SECURITY

I’m departing from my usual travel post today. For some reason, I feel that I need to post something else. Maybe you’ll get something out of it, or maybe not. The world we live in is full of uncertainty and anxiety. It can get us down if we let it. Today, I want to help us feel more certain in an uncertain world. Trigger alert: Scripture involved.

We are facing an uncertain future. It cannot be denied. There was a time not so many years ago when I didn’t let the ranting of politicians, stupid laws passed in state legislatures, or the nutty actions of public figures bother me much. But you must agree, it seems a lot different today. We lock our doors, freeze our credit, and walk through life suspicious, and afraid. It makes me anxious sometimes. What about you?

I like to know what’s coming. I don’t like surprise parties. I like to know my path. When my husband and I take out our little RV, I want to know which highway we’ll travel and where we will spend the night. I want to know our destination but instead of looking at a map or searching out camping spots on my tablet, I want to see down the road, too. When I was a little girl, my grandparents lived in Bisbee. When we traveled to this little town in the SE corner of Arizona, it seemed a long way to go. After we turned off the main highway and headed south, I remember we traveled on a flat plain with mountains far in the distance. But we couldn’t get to Bisbee until we got to those mountains. I trusted my parents to know the way.

One time we were traveling in northern New Mexico and we drove into a rainstorm so heavy we couldn’t see anything around us. We weren’t sure what to do. Should we just stop until the storm passes? What if another car runs into us? We crawled along until we found an offramp to a rest stop. What does that kind of anxiety say about me, or you? When I was a child, I trusted my parents. I knew they loved me and would protect me. I was very blessed. But now I’m an adult. Who do I trust now? I want to trust my experience…my good sense. But in some cases, I have no experience to call upon. My instincts may be faulty. I don’t have enough information to make a good decision.

Of course, I’m talking about things much bigger than looking at GPS, deciding where to take a vacation, or how to get out of the rain. Would I take a job as a pilot when I’ve only had lessons on YouTube? Would I take my grandchildren to a river to play when we don’t know how to swim? I’m talking about life-changing decisions. I’m talking about things that impact your life in material ways. I’m also talking about that small voice in your head at night…a voice full of worry and doubt.

In Acts 20:22-24 Paul says that he must go to Jerusalem, even though he knows he could be arrested there. He has no idea what might happen, he just knows he must go.

“And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there.  I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me – the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.”

I know from experience that my plan, my path is often revealed one step at a time. But not knowing the end result is tough. My worry and anxiety say that I am fearful to surrender that worry to God. I have to admit that I don’t always feel His presence. I don’t get the clear answer I’m looking for. But that’s when I realize I’m faking it. I’m trying to make a deal. It never works that way. Like Paul, I need to fully trust God and surrender myself completely to his purpose for my life. That’s hard! We are selfish beings and we want what we want. But I can tell you, that when I tricked myself into going forward with something because I “prayed” about it, when I was just throwing out empty words, that wrong path/decision always came back to haunt me. I also know that when I’m on my face before His presence, completely willing to do that hard thing I don’t want to do, I have never, never been disappointed. Never.

Paul went to Jerusalem without anxiety or apprehension. Why? Because he was sure of God’s plan for his life. Being sure of God, Paul was sure of his future. He didn’t know the events or details of his future but he was sure God was in charge. And that was enough for him.

Arm holding white flag on the battlefield

If we don’t surrender to God’s love, we’re surely surrendering to something else: our moods, our circumstances, our fears, and our self-centered concerns and desires. We will end up downhearted and disillusioned. I saw a man a few days ago who shuffled into a waiting room at the hospital about to pass out from lack of oxygen. He grabbed a wheelchair, sat down, and used his feet to move forward, huffing and puffing like it was his last breath. A person got up and asked him if he needed help. “No,” he said. “I’m fine.”

He needed help. He needed oxygen. But he denied he needed any help. Isn’t that crazy? But that’s just what we do all the time. We put on a positive face and tell ourselves that things are just fine physically and emotionally. I’m sorry, but that’s just nuts. Seek God and His grace and love. He’ll give you the power to face whatever comes. Anything. I’ve seen it and I know it’s real. We don’t need to be afraid of the future.

Isaiah 41:13, NIV For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.

HONG KONG & KOWLOON

October 22, 2023. I was looking forward to seeing the city of Hong Kong. I knew some stories about it and wanted to see this remarkable, modern city. When Larry and his family were moving to Cambodia with the State Department in 1958, they stopped in Hong Kong so his dad could have some lightweight suits made up. Coming from the formality of the Washington, DC area, his suits would have been totally unsuitable for the tropics. Ha! Larry, as a young boy of not quite seven, did his usual thing of exploring while his mother was shopping. He fearlessly struck out on his own after he got bored playing hide and seek with his little four-year-old brother in the clothing racks. His mother had to contact security to run him down. I still have to do that from time to time. If I lose him in the grocery store, I just listen for his voice and usually find him in conversation with someone telling Larry his life story. Larry has that effect on people.

During the Vietnam era, my Navy boyfriend, Ron, visited Hong Kong and Kowloon. He loved this place, especially the laid-back atmosphere of Kowloon. He bought himself a fancy reel-to-reel tape deck (a big deal back then), and an amplifier and he bought me a set of black and olive green heavy stoneware dishes. I used those dishes for many years. They weren’t quite my style, and unfortunately, neither was he. But the dishes were good quality and they were nice to have when money was tight. This photo isn’t exact, but close enough.

The main thing we wanted to do was ride the lenticular cable car up Victoria Peak. Larry remembered doing the same thing when he was a boy. But things have changed. We went to a modern facility where we paid for our tickets and waited in line with mobs of people and families, edging our way uphill to the cable car loading area. The cars went up and down continually and when one set arrived and the doors slid open, one better get out of the way of the tourists spilling out. Once they had scattered we jumped on. Larry and I had to claw our way in and hope we didn’t get separated again. It was like a game of musical chairs. Two or three ran to grab one open seat to win the game. Fun! But we made it and in a few short moments, we were at the top. It was a steep climb and I felt like I was on Southwest Airlines, laying back in my seat but without a seatbelt. Of course, depending on which direction the car is headed, you could find yourself thrown forward, hanging on for dear life. Victoria Peak is a little over 1100 ft high and while almost stumpy to those of us familiar with the Rockies, it is the tallest hill on Hong Kong Island. But the view is spectacular!

Once on top, we spent a couple hours viewing the city below from various locations. According to Larry, when his family visited, nothing was developed. Now, there are huge souvenir shops and cafes, and everything is pristine and safe, with brick railings, seating, and pavement everywhere. Of course, it was a cloudy, rainy day so our views weren’t as clear as we’d hoped to see. The cable car below is similar to the ones Larry’s family used. It’s a historical display now!

In Kowloon, we took a junk ride through the harbor, something every tourist needs to do. We boarded the decorated boat at a small, wavy, swaying dock. It was interesting boarding without falling into the water. But we had helpers on each end to ensure that didn’t happen. We stumbled aboard and found a seat on a long bench against the hull. I sat next to the captain, a little woman who knew exactly how to operate that boat. She maneuvered in and around and between boats, and junks and sanpans in every direction.

I’m not sure what kind of boat ours was. It wasn’t large, holding a group of about a dozen people. It was quite low to the water, with a large sail tied down as protection from the sun and rain. It was decorated with flowers and paper lanterns. But we were under power the whole time as we wandered around. It was a little disappointing that we didn’t actually venture forth into the main harbor, but it was still an adventure. We saw how many live on these boats and make their living there. We saw one that was a big souvenir store fixed up like a drive-through.

We enjoyed our visit to this complex city. It is a major financial center and finds itself pulled between two worlds. They are land-poor but the building goes on, up higher and higher. They reclaim more of the harbor to find the room. Families live in tiny apartments and few can afford to live there without taking in another family. It has to be a stressful existence. Our guides were very positive about their lives there, but I’m sure they left much unsaid. It was a beautiful place with friendly people, but I realized, once again, how blessed I am to live in the USA, with a home of my own and few worries. I pray I never take it all for granted.

Thank you for reading my adventures! Please Like and leave a Comment. Visit my website at https://vcwilliamsauthor.com Have a great day!

⭐

Rating: 1 out of 5.

JERUSALEM JOURNEY

In the Fall of 2019, just as Covid was beginning to fester, we visited Jerusalem. We visited again in 2022 during Holy Week. We couldn’t help but notice massive differences between what we saw in 2019 and 2022. This post is about our visit in 2019.

On our first day in Jerusalem, we took a bus tour from the port of Ashdod, past Nazareth, and up to the Golan Heights. There has been strife and war over the Golan for decades and I’m not sure it’s settled yet. The road up to the summit was like driving up the switchbacks of Yarnell Hill (for you Arizonans out there), but much more narrow. I believed, at times, we were only inches away from plummeting down a cliff. We stopped near the top and looked down at the farms bordering the Sea of Galilee. During our drive, our guide pointed out bunkers used by the Syrians to shoot at the Israeli farmers. We drove down the hill and stopped at Galilee. It was so much larger than I expected but was so beautiful. I pictured Jesus and his disciples out at night, fishing in their small boat, and understood how this large body of water can be stormy and dangerous.

Next, we drove to Cana, where Jesus attended a wedding and performed his first recorded miracle. The town is still quite small and walking its streets was an emotional experience. In Capernaum, we saw the ruins of the synagogue where Jesus taught. I tried to imagine how it had once appeared and how it would have been to personally hear those words. We also saw the excavated ruins of the home of Peter’s mother-in-law.

I stand next to a sculpture of the Apostle Peter in Capernaum with the words inscribed: “Thou Art Peter and Upon This Rock I Will Build My Church.”

Later we drove to another place, a Roman area whose name I can’t remember now. We walked over the remains of a great road and saw a Roman house. To see such ancient tiles and roadwork, still in place after so many centuries was incredible. This is the wonder of travel. Our USA is so young, and except for the ruins left by indigenous people, we have nothing that compares to this kind of history. Inside the house, we saw a large mosaic floor under excavation. The intricacy of the tiles created so long ago was an amazing sight.

The most exciting place for me was to see the River Jordan. It was sad to see how this entire area is commercialized, with snack and souvenir shops, and lines of people paying to be baptized. It detracted from the beauty and emotion of the place. The souvenir shops were selling glass jars of “River Jordan Water”. I took an empty water bottle, walked down to the river’s edge, and got my water for free. I don’t believe there is anything special about the water. But seeing the river itself clarified how it may have looked so long ago. My grandson had recently been baptized so I gave the water bottle to him. While the water is just water, knowing it came from the same river where Jesus was baptized made it special.

Our second day was only Jersusalem. Our visit here in 2022 was visibly different. The city’s familiar sites were incredible. But in 2022, a new security area surrounded the Western Wall square. Soldiers were much in evidence, armed and closely surveilling everyone there. When we first visited in 2019, we didn’t have to go through security and armed military weren’t so prominent. Of course, in 2022, we visited during Holy Week, a time notorious for violent demonstrations. In fact, a day or two after we left, we heard about shootings in this square, with several killed or wounded.

In 2019 and in 2022 I visited the Western “Wailing” Wall. I waded through the crowds in the women’s section where many were praying and worshiping, until I could touch that ancient wall. I admit that I’m not much on man-made symbols of faith. But placing my hand on those ancient stones where so many before me had placed their hands in prayer brought tears to my eyes. It is a moving experience like nothing I’ve ever experienced. It defies explanation.

Later we took a walking tour of the old Jewish sector of the city. Narrow streets of stone pavers were rutted and worn down from thousands of years of use by people, wagons, and animals. Some lanes climbed up with stone steps along the way, busy with vendors selling their goods to the tourists. It would be easy to get lost in the maze of lanes running in every direction. Eventually, we came to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, also known as the Church of the Resurrection. I couldn’t wait to explore this 4th-century church located in the Christian sector of old Jerusalem. According to tradition, it contains the two most holy sites in Christianity: the site where Jesus was crucified and the site of the empty tomb. Emperor Constantine’s mother visited here and determined to locate sacred sites and preserve them inside a major edifice, developing these ordinary places into major pilgrimage destinations. To my senses, the ornate decorations of the interior mask what was intended to be glorified. These locations had once been sacred in their original simplicity. To see the tomb where Jesus was laid, I had to walk through a small temple built inside the church. I couldn’t make out very much. The church is a magnificent structure with fabulous gold-colored everything and marvelous room-sized paintings. But like the tomb, it left me feeling that something was missing.

During this season, while many celebrate the glory of the Resurrection, I wonder what we are resurrecting in our lives. Resentment, anger, old hurts, or revenge? When we hang on to such negativity, our hearts have little room for the good and the beautiful around us. As John Wesley said, there are too many “almost Christians”. They say the words but don’t live lives of love and forgiveness. Whatever you believe I wish you peace and blessings every day.

Please leave a comment and I’ll see you next time! If you missed reading my 2022 visit to Jerusalem, scroll through my posts. It’s easy to find. Visit my website at http://www.vcwilliamsauthor.com

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TAIPEI and 101 TREMBLERS

I learned something new when we visited Taipei last October 2023. I learned what a Mass Damper is. I knew what a simple damper is, a device in our fireplace flue or HVAC equipment to regulate air circulation. But a Mass Damper is something quite different. More on that later. We arrived on a cloudy, rainy day, but the weather didn’t dampen our spirits as we eagerly explored this massive city of 2.7 million people. We had only one day but wanted to make the best of it. We had picked our excursion well before we started this trip and although it was good, it didn’t include a proper visit to the Taipei 101 Tower, with nothing more than a drive-by. But as we lined up to board our designated bus, we found out that our bus was already full and we were asked to board another one. We figured it was just a mixup, so we handed over our tickets and boarded the alternate bus. But when we got off in front of the tower, we were surprised to find out we were going inside! Wow. That was unexpected. Either we were directed to the wrong bus in all the confusion or we, being such wonderful people, had been upgraded to the nicer tour. We didn’t ask.

The Tower is a huge complex that includes several add-on buildings to accommodate many businesses, including a massive, high-end shopping center. We arrived before 9 a.m. and initially, we had the whole place to ourselves. The shoppers in our group were practically hyperventilating as we scanned the many gorgeous stores. But most weren’t open yet, so folks had to contain their excitement. We were promised there would be time later to browse to our heart’s content.

The group was guided over to the tower itself and we were whisked upwards from the fifth floor to the 89th observation floor in 37 seconds. We learned this tower, at 101 floors, is the highest in Taiwan and 11th in the world. Classified as the tallest at its opening in December of 2004, the Burj Khalifa surpassed it in 2009. It has won many awards for its energy efficiency and environmental design. Key to that design is the need to withstand the notorious Pacific Ring of Fire earthquakes as well as tropical storms that hit the island frequently. During construction, Taipei was hit with a 6.8 earthquake in March 2002. A crane fell from the 56th floor to Xinyi Road, crushing several cars and killing five workers. After examining the structure, work was resumed the next week and was finished in time to celebrate the 2005 New Year.

This is the Tuned Mass Damper we were able to see while we were on the observation deck. This 660 metric ton pendulum is suspended from the 92nd floor with massive coiled steel cables with hydraulic ‘shocks’ underneath. The largest mass damper ball in the world, it sways to offset gusts of up to 134 mph and can reduce the building’s movement by up to 40%. When Typhoon Soundelor hit in 2015, the 18-foot steel ball moved by 1 meter (39 inches), the largest movement ever recorded. It was amazing to see this incredible engineering achievement. I snapped some pictures through the observation windows, but with the rain and clouds, they didn’t come out too well. All I can tell you is that we were up in the clouds, very high above the earth far below.

Leaving the 101, we journeyed on to a square where some vendors were set up with all kinds of things to sell the tourists with music blaring and lots of activity. We sat on a concrete barrier and viewed the people coming and going. We were interested in the men loading up fancy sedan chairs. Their truck pulled up after we got off our bus, which left to return later. The roadway was now clogged with concrete barriers and trucks. The barriers were too high and wide to step over. We had a tricky time maneuvering around those and the trucks to get to our bus when it came back. I was fearful some of our group might fall, but despite the unusual congestion, we seasoned travelers picked our way through unscathed.

We enjoyed Taipei and wish we would have had more time to see more of this fascinating country. If you enjoy my travels, please leave a comment and share with others. Visit my website at https://vcwilliamsauthor.com/ Until next time, have a great day, and live your life!

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Rating: 1 out of 5.

HUBRIS GOES NUCLEAR

It was a beautiful day in Hiroshima when we arrived on October 15, 2023. It couldn’t have been nicer. I looked forward to visiting this city and Nagasaki a few days later. But thinking about the horror that the residents of those cities experienced on August 6 and then on August 9, 1945, I admit I also dreaded it. Why was I dreading it, you ask? I dreaded facing its history. It’s been a lifetime, 78 years to be exact, and everyone should be over that horror. The cities are modern and vibrant, and people go to work, have families, and live their lives much as we do in the USA. But one thing is different. They actively remember those days and we don’t. Between those two cities, more than 115 thousand people were instantly killed. Consider the number of people killed in Hiroshima, 70,000, was more than the population of Phoenix, Arizona in 1940, at 65,000 according to the census.

Consider if that nuclear bomb had been dropped here in Arizona. Most of my family lived in the Phoenix area in 1945: my mother, her parents, my father’s parents, and my aunts and uncles. At the time, my dad was serving at a Naval hospital in Memphis. Imagine that. If we had been bombed instead of them. Roll that thought around in your head. Except for those who served our country, giving their lives to save us from fascism and authoritarian control, we were sheltered from what so many others experienced every day. We never endured the nightmare of continuous bombings, armies and tanks tearing through fields and farms, sniper fire, and attacks on our cities and towns with innocent lives cut down. And despite rationing, we had plenty to eat. Over four million people died of starvation or hunger-related disease in the Nazi-occupied countries of Europe. And we complained we didn’t have enough sugar to bake a cake.

The people in Japan were told they were safe and had nothing to fear from us. Their leaders were arrogant and stubborn. Those generals were willing to sacrifice every man in their military if necessary. Surrender was not to be considered for any reason. On those days in August, their citizens went about their everyday routines. People walked or bicycled to their jobs. Children went to school. People were out shopping or strolling by the river, never thinking that in the blink of an eye, their entire world would be destroyed. Nothing could ever be the same.

I mentioned earlier that the people of Japan remember and we don’t. While visiting those shrines and preserved remains in Japan, we saw children, teenagers, and families paying their respects to the memories of the lives that were instantly wiped out that day as well as those who died later. We met schoolchildren who had been bused in from other cities to pray and sing before those shrines. We have Pearl Harbor remembrances and more than two million people visit the USS Arizona Memorial annually. But I barely give it a thought each December 7. Shame on me. Many who lived through WWII are not with us anymore or were so young, they have no memory of it. Those memories are fading and younger generations, us, are consumed with instant everything. After all, that’s ancient history and we have other things to think about.

I remember my Dad told me how on that Sunday morning, he’d been sent to go pick up someone for church. He heard the report over the radio. That radio report and others in the following days changed our world forever. But we were luckier than most. My dad still had to milk the cows, plow the fields, and finish high school. My grandpa got government contracts for his cotton during those years and after the Great Depression, it was a boon to him and other farmers. The Depression in the US came to a screeching halt as the nation ramped up to supply the military. People had jobs and money in their pockets for the first time in years.

We remember 9/11, September 11, 2001. But even that devastating day is fading from memory. I’ll never forget how that event, as awful as it was, united this country. But as the bombing at Pearl Harbor prompted us to round up innocent Japanese Americans into primitive detention camps, 9/11 brought on hateful acts against Muslims and anyone who even resembled an “Arab”. It always strikes me how we continuously manage to find something or someone to hate, even when we should be grateful just to be alive. Let’s not be arrogant and stubborn or hateful. It is shameful, degrading, and serves no useful purpose. At all. Instead, let’s celebrate our heritage and all the good this mostly immigrant nation has done and can do, now and in the future. Let’s not succumb to the hucksters selling hate and revenge. We must be better than that.

Read history and please don’t keep on repeating the worst parts. As a character from an old comic strip once said, “We have met the enemy and he is us.”

Pogo

I enjoyed visiting Japan. The Japanese are very much like us and have many of the same problems we do. Isn’t that amazing? Build more bridges, folks. Please visit my website at http://www.vcwilliamsauthor.com

OSAKA & A SHINTO SHRINE

We arrived in Osaka on October 14, 2024. It was a slightly overcast day with a perfect temperature in the mid-70 degrees. Noting this, I found myself constantly wishing I had studied Celcius since everywhere one travels out of the USA the temperature is displayed in Celsius. Fortunately, our ship’s ‘powers-that-be’ realize that Americans stubbornly hold on to the old ways and refuse to learn anything new, especially if it doesn’t benefit them in some material way. Of course, American Samoa, Guam, Cayman Islands, and Liberia use Fahrenheit, so we’re not completely alone in the world, but almost. Our newspapers always include a parenthetical notation of meters or kilometers whenever there is a statement of feet, yards, or miles. I think we’re being surreptitiously schooled in the metric system. But I don’t know if it will work. I always skip over that and I think everyone else does, too.

Moving on, we went to the Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine, one of the oldest Shinto shrines and the main one in Japan. As we walked under the torii, or main gait, our guide made of point of telling us to NOT attempt to walk over the red bridge with its many steep steps. He told us the horror stories of previous tourists falling or tripping and breaking something. He put the fear of God in us! We all dutifully followed his lead in a different direction as he continued his narrative through our annoying headsets. He told us how Sumiyoshi Park originally faced the ocean when it was built back in the second century CE. Sea trade and diplomacy were important to the region during that era. Sumiyoshi Taisha enshrines three Shinto gods and the legendary Empress Jingu. Now landlocked, the Park landscape is filled with Shinto artwork that represents its particular gods, mostly gods of war including a few specialty gods for war at sea. Ironically, it is a peaceful, lovely place to wander among the beautiful green pines, white sands, and stone walkways. This style of design is very popular throughout Japan. One of the things celebrated by the Shinto religion is harmony. Everywhere we visited in Japan displayed this love of harmony and order. Shinto, which means the Way of Spirits also reveres family and ancestral solidarity, physical and spiritual purity, physical well-being, and fertility.

We visited on a Saturday and many young families were there to receive blessings for their 3, 5, and 7-year-old children. These ages are considered crucial for the child’s future growth. They wore traditional Japanese clothing and were so cute. Most of the tykes smiled at us and allowed us to take pictures. This celebration is called Shichi-Go-San and is centuries old.

We walked around the various traditional buildings and sacred shrines surrounded by a plank ‘tamagaki’ fence. This fenced area is where we saw the dressed-up children and even young parents with their babies surrounded by loving grandparents. It was a very special, important time for these families and young children. When I think of these traditions I realize that even with our differences, the Japanese traditions are similar to our traditional Christian world. Some folks baptize their infant children and many others make sure their children receive religious training and are confirmed and/or baptized. Those are special times for the family that are remembered with pictures and celebrations. In the days when our extended families lived nearby, we enjoyed many times of gathering for holidays and birthdays or just visiting. Our culture today has moved away from those days, and I would say to our detriment. I cherish my happy memories of those distant days, never to be forgotten. Those of us with family nearby are indeed blessed!

I next went into another area where we were allowed to ring a special bell to wake up a god, bow, and then voice a prayer. If that wasn’t our style, we could pick out three small stones from a pool. Each stone had a Japanese character painted on and once we had our three stones, we were told what the stones said – kind of like our fortune. I think mine said Love, Long Life, and Happiness. But I may have forgotten. I could have used a Memory stone. I still have the stones – somewhere. I also saw, above, long strings tied up with colorful papers that also contained prayers. Osaka is a beautiful city and we were impressed by the friendly people we encountered. I asked Larry to take my picture in front of the colorful bridge and afterward, a young lady offered to take a picture of the two of us. Larry, who doesn’t like pictures of himself, had to agree. We’re so glad we were able to visit this lovely place.

Come back and visit as I continue with my Pacific Rim Adventure. There are still many more places to see and experience! Leave a comment and visit me at https://vcwilliamsauthor.com/

Transforming Tokyo

We arrived in Tokyo Bay on October 7, 2023. It is an almost overpowering city in size and scope. It is modern, vibrant, and about the cleanest city I have ever visited. Larry explained that our dock had once been the site of Tokyo’s airport. We looked out and could still see the markings on the pavement that airplanes used when taxiing to or from takeoffs. Since we arrived a day early, there were no planned excursions, but we could disembark and take a shuttle bus downtown. Some got off to check out the terminal and find ATMs to get some yen. Well, there were no ATMs which was quite upsetting to some of our fellow passengers. There was one cash exchange machine, so those of us with cash lined up to take our turn. Several of the entertainment team were anxious to make their exchange so they could take a bus to some shopping district. The terminal had some greeters who answered questions and handed out maps. Not into big-time shopping, we only wanted yen for food or tips for our guides. I thought I might want a hand-painted silk scarf, but that was about it. While I was waiting in line, one of the young entertainers was unhappy that he couldn’t use his credit card to get cash. I felt bad for him, so I handed over $20 and he couldn’t thank me enough. He got his cash and ran out with his friends to catch their bus. Larry scolded me for being so soft-hearted and said the guy would never pay me back. Larry turned out to be right, but I was happy to help him out. He looked like this was his first time away from home. That $20 equaled almost 3000 yen. Enough for bus fare and a bowl of noodles.

Our shuttle bus dropped us in front of a beautiful park near a variety of shops and lots of tall buildings. I remember we were there on a Saturday and we must have been in a business district because the streets and sidewalks were quiet and almost empty. There were a few strolling couples and some joggers, but not the beehive of activity I was prepared for. It was a surreal experience, certainly not what we expected for the largest city in the world.  Larry and I wandered down side streets and viewed the beautiful landscaping along the way. We felt we’d fallen into a Twilight Zone. Our sense of time and place seemed blurred and we hoped that when we returned to the park our shuttle bus would be there to take us back to reality. I was amazed at the artistic signage everywhere and had to pinch myself a time or two to remind me I wasn’t in Kansas anymore. We were amused by the drink and snack vending machines on every block. Not like the Coke or candy and chip machines we see at home. These carried a variety of flavored or vitamin water and juices. I had no idea what the snacks were. Very ‘foreign’ looking to me but I was the foreigner here! I recently talked to someone about how so many American travelers seem to expect the countries we visit to be just like home. Or worse, just like a kind of Disney World. I don’t understand why those folks bother to go anywhere. A lot of complaining going on. Too bad. They’re missing the whole point of travel.

The next day we woke up to gray skies and an incessant cold drizzle. We [lanned to see the Emperor’s Palace and grounds, and I hoped that the rain would quit by the time our bus got us there. I hadn’t brought an umbrella and the one the ship provided was the size of a beach umbrella. Heavy and bulky. It didn’t even have a crook to hang off an arm. We left it behind hopeful the sun would come out. Walking off the gangway, I grabbed a couple of plastic ponchos from a bin at the door but still hoped we wouldn’t need them. About 45 minutes later we arrived at the Imperial Grounds and Gardens. The guide explained that the buses were not allowed to park inside, so we would be walking, about 1.15 square kilometers or more, to see everything. On a nice, sunny day, it would be no problem at all. But, if anything, the rain was coming down harder than before. We wore jackets and baseball caps, so we thought we’d be OK. We stepped off the bus, crossed the wide boulevard, and stepped into the park surrounding the Imperial grounds. I snapped the above pictures of the Samurai Warrior as we tried to keep up with our group. As we sloshed along, a group approached us and a nice lady handed me her beach umbrella. The wind was blowing rain in our faces and the umbrella wasn’t much help. I tried to get the plastic poncho on Larry, but it was like trying to wrap up a large, wet dog with thin saran wrap. By that time, our group had disappeared and we knew we would not be able to catch up since the palace walls were still a good distance away. So we turned around and sloshed back to the bus. Maybe we’ll try to visit another day. Never say never!

On our last day, we decided to walk from the ship to a large mall that the crew told us was “nearby”. We thought we’d sample a typical Japanese meal at the mall’s food court and see if I could find that hand-painted silk scarf. Larry wanted to get a gift for his kind VA nurse who made sure he had plenty of meds for this trip. Now the sun was out and it was a delightfully perfect day. Of course, it was. So after breakfast, we left the ship and started walking. We left the port area via a very long sidewalk up to a major street. Two of the crew passed us as if we were standing still. They kindly encouraged us, saying, “Oh, it’s not very far. Just cross the street up there and then turn left at the first street you come to. You’ll see it!” Why did we suddenly feel so decrepit? We saw an elevated train station and wondered where it went and if we could take it to the mall. Good thing there were benches along the way. We crossed the street and came to a little grocery store. Larry wanted to see if they had any lemon or lime juice. Of course not. We walked down the long block until the left turn. We found ourselves in a huge park of some kind, with lots of paved walkways, a few trees here and there, and some benches and picnic tables. There were a few people on bicycles, but it looked, again, mostly empty. Were we really in Japan? Where were the thousands of millions of people? While walking toward what looked like a large complex and maybe a mall in the distance, one of the crew members, who had passed us earlier, met us again. She had been to the mall, made her purchases, and was now on her way back. She probably thought we’d stopped to take a nap. But, hurrah, we finally made it.

By this time, we were starving and waded into the food court. So, this was where all the thousands of people were! We picked out a take-away place and got in line. We pointed at a picture of what we wanted, (who knew what) and sat down with our lunch, Japanese fast-food style. After finding where to pick up wooden forks and napkins, we slurped up our noodles and watched the variety of people surrounding us. We figured out where to drop off our trash and trays by looking for signs with arrows and pictures. Watching what others did was also helpful.  We went back outside and wandered over to another building where the shops were. Everything we saw was very modern and very expensive. We found the facilities, the cleanest in the world, and went back outside. We walked toward what looked to be highrises in the distance with either the bay or a river separating us. That is where we found the reproduction of the Statue of Liberty. It was amazing to see it there. It never crossed my mind at the time, but someone told me how amazed she was at how kind and friendly the Japanese people are. She assumed that because of the war, they might be resentful of what we did to them. It’s been almost 80 years since all that happened. But I don’t think many of the Japanese people ever felt that way. They are brought up to be gracious and kind. Tokyo is a beautiful city and the people are, too.

I hope you enjoyed my post about Tokyo. Please leave a comment. See you soon!

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VALDEZ MOVED!

When we arrived in Valdez, Alaska on September 23, 2023, the view on the right greeted us as we sailed into the port. I remember seeing pictures on the nightly TV news about the devastating 1964 earthquake in Alaska. Some of you, if you remember it at all, may not realize just how awful that earthquake was. I felt like a dummy when I found out Valdez was so badly damaged that the Army Corp of Engineers had to move the entire town to a different location four miles away! First established well over a hundred years ago, Valdez’s foundation was built on glacial silt. In other words, there wasn’t any bedrock to hold up the buildings. Soil liquefaction led to an underwater landslide when the earthquake hit on Good Friday, causing a large section of the waterfront to break off, resulting in a 30-foot tsunami. 32 people, including children, were at the dock to help with or watch the routine unloading of a supply ship. I’m sure the kids were excited to see what goodies were being unloaded. All were killed when the dock collapsed into the ocean with the violent landslide. Over the next three years, the Corp of Engineers supervised the moving of 54 buildings from “old town” Valdez to the higher, more stable location. The old location was used as a pipe yard for the new Trans-Alaska Pipeline system. But that’s another story.

After leaving Valdez, we continued down the western coastline to Seward and then Kodiak. They, also, were devastated by the 1964 Earthquake. Again, like a dummy, this was all news to me. I thought it hit in Anchorage and that was that. Wrong! It was classified as a 9.2 megathrust earthquake and remains the most powerful earthquake recorded in North America and the second most powerful in the world. 600 miles of fault line raised 60 feet, releasing 500 years of stress buildup. Some areas of Kodiak, which we also visited, were permanently raised 30 feet. Tsunamis affected coastal areas in British Columbia, Washington, Oregon and California. Hawaii and Japan were also damaged by the after quake tsunamis. Movement from the quake was felt from Florida to Texas. WOW! We saw a B&W video of the damage in Valdez, which was filmed by a man who happened to be visiting at the time. I don’t know how more people weren’t killed or injured.

Seward is a lovely little place. We visited an aquarium and walked through the little downtown area. We were looking for a place to buy a hat for Larry. I found a general store that was packed with all kinds of outerwear like woolen mittens, knit caps, and scarves. Baseball hats of every description were piled up on shelves 7 feet tall. I must have looked at two dozen before I finally found one that wasn’t too garish, ugly, or expensive. Prices are generally higher in Alaska because so much must be trucked or shipped in. Where we live, most of what we have is trucked up from Phoenix. It’s a longer trip to Alaska! I finally found one that Larry was pleased with and my work was done. I have never been able to understand those who want to shop rather than experience the views and the people. But we loaded up on more snacks and cocktail makings. Once we left the good ole USA, these things would be harder to find. I squirreled them under the bed in our cabin inside one of our suitcases. Later on, we were grateful we bought extra. We like our comforts, don’t we? Love to travel and see places, but when we put our feet up and relax in the evening, we want our favorite beverage and snack beside us while we watch a good TV show. 

From Seward, we sailed on to Kodiak. We took a shuttle bus into town to walk around. Kodiak is a significant fishing harbor with many fishing boats in the marina. The smell of fish permeates the air. The bus took us to a pier where the visitor’s center was located. Inside was cozy with the typical maps, guidebooks, and souvenirs. We discovered that Kodiak is also home to a major Coast Guard installation. It is home to Air Station Kodiak and several cutters. They operate Jayhawk and Dolphin helicopters as well as Search And Rescue airplanes. With so many fishing and other vessels out in extreme weather conditions, Coast Guard rescue operations are life savers. 

Our bus driver pointed out that Alaska allows up to 60 different license plates. I found quite a few of them on our walk back to the ship. We also passed a large ship that had been brought onshore to process fish. It had a large ramp down to the water where the operation dumped its fish waste (I think). We saw two large seals hanging around to enjoy the buffet. Everywhere we went in Alaska we found beautiful views, crisp, clean air, and friendly people. One bus driver we met, I think in Seward, moved there with a boyfriend. They broke up, but she stayed. She says she wouldn’t live anywhere else. My high school girlfriend moved to Alaska and loved it, too. She liked watching the moose come and go through her yard. It is an amazing place.

Secretary of State William Seward negotiated the purchase of Alaska from the Russians in 1867. The US paid 7.2 million dollars to the cash-strapped Russian Empire. Thereafter, Alaska was known as Seward’s Folly or Seward’s Icebox. Many in the US thought we had acquired useless land at $0.35/acre. Shows how smart we were then. Unfortunately, I think many of those same kind of “smart” people are still around. Can’t see beyond the next “sound bite”.

All in all, I think we got a great deal. Knowing what we know now, the Russians should have been more careful with their money. If the Tsars had been more concerned with the welfare of the peasants instead of their jeweled palaces, the Bolsheviks might not have given them so much trouble. This was our second time to visit Alaska. We will always want to see more. Next time!

VANCOUVER & KETCHIKAN SPIRITS

When we departed for our Pacific Rim tour, we were grateful our first stops would be in Alaska. We’d been there several years ago but were excited to visit our 49th State again.

First, we visited Vancouver, BC, our first time there. We left home a couple of days early to see the sites. Our travel agent, a Canadian, was able to meet us for a day of fun. With her as our personal guide, we had a great time sightseeing. She trotted us all over this beautiful city. We even saw an old gas-operated clock as well as an incredible food market. There were vendors selling everything imaginable. I was so amazed I forgot to take pictures! A beautiful, mild day, we couldn’t have asked for better weather. We started the day walking a few blocks from our hotel to the nearest Sky Train station and at the agreed-upon station met our guide and her son with no trouble. Riding the Sky Train was easy and fun as we whizzed through the city.

After meeting Sonja and her son we jumped back on the Sky Train toward the middle of town. After walking around for an hour or two, we met up with her fiance’, had a bite to eat, and then hopped in his car for a ride up to the Northshore Mountains. We enjoyed the beautiful vistas of trees, mountains, water, and blue sky. Then after a relaxing time, it was back down the mountain to our hotel. Upon arriving at the cruise terminal the next day, we found out that our expected boarding time had been delayed because the 2 pier terminal was full. Our ship sat out in the bay waiting for the four thousand-passenger monster sitting in “our” berth to leave. To keep everyone happy, we were directed to a fancy hotel across the street where we found a large ballroom with several sumptuous buffet lines and free drinks and wine for the taking. Of course, we had to show our boarding passes to get in. We sat at one of the many large 8-person dining tables with our plates of goodies and got to know a few of our fellow passengers. Over the 2 or 3 hours we were there, we were sure a few would need help walking out of the place. In the meantime, the monster ship left and our ship finally docked. We were herded back across the street and made our way up the gangway safe and sound. Luggage handling is another story that I won’t bore you with now. Ah, the vagaries of travel!

We arrived at Ketchikan on September 19, 2023, a typical overcast, drippy day. But the sun came out later and although we tromped through mud in a few places, we didn’t mind too much. The first day we took a trip to an area where Totem Poles are carved and preserved. Because these remarkable poles are made of wood, these historical artifacts naturally disappear, with fewer and fewer artists to replace them. Although I knew Totems are special to the indigenous Haida, Tsimshian, and Tlingit people, I didn’t know anything about their history. Some are created as monuments to tribes or people and some are simple trail markers. All tell a story. Families might carve a totem to place in front of their homes. It might tell the story and/or history and values of the family who lives there. Common symbols are used to allow others to interpret the story of the totem pole. Symbols include bears, fish, and birds of Alaska as well as human faces and supernatural figures. It was all very fascinating and a great day of exploring and learning!

Since we were headed toward points West, we decided to make a Safeway run the following day. We like our own snacks and a cocktail in the evening (we avoid the ship’s pricey bars), and we already know that once we leave the States we will have a hard time finding what we like. (Americans are so spoiled.) It is next to impossible to find unsweetened, real lemon juice anywhere in the world. So we loaded up. We picked up my corn/gluten-free chips, as well as our favorite liquid refreshment. The security crew laughed at us when our bags went through the scanner. But no big deal. Unlike some, this cruise line has no problem with bringing ‘our own’. All in all, a great start. I hope you enjoyed this first chapter of our Pacific Rim journey. Be sure to keep an eye out for my next installment! 

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FLORENCE IN A FLASH with PISA ON THE SIDE

We arrived early on April 26, 2022, and sadly, we had only one day for these beautiful sites. Our tour bus waited on the dock and soon we were on the road through the beautiful Tuscany countryside. This was one of the few times I wished we could get off the ship and meet it a few days later. We really needed more time to see this incredible place. It was a perfect day, with blue skies and billowy white clouds here and there. We passed a village perched on a small mountain-top that looked like a fairy, medieval village from my viewpoint. It would have been exciting to wander aimlessly up and down those narrow cobbled streets. Maybe another time. Zipping along a major highway at 50 or 60 mph, there was no chance of getting a meaningful photo of the village. I’m sorry I didn’t try. I found this picture but I can’t swear it’s the one.

Florence, like many cities in Europe, has no parking lots that can accommodate giant tour buses full of tourists. At least, not close to the sites we all want to see. Getting from the bus to our destination was like a race. I think our tour guide either forgot the average age of her charges, or didn’t care. In fact, I believe the guide was a runner and wanted to give us a good workout. It wouldn’t have been a big deal, but if we lost sight of her, we would really be lost. We finally arrived at the designated “muster” station/square, which was dominated by a beautiful Franciscan Cathedral, not old, built in the 19th century. From there we were on our own until lunchtime. Everyone scattered in various directions. Our guide had provided directions to the special places and I headed out through mazes of narrow streets, finally arriving at the Piazza della Signoria, where the David replica is displayed. The original is kept secured in a local museum. There were several other distinctive sculptures around the square. I could tell this was the place to be because everyone else was there, too. I had to keep my elbows ready for action, even when I was standing still.

From there I wandered over toward the Arno River where the fabulous Ufizzi Palace was undergoing renovations inside. The Ufizzi is a world-class art museum. I would have loved to have seen only a bit of it, but again, no time. The Ufizzi Palace, by the way, was once the home of the Medicis. The courtyard is bordered by large sculptures of various well-known Italian Renaissance men such as Leonardo da Vinci, Amerigo Vespucci, and Francesco Guicciardini, a friend and critic of Niccolo Machiavelli. Close by was a nice view of the medieval Ponte Vecchio, the only bridge in Florence that was spared in WWII because Hitler liked it.

Next, we waded through the throng to il Duomo, started in 1296, the third-largest cathedral in the world and second-largest, after St. Peter’s, in Italy. I craned my neck and tried various positions, but the only way I could get a decent photo of the grandeur of the place was to have wings or a hot-air balloon. It was more than impressive with its pink marble. Nearby was its Baptistery with eye-popping engraved golden doors. The doors were secured behind iron gates to prevent the over-zealous behavior of the marauding hoard of tourists.

We gathered back at the square for lunch, which I can’t remember anything about. Then, of course, we were directed to two particular shops, a discounted ‘approved’ jewelry shop, and a leather goods store. I walked in the door of the jewelry store, made a turn, and walked back out. I entered the leather goods store and gazed at the luxurious leather handbags, jackets, and all kinds of accessories. The smell was intoxicating. We were treated to a lesson on how leather is cut and split and dyed, which was very informative. I bought a pair of mohair-lined gloves for Larry which he liked very much. I was a little put out that we wasted a whole hour for shopping. Many of my fellow passengers live to shop. One lady bought a huge suitcase to haul all her many purchases back home. Shopping in a foreign country means little to me. I’ll buy a few small things singular to the place if possible. Larry and I prefer to spend what money we have on experiences, not stuff. We already have more than enough stuff.

We hiked back to the bus and traveled on to Pisa. We didn’t actually see Pisa, the town, but the Piazza dei Miracoli where tourists visit and take pictures pretending they’re holding up the leaning tower. I walked down a long boulevard running along one side of the cathedral, baptistery, and tower. It was quite peaceful and many sat along a high wall in the shade or out on the grass that was marked “Do not walk on the grass”. So people sat or lay on it. I was amazed that this huge building, the Pisa Baptistery, was just what the name says. It was built in 1152. Everything was clean with only a few vendors and souvenir shops across from the tower. I walked all around the tower, amazed at this structure that appears on the verge of toppling. It made me feel a little paranoid. We soon boarded our bus to head back to our ship, which by now, we all called ‘home’.

Above left is ‘buchette del vino’ in Florence. It dates back hundreds of years to the time of the plague in the 1600s. Florentines could pick up their “safe distance” wine through these portals to avoid contact with those who may be sick. Until Covid, many locals didn’t realize what these things were. But during the pandemic, these wine holes came into use again for the same reason. And that my friends is my lesson for the day. History repeats itself. We can’t escape our past, and sometimes good endings come out of bad situations. So raise a glass and thanks for visiting! See you next time.