Nagasaki
Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2012 5:19 pm
Andre bought me two beautiful books back on The Great Wall and The Forbidden City and I’m really chuffed. People have been coming up to me all morning telling me that there was no way I could have done any of the tours so I am slightly mollified. We’ve had even more paperwork delivered to our cabins regarding disembarking in Japan and it now seems that we have to go through al the nonsense of immigration even if we only want to get off at Osaka. It would now seem we need to be processed at the first point of entry. Now here’s the rigmarole, apart from the temperature check that had been mentioned we also have to have a retinal scan, passport check and finger prints taken!
Because of the delays leaving Xingang (due to the tours being held up) we have been told that even sailing at full speed we haven’t made up all the time so at the moment we are not sue in to Nagasaki until 1.30pm but unfortunately because of the tides at that time it means we can only have one gangway in use, which will really slow us up, that on top of al the stuff with immigration. Because I’m independent, I will probably not be able to get off until all the tours have gone – probably 3.00pm.
I’ve also just found out that we’ve got the Nora Virus on board so there is talk that the Japanese officials won’t et us off at all. I’m sure that’s passengers over-dramatizing the situation but time will tell.
The atmosphere of Nagasaki is richly cosmopolitan and the scenery quite enchanting. Standing over the Nakashima River is Japan’s first Chinese-style stone bridge, the Spectacle Bridge, which reflects ovals onto the surface of the water. It is said that bridges here were only built on roads that led to temples, ornate structures that still adorn many of the streets. Etched in the memory of Nagasaki is the 1945 atomic bombing that destroyed much of the city. Today it still lingers in poignant reminders, such as Peace Park and the A-Bomb Museum. Most of the ship’s tours revolved around the memorials, which I didn’t fancy. I went to one of these sights whilst in Vietnam some years ago and I find it depressing so if we do indeed dock I will do my own thing.
… well the latest is that we are docking but apparently we are only two passengers away from Red Alert regarding the Nora Virus. Code Red means Arcadia will have to officially report the statistics to the forthcoming ports of call. I remember on Oriana some ten years ago, we were sailing Southampton to the Caribbean and we got the Virus within a week of sailing and passengers were dropping like flies. By the time we got to Dominica, more than half the ship was ill and the upshot was that the shop was put into quarantine. It was so frustrating.
Because Anita and I were getting off independently, all the tours were let off first so we didn’t get off until nearly 3.30pm. Andre joined us in the terminal. I dashed to the ladies before we left the port and blow me down if the seats weren’t heated. While I was sitting there it spoke to me albeit it in Japanese and I noticed a series of buttons on the wall, one for washing my bum and anther to spray smelly stuff and yet another for sound effects. It would seem that Japanese woman don’t like to hear themselves tinkle!!
Off we went to You Me Saito Shopping Mall in the quest of a Media Player. We did find them but then found out that it was only 100 voltage – Gutted. Andre has a machine with him which he showed us, it’s got about 800 movies and thousands of music tracks and it’s absolutely perfect for my trips as it plays in any television including NTSC and Pal. Andre has offered to transfer everything over if I can get a Media Player before he gets off in Brisbane. It’s much better than playing discs through the laptop, as you can’t position it on the bed properly or if you balance it on your knees you end up scalding yourself. The only chance I have now is to get one in Yorkey’s Knob.
Andre went back to the ship to meet up with some of the crew, while Anita and I went sightseeing and tourist shopping. I got an authentic kimono, which I wanted, although I don’t know what I’ll do with it after the trip.
Sail away was at 9.00pm and the harbour was gorgeous all lit up – really nice memories. The only thing we missed was the cable car but we’d been told (incorrectly) it was a 45-minute trip and it would cost fifty pounds in a cab each way!!!!
Nagasaki is also the home of Confucius who said “man who has hole in pocket, feel cocky all the timeâ€.
It was Louis’ last show tonight but I was just too tired to go so we arranged to meet tomorrow morning instead.
At sea
Internet blackout is now in force while we are in Japanese waters so I’ll be busy trying to catch up with everything after we leave Osaka. We’ve had a note in our cabins saying that the port stop at the Seychelles has been pulled because of pirate activity and that Arcadia will go to Durban instead. That has upset quite a few people not because of missing the port but the addition of Durban, apparently there is very little there.
Drama at 2.00pm and of the seven that were there last time, there was only four of us and five newbie’s. We were actually assigned a character and a script today. Thankfully I’m the Narrator and can read from the script. It would appear we’re going to perform the play before we get to Sydney. I couldn’t believe it when in the last minutes of the workshop two people dropped out. We’re going to proceed anyway and if needed one of the entertainments team will step in.
Matthew reminded me that ‘A Night of a 1000 Stars’, where the cast are paying their respects to the greatest variety theatre in the world, The London Palladium, is on tonight. The Palladium has been going for more than 100 years and has been an entertainment icon for evermore with the biggest stars in the world stepping into its spotlight, daddy included. They have included ‘Born Free’ into the show and want me to be there.
The show was wonderful but it is an early start in the morning. Sailing in at about 5.30am to be docked an hour later. Immigration alert…. Just been told that those of us not on an actual tour tomorrow have to have a face-to-face inspection between 1.00pm and 4.45pm. Don’t think it’s fair we’ve been penalized and have to come back early whilst those on P&O tours get away without it.
Because of the delays leaving Xingang (due to the tours being held up) we have been told that even sailing at full speed we haven’t made up all the time so at the moment we are not sue in to Nagasaki until 1.30pm but unfortunately because of the tides at that time it means we can only have one gangway in use, which will really slow us up, that on top of al the stuff with immigration. Because I’m independent, I will probably not be able to get off until all the tours have gone – probably 3.00pm.
I’ve also just found out that we’ve got the Nora Virus on board so there is talk that the Japanese officials won’t et us off at all. I’m sure that’s passengers over-dramatizing the situation but time will tell.
The atmosphere of Nagasaki is richly cosmopolitan and the scenery quite enchanting. Standing over the Nakashima River is Japan’s first Chinese-style stone bridge, the Spectacle Bridge, which reflects ovals onto the surface of the water. It is said that bridges here were only built on roads that led to temples, ornate structures that still adorn many of the streets. Etched in the memory of Nagasaki is the 1945 atomic bombing that destroyed much of the city. Today it still lingers in poignant reminders, such as Peace Park and the A-Bomb Museum. Most of the ship’s tours revolved around the memorials, which I didn’t fancy. I went to one of these sights whilst in Vietnam some years ago and I find it depressing so if we do indeed dock I will do my own thing.
… well the latest is that we are docking but apparently we are only two passengers away from Red Alert regarding the Nora Virus. Code Red means Arcadia will have to officially report the statistics to the forthcoming ports of call. I remember on Oriana some ten years ago, we were sailing Southampton to the Caribbean and we got the Virus within a week of sailing and passengers were dropping like flies. By the time we got to Dominica, more than half the ship was ill and the upshot was that the shop was put into quarantine. It was so frustrating.
Because Anita and I were getting off independently, all the tours were let off first so we didn’t get off until nearly 3.30pm. Andre joined us in the terminal. I dashed to the ladies before we left the port and blow me down if the seats weren’t heated. While I was sitting there it spoke to me albeit it in Japanese and I noticed a series of buttons on the wall, one for washing my bum and anther to spray smelly stuff and yet another for sound effects. It would seem that Japanese woman don’t like to hear themselves tinkle!!
Off we went to You Me Saito Shopping Mall in the quest of a Media Player. We did find them but then found out that it was only 100 voltage – Gutted. Andre has a machine with him which he showed us, it’s got about 800 movies and thousands of music tracks and it’s absolutely perfect for my trips as it plays in any television including NTSC and Pal. Andre has offered to transfer everything over if I can get a Media Player before he gets off in Brisbane. It’s much better than playing discs through the laptop, as you can’t position it on the bed properly or if you balance it on your knees you end up scalding yourself. The only chance I have now is to get one in Yorkey’s Knob.
Andre went back to the ship to meet up with some of the crew, while Anita and I went sightseeing and tourist shopping. I got an authentic kimono, which I wanted, although I don’t know what I’ll do with it after the trip.
Sail away was at 9.00pm and the harbour was gorgeous all lit up – really nice memories. The only thing we missed was the cable car but we’d been told (incorrectly) it was a 45-minute trip and it would cost fifty pounds in a cab each way!!!!
Nagasaki is also the home of Confucius who said “man who has hole in pocket, feel cocky all the timeâ€.
It was Louis’ last show tonight but I was just too tired to go so we arranged to meet tomorrow morning instead.
At sea
Internet blackout is now in force while we are in Japanese waters so I’ll be busy trying to catch up with everything after we leave Osaka. We’ve had a note in our cabins saying that the port stop at the Seychelles has been pulled because of pirate activity and that Arcadia will go to Durban instead. That has upset quite a few people not because of missing the port but the addition of Durban, apparently there is very little there.
Drama at 2.00pm and of the seven that were there last time, there was only four of us and five newbie’s. We were actually assigned a character and a script today. Thankfully I’m the Narrator and can read from the script. It would appear we’re going to perform the play before we get to Sydney. I couldn’t believe it when in the last minutes of the workshop two people dropped out. We’re going to proceed anyway and if needed one of the entertainments team will step in.
Matthew reminded me that ‘A Night of a 1000 Stars’, where the cast are paying their respects to the greatest variety theatre in the world, The London Palladium, is on tonight. The Palladium has been going for more than 100 years and has been an entertainment icon for evermore with the biggest stars in the world stepping into its spotlight, daddy included. They have included ‘Born Free’ into the show and want me to be there.
The show was wonderful but it is an early start in the morning. Sailing in at about 5.30am to be docked an hour later. Immigration alert…. Just been told that those of us not on an actual tour tomorrow have to have a face-to-face inspection between 1.00pm and 4.45pm. Don’t think it’s fair we’ve been penalized and have to come back early whilst those on P&O tours get away without it.