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

[Quickstatus]

Beaver:

 

[Pushka]

Beaver:

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I see your point but on the other hand none of the other symbols used were actually the true representative creature for that country. Unless sheep are the symbol for NZ and Koala for Australia. Can't recall the others but they were all somewhat funny.

 

[moa999]

After the Sea temple we visited the APEC site for 2005

Maybe because it was in a more remote site.. but can't think of anything that remembers APEC Sydney 2007

Symbols all seem to be a bit of what you wouldn't first think of.
Normally NZ would be Kiwi Bird, and Australia tends to be Kangaroo over Emu or Koala

 

[love_the_life]

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.

Nah, that's what you pay for.

 

[RooFlyer]

Nah, that's what you pay for.

I'm sure 'DYKWIA?' was on the tip of Pushka's tongue, ready for deployment if necessary.

 

[Quickstatus]

ready for deployment if necessary.

While conspicuously playing with the full set Effy necklace

 

[Seat0B]

He wanted to get an unobstructed photo of his tour group

So he kept telling everyone to get out of the way,

his group were from China

We’ve had an identical issue now several times in Japan as well. It’s very frustrating.

 

[Seat0B]

Has happened to me on Intrepid type tours. Visiting some fabulous historic town and tour leader declares a sit-down coffee stop. Someone in the group decides to order food as well. Everyone spreads out etc etc. Ends up being 3/4 hour.

Exactly what I’m fearful of with Africa.

 

[tgh]

Many decades ago, we had an escorted equestrian tour in Germany before attending the world equestrian games in Stockholm
There were two buses, our group hit off together , we were loud, noisy and drove the guide insane..
What about lunch someone would start, the guide would say well we need to do x and see y .. we find a local restaurant and start a party.
The lot on the other bus did what they were told and had a miserable time…we had a raging ball….

 

[RooFlyer]

@Pushka - about these dorks you are coming across here and there. Remember, if you don't come across any problematic people in a group, then that person is YOU!