Fiji the long way with our last QFi JASA.

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The lights were coming on but the dancing continued-

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What a fantastic send off as we said goodbye to Hakodate-

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I was in Hakodate on a Silverseas cruise last year and we had similar sail away entertainment from a large group of school children. They were so enthusiastic and untiring. I was told they were doing a 'squid dance'? They were trying to teach those of us on the deck watching them the steps, so that we could follow along with them - we weren't very good.

 

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So the photos of the Silver Explorer.Up on deck 7 as well as having a large balcony you can access a small viewing area forward.Small but good for shots to the front or the opposite side of the ship from your suite-

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The theatre on deck 6 and to the other side of the stairs the observation lounge where early risers can have a continental brekkie-

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Deck 6 is also for walking around the ship for exercise though not great views as you pass the life boats-

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Aft on deck 6 is the pool bar,the grill in fine weather and a place to relax.No pool however but hot tubs on each side of the area-

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From the starboard side on deck 5 you can get into the Humidor for smokers.They have cigars and premium spirits here.Rarely used when we have been on.

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The main part of this area is the Panorama Lounge the main bar and where afternoon tea +/- Trivia is held and in the evenings music with a pianist and occasionally very bad karaoke-

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To one side is the Internet café and library-

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Then forward on deck 6 an observation area and the rest of the walking track-

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And to finish the Explorer at dock in Chichi-jima-

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It was the Captain's welcome reception that night and afterwards we had dinner with the captain and two doctors from Adelaide.Apparently another couple turned down their invitation to dine with us.My reputation must have preceeded me!It was good to see Captain Maggie again even though she is 2IC on this cruise.It was a great night with interesting conversation.Lobster was on the menu so the whole table ordered that.I followed up with a decadent chocolate 4 ways.
The next day was a sea day.The sea was calm.Fortunate as at the beginning of the week it was forecast that a typhoon would be in this area today.It decided to head for China though.Awoke with the delivery of our 0630 tea as usual.Listened to lectures on Japanese history and Earthquakes.Saw lots of ships including this unusual one-

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Dinner was again with the couple from Guam and the Canadian barry who is an interesting character.
Monday and on awakening we can see an island which turns out to be our destination for the day-

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We anchored off the port with a fishing boat alongside.A short zodiac ride to the sheltered landing-

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The locals got upset when someone called the barriers Tsunami walls!
Anyway it was off on a bus trip around the island after our early lunch on board.First stop was at a point formed by an eruption in the 90s.In 2005 a further eruption released large amounts of SO2 and the island was evacuated.The residents were only allowed to return in 2005 though 1 village was off limits until April 2013.

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Despite the desolate appearance nature was already beginning to reclaim the area-

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Another island in the distance also inhabited-

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And here we are entering the former village of Ako covered in the 2000 eruption-

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More of that next.

 

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So this was the local school.Fortunately there was ample warning and no casualties-

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Once again nature is making a come back-

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The final couple of pictures from the lava flow area-

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And some pictures on the way to another volcanic beach-

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The oldest building on the island with typical Japanese landscaping-

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The hospital-

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And the beach-

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On our way to the last stop on the volcano we passed the airport.The plane was in.

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Mt.Oyama is still steaming.SO2 levels are constantly monitored and there are places on the island you cant access.mainly the higher slopes of Oyama.

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So more of Oyama.In some pictures you can see the road that led to the summit.However you cant go past this viewpoint.

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There were thousands of moths.This one stayed on my back pack long enough to be shot-

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You could stay until sunset here but it was quite hazy so most of us headed back to the ship.Mrsdrron then noticed what was on our bus-

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Going down the mountain you could see the volcanic layers and the devastion the 2000 eruption did to the trees-

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Another nice dinner that was mainly Japanese inspired but I did have the duck with orange sauce for mains.It was really good.Dinner with a couple from California,our friend Barrie and Clive the bird expert on the Expedition team.A very nice Brit now living in California.

Tuesday and a scheduled stop at Hachijo-jima.However there was only one protected port

 

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Tuesday and a scheduled stop at Hachijo-jima.However there was only one protected port with the weather coming from the east.A good view as we approached the island and the port-

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The scout boat went ashore but nothing happened.Then the word came back that the Fisherman's Union controlled this port and they weren't going to let us land despite the pleadings of the Island's authorities and the Japanese Tourist Board people on the ship.So we went around to the East side of the island-

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That not surprisingly is an abandoned tourist hotel.Conditions were no good for landing so off we headed south.At the night's briefing was more bad news-a typhoon was forming southwest of us and was predicted to be over the Bonin Islands when we were scheduled to be there so we headed south at full speed missing the next 2 island stops and only briefly stopping at Chichi-jima to get Immigration clearance from Japan.

Another great dinner and as usual we were the last to leave.Stocked up on ginger and we went straight to bed.
Wednesday was now a sea day.A little rougher but only a 2 metre swell so no problems.Watched a movie in the morning and the some birds joined us just before lunch.So I spent the afternoon sitting on the balcony watching coughies.Exotic brown ones at that-

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A fascinating day.Such beautiful creatures.But what was interesting they were there to catch flying fish.And they were often successful.I took over 200 pictures but only once got the catch and as usual that was out of focus.But now a lot of bird shots-

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We arrived in Chichi-jima around 1900.There was a night tour to see luminous mushrooms but it was raining so we stayed for dinner.Dined with the hotel director,a couple from Britain and a couple from Brisbane who are spending 19 weeks on the ship.Again great company,good food and an enjoyable night.
Also some good news.The tropical storm has slowed so we will be able to spend the morning in Chichi-jima.That next.

 

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Our greeting by typical Japanese dancers on arrival at Chichi-jima-

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The next morning the sun was shining.There was a cemetery on the hillside with a great view and a visiting naval vessel-

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Everything you associate with a Pacific paradise with such blue water-

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A fishing boat sets out and a good looking dive boat is off to pick up some tourists-

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The navy prepares to leave-

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A fishing boat is alongside with us-

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We are then off on a bus trip.The first stop a lookout.

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Lots of dragon flies-

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Three sets of traffic lights and roadworks on the island-

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The next stop was a deserted beach with a small stream behind it-

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So to the beach-

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The rock formation is pillow lava.

 

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And some random shots on the way back to town-

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The local information centre.Unfortunately whale season is February to April-

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The temple as usual is on a hill-

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Lovely plagues in the main street-

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And real trees-

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But there are jobs available-

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And a local bus stop-

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