- 2025 Trip To The Far East
- Part I
Prolog
The original Idea was to travel to Japan, but when we got deep into planning, we decided to make it a Mega-Trip and include a couple of cruises (at the beginning & then ending the journey).
Junko & Paul, whom we met on the 2024 Australia trip, helped us with important information on attractions, transportation, and
accommodation.
We also used the latest technologies to create a detailed itinerary for each city we visited during our trip.
Tuesday 2/25/25
En Route (Los Angeles to Singapore)
Goodbye California. We are on board Singapore Airlines, en route to the Far
East!
Thursday 2/27/25
Singapore
Good morning, Singapore!
Our hotel is located on the bank of the Singapore River. It is a 5-star hotel
known for its waterfront location near the entertainment and dining hubs of Robertson Quay, Clarke Quay, and Boat Quay. The hotel offers luxurious rooms with views of the Singapore River and the city's skyline, and features amenities such as an outdoor pool, multiple dining options, and a spa. It's also conveniently located near the Central Business District.
We found out that the Island Symbol, the Merlion (half fish and half lion), is about 2 miles away, walking along the river in Merlion Park.
We were prepared. Many
days before the trip, Tova & I trained for long walks. I was so glad we did!
We entered the park's promenade, home to Singapore's iconic 28-foot Merlion statue, the half-fish, half-lion stone carving that shoots water into the bay. The fish symbolizes Singapore's beginnings as a fishing village, while the lion head is a nod to Singapura, which means "Lion City" in Malay.
On our way back, we stopped at a food court and enjoyed a Malay early dinner: Spicy but otherwise delicious!
Friday 2/28/25
Singapore
Our 5 stars hotel's breakfast was, as expected, a five-star meal, featuring a multi-kitchen affair: American, English, Indian, Chinese, Vietnamese, Mongolian, and Malay, with so many options for a fantastic breakfast.
We headed across the street to pick up the Hop-on, Hop-off Big Bus and, with a pre-planned itinerary, started to explore the magnificent island. Little India was our first Hop-Off, where we visited many streets crowded with vendors and shoppers.
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We found Little India to be a vibrant cultural enclave with temples and mosques, street art and brightly painted shophouses. Along the main drag, Serangoon Road, unfussy canteens and hip eateries.
We stood next to shops selling gold jewelry, colorful silks, and fresh garlands of flowers. Nearby, the Mustafa Center welcomes shoppers 24/7. The ethnic district is liveliest during Hindu celebrations like the Deepavali festival of lights.
We ended up buying clothes and gadgets, and even fixed 2 of my watches for a few dollars.
We also stood in front of Sri Veerakaliamman Temple, which was built by Indian pioneers in the 19th century. This gorgeous place of worship is dedicated to Kali, the goddess and destroyer of evil.
Tova bought a pair of flair pants as well. We tried
some Indian dishes at a hawker stall and then walked to Arab Street to experience the narrow alleys, lined with tiny specialty stores, cafés, and Arabic
Restaurants.
We hopped on the next bus to continue our day, visiting many famous attractions, and finally arrived at the last stop: Garden by the Bay (GBTB), the highlight of the day.
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A 'train' took us to familiarize ourselves with the garden's main attractions: climbing one of the towers, then sky-walking for about half a mile to the next.
We then entered the Flowers' Dome, with an amazing display of trees, flowers, and artificial art.
The visit to the dome included a couple of highlights, which we experienced next: Cherry Blossom (the first time in our lives that we witnessed) and the Lights Show.
When you look at the pictures I took of the attractions above, you might understand the experience we had.
We stayed for the night show, which was spectacular. We never experienced such a show that
was accompanied by colorful lights, fireworks, laser beams, and beautiful images.
When we left the park, we picked up a taxi cab that had taken us to Chinatown.
We asked the driver to park on Temple
Street, where we had found the recommended restaurant (by the taxi driver) for
a delightful dinner.
Saturday 3/1/25
Singapore
We decided to use the MRT as transportation for the day,
instead of using the Big Bus!
We picked up the subway across the street from our elegant hotel. The
rides were around $1.20 each, and we were charged an additional $1.50
(Conversion Fees) for the entire trip.
We were advised to slide our credit card just before the departure, so
we would not get charged excess fees once we exit at our destination, by an
automatic machine.
Our first destination was Singapore Botanic Garden, which was the
first Singaporean exhibition to be awarded the UNESCO recognition.
The subway station was underneath the entrance to the garden, which made the journey
with the Underground Train extra convenient.
Located on the highest hill in Singapore, the Botanic
Gardens, with its three hectares(!) of landscaped slopes provides a setting for
over 1,000 species and 2,000 hybrids, with about 600 species and hybrids on
display.
We walked the entire length of the garden to arrive at its “Crown Jewel: The
world's famous Orchid Garden", which opened on 20 October 1995.
I thought we were walking inside the Garden of Eden, surrounded by the
beautiful Orchids. My camera has not stopped taking pictures from the
moment we entered the garden. The Orchid Garden is the only place in the entire
park that you would need tickets to enter. However, the price is a ridiculous
$3.00 pp, as this attraction belongs to the city.
We continued the tour to a place called Haji Lane: The
street is a haven for independent boutiques and stores, offering a wide range
of items from clothing and accessories to home decor and handmade
crafts. Many of the shops are housed in two-story shophouses, and some
even have boutiques on the second floor, accessible by narrow staircases.
Street Art: The walls of Haji Lane are adorned with colorful murals and street art, making it a popular spot for photography. The vibrant art adds to the lane's unique and Instagrammable atmosphere.
Food and Drink: Haji Lane boasts a variety of cafes
and bars, offering a range of cuisines and drinks.
While Tova was resting, hiding from the scorching sun, I walked to the other side of the street, where a large crowd was blocking the entrance to a restaurant. I asked the last man in the queue what was so special about this Chinese restaurant, and he told me that they had the best soup in town. I returned to the place where Imma was resting, and we joined Danny (the guy from the queue) and his wife, Vega, for lunch. The soup was good and for $5 a plate, you can't go wrong.
We continued to Chinatown and went shopping in the Street Market, where we found out that all merchants, sell the same merchandise and for the same price as the others. We later found out that one family owns all the exclusive rights in the market.
We continued to the Indian Pagoda and then to the famous Buddha Tooth Relic Temple. Home to a sacred relic, this majestic temple is a trove of Buddhist wisdom. Built-in 2007, the temple gets its name from what the Buddhists regard as the left canine tooth of Buddha, which has been recovered from his funeral pyre in Kushinagar, India, and displayed on the temple’s grounds. The Buddha Tooth Relic is housed under a giant dome-shaped structure made from 320 kilograms of gold (!).
The time was around 6:00 when we decided to walk (!) all the
way back to the hotel.
We arrived at around 7:00 and then went out to dinner at the nearby mall's Food
Court.
Sunday 3/2/25
Singapore
Lazy day. Mostly, catching up with our jetlag.
We went to a supermarket, inside the neighborhood mall, to buy
last-minute items for the upcoming cruise to Japan.
We napped for 3 hours(!) in the afternoon and then returned to the same mall
for the hairdresser appointment for Tova, and then Indonesian dinner.
So Delicious!
Here is the view from our room at the hotel:
Before our sleep, we watched Uvda with Ilana Dayan. She interviewed Amir Shar'abi, who was released by the terrorists last week and, upon his return home, he found out that his wife and 2 daughters were slaughtered by Hamas on October 7th, after his capture. He was in Gaza’s tunnels for 500 days, not knowing what happened to his dear family.
President Trump, who watched that segment (with the help of a translator),
called Amir and invited him to the White House.
Monday, 3/3/25
Singapore Cruise Terminal
We checked out of our hotel at around 1:00 and hopped onto a taxi.
Destination: Singapore Cruise Terminal!
The process of checking-in the glorious cruise ship was a breeze and lasted
only few minutes. We were inside our cabin (6081) onboard the (now) familiar Celebrity Millenium
Cruise Ship, waiting for our luggage in the international buffet and having lunch.
Why familiar? This has been our fourth sailing on this elegant cruise-ship!
The luggage had been already in the cabin.
Dinner was at 5:30, and we sat next to 2 couples (one from
Canada (Toronto) and the others from the U.K. London). Both were B-O-R-I-N-G.
At the theater, we watched and listened to a couple
performing Bluegrass songs. Petty good.
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Tuesday 3/4/25
Day at sea
Our 1st port of call will be tomorrow morning, when we will dock in Ho-Chi Minh City (HCMC), Vietnam.
After breakfast, we joined most of the other guests, attending a lecture about our destination tomorrow (HCMC). Very interesting & informative!
A summary of the lecture is below:
Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon, has a rich history deeply intertwined with Vietnamese nationalism and the conflicts of the 20th century. Originally a Khmer settlement called Prey Nokor, it later became a significant Vietnamese city and was the capital of South Vietnam before being renamed Ho Chi Minh City after reunification in 1976.
It was also the capital of French Indochina from 1887 to 1902, and again from 1945 until its cessation in 1954. After France recognized Vietnam's independence and unity, it was the capital of the State of Vietnam from 1949 to 1955.
Following the 1954 partition, it became the capital of
South Vietnam until it was captured by North Vietnam, who created a unified
communist state in 1976 and renamed the city after their former leader Ho Chi
Minh, though the former name is still widely used in informal usages.
Beginning in the 1990s, the city underwent rapid expansion
and modernization, which contributed to Vietnam's post-war economic recovery
and helped revive its international trade hub status.
Ho Chi Minh City has a long tradition of being one of the
centers of economy, entertainment and education in Southern Vietnam and Vietnam
in general.
The city is also a tourist attraction; some of its historic landmarks mixed with modern landmarks, including the Independence Palace, Bitexco Financial Tower, Landmark 81 Tower, the War Remnants Museum, and Bến Thành Market. The city is also known for its narrow walkable alleys and bustling night life, notable is the Phạm Ngũ Lão Ward and the Bùi Viện street in the ward.
Since 2025, when Bình Dương and Bà Rịa–Vũng Tàu provinces
were merged into Ho Chi Minh City, the city has officially become a mega-city,
while inheriting major industrial towns and coastal cities from the two former
provinces. Currently, Ho Chi Minh City is facing increasing threats of sea
level rise and flooding as well as heavy strains on public infrastructures.
(now back to the Day at Sea)
It is hot and humid right now, and we are lying down in the
pool area.
Last night, we asked the Maître D’ to arrange for us a permanent
table, for the rest of the voyage, at dinner time. She was able to
arrange a table for 8, on the 5th deck restaurant.
We took an afternoon nap and woke up to a spectacular
sunset.
Dinner was a disaster: Our waiter was impatient with all 8
of us, and was also very slow, which caused the hot meal to be served
semi-warm. We were still eating the
(served late) and tasteless meal when the dining room manager asked us to leave
(“Other people are waiting”). We decided
that tonight was the last time in this dining room.
At the theater tonight, we had the Cruise Production Show, presentation of the Disco Era. It was very entertaining.
Wednesday 3/5/25
Ho-Chi Minh City
We woke up at 6:00, and an hour later, we were cleared by
the Vietnamese Authorities and started our busy and yet one-to-remember tour of HCMC.
Amie, our Tour guide was waiting, among the other tour
guides, holding a sign that displayed our name.
It took us 90 minutes to arrive to the the Ho Chi Minh City’s Center from the
port.
The first attraction of the day was the Independence
Palace in the heart of the city, which is also used to be known as as Saigon.
The Palace, also publicly known as the Reunion
Convention Hall, is an important landmark in the city. It was the home and
workplace of the republic’s president of South Vietnam. It was also the site of
the Fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975, which ended the Vietnam War, (which is, by
the way, named here "The American War”.), when a North Vietnamese Army tank
crashed through the Palace's gates. The tank is on
display at the Palace’s entrance.
After the reunification of Vietnam, the building continued
to serve as a government and presidential office until 1976, when the capital
of South Vietnam was officially moved to Hanoi, and the government’s functions
were relocated to HCMC. The Palace is now preserved as a museum, open to the public,
and is a popular tourist attraction in the city.
Amie showed off her knowledge of her country's rich history and after a couple of houes at the Palace we walked a couple of hundreds meters to the Historic Post Office,
where we viewed few murals on th walls and then purchased three postcards and mailed them to our kids (I cannot guarantee
when they will arrive).
NOTE: The above postcards arrived in MAY – Approx. 3 MONTHS LATER.
The Norte Dam Cathedral, one of the city’s most
popular attractions, was under construction, so we skipped it, not before
taking a picture of a poster with the cathedral, prior to the construction.
The next stop was at an Egg Coffee Saigon, a unique café where they add egg yolk to the delicate espresso. Delicious 😋 (reminded me of the “Gogggle Moggle”, my grandma used to make for us, when we would get a hoarse voice).
Next, was a Buddhist Pagoda of Love and Fertility:
Jade Emperor Pagoda: Also known as Phuoc Hai Tu, is considered as one of the most magnificent and mystical temples in Ho Chi Minh City. A sacred room is dedicated to Kim Hoa Thanh Mau, the Mother Goddess of childbirth, and her 12 Midwives. This is a spiritual haven for couples praying for fertility and healthy children. Visitors light incense and offer fruits or flowers, hoping for divine blessings.
We then visited the Thien Hau Temple: Located in
Chinatown, this temple is dedicated to Thien Hau (Mazu), the goddess of the
sea, who is believed to protect sailors and merchants. It's a popular spot for
young people to pray for luck and love, especially during the Lunar New Year
and Lantern Festival.
In the Chinese Calendar, Tova was born on the year of the Horse and I was born on the year of the Tiger. According to Amie, we are a couple that completes each other... 😘
Lunch was, next. The traffic in the downtown area was
miserable, and the main attraction was the hundreds of scooters at each
intersection.
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The Pho 2000 restaurant was in the Chinatown area and
next to the main market of the city. Lunch was unbelievably full of unique
flavors. (A few pictures are attached). I recommend this restaurant for anyone
who likes Vietnamese food. I will visit
them again on another trip.
After touring the market, we walked to the Ho Chi Minh Memorial Park, with the gorgeous statue of Ho Chi Minh. A short walk away, we visited The Opera House, which is an exact replica of the one in Paris, France.
We started heading back to the port and arrived 2.5 hours later.
We skipped dinner and walked straight to the theater with the main event of a gentleman who performed a combination of comedy and magic tricks. I can't remember when the last time was that I laughed so much 😂
Thursday & Friday 3/6/25 – 3/7/25
At Sea
2 days at sea!
Lots of needed rest, beautiful
sunsets, lots of exotic food, live music, a magician, game show (we won 1st prize for naming the
next lyric of a song), and getting ready for tomorrow's port of calls:
Once again, we enjoyed a lecture about the next Port of Call, Hong Kong.
Here is a summary:
Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China.
Situated on China's southern coast just south of Shenzhen, it consists
of the eponymous island, the Kowloon Peninsula, and the New
Territories. With 7.5 million residents in a 1,114-square-km (430 sq mi)
territory, Hong Kong is the fourth most densely populated region in the world.
Hong Kong was established as a colony of the British Empire
after the Qing dynasty ceded Hong Kong Island in 1841–1842 because of
losing the First Opium War. The colony expanded to the Kowloon Peninsula in
1860 and was further extended when the United Kingdom obtained a 99-year lease
of the New Territories in 1898. Hong Kong was occupied by Japan from 1941 to
1945 during World War II. The territory was handed over from the United
Kingdom to China in 1997. Hong Kong maintains separate governing and economic systems
from that of mainland China under the principle of one country, two systems.
Originally a sparsely populated area of farming and fishing
villages, Hong Kong is now one of the world's most significant financial centers
and commercial ports. Hong Kong is the world's third-ranked global financial
center behind New York City and London, ninth-largest exporter, and
eighth-largest importer.
Its currency, the Hong Kong dollar, is the ninth most
traded currency in the world.
Home to the second-highest number of billionaires of any
city in the world, Hong Kong has the second largest number of ultra-high-net-worth
individuals.
Although the city has one of the highest per capita incomes in the world, severe income inequality exists among the population. Despite being the city with the most skyscrapers in the world, housing in Hong Kong is consistently in high demand.
Hong Kong is a highly developed territory and has a Human
Development Index (HDI) of 0.955, ranking eighth in the world and currently the
only place in Asia to be in the top ten.
The Human Development Index (HDI) is a statistic that measures a country's average achievements in three basic dimensions of human development: health, education, and standard of living.
The city has the highest life expectancy in the world, and public
transport usage exceeds 90%.
Saturday 3/8/25
Hong Kong day 1
We decided to visit first Victoria Peak, a hill on the western half of Hong Kong Island, also known as Mount Austin, and is the peak with an elevation of 1811 ft, which makes it the tallest hill on Hong Kong Island and the 9th tallest in the territory of Hong Kong. It is a major tourist attraction offering views of Central Victoria Harbor, Lamma Island, and the surrounding islands.
We were told to try and reach the peak early, as many
families, including many children have plans to visit during any weekend.
We took a bus #20A from the Hong Kong Cruise Terminal and
disembarked at the Ferry Central Station, where we hopped onto a ferry,
which crossed the inlet where we found Bus #15, with the Victoria Peak
as its last stop. Once we arrived, we found the Vista Point
overlooking the entire island and enjoyed the spectacular views. Coffee
and Fluffy Pancakes (!!) were next, and they were amazing.
Few words on the fluffy pancakes: We heard about this phenomena few weeks ago, while planning our trip. The soufflé pancakes are generally praised for being incredibly airy, light, and jiggly, providing a fun dessert-like experience rather than a traditional breakfast. People often describe them as a cross between a soufflé and a chiffon cake, though they can be pricey ($15–$18+) and require a 20–30 minute wait for fresh preparation.
Next, we took the bus back to the ferry central station and
managed to find and boarded the ferry to Lantau Island to visit Tian
Tan with the largest bronze Buddha Head in the entire
world. Once we arrived at the port, we climbed onto bus #23 and
arrived at the Po Lin Monastery, the home of The Big Buddha. The
34-meter (100 ft) head could be seen from the road, and it is
magnificent. We climbed the 268 stairs and finally arrived at the summit and
the base of the statue.
The sights were amazing!
It was getting dark, and we decided to head back to HK
Island for dinner at one of the restaurants on Temple Street, next to
the Night Market.
We arrived at the market and entered a busy restaurant full
of youngsters who were mostly drunk and happy. The food was delicious 😋
We then walked inside the market, and Tova bought a phone power bank, that was as thin as a credit card, for her iPhone with the amazing price of just $12.00.
We found our bus station not far from the market, on Nathan Road, and returned to our cruise, riding bus #20A again.
Sunday 3/9/25
Hong Kong day 2
Our plans for today included a Free Walking Tour of the Financial
District in the downtown area.
Last Friday, we attended the Shabbat Services and met, among
few other members of our tribe, an Israeli, who is serving as the ship’s Chief
Security Officer. His name is Yaniv, and his wife’s name is Christina. Christina
has followed her husband’s journeys, at all of time, along with their two kids.
We told them about our plans for the walking tour tomorrow and Christina decided to
join us (without the kids): the cruise ship has provided them with a kids’ club
facilities and security details for the entire time the ship would be at the HK
Port.
So, we met right after an early breakfast, and the 3 of us
figured out the public transportation scheme and arrived on time to meet the
tour guide, Suzanne, and 8 more guests (none of them from the cruise ship).
It was a fascinating tour with lots of new information about
the banking systems then (under British rules) and now (under Chinese
rules).
Did you know that each major bank on the island could print
its own set of currency (Hong Kong Dollar)? I found it to be a unique and
interesting plan.
We viewed the "battlegrounds" where students
demonstrated and fought the Chinese authorities for the University tuition
increases.
Susanne elaborated about the students’ demonstration from 2014:
A series of sit-in street protests, often called the Umbrella Revolution and sometimes used interchangeably with Umbrella Movement, or Occupy Movement, occurred in Hong Kong from September 26th to December 15th, 2014.
The protests began after the Standing Committee of
the National People's Congress (NPCSC) issued a decision regarding
proposed reforms to the Hong Kong electoral system. The decision was widely
seen to be highly restrictive, and equivalent to the Chinese Communist Party
(CCP)'s pre-screening of the candidates for the Chief Executive of Hong Kong.
Students led a strike against the NPCSC's decision beginning on September22nd, 2014, and the Hong Kong Federation of Students and Scholarism started protesting outside the government headquarters on September 26th, 2014.
On September 28th, events developed rapidly. The Occupy Central with Love and Peace movement announced the beginning of their civil disobedience campaign. Students and other members of the public demonstrated outside government headquarters, and some began to occupy several major city intersections.
Protesters blocked both east–west arterial routes in northern Hong Kong Island near Admiralty. Police tactics – including the use of tear gas – and triad attacks on protesters led more citizens to join the protests and to occupy Causeway Bay and Mangok (MK). The number of protesters peaked at more than 100,000 at any given time, overwhelming the police thus causing containment errors.
We then visited HK Park, which used to be the favorite place of British families, who resided on the island, to getaway from the island hustle and enjoy the features of this beautiful park.
We hopped on a public bus that passed by a complex of
buildings where Philippines people gather every Sunday to mingle and arrange
shipments to their families back home.
We entered a 'wet market' where fishermen sell their catch,
every morning.
Next was to experience the biggest outside escalators system
in the world: a 3 set of escalators that takes people to higher streets built
on a mountain.
At the summit of that system, Suzanne ended the tour.
The 3 of us continued and walked to Nathan Lane,
which is the same as Rodeo Drive for Californians. We did some windows shopping
and then
found Parker Rd, which is known for the many tiny restaurants that are
integral parts of the street (reservations are not welcomed there).
We picked one up and had the best lunch we have had during
this trip.
We found the bus station and hopped for the first available bus
to return to the ship.
The cruise ship made its way out of the Hong Kong Island and onto the the ocean. The sights were spectacular.
We skipped dinner and later attended a women's trio named
the Unique Three. They were very talented.
Monday 3/10/25
Day at sea!
Nothing special to report. Gym, afternoon nap, good food,
and great company.
Tuesday 3/11/25
Taipei, Taiwan
We pre-arranged a walking tour of the Old Town. The instructions were to take the Express MRT train from the Cruise Terminal Station to the Taiwanese National University Hospital. We made a mistake and boarded the Local train instead of the Express. We found out that the Local Train was not going towards the university and relied on help from one of the passengers who was on his way to the city's DMV. We changed the train to the Red Line instead, which included a stop at the university's Hospital. The passenger who was helping us accompanied us until we arrived at the correct station.
We met our guide, James, who showed up on a rented bike,
wearing a pair of shorts.
There were 37 tourists (including us) in his group, which
turned into a fantastic experience.
James is a history major attending the National University
for his PhD degree. He was funny and witty and with tons of knowledge & humor.
We started the tour at the 2-28 Peace Park, located
behind the National Museum, created by the Japanese Government.
There is a memorial for the February 28th, 1947 incident, which commemorates the massacre that took place then. Inside the park, there are some relics, gazebos to relax in, benches, well-kept gardens, etc.
During the incident, a group of protesters, angry over a brutal police action against Taiwanese civilians, took over the radio station and used it to broadcast accusations against the Kuomintang Government. The action formed part of a chain of events now referred to as the February 28 Incident or the 2-28 Massacre.
The number of casualties is still unknown. A 1992 government report estimated that between 18,000 and 28,000 people lost their lives.
We visited the memorial site and continued to a paved road that has been used
as a therapeutic method for people who suffer body pain. You need to take
your shoes off and walk with your bare feet on round pebbles (or river
rocks). There's a diagram next to the site that 'translates' the pain in
your feet, to the body part that needs medical attention. You could avoid
the foot pain by laying on your entire back on the rocks. Imma was brave enough
to do so.
The Presidential Palace was next. This tour did
not include an entry to the Palace.
The Presidential Office Building is the workplace of the president of the Republic of China (ROC) in Taiwan. The building, located in the Zhongzheng District in the national capital — Taipei, was designed during the period of Japanese rule of Taiwan (1895–1945). The structure originally housed the Office of the Governor-General of Taiwan. The right wing of the building was damaged in Allied bombing during World War II, which was restored after the war by ChenY i, the governor-general of Taiwan Province.
It became the Presidential Office in 1950 after the government of the ROC lost control of mainland China and relocated the nation's capital to Taipei at the end of the Chinese Civil War. At present, this Baroque-style building is a symbol of the central government and a famous historical landmark in downtown Taipei.
Our last stop on the tour was at Snow King Ice Cream
Parlor. Unusual flavors like beef and sesame oil chicken are a source
of pride at Snow King, which has been serving fresh homemade ice cream in the
city since 1947. They have, of course, other conventional flavors, such
as vanilla, strawberry, and chocolate, plus special ice cream for people with
diabetes.
We purchased 3 scoops (mango, strawberry, and apple) and
enjoyed every bit of it.
We used the Express Line to return to the ship, and an hour
later, we were back in our cabin.
Wednesday 3/12/25
Day at sea
A lazy day of eating, walking around the top deck, and
napping.
We decided to wear our matching Hawaiian shirts for the formal evening at dinner time. We looked AMAZING.
The menu was a good one: Surf and Turf (lobster, shrimps
& fillet mignon).
At the theater we viewed the Production Group. Pretty
boring.
Imma took a picture with Production Manager, Alexander, with
the Hotel Manager, Gonzalo. That was her highlight of the day!!!
Thursday 3/13/25
Kagoshima
When we woke up at 7:00 we saw the shores of Japan, as we
approached the port city of Kagoshima.
The skies did not promise us a pleasant day with its dark
clouds.
The ship was cleared by the Japanese Authorities at around 10:00 am but we were allowed to get to the city only at 11:00. After the immigration and custom process, we hopped on a shuttle bus and an hour later we found ourselves in Downtown Kagoshima.
With boarding time set to be 16:30, we had around 2.5 hours
left for windows shopping and lunch and so we did.
Dinner was a seafood buffet. A memorable one!
After dinner we joined the Silent Disco, at the Sky
Lounge.
Friday 3/14/25
At sea
Acter breakfast and attending the last lecture, by Ron, the
History Professor from the University of Georgia, (who grew up in Tustin), we
returned to our cabin to do the most hateful thing during any cruise: packing!
We were done in about 2 hours, in time for a nap before
dinner.
