20231004 AAAA Trip - Pacific Ocean to Japan - Custom breakfast and pedal to the metal

2023 Alaska, Asia, Australia, Arabian Peninsula Trip 
Day 18/105 - Pacific Ocean - Day #6 to Japan - we are right next to it!

The other morning, after we enjoyed our biscuits and gravy, Chef Jeffery approached us and asked if we would like a traditional Philippines breakfast.  We said we would love to give it a try, and today was the day.

We were treated to Tapsilog, thinly sliced beef that was marinated in lemon, soy, and garlic - lots and lots of garlic.  The rice was also infused with garlic.  It was all accompanied by a fried egg.

It is named based on the ingredients. Tapa is Filipino for beef, sinangag is garlic fried rice, and itlog is fried egg.  It was delicious, although a few hours later, I noticed a distinct burning sensation in my throat - a touch of heartburn, perhaps?  We made sure to brush our teeth well so we don't blast out our trivia partners at noon!

I spent a little time with the Insta360 this morning, capturing a view of several venues on the ship. Each photo will have a clickable link below the photo that should load the 360-degree image.  Once the image is open, click the little circle icon in the upper right to load the 360-degree viewer.  Click the same icon in the middle to be able to drag and zoom the image.  This is an experiment, so if it doesn't work for you, please let me know.

The aft terrace on Deck 7

Click here for the 360-degree version

The main pool deck on Deck 7

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Wintergarden on Deck 7

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The Explorers' Bar on Deck 7

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The Atrium on Deck 1

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Today's trivia was another brain-buster with the top team only managing 11/15 correct.  We felt good about our 9/15 showing.  Unfortunately, some folks take this game way too seriously and complain about some of the questions.  They really need to remember that this is just a game.  Harry does a great job trying to keep the game light and entertaining.  Here are our failures of the day.

• What is the small, almond-shaped structure inside the brain responsible for processing emotions?
• We guessed medulla oblongata, but the correct answer is the amygdala
• What is the Japanese word that means cute/lovely/adorable?
• We had no idea - it was kawaii
• Salamat is a word meaning thank you in what language?
• This was tricky because, in Arabic, it means peace or blessings, and in Hebrew, it is slang for goodbye, but in Filipino, it means thank you and that was the right answer - we guessed Arabic
• Iatrophobia is the fear of dentists, nurses, or doctors?
• We guessed nurses, but it is the fear of doctors or medical tests
• Reggaeton (a song and dance) originated in what Latin American country?
• We had no idea - it originated in Panama but was popularized in Puerto Rico
• The play Rent is loosely inspired by what opera?
• We had no idea and guessed Madam Butterfly - it is La Boheme

I have been looking at Windy to get a sense of the weather we will have before making port in Otaru for Sapporo.  It doesn't look good.  Here is our approximate position and route.

The plan was another full day at sea tomorrow and then reach port on October 6 in the morning.  The issue is that based on Windy's forecast, once we sail through the straight between the northern island of Hokkaido and the mainland island of Honshu, into the Sea of Japan, we'll be looking at waves topping 16 to 20 feet and winds of 60 knots.  Yikes!  The captain has a plan.  He's driving it like he stole it and we will now arrive in Otaru tomorrow evening around 6 p.m. local time.  That should get us into safe harbor before the weather gets ugly.  Sounds like a good plan to me.  Unfortunately, Japanese immigration is not being cooperative so there won't be any opportunity to go onshore tomorrow night. We will clear customs and immigration the following morning as planned.

We are now close to land and that means spotting signs of life.  We saw several vessels all around us today.

A serious-looking fishing vessel

More fishing vessels

Tanker

An HMM cargo ship and a fishing vessel

These container ships are huge

If you count, there are 19 containers across the back of the ship. and 7-9 levels high and that's just above deck - 19 lines of containers from to back, but not as high - still, my best guess is that this ship has somewhere around 3,000 containers on it - wow!

Arlona decided to do some walking this afternoon and took advantage of the slow afternoon to toss in a load of laundry.

We did our usual evening routine at the Explorers' Bar before dinner at the World Café.  The magician, Shawn McMaster was at the Explorers' Bar and we had a very nice conversation.  He was gracious and interesting and it was a terrific experience.

We gain our last hour for a while tonight, moving to UTC+9 or 13 hours ahead of the US East Coast.  Sunset is already coming earlier, and Arlona captured this as the sun sizzled into the Pacific at about 6 p.m.

It will be nice once we're adjusted to this new time because it sucks waking up at 4 or 5 a.m. and not being able to get back to sleep.  We should be on this time for a couple of weeks during all our stops in Japan:

• Sapporo
• Tokyo
• Shimizu
• Osaka
• Hiroshima
• Beppu
• Kagoshima
• Nagasaki

Tomorrow is our last sea day out of the seven consecutive ones.  Japan soon!