September 11, 2025

Another HOT one! Our friends are getting very resourceful to try and stay cool.

Jimbo and Anna modeling their new puffy fan ventilated jackets! Several people have bought these after seeing a lot of local outdoor workers wearing throughout Japan. They cost between 120 to 180 USD, so it's an investment.  I am just using an umbrella on bright sunny days and always walk with a wash cloth in my bag, to wipe away my sweat. I also just bought a portable fan in China to try out. Mainly I try to go out early in the morning and take a break in the afternoon and drink lots of water.


Below is afternoon stroll around the port area of Nagasaki, Japan, and a second trip out at night for dinner downtown.

On my second day here I joined about 50 residents in our Global Harmony Initiative going to The Atomic Bomb Museum and Peace Park. Nagasaki had a population of 240,000 at the time of the bombing, August 9, 1945. On our prior sea days, volunteers folded 2500 paper origami Cranes, a symbol of peace, to present at both Peace Parks in remembrance for all killed. In Nagasaki 73,884 were initial killed (and another 74,909 were injured and later died from the radiation effects).  Nagasaki was bombed 3 days after Hiroshima.  Oddly there were 4 people, who were actually at both bombing sites! One gentlemen survived both and hearing his story was captivating. The Museum is extremely well done and a creative architectural space. It was funded 100% by the people, as a Peace Memorial. At the 80th anniversary, the Mayor said it best "that they don't care that Nagasaki is remembered as the second site - it is more important it be the LAST site."

We all pray we never have another Nuclear Bomb!

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MAGNETIC ISLAND - KOALA'S

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.

MAGNETIC ISLAND, AUSTRALIA

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.

CAIRNS, AUSTRALIA

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.