A real update is coming soon, but for now here are a few observations:

1. The Japanese are obsessed with longhaired wiener dogs in colorful sweaters.

2. There are a bajillion vending machines that sell everything from Coke to hot lattes to cigarettes, but there are very, very few garbage cans. I’ve been told that the garbage can thing has to do with the terrorist gas attack in the Tokyo subway.

3. Japanese squat toilets are REALLY HARD TO USE! (Though their sit down toilets are awesome because there are all sorts of buttons- including a fake flushing sound for those with shy bladders- and a warmed seat.)

4. The trains and subways are very, very clean and generally dead silent.

5. The Japanese people are extremely kind and helpful (even if they don’t speak English).

6. No one seems to be shy about snapping pictures of foreigners. There were many times when I looked up and realized that someone was taking a picture of me, especially when I was with Sheila who is Ghanaian. They LOVED Sheila.

7. There are pretty much no overweight people in Japan. Everything and everyone is smaller.

8. Japanese “American” coffee is more like a redeye drink. I’m pretty sure it was black coffee plus espresso. Chocolate, on the other hand, isn’t as sweet as American chocolate.

9. Pocky sticks are awesome!

10. Sometimes Spanish works better than English when you’re asking for directions.


Also, we ended up doing this:
Day 1: Yokohama, slept on ship

Day 2: Woke up after 3 hours of sleep and headed to Tokyo (crushed like an unmoving mosh pit on the subway = awesome/hilarious/a little painful) for the day, slept in a Tokyo capsule hotel.

Day 3: Woke up after 5 hours of sleep and headed from Tokyo subways station all the way to Koya-san, which took 1 bullet train, 1 subway, 2 local trains, 1 cable car and 1 bus. Koya-san was AMAZING! Slept in a Buddhist monastery.

Day 4: Woke up early for prayer, a fire ceremony and a walk through an incredible cemetery before heading back down Mount Koya and our to Hiroshima, which was absolutely worth the travel time. I sobbed my way through the War Museum. Made it out to Kobe that night and slept on the ship.

Day 5: Woke up not quite as early and jetted over to Kyoto to spend some time. Had to be back at the ship early, so didn't get to spend too much time there. The bamboo forest was incredible, but we didn't get to see the Golden Pavilion. Next time this is high on my list of places to spend more time (along with Koya-san). Made it back to the ship 1 hour before on ship time and left Kobe Harbor at 8pm.

We dock in Shanghai early tomorrow morning, but I promise to remember every detail of both Japan and China and share them ASAP.

LoveLoveLove and happy belated Valentine's Day!!!

Molly