Since we'd technically left Japan to go to South Korea, we had to be processed through again to enter Japan.
We would be going on an excursion to Kagoshima on the island of Kyushu.
We could see the Sakurajima volcano from the ship balcony.
Is that a cloud or is that volcano erupting?
We left for our excursion at noon so there was time to relax first. Here's mom watching Moana.
Our Japanese tour guide, Ms. Tanaka told us that Sakurajima had indeed erupted this morning.
We passed by a statue of Saigo Takamori. Mom had just watched a Taiga drama about this famous samurai. We arrived at the Sengan-en Gardens.
This giant lantern was called the Jumping Lion lantern.
Ms. Tanaka told us that although cherry blossom season was over, the city had planted 730,000 azaleas throughout the city. I've never seen azaleas this florescent before.
We boarded a ferry to get a close-up view of Sakurajima. Ummm... I was wondering why we were going there if it had just erupted that morning.
Yes, the volcano was smoking.
Art found a rock where people were sticking 1 yen coins into the crevices. (That's about 1/10 of a cent.) I had a lot of those coins to donate to the cause. I wonder if people were wishing the volcano wouldn't erupt.
People in the Kagoshima area have learned to live with the annoyances of the volcanic ash. They don't buy white cars. They build roofs and sometimes walls around their grave stones. They have shelters in case of a big eruption.
Back onboard the Diamond Princess, we took a photo with our fun-loving, cheerful crew of servers in the Santa Fe Restaurant.
We were going to skip the harmonica performance that night but mom wanted to see it so that's where we went. Aiden Soon is a very talented Korean musician. Mom loved every minute of his performance.
It was a fun day. Tomorrow would be another At Sea day.
We would be going on an excursion to Kagoshima on the island of Kyushu.
We could see the Sakurajima volcano from the ship balcony.
Is that a cloud or is that volcano erupting?
We left for our excursion at noon so there was time to relax first. Here's mom watching Moana.
Our Japanese tour guide, Ms. Tanaka told us that Sakurajima had indeed erupted this morning.
Sakurajima (Japanese: 桜島, literally "Cherry blossom Island") is an active composite volcano, formerly an island and now a peninsula, in Kagoshima Prefecture in Kyushu, Japan. The lava flows of the 1914 eruption connected it with the Ōsumi Peninsula. It is the most active volcano in Japan. --Wikipedia
We passed by a statue of Saigo Takamori. Mom had just watched a Taiga drama about this famous samurai. We arrived at the Sengan-en Gardens.
This giant lantern was called the Jumping Lion lantern.
Ms. Tanaka told us that although cherry blossom season was over, the city had planted 730,000 azaleas throughout the city. I've never seen azaleas this florescent before.
We boarded a ferry to get a close-up view of Sakurajima. Ummm... I was wondering why we were going there if it had just erupted that morning.
Art found a rock where people were sticking 1 yen coins into the crevices. (That's about 1/10 of a cent.) I had a lot of those coins to donate to the cause. I wonder if people were wishing the volcano wouldn't erupt.
People in the Kagoshima area have learned to live with the annoyances of the volcanic ash. They don't buy white cars. They build roofs and sometimes walls around their grave stones. They have shelters in case of a big eruption.
Back onboard the Diamond Princess, we took a photo with our fun-loving, cheerful crew of servers in the Santa Fe Restaurant.
We were going to skip the harmonica performance that night but mom wanted to see it so that's where we went. Aiden Soon is a very talented Korean musician. Mom loved every minute of his performance.
It was a fun day. Tomorrow would be another At Sea day.
Those cruises do keep you busy and it looks like your mom has more energy than you!!
ReplyDeleteI would be worried about that volcano too.
ReplyDeleteWonderful. I just finished a biography of Saigo Takamori and it was so fun to see your pictures of the area.
ReplyDeleteThis is one heck of a long cruise. I so hope your mom is holding up well. REally beautiful places.
ReplyDeleteAiden Soon is becoming increasingly popular and has performed rock covers of quite a few artists. He's on you tube if you want to check it out. See there, you had a real headlining act on your cruise!
ReplyDeleteNo kidding? We really were impressed with his playing, especially Flight of the Bumble Bee. We did love the musical entertainment.
DeleteYes, I would have enjoyed being in that lovely garden and seeing the volcano up close.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't have guessed your mom liking harmonica! You all should be worn out! Linda in Kansas
ReplyDeleteWe were surprised she wanted to see it too and she had such a great time. However, she did start to get sick the following day. We just celebrated her being totally recovered today with lunch at her favorite saimin place. To be honest we were worried the first two weeks after our return.
DeleteSaigo Takamori's life was changed to a new character for the Last Samurai movie, I guess to avoid "changing history". It is rather odd to learn of that period of Japanese history where Japan tried to get rid of its samurai spirit and culture.
ReplyDeleteI have never seen a smoking volcano. I think it erupted just for you and mom! :-)
ReplyDeleteThat's an interesting thought!
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