Lee, Betty and Donna,

Thanks so much for your continued efforts at keeping us up to date on your cruise. I have enjoyed each and every post!

Betty, I do hope you'll share the picture of you entertaining the entertainers :D I can only imagine...........

Kathy

This is the first post I read every day, thanks to the girls for keeping us entertained!

Yeah - we have Internet for the 1st time in 2 days and will lose it again after a few hours in the morning. No one getting off in Osaka will be able to print their boarding passes ahead of time.
Tokyo has not been what I expected at all and yet it is exactly how writers describe it. Extremely polite people - except for one shop owner I'll tell you about when I post some more pictures. More NEW sky scrapers as far as the eye can see and tons of industry everywhere you look, especially near the water. VERY expensive.
I thoroughly enjoyed my tour yesterday to see the Big Buddha and a Shinto shrine. Ate lunch at a very nice hotel that has those fancy Japanese toilets that do everything from playing music to warming the seat. Naturally I have a photo.
Some were disappointed they didn't serve a Japanese meal. I thought their "western" menu was delicious.
My major disappointment is that it is difficult (make that impossible) to find souvenirs that are 'Made In Japan'. Even the "Asian items" in La Boutique are made in China. Walked the streets of the Ginza today and bought nothing. Was happy to find the Kabuki House, although it is always closed the last week of the month. The crew was very sad they didn't get to see a performance (as was I) but they had a grand time at some crew party last night. My only hope now is a gift shop at the Osaka airport. Those of you on DRAGON will have a wonderful time.
Have lots of photos to share but no way to pack and get them ready to post. Sorry it will have to be next week.
Adding 2 interesting items about Japan I didn't know. Many people practice both Shinto and are Buddhists. Shinto is for happy occasions (weddings, new babies, etc) and Buddhism is more about death and the afterlife. Our guide's family practices religion in this manner. And she attended a Catholic girls school for all grades so says she knows more about Christianity than either of her 2 actual religions.
#2 - families that tend to reproduce only girl babies when a boy is finally born, many times the husband will then legally take the wife's maiden name so a family name will continue. Sorry - that sentence is a mess. Hope it makes sense.
Hope others will post before we go down again. I'm off to start the packing chore.
Thanks for following along with us. What a wonderful cruise!

Found another kitty in a shop by the Big Buddha yesterday. Friendly, but not as cute or well kept as Russian kitty.


I was able to get him to sit on a small stool in the shop and a very nice Japanese man was getting ready to take our picture. The shop owner screamed at the top of his lungs the Japanese version of Scat Cat. Poof! Gone!


So another Asian kitty lost to eternity.

However, in the afternoon I found one I can't bring home - but at least I have a photo.

Love your Asian kitty, Betty. Safe travels!

Fabulous reporting, Betty, Donna and Lee! It's great to catch up on your trip. We're signed up for this one next year - Seward to Beijing - on Navigator. The bar tender on Navigator did look at me like I was nuts. He said "Do you know about this crossing? the fog? the waves?"

Thanks to you all, I know more than I did. Looking forward to hearing more and seeing pix after the fact. Safe journey home, all, and thanks for taking us along with you.

Cheers, Anne

So great to get more reports and photos!!! Thanks all! Safe travels for those heading home. Looking forward to hearing more from those staying on!

I just caught up on these reports. Great to hear you are feeling better, Donna, and Betty, love the photos.

Sitting at Osaka airport biz lounge. Think only people in here are Regent passengers. People very upset that Regent dropped us here at 9 AM for 5 PM flight. Couldn't even check in until 1:30 so we sat with our luggage and took turns watching each others while others shopped. Best shopping in Japan at this airport. Still have another 2 hours before boarding but at least it is semi-cool in lounge - not airport. This airport mess is the only fiasco of an otherwise fabulous trip. I have learned a valuable lesson - no day room from Regent I'll get my own & I have a chance to test this out in another 2 months. Most are planning to complain to Gair. It is nice having the Internet back in the lounge. No Internet in the airport.
Hope to do more segments of this Asia loop one of these years. My only other advise to DRAGON people is bring clothes for hot/humid weather.
More when I get home. At least we still have Suzanne & John's seamail before the Dragon people board. pictures in about 1 week.

Betty,

So you begin your journey home? Hope it is safe and painless. Too bad you weren't able to spend the day in Japan instead of the Osaka airport lounge. Waiting for more pictures.

Safe travels home, Betty! Jackie was just asking when your eta was :)

Betty, Can't wait for the pics! Alice and I would love to do any of those Asia segments. I hope your trip home goes smoothly.

Hi everyone. Betty from Houston. I'm home. No major snafus on 3 flights to get home. Pilot in Denver had to wake me up saying he couldn't get off the plane until I did. Slightly embarrassing. Hope all the other Osaka airport Regent travelers are also home. I have no idea when I left there, nor what day or time.
Thanks to everyone for following along for what was a wonderful experience - both Alaska and Japan. Anxious to hear from Donna to see how the Mariner is surviving without the rest of us.

Hi all. I've just arrived home and am sounding like a dog in pain. Coughing my poor little head off, blocked ears, etc. Get me back to the Mariner!

No dramas coming home except when I reached the Gold Coast instead of a five hour wait, they put me on a flight straight away. Didn't have time to phone anyone and when I arrived back in Sydney, found out that my daughter had driven for an hour with the twins to surprise me when I landed at the Gold Coast airport. This was at 7.30am. She didn't see me and I didn't see her. For those grandmothers amongst us, you will understand when I say I was utterly devastated to have missed her.

At this stage, I have no memory of the last couple of days, so hopefully will report in again soon.

Betty: Did you find your lacquer boxes? We found oodles of them at the airport!

Keep the spirit of Moose going Donna!

Lee

I've had a "nap" and now wide awake. What time is it in Japan? Is the sun shining? Must be time for tea and trivia.
Lee - so sorry about your cough (you've been fighting that for days) and even more sorry about you missing the twins and your daughter. You will need one of those Asian swine flu masks when you start to clean the red dust! So stay well!
Yes - found my lacquer boxes at the airport and even better - they are Made in Japan. A Japan shoppers paradise.
I had told some of you I liked Alaska better than Japan. Clay, all knowing, only traveled to one country (Japan) in his life, has explained the why to me. He says it is Regents fault - only taking us to the more industrialize stops. We needed to get out in the country, among the real Japan and it's people. So I explained to him that only means one thing - a return trip. Kim, anytime you and Alice are ready! I do hope he doesn't think we need to work in the rice paddies for a few days to achieve feel of the "real Japan" :)

Lee & Betty,

Glad to hear you two have made it home safe and almost sound. Sorry about your cough, Lee. Both of you rest up for a few days and get back on track.... now comes the GBR planning for Nov. 2010!! Lee, maybe your daughter will come to Sydney for a visit with the twins. Betty, I would be game for some Asia cruising (and land time) with you, Alice and Kim.

<a href="http://media.photobucket.com/image/welcome home/seyco/WelcomeHome2x2.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss52/seyco/WelcomeHome2x2.jpg" border="0"></a>

MOOSIE'S! Feels like weeks and weeks ago I sadly said goodbye to you all. Had a wonderful cruise and miss our daily chats ;)

Welcome home Betty and Lee!! What a trip! At least there was shopping in the Osaka airport. Anchorage had NOTHING for us and we were there for hours too. Alice got a lot of work done.

Yes, let's all cruise our way through Asia sometime! What a dream that would be. We need the Sistahs, too, and round up all the Moosies.

Alice and I had almost just about signed up for a Silversea Istanbul to Athens Nov 2010, but we found out last week that we need to replace the boiler in our hot water baseboard heating system. It's going to be very expensive, so no cruise for us in 2010, most likely.

Welcome home Lee and Betty, We miss you both! Take care of that cold, Lee! Al is still coughing!

Kim and Alice, so sorry to hear about your boiler. My daughter had to replace theirs last winter - not where one would choose to spend money!

Miss all you Moosies!!!!!

Kathy

Glad to see Betty and Lee arrived home without incident. We'll miss the last remnants of the Mosse gang.

We're sailing towards South Korea which means we finally have internet.

Our second day in Osaka had much better weather. We took the long tour to Kyoto. Along with hundreds of Japanese school children, we toured the castle and golden pavilion. The kids were so cute saying "hello, hello" as they passed by us. We had a great time flirting with each other. The guide on this trip, "Gin and Tonic" was especially good.

More good weather in Nagasaki. Alan and I toured the Peace Park and Atomic Museum and found it to be sobering. We're happy we took the tour.

Since we lost all of our playmates in Osaka, the nightlife has been a bit quiet. We've become "Nature's Rhythm" groupies, following them from lounge to lounge.

The internet is still spotty. Better push the "go" button before I loose this post.

Donna,

Guess you and Alan will be Beyond MOOSE until the DRAGONeers show up. It sounds like Japan was quite interesting but glad you can connect with the world and that internet is back up. Thanks for cheching in!!

Hi Donna: So glad you went to Kyoto - it's my favourite Japanese city. I desperately wanted Betty to see it but couldn't organise anything within the timetable Regent had set. Did you see Kyoto railway station and did you get to travel by bullet train? Enjoy the rest of your cruise - I hated leaving but must say, I'm also glad to be home. No doubt that will wear off in a day or so!

Knew it!! The dining room staff promised to give me the muslei recipe and something else I've now forgotten. They were no doubt hoping I'd forget to chase it up on the last day. For all you guys coming on board soon, could at least one of you chase it up for Ms Merlot? Ta in advance.

Lee

This is posted by Michael on behalf of Lee


For those who are interested in Post-Moose pics from the Seward to Osaka leg:

Kodiak

<img src="http://i15.photob...quot;Kodiak - Fort Abercrombie">

<img src="http://i15.photob...quot;Kodiak - Fort Abercrombie">

<img src="http://i15.photob...Dinner at Prime 7 after Kodiak">

Dutch Harbor - Home of the series "The Deadliest Catch"
Pretty brutal climate and way of life. Nice to explore for a half day though.
<img src="http://i15.photob...0" alt="Dutch Harbor">

<img src="http://i15.photob...quot;Cathedral at Dutch Harbor">

<img src="http://i15.photob...;0" alt="Photobucket">

Petropavlovsk Russia
Not a place to live - but the views were good from the helicopter that I took to go look at the Volcanoes of Kamchatka.

<img src="http://i15.photob...="Welcome to Petropavolsk">

<img src="http://i15.photob...an helicopter at Petropavlovsk">

<img src="http://i15.photob...; alt="Siberia wilderness">

<img src="http://i15.photob...t="Volcanoes of Kamchatka">

<img src="http://i15.photob...t="Volcanoes of Kamchatka">

<img src="http://i15.photob...Peninsula view from 12000 feet">
Pretty brutal way of life for the locals - lots of Soviet era debris

<img src="http://i15.photob...et Navy ships in Petropavolvsk">

Hakodate
Stunning weather allowing great views from the top of Mt Hakodate
<img src="http://i15.photob...uot;0" alt="Hakodate">


Sendai
A visit to various shrines and to a nice Japanese teahouse

<img src="http://i15.photob...;0" alt="Photobucket">

Tokyo
This was a day of self-exploring the city - Sensojii shrine, waterbus and then a monorail to Odaiba. Checking out VenusFort ("Las Vegas style shopping"), driving Toyota electric cars on a test track, exploring Ginza and the food hall of Mitsukoshi Department Store.

<img src="http://i15.photob... over Tokyo Bay to The Mariner">

<img src="http://i15.photob...quot; alt="Tokyo at night">

<img src="http://i15.photob...out the electric car at Odaiba">

<img src="http://i15.photob...nusFort Shopping Mall - Odaiba">


And then it was on to Osaka for a final night before disembarking and heading home.

<img src="http://i15.photob...;0" alt="Photobucket">


At home it was a rude awakening - the fridge decided to turn itself off while I was away - very smelly greeting!

Thanks Michael! You have the photographer's eye. Stunning pictures.

Michael, your pictures are amazing (as always)! Thank you so much!

Lee, they promised me the muesli recipe too, but I never got it. I even had Dana try to get it for me. When I got home I decided to experiment. If I soaked regular rolled oats overnight in milk, which is what most recipes will tell you to do, it turned out slimy (not sure that's the correct word)and I didn't like the consistency. The best version, and the healthiest in my opinion, that I have come up with (and the easiest) is one I make first thing in the morning in a coffee cup. I mix quick cooking oats (the 1 minute kind) with 1% milk, stir in a few yellow raisins and a packet of splenda. It's ready to eat in about 15 minutes. At that time I add blueberries, strawberries, or whatever fruit I have on hand. Makes me (almost) think I'm on the Mariner!

Kathy: Thanks for the muesli recipe (noticed I had a typo in my effort). Suzie - can you copy this on to Marilyn please?

Wish I could remember what else it was I asked for - it must have been important!

I'm so glad so many of you enjoyed Michael's photography. I really appreciated him spending the time to post.

Lee

Michael's photos are magnificent. Thanks for sharing Michael... for Lee!!

I agree, great pictures!! I love the one with the ferris wheel!

Stunning pics.
Thank you so much for posting.
The views from the helicopter are just amazing.

Michael! WOW! Such great photos! Thank you for taking the time to post them. Sorry about the fridge. That "stinks" to be sure. A friend of mine had a similar thing happen ... while she was away the deep freezer went on the fritz and got so hot it cooked everything in it.

I really like the photos from the helicopter, too.

All I can say is.....WOW!!! :app:

Really spectacular photos of some very interesting locales. What a range of ports!

Checking in after three great days in Beijing. My only complaint about this cruise is that it's keeping me too busy. China is mind-boggling - so many people and the public spaces are so vast. Alan and I have loved every minute. We had a great welcome home this afternoon with the crew lined up on the dock and Nature's Rhythm playing fun welcome-home music. Looking forward to shopping in Shanghai as we were too busy seeing the sites in Beijing to work in a visit to the Silk Market.

Looking forward to having Dragon cruisers join us in Hong Kong.

Good night for now.

See you soon, Donna. We're starting to pack--formal wear and all :D Shanghai is a shopper's paradise--have a great time.

I thought the Silk Market was just alright. I don't think you missed much. The cultural sights in Beijing are where its at. Could take a week just for those.
Tell us all about your Shanghai shopping!

Elizabeth

Donna, Great to hear from you. Look for silk in Bangkok. I bought a robe there in '94 and it still looks brand new.