Spring 2024 - In Search of Cherry Blossoms: Nagoya

Transition to the MS Riviera

Early in the morning on March 20th, Gym and his lovely sidekick, checked out of the Ritz and made their way to the cruise ship terminal in Yokohama, about an hour away. There the Oceania Riviera was tied up and waiting for them. They boarded after checking in with the port authorities and the Oceania crew. They were soon settled in to their suite and Mrs. G was very happy to unpack everything and assign drawers to the various items. Over the next 12 days they would visit 8 different cities on three Japanese islands and also sail over to Pusan, Korea for a day.

Nagoya, Japan

The ship got underway at dinner time on the 20th. It sailed out onto the calm waters of Tokyo Bay and then entered the rather choppier Pacific Ocean. The captain set a southerly course that evening, the ship sailed all night and when the passengers woke up in the morning, they were tied up to the pier in Nagoya. 

Just like Tokyo, Nagoya is situated on the east coast of Japan's biggest island, Honshu. It is the fourth largest city in the country with 2.8 million people. Notable as the original HQ of Toyota, it is now also the hub of Japans fine ceramic, aerospace and other high tech industries.

Our hero and dear wife had booked a half day tour in the city which focused on Nagoya Castle and the Atsuta Shrine. Their tour guide Tomo, turned out to be a gem, his English was excellent and he was a great host. The tour was called "The Tokugawa Legacy". Tokugawa became Shogun of Japan in 1603 and that coincides with the beginning of the Edo period. The Edo period was a long, peaceful and progressive period for Japan. James Clavell's novel "Shogun" is based on the rise of the Tokugawa shogunate and the beginning of the Edo period. Gym read Clavell's 1200-page novel when he was supposed to be studying chemistry is university. He finished the book again in the weeks leading up to this trip.

The first stop of the day was Nagoya Castle. It was a project that Tokugawa had his hand in and a strong and beautiful fortress was the result. Our intrepid travellers toured the palace where the lord would entertain various applicants and special guests. It is richly decorated in the Japanese style. Unfortunately, the very large Castle keep was closed due to the unsafe condition of the building which has sustained earthquake damage over the years. 

Later, Tomo led the group into Atsuta Shrine but not before giving everyone a lesson on proper etiquette of offering a prayer at a shinto shrine. Tomo explained that, "one must throw the offering in the shrine collection box, then bow deeply twice, then straighten up and clap twice, then offer your prayer quietly and finally, bow one more time to conclude the ceremony". Gym and Mrs. Gym have since used Tomo's teachings at other shrines.

Cherry Blossom Report

Tokyo - a few buds but we were too early

Nagoya - some more buds but no real blossoms here either

Note from the author:

The internet on the ship is horrendous and it has been difficult to post stories and download pictures. The author will catch up in the days ahead. Be patient and thanks.

Pics to follow....

Spring 2024 - In Search of Cherry Blossoms: Tokyo

On Saint Paddy’s Day the Irish flag is flown
with the Japanese flag above a busy street’s boulevard 

Tokyo, March 16-20, 2024

The Meiji Shrine 

On the first full day in Japan, our hero and his fair companion visited the Meiji Shrine. It was a longish walk from the Ritz but it gave our two travellers a good feel for the neighbourhood. They started their trek in Hinokicho Park, wandered through some narrow streets adjacent to Aoyama Cemetery and eventually found themselves in the 170-acre woodland surrounding the shrine. This mature forest in the Shibuya neighbourhood is where Emperor Meiji and his wife, Empress Shoken, had been known to visit, when they were alive. Today, the woodland and the shrine in its center, are dedicated to the deified royal couple. It is a very popular place to visit for Japanese and tourists alike.

Having never been to a Shinto shrine before, Gym did not know the proper way to offer a prayer. He however led his dear wife through a half-correct ritual and got it done. Fortunately, there was no samurai there to take his head off for purifying his hands incorrectly and failing to bow and clap in the paper way (since that first Shinto visit, our adventurers have learned the proper etiquette). 

Shinto is a religion endemic to Japan and about 70% of the Japanese practice it. Interestingly, the same people will also practice Buddhism and for instance, they might get married in a Shinto shrine, while planning for a funeral in a Buddhist temple. Furthermore, many Japanese will build on this tradition of practising two religions, by having both a Shinto alter and a Buddhist one in different rooms of their home.

More on shrines and Emperor Meiji later!

The Imperial Palace

On the second day in Japan, our intrepid travellers walked to the Imperial Palace. It is about 3.5 kilometers to the outer moat and they hiked by all the government buildings on the way there. When they passed the Department of Finance, they strolled past a phalanx of federal financial types, all spiffy in identical dark suits. They were scurrying back to their offices from a meeting somewhere. Gym learned later that they had increased the prime lending rate that day, so the frenzied activity may have been related to that rare bit of  financial news.

The Imperial Palace grounds are expansive,  encompassing 280 acres. The private estate of the Emperor and his family cover about 2/3 of the total enclosed area and this estate is closed to the public except for two special days each year. The public area is referred to as the East Gardens and visitors can enter this part for free. Included in the East Gardens are two further lines of concentric defensive works, a museum of imperial collections and some very beautiful gardens. Gym and his dear bride did a counter-clockwise reconnoiter of the entire area and paid 2000 yen to see the Imperial Collections.

As Gym was tuckered out, hailing a taxi seemed like a good idea for the return trip to the Ritz. An elderly taxi driver that spoke not a word of English was engaged and the two travellers had fun communicating with him using their combined ten words of Japanese and some animated hand gestures. Eventually, the cabbie understood where exactly his clients wanted to go. When they were dropped off 20 minutes later, the driver was coming around the taxi to open the passenger door when the wind picked up and ripped two 1,000-yen notes from his hands. The cash started flying down the street. Like an Olympic sprinter, the cabbie took off like a shot and to Gym's great surprise, the driver pursued his hard-earned fare down the sidewalk. Amazingly, driver and all the yen were soon reunited. Gym wanted to tip him for the ride and the amazing feat of athleticism but alas, tips are not accepted anywhere in Japan.

The Shibuya Crossing

On the last day in Tokyo, our travellers strolled out to the Shibuya Crossing. It is the Tokyo equivalent of Times Square in New York City. However, they are very different. No one in Tokyo jaywalks as the Japanese people follow the rules. In addition, there is no trash on the streets of Tokyo, nobody litters. Furthermore, there are very few hucksters wandering around Shibuya dressed like Godzilla or Lady Liberty, as there always is in Times Square. That sort of spectacle just doesn't happen in Japan. Mrs. Gym likes this orderly and clean country.

The Ritz Carlton

Sure, it's a little pricey but our hero thinks it's worth every penny. Reception for the hotel is on the 45th floor and Gym and Mrs. Gym had a very nice room on the 47th floor. They had a gorgeous view to the west.  They woke on three out of four mornings, to see Mount Fuji set above the skyline of the city.  The other day, it was raining and the mountain was obscured. The views from the room and all three restaurants were simply intoxicating. The service provided by the well-trained staff was outstanding. The bonus is that the hotel is built over the Mid-Town Mall where there is a huge food court and several independent restaurants. If you wanted to get take-out or simply eat outside of the hotel, you didn't have to go outside. And of course, there are so many things to see that are an easy walk from the hotel.

Stay tuned!

Pictures added April 6, 2024

Imperial Palace

Spring 2024 - In Search of Cherry Blossoms : Tokyo

On a clear Monday morning, looking west from the 47th floor of the Rita Carlton, one can see the snow-capped peak of Mount Fuji, 100 kilometres away.

Our hero and his lovely companion, were off on another adventure. They left Canada on March 15, 2024 and flew to Tokyo, with a short stopover in Vancouver. Since the pandemic ended, Air Canada still hasn't resurrected all the direct flights from Calgary, to Asia and Europe. Gym believes that he must fly through places like Vancouver and Toronto, so that he can keep all the other airports in Canada viable. This way the Liberal/NDP federal coalition can get their MP's home from Ottawa, without flying through the USA. 

Our adventurers arrived at Narita Airport at 4 PM on March 16, 2024. Crossing the International Dateline had basically wiped out 24 hours of Gym's life. He was glad though, that he lost March 16th and not March 17th. As a proud descendent of Irish immigrants to Canada, it would have been sad indeed to have lost St. Paddy's Day in such a way. 

In typical Japanese style, getting through Narita Airport was quick and painless. All luggage arrived on the carousels moments after the travellers arrived there from Japanese Customs. They were soon out the exit with a driver they had pre-booked for the 2-hour transfer to Akasaka (Mid-Town). They were staying at the Ritz Carton Hotel which Gym believed was ideally situated amidst all of the must-see attractions in this massive city. Over the next few days and in typical fashion, Gym and Mrs. Gym would walk to the Meiji Shrine, the Imperial Palace and the Shibuya Crossing. Following the short stay in Tokyo, they would board the MS Riviera in Yokohama Harbour on March 20, 2024. The Riviera was slated for a 12-day cruise to seven port cities throughout Japan in search of some good cherry blossom pics. 

Stay tuned!

The Ritz Carlton jutting out of the
multi- level Mid-Town Mall 

November, 2023: In To Africa - Zanzibar

Gym’s beachfront bungalow at the Baraza Resort and Spa

On November 30, 2023 and for the second time, Gym and his lovely sidekick would depart from Nairobi and cross the border into Tanzania. This time, they were headed to the island of Zanzibar. Although the safari was over, Micato had provided for the smooth transfer of the two intrepid travellers and their luggage, from the Four Points hotel to the airport. And Micato's service didn't end there. Even though this add-on trip to the beach was not part of the package, Micato provided transportation while in Zanzibar and later lined up a tour of Stone Town, the historic capital of the island. Gym and Mrs, Gym were spoiled by Micato's premium service before during and after their Safari.

From Nairobi, our adventurers flew on Kenyan Airlines to Zanzibar, with a brief layover in Mombasa to clear customs. They arrived at the Zanzibar International Airport at about dinner time. There they met Ali, the guide and Adam, the driver. Ali, a Micato employee, was a warm and welcoming Zanzabarian host. He provided his guests with a running commentary on all things Zanzibarian. Adam was an excellent driver and he made good time as we crossed to the east side of the island, It was late when Gym and Mrs. Gym checked in to the Baraza  Resort and Spa.

Zanzibar is uniquely positioned just south of the equator and half way down the eastern side of the African continent.  It is flat and somewhat swampy but it is blessed with beautiful beaches, lush green forests and friendly people. It has been an important waypoint for seafarers for as long as traders began sailing around the perimeter of the Indian Ocean. Stone Town had always been a key port-o-call for traders in precious metals, ivory, spices  and slaves. Gym and his dear wife enjoyed the tour of the Capital that Ali led a few days after they had settled in to the Baraza Resort. Ali provided the historical background for much of what the travellers saw.

The Baraza Resort was an excellent quality luxury resort. The service, food, spa, pool, beach and accommodations were all top notch. It was 'Four Seasons quality' with a more affordable rate. The seaside bungalow was enormous and with the buildings being quite spread out in the beautifully landscaped grounds, it was perfect for a post-safari break before returning to the Canadian winter.

This magical visit to East Africa ended on December 1, 2023, when Gym and his dear companion left Zanzibar and began a 4-leg return journey to Calgary. They travelled back via Nairobi on Kenyan, Dubai on Emirates, Toronto on Emirates and Calgary on Air Canada. 

The Resort

 

Lush gardens from beach bungalows to the
 pool and restaurant area.

Baraza security staff member

Pool area

Interior of bungalow

Evening at Baraza

Market in Stone Town, Zanzibar

The fish guy

The goat meat guy

The spice shop

The fruit guy

The narrow streets and the colourful locals

A market that used to be…

The slave auction site had this church
Built over it when slavery was banned.

A chilling memorial to the slave trade in the
back of the church

The Doors of Stone Town:

Stone Town Fat Cats

Arabic, Swahili an Indian styles are on display
in old Stone Town homes that have been
recently renovated. This door is an Indian door
as it is rounded and has geometrically placed
brass studs.

This is an Arab door

A particularly strong-looking door. 

And finally, the most sought-after door in Stone Town….

 

The door to the building where Freddie Mercury
lived until he was a young adult.

November 2023: In to Africa - Mukuru Slum

Driving into the Mukuru slum in Nairobi, the kids are all smiles
 to see a Micato Land Cruiser. Micato provides hope!

Early in the morning of November 29, 2023, Gym and his lovely sidekick, had to check out of their deluxe accommodation on the banks of the Mara River, They were bound for Nairobi later that morning. They enjoyed a lovely breakfast in the main lodge of the Fairmont and then strode past the reception desk and out the door to find Joseph and Kintai waiting for them by the land cruiser. The safari-goers would enjoy their last game drive on the way to the airstrip, about an hour away through the bush. Sadly, after a week of daily game drives, in all the most beautiful settings in Tanzania and Kenya, it was time to to leave the savannah and return to civilization.

At the airstrip as they waited for the chartered Cessna Caravan, a troop of baboons played nearby and elephants and giraffes browsed in the distance. Soon they were in the air though, flying directly back to the capital. It was important that they get back to Nairobi as early as possible because Micato had one more thing for them to see in Kenya. The itinerary included a tour of Mukuru, the second largest slum in Nairobi. Mukuru is where AmericaShare is dedicated to improving the lives of children in the community. AmericaShare is the social impact arm of Micato Safaris. It has been helping the kids of Mukuru for decades. Part of the cost of every safari is donated to AmericaShare. 

Soon after Gym and his safari group landed in Nairobi, they met their new driver Anthony. They also met a young man named Tobit. Tobit grew up in Mukuru, benefited from the resources that AmericaShare provided him and today is in his second year of university, majoring in Computor Science. He was poised and polite and as the land cruiser made its way to Mukuru, he told the group about life in Mukuru and how AmericaShare had changed his life. At one point he got a little emotional and Gym could tell how sincere his gratitude was for the opportunities that AmericaShare had given him. Tobit was living proof that AmericaShare was making a difference. After touring the AmericaShare project in Mukuru and saying goodbye to Tobit, Gym and Mrs. Gym felt good about the contributions that they had made as part of the Micato safari fee.

After the tour they checked into the Four Points by Marriott and the Micato itinerary was concluded. Bree had a connecting flight back to the United States later that night. Gym and his fetching bride would overnight at the hotel and leave in the morning for a bit of a beach vacation, before returning to Canada. That evening, Kintai, who had been with the intrepid threesome since they began the Micato itinerary, hosted the final dinner in the hotel dining room and everyone said their goodbyes. 

Anthony the Micato driver, smiles as Kintai snaps a photo
of a family of five on a scooter, passing the SUV in Mukuru

Mukuru is lacking in basic infrastucture that we take
for granted in Canada. 

A street in Mukuru after the rain

More kids posing for the visitors in the Micato SUV

The AmericaShare oasis in the middle of Mukuru

Inside an AmericaShare library for the younger kids

A computer lab for the older kids

wall art on the boundary fence of the compound

Huru is another charity in the compound which 
helps young females remain in school during the 
most difficult time in their menstrual cycle. Elton John is
a sponsor with Micato.

November 2023 - In To Africa: The Maasai People

Maasai warriors greet Gym and Mrs. Gym at entrance to village. They jump incredibly high into the air from a standing position.

It wasn’t just the wildlife of Kenya that Gym and his dear wife were introduced to in Maasai Mara. They were also very fortunate to spend  a few hours in the afternoon of November 28th, exploring a traditional village of  the  Maasai people.

After a short drive from the Fairmont, our intrepid safari-goers jumped out of the land cruisers at the gates to the Maasai Village. There, they were greeted by a group of young warriors in colourful Maasai garb. They carried long staffs and were lined up to greet the newcomers with a bit of a line dance that featured each young warrior taking turns jumping high in the air from a standing start. A few minutes later, the women and children of the village came out and took the tourists by the hand. They were then led through the village gate and into the center of a broad open area inside a circular enclosure. With warriors on one side and the women, children and guests on the other, everyone danced together. At the dances conclusion, the chief came forward, introduced himself and personally welcomed the safari-goers to his village. 

The Maasai village was an circular arrangement of low conical huts built touching each other  The chief led the guests into his own hut and sat Gym, Mrs. Gym and Bree on one side of the central room across from where he then seated himself. Over the next 20 minutes or so, he described  life in a traditional Maasai village, how the village and its buildings are constructed and the importance of cattle to the villagers. All huts in the village were built using the most readily available building materials. A mixture of red clay and cow dung worked well to create a sturdy structure that is waterproof. The walls were several inches thick providing insulation from the heat during the day and cold during the cooler nights. Gym had to duck to get inside the front door but the central room was very spacious with a high domed roof, wooden furniture on the periphery and a fire pit in the middle.  

The chief explained that cattle were the currency of the Maasai economy. Every young boy was taught to aspire to building a great herd of cattle. If a man was rich in cattle, he could afford to pay the dowry of the most desirable young women and then hopefully build a large family of strong and productive children. However, the cattle business was very difficult here in Maasai Mara, the chief explained. They were losing several cattle to lions every month because the big predators were protected. He therefore asked that his guests consider perusing the village handicraft market before leaving. Gym was happy to comply and he and his dear wife picked up a few hand-made trinkets to bring back to Canada.

The ladies in there colourful garb

A future chief?

Dancing opposite the warriors

Starting a fire with no matches

Inside the chief’s hut 

The market

November 2023 - In To Africa: Maasai Mara

 

Maasai Mara’s grassland, with widely spaced trees

In the Maasai language, Mara means 'spotted' and when you gaze at the savannah in Maasai Mara from afar, you see a vast grassland spotted by widely-spaced, bushy trees.  Late in the afternoon of November 23, 2023, the safari group was met by Joseph at the dirt airstrip. He would be the driver and guide during their stay at Maasai Mara. Joseph grabbed all the luggage and took the group on a short introductory game drive before passing through the gates of the Fairmont Maasai Mara and settling everyone in to their new accommodations.  

The Fairmont Maasai Mara is built along a cliff above a sharp bend in the Mara River. This is the same river that the Great Migration crosses when the vast herds of migrating Wildebeests, Zebras and Gazelles move from Tanzania to Kenya and back again. If you have watched any of Sir David Attenborough's videos of the migration, you know that this fast flowing, chocolate brown water-course is full of hippos and crocodiles. With the river forming a natural barrier around most of the Fairmont grounds, a very robust electric fence completes the enclosure of the property. So unlike the Turner Springs camp in the Serengeti, there are no elephants or cape buffalos to deal with on your way to breakfast. Notwithstanding the absence of big game, monkeys, baboons and a lone female bush buck share the grounds with the Fairmont staff and guests.

There were several unique and wonderful moments that the group experienced during their time exploring the grasslands and bush of Maasai Mara, as follows:

1.  On several occasions, the group got up close and personal with cheetahs, They had seen cheetahs in the Serengeti but here they were able to drive right up close to them and see what beautiful animals they really are;

2.  They also got close to two sets of lion cubs. The cubs were a little bit shy but the adult members of the pride considered the Land Cruisers as no threat and almost seemed eager to pose for pictures;

3.  At one very memorable point during a game drive, Joseph drove up a dirt track, through the bush on a slope above the savannah and came upon a group of rangers, some heavily armed with automatic weapons. Gym was a bit alarmed at first but soon understood what was going on when he spotted the first massive grey bulk, calmly grazing in a clearing. These guys were protecting a pair of white rhinos. The male was Kofi Annan and the female, Queen Elizabeth II. The pair of rhinos 🦏 had 24/7 protection from poachers. Very used to living with humans around, one could walk up quite close to admire these weird and wonderful beasts; 

4.  There were several "David Attenborough moments” during these game drives. One that stood out was watching a female Thompson’s Gazelle trying to draw a jackal away from its offspring who was hidden in the high grass. The mother gazelle  was offering herself as a meal substitute by approaching the predator from the area furthest away from its baby.  

5. Another strange and wonderful sight was when the Land Cruiser came upon a group of giraffes sitting on their haunches like big unwieldy dogs. This is a rare sight indeed because the giants have difficulty getting up and are somewhat vulnerable when seated.

5. There were also some rare sightings of animals such as bat-eared foxes, warthog families including the babies, several of the massive elands and some topis as well. In addition, the many and various birds that the guides introduced were so numerous that Gym could not keep track of all of them. 

Observing the fauna of Maasai Mara on November 23 and 24 was very rewarding indeed. Hopefully, Gym’s photos give you some appreciation for what he and Mrs. Gym saw.

 

Joseph our guide while staying at Maasai Mara
and Kintai our safari leader.

An ambling cheetah

A jackal keeping an eye on Gym 

A litter of four shy lion cubs.

Giraffes actually sitting on their haunches 

Very close to a rhino

Bush Buck that lives inside the Fairmont enclosure.

A nursing momma pachyderm