Nagasaki, Uber Cool!

I was not expecting much from Nagasaki.  My knowledge was pretty much limited to the history of the atomic bomb.  However I was not prepared with how hard they tried to entertain us during our visit.

Carolyn and I took a panoramic tour of the city.  It is surrounded by beautiful mountains but at it's heart is its history of the atomic bomb.

 

 

 

 

There were also several beautiful temples....

 

 

 

 

Our next stop was Peace Park.  It was a solemn experience when you realize 140,000 people died from the immediate and after effects of the bomb.

 

 

 

This is called the Fountain of Peace......

 

 

 

The actual bomb missed its target by one and a half miles hitting the northern part of the city.  It's destruction was not as great as Hiroshima because the city is surrounded by mountains and blunted the impact. 

 

 

 

 

 

However reminders are everywhere.

Here is a portion of a Tori gate that part of which survived.

This tiny house was built for a doctor who survived but found his home destroyed and wife vaporized. His neghbors built him this teeny, tiny structure for he and his children.  He worked to help the people but died of leukemia.  He is known for his never ending prayers offered for world peace.

Carolyn and I went looking for an authentic Japanese meal and totally screwed up.  We couldn't read the buttons on the elevator so ended up in a Chinese restaurant instead.  We were ONLY strangers in the place and I am afraid was not our favorite meal.  I had a plate full of vegetables but it looked a lot better than what Carolyn got which was supposed to be some kind of fish but looked more like chewing gum!!!!  She still shudders every time she thinks about it.

Nagasaki is also the setting for Puccini's Madame Butterfly opera and the city of Nagasaki gave us a special treat.

The mayor came onboard and after presenting a plaque to the ship we had a stunning performance of part of Madame Butterfly.  I was furious with myself when I forgot my camera because the costumes and setting were absolutely stunning not to mention the operatic quality.  I guess it will just have to live in my memory.

Prior to sailing they had these Taiko drummers perform for the sailaway.  For 90 minutes and as the ship pulled away from the dock, these kids pounded away and were absolutely awesome. 

 

 

They continually rearrange the drums for different effect and sometimes were accompanied by flutes.  Interestingly only five of the drummers were boys, all the other were young girls.  The ship was thrilled with the send off and it really impressed us all.

 

 

 

Osaka and Kyoto, Japan

After 5 days at sea we arrived into Japan.  It was an ordeal just getting off the ship.  The entire ship had to line up for a face to face meeting with Japanese immigration.  We were fingerprinted and given special landing cards.  We even had to carry with us to the meeting whatever bags we were carrying ashore.

Naturally they never even looked inside them.  Good thing, we had been warned by the travel agents on board to carry toilet paper and water so everyone had their rolls of tissue in their bags ready to go!

Carolyn and I opted for the full day panoramic tour of Kyoto since Osaka is mainly a big port city.

 

 

We did get a quick glimpse of Osaka Castle which unfortunately is closed on Mondays.

 

 

 

Kyoto, Japan's original capital, on the other hand is a combination of ancient Japan and new Japan with a real mixture of architecture and innumerable Shinto and Buddhist temples and shrines.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When the US was determining where to drop the atomic bombs on Japan, Kyoto was spared because the US Secretary of War had honeymooned here and thought it too beautiful to destroy.

Old and new live side by side here.

We even saw these geishas waiting for their ride.

The Imperial Palace is located here although not often frequented by the Japanese royal family.

We traveled past Nijijo Castle, a famous local landmark...

 

 

And a phenomenal number of shrines, temples and Tori gates.....

 

 

 

We stopped and visited the Golden Pavilion which houses relics of Buddha and is covered in gold leaf  and dates to 1397. 

 

Nearby is where the shogun lived and even those buildings were beautiful...

 

 

And this Bonsai tree shaped liked a ship was originally planted 600 years ago...

This ancient bell is rung every New Year 108 times.  That is based on the Japanese belief that all people are born with 108 evils and have to live their lives with hard work and good deeds to rid themselves of these evils.  It is also where we get the saying, ring out the old and ring in the new year!

So here's my Japanese experience anecdote.  Like I told you early we heard a great deal about toilets prior to disembarking.  Thankfully we only experienced western ones with the exception that they were very high tech.  Toilet seats are all heated and there a host of buttons and gizmos next to each one that we didn't have a clue what they did....that is until Carolyn accidentally bumped into hers while seated.  Next thing she knew, she was in bidet central!!  Water starting squirting up all over the place to make sure she was very clean.  It went on so long she abandoned ship and later asked me if she had water all over the back of her pants!!!

Needless to say we laughed ourselves sick and were careful not to push any buttons and bump into any either.  We have the Japanese toilets under control, it's the Chinese ones that have us worried now!!!

We're Not in Kansas Anymore!

We made our next stop in Rabaul, Papua New Guinea.  It is a volcanic island in the ring of fire and the two volcanoes on the island continually spread ash.  Needless to say that with my upper respiratory recovery underway, I had no intention of being outside long.  Add to that this is the only port we have that had a malaria warning both Carolyn and I decided we would have to pass.

It is a beautiful island but very much native.  As we entered the port I felt like we were entering equatorial Africa.

 

 

 

This is the capital city....

It is an extremely poor county and only 4 cruise ships visit it annually.

Here is a native in his outrigger.  Clothing is optional here and until 80 years ago, their only export was seashells.

I watched a special on the TV about Kuru, a disease that studied in New Guinea and believe me if you were not a vegetarian before, you would  be one now.  Turned out is was the same disease as mad cow.  HOWEVER they acquired it by practicing something called MORTUARY CANNIBALISM.  Yes, you read correctly.  It was common practice until outlawed in 1960 for the women and children to roast and eat their dead.

Even though the practice was outlawed, people continued to get the disease and die.  It has now been determined that the spontaneous nature of the disease can incubate up to FORTY YEARS!!!!  That little known fact and that it is the same disease as mad cow means that it could be incubating in meat eaters even as we speak.  When the disease jumps species, the incubation period lengthens.

So how are you feeling about that steak or hamburger now????????

Next stop is Japan!!!

Slow Boat to China......

Well, I made it on board the Aurora, a pretty ship from P&O that is making it's world circumnavigation circuit.  It had been having problems with it's propeller so has slowed down until it can be repaired in Dubai.

The ship was parked in Darling Harbor right next to the Opera House and I had a stunning view from my balcony.

I hooked up with my friend Carolyn and we had a Bon Voyage drink on the balcony.

That was the good news.....  Almost immediately upon departure I felt sick and stayed sick for the next 7 days.  Apparently picked up an upper respiratory infection from the previous ship where everyone was sneezing and coughing.  I though I had bobbed and weaved and washed enough but it still hit me hard.

So Carolyn saw Brisbane and I saw my room.

Carolyn saw the Great Barrier Reef, I saw my room.

I did take these pictures from the balcony.  The Great Barrier Reef is down there......

And this is a shot of the Whitsunday Islands we passed.....

Pretty much that was my week.