May 14- Seward, Alaska

On Monday morning, the ship arrived in Seward, Alaska (which is very close to Anchorage).  Jessie and I had already booked a tour for the day so we woke up early and made our way to our tour’s meeting point. 

As we disembarked the ship, I realized how cold it really was but all of that disappeared when I saw the mountains displayed in every direction around me.  The colours were so beautiful and the water was pristine and calm, it didn’t look real. 

We boarded a bus and within about 2 minutes, we were brought to our tour boat for the day.  Jessie and I were booked to do a wildlife cruise of the Kenai Fjords National Park.  The park itself is over 690,000 acres and is home to much of Alaska’s wildlife. 

This tour was rated #1 on the ship and therefore was very popular with the passengers.  Luckily Jessie and I arrived early so we were able to find ourselves seats inside of the boat (where it was much warmer).  Others who weren’t so fortunate had to be seated on the outside of the ship.  This wouldn’t have been such a problem for us if we would have brought winter jackets with us, but we didn’t so inside was the best choice. 

Jessie and I spent a lot of time out on the deck watching for various wildlife.  We saw quite a lot including two bald eagles perched on the side of a mountain.  We also saw 7 or 8 whales; some humpbacks and some orcas.  They were absolutely beautiful and so graceful in the water.  We were able to get quite a few nice photos of them too because we happened to be at the front of the boat when we saw them. 

As the boat was cruising, a group of porpoises had fun jumping through the wake.  They were so playful and were a pleasure to watch.  We also saw large colonies of seals and sea lions and also an area where thousands of seabirds come to nest.  Of course, the day wasn’t complete without seeing Alaska’s famous puffins, which were actually quite small, but extremely cute. 

We were also able to see the beautiful tidewater glacier which had stunning views of bright blue colors and reflected on the water.  The air smelled so fresh and clean and the glacier was magnificent; it was a sight I’ll remember forever.

The whole day was fantastic.  We were told that Seward was having terrible weather for over a week straight until the day we came.  For us, it was sunny and beautiful.  The only negative thing was due to the bad weather, the water was quite rough. 

 At one point Jessie felt quite seasick so we went to the back of the boat to get some fresh air (apparently it’s the best location).  As I was rubbing her back (being a good ‘mother’) a crew member came back and gave her a barf bag and some napkins.  People passed by and gave her words of encouragement.  About 2 minutes later, I demanded the bag and made use of it myself.  How ironic was it that Jessie felt sick and yet I was the one who vomited.  Jessie felt better after that… I didn’t.  Thankfully this was nearing the end of the tour, but it did cause me to feel quite nasty for the rest of it. 

As we made our way back to the ship I came to realize why people always speak highly of Alaska, it’s such a beautiful and majestic place.  My typical thinking that the hotter the climate, the nicer the place was proven wrong in this destination.  It was amazing. 

May 8- Muroran, Japan

Our last port in Asia was Muroran, Japan.  Jessie and I were both very excited for this port because our other port in Japan were fabulous.  This one was also sure not to disappoint.

We decided to stay in port that day instead of paying for an expensive tour into the city of Sapporo (which is also about a 2 ½ hour drive).  Instead, we were shuttled all around the small town of Muroran and had a wonderful day.

First, as we got off the ship, we were welcomed by a bunch of high school students who presented us with a welcome package and answered all of our questions.  We then boarded a shuttle bus and were dropped off in town.

Jessie and I decided to go to the tourism and information centre first because there were events happening there.  We were warmly welcomed and given a Japanese balloon yoyo as a gift.  We then proceeded to make Japanese kites, write traditional calligraphy, watch flower arrangements being made and learn how to make origami.  We even were able to participate in a traditional tea ceremony.  Jessie and I spent a large portion of the day there making friends with the locals and learning about their culture and community.  We had such a wonderful time and the best part of it was knowing that it was purely volunteer operated.  People went out of their way to ensure that we were having a nice time.  How special!

Afterwards we decided to hike up to the Shinto Shrine.  This was no easy task as it was over 300 steps to get there but we finally arrived.  From the view on top of the hill, we could see over the town and into the harbor.  It was very beautiful.

As we walked up to the temple, we saw three Japanese girls in traditional clothing there to welcome us.  They were shrine maidens. They posed for photos for us and then offered us a taste of sake (the traditional rice wine).  It was very strong but Jessie surprisingly enjoyed it (little lush!)

Jessie and I wandered around the grounds of the temple and at the back there were no people.  I decided this would be a prime place to test out my kite and see if it could fly.  The problem was that there was no wind; so instead, I had to run very fast and hope that it caught in the breeze I was creating.  A Japanese maintenance worker thought this was very funny. 

Heading back into town, we got on another shuttle and were dropped off at a local shopping area.  Jessie and I first decided to grab a bite to eat.  We settled on authentic Japanese ramen (usually known as the instant noodle soup) however this ramen was freshly made and delicious!  We ordered two types: one miso based, and one soya based (the soya based soup was better).  The tiny restaurant only held about 8 or 9 seats, but we were lucky enough to be surrounded by many of the ship’s crew members.  We got to know many of the servers in the dining room over a nice lunch.

After lunch, we decided to do some shopping.  We were told that there were large markets in the area, but it turned out that they were supermarkets.  Instead, Jessie and I went into a department store, but everything was fairly pricey.  We decided to spend most of our leftover Yen in the 100Yen store.  Jessie filled the basket with various art supplies and special tabi socks.  Quite the shopping experience.

We also stopped to try the ice cream.  We learned that this is a special treat here in Japan and thought it would be nice to try.  We decided on the authentic flavor of Green Tea.  A tiny little cup of it cost $4 but we enjoyed every bite.

Soon it was time to head back to the ship.  As we came close to the shuttle location, Jessie and I stopped to talk to some local Japanese students.  I had mentioned that I was teaching in Korea prior to my travels and they told me of their Korean friend Mirra.  They called her over and when she discovered my slight Korean background she was thrilled.  We talked about the differences she’s experienced for a while and then the shuttle came.  She gave me a big hug and asked to keep in contact over facebook.  What an interesting experience. 

Jessie and I were soon back onboard of our ship.  As we were leaving port, the town’s people of Muroran were kind enough to put on an extravagant goodbye performance for us.  Over 100 children learned multiple choreographies and performed them for almost an hour.  Their parents and other town members were standing at the background waving to us.  The entire production was so heart warming that many people had tears in their eyes as this was going on (myself included).  The town only sees about 1 cruiseship a year, so it’s a very big deal for them.  I couldn’t believe what a wonderful job they did at not only welcoming us and guiding us throughout the day, but also in giving us such a tremendous sendoff. 

This was our last stop in Asia, and it dawned on me that I was leaving the part of the world where I spent the last 15 months.  Although I was sad to be leaving, I couldn’t have thought of a better way to say goodbye. 

May 6- Vladivostok, Russia

Today Jessie and I tried to wake up early but this was a difficult task because the clocks went forward and Jessie was up all night, so we were quite tired.  By the time we got off the ship, it was already 10:30am but we decided to begin our Vladivostok touring despite our sleepiness. 

As we departed the ship, Russian officials were standing by to inspect our passports and ensure we followed regulations.  I couldn’t believe how stern and serious these people were.  They definitely didn’t give a first impression of friendliness and warmth. 

Jessie and I decided to head for the sports park first.  This was a park that was located right on the water and was supposed to be quite beautiful.   On our way there, we came across the Trans-Siberian Railway which is quite a historical landmark.  The railway stretches over 9,200km.  Jessie and I wandered inside the station and observed the beautiful artwork on the ceilings and the stunning architecture.  It was quite magnificent. 

Carrying on after the railway, Jessie and I headed down the same street with the expectation that it would lead us to where we wanted to go.  We walked for about another half hour when I finally asked a young soldier if we were headed in the right direction.  The answer was no.  We were in the opposite direction of where we wanted to go, so we turned around and headed back to point A. 

Once we got on the correct path, we made it in about an hour to the waterfront park.  The park wasn’t exactly what we had expected, but it was quite charming.  There was a long walkway along the waterfront and in the background there was a small carnival with a Ferris wheel. 

Jessie and I walked around for a short while.  There were little vendors selling various souvenirs.  At one point, Jessie was leaning over to touch a very large stuffed crab.  I walked up behind her and scared her as she attempted to touch the crab.  She screamed and we got yelled at by the crabby Russian owner.

We got a bit lost again on the way back but soon realized where we were.  Jessie and I decided to take a quick break and grab some lunch.  Since we were in Russia, we thought it would be appropriate to eat local cuisine and Jessie’s favorite soup is Borscht.  We soon found a little café that served food and drinks.  Jessie and I found a seat in the corner and sat in big, plush armchairs.  We ordered one (fairly expensive) bowl of Borscht and shared it with a great deal of delight.  Although it wasn’t as good as what our mom can make, it definitely tasted like home style cooking. 

After our snack, Jessie and I headed back to the ship for a quick rest and to fill up our bellies with all-inclusive cruise food.  We met with Dick and Renate and shared a nice lunch and then went down to our stateroom for a quick 20 minute nap.  This was necessary because I was exhausted since Jessie kept me up all night; unable to contain her excitement about arriving in Russia.

We emerged from the boat a little while later and went on our way to do some more sightseeing.  As we walked down the small streets, we couldn’t help but notice how colonial the buildings all looked.  It almost felt like we were back in Europe.   Jessie and I soon arrived at the Submarine Monument where a former submarine had been preserved and a portion of the hull was turned into a museum.  We didn’t go into the museum, but enjoyed the walk around the submarine. 

There was also an Orthodox church located nearby and it was absolutely stunning.  The architecture was intricate and it was so finely decorated.   We were lucky enough to witness a Russian wedding that was happening too. 

On our way back to the ship, we found a bunch of vendors selling beautiful Russian souvenirs.  Contrary to the on-board travel guide, these vendors did not negotiate their prices and they were not overly friendly.  Jessie and I couldn’t resist the beautiful products so we bought a charming little music box that is in the shape of a Russian cathedral. 

As we came back on board, we went to the theater and were treated to a Russian cultural show with the local talent.  For over an hour, about a dozen Russian singers and dancers kept us entertained and educated the crowd on different aspects of Russian culture.  It was fantastic. 

May 4—Busan, South Korea

Friday was a special day because it was my last trip to Busan (possibly forever).  Jessie and I woke up early, ate breakfast and then began to haul out tons of luggage.

Our plan was to mail some of our excess goods and clothing home with the hopes that our luggage won’t be too overweight at the airport returning home.  Unfortunately, with two girls shopping here and there over a period of 3 months, a lot of stuff can be accumulated. 

We left our room with 2 backpacks, 2 duffle bags, and one large shopping bag full of stuff.  One of the room stewards noticed all of our baggage and came out very concerned asking what was wrong and where we were going.  When we explained our situation to him, he just laughed. 

We boarded the complimentary shuttle with all of our baggage and got many strange looks from fellow passengers, but soon we were dropped off in the city centre and made our way to the post office.  I was so pleasantly surprised by the service we received in the post office.  The woman helping us spoke just a few words of English but went out of her way to help Jessie and I pack quickly and efficiently.  We sent over 20kg of stuff home and it came to about $50… not bad I think!

After successfully getting rid of our excess stuff, our bags were much lighter and Jessie and I made our way to a PC Bang (Internet Café) where we called home and chatted with our dad for a while.  It was a nice conversation, but we had to cut it short because I had plans to meet my friend Amanda.

Amanda was one of my best friends while living in Busan.  She’s renewed her contract, so she’s there for another year, but I’ll miss her dearly.  We met up in the city centre and then walked around for a bit.  She had to work in the afternoon, but we had time for lunch.  We went to a small Korean restaurant and ordered a delicious stew with chicken, potatoes, rice noodles and onions.  It was a great last meal.

We also surprised Amanda with a box full of goodies we took from the ship;  lamb kabobs, steak salad, assorted cheeses, tomato and mozzarella salad, cookies, cake.  I know how difficult it is living somewhere without food that tastes like home… I thought that this might brighten up her day.  I’m sure it did.

After a delicious day, Amanda headed to work and Jessie and I walked back to the city centre.  We walked aorudn the cultural steps area and listend to a live band play for a while.  They were very good.

Later on, we had another phone call home.  It was nice to talk to the family because we don’t communicate much on the ship (the internet is ridiculously expensive).  I told them about my fantastic plan to have our annual cousin camp on a cruise ship… I think it’s going to catch on.

Jessie and I spent the afternoon wandering around NampoDong area.   We checked out the fish market, went on a wine hunt at local convenience stores, and found Jessie her last Kimbap.  She was thrilled with it and we took photos to document the monumental last Kimbap (they’ve become her favorite). If you don’t know, it’s like a sushi roll except there’s no fish, only egg, carrot, mushroom, spam and radish.

After a while of wandering, we got on the shuttle and went back to the ship.  I felt a bit of sadness at leaving this place, but I’m happy to be moving forward in life and slowly making my way back home.  

May 3- Sabitinis Dinner

On Thursday, we had an entire day at sea.  We were sailing between Dalian, China and Busan, Korea.  Jessie and I spent the day relaxing and enjoying the various activities on board.   In the evening, the ship was having a formal night and everyone was to dress to the nines.

Our friends Dick, Renate, Neil and Julie generously invited Jessie and I to the ship’s famous Sabitini’s restaurant which has an extra surcharge, but is known for its fabulous food and service.  We had an exquisite meal that was complimented by a bottle of champagne and another bottle of red wine.  The dishes I chose included fresh calamari, soft shell crab, twice baked artichoke soufflé and a trio of lobster that included a lobster risotto and a double lobster tail.  To say that the food was great would be an understatement.  Especially paired with the wine, it was fantastic!

Our dessert featured three different pastries which included a white chocolate mousse, a traditional Italian hazelnut trio cake and the most delicious lemon and citrus tart known to man… they were phenomenal.

The entire evening was filled with great conversation and lots of laughter.  One conflict arose when the waiter asked to see Jessie’s ID for the wine.  She was not the legal American drinking age of 21 and therefore wasn’t allowed to consume any alcohol.  Our dinner guests were slightly outraged by this but in turn, Neil offered the remainder of the bottle of wine to Jessie so that she could drink it in the room.  I thought this was so thoughtful and cute.  Jessie enjoyed it too.  

May 2- Dalian, China

On Wednesday, Jessie and I planned to do our own thing (without a tour) to explore the town of Dalian, China.  We had a nice breakfast and then made our way off of the ship.  Prior to departing, we had watched an information lecture on the port and had a few ideas on where we wanted to spend our day.

Our plan was to start at Xinghai Park and explore that for a bit, then go to a museum and finally spend a few hours at the zoo.  We didn’t have a map with us, but we had a vague idea of where we wanted to go and we thought we’d just wing it.

We took a complimentary shuttle into town and were dropped off at a local shopping centre.  From there, we got onto a local bus that would take us to Xinghai Park.  The problem was that the bus stops didn’t have any numbers or names on them so we had no idea where we were supposed to get off.  Most people didn’t speak English but we finally found a woman who did, and she was able to help us (along with offering us both teaching jobs at her language institute).  Within about 40 minutes, we arrived at the park and went in. 

One of the first sights we saw upon arrival was a group of older Chinese men jumping around in a very graceful manner slapping whips made out of metal and leather.  This was unlike anything I’ve ever seen before because the way they moved was like a dance, but their whips were quite ferocious. 

Another interesting sight was the old Chinese ladies who would step on two small skateboard-like shoes and zoom around the whole area.  They were like old roller-skates except the wheels went the other way. 

Jessie and I spent quite a while walking around and absorbing the beauty in this sea side park.  There was also a carnival nearby and we walked through that and enjoyed the children running around.  Jessie and I considered riding the spinning swing ride but then declined after we questioned the safety regulations in China (they’re probably not up to standard with North America). 

A short while later, we found a hotel and asked how much time it would take to walk to the zoo (the museum was written off already because we were behind schedule).  The man laughed and said that it was at least a 30 minute cab ride, and it was not possible to walk there.  Apparently we didn’t know the area as much as we thought.

Instead of wasting time in cabs etc. we decided to just stay at the park and enjoy the surrounding areas some more.  We packed a little picnic from the ship and sat down and people watched for a bit. 

At one point there was a middle aged woman who decided to climb a tree.  This was quite amusing for Jessie and I because we imagined our mother in this situation (who would never, EVER decided to climb a tree out of her own will).  This woman climber right to the top and then hollered for her friends to come and take pictures of her.  It was quite funny.  I thought that she would surely fall out, but she got down without a hitch.   Impressive!

We saw everyone walking around with these tall ice cream cones and so Jessie and I decided to buy some.  They looked delicious, but when we tasted them, our mouths were assaulted by the foul taste.  I’m not sure why these were so popular because the ones we had tasted like old plastic.  They found happy homes in a nearby garbage can. 

Jessie and I also spent some time doing a bit of souvenir shopping (with the money we were intending on spending at the zoo).  We found a woman who made jewelry out of grains of rice, where she would write your name, and then put it inside of a glass vile.  It was something that was quite unique and will make for a nice keepsake. 

At around 3pm, Jessie and I began to make our way back to the shuttle area.   We were picked up and returned back to our floating home in no time.  We had a great day in Dalian. 

May 1- Tianjin, China – The Great Wall

Tuesday was a fairly hectic day.  Jessie and I woke up at 4:30am to get ready for our tour (this is a very ungodly hour for us).  Today was the day that we would go and see the Great Wall of China.

By 6am, after a quick breakfast and getting ready, we sat in the theater and waited for our tour number to be called.  This process usually goes by very quickly, but today the crew were having some serious technical difficulties. 

We didn’t get to board our bus until after 6:45 and by then we were quite behind schedule.  The ride to the great wall was supposed to take between 2-3 hours.  This particular day was extremely foggy (probably mostly due to the pollution) but our guide assured us that the driver knew where he was going.  About 2.5 hours into our drive, the bus stopped and the driver walked out on the side of the highway.  The tour guide told us that he had to call the tour agency to see if they could bribe the police to let us take the highway because apparently the local officials had just closed the highway due to poor visibility from the fog.

This didn’t work and so we had to turn around and re-rout.  By the time we reached the wall it was shortly after 11am.  The drive had taken over 4 hours!  Nobody was impressed by this, but the positive part was that by now, the fog had pretty much cleared and the wall was much more visible. 

We had just about 2 ½ hours to explore the wall and Jessie and I made the most of it.  We immediately started walking and climbing up it.  I say climbing because the wall was not a flat, smooth surface.  It was mainly stairs that climbed up the mountain so we got a nice little workout while we explored. 

The wall stretches over 3.600 miles in length and is actually visible from the moon.  We learned that it was created by the first Qin Emperor who wanted a defense from the Mongolians.  However it reached its height under the Ming Dynasty. 

As we were walking up this wall, there were quite a few points where I would be out of breath from the steep incline and hot heat.  I could only imagine what it must have been like for the people who were building the wall.  They didn’t have the machinery or technology we have today and they hauled all of the bricks and building supplies up the mountains by foot.  I couldn’t imagine doing that… I think it would literally kill me.

Although we only saw a small portion of the wall, it was amazing to stand on something with so much history and significance. 

Following the Great Wall, our tour took us to a local restaurant for an authentic Chinese meal.  We sat at a table with 8 others and shared various dishes and rice.  The food wasn’t that outstanding but it was interesting to see how picky other people are.  Jessie and I are both fairly adventurous and will try almost anything (perhaps this is because we traveled for 2 months before this and allowed our taste buds to experience different foods) however many people around us refused to try anything that looked a bit different… odd.

The ride back to the ship was much shorter.  Within about 2 hours, we were returned back to the ship and enjoyed another wonderful dinner with our friends and then went to see a show.  

April 29—Busan, South Korea

Today was a very special day.  It was the day I’d come back to my hometown of Busan.  I had been eager to arrive because Jessie and I had plans to spend the day with Amanda, a great friend in Busan.  It was her birthday the day before so I arranged to smuggle off a birthday cake and Danishes from the ship. 

Jessie and I left the ship early and boarded on a shuttle that took us into town.  From there we hopped on the subway and in about an hour, we were knocking on Amanda’s door.  At first there was no sound of anyone answering, so I was unsure as to whether I had the right door or not, but sure enough, Amanda dashed into the hall to give me a big hug. 

We spent the next hour catching up, giving birthday presents and eating cake.  It was great to be in her apartment again, because after 2 months of traveling, it’s nice to have something that feels like home. 

Amanda had spent the last few months learning to play the violin so she performed a small concert for Jessie and I.  We were both very impressed at the skills she’s acquired…. I’m sure she’ll be famous one day!

At around 11:30, we decided to grab a quick lunch at the kimbap shop.  Jessie had been talking about kimbaps for the past week and was salivating at the thought of them so it was time.  We had a delicious and very Korean lunch that passed by too quickly. 

When we returned to Amanda’s apartment, it was time to pick up our luggage (that she’s kindly been storing for the past 2 months) and catch a taxi to bring us back to the ship.  Unfortunately the ship was only docked from 7:30am-1:30pm today so that didn’t leave much time.  On the plus side, we’re coming back later in the week and have plans to meet back up with Amanda, so that will be very nice. 

Later this evening, the ship had a formal night.  Jessie and I got dressed up and met with our friends for dinner.  We’ve made a nice little family with two other couples on the ship.  First there’s Julie and Neil, who are from New Brunswick.  They’re in their 50’s and are a very nice couple.  We also made friends with Renata and Dick.  They’re in their 60s and from Boston but Renata’s originally from Germany.  We sit with them almost every evening and Jessie and I always have a nice time joining into various different topics of conversation.  (Sometimes it’s nice to have company that extends beyond each other). 

Julie, Neil, Renata and Dick surprised Jessie and I tonight.  They invited us to join them at the fancy surcharge restaurant, Sabatinis, as their guests.  Renata’s a very funny and spunky lady and she told us “we know you’re a little ‘low on the dough’ so we want to treat you because you make us feel young”.  Jessie and I were so touched by their kindness and generosity.  Also, her husband Dick said that it wouldn’t be as nice eating dinner without his ‘daughters’.  Haha, it seems that Jessie and I manage to make a family wherever we go.  We’re very blessed to have met such wonderful people.  

April 28—Nagasaki, Japan

Nagasaki was my favorite destination to date.  It exceeded my expectations in every way possible.

Our day started at a nice pace.  Jessie and I ate breakfast and then planned to disembark the ship and be on our way touring the area.  We didn’t know that we had to get tickets to get off the ship and go through Japanese Immigration.  This process took over an hour and I was not impressed by the unexpected waiting time. 

I forgot all about my frustrations once we began walking along the streets of Nagasaki.  It was a beautiful warm and sunny day.  As we went through the terminal, there was a stand of information guides who greeted us warmly upon arrival.  Jessie and I asked for a few directions and an old Japanese woman, around 75 years old, gave us a wealth of information.  She was so friendly and warm we immediately felt at home in Japan.

Walking along the streets we were greeted by Japanese locals and tourist volunteers.  We made our way to the trams which is the main mode of public transport in the city.  We got on the cute little tram which was filled with people and headed for the Peace Memorial Park.  We learned that when taking the tram, you need to enter at the back and exit at the front.  You pay the driver when you exit, which makes sense but is much different from home.  There were many tourists in a state of confusion over this, which was quite humorous to watch. 

When we arrived at the Peace Memorial Park we were accompanied by two of the Ship’s crew; Sava and Phil.  They joined us as we strolled along and took pictures.  The Peace Memorial Park is located near Ground Zero of the explosion that occurred on August 9, 1945.   This was 3 days after the bomb was dropped over Hiroshima.  The bomb had an explosive force of 21,000 tons of TNT and exploded approx 1,600 feet above Nagasaki’s industrial Urakami Valley.  There were 40,000 Japanese who died instantly while tens of thousands suffered injuries.  We learned that there were 240,000 Japanese living in Nagasaki on August 9^th and by the end of 1945, almost 150,000 had been killed.  The numbers illustrate the immensity of the horrible destruction that occurred. 

The Peace Memorial Park houses the Statue of Peace.  This statue is the most famous in the park because it is a symbol of world peace.  It is 30ft high and is very beautiful.  Surrounding it are two small enclosures.  Inside them are thousands of folded paper cranes.  We were told that school children bring these cranes here in memory of the tragedies that occurred.   There were also many other statues and fountains.  Amongst the statues, it’s very common to see bottles and buckets of water.  We learned that there is a reason for this.  The victims of the bomb suffered hugely and one of the side effects of the radiation was a strong unquenchable thirst.  The water symbolizes the end to suffering and a better life ahead. 

Following the Peace Park, we headed to the Shinto Shrine.  On our way, we met a nice old Japanese man who tried his best to welcome us to Japan.  We also met a group of high school girls inside a convenience store.  They were so cute when we asked to take their photo. 

When we arrived at the Shrine, we were blown away at the beauty of it.  There were quite a few steps required to get to the entrance, but it was well worth the climb.  The grounds were immaculately kept and there were hardly any people there.  Jessie and I strolled through the grounds and got lost in the beauty and tranquility of the areas.   On our way out, we passed by the cutest family.  They were all dressed to the nine’s and the little girl who was about 2 years old had on traditional clothing and had two large buns on the sides of her head (think Princess Leah but cuter).  We asked to take her picture and her parents were charmed.  We then gave the little girl a Canada pencil and her parents kept thanking us.  They were so friendly and polite.  We couldn’t help but fall in love with this little family.

Leaving the shrine, we headed to a small market area.  This wasn’t on our map, but we decided to check it out.  It was a great little detour.  We found a business that specialized in Mochi, which are DELICIOUS Japanese desserts made out of rice flour, red bean or white bean paste and strawberries.  Jessie and I were on cloud nine when we ate them.  We also found a Pachinko and slots hall.  Gambling isn’t fully legal in Japan, and so people ‘gamble’ with tiny silver balls at the Pachinko hall.  To describe it as loud wouldn’t be accurate; it was so loud I’d go insane in about 10 minutes.  It was very interesting to experience though.  We spent another hour or so wandering the street and stopping in small shops.  It was very rare that people would speak English, but they made us feel very welcome through many smiles and friendly gestures.

Leaving the markets, Jessie and I boarded the tram and made our way closer into town.  On the tram, I sat beside a young girl with Downs Syndrome; she was maybe 6 or 7 years old.  She was looking at me with curiosity so I decided to strike up a conversation.  Her father was right beside her and he helped by translating.  She was so sweet.  She told me her name (which unfortunately I forget) and I told her that she was very beautiful.  She blushed and laughed a little.  I gave her a Canada pencil and at first she didn’t understand that it was a gift.  When she understood, she opened up her little purse and let me put the pencil inside.  I got a nice picture of her right before she and her father got off the tram.  As she left the tram, she was waving enthusiastically at me… such a sweet girl.  She made me miss my students a bit (the good ones at least). 

We continued onwards towards the ship and stopped off at yet another shrine.  This shrine is the Confucius temple and was also a museum.  Here we were able to see a few of the Terracotta Warriors and many other old relics and antiques.   The area was well maintained and we were able to get some great photos.

As we made our way back to the pier we walked along another market road and took in the small town feel of Nagasaki.  When we got closer to the ship we noticed many, many Japanese locals standing at the pier and waving at the passengers already on board.  The Japanese are such warm and friendly people.  We went on board and as the ship departed Nagasaki, there was a high school orchestra that played a farewell song for us.  What an amazing experience!  I can’t wait to come back to Nagasaki. 

April 26—Shanghai, China

On Thursday, our day began fairly early with a guided tour of Shanghai.  We set off in a local tour bus with our guide, Coco.  She was a young Chinese woman who was very knowledgeable about Shanghai and the surrounding areas.

Our first stop was the Jin Mao Tower which is 88 stories and translates to “Golden Prosperity Building” in Chinese.  The tower reaches 1380 ft above ground and we were able to see stunning views of the city from the observation deck.  Although there was quite a line to wait in to ride the 45 second elevator up to the observation deck, it was well worth the wait.  One of the neatest aspects was actually the fact that there was a hotel located in this tower and you were able to look down through the glass viewing gallery in the center of the building and see the hotel lobby 88 floors below.  It gave a very heeby-geeby feeling but was exciting all the same. 

The tower was the main aspect of our touring in the ‘New Town’ of Shanghai and then it was time to board the coach and head to the ‘Old Town’.  Here, we arrived at Yu Garden which was a lavish 5 acre garden that is filled with flowers, plants, ponds, fish and pagodas.  Coco led us on a guided tour and gave us lots of information about the background, history and significance of the gardens.  We learned that the four elements of a garden consist of plants, water, rocks and architecture.  The day was absolutely beautiful and although the gardens were very crowded, we had a spectacular time.  Once the garden tour had finished, we had 3 ½ hours to tour by ourselves. 

Our first stop was to the dumpling house that was known as the best place in town.  This restaurant had different levels depending on how much you wanted to spend.  The top floor was very expensive and elite and served a variety of different foods.  The middle floor was a nice sit down restaurant and was a bit pricy but had a nice atmosphere.  The lower level was a very inexpensive pick up line where customers would wait outside and walk up to a window to buy take out dumplings.  Jessie and I decided that this would be the best option for us.  We didn’t realize that the wait would be over an hour long!  During our time waiting in line, Jessie got to experience the lack of personal bubbles in Asian culture.  The women behind her were pushing up against her and breathing down her neck.  I had spent so much time complaining about this during my time in Korea and Jessie never understood the frustration behind it until she experienced it herself.  It was very satisfying for me when she finally understood the rationale behind my rants. 

Eventually we got to the front of the line and were able to buy our dumplings.  By this time, we were famished so we got 3 orders because we knew it would be too much of a wait if we didn’t get our fill the first time around.  We found some stairs in front of store fronts nearby and set out our spectacular lunch.  The dumplings were well worth the wait.  Jessie and I devoured them and had a fair amount left over at the end.  This worked out well because a poor old Chinese lady came by and asked us for food.  We gave her our dumplings, which I’m sure made for a nice snack for her. 

After lunch, Jessie and I spent some time walking around the local markets.  We were able to find a few nice things and enjoyed looking at the various trinkets the vendors were selling.  We have noticed how much our bargaining skills have improved over our travels; I seem to get quite a ‘high’ from finding a good deal.  Jessie always lets me do the negotiating when she wants to buy something.  It’s quite a thrill.

As we were walking along, numerous Chinese people stopped to take our pictures.  At one point we had a few women who asked if they could pose for photos with us.  It was quite funny and flattering at the same time.  I never thought we’d be treated like such celebrities in China, but it was fun all the same.

Around 4pm, we all met back up and headed to the bus.  Jessie and I passed out on the bus ride back to the ship.  When we finally arrived, we got on board and got cleaned up for dinner.  Shanghai was much different than I expected but it was a wonderful place to visit.  I hope to come back someday. 

April 23—Hong Kong, China

Our ship arrived in Hong Kong on Monday morning at 9am.  Soon after, Jessie and I made our way off the gangway ready for a day of exploring.  On the plus side, we had a full day to go off on our own.  On the negative side, it was cloudy and threatening to rain.  Despite that, I was so excited to share the wonders of Hong Kong with Jessie because it’s been one of my favorite Asian cities. 

The first thing we did was take a ride on the Star Ferry to the other side of the island.  The Star Ferry is an important experience in Hong Kong life because it’s been running since the late 1800s.  Once we were on Hong Kong island, Jessie and I found the MTR (subway station) and took a ride that led us to Lantau Island. 

Lantau Island is a beautiful green area that houses the world’s largest seated Buddha.  The top of the mountain that holds the Buddha and other attractions is accessible by both bus and cable car, but Jessie and I opted to take the bus ride.  It was about a 40minute journey but once we arrived, we were surrounded by small quaint shops and cafes.  It was nearing lunch time so we decided to stop and get something to eat in the Po Ning Village.  This was a large tourist area and the prices reflected it.  Jessie and I browsed the menus but everything seemed ridiculous.  In the end, we opted to share a Subway sub and then eat something more exciting when we got to the mainland.

After we refueled, we made our way towards the giant Buddha.  It’s made completely out of bronze and there are beautiful statues that surround it.  The Buddha sits on a platform that is above about 255 stairs.  We climbed those stairs with fierce determination and soon were rewarded for our efforts.  It was a windy and rainy day.  The clouds were so low that we were immersed in them.  This gave the Buddha a very eerie and mystical glow. 

Walking around the Buddha was very nice.  There were many shops located in the base, and we took our time browsing through them.  The scenery around us wasn’t entirely visible, but what we could see was enchanting.  These views differed tremendously from those I saw at the same place during my last visit in September.  It was very neat to see the contrast that a small change in weather can make.

Descending from the stairs was much easier than climbing them.  We walked a bit further and reached the Po Lin Monastery.  This is a famous temple and it’s absolutely beautiful.  On this particular day, there was a ceremony going on, so the decorations were even more elaborate.  Jessie and I were able to climb up the stairs and enter the temple and grab a few photos.  There were many tourists there who were doing the same thing as us, but there were also many people who came to worship.  This included several monks.  It was interesting to view this not only as a tourist attraction, but also as a living and working temple. 

As we were leaving the Monastery, it began to rain.  Luckily we both had the foresight to bring umbrellas (unlike many of the tourists around us).  Jessie and I made our way back to the bus area where we were picked up and brought back to the base of the mountain.  We walked around for a short while and then got back onto the subway and headed to the mainland to go to Ladies Market.

Ladies’ Market is a huge outdoor market place filled with clothing, bags, artwork, teapots and many more things.  When we arrived, I spotted one of my favorite juice shops.  I treated myself to a mango smoothie with coconut juice and glutonous rice balls (so delicious!).  Jessie and I spent the next hour shopping around.  She bought herself a beautiful painting and tea pot.  I decided to splurge on a knock-off wallet. 

At around 5:30pm, we left the market and headed to the pier area because at 6pm, we were meeting our dear friend Alicia.  Alicia is a teacher in Hong Kong, but we know her from home.  I stayed with her during my last visit in September.  I was very excited to be able to see her again. 

Jessie and I arrived on time and at 6pm we had a nice reunion with Alicia.  Our first stop together was to grab dinner.  We decided on a little local looking restaurant in the bottom of a mall.  It had a very nice charm to it and we had a great dinner catching up.  After dinner we went and got dessert.  We returned to my favorite juice shop (which also sells dessert) and we each ordered a bowl of mango goodness (served with various different fruit and rice sides).  Such a great treat!

At 8pm, the Harbor front Light Show started and we were once again amazed by the beauty of the high-rise buildings that boasted beautiful lights and were choreographed to music.  It was a beautiful display.  Unfortunately, I had quite a headache and decided to run to the pharmacy to grab a pill.  By the time I returned, the show was over. 

Afterwards, we went for a nice stroll along the Avenue of the Stars on the Harbor Front.  It was a beautiful night and we were joined by many other tourists.  We were able to view both Bruce Lee’s and Jackie Chan’s stars and the rest of the stars were unrecognizable to us. 

When we finally made it back to the shuttle pick up location, it was time to say goodbye.  It was such a wonderful day and made even better by the fact that we were able to spend some time with Alicia.  I’m looking forward to a reunion in August when she returns home.  All in all, it was a wonderful day in Hong Kong!