Japan-4 Ports

Two days ago we left Japanese waters and we are headed for China.  We thoroughly enjoyed Japan – we have visited one other port before but this was our first time to see more of the country.
Our first port was Sendai and the only place we had booked a tour.  Brian & I and 14 others went to a Japanese mineral bath.  When we arrived in Sendai there was a drum band “entertaining” us with a Japanese welcome at 7am! UGH!!!  Luckily the customs authorities needed to see everyone but they took forever to clear the ship for debarkation.  They wanted us to have our passports (which we had to get back from HAL), take our fingerprints and have a face-face with a customs officer.  As there are over 1100 passengers you can imagine how long this took.  They started serving juice and cookies while we stood in line waiting and the Captain even bought drinks that evening.  I was concerned that our bath would be cut short, but when we finally left the ship we were only an hour late…  We headed to a mountainous region about 40 minutes away – we stopped at the hotel first for all the “old” folks to use a western toilet then off to a local arts & crafts stop.  There was a very famous, tiny, old Japanese artist who taught us about India dye and fabric weaving. We got to try our hand at dyeing handkerchiefs using rubber bands – basically our version of tye-dye…  It was fun but hard on the knees as we had to squat/kneel down to reach the dye vat and stay like that for over 3 minutes.  Brian made a balloon poodle for the lady and she was delighted.  We then boarded the bus and headed back to the spa/hotel for our traditional Japanese lunch and bath.  The lunch was a bento box and it looked beautiful – for B & I, it only tasted so-so…lol!  There was a small piece of cooked salmon and raw tuna that we ate and pretty much left the rest.  The other passengers said it was all terrific but…  After that the guides showed us how to put on cotton kimonos – we asked if they had sumo wrestler size for Brian, but they just laughed.  The ladies changed in one area and the men in another…  Brian came out wearing 2 kimonos – one the correct way and one like a hospital gown: back to front…LOL!!!  We then went down to the lower level and experienced out baths.  For this tour we were segregated, men and women, which was a bit disappointing for B & me as we wanted to enjoy together…  for the bath part we washed/showered first so we were clean then got to try any of the 10 different mineral baths that were available.  There were a variety of sizes and temperatures but the best was an outside natural looking one with a waterfall and rocks for seats.  It was a wonderful experience and we definitely napped on the way back to the bus…lol!
Our second port was Yokohama with access into Tokyo.  We opted to just visit Yokohama & took the free shuttle into the train station, where there was an underground shopping mall.  It was very clean and beautiful but VERY expensive…  I looked at UG boots that run about $120 in Australia and US, which were $500 in Japan!  A whole cake from a fancy bakery was over $100!!  Luckily we didn’t need to buy anything but just enjoyed looking.  I tried on a couple of kimonos but they were all too small – or I was too big??  Not sure which…lol!
Our next stop was Shimizu which is the viewing city for Mt Fuji – unfortunately the mountain was fogged in for the whole day so we only got a sense of where it was.  But otherwise it was a beautiful day and we were able to just walk off the ship and explore the city.  We went to the 125yen store – the equivalent of our dollar store and bought some silly things.  The unusual thing so far is that none of these ports had typical souvenirs of Japan – no hats, t-shirts or junk… sort of strange…  This was the first time a large cruise ship had docked in Shimizu so it appeared that the whole town had taken a long break to visit the port…  Kids from 3-83 were fascinated with the large white ship and the large white Americans…LOL!  We enjoyed this port because we could explore it by walking right off the ship into the city…  They had geisha dancing, tuna carving and other music for us to enjoy just at the dock.
Kobe was our last port of call in Japan and probably my favorite.  It is a beautiful city and we took a local bus tour around it – which once we got a seat on the bus was fun… As it was a hop-on/hop-off bus we picked up people at every stop.  They did not seem to care how many they crammed into the bus and at one time a little Japanese lady fell right into my lap…  We opted not to get off as we were afraid we might not get a seat the next bus that came along – but we enjoyed the sights and then got off after circling the city.  Kobe has some amazing shopping plazas and the people are terrific.  So B & I walked around and explored the shops.  The prices were a bit better and we also found an internet café.  For my son it would have been paradise:  it was a third floor filled with computers and manga-Japanese comic books.  We checked email etc and had fun trying to use the keyboard and not type in Japanese…Kobe is the city I would revisit given the opportunity…  There were actual souvenir shops at the port in Kobe – I finally found a kimono that fit me and bought some other items as gifts.
We have been enjoying our sea days also.  The hardest part has been moving the clock back one hour almost every night.  We have been adjusting our sleep but just barely…  I am usually up by 930am, which is early for me…lol!  Last night was formal night but also kimono night.  So I wore my new turquoise kimono and B was a Samurai warrior. We looked great.  After my recent victories at poker and blackjack, I am back to losing and will actually have to play on my own money when I play again.  We have continued to participate in the sporting events and they have been giving out “grand dollars” to the winners.  We will eventually get to spend these on HAL crap-I mean souvenirs…lol!  Today was the first day the weather has been sunny enough to lay by the pool.  I did not as I was playing too many games – I am in first place so far in a shipboard competition to have dinner with the Captain…  The next activity we have to build a ship, so we will look for stuff in China to make a pretty boat.  Our next couple of ports will be in China: Xigang for Beijing; Shanghai & Hong Kong. 
Hope this blog finds you all well-would love to hear from some of you: just leave a comment or send an email or write on Facebook, but stay in touch.  I think that means you Jess…LOL! 
See you next in China - GB

                                                B in 2 kimonos (frontwards & backwards) at Bath

beautiful Japanese bath in Sendai