drron29

A dead koi being eaten by a turtle. The cycle of life.

This is where those found in the gardens after the A bomb were buried.

tea bushes.

One of the surviving trees -a gingko.

The Shukkeien Gardens. Construction began in 1620. it was destroyed in 1945 by the bomb with only 3 surviving trees. Totally rebuilt. I love Japanese gardens. Hope you don't suffer from overload.

Now I just wandered the grounds of the castle. And just missed the wedding parade. Lots of families and many children dressed in traditional costumes. One of the things that I find quite often is the willingness of the Japanese to let foreigners in on these family occasions. Several times we have appeared in the family wedding photos by invitation and you are rarely knocked back if you ask to take a photo. Getting ready for a chrysanthemum show.

The exhibits inside the castle continues. Good views from the top. Outside again and walking around the castle.

The shoguns of the castle. And importantly the castle shop.

Now walking in to the castle grounds. It was a Saturday so lots of people were around plus a traditional Japanese wedding.

Now walking to the castle. Some of the stone walls survived the A bomb. replacement stones are much lighter in colour. One of the 3 surving trees here. A good old Australian Eucalypt.

The next port was Hiroshima and I went off on the Hiroshima castle and Shukkien gardens tour. We have been to the Peace Park on 3 occasions. The first time was 1981 and we able to walk around and through the Genbaku Dome. I had never been to the castle or the gardens before. First a few pictures from the bus on the way to Hiroshima Castle. The new soccer stadium.

At night we went to Kaiseki. We were sitting at a table and the light was atrocious for taking photos. I tried but they are too bad to post. We will have another couple of dinners here so will sit at the Teppan where the light is better, You get a choice of 3 appetiser courses -fish,meat or vegetables. It comes in a nice bowl with 3 different dishes. Rojaan had the meat and there is a seaweed salad, waygu tataki and a third one that I can't remember. I had the fish option with tuna and crabmeat with the salad. Then 4 course for the main meal. First lobster tail. excellent. Miso glazed black cod which was really beautiful. Waygu beef which we felt wasn't as good as the seafood dishes. Then fried rice. And a dessert.

The next day was a sea day. I kept my steps up doing 16 laps of the walking track in the morning and a further 24 in the afternoon. Interupted by lunch at Atlantide. Rojaan had a Tki and I was offered the Delta pinot noir. The one wine I find not to my taste. So I got a Carminere. Rojaan had the prawn cocktail and then the pasta with prawns. She really liked both. Whilst I had the smoked trout salad and the jerked pulled pork. Both very tasty. Then for desserts Rojaan had the cheesecake and I the mud pie.

Sailing away from Osaka at night.

I am afraid I forgot to take a picture of tonights Atlantide menu but I know a couple of the dishes. The blue jacket made an appearance for the first informal night, The wines. They must have bought a considerable amount of these wines from Douro as they make frequent appearances. Rojaan had the Scallops and strawberry and stuck to her lamb chops. I had the salmon starter from the evening's menu and must have been a duck dish as I know I have had duck once and every other night's selection is accounted for. But I have no idea what the dessert was. The CRAFT disease strikes again.

I then walked around the outside of the Aquarium building. Right where you walk out of their shop is a perfectly positioned business. There are murals and fountains. In between the big wheel and Aquarium is a shopping mall. Over the road it looks like a church but heavens knows what it is. And a side show shooting gallery.

The last of the aquarium. Seal seen above your head.

Even jelly fish.

Feeding time for the whale sharks. They literally chase the fellow around the tank as he feeds them their tiny morsels.

Rojaan then went back to the ship and I went off to the Aquarium. Although their website says there is a discount for seniors none was available at the ticket office, but first more Japanese fun with English and the Muse from the Aquarium. The aquarium. It is quite good but crowded even though I went in at 1445 and the school groups jad left. So here is a sample of what you see.

The ride continues. And you even get a look at the resident's washing. The aquarium. And the divine Rojaan.

So on the Big wheel you do get some good views. School children on their way to the Aquarium.