Ruminations from the Silver Muse.

[Aussieflyer]

18 hours ago, drron29 said:

There may be a pause in transmission. Rojaan not very well tonight. Have had the doctor . I feel so useless.

I am sorry to hear this, Hope there is a speedy recovery. Healing thoughts to Rojaan.😕

[drron29]

last night was the Captain's welcome. must be a resurgence of those liking formal nights as most did wear formal outfits.

One notable exception a fellow thinking a puffer jacket was an acceptable jacket.

 

But when going past the line of Butlers we saw probably the best butler we have had in the line, Naia. She however is a senior butler. She swung by our room and we had a talk. Turns out the Muse and all the larger ships have 2 Senior butlers. One is on duty on the floor in the morning the other in the afternoon/evening to supervise the butlers. The time that they are not on the floor they are teaching the butlers and evaluating performance.

When he heard that we knew Naia our butler was obviously happy and said she is a wonderful person and a very good teacher.

 

Now the Whisper and smaller ships only have one senior butler. Naia was originally posted to the whisper but as it was her first contract as a senior butler she asked to be on one of the larger ships hence joined the Muse on 25th September. The good news for us is that she will be on until the ship reaches Manilla so will be onboard when we join the Muse again in Bali. The 4th consectutive cruise of ours that she will be on.

 

So confirms our like of Silversea as they do actively support their crew and reward merit.

[Mayflower1]

Drron29  - You are so right that Naia is the Best Butler at Sea. We have known her for years and would be so grateful if you see her again to tell her that ' Michael & Gill ' send their love to her & her Family. She will be thrilled to get back to Manila to be near her Folks.

I wish you a wonderful time and hope the health Issues improve.

[drron29]

Message passed on to NAIA and she appreciated it. She was supervising a new butler who agreed that she is a nice person and wonderful teacher.

[drron29]

Back to Tokyo. As you can tell this is not going to be a live report.

The last night at IC Tokyo Bay we went back down to Hudson's bar.

 

We once again shared the salmon roe and whitebait pizza. We really loved it.

 

Rojaan had wine and I one of my favourite Japanese beers.

 

Next morning I awoke at sunrise.

 

Edited October 13, 2023 by drron29

[drron29]

A little later they were loading stuff from the trucks into containers.

 

 

My breakfast.

 

After breakfast a ferry being refuelled.

 

A little later heard trumpets. looked out our window and saw this below.

 

And how many of you have seen a bridal couple do this.

 

 

 

[drron29]

We checked out just before 1400 and caught the shuttle to Hamamatsuucho station. Unfortunately I had not looked up details of the station and we were dropped about 100 metres away on a stretch of road with a fence between it and the footpath so had to walk down the road and then cross over the road. Unfortunately the entrance we were closest too had no lift or escalator. It turned out we needed to go around the corner.
I struggled with the suitcase up the stairs and managed to get my shoe caught on the lip of a step causing the sole to come adrift. Fortunately a young Japanese fellow came to the rescue and took the case up.

Then it was a local train on the keihin - tohoku line which was supposed to take us to Sakuragicho. However about half way it terminated and we had to cross the platform and catch the next train. We had wondered why it was emptying rapidly.
Made Sakuragicho without further hassle and got a taxi to the Intercontinental Yokohama Grand. just over a km and 800 yen `$9. Now the IC here is not as nice as the Tokyo Bay IC but significantly cheaper. There is a newer IC here Pier 8 but it is nearly 3 times the price.

Upgraded from king City view to King Harbour view. No club access and took breakfast as the amenuty and got a 1400 check out though we will probably be gone by 1300. So here is the room.

 

 

And the views.

 

The ship is the Akusa 2 which is locally owned and does cruises for locals so doesn't appear on the cruise terminal movements, it sailed that evening. It was built as the Crystal Harmony. It caught fire on it's maiden voyage in 1990. It was sold to the NYK group in 2006. It again caught fire in 2006 whilst docked in Yokohama.

That is the Hikawa Maru a Japanese built ship now a museum. It was the only NYK passenger ship out of 36 to survive WW2,

 

 

[drron29]

I went for a little walk to check out the area. Found a Daiso (100 yen ) store to take Rojaan to in the morning. Just a few pics on my walk.

 

 

 

 

 

 

That night down to their bar/cafe. A very unusual place with very limited savory menu. we shared a strange club sandwhich.

 

But some beautiful night scenes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[drron29]

Later that night an orange moon rising.

 

 

 

The next morning a nice sunrise.

 

[mchell810]

That sunrise over the bridge is just lovely!

[drron29]

Overnight the Diamond Princess had arrived.

 

Then Breakfast. not a bad selection. Here they make you use breakfast coupons.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[drron29]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My plates.

 

 

[drron29]

On the first morning in Yokohama it was time to try and get my shoe fixed and buy a new computer mouse. got the places from the concierge but they weren't open until 11 am. So after a couple of shots out the window -

 

Just after 11 we set off for the shoe repairer.

 

 

 

Dropped my shoe off needing some bad Japanese from me, not so good English from the shoe repairer and a bit of sign language and I was to pick up the shoe in 24 hours.

Seeing we were in the building which contains the Landmark tower Sky Garden we thought we would go there. On the way we saw something I never knew I wanted - A Swirkle.

 

Out side of the mall was an old dry dock.

 

 

Also just over the road is the Nippon Maru which was a training ship Put it on the list for the afternoon

 

Then up to the 69th floor. No need for reservations. Walked in , bought the tickets and 2 mins later in the lift rising at 750 metres per minute.
Great views.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A ship going up to Tokyo.

 

 

 

Edited October 13, 2023 by drron29

[drron29]

Continuing the view from the Sky Garden.

 

 

And that dear friends is our latest unsuccessful attempt at seeing Fuji. You can just make out a faint line leading up from the second peak on the left.

 

A large cemetery.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And some funny stuff in the shop.

 

A classic Japanese restaurant.

 

And another Japanese sign where you wonder why they are using it.

 

[drron29]

That afternoon I went for a walk. Just outside the hotel there was a little Autumn festival going on. A few food trucks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So chicken Karaage it was. 600 yen $A7.40. $US 4.

 

 

 

[drron29]

Now my afternoon walk. Down to the harbourside and a walk along the Promenade
this building was the seafood restaurant of the Intercontinental but it hasn't reopened after the pandemic.

 

A Saturday and many were fishing. only catching tiddlers.

 

 

The new Intercontinental.

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was Autumn festival time with lots of people out and some interesting outlets. The first ones I came across were 6 gin outlets.

 

 

 

Food outlets were common.

 

 

 

[drron29]

Then beer outlets.

 

 

 

 

 

This one had won a best beer in japan so i tried it. Not bad at all.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[drron29]

Next it was many wine stalls. This just a short selection. Wines from all over including Ukraine Georgia,Jordan as well as all the well known wine producing regions including the Clare Valley in south Australia and one of the winemakers was present. this was the Clare wine. The Clare is known for excellent reislings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[drron29]

Lots of restaurants. this one looked interesting.

 

 

Then I tried to figure out what this place was. Turned out to be a wedding chapel. When the young lass told me that I answered married ichi,ni , san times ie shi. She and her colleagues burst out laughing.

 

More social distancing to cross the road to join the throng of Festival goers.

 

The diamond Princess and various stalls.

 

 

 

 

 

Then Japanese English is always good for a smile

 

Passing the fun park I was in time to see a roller coaster ride. Full of the local folk there was only the sound of the roller coaster itself until it was just about to stop at the bottom when they all threw up their hands and screamed. Just a delayed reaction?

 

 

Then back to the little festival outside the hotel. They now had some live entertainment. I am not sure what these young women were going to do on stage.

 

This was probably a comedy routine due to the loud laughter from the locals. The one with the microphone is a local radio announcer.

 

 

Edited October 13, 2023 by drron29

[Stumblefoot]

35 minutes ago, drron29 said:

A classic Japanese restaurant.

SS could learn A LOT about a proper burger and shake here!

[drron29]

I went over to the Red brick warehouse which have restaurans and stores. But bedlam with the autumn festival plus in this area a special dog festival with dogs everywhere and lots of stalls selling dog products.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I couldn't find the other 100 dalmatians.

 

 

And my prize went to the little grey fellow who was on a mission to sniff every other dogs behind.

 

 

 

 

 

[drron29]

The bar/cafe at the hotel was rather strange it obviously is mainly an afternoon tea place. a secondary use is as a place for desserts. there is a very short list of other options. So here is the menu.

 

 

 

 

But you can have Parkling wine.

 

We decided to share the pizza and really liked it.

 

I washed it down with a local beer made for the other IC in Yokohama. Rojaan had her usual sav blanc.

.

[drron29]

Awoke early before the sun had risen.

 

 

 

 

The MSC Bellisima had come in overnight. couldn't make it under the Bridge so at a Pier that the car transporters had been using.

 

Then the Regent Seven seas Explorer arrived.

 

 

 

 

[MJN1]

DrRon,

if you are still in Yokohama and want to 'fly' an Airbus 320 there is an inexpensive flight simulator within walking distance from your hotel.

https://www.yokohamajapan.com/things-to-do/detail.php?bbid=804

I does not move,  but is still very realistic!

If you are more into railways:

https://www.yokohamajapan.com/things-to-do/detail.php?bbid=773

[drron29]

We have left Yokohama but are back next April so will keep that in mind.