Tokyo, JapanThe best thing that happened to Elenka and I while sailing across the North Pacific was being found by Basha and John of Oklahoma, and Brenda and John of the UK.
They invited us to be their daily trivia partners in matches that took place late every afternoon against upwards of 35 like-minded teams. Right from the get-go we won, and won, and won. In the end crushing all challengers. Just like the UKers and the Oklahomans, Elenka and I were recognized by strangers from all corners of the ship. But while Elenka was beginning to feel like a rock-star I felt more like one of those nasty professional wrestlers from yesteryear who everyone loved to hate — while she heard praise and adulation, I heard hissing and boos. Then she started going on with some damned nonsense about her glass being half full while mine was half empty — as if that would ever happen.
The second best thing that happened was when Benji, the Filipino guy who cleaned our room on the ship, knocked my eye glasses onto the floor and stepped on them. Had it not been for Benji, I would not have found Jins Optical. Hidden in the bowels of Tokyo, Jins is a spectacles paradise. Within minutes I’d found two pairs of glasses that had my name written on them. After paying and walking out the door I said to Elenka that I’d never owned a pair of reading glasses. So back in we went and 30 minutes later I had three new pairs of glasses. (see modeling photos)
‘Best’ has become my keyword when it comes to Japan. They have the best food, best showers, best beds, best public toilets and best school girls ... . Whoops! That just came out. So I ‘best’ explain.
The ship stopped at two ports of call on the north island of Hokkaido before Tokyo. At each stop we were met by 100 - 200 schools girls, all smiling and saying ‘hello’. My best guess is that their teachers think greeting kindly old cruisers might be a good way for their students to brush up on their English language skills - but that doesn’t explain why it’s only girls.
And the final ‘Best’ is baseball: Elenka and I went to a Nippon Professional Baseball game where the last place, hometown Tokyo Swallows hosted the Yomiuri Giants (once home to the great Sadaharu Oh, Hideki Matsui and Jessie Barfield of all people). We sat in the bleachers with the Swallows fans, beyond the right field fence. When the Swallows were up to bat each and every fan stood for the entire time. They chanted and/or sang personalized songs devoted to the player who was at the plate. Every time the Swallows scored a run they would take out tiny umbrellas and wave them about, in honour of something or other? Oh, and they even have smiling, draught beer girls, who run about the stands with kegs of beer strapped to their backs, dispensing their wares. (see photos)
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A few Tokyo specific oddities:
There are clean public toilets at every turn in Tokyo. If you’ve drank, or is it drunk, a couple of pails of beer and have a long walk home, it’s not an issue.
We’ve not seen anyone smoke a cigarette in three days. Yet whenever we go to a restaurant we’re asked if we wish to be seated in the smoking or non-smoking area.
The streets of Tokyo are clean as a whistle. Yet there are no waste bins to deposit your garbage. Yesterday, I carried an empty half litre water bottle around for two hours before finally depositing it into a tiny garbage bin at our hotel.
Odd but practical: We dined at a restaurant tonight where there was a faucet and sink sitting above the toilet reservoir. It wasn’t until I flushed the toilet that I realized the water which came from the faucet was the water which filled the reservoir. You can make toilet and wash your hands without having to waste water at a stand-alone sink. Ingenious!
Japan is pretty much ‘Best’ at everything in my book and I don’t know why Elenka and I didn’t come here sooner. Oh, there is one more 'best'. Elenka's top photo is of two girls - children actually - one of whom is wearing a garter belt to hold up her black and white socks.
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On a more serious note: In a couple of days we fly to Bali, Indonesia, where we’ll catch another flight to Sulawesi and then make our way to the remote Togean Islands. Bali however, may be a bit of an issue. The volcanic Mount Agung on the island of Bali is expected to blow its top at any time. Eruption or no eruption, for the month of October we’re expecting to be beyond google range.
Mary Patterson
2017-09-26
Great pics. You guys will be living on the edge when you go to Bali. I hope everything works out for you.
Leta McGowan
2017-09-26
Glasses look great! Sounds like another great trip & great pictures! Take care! xoxo
Irene Black
2017-09-26
Nice glasses Japan sure looks inviting be safe in Bali looking forward to hearing all about it warm hugs Irene
Allison Hirst
2017-09-26
Have a fantastic time, kids!
Rachel
2017-09-26
I'm so glad you guys are enjoying Tokyo!!! It's one of my favorite places on Earth. The cleanliness is next level, and baseball games are definitely a different experience than here in Canada. Cislo and Boston send hugs and kisses! <3
Elenka
2017-09-27
Testing
Cathy
2017-09-28
Hi Jack: my friend of 38 years, Joe, is in Nagano. Are you going north in Japan? Cathy
jackdrury
2017-09-28
No Nagano. Tomorrow is our final day in this fabulous country.
Joe Maddaloni
2017-09-30
Jack,another great adventure amigo. Have fun, the sea crab look tasty!
cate
2023-03-19
Great pictures Ellen.......nice glasses.....at the ball park the girl with the draft beer was the same thing I saw last week in the World Classic and they keep putting up there hands before they head back up the stairs...... no idea what for.......the young people are very fashionable indeed and very young....sounds like it was a great place to have gone...