Oct 1-3. Cruise from Tianjin, China to Sasebo, Japan

Ready for our cruise!

The Holt’s had arranged for all of us to be transported to the harbor for our cruise in a bus.  It arrived at the hotel at 9:30 and drove us to the apartments that the other BYU teachers from Tianjin stay in.  After everyone was loaded up, we drove for about 90 minutes to the dock for the cruise ship. 

Shipping containers waiting to be used at the Tianjin harbor.  This is just a small section of the many that we saw.

After we dropped off our bags, they told us to get in a special line for all the foreigners to be processed through.  Since we were not Chinese, like 98% of the passengers were, that's where we went.  We got through without problems and found our rooms to drop our stuff.  We hurried up to the top deck where we had lunch with everyone else on the cruise ship.  Very crowded!  Some of the food was Chinese, some was American.

Our first steps on this ship, Ovation of the Seas.

Eventually we made contact with some of the other BYU teachers.  The ship took off a little earlier than planned, but we didn’t mind.  We wandered the ship and tried to get to know where things were.  It was a fine day for cruising!  We also tried to plan some activities that we would do as a group for the time we were together.

Home, sweet home for the next few days.

After dinner, David and I were on our own, so we wandered down by where one of the cafes had the TV on.  We sat down on some stools and started watching an American football game, something we haven't seen since last Super Bowl.  We only planned to watch for about 20 minutes, but a ten-year-old Chinese boy came by and said, “American Football!  I like American Football!”  We tried to talk with him a little.  His English was okay. 

After a few minutes, a man in a wheelchair came by, and it turned out to be the boy's father, who we had met earlier in the day.  We had met him after the instructions were given about using the lifeboats were finished.  The crowds near the elevators, with everyone trying to get on were pressing.  We had watched this man in the wheelchair trying to get on.  After several unsuccessful attempts, it looked like he was discouraged.  David and I noticed him and decided that we were going to help him get on the very next elevator.

David wheeled him close to the door, and I stood in front of it, kind of making a barrier that others couldn’t pass by us.  When the doors opened, I stood in the middle of the entryway while David wheeled him in, and we got him on!  This man was very grateful, and his stopping by where we were watching the TV was an acknowledgment of the service we had done for him earlier that day.  We had a friendly talk and enjoyed getting to know them better.  He taught us some Chinese words, and we taught them some English. 

I kept reading these signs on the ship.  Made me laugh.

Another sign.  Ha ha!

Tuesday was a day on the ocean.  We once again wandered the ship, met with our friends, and ate.  This ship is equipped with a lot of fun activities: wave boarding, wind tunnel, two swimming pools, many cafes, a basketball/soccer court that also doubles as a roller-skating rink and a bumper car deck, and a LOT more.  

Our group decided to try to get together for dinner on Tuesday.  We were able to get two tables close together, but they didn’t have a place for all fourteen of us at one table.  We were set at two tables close together, and we still had a fun time.  We decided that we were all going to go up and do the bumper cars.  There was quite a line, so we had to wait.  We watched as the Chinese had fun, but I don’t think they really had the idea of what the bumper cars were all about.  They were all so nice and just had fun going around in a nice circle.

It came our turn, and all but one of us got in the cars. He was our photographer for this event.  We also had a young Chinese couple that we shared the bumper car arena with.  All of us crazy Americans were running into each other, and we even got the Chinese couple following our craziness!  When our time was up, the Chinese waiting in line to do the bumper cars, applauded us!  I think they had a lot of fun watching us bump into each other!  It really made me smile when the young Chinese man that was out there with us, got to bump me at the end, and we shared a good laugh.

Our first glimpse of Japan.

Second glimpse of Japan.

Wednesday morning, we docked at Sasebo, Japan.  This was the first time that the Royal Caribbean had docked at this port, so all of the crew were excited and proud of it.  Sasebo is also the location of an American naval base.  Most of the shops seemed fairly new.  We walked through a covered mall area that was supposed to be unique.  We also walked through what was supposed to be an old market area, but we weren’t impressed, China has better old market areas.  It was very short and mostly had fruits, vegetables, and meat for sale.  

Going up that little street was where the "old" market was.

Tiny fish for sale at the old market.

Several flower shops that we passed by where the fragrance made it so that I just wanted to stay there and smell the flowers.

Eels for sale.  I don't think I have ever eaten eel.

A Shinto temple at the top of all those stairs.  I was happy to get a picture from the walkway over the road so that I didn't have to climb all those stairs.  My knee was really bothering me that day. 

After wandering for about two hours, we decided to get some lunch.  At the dock, people had a chance to have their picture taken with a mascot for the most famous burger in Sasebo, “The Big Man Burger.”  A few of us decided to eat there.  It was a really good burger, but we found a lot of things to be very expensive in Japan.  That one burger, good fries, and one ginger ale cost us almost $12 US.  It was 1240 Yen.  Except for the food, we really didn’t spend much money there.

The shopping mall that didn't end, at least it seemed that way.  

Our expensive lunch.  

When we entered the first part of the shopping area, we walked by this window display!  I couldn't believe that they were selling University of Minnesota clothing all the way here in Sasebo, Japan! 

After wandering the shopping area a little more, David and I decided to go back to the ship.  Some of the others were in search of a Shinto shrine that they were told was there, but we lost interest because of how tired we were and went back.

This was the first time for this ship to dock in Sasebo.  When that happens, the city will put on a special farewell ceremony for the ship.  The mayor greets the captain and some of the crew and then there was singing and dancing.  We could only see it from the top (15th) deck.

This little guy was waiting for us when we came back to our cabin for the night.