Forced Relaxation...

Sunday September 8. Sunny, Hot, Humid, Calm Seas, Lazy Day.

It got a bit rocky last night and there were some decent winds but we awoke to clear blue skies. A walk around the deck this morning was like walking in a sauna! [Or The Death March at Bataan!] The Typhoon was miles behind us

     The ship sailed all night and the next day to get to Osaka so we had an enforced sea day. The ship is scrambling to get tours and buses arranged for an earlier-than expected arrival in Osaka so we do not really know what we may be doing, it looks like 'Osaka on your own' Hmmmm.
     As far as Tokyo is concerned I put this down as one place I have absolutely no desire to visit again. I hope that the remaining time in Japan is a bit more desirable. Sapporo was very nice however. That is my view but Fellette is about the same. Big cities are not our thing. I am still waiting for Japanese countryside! [Dream on Doug!]

     I must say we do find the Japanese way of living and culture very interesting. They adopted American standards in many ways when they came out of their 'isolationism' around 1889 and more so after General MacArthur and the US Army occupied the country and rewrote the Japanese Constitution in 1946. They seem to love everything about America and lead the world in innovation, quality goes without question.

     However... although Japan welcomes foreign workers and encourages and embraces tourism from  all nations, it is almost impossible to immigrate to Japan in spite of  the birthrate being below the death rate. 
      Somehow I believe that there may be a hidden cultural subconscious thinking that they, the Japanese, are a superior race. That may be why they treated prisoners, Koreans, Chinese and other Asian civilians like sub humans in WWII. Just my perverse thinking possibly. Mind you they treated Japanese soldiers that surrendered or were captured the same way.

       The other day I mentioned 'Enlarged Vocal Chords'. It appears that the sea air is shrinking them somewhat. Or maybe it is because they are now settled in to a cozy and dignified setting which is conducive to a lower tone of voice. Regardless, things are fine in that regard.

     We had a slow and very picturesque sail-in to our mooring at Osaka just before we had dinner up top under the stars tonight. Very, very nice indeed!

   
The stifling deck walk this morning. We have never experienced such heat and humidity. Quite and experience. Not much traffic.
Sailing in at sunset. Cranes in the background.
As we had dinner.
Alongside the starboard side of the moored ship, [we are on the port side]. Ferris wheels seem to be a big thing in many ports nowadays. Years ago on a cruise we met a gent who worked for 'The Big Wheel.' They build these things, amazing where the money is spent!


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