Japan Cruise - August 2019
I took a solo Holland America cruise in August 2019 that circumnavigated three of the four Japanese main islands. Nearly three dozen memorable photos resulted, notwithstanding the cruise's considerable frustrations: missing two Japanese ports thanks to Typhoon Krosa and missing a Russian port thanks to rough seas.
Photographs here are from Yokohama, Kyoto, Kochi, Shirakawa-go, Vladivostok, Sapporo and Hakodate.
Yokohama Pokemon Go -- At first, I thought they were simply pedestrians absorbed in their iPhones. My later, more accurate conclusion, however, is that everyone here was playing Pokemon Go.
Heian Shinto Shrine 1 - Kyoto -- Lanterns hanging just to the right of the entrance to the Shrine's gardens.
Heian Shinto Shrine 2 - Kyoto -- Possibly my best photo of the trip.
Golden Pavilion 1 - Kyoto -- World famous and iconic Japanese style and simplicity.
Golden Pavilion 2 - Kyoto
Baton Twirler - Kochi -- Traffic directors tended to be older men who wielded their batons energetically.
Sunday Market 1 - Kochi -- Very young vendors.
Silent Saintly Supplicant - Kochi -- I think he is Buddhist. This and the following two photos tell a story of stoic hope and sincere gratitude.
Sunday Market 2 - Kochi -- She seemed not displeased to have her photo taken.
Sunday Market 3 - Kochi -- Her modest offerings: simple jewelry and trinkets.
Sunday Market 4 - Kochi -- Plants and masks.
Shirakawa-go 1 -- Kids being kids, as anywhere.
Wada House 1 - Shirakawa-go -- We were told that homeowners in Shirakawa-go raised silkworms and made potassium nitrate, a component of gunpowder, on their second floors. Some of these implements no doubt were dedicated to the latter purpose.
Wada House 2 - Shirakawa-go -- View from the second story window. (An HDR image.)
Wada House 3 - Shirakawa-go -- (An HDR image.)
Shirakawa-go 2 -- So Japanese don't need to be warned?
Shirakawa-go 3 -- Such a bucolic village, until this anyway.
Shirakawa-go 4 -- She was posing for a friend.
Shirakawa-go 5 -- His day was just beginning.
Vladivostok 1 -- In Vladivostok our excursion included what was styled a "Children's Performance": "Your half-day excursion begins at the pier where you'll board your motorcoach and drive to see a children's performance. Enjoy watching this group of gifted young children in a special dance recital. The children show their pride for Vladivostok in this 50-minute performance. It's a special experience for young and old." Some of the performers were a bit beyond childhood.
Vladivostok 2
Vladivostok 3
Ryuunji Temple of the Jodo-shu Buddhist Sect - Sapporo
Odori Park Manga 1 - Sapporo -- Odori Park in central Sapporo was a photographer's dream -- scores of young adults engaged in cosplay of their favorite Manga and Anime characters.
Odori Park Manga 2 - Sapporo
Odori Park Manga 3 - Sapporo
Odori Park Manga 4 - Sapporo
Odori Park Manga 5 - Sapporo
Officer in Charge of Alignment and Spacing - Hakodote -- Once told to place the cones near the ship's gangway, I'm sure the officer just knew it was his duty -- I think the Japanese word is gimu -- to place them perfectly aligned and exactly spaced.