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!

By Patricia Patrick February 15, 2026
We got up at 6:45am to get to National Park Forts Walk trail in the hope of seeing koalas . Prior walkers mark trails with tree branches pointing in the direction of their sighting and we were luck enough to see 3 markers in our first hour of hiking. It is so stinking hot and humid the success we had made it bearable. The koala population on the island started with 20 brought over in 1930, to escape fur hunters. Today, the island boast 800 to 1000, and they are so cute and drowsy. They need 20 hours of sleep a day! The early morning is when they are the most active.
By Patricia Patrick February 14, 2026
Just off the coast of Townsville, Australia is a special little island (that used to be part of mainland, hundreds of thousands years ago). The island was formed by molten granite that was pushed to the earth's surface with volcanic force.Over time the volcanic overlay weathered away leaving an extraordinary landscape of rounded domes and boulders, many as big as a house and spectcularly perched. Over Seventy Percent of the center of the Island is a National Park. There is lots of wildlife here too - koalas, rock wallabies, snakes & birds.
By Patricia Patrick February 14, 2026
This is my third time in CAIRNS, AUSTRALIA and I really enjoy how walkable, clean and charming it is. The waterfront esplanade and lagoon area is a nice walk day or night. We had 2 nights here in the waterfront Shangri La Marina Hotel while waiting for the Ship to arrive and then 2 additional days in Port.