Japan.It's Bloomin marvellous.

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Time to get back on the bus and be off to see the Great Seto bridge-the longest 2 tiered bridge in the world.Though it passes over 2 islands and changes design as it does but still 2 tiers.So pictures from the bus then the bridge-

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At the view point we indulged in more icecream-a peach and a fig flavour.You had to get tickets from a vending machine,hand them to the woman who then served you your ice cream.After that it was back to the ship for lunch.

 

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After lunch there was a shuttle into town but I walked around the port area as there were a few pieces from the Arts Festival-

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So this has a welded frame with timber lining and you can go inside-

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OK art is in the eye of the beholder but it was interesting.

 

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A large covered area being used for skate boarding-

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Not to mention cherry blossoms-

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At the entrance to the ferry terminal-

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And the site of Takamatsu castle which is no more-

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And now a contribution from the UK-

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More of the new buildings in the port area-

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The last is an hotel.

 

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A reminder of the festival and the around the port permanent features-

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I had stopped at the Triennale office and spoke to the one older guy who spoke English.He was delighted that someone from Australia knew about it and wanted to see some of the works.He gave me a list of the works in Takamatsu.I couldn't find one until I got back to the ship.It was right in front of me-

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I had thought it was just the welcome sign.But I was also looking for a snake!

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They were serving free local noodles-said to be found only in this region.I had a second helping-

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The crew agreed that they were good-

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Now it was the turn of the local schools.They were getting us to try our hand at calligraphy.When I did Japanese I was better writing rather than speaking.They got you to copy first-

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I drew friends first and they all said friends for life.Next I chose moon and one had a much better understanding of English saying-I'm not doing that!
Then they got the better paper out so I had something to take home.I don't know where it came from but dreams popped into my head so off I went.At first they were concerned as it lokked nothing like any of the examples they had.They all realised what I wrote and I got a round of applause.Even the security guard on boarding said "dreams".So here is the masterpiece-at a distance so any imperfections are not noticed-

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The 2 schools that were there were the champions and runner ups in the Japanese Shodo competition-calligraphy to music and dancing.First the runners up-

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Now the turn of the champions.Obviously older and a more polished performance-

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First a spray painted border-

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Now for the big bit of blotting paper-

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They were ll invited aboard and given a little gift as well as a little afternoon tea.Well deserved.

 

[drron]

Time to sail.It was starting to looklike a nice sunset was in store-

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Many had come to see us.Walking the dogs was popular-

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Yes it really is a dog in apram and not the only one either.This woman was riding her bike with the little fellow running alongside-

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The girls had all bought streamers for us to use.Brings back memories.How many remember ship farewells like this-

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Whilst this was happening they first played Suikiyaki and then switched to I Still Call Australia Home.I admit to more than one tear.Even doing this post brings a lump to my throat.

 

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[video=youtube_share;_zpOc9n7dlI]https://youtu.be/_zpOc9n7dlI[/video]

 

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As the last streamer broke they all started running to the end of the dock.

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One fellow even cycled out the walkway to the lighthouse.-

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All the while the sunset is developing and just for an instant a bonus.A rainbow.

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So it turned out to be a very good sunset so you know what that means!

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So one last sunset shot because a TR isn't a TR without a lot of sunset shots-

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We awoke next morning about to anchor of Miya-jima.It will be our only zodiac landing.Oysters are obviously important here as well as the tourists-

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[OATEK]

So one last sunset shot because a TR isn't a TR without a lot of sunset shots-

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Some good sunsets in this batch though, and I like the boats lit up on the golden waters as well.

 

[drron]

So what did we see?Cherry blossoms and deer plus a few shrines-

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Couldn't really persuade myself to try oyster curry bread but oysters on a stick-yummy.
Now who else got the wooden spoon if naughty?

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Our first sight of the famous tori gate-

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That is a temple of a new Buddhist sect.The positioning wil make sense later.

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The deer were not as numerous as Nara but more aggressive.That fellow very nearly got a map out of my pocket.He did however teach me of an effective way of disposing of used tissues!

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