September 18, 2025

This is our last Japanese Port for awhile. Sad to leave!

Again forgot to take pictures, so these are from Internet. Went to Yonehara Beach with Sherrie, Bob & Sarah, JR (didn't come to lunch) and Scottie and a whole bunch of other ship people were there too! It was about a 1/2 hour drive from Port.  A really nice sandy beach with a great reef for snorkeling. We were in the water for hours and then went back into town, near the Port for one last Japanese meal. We all wanted Tonkatsu ( the delicious dish made of juicy, tender pork coated in a crispy panko and fried until golden brown. Our again, very nice, van driver, this time, recommended a place and took us right to the front door! Sooo good with cold beers!

I tried the filet and the others all went for loin. I thought my 3 pork nuggets were juicier! What a great way to end our time in Japan!

2nd YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF SAILING THE WORLD

By Pat Patrick • October 1, 2026
WOW!! I can't believe it has been two years of sailing around the World already for me and my fellow shipmates on the Villa Vie Odyssey! We left Belfast, Ireland back on September 30, 2024 and it has been such a great adventure to date! We have been to 201 different ports, some more than once, during those two years, with much more to come!

APOPO, SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA

By Pat Patrick • September 29, 2026
Before coming to Cambodia , I sadly have to admit I was unaware of the landmine problems they face. On our first night in Siem Reap, where we hiked up the hill to try and see the sunset views, there was a small band of men playing instruments and our tuk tuk driver explained to me they were victims of landmine explosions who had lost limbs or their sight and were trying to make money via donations to support their families.

Ta Prohm Temple ( AKA Lara Croft: Tomb Raider), CAMBODIA

By Pat Patrick • September 28, 2026
I rallied for our last temple of the morning, because I heard this one was unique and I think it was my favorite. Ta Prohm was built starting in 1186 by King Jayavarman VII as a Buddhist monastery and university dedicated to the king's mother. It was left mostly un-restored so that huge banyan and silk cotton trees grow directly over and through the walls. In 2001, the Lara Croft: Tomb Raider movie was filmed here.