August 24, 2025

Day 4 off the Ship - doing land tour of Japan ( versus Ports)

Japan's immigration laws make it only possible to get off the ship once in one port and get back on in another port, without going to a foreign country in between. Therefore we had to combine our time off in Tokyo and Kyoto. The bullet train or Shinkansen is an amazing way to travel between the two towns going at a speed of 175 to 200 mph. It took just 2 hours and 15 minutes and was super smooth. We split a Chicken bento box for lunch and got to see most of Mt. Fuji out the window as we speed by mid trip.

WOW!!   THE HEAT WAVE HIT US AS SOON AS WE WALKED OUT OF KYOTO STATION. It was warm in Tokyo, 89 - 91 degrees but KYOTO is off the charts, in high 90's and humid!! OMG!!  We made it to our hotel and AC as quick as we could! Thank goodness it does cool off a bit once the sun goes down - so we ventured out for a walk and our first sights of Kyoto. Our hotel was only a few blocks away from the Kamo River and there was a bit of breeze down there, along with a ton of people. We wandered the narrow alleyways of the Poncho area and found a little sushi restaurant for dinner. After dinner we wandered some more, watching street performers and enjoying some ice cream on our walk back to the Hotel.

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KOH CHANG, THAILAND

By Pat Patrick • July 26, 2026
We just relaxed on the Island of Koh Chang, Thailand. It's one of the largest Thai Islands in the Gulf of Thailand and it has a dense, steep jungle & National Park covering the interior of the Island, which extends off shore, to coral reefs. The coast line is dotted with beaches and villages. This was a tender port, so we decided to stay on the Island for 3 nights, to be able to experience the nightlife. Turns out, it is low season, so nightlife was pretty sleepy. However, we did find a new favorite night time activity! Any Guesses?!?

On the way to Koh Chang, Thailand

By Pat Patrick • July 25, 2026
Love Sea Days ! I got a much needed haircut and color. Think I'll be going shorter, but giving this a whirl! Can you see the back in the mirror? The bangs and side volume, is what drives me nuts in the heat and humidity!

WAT BANG KUNG & TRAIN MARKET - Bangkok ,Thailand

By Pat Patrick • July 21, 2026
Wat Bang Kung Temple was a quick stop along the way to the Train Markets . What makes this unique is the Temple is completely enclosed by roots of four giant trees (a banyan, bodhi and others). From the outside, it looks like nature has swallowed the building. Inside the chapel is a golden Buddha image, that locals still visit to pray. It was quite active during our short visit there. The Temple dates back over 250 years and survived the Burmese invasion.