Upcoming plans for Aomori, Japan

Hirosaki, the Castle Town
Duration
Approximately 7 hours
Description
Drive 25 miles along National Highway Route 7 from Aomori to Hirosaki city, symbolized by its castle, cherry blossoms, and apples, situated in the southern part of the Tsugaru plain. Visit Hirosaki Park, the location of Hirosaki castle, and one of Japan's most famous cherry blossom spots (usually flowering at the end of April and beginning of May). The next visit to (Tsugaruhan Neputa Mura) allows visitors to follow a circuit through several sections, devoted to different topics.
Lunch will be served at a local restaurant, then you'll head to the Zenringai area, where 33 Zen temples stand quietly and one can experience the atmosphere of this former Samurai town. You will visit Saishoin Temple with its 300-year-old five-story pagoda before transfering back to the ship.

Day 10 At sea

What a day! What a day! Spectacular is the word that comes to mind. All past weather woes were forgotten as I sat and bronzed for 8 hours today. It was spectacular because of the scientific data gathered today. As many of you don’t probably know, I am one of the few people outside NASA to have a Bronzamatic Pro 5000. The Bronzamatic Pro 5000 was developed by NASA to study the effects of the sun on human skin to support their deep space probe plans. As a world renowned Tanologist they were kind to present me with one of their top of the line instruments to support my own studies in Tanology. Our efforts dovetail in many ways although I am not directly funded. Anyway, when I took a color reading today I was amazed that I had achieved a number of 3.1875. While it certainly doesn’t come close to the record set by Fred Smedlap in 1982 outside a motor home in Death Valley, it still could be a record for this longitude. Anyway Mr. Smedlap’s record does have an asterisk next to it since he actually died at some point while setting the record. Pooling of the blood after death could have affected the results… anyway I digress…. Next, I took a reading of the drying and hardening of the skin and recorded a number of 17.89 which again is pretty spectacular as many of you know. Gucci leather is only 1.32 points away and beef jerky 4.75….pretty impressive. If I have many more days like this I could be confused with an oversized shoe leather satchel. Enough of the scientific stuff…. Now time for a commercial…. People come up to me all the time and ask “Jeff, what is it that you use to get such a great tan?’ I reply with 2 words “Banana Boat!”. Banana Boat carries products that cover the full spectrum of tanning needs. Sun Protection for Moles all the way thru professional products. I prefer two products in particular. First of all I like what I call power oil which doesn’t offer the slightest protection. It can turn a normal light skinned person into a 3rd degree burn victim in less than 9.34 minutes. Then there is the Sports Stick with SPF 30 that I use on my lips… I think there may be just a hint of saddle soap in the mixture to keep my lips nice and supple like a fine piece of leather. My sister Lisa works with Banana Boat products so I am sure she appreciates my endorsement of their product line.
Today was really enjoyable. Tomorrow, Japan, the land of the rising sun.... Hummmmm…Sun, sounds great.
I also talked with the restaurant, Thomas Grindlay, and told him how impressed I was with the food. I told him that as good as it was on the world voyage that it may even be better now. He wasn’t surprised by that statement because as he explained we have a new chef, Bernie P. Ruis, who has done World Voyages in the past and by inference is a better chef…. Cool. Our Port Lecturer, Frank Buckingham, is miles ahead of the woman we had on the world voyage. Plus she could be a bit rude and snippy with guests… That doesn’t go over too well as you can imagine. Anyway his depth and breath of information is quite impressive.

Day 9 At Sea

Well I got half my wish today…. Lots of sun and unfortunately lots of wind as well (Force 6). I was able to have a pretty nice (but lightly chilly) day outside. I got a fair amount of sun…. nicely bronzing! Tomorrow, hopefully, as we get further south the weather will continue to warm. Only one more day until we get to Japan….very exciting! We are currently 8 hours behind the East coast (forget about the different day) and are supposed to gain 2 more hours tonight. I am so rested it is ridiculous. The trip back could be brutal since we will lose all these hours as we head back to San Diego. Tonight is the Black & White Ball, makes choosing colors pretty easy. After tomorrow it will get pretty exciting and very busy as we hit Japan and then China…. Good thing I rested up in advance. I can’t tell you how nice yesterday was…. not only was it great to visit Russia but it was great to just go ashore and see new things. I still can’t get over how blue the dog’s eyes were… Today I am sailing southwest past the Kuril Islands on my way to Japan and just enjoying life……

Above is a photo of my tablemates (minus one..... she doesn't do formal generally) on the Black & White theme night.

More Petropavlovsk.....

First stop, long trip.... many photos...

Day 8 Petropavlovsk, Russia

Today was a pretty good day. It was my first trip to Russia and was very interesting. To begin with it took an exceptionally long time to get cleared by the Russian authorities….. even had a face to face Passport check. Once we finally tendered ashore we headed to the Pacific Network Country Resort complex where dogs are trained to pull dog sleds. The sled you see in the picture has wheels which is used when they don't have snow for training. It was very pretty there since it had just snowed (now I have snow….). The snow was very unusual since September is their warm month.(that's why they are still using wheels on the sled) It rained on and off with beautiful periods of sun. This area is referred to as the “land of Fire and Ice”. The Kamchatka Peninsula of Russia has something like 150 volcanoes (Fire) and of course you can figure out the ice part. The Koryak dance by the indigenous people was very good as was the lunch. I especially like the grilled fresh salmon… Due to the inclement weather our nature walks in the woods was canned, good thing to because I felt like I had frostbite on my toes. Walking in the snow wasn’t bad at all and it wasn’t really wasn’t all that cold. The problem was the slush that was created by all the people and our buses. Once my feet got wet I was screwed. It didn’t keep me back; I still kept looking for some great photo ops. All in all it was a very nice day. I really enjoyed it. Tomorrow, I believe we head south and hopefully to warmer climates….yeah! Obviously I was wrong about not being able to visit Petropavlovsk and I’m very happy about that. Not only was my visit to Russia great it was also nice to get off the ship and getting active for a day. I hope I’ll see some sun (without the wind) tomorrow on our way to Aomori Japan…

Plans for Petropavlovsk, Russia

I will be taking a ship's excursion tomorrow in Petropavlovsk. Here is the ship's description:

Kamchatka Nature & Countryside
Duration
Approximately 4 hours
Description
This tour presents a unique opportunity to enjoy Kamchatka's nature and countryside. You'll visit the Pacific Network Country Resort complex, located in a picturesque valley with the view of magnificent Koryak and Avacha volcanoes. Originally, the complex served as a kennel for the Kamchatka Sled Dogs. The dogs are very cute and many of them have beautiful blue eyes. They are very sweet. The guide will tell you about the history of the kennel, and about some famous dogs that took first prize in the International Sled Dog Races. This is a great chance to see the process of feeding these beautiful, mighty animals, and to learn about the sport of sledding, see how the dogs are harnessed, and their work with the wheeled sled. For natural phenomena, Kamchatka takes a special place among the rich and extraordinary places of the world--mountains, active and dormant volcanoes, geysers, vast valleys and lowlands, fast rivers with rapids, waterfalls and lakes made by tundra, estuaries, glaciers and lava. The vegetation is quite unique--the stems of giant grasses covering the open areas summertime can reach more than nine feet in height, and many of them are edible! Walk with your guide to enjoy a breath of fresh forest air and the natural beauty of Kamchatka. The predominant tree on the peninsula is the stone birch, found only in Kamchatka. The fauna of Kamchatka comprises about forty species of mammal and more than 200 bird species. Some species occur in unusually large numbers--the population of brown bears on Kamchatka is about 10,000. Foxes and sables thrive in the forests. Kamchatka snow sheep can be observed also. Hares, ermines and ground squirrels, Steller's sea eagle (the largest bird in Kamchatka), swans, falcons, waterfowl and ptarmigan are also present in considerable numbers. You will be able to enjoy the variety of wild birds in the tundra that is located just a 15 minutes walk from the complex. The region's small rivers and little swamps that perfect for nesting birds. A comfortable and cozy lodge will be at your disposal during the full duration of the tour. You will be offered a lunch buffet with the traditional Russian soup called borsch, fried salmon, and traditional Russian pancakes with homemade jam and honey. While enjoying lunch, watch a Koryak folkdance performance.

Day 7 At Sea

It seems that each day tops the last in terms of bad weather. There is at least a gale outside, probably stronger. I went out back to take a photo and could barely stand. They have these large white boxes on the back deck for storage. While I was going for the photo op, one of the very large lids ripped off and went whizzing by, forever lost to the Bering Sea. I’m not sure what I’ll do today, probably look some more at travel plans on upcoming ports for the next seven months. The days have been long, very long. My time has been consumed by working on the computer, the casino (bad…..), reading and eating & sleeping too much. I am definitely relaxed for the warm weather phase, whenever that is…… My bet is that we will not be visiting Petropavlovsk tomorrow because of the weather. Since we will be at anchorage and have to tender ashore the chances are approximately zero at this point. There would have to be a change of the weather of biblical proportions to make that happen. That would essentially mean 3 more sea days before we get to Aomori Japan. I’m not sure I can take that much time living inside without any chance of going outside. I’m supposed to do the 65 day Asia Grand Voyage again next year…. Reevaluation is definitely underway. This is not my idea of fun sailing through a gale or worse everyday, the rain pouring down, winds screaming and seas very rough….. 9 days of miserable conditions and no land. Am I getting tired of this? Yes! The Holland America people would probably say it’s just part of the adventure…..

A brief update: spirits are much better. Sun popped out, still cold as ..... Getting some sun now, may survive..... hanging on :-)

Last night was our second formal night and once again the meal was spectacular. Holland America is definitely doing things right (so far) on the voyage. Except for controlling the weather, they are doing a great job.

Day 6 Crossing the International Dateline

Well, I lost Wednesday September 26th…… We crossed the International Dateline and it is now Thursday the 27th of September. We are no longer behind East Coast time but 18 hours ahead. The weather, as you can see from the photos, is certainly not optimal. Great weather for Polar Bears perhaps…. I have to say, despite the crappy weather, the cruise has been great. The staff on board, as is the case for all Holland America ships, is fantastic. The food has been absolutely first rate. I think it is as good as the great food we had on the World Voyage. My cabin is perfect for me, a little noisy from below occasionally, but they are addressing that. From the very start of the planning process, the service has been superb. I definitely am a big fan of Holland America. Although I sailed 48 Celebrity cruises in just over a two year period, the people at their headquarters clearly showed they did not value me as a loyal customer. Holland America on the other hand has been just the opposite; they have truly made me feel that I was important to them and a part of the “family” even though I am a long way from one of their top Mariners.
Tomorrow is our last day at sea before we get to Petropavlovsk, Russia…..thank heaven. I’m hanging on until we hit some warmer weather…. Tokyo was in the high 70s…. sounds great!

Day 5 Passing thru the Aleutian Islands

This morning we passed through the Aleutian Islands sailing out of the North Pacific into the Bering Sea. The wind here is just relentless. It makes finding a little corner to yourself to tan about impossible. Anyway, we crossed through the Unimak Pass around 10:00 am this morning. We did have some nice sunny periods but it was still brutally cold. In addition the seas are churning pretty well. Look at the ship we passed just after we got into the Bering Sea....a little sea spray? I saw lots of whales along the way....very nice. We will sail along the Aleutian chain for a while on our way to the Kamchatka Peninsula of Russia and the town of Petropavlovsk. Some friends from the World Voyage, Bill & Mary Ann, asked who the Captain & Hotel Director are aboard the ms Amsterdam. The Captain is Dirk van den Berg, a very personable and funny man and the Hotel Director is Henk Mensink. I guess I'll go back outside and see if there any rays to be had......

There are definitely rays outside but, they are not to be had..... It is so windy it is ridiculous. As I was packing up the Captain came on the intercom to give his navigational and weather updates. My level of discomfort now makes sense.... we are going to experience 50 kt winds, Force 10, for the next 24 hours. That's one big breeze. May have to become a mole for a couple of days. We go back another hour tonight. We have the crossing of the international dateline coming up tonight at 0200. That means tomorrow is Thursday, September 27th. We also turn the clocks back another hour tonight. Confusing....

Day 4 At sea

I decided to do a midday blog update today since I had to take a break from my bronzing activities. Yes, that’s right ....... bronzing! I started to reluctantly put on my warm clothes when I noticed that the sun popped. How exciting! I put on the bathing suit, tank top & hat (color coordinated of course) and went up top. The wind was still strong and swirling so it was impossible to get behind a windbreak. That turned out to be good news however, because as we all know the best tans are those acquired when in a goose bump state. That expanded skin area does wonders for a tan. It did start to warm as the day went on. The first indication I had was when the icicle on my right big toe fell off….what a relief that was! I couldn't claim an official Bonus Day yet since the rules set up by Allan on the World Voyage say that 4 hours are required for an official Bonus Day. As of my break time I only had three hours of sun. I am now hoping that the overcast skies clear once again so I can log and official Bonus Day….it’s a very cruel thing to fall just shy of an official day. My spirits have certainly soared and I am sure that Whitey can breathe a sigh of relief that I won’t be joining the likes of him and other color challenged people. More later…..

The Captain just made his 1:00 announcements and had cheery news... we are graduating from a Force 6 wind to a Force & (near gale). Just a bigger challenge. Tomorrow morning around 0900 we pass through the Aleutians into the Bering Sea....could be exciting! I hope there is a photo op. By the way, we have gained an hour the last two nights and I am now 5 hours behind the East Coast of the US.

I have given up the sun for the day or the sun gave up on me. In either case, no bonus day but certainly a better day than yesterday....

Day 3...later that day

As you can see from the photo of the deserted pool, the sun did in fact make an appearance. I didn’t! It’s brutally cold out there, even for me. Fear not, I don’t plan on going pale anytime soon. I have enough tan stored up just for these occasions and….. there is always tomorrow. I am a bit disappointed that we probably won’t get to see the Aurora Borealis. The Captain said on his 1:00 announcement today that the cloud cover is supposed to be total for the next few days. I might add that the clouds parted later in the day and the sun came out…. Shows what he knowsJ. Tonight is out first formal night. Lots of pressure, do I wear the black jacket or white jacket and then there’s the even bigger question of what color bowtie and cummerbund to wear…. I appreciate the comments from my traveling companions…. Have a great day!

Day 3 At sea

What a nightmare! I went up to the pool deck this morning and found that the weather was totally socked in…. wind and rain (lots of both). That called for a big breakfast….helps stave off depression. I can't believe that we have like 6 days before we get to Petropavlovsk, I hope the weather get's better. If we get a change I'll update later. I may have to listen to a book on my IPod today.

Day 2 At sea

Today turned out to be much better than anyone could have expected. Here we are in rough seas, Force 6 winds and in the Pacific pretty far north….. doesn’t sound like a pool day. I was able to get a major Bonus Day today anyway ….. I sat in our special (secret) place, out of the wind (kind of…) and in the sun all day. The ship was pitching so much that the waterfall next door was flooding the deck and hitting me with a fine spray to ensure I wouldn’t get overheated…. Marvelous! I was actually the only one on the ship catching rays today. This was actually a bigger challenge than the day it was 42 degrees during our crossing the Atlantic during the world voyage. People generally thought I was nuts as they walked by in their artic gear watching me sit there in my bathing suit all oiled up. It was great! If my friend “Whitey” had been onboard he would have been right there with me. It would have been like a springtime day at the lake in Canada, eh. It still feels really strange with this “other” group of people on board. I keep looking for friends to pop up. Even stranger is the impulse I had all day to reach for my cell phone and ring somebody up…. isolation is beginning to set in. We have a lot of days at sea before we hit Petropavlovsk, Russia. It could be a battle to continue to get sun along the way for a while. The rocking and rolling of the ship have exceeded, by far, anything we had experienced on the World Voyage. It’s not bad for me personally, I slept like a baby. Yesterday, I mentioned that I had seen a few crew I remembered from the World Voyage but not too many. Bruce, the Cruise Director, told me that Elizabeth and Lori from the activities staff would be back and that is nice…. They are a riot! Here’s to an unseasonably warm day tomorrow aboard the ms Amsterdam at sea.

Day 1 Departing Seattle

What a marvelous day! The day finally arrived and I arrived at the port just before 11:00. I checked in and boarded shortly thereafter. I have seen a few familiar faces in the crew I have come across so far. It really feel strange having been here just a few months ago but all my new found friends are missing. It just isn't the same without Allan & Sandra, Sandy & Grace and Martin & Peg, etc..... I had a lovely afternoon poolside and then went to my favorite activity.... lifeboat drill. I did very well and graduated with honors. Unpacking was a real chore.... boy did I pack a lot of stuff. That's behind me now. I had a lovely dinner with 5 other people, a couple from Missouri, another couple from Ottawa and a woman from California. Dinner was great and then it was off to do the first blog.... boy do I know how to have a good time. I'm hoping to get a wee bit of sun tomorrow..... (serious praying). And finally to all my friends that aren't here.... I miss having you folks around.

Seattle

I had a tremendous day today. First thing this morning I went over to the Holland America headquarters and met a number of the staff members.... it was fabulous. I even had the opportunity to meet Stein Kruse the President and CEO of Holland America. It was very kind of him and his staff to give me such a warm welcome. It was a very, very nice visit. They are a great bunch! Special thanks to Mookie, the sales rep that my friend/travel agent Patty works with for setting everything up. He has been a tremendous help, it was very nice meeting him. I really am getting excited about my voyage now, tomorrow should be exhilarating.

After going back to the hotel, I decided to venture out and explore Seattle a little bit. I walked down the waterfront to the Aquarium and then climbed up to the public markets which are very interesting. I then decided to take the monorail to the Space Needle. The ride on the monorail was nice and it only has one stop, the Space Needle. I went to the top and absolutely loved the view. It was a little overcast but not too bad. After spending time there I decided to go back to the markets and ramble back to the hotel. All in all.... a great day!

I am pretty tired after my short night sleep last night. I can't afford to take a nap, I'll just gut it out a while and get a good nights sleep tonight. Tomorrow the adventure begins......