Fiji the long way with our last QFi JASA.

[drron]

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[amaroo]

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This lady doesn't look very shipshape.

 

[drron]

I think that one is just left there for the cruise boats.There were a couple of much more presentable Coast Guard vessels tied up behind one of the tsunami walls.
You may have guessed by some of the photos that Oysters are one of the main activities in Matsushima Bay.They have a deservedly good reputation in Japan.But more of that later.Back to the little islands.

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[drron]

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At last Matsushima comes into view-

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This hotel has a great position-

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Here we saw one of the few visible homeless people in Japan.He was praying for us all-

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Across the road from the ferry dock is the entrance to Zuiganji temple said to be the most revered Zen temple in Japan.Originally built in 828.

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[drron]

This temple is another oasis surrounded by tall cedars-

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We were getting pretty weary so decided lunch was a better irea than looking at the main temple.Besides mrsdrron had already done more walking than she had done in a day since February.

 

[drron]

Just around the corner from the temple entrance on the way back to the station we noticed an ad for a sushi restaurant on the second floor.They had pictures of oysters.Theoyster season is October to April but we chanced it.It was a good pick.We shared a bowl of tempura and some sushi,both good-

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Then we each had a plate of fried oysters.I washed mine down with a bottle of Kirin Autumn brew-

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The oysters were probably the best fried oysters we have had.Lightly crumbed and not greasy they were plump,moist and tasted great.We were very glad we picked this restaurant.We were full but satisfied.It was now a slow walk back to the train.The shop in this photo had water up to the top of the first floor immediately after the tsunami-

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A few shots from the train between Matsushima and Shiogama-

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Just as we walked into the Westin the heavens opened up.Afterwards the rainbow-

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I then walked up to a nearby supermarket and got some grapes and salmon sashimi for dinner.I passed a Lawsons store.Apparently its not enough to be gay in Japan-

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[drron]

Saturday and naturally we are off shopping.First some westin art then our destination-

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We were off to the Lego outlet as the Japanese have some items not available in Australia.But we also ended up with a pair of Crocs each at~$17.The street from Nakana-Sakae station has lots of bars and restaurants presumably because it is very close to Sendai's port.There was the one I posted in the Off topic thread and here is another-

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Also some nice houses,probably the bar owners-

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After this and collecting late lunch at Sendai station it was back to the hotel for our compulsory nap.Later we went outside to the stage set up outside the other end of the Westin building for Sendai's jazz festival.This afternoon it was pop though.caught the last number of one act and then this group came on.Good music but don't know the lyrics!

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Shame we didn't go there when we got back to the hotel as that was when the group I wanted to hear was on-Duck Tetsuya.
Behind the Italian restaurant here there was a great liquor shop with really good pricing-750mls Amarula 1200 Yen.Lots of scotches with several single malts in the 2000-4000 Yen mark.Also some nice old wines such as the 85 Petrus.Some more restaurants on the second floor.

 

[RooFlyer]

<snip>

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Actual shags on rocks :mrgreen:

 

[love_the_life]

Really enjoying your TR - you'll be worn out before you get on the ship though with all the tripping around. Fantastic pics. Thanks.

 

[boomy]

Just found this TR, good read and great photos!

 

[drron]

Sunday and we had brekkie in the lounge.Virtually identical to the main restaurant.After that a stroll around the shops and a few of the stages of the Jazz Festival-though mostly the artists are not jazz at all.A fair bit of pop music,big bands and choirs and some country.So here we go-

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And an idea of the audience.There were 42 stages of which 2 had the bigger attractions and set up for large numbers-we avoided those.

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We had worked our way down to Sendai Station so went to one of their food areas and found a nice seafood place.Mrsdrron had a salmon donburi set and I had mixed seafood.1600 Yen each-

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And in the only in japan segment an arcade came based on Taiko drums-

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[drron]

Back to the Westin and outside it was a jazz afternoon.This young lady certainly played a mean trombone-

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But this group were my favourites not just because I related to the grey hair but their style was just like the SGS Living room in Bangkok.

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There was a ring in when the drummer became the vocalist.I was obviously enjoying it so after the show the drummer/vocalist came over and shook my hand asking where I came from.I was the only westerner in the crowd,mrsdrron had gone for a nap.After saying Australia he asked if I was a musician.Mrsdrron could tell you how silly that was!.
So here is the set up outside the Westin.Obviously for the more mature with seats.Around the outside were food stalls-

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This fellow was the most enterprising but camera shy ducking when I pointed the camera-

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His line was come and get some hot Jamaican chicken cooked by a hot young Japanese guy.

 

[drron]

Now the last group.Looked a little unlikely but they played some old standards really well.No vocals but a little out of character they included the Minder song and I just couldn't help singing.I don't think those around me had heard the lyrics before-

If you want to I'll change the situation.
Right people, right time; just the wrong location.
I've got a good idea: Just you keep me near. I'll be so good for you.

I could be so good for you. I'm gonna help ya!
Love you like you want me to. I'll do anything for you . . . I'll be so good for you.

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When I saw the program I was disappointed.Right outside had been the group I wanted to see when I arrived back at the Westin on the Saturday-

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Duck Tetsuya.Could it have been?
Now the footpath outside the Westin-wide and with a designated bicycle lane nearest the road which is 6 lanes.Why couldn't Australian cities have had some foresight-

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And finally the outside of the Westin-

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So I can definitely recommend a visit to Sendai even if only for Matsushima Bay and those wonderful oysters.They do though have much more and are very in to street festivals.This one is always in September and certainly was a pleasant way to spend a few hours.
Next-a long train day to Shin-Sapporo.

 

[Denali]

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And in the only in japan segment an arcade came based on Taiko drums-

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If only I knew! I paid for my husband to have a taiko lesson in Kyoto when we were there last year but he didn't get to wear a school uniform

Loving the pics.

 

[drron]

Monday and an early start for us.Down at the restaurant at 0715 for breakfast.It only opened at 0700 but already was more than half full.It was a National holiday-Respect for the Aged day.About 0830 headed down to get a taxi to the station.As we arrived at the platform for the shinkansen I realised I had left my good camera in our room.29 minutes until our train.Ran down the stairs,got a cab back to the Westin,up in the first lift to floor 26 to reception.3 agents all checking someone out.The woman finishes with her guest,quickly authorises a new key for our room.Up in the second lift.Get my camera.The lift back to reception stops at nearly every floor.The woman agent is standing in the corridor to collect my key and rapidly down to street level and taxi back to the station.Arrive with 12 minutes to go so time to relax.After that everything else would be a breeze.....maybe.
It was an uneventful ride on the Hayabusa shinkansen but we found out why 2 trains were coupled.Earlier in the morning saw this out of our window-

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When our train rolled into Sedai it had the same configuration-

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North of Sendai the trains were uncoupled and the front section set off inland as an express and we continued north as the shinkansen.Now the ritual leg shot-

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I tried to take some shots of the countryside but a lot of the journey was in tunnels.But here is some typical Japanese country scenes-

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It got very smoky at one stage-

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[drron]

Some more of the passing landscape-

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After arriving at Shin-Aomori you have to go out and down to the other tracks.We had 30 minutes to wait before our Super Hakucho express to Hakodate.We certainly appreciated having sent our luggage from the Westin to the Sheraton Sapporo.However on arriving at the platform a little unease spread over me.3 of the 4 trains on the indicator board should have left already.It worsened when this Tsugaru express arrived 32 minutes late-

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And just to show that Japanese trains can run late-

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The second photo was taken when the 1108 train could be seen approaching the platform.Our problem was we only had a 13 minute transit at Hakodate.

 

[drron]

The 1108 train went out 20 minutes late.Ours was just 9 minutes late but we felt we would be cutting it fine in Hakodate.So here is our train arriving-

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Now this trip's highlight/lowlight is that you go through the the longest and deepest rail tunnel in the world at the moment-the Seikan tunnel.But first we go into Aomori where the train switches direction-

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On the way to the Sekan you can see the work for the shinkansen line to Hakodate.It looks nearly complete on the main island of Honshu-

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After you exit the tunnel you can see back to Honshu-

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