretty setting towards a central pond fed by crystal clear mountain springs. Our guide said the paths were curved because evil spirits can only go in the straight lines. Another passenger beside me said I wonder who made that up so I asked Mr. Google and here is what I found. The idea that evil spirits can only travel in straight lines is a myth in Japanese culture. The fact is that zig-zag paths and bridges are often featured in Japanese gardens simply because they are attractive and fun to walk over.
    The final stop for the day was free time on the Kokusai-dori boulevard, Naha's main street, lined with fashionable shops that carried a huge variety of merchandise. Before setting out on our own, we found a washroom in a modern department store and in the process discovered a very nice restaurant. We pointed at the pictures on the lunch menu that we wanted and it was another lovely adventure into Japanese cuisine.
    Before heading back to the street, we wandered through the store and Lee found a pleated skirt which she bought to compliment the beautiful leather jacket that Rob and Karen gave Lee when we were visiting with them in Victoria. Just after walking out of the department store, we saw an extremely busy, caged in dog play area, combined with a veterinarian clinic. Once we were on the streets, they were, as described to us by our guide, full of colourful, but largely touristy products. Because today was a National Cultural Day holiday it was quite busy on the street even though the street was totally closed off to traffic which made browsing much safer. We finally made our way back to the shuttle bus that took us back to the ship and enjoyed some lovely time by the pool.
    At 5:00pm the captain made an unexpected announcement over the PA system. Because of a typhoon approaching Taiwan, which was to be part of our 2 next stops, we would encounter waves of over 35 feet. It was decided that it was unsafe to continue to Taiwan and we were told that at 6 o’clock we would head out for a two-day, open water cruise to Hong Kong. The weather during this trip was promised to be sunny and warm with smooth seas. We were disappointed in not going to see Taiwan, but we were relieved to be spared the waves, having toughed through 30 foot waves the day before.
    At 6:00pm, the captain held his thank you cocktail party for returning passengers and honoured those with particularly long stays on Regent Cruises. There were two people who, over the years, had accumulated over 900 days each at sea on Regent cruises!!
    For dinner we went to the Compass Rose restaurant and, at a shared table, endured boring conversations with a former chiropractor. I had a hard time finding topics of common interest because when I asked him what his hobbies were and what he did after retirement, he said he didn’t have any.
    The show tonight was over the top fantastic with dancing and singing, representing countries from all over the world. The talent is extraordinary. After that, we wandered about looking for dance opportunities and found one in the observation deck lounge, had one dance to Lady in Red and called it a day.    Read more

  • Don and Lee McLoughlinDon and Lee McLoughlinTokyo to Hong Kong
    Lee outside an inside public washroom.
    Instruction panel for toilette.At one of our lunch stops, you were required to put on slippers before going to the toilette.Sign above one of the men's urinals.This toilette had a combination wash basin and tank fill up.Many of the toilette stalls had seats for infants.When was the last time you saw orchids above urinals?Another control panel.Urinals looking out to the open.Interesting concept. What if you don't take enough?Toilette and nearby child seat.Lots of security bars, I guess so you could hold on!Interesting description. "Classic Range"

    Hong Kong

    November 3, 2024 in Hong Kong ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C

    Before leaving the Japan part of our trip, I can't resist from telling about Japanese toilets. Japan seems to have a thing about toilets. They have heated seats which, despite my best efforts, I couldn't seem to turn off. At the push of a selection of well illustrated buttons, they will spray wash from below, either or both your forward and backwards parts. There are pressure adjustments for this. There is even a blow dry mode as well as a deodorizer option. Some even offer music with volume controls, whether it is for the relaxation of the user or to mask any potentially embarrassing sounds, I am not sure. In any event, not the kind of thing I would dare use. I thought it might work for washing socks and underwear but I forgot about the automatic flush at the end of the cycle.
    I have posted a variety of interesting "toilette photos" for your further enjoyment. Besides being entertaining, the washroom facilities were immaculately clean wherever we went. There was also no problem anywhere to find washrooms. The guides always asked if we needed to use the "Happy" room. A cute way of asking us before we had to ask them.

    Some of you may have seen the movie, "Perfect Days" about a gentleman who was a janitor who washed public toilets on the streets of Tokyo. These were not any ordinary washrooms but architect designed and placed in public parks. There are tours given to these washrooms but unfortunately they only seem to take place from April to September. Sadly, we did not see any of them on any of our tours.    Read more

  • Don and Lee McLoughlinDon and Lee McLoughlinTokyo to Hong Kong
    We were all invited to come up on the stage.
    During which, the performers went back to watch us from the theater.Explaining that each performer has their own changing station.The performers watching us from the theater.Lee admiring a dress that would be worn by the lead performer tonight.Wigs and props .Some of the costumes.Sound and light technician showing us how complex the controls are.More of the same.Playing shuffleboard with pickle ball court and putting green in background.Dressed in pink ( well almost) for dinner.Lee was wearing pink also.Smoked Salmon appetizer for dinner.Sexy dresses and high heels at the show.

    Philippine Sea

    November 4, 2024, Philippine Sea ⋅ 🌬 28 °C

    Cruising towards Hong Kong.
    Last night we set our clock back one hour and, because of that and the free day at sea, we slept in a bit and enjoyed a relaxing breakfast on the deck at the back of the ship. It was delightfully warm with sunny skies and calm seas. We had a fun FaceTime phone call with Karen who just happened to be in their storage locker on their exercise bike watching a cycling trip through Vietnam.
    At 10:00am, Lee attended another lecture, this time on China and its relationship with the western world throughout the ages. I preferred to spend time on the pool deck.
    At 11:00am, there was is a backstage tour of the production theatre, including changing rooms, costumes, set storage area, as well as an explanation of the markings for the performers positions on the stage. When we arrived in the theater, all the performers sat on the front edge of the stage while we sat in the theater. They each introduced themselves, explaining their past theatrical venues and how many contracts they had had with Regent Seven Seas Cruises. After that, they moved to the seats in the theater and we were invited to come up on the stage. Our cruise director asked us to look out at the theater where the performers were now sitting, which, during performances, is completely dark. We said we can't see any of them. She then said, well that is what the performers see. They can't see if people are smiling and enjoying the show and that is why cheers and applause from the audience is so important. Also, while we were on stage, they closed the curtains and went black, i.e. turned the stage lights off as they do for the performers at the beginning of shows to position themselves before the curtain is raised, and it was a bit freaky. The seas were quite rough, and it was a bit difficult to maintain our balance even when the lights were on. Our tour director then taught those who wanted to participate, how to do a series of 4 popular dance steps, which was also intended to let them experience the challenge the performers have in rough seas. Following that, we were divided into small groups, each led by one of the performers, to see the backstage rooms. In addition to experiencing a bit about stage presence, we certainly got an appreciation for how difficult it is for them to put on such impressive shows given the small confines of the various rooms.
    After lunch, we skipped the second lecture of the day about the history of cruise ships, preferring to spend time on the sundeck.
    Before going down to our room, we played shuffleboard for the first time. (They also had a pickle ball court closed in with mesh, a 9 hole mini golf course and a golf driving cage.) Lee was killing me at shuffleboard until we eventually were tied so we decided to call it quits.
    Before dinner at Chartreuse, we had time to enjoy a glass of wine and watch a replay of both the China lecture and the History of Cruise ships on the television in our cabin. After dinner, we attended the show, Paradis, described as "an energetic Bohemian Cabaret that showcased the distinctive French style". By this time the ship was really rocking and we thought they might even call off the show. The women were wearing high heel shoes, and despite the ship rocking and rolling significantly, they stole the show. How they did it we can’t imagine, especially after our earlier on-stage experience. The red dress that Lee was looking at in the behind stage picture is the one worn by the lead lady in the last picture.
    Following the show, our cruise Director, Lorraine, reminded us that once the ship docked tomorrow in Hong Kong, the duty-free shops on board would be closed for good and that if we had any unused on-board credits that we should use them up before the ship docked the next day or lose them. So off we went . Don bought three shirts. Lee bought a necklace and earrings, none of which we would have purchased on our own but because of the “use it or lose it” condition….. we did.
    Following that, we stumbled through a few dances, still in heavy seas, in one of the lounges and packed it in.    Read more

  • Don and Lee McLoughlinDon and Lee McLoughlinTokyo to Hong Kong
    Fishing as we sailed by.
    Fishing boats and windmills as we sailed into Hong Kong.Land fill expansion.Excited to be here!Wow!Wow, but in a different way.Star Ferry terminus for ferries from Kowloon to Hong Kong Island.The Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, site of handover July 1, 1997More wow.Everyone was on deck.Including us.Our home at sea.Giant Xmas tree on the way to the shopping centre.2 cool guys wearing a Tudor watch.Nice vest, but is it worth $1,700?Night view of Hong Kong island with Star Ferries crossing the Harbour.Another view. Note bright corporate signs on top of buildings.

    Hong Kong

    Nov 5–10, 2024 in Hong Kong ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C

    We were able to have breakfast again under the umbrellas on the outside back deck, during which we had another fun FaceTime call, this time with David, Callie and Lilah. We did a bit more duty-free shopping before we landed in Hong Kong at 1 :00pm.
    Lee is up doing her laps. I think she did 45. It is extremely hot, and she came back quite flushed. The temperature is probably 80°.
    After a late lunch, we began to see the skyline of Hong Kong in the distance. As we got closer, it turned out to be, what has to be the most beautiful and dramatic harbour entrance in the world for cruise ships. As the ship slowly approached our still distant docking point, high-rise steel and glass buildings lined both sides of the harbour. Everyone was up on deck taking pictures and the feeling was just electric. The mood was even more enhanced by the Regent Band playing pop music by the poolside.
    We passed the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition centre which looks a little like the Sydney Opera House. The centre was the site of the 1997 Hong Kong handover ceremony, which signified the end of British colonial rule. We were in Hong Kong in September 1996 and they had a giant clock ticking down the hours before the handover on July 1, 1997.
    When we docked, we were disappointed to find that our port-side cabin was facing the "non view side". However, we can always go to the observation lounges and the upper deck to see the buildings and lights of Hong Kong Island.
    We docked on the Kowloon side, a peninsula attached to mainland China. From here, we look across to Hong Kong Island. After landing, everyone had to go through a customs check with passports and it was not until the customs officials were certain that all passengers had gotten off the ship, and they had seen our passports, that we allowed to come back on the ship. In the meantime, we window shopped another phenomenally large, modern shopping mall at pier side, featuring high end clothing, jewelry and watches. There is even an exclusive shop for the Tudor watches, one of which which Lee gave me for our 50th anniversary. Further along, we looked at a very colourful vest, but it turned out to be US$1762 and also beautiful pink long sleeve shirt that was $350. Clearly not our kind of mall!
    While we browsed through one of the clothing stores, they were playing the song Dance Monkey on the sound system which made me think of Lilah and Callie because we all enjoy that song.
    In the past, when we were in port, by some strange agreement, the news channels on the TV were blocked out, but at least the Wi-Fi worked so we could use our phones to check on things. We were happy to find that in Hong Kong, all the television channels are working so whenever we’re on the ship, we would be able to follow the news of the US election.
    Our dinner tonight was in Prime Seven and Lee had lobster tails (two, actually because the waiter inadvertently doubled her order) and Don had lamb chops. At 8 o’clock every night, there is a laser light display over Hong Kong Island, while many of the buildings have their own led light shows. We were late leaving the restaurant so we missed the light show but enjoyed sitting on the upper deck afterwards taking pictures of the gorgeous nighttime skyline of Hong Kong Island. We took in another sensational show, described as My Revolution, the musical frenzy that rocked America and became known as the British invasion. It was put on by the Explorer Production Company and it is difficult to describe just how extraordinarily talented these youngsters are.
    And so to bed, feeling anxious about the election results.    Read more

  • Don and Lee McLoughlinDon and Lee McLoughlinTokyo to Hong Kong
    Yaumatei Tin Hau Temple.
    Gold Dragon Boat with "well- wishing gold foil."Drummer on the Dragon Boat.There was a heavy smell inside of incense and prayer sticks.Very colourful alters inside.This Sing Wong statue is the only statue in the building that survived a fire in 2015Astonishing detail.Walking to the Wet Market.Hundreds of stalls of colourful, fresh and creatively arranged produce.Cabbage, lettuce, char , onions, bananas........tomatoes, potatoes, cucumber, zucchini......Bean sprouts galore.Ducks..........and duck inwards.Oranges.A cat ( probably not for sale) and limes.Taste tingling array of more inwards and parts.Green bitter melon, corn, beans, carrots, garlic........Coconuts at weddings bring a happy and prosperous married life.Entrance to the Jade Market.Lee in full bargaining mode.

    Hong Kong

    November 6, 2024 in Hong Kong ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C

    Election results day for us given that we are 12 hours ahead of the United States.
    We had to be in the assembly lounge at 8:45am for our tour today which was called 9 Dragons. The name Kowloon comes from the Chinese phrase "gau lung", which translates to "nine dragons". The name refers to the nine peaks that rise above the northern part of Kowloon Bay, which are said to resemble a dancing dragon. The peaks include Kowloon Peak, Tung Shan, Tate's Cairn, Temple Hill, Unicorn Ridge, Lion Rock, Beacon Hill, and Crow's Nest. Legend says that the name was given to the area in 1278 by Emperor Bing of the Southern Song Dynasty.
    The weather for today is forecasted to be sunny, with a high of 80 F.
    The first of four stops was at the Tin Hau Temple. The Tin Hau Temple and the adjoining buildings have significant heritage value because it is a multi functional place for worship, arbitration and education, each with it’s separate, but attached building. The the top of the main building is very ornate. Once inside, there are the usual prayer/incense sticks, stuck in the sand of various containers, the smoke, carrying their prayers skyward, except for the smoke that Lee inhaled. Lee is particularly sensitive to incense smoke, which was quite thick in some areas, so she left the building. There are so many ways of worshiping in these Temples. In one, there were statues and even a 3 ft. long dragon boat with people in it. The instructions were as follows.
    1) Pray sincerely to Holy Emperor Tin Hau and paste a foil of gold leaf (which of course worshipers had to purchase) onto the Well-Wishing Dragon Boat.
    2) Fortune may come if you place on:
    -Dragon Head: Good for study
    -Crew: Good for work
    -Boat body: Good for business
    -Stern: Good for Luck
    The second stop was at a Wet Market. Fortunately, or unfortunately depending on your interests, most of the rows of stalls that we saw were dry goods and vegetables, meat and dead, not live, fish. There were hundreds of stalls, often selling exactly the same products. I can’t understand how they make a living this way, unless they each have their own special customers. The unfortunate part I mentioned is that we didn’t have time to visit the rows categorized as the wet market which is generally all kinds of live fish flipping and flopping in water containers, and sometimes flipping out onto the floor, and thus making the floor wet. In this area, there would have been lots of crustaceans as well.
    We next visited Yau Ma Tei Jade Hawker Bazaar which is a large Jade market where everyone sells items that look like the same products everyone else is selling: broaches, necklaces and bracelets. Lee, who loves to bargain, did buy a jade medallion for a necklace, but only after refusing the prices offered until the vendor chased her down the aisle offering yet another lower price that Lee was finely willing to pay.
    Our next stop was at a flower market. Not your average market building but rather an entire square block of over 100 stores selling all kinds of plants and flowers. Good thing we had a timeline or Lee may never have come back to the bus! Also in this area there were two additional markets that we didn't have time to see. One was a Goldfish Market and the other was a Bird Market. It is a custom for people to take their birds in their bamboo cages out for a walk. No kidding!
    The last stop for the day was the Chi Lin Nunnery, right in the middle of the city, with spectacular buildings and gardens. At the Chi Lin Nunnery and adjacent Nan Lian Garden, we were supposed to " stumble into a world of chanting nuns and meticulously pruned bonsai trees." Well we saw the trees but didn't hear any chanting. Although it looks ancient, this Buddhist monastery complex was actually built in the 1930s and later renovated in 1998. Following ancient Chinese construction methods, the impressive wooden structure features a matrix of interlocking cypress wood beams, without a single nail, making this one of the world’s largest handmade wooden buildings. Inside the structure, the Main Hall honors, with an impressive statue, Shakyamuni Buddha, the founder of the Buddhist religion, while the Hall of Celestial Kings features dedicated altars where worshippers can pray for protection and prosperity. We then walked to the adjacent Nan Lian Garden. Built in 1934, the public park stretches across 3.5 hectares of dramatic landscaping featuring Chinese-style pagodas, pavilions, graceful bridges, and rock formations. There’s also a vegetarian restaurant and tea house onsite said to be one of the most tranquil lunch places in town. We didn't go there.
    We got back to the ship in time for a late lunch after which we turned on the television to check on the election results. Since we were hoping for a Trump defeat, it was looking pretty grim, and I can’t describe how awful it made me feel. After a rather quiet lunch by the pool deck, we learned the final results which made me feel even worse.
    I would guess at least 75% of the passengers on the ship where Americans and if you wanted to talk politics, you had to be very careful how you approached the topic. I can’t tell you how many of them, particularly from California said/joked that if Trump won, they would probably move to Canada. I just spoke to one of them and asked if they would like the name of a good realtor.
    After the win by Trump was declared, there was certainly no cheering, very little discussion, at least on the pool deck . Maybe everyone was in their cabin either celebrating or commiserating. From around the pool deck, you would never have known that one of the most important elections in the world had just been finalized.
    We got all spiffed up for the captain’s farewell party at 6:00pm and our 7:00pm dinner reservation at the French restaurant Chartreuse and hoped to finish dinner in time to see the Hong Kong light show, and also stay awake long enough to take in the entertainment for the evening, described as Broadway in Concert.    Read more

  • Don and Lee McLoughlinDon and Lee McLoughlinTokyo to Hong Kong
    Breakfast on back deck.
    View from pool with city buildings in background.Bauhinia × blakeana commonly called the Hong Kong orchid tree.Leaves are in the shape of a butterfly.Cable for Tsing Ma Bridge measures 1.1metres in diameter.Ting Kai Bridge.Colourful entrance to Tin Hau Temple.Guan Yin Goddess of the Sea at Tin Hau Temple at Repulse Bay.Another view of the Goddess of the Sea.Lots of colourful statues offering unknown benefits to us at least.Turtles symbolize longevity, eternity, and the continuation of life for BuddhistsGuanGuanyin is the goddess of mercy and considered to be the physical embodiment of compassion.Statue of three celestial rams presenting the jade scepter of prosperity to the people of Hong KongLooking back to the famous Repulse Bay beach.Man throwing coins into mouth of fish wishing for something.Another view with our ship middle left.One of the views from Victoria Peak.

    Hong Kong

    November 7, 2024 in Hong Kong ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    In preparation for our debarkation tomorrow, we spent the morning packing up. Our first of two tours for today didn’t start until 1:45pm so we had time for lunch before heading off on our tour.
    Our guide today was delightful 44-year-old man whose Chinese name is Kio. He explained that at a certain age Chinese children are allowed to pick their own name that could be different from the name given to them by their parents. He chose the name Pluto, because he liked the name because it was an important planet. However, when Pluto was downgraded, and no longer called a planet, he changed to Kio.
    Giving us some personal glimpses into life in Hong Kong he said that:
    -Almost everybody has an air conditioner because in the summertime temperatures can reach 36 to 37° with 99% humidity. He said that without air conditioners, water in the air would condense on the walls and would have to be wiped off and there was a constant the risk of mold.
    -30% of the people in Hong Kong live in subsidized government housing because the cost of housing is incredibly high. For example, to rent a 500 sq. ft. apartment could cost as much as $2400 US and averages $1800 US per month.
    -He lives on the 35th floor of a government subsidized building and his rent for 250 sq. ft. is only $240 US per month.
    -The cost of gas is between three and four dollars per litre
    -Parking spaces for cars is more expensive than house renting.
    -There are two cruise ports. The one that accepts the larger ships in Kowloon is on the site of the former airport. The smaller one, where our ship is docked, is near the Star Ferries terminal which operate 24 hours a day and takes you from Kowloon on the mainland across the Victoria Harbour to Hong Kong Island.
    -There are a total of 260 islands that make up Hong Kong, only four of which are populated. There are 5 existing underground tunnels and one more in the works that go under Victoria Harbour from Kowloon to Hong Kong Island.
    -It is estimated that 80% Hong Kong tourists come from mainland China which borders on the New Territories part of Hong Kong. The distance from the Chinese border to Kowloon is only about 40 km.
    - He told us about the importance of Feng Shui in Hong Kong. Feng shui originates from an ancient Chinese respect for the environment and the belief that cosmological influences strongly affect our everyday lives. Many people in Hong Kong believe that good feng shui can result in prosperity while at the same time ward off bad luck. Feng shui is integrated into many aspects of Hong Kong life, including architecture design, and personal decisions. Feng shui is used in the design of homes, offices, shopping malls, and other buildings. For example, the HSBC headquarters has a garden in front to collect energy, and the IFC building has a crown-shaped roof that wards off bad luck. Even goldfish and cats come into play. Needless to say, it is very complicated.
    -The number 8 is the luckiest number in Chinese culture. The pronunciation of 8 in Chinese (bā) sounds like the verb to make fortune (fā). - 13 is a lucky number but 14 is not. So he told us that because our bus number for the tour was 8 and we had 13 passengers on the tour, we were in a very lucky bus. The number 4 is considered unlucky in Chinese culture because it sounds similar to the word for "death" This phonetic resemblance has led to the number 4 being associated with misfortune.
    - In 1941, Canadians played an important part in the Japanese defensive war against China. For Canada, the defense of Hong Kong came at a great human cost. Approximately 290 Canadian soldiers were killed in battle and, while in captivity, approximately 264 more died as POWs, for a total death toll of 554. In addition, almost 500 Canadians were wounded. Of the 1,975 Canadians who went to Hong Kong, more than 1,050 were either killed or wounded. This was a casualty rate of more than 50%, arguably one of the highest casualty rates of any Canadian theatre of action in the Second World War.
    - A Canadian, sergeant-Major John Osborn, earned the VC in the battle. The end of the long story goes like this. “but eventually the Japanese worked close enough to throw hand grenades into the Canadian position. Osborn picked up many of these grenades and threw them back at the enemy. Finally, a grenade fell where he could not get to it in time to throw it back. Without hesitation, Osborn shouted a warning, pushed a soldier aside and selflessly threw himself on the grenade. It exploded and killed him instantly.”
    Our first stop was to see two incredible bridges that were quite close to each other. As we walked towards the bridges, we saw a fascinating Purple Orchid tree which can grow up to 35ft. high. The fragrant, orchid-like flowers are usually 10 to 15 centimetres (3.9 to 5.9 in) across, and bloom from early November to the end of March. The Bauhinia double-lobed leaf is similar in shape to a butterfly. It is sterile, which means it does not produce seeds or fruits, and is a hybrid. Propagation can only be accomplished by cuttings, layering, or grafting onto seedlings of one of the parent species. All existing plants are descendants of hybrids cultivated at the Hong Kong Botanical Gardens
    The first bridge we came to was the Tsing Ma Bridge, the world's 17th-longest span suspension bridge, and was the second longest at the time of its completion. The bridge was named after the two islands it connects, namely Tsing Yi and Ma Wan. It has two decks and carries both road and rail traffic, which also makes it the largest suspension bridge of this type. The bridge has a main span of 1,377 metres (4,518 ft) and a height of 206 metres (676 ft). The span is the longest of all bridges in the world carrying rail traffic. The 41-metre-wide (135 ft) bridge deck carries six lanes of automobile traffic, with three lanes in each direction. The lower level contains two rail tracks and two sheltered carriageways used for maintenance access and, traffic lanes when particularly severe typhoons strike Hong Kong and the bridge deck is closed to traffic.
    There was a full-size section of the Tsing Ma Bridge main suspension cable on display here which Lee stood beside while I took a picture. The cable is 1.1 metres in diameter!
    From the same lookout, we could see the Ting Kai bridge. Unlike the suspension cables of the Tsing Ma Bridge, Ting Kau Bridge is a cable-stayed bridge that is 3,861 feet long having very picturesque suspension wires.
    Next, we visited Repulse Bay, one of the most expensive housing areas in Hong Kong. The CEO of Tenet Health Care Company bought a house there for US$57 million in 2014. In 2018, twin townhouses were sold for $127 million US or about $90,000/sq ft. In 2018, Li Ka-shing, the richest man in Hong Kong, was living near Repulse Bay.
    The bay features an extensive man-made beach and the colourful Tin Hau Temple which people visit and make prayers for every conceivable situation. There was a 5’ high statue of Tsoi San, God of Wealth that promises prosperity. People rub paper currency over the statue as a wish for financial prosperity. Just to the left of that was a white marble Buddha with small boys and girls sitting around and people could rub their choice of boy or girl in the hopes that that would be the sex of their next child. There was a 10-foot high gold fish with an open mouth that one gentleman was throwing coins into in hopes of whatever. And there were statues of 3 large white goats at which people could wish for whatever. As an aging senior male, I thought there was one statue that was noticeably missing.
    Following that, we drove to Victoria Peak and took some sensational pictures of the city below. This ended our tour, and we drove back to the ship for a very quick dinner before heading out again for a nighttime tour. It was too bad to be rushed because the dinner was Chinese themed with all the servers in colourful costumes. But we were on holidays so not wanting to waste any time, we rushed out to the bus that would take us to the first part of our nighttime tour, starting at 7:30pm, on the open top deck of a Hop On Hop Off bus, of the colourful night lit streets of Hong Kong. At the end of this tour, we got off the bus and walked to the Temple Street Night Market. Very colourful displays of all kinds of merchandise, including some pretty ladies also for sale.    Read more

  • Don and Lee McLoughlinDon and Lee McLoughlinTokyo to Hong Kong
    Full laundry facilities on ship. Getting ready to leave.
    One of the famous green coloured Star FerriesApproaching Hong Kong Island.Looking back towards Kowloon with our ship at the pier.Our home, sweet home for 23 days! Seven Seas Explorer.We were not the first ones there.Star Ferry docking.Travelling from Kowloon side, across Victoria Harbour to Hong Kong Island .Waiting for arrival of the tram to Victoria Peak.Going up.Getting better at selfies?View from the observation deck.Don on the observation deck.Spectacular views from deck at Victoria Peak.Another view. Note tram in bottom of picture.

    Hong Kong

    November 8, 2024 in Hong Kong ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    Goodbye Seven Seas Explorer. We have travelled 1,804 nautical miles at sea on this spectacular ship, but it was time to leave.
    We were up early at 6:00am, put a last load of laundry in the dryer, went up for breakfast at 7:00am. Back to pick up laundry from dryer and left the ship at 8:00am. We walked to the bus to take us on our excursion tour in Hong Kong.
    Our guide today is Victor, and it turned out that he was very articulate and highly organized, which made for a very enjoyable but busy full day.
    The first adventure this morning, began with the five minute ride on the Star Ferry from Kowloon to Hong Kong Island. We rode first class, which is to say, on the top deck. A bus picked us up on Hong Kong Island and drove us to the mountain where we took the Peak Tram to Victoria Peak. It is a funicular i.e. stays on tracks. The maximum angle is 26% but it feels more like 45%. At its steepest pitch it looked like the buildings, just a short distance away, we’re leaning on an angle. The Tram was built originally in 1888 for the particularly rich and politically important residents who lived at the top of Victoria Peak. Fortunately, the tram that we were on was the 6th generation of the original. On the way up, it was somewhat reassuring that the cable that drives the two trams is 2 inches thick.
    Victor told us that the cost of housing on Victoria Peak is approximately $10,000 US per square foot compared to $2000 US in the city.
    The population of Hong Kong, with a birth rate of only 0.9% is in decline despite incentives to have larger families.
    It was an exhilarating ride up the tram, and we had a chance to take some good pictures. Instead of taking the tram back down, the bus met us at the top and took us to our lunch venue which was another excellent buffet. There was a very talented singer/guitar player who quietly entertained us during lunch singing relaxed songs, some of them, my favorites, by John Denver.
    Following lunch we headed to the famous Stanley Market named after Lord Stanley, Britain's Prime minister and the longest-serving leader of the Conservative Party (1846–68). who was the head of the colony, but never actually went to Hong Kong. Before touring the market, we browsed through yet another shrine, this time with very colourful and interesting statues. There was one Buddha that you could rub, making wishes for certain things depending on what part of the body you touched. There was another one that you could rub with Hong Kong currency in the hopes it would make you wealthy. Of course you had to donate the money to make the "prayer" come true.
    We then wandered around the Stanley Market, which Victor said had better merchandise than the night market, but it was very touristy, with mostly the same types of merchandise over and over again and we agreed that perhaps we’ve been to too many markets.
    Most of the water for Hong Kong comes from China, but on the way back to our hotel we passed one of three man made water reservoirs that also serves Hong Kong by collecting rain water.
    As we drove by the reservoir, Victor pointed to what he referred to as free housing. Then he laughed and said "that’s the prison".
    Our last stop of the day was at Aberdeen, where we boarded in small groups, flat bottomed Sampans for a 15 minute tour around the harbour. The boats were powered by an outboard motor and steered by a long-handled tiller, in our case, by a very friendly Chinese lady. The tour took us by many old looking boats on which many people lived as well as through alleys of modern yachts.
    Following that last stop today, we were delivered to our hotel, the Shangri-La in Kowloon. It is a five-star hotel, and we can’t imagine that anything could be much ritzier. They even change the carpets on the floor of the elevators to tell you what day of the week it is.
    After unpacking for our three nights at the hotel, we decided to head out to the street and find something to eat rather than stay in the hotel. We got a recommendation from the concierge and headed towards that but came across a Taiwanese and Vietnamese food restaurant right on the street very close to the hotel and we decided to have dinner there. The menu was very extensive, thankfully, supported by excellent pictures and with the help of our server we ordered barbequed satay skewers of chicken, beef and pork for Don and Lee had grilled beef wrapped around lemongrass sticks. It was a great dinner, and super environment because our table was right on the sidewalk of a very busy pedestrian walkway. We felt a bit like mannequins in a store window as we were almost the only North American people there.
    After dinner, we took the short walk to the boardwalk along the harbour and walked back towards the Star Ferry terminal, which was the prime viewing area for nightly light and music show. It was quite spectacular with the lights on the buildings on Hong Kong Island and music in the background. There were thousands of people watching on the boardwalk, apparently a nightly occurrence. We saw a cruise ship, leaving the harbour and we thought at first that it was our ship. It wasn’t but the people would have been treated to a glorious light show.
    We got back to the room at approximately 9 o’clock and having had quite a long day, we packed it in.    Read more

  • Don and Lee McLoughlinDon and Lee McLoughlinTokyo to Hong Kong
    We saw this sign just before getting on the gondola.
    Boarding the Gondola on the way to the Monastery. Met Roger & Maria Doolan from AustraliaQuite the views on the way up.First view of the Po Lin Monastery from the gondola.Beautiful gardens at the Monastery.Lotus flower in one of many Lotus flower ponds.Photo op but sign says "Please do not Tap"The Big Buddha is in the village of Ngong Ping.Looking up at the Buddha from the village.A picture of a picture to better show details.Entrance to grounds of the monastery.One Don, one Gate and a Buddha.Life-like statues of cranes.Directions to the monastery.Approaching the Monastery.Monk handing out souvenir prayer pendants (which we hung on our Xmas tree.)Gold Buddha with food offerings in front.Dhritarashtra, the King of the East.Virudhaka, the King of the South, on the left, and Dhritarashtra, the King of the East.Virupaksha, the Guardian of the West.

    Hong Kong

    November 9, 2024 in Hong Kong ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C

    Well, it looks like it may take some time to adjust after 21 days on the ship. At breakfast this morning at the hotel, when they asked Lee what our room number was, she gave them our cabin number on the ship!
    Breakfast in a big hotel like this always launches you on a steep learning curve to figure out where stuff is. The buffet breakfast predominantly served Asian food as well as Indian and Halal. I think there might even have been a North American section. We’ll find out tomorrow when we have more time.
    Our tour today started in the lobby at 9:30am and not wanting to be late, we rushed through breakfast. Our first stop was at Lantau Island, which is the largest island in Hong Kong and is 60% larger than Hong Kong Island. The primary reasons for visiting Lantau were twofold: to experience the gondola ride and to visit the Po Lin Monastery. The gondola which was originally built 120 years ago, is thankfully, now updated. The distance travelled by the gondola is 5.2 km and took about 25 minutes. It’s a startling view up through the mountains to the temple and monastery. After construction of the gondola, restaurants developed, and served alcohol, which the Buddhists were not happy with because Buddhists are against drinking any kind of alcohol.
    Before we left the bus, our guide advised us that the Hong Kong authorities would be issuing a level 3 typhoon wind warning (we call them hurricanes) at 3 o’clock in the afternoon and, as a result, instead of going back down on the gondola, another bus would meet us at the top to take us back down.
    Each gondola held eight people, and before the doors closed, a photographer took pictures of each couple. By the time we got to the top, they had an army of people with our developed pictures mounted in snow domes, like Christmas domes, and an enlargement that you could buy. We chose not to purchase anything, but it was an incredible bit of organization to have the pictures ready for us by the time we got to the top.
    We walked past some souvenir shops, and many shops selling prayer sticks of various sizes for people to purchase. They would then make a wish, light the stick(s)and while holding the burning incense sticks in front of them, either singly or in groups, bow many times in front of the large urns before they placed the sticks in the sand, the smoke carrying their prayers skyward. There is no reluctance on the part of Chinese or Japanese people to make their prayer ceremony in public. Even little children were given incense sticks and made their prayers.
    We made our way through the beautiful gate, and along the Ngong Ping Piazza to the original Po Lin monastery ( Po Lin means Heavenly Lotus) which was gorgeous. Along the way we took a picture of a Lotus flower in one of the large ponds. What's so important about Lotus flowers? ....wait for it. "In the eyes of the Chinese people the lotus symbolizes lofty character and divine virtues". We then continued on to a newer, larger and even more colourful monastery behind it. The most colourful display was The Hall of 4 Heavenly Kings, a common component of most Buddhist Monasteries. “Vaisravana, the Guardian of the North, is the embodiment of wealth and prosperity. He serves to remind Buddhists of the blessings of abundance and the need for ethical distribution of wealth. The remaining three kings each carry their unique symbolism and dominion – Virudhaka, the King of the South, symbolizes growth and improvement. His blue color stands for the heaven of the south and he wields a sword that represents his authority. Dhritarashtra, the King of the East, holds a lute, a symbol of harmony, peace, and equilibrium. He represents power, protection, and upholding of the law. Finally, Virupaksha, the Guardian of the West, represents knowledge and oversees all actions of mankind. The divine serpent or dragon accompanying him, symbolic of rain, links him with agricultural fertility.
    Our lunch, served at the monastery, was all vegetables and no meat because of the Buddhist religion. We sat at large round tables with a large Lazy Susan in the middle, where the plates of food were served family style for sharing and the food just kept coming and coming. There is no way we could eat it all, but it was delicious.
    After lunch, we had about an hour and a half of free time during which people could walk the 268 steps up to the Big Buddha. Lee did, Don did not.
    The original human Buddha was Siddhartha Gautama, a 5th century BC prince from present-day Nepal who renounced his wealth and became a monk to seek enlightenment. Born into a wealthy family, Gautama led a life of luxury until he was distressed by the suffering in the real world. He left the palace in secret to live as an ascetic, depriving himself of worldly possessions. After years of meditation, he attained enlightenment under a pipal tree at Bodh Gaya, which is now known as the "enlightenment place". Through meditation it is said that he found 42,000 ways to achieve enlightenment. When he died the 42,000 ashes of his body were buried in temples all over the world.
    The giant Buddha, called Tian Tan Buddha, is 112 ft high, made of bronze, weighs 250 tons and consists of 202 pieces made by China. The largest of the pieces is the head. It was completed in 1993 and since the airport was not completed at that time, everything had to be delivered by boat.
    The ride down in the bus was quite an adventure on a steep winding road and a slightly aggressive driver. We passed the Shek Pic Reservoir built between 1957 and 1963, it has a storage capacity of 24 million cubic metres and is the third largest reservoir in Hong Kong. In 1961, an 8-mile submarine pipeline was built to move water from the reservoir on Lantau Island to Hong Kong Island.
    Once back at the hotel, we had some quiet time and set out at 6:30pm in search of a dinner venue. On the advice of the concierge, we chose a basement level restaurant in a commercial building just across the street. It was totally authentic and delicious and there were only about two tables of non-Asian people. As usual we ordered too much food. Lee had cooked shrimp and Don had cooked beef. The rice, non-sticky type, and particularly the slippery fried noodles became a major challenge for this amateur chopstick user. At one point, I was trying so hard to get this massive string of noodles, first on the chopsticks and then into my mouth with my head hanging down over the plate, that my glasses fell off my head and onto the pile of noodles.
    We met some fellow Canadians at another table who were just going to board their ship the next day. We chatted a little about each others trip and then proceeded back to the hotel. It had rained slightly and was quite windy, so we decided not to walk on the boardwalk, but come back directly to the hotel.    Read more

  • Don and Lee McLoughlinDon and Lee McLoughlinTokyo to Hong Kong
    Hotel changed the matts in elevators to reflect days.
    Decorations by breakfast room. Note plate with famous wave picture.Don's breakfast of sausage, scrambled eggs, pork and beans and quail eggs.Several pictures showing extensive Asian breakfast choices.Digging in to previously described breakfast.Robots to carry dirty plates back to the kitchen.The Karate Kid.Daughter of Hong Kong Anita Mui ( 1963-2003)Statue celebrating Hong Kong film festivals since 1982.Shaded gardens along boardwalk.Very modern Museum of Art.Embroidered silk material with traditional Chinese motifs.Entrance to room displaying Snuff bottles.Part of the extensive collection of snuff bottles.Intricate decorations on all the bottles.Snuff bottle decorated from inside showing 100 faces of children playing & reading..Ivory snuff bottle carved with figures on boat design in openwork. Qing dynasty

    Hong Kong

    November 10, 2024 in Hong Kong ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C

    The skyscrapers in Hong Kong are lit up both day and night, with corporate names and logos on the tops and sides of buildings. At night many of the buildings have creative patterns of lights that swirl and dance around or run up and down the side of the buildings.
    Having a full free day ahead of us in Hong Kong, we were slow to get down to breakfast. They have such an amazing assortment of all kinds of food. About the only thing Don had this morning that he hadn’t had before, were little, spotted, hard boiled quail eggs. They tasted like regular hard-boiled eggs, but they are so small, it took more energy to peel them than you got back from eating them.
    Following Lee’s extensive research, we set out on foot along the boardwalk towards the Hong Kong Museum of Art. It was extremely busy on the boardwalk. Everywhere in Hong Kong and Japan it is quite common to see women taking selfies or having their picture taken by friends, posturing as though they were being taken for the cover of Vogue magazine.
    Along what is referred to as "The Walk of Public Sculptures", we saw a statue of Bruce Lee (The Karate Kid). After that, there was a statue of "The Daughter of Hong Kong", Anita Mui ( 1963-2003). Anita Mui Yim-fong was a Hong Kong singer who made major contributions to the Cantopop music scene and received numerous awards and honours. She remained an idol throughout her career, and is regarded as a Cantopop diva. Cantopop is a genre of pop music sung in Cantonese. She died as a result of cervical cancer at the age of 40.
    There was another interesting statue of a girl wrapped in movie film, holding a giant pearl. The statue honours the annual Hong Kong Film Festivals which started in 1982.
    We continued on to the museum, which was free of charge. It had vast open rooms organized by themes. There was a particularly interesting exhibit of snuff bottles, some 270 of which were given to the museum by a private collector. We also saw ceramic vases and bowls, and one particularly colourful exhibit of Chinese fans.
    Another exhibit called Shopping in Canton, was a depiction of what a street would have looked like in the city of Canton in 1819 (now called Guangzhou). On the end wall, there was a mural sized picture of what the street would have looked like with shops lining both sides of the street. Along the 2 sides of the room, there were animated, 8' high panels depicting each of the various kinds of shops. When you stood in front of a panel, the picture changed to the vendor saying things like “Good morning sir how can I help you?” or “We have many fine products, please step in and see.”
    For lunch we sat outside the museum and had our smoked salmon sandwich made from our breakfast buffet at the hotel, and then headed to The Hong Kong Cultural Centre. On the way, we passed the world famous Peninsula Hotel, and tucked in to see the lobby. The Peninsula. known as the ‘Grande Dame of the Far East’, prides itself on being Hong Kong’s oldest hotel – it’s been around for nearly a century. Accentuating the beauty of coexisting Eastern and Western influences while preserving its heritage, the hotel offers 300 luxurious rooms. The luxe amenities start at the fleet of Rolls-Royces on offer, and span to the hotel’s own helipad on the roof. More impressive for me than the lobby was the Bentley and Lamborghini parked at the entrance.
    Then on towards the Cultural Centre. When we went into the hall, there was a group of men from Kuwait all dressed in their white Arabian garb and headgear. Thankfully, their musical presentation didn’t last very long. It consisted of a lot of chant like songs (if you could call them that), squeaky violins and banging of drums. On the way out, there was a colourful display of mannequins wearing traditional clothes from a variety of central Asian countries; Pakistan, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Kazakhstan and a few more of the “…..khstan” countries. When we got outside, we saw a cordoned off section of booths from other Asian countries that were getting organized to do their own presentations inside. It then made more sense of the exhibit of mannequins we saw. Also nearby, we saw Flying Frenchman Monument or what is also referred to as "The Freedom Fighter". The Flying Frenchman is a bronze sculpture by César Baldaccini. The sculpture was gifted to Hong Kong by the Cartier Foundation in 1992. The name "Freedom Fighter" was rejected by Hong Kong's government, causing the artist not to attend the unveiling ceremony in 1993.
    On our way to the museum, we saw a red brick clock tower that looked quite out of place. It turns out that it was part of the former Kowloon-Canton railway terminus, but when that was demolished in 1978, the tower, being quite an icon, was left standing.
    We then set off along Hong Kong’s longest and busiest street, Nathan Road, for the Chinese Museum of History. It was quite a hike and extremely busy, but great fun to see all the mixture of people.
    Once inside the Museum, there were many different sections, but we only had time to visit 2 of them. The first one we saw was called "The Glorious Voyage" which the sign at the entrance described as an exhibit of “Splendid Achievements of the Peoples Republic of China in it’s 75 Years". It described the economic, cultural and social progress that the Chinese government had accomplished for the people over the last 75 years. The next section consisted of large posters of photographs dating back to as early as 1850 depicting important moments in Chinese history, such as the construction of buildings, wars, floods, fires etc. Below each picture was a brief write up about the picture. It was hugely impressive, but there were far too many for us to take in, in the short amount of time we had, so after only about halfway through, we decided to leave.
    The walk back to the hotel was not quite as far as we had already walked, but having completed about 12,000 steps by the time we got back to the hotel, we rested up a bit, had a glass of wine, and headed out to Ruen restaurant, where we had dinner on the street the first night. We met up with the couple from north of Brisbane ( Palm Lake Resort). Roger and Maria Doolan, who we met on our Lantau tour, they were just finishing their dinner so came and sat with us until they settled their bill. We had another very enjoyable food experience. Before returning to our room, we walked out to the boardwalk through the covered bridge attached to our hotel and walked a few blocks admiring the lights and the crowd and headed back to the room. We did some last minute packing in preparation for tomorrow's flight back to Toronto.    Read more

  • Don and Lee McLoughlinDon and Lee McLoughlinTokyo to Hong Kong
    On the way to the airport.
    Approaching the tunnel.Nam Wan Tunnel. 1.2 km, 3 lanes both ways.And across the bridge.That goes under another bridge.Last minute check before hopefully falling asleep.Welcome home letter from Callie.

    Collingwood

    November 11, 2024 in Canada ⋅ 🌬 11 °C

    Well, the show is almost over.
    We were up at 5:00am to get ready for our 7:30am pick up at the hotel to arrive at the Hong Kong International Airport in time for our 10:30am, 14-hour flight on Cathay Pacific to Toronto. Hong Kong International Airport (HKG/HKIA) is located on Chek Lap Kok island, which is close to the north coast of Lantau Island. The airport opened on July 6, 1998. Construction began in 1991 and cost over $20 billion. Chek Lap Kok Island, is a man made island that increased Hong Kong's landmass by 1%.
    The Lantau Link, which is made up of the Tsing Ma Bridge, the Ma Wan Viaduct, and the Kap Shui Mun Bridge, connects the airport to the city. (We visited these bridges on Friday November7th.)
    The new airport is considerably safer, but not nearly as dramatic a setting as the former airport which was essentially downtown Kowloon. You literally landed in the middle of the city, surrounded by tall buildings on either side of the runway. The joke was that you could see people in their apartments as you landed. Many of the T-shirts and other souvenirs depicted this scene. The site of the former airport has been transformed into the Kai Tak Runway Park and still retains many of its aviation design elements. The park retains the spirit of old Kai Tak as a communal destination with open green spaces and a beautiful view of Victoria Harbour.
    To say the new Hong Kong airport is huge is a bit of an understatement. By the time we got to the Business Class Lounge and then got back to our gate, we had walked 2.1 km. I have included a picture of one of the signs directing passengers to Gates 5-550!
    Don wasn’t feeling too well this morning but once on the plane, after a lunch of real Chinese chicken noodle soup, and a snooze, he was back on his feet again.
    Between breakfast and dinner, we were served an egg tart snack. It looked like a lemon tart and was delicious. Hong Kong egg tarts are small (usually about 3 inches in diameter) circular tarts of flaky pastry, filled with a smooth, lightly sweetened egg custard. They are often served at dim sum restaurants, as well as Chinese bakeries in Hong Kong, Macau, China, and Chinatowns around the world.
    Shortly after dinner was served, we snuggled down in our lie flat Business Class pods to get a bit of sleep.
    We touched down at 12:50 pm and had an easy time going through Customs and picking up our luggage. Our driver from Collingwood, Gary Westlake, picked us up on schedule and we made it smoothly to Collingwood by 3:15pm, despite light rain at times.
    We had a lovely welcome home note from our 11-year-old granddaughter, Callie.
    We unpacked and then had a 45-minute snooze, a light dinner, and headed off to the Cinema Club movie at 6:00pm to see the movie, The Great Escaper, starring Michael Cain. It was fabulous!
    After the movie, two tired people just headed home………….. and went to bed.
    And so ended our fabulous Asian Adventure

    -17,360 air miles
    -34 hours flying time
    -1800 nautical miles by ship
    -3 countries
    -13 cities
    -15 port stops
    -6 shrines; 5 Temples; 7 Museums; 7 Gardens; 2 Palaces; 5 Castles.
    -29 days away
    -and an uncountable number of bows!    Read more

  • Don and Lee McLoughlinDon and Lee McLoughlinTokyo to Hong Kong

    Names and Addresses of Passengers We Met

    November 11, 2024 in Canada ⋅ 🌧 10 °C

    We met so many lovely people on our trip by sharing tables. What we did was when we would book or go to a restaurant we would say we are happy to share our table with someone else. Each night we would have a set time for dinner and would sit at a table with another couple. It made for very interesting dinners and then we would recognise those people when we saw them on tours or around the ship. There were a few that we would agree were not "our type" but still everyone was interesting and well travelled.
    Because we essentially put two trips together we met people on the first leg but had to say goodbye when we returned to Tokyo when we picked up a lot of new passengers.
    When we left the ship in Hong Kong we said goodbye to several couples we met, who were going right through to Sydney, Australia.

    Roger and Maria Doolan
    Palm Lake REsort
    90/40 Mahogany Drive
    Pelican Waters Queensland, 4551 Australia
    Email: mariadoolan@bigpond.com
    Tel: 1 61 439 334 158

    James and Beverly Hill
    34 Eastbourne Rd. Remuera,
    Aukland 1050 New Zealand
    Cell: 1+64 21 327 723
    Tell 1+ 64 (9) 522 2923

    Robert and Susan (Farnham) Warrington. She is a doctor
    1014A Noelton Ave.
    Nashville TN. 37204
    Email: rhwarrington@gmail.com
    sfwarrington@gmail.com
    Tel: 1-312-399-2917

    Philip Kanning (judge) Marianne Kanning ( Doctor)
    ptkanning@msn.com. mdkanning@aol.com
    Cell: 952-250-5057 Cell: 612-209-7674

    1446 C.R. 14 11449 E.Gamble Lane
    Shakopee, MN 55379 Scottsdalle AZ 85262
    1-952-445-4722
    Had a sizable property, and made maple syrup.

    Other people we met but did not get addresses:
    Marisse and John from Florida owned a number of pool shops

    Johan and Rita from Belgium    Read more

    Trip end
    November 11, 2024
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