Cruise to Japan Day 01 - Yokahama - At Sea - 21 September 2023

The first sea day means Zumba, lots of fun and great exercise. We slept late with jet lag forcing us to fall asleep really late, the cabin is so dark that unless we set an alarm, we have no ide of the time. Zumba was at nine and from past experience, I know that one has to get there early, so from 8:30 to 9:00 I did Tai Chi.

Great breakfast of fruit, yoghurt and salmon. Then walked around the ship until 13:00. It is hot and humid outside so difficult to relax anywhere outside but inside where it's air-conditioned, Michael and I can relax and read our books.

Tonight is a formal night so after the Merenge step class and a leisurely stretch class, we changed into our evening clothes and had a scrumptious dinner.

Cruise to Japan - Shisui, Tokyo and Yokahama - Local fast Service Train - 20 September 2023

Having prepared the night before all of the directions to the international cruise terminal of Yokahama, Google once again let us down badly. All I can think of is that something is lost in translation. Directions worked successfully from Shisui Station, past Tokyo on the same train to Yokahama 2hrs 29 minutes.

Once we got off the train, connected to WiFi to figure out West and East exit directions, we discovered that 5minutes had turned into:

With bags and the heat, no WiFi and relying on less than helpful GPS due to such tall buildings, it turned into a difficult journey.

Anyway, after following Google, we saw the Diamond Princess, aimed in its general direction and eventually Michael started seeing signs to the terminal. We stopped for a coffee and were given a work of art that did not disappear even after drinking the full cup.

Priority boarding due to us being platinum cruisers helped and we got on board with everything seemingly exactly the same if upgraded and revamped.

The same comfortable cabin and after unpacking went down to a fantastic 3 course meal dinner and an acrobat comedy show.

Suffering from jet lag, (7 hour difference) we find it difficult to fall asleep and then sleep until past 8 in the morning.

Cruise to Japan - Shisui and Tokyo - Local fast Service Train - 19 September 2023

At the station ready to board the Rapid Train at 11:21 West Gate - 11 carriages, Shisui then Sakura, Monoi, Yotsukaido, Tsuga, Chiba, Inage, Tsudanuma, Funabashi, Ichikawa, Shin-Koiwa, Kinshicho, Bakurocho, Shin-Nihombashi, Tokyo.

We set off from our cosy Airbnb at 8:30, got some coffee at the 7/11 and tried to buy a sandwich at the bakery - sorry sir, cash only. Continued to the station and tried to purchase 2 train tickets - sorry the machine is cash only. Go to the nearest bank, can we draw from our credit card? yes if it's Visa, no sorry it's MasterCard. Back to the Airbnb to get WiFi (see yesterday - there is no free WiFi or open restaurants with WiFi in Sishui) search to find where we can exchange cash or draw from an ATM - Google says the post office, same as in England, is the nearest place to exchange cash as the exchange banks exist only in Narita Airport or Tokyo Station both a long way away.

Armed with Google translate and the Dollars to exchange to Yen, we walk to the post office. Google is wrong no exchanging currency at the Japanese post offices. There was however a MasterCard ATM. We both withdrew some Yen and 2 hours later back at the station we choose the wrong machine to pay for a ticket. A very unenthusiastic employee gave us our money back and having finally gotten the correct ticket, fed it into the machine. It accepted it, spat it out again for us to feed it into the Tokyo machine.

Uneventful train ride into Tokyo station, it is huge with many exits. We randomly pick one and come out at the Imperial Palace.

Feeling quite hungry we approach a shop in the Imperial gardens. They have sold out of food only have matcha shaved ice and ice cream. Delicious, though Michael reckons there are no overweight Japanese as we cannot find any real food in Tokyo. 13:00 hrs and the Cafe has no food.

We find the open top bus and take a tour around Tokyo.

Tokyo Tower

Many bridges

Building with a front facade of vegetation

Tokyo Theatre

The security robot. Press me if you need help!

Back to Tokyo station and a relaxed if quite full of people train trip home. Rush hour starts at 16:00 with many more people at the Tokyo station.

We got back to Shisui station, walked all around the area for a Japanese restaurant, to find Safron an Indian restaurant, the only alternative to 7/11 that was open. Excellent food and value for money, after which we bought dessert and coffee at the 7/11 and walked back to our Airbnb very happy and full.

Tomorrow we make our way to the Yokahama Cruise Terminal to board the cruise ship that will take us around Japan.

Cruise to Japan - Addis Ababa to Tokyo - Ethiopian Airways - 18 September 2023

We had an unexpected stop in Seoul, had to get out the aircraft and do a loop around the airport to recheck hand luggage and maybe health regulations. Noone really tells you anything and when they do, they contradict their instructions. Ethiopian Airways is incredibly efficient, having a transit time of 15 minutes to the next flight with both us and our luggage having made it to Tokyo is incredible.

Landed in Tokyo at 20:00 local time which is 7hrs ahead of SA time. we finally cleared customs by 21:30. Taxi to our Airbnb and all is locked. I have no WiFi and no way to communicate with the host so panic sets in and I runoff to a seven eleven trying to buy some WiFi. Eventually the neighbours open for Michael and we make it into the place by 10:30. The place is tiny but serviceable. Great use of space. 

The best is a futon very comfortable and we are tired, we have flown for 24 hrs with two stops.

Looking forward to tomorrow hopefully finding the red top bus somewhere in the centre of Tokyo, and go and see all of the tourist sites.

Cruise to Japan - Cape Town to Airport - Ethiopian Airways - 17 September 2023

We first booked our flights with 1 hour and 30 minutes change over in Addis Ababa but with various time changes, our flight is 6 hours long with only 35 minutes to catch our flight to Japan. Very short layover. Our checking in lady was very relaxed and not concerned at all. We will see, if ourselves and our bags make it.

Assuming we do, our next flight is 13 hour flight, I don't recall another flight as long as that. 

Sitting at the airport - as I always say - any airport is a favourite place..

Cruise to Japan - Drive to Cape Town - overnight at Andrew and Amy - 16 September 2023

Arrived in Cape Town after a long drive with 4 or 5 stop and gos'. Still a nice journey with a stop in Port Alfred at the Lazy Lizard for brunch. Their fresh harvest salad is exactly that, all the greens that are locally available at the time of the year with seed bread and a roll, with some olives, avo and feta. A huge bowl that always allows for a take away for dinner.

The succulents in the Karoo have flowered, what a display of colours, yellows, purples, pinks some blue and red in with the redpokers from the aloes in between. So beautiful!

in Cape town Terrance got take aways from a Thai restaurant, I had tempanyaki, stir fry veg with noodles in a tasty sauce. So wonderful to catch up with Amy, Andrew, Carolyn and Terrance. Love being in Cape Town.

Cruise to Iceland - Basingstoke - 20th July 2023 Thursday

Steph drove us to Oakley's woods near where they stay and we had a lovely walk with the dogs.

Beautiful Ruby cross labrador, cocker spaniel

Charlie, a gorgeous labrador

Julie kindly fetched us from Trevor and Steph and drove us in her convertible all the way to Heathrow. 

Warned about the wind in my hair myth I tied it up and arrived at Heathrow with dreadlocks 😁 travelling all the way to Cape Town unable to get a comb through my hair.

Waiting to board flight to Doha