Blossoms, bullet train and beyond: exploring Japan by Land and Sea.

[Pushka]

 

[Pushka]

The entire temple is in the layout of a serpent but we could also see a serpent worked through the foliage below.

 

[Pushka]

Last few of the Sea Temple.

 

[Pushka]

You know those art auctions they have onboard? Apparently last night there was a Rembrandt sold. Only tiny and for $17,000 USD. I kinda think it was a good deal? A Rembrandt.

 

[drron]

I really liked Busan. Went on a tour to the UN War Memorial but left it when they visited the fish market as I had been before and I knew close by was the place the ship's shuttle bus stopped. I had no won either but I took some USD as there are money changers everywhere. lots of street food and cheap restaurants. I had a couple of things from the street vendors then a nice but large offering in a BBQ restaurant.
Quite a few locals spoke english and google translate did the rest.

 

[RooFlyer]

You know those art auctions they have onboard? Apparently last night there was a Rembrandt sold. Only tiny and for $17,000 USD. I kinda think it was a good deal? A Rembrandt.

I wonder if this Rembrandt is related to the famous artist.

 

[Pushka]

I really liked Busan. Went on a tour to the UN War Memorial but left it when they visited the fish market as I had been before and I knew close by was the place the ship's shuttle bus stopped. I had no won either but I took some USD as there are money changers everywhere. lots of street food and cheap restaurants. I had a couple of things from the street vendors then a nice but large offering in a BBQ restaurant.
Quite a few locals spoke english and google translate did the rest.

Yes. We passed by the memorial. USA repatriated all but 50 of their personnel but the UK didn’t repatriate as many. The youngest sacrifice made by overseas personnel was an Australian. At 21 my dad was in the Navy and his ship was deployed to fight in Korea. On the way he developed pneumonia and he was treated with penicillin. Turned out he was allergic and went into anaphylactic shock and almost died. He was returned home.

 

[Quickstatus]

You know those art auctions they have onboard auction?

Presumable Celebrity/Royal C gets a commission?

Are you auctioning the

The Effy

?

 

[Pushka]

Presumable Celebrity/Royal C gets a commission?

Are you auctioning the ?

The art company is called park west. Huge clients of RCCL brand. Maybe even Princess.
2 effys to go. They snuck in 2 yesterday that most people missed. They also didn’t turn up on one day although they say they did.

I asked the price of the cheapest bracelet I could see. $1900 USD. Tiny jewels. 14k gold. They asked if I wanted to try it on. Nup. Told them I had three pink Argyle pieces. They are now extremely rare and Valuable. They told us that. Their jaws dropped. And then I left.

 

[love_the_life]

There was quite a nice sapphire and diamond pendant on Silver Dawn last year - in the window and I could just make out the price - around $100K USD. I passed!

 

[Pushka]

All done.



Today is a sea day between Korea and Japan so we have to do incoming immigration today. We are lucky in that Japanese officials are onboard to process. Suite people can go to the lounge between 8am and 3pm. Others are given a time.

And this process is normally done onshore when there’s no sea day and creates up to a 3 hour delay waiting to get to shore excursions. Lucky lucky.

A bit to catch up on from yesterday.

 

[Quickstatus]

We are lucky in that Japanese officials are onboard to process

During the sea voyage?

 

[Pushka]

During the sea voyage?

Yes. There are about 15 officials onboard.

We received a note that as suite guests we should go down to Luminae (suite lounge) and await escort. In the meantime our butler rang amd said to call for him when we were ready. So five minutes later I rang him back and asked if he was free. 'Yes madam, I am right outside your door' . He was. He escorted us downstairs to the main dining room which was now an immigration processing centre. Huge queue. He handed us over to another butler with a large sign 'Priority, Retreat guests' and took is past the long line of people waiting. Kinda awkward but rather excellent. Yes, we became 'those' people. As usual my fingerprints took some time but think he just pressed the green button anyway. As we finished I looked back to the queue and saw the two people in the Royal suite about to take our place. We both called out 'awkward' and laughed. Oh dear.

We've had similar on other cruises but can't quite remember which ones. Maybe Egypt? And on the QM2 it was for China.

 

[Quickstatus]

We both called out 'awkward' and laughed

Surely you must be used to it now
I wonder if they can be recruited by certain airline to fix up the issue at the gates.

 

[Pushka]

So back to yesterday. After the Sea temple we visited the APEC site for 2005. The eras of John Howard, George Bush, Putin, Trudeau and so on were guests. The site is on Camellia Island and on the sea. I guess that comes with the Island bit.

No issues with parking. It's a beautiful site and is still used for large government meetings.









Must have looked spectacular.

 

[Pushka]

The usual participant photo in classic dress.


On the way out each country had small dedicated signs.

Australia - Koala. But photo seems missing.
Canada - Sea Otter.






But the humdinger was New Zealand. Sheep.

 

[Quickstatus]

Sea Otter

Beaver (IMO)

 

[Pushka]

Back to the bus and back to the ship. Passed by the Korean War Memorial briefly.
When we arrived this morning the campsite was quickly emptied not long afterward. By this afternoon new campers were setting up. They sounded like they were having a lot of fun.



Last night we had booked the once off Indian Banquet and we were not disappointed. The food had wonderful flavours, even the minced chicken and beef rolls were full of flavour. But so much food. Probably we'd like it just a bit more spicy but the flavours were great.

Papadams.

 

[Pushka]

This morning after I collected the missing locket insert they mentioned they were having a fun jewellery action with pieces being opened at cost price. This was about 1/3 of retail I'd guess. I felt I should at least attend so rocked up at 11am. Received a glass of champagne and a bid ticket. 17. There were about 10 of us. Another Australian couple, two French Canadian couples, a lady of Chinese origin and perhaps someone from Italy. And another two people. Of course I wasn't doing to bid. But, I did! . The first item was for a duly completed ship locket so to join the fun I did the opening bid. $5 USD. There were actually 3 of us having a fun bid, that was the purpose, and for one bid I waited for the final call to rebid which of course broke up the room. Then the lady offered $15 and we were out.

We had to clap after each item whether or not it was sold. Of the 13 items, one that I liked was pre sold and perhaps four other items varying from $950 usd to over $3000. The Canadian couple bought two pieces as did the Australian couple.

But I did win a lucky draw. So have put this on the bed to frighten the life out of MrP who went to the gym.

 

[Pushka]

Beaver (IMO)

Beaver


Sea Otter