Searing in Osaka...

Monday September 9. Moored in Osaka. 32 F, scorching! 


      We were cut free from any ship involvement last night and had all day today Footloose and Fancy Free. We opted to evade the bustling city again and decided to explore closer to home. It was very nice to stroll on an unpopulated street for a change, it was almost civilized. 
      We decided to keep cool so we went to the Osaka Kaiyukan Aquarium which is close to the ship. Cool it was and very pleasant. We have been to aquariums around the world and find them all to be unique in their own way and neutral regarding politics and cultural traits. It's all about the ocean and what is in it. 
       After we were fully cooled off and had enough of all things aquatic we went outside and were hit with a searing wall of heat. We soon sought sanctuary in a shopping centre which amazingly had a Food Court in it! Not recognizing any of the traditional dishes we opted for a good old Wendy's burger and chips! After a while, you need a break from Ship Food no matter how good it may be.
     Soon back in the sanctuary of our air-conditioned home with a striking view of the harbour, but it is too hot to sit on the balcony.

     After tea with an Alaskan couple, we went for an after dinner ride and walk. The ride was on the 'Biggest Ferris Wheel in the World', according to the sign, and then for a refreshing walk on uncrowded streets with Japanese families doing the same. Good Day.

The ship, Fellette, the Ferris Wheel.
The aquarium has a central core of about three stories high and spiralling walkway down with various other tanks of various depths on the perimeter. 
The main tank wall is that one foot thick acrylic block that Fellette has her hand on. Other tanks have the same material of various thickness. Impossible to smash methinks.
A dolphin of some sort. Several of them in a special deep tank, lovely to see at water level. Same for seals.
A cruising shark that did not seem to eat everybody in the tank.
An octopus. Those were very scary for me as a small child for some funny unknown reason.
The iPhone is far better for photos in these circumstances I found out.
The Jellyfish room was unique, all in darkness and only the tiny tanks have a tiny single spotlight light in them. 
Yup, they are real, and smell like it too!
He never moved but we think he was, nothing else was artificial in the way of creatures in the aquarium.
An aisle in the food court.
The Wheel and the ship.
The ship, from the Wheel.




No comments:

Post a Comment