Ruminations from the Silver Muse.

[drron29]

The last of the Gardens.

 

The provincial Art gallery adjoins the garden.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

plum trees.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And pictures on the way back to the ship.

 

 

[drron29]

I was back in time for lunch at Atlantide.

 

 

We both had the chicken wings again so no photo. We also had the pear and blackberry crumble.

 

The Seven seas Explorer had joined us at the dock.

 

Some scenes whilst walking around the ship.

 

 

 

 

 

Hiroshima is the largest source of oysters for Japan. 

 

 

 

 

[drron29]

 

 

 

 

And the Seven seas explorer leaves.

 

 

 

 

 

[drron29]

Dinner in Atlantide again.

 

 

My red wine for the night.

 

I had the Foie gras terrine then the lobster salad.

 

 

Rojaan had the king crab salad to start.

 

For mains she once again had the lamb and I the lasagna. certainly not the best I have had.

 

For desserts she had the pavlova and I a pear and blueberry crumble. completely overwhelmed by the large pear.

 

 

[Brad1185]

Really enjoying reading and seeing your trip. 

[drron29]

Sorry that I am not keeping up with this report but there are a few factors. One is the internet has been painful in the last 5 days and at times can not upload photos. Second is on my iPhone I keep getting logged out of CC and when I try to check in often an error message that CC can not be found. There is something wrong with the way my iPhone reacts with the SS wifi. For example I have never been able to access the App store when using the ships wifi.

But there is a more important reason in that my activity levels have increased. Whereas before I aimed for 6 - 8000 steps on sea days and 10-12000 on long excursions it is now 10 - 12000 on se days and 15 -17000 on long excursions which means less time on the computer. On sea days my aim is to do 40 laps of the deck in a morning and afternoon session. I had the lurgi 2 days ago so today only 32 laps.

 

Hopefully back with more later today

[drron29]

So got back from my afternoon laps and had this large envelope with congratulations on it and this inside.

I was coerced into entering the contest for guessing the number of nautical miles in the last 24 hours. I initially declined but I get on well with the entertainer who was collecting guess so he said you've got to be in it to win it. So I gave a guess of 158nm. Well blow me down the actual number was 158nm. 15 big bonus SS points ha ha. I guess they won't force me to enter again. besides stopping now means I can retire with a perfect record. Entered once,won once.

 

[Stumblefoot]

8 hours ago, drron29 said:

 

 

Congratulations on your victory!  And, glad to see at least “some” pink made it into your suitcase for this grand voyage.

[drron29]

Sailing to Fukuoka. A first for the Silver Muse. Arriving at 1000 so plenty to watch as we sail by.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The usual scenery from a cruise ship dock.

 

 

 

 

Can even watch the planes taking off from Fukuoka.

 

I was off on the Hakata walking exploration tour. So on to the shuttle bus to the centre of Hakata. Near the shuttle bus stop was another Autumn festival So I planned on visiting it later.

 

First thing was taking a subway ride. We were each given a day ticket and headed off on the long underground tunnel.

[drron29]

We then walked a short distance to the old town with lots of older Japanese style buildings.

 

Then to the first temple.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then off to the second temple.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[mysty]

@drron29 , why were the figures swathed in red?

 

[drron29]

 

 

 

 

 

This temple had a walled rock garden. No entrance allowed.

 

 

 

 

You'll often see a Japanese sketching buildings or garden scenes.

 

 

Off to yet another temple.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[drron29]

23 minutes ago, mysty said:

@drron29 , why were the figures swathed in red?

 

Red in Japanese folklore is the colour that wards off devils and demons so is used on temple guardians.

https://sanpai-japan.com/2017/06/12/the-reason-behind-the-red-bibs/

[drron29]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And the building With Japan's largest wooden buddha. No photos allowed of that though.

Edited October 25, 2023 by drron29

[drron29]

And now another walk down an old street.

 

 

A Japanese performance. We didn't go in.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The performance from the back door.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There was a little rain on and off hence evidence of rain drops in some photos.

 

[drron29]

And more shrines.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In this place they store the portable shrines that are carried through the city during a Matsuri. Not as large as that one but sometimes requiring a rotating team of 60 or so to carry them. We saw several of those on one of our visits to Sapporo.

https://www.ana.co.jp/en/jp/japan-travel-planner/japanese-festival-omatsuri/0000001.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

[drron29]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[drron29]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Said to be a 1000 year old gingko.

 

 

 

 

 

And now a short walk to hakata's shopping street.

[drron29]

Now we were to walk down this shopping street and at the end was a subway station to get back to the shuttle stop. But an American couple spotted a shop that they had wanted to go to so began talking to the guide about how to get to the shop,where the nearest subway station was ( It was in view ), which station to get off at and how would they know it was the right station. Of course Japanese stations always have the anglicised name besides the Japanese name, we had ben given a subway map plus a map of the city. They took 20 minutes before they left the group meaning a change of plans and head straight to the nearest subway station.

Fortunately I did take a few minutes to walk a short distance down the shopping street.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now at the subway station. Now despite having 2 rest stops the last just 30 minute previously a woman decided she needed the rest room. This was good as the station had a display of the areas crafts which we could now have a closer look.

 

 

 

 

 

Then a long escalator down to the station.

 

And our train arrives.

[drron29]

At the other end a nice arcade to walk through coming out at the festival that I wanted to look at.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then a real surprise. A stall selling emu products with a Japanese fellow with an Australian accent. I bought myself a packet of emu jerky.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I had a chorizo taco and a Japanese beer.

A short walk to the shuttle stop which was close to a hop on/off bus.

[drron29]

Hakatata port at night.

 

 

 

 

 

But something was afoot as vans arrived.

 

It was a farewll by a very young dance /gymnast group to farewell us from Japan. They were full of energy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[drron29]

Atlantide for dinner again.

 

Rojaan had the Laced prawns for entree and I the salmon carpaccio.

 

Then I had the potato and leek soup. I enjoy my soups.

 

The red for the night I enjoyed.

 

Rojaan again went for the lamb and I the prime rib. Cooked perfectly IMHO.

 

We both went for the apple crumble.

 

And an interesting comparison between the beef in Atlantide and the Limousin fillet in La Dame 2 nights ago. The prime rib and fillet in Atlantide were much better in Tenderness and taste unlike previous experiences at La D ame. We feel that now with very few of the dishes in La Dame not available elsewhere we will not dine there again.

[drron29]

Coming in to Busan.

 

 

 

I am taking the Gamcheon cultural village and local market tour.

 

Great bus lanes on the main streets.

 

 

 

 

 

And the fish market. It is several of the buildings and lane ways this being the main one.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 26, 2023 by drron29

[drron29]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More of the market.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[drron29]