While Not Working

Nagasaki was a long way from the centrifugal force exerted by Tokyo. The style of clothing was not quite as sharp, as super-stylish as Tokyo. Conversations on the train happened and were loud with occasional laughter. The torrents of humanity that poured through Tokyo's massive labyrinthine railway stations were replaced by herds of people who meandered at a lesser pace. The cars drove faster and used their horns more often: the pedestrians were more willing to risk life and limb by stepping onto the pedestrian crossing in the split second after the traffic light turned red and before the walk light turned green.  The covered malls were slightly less crowded. A loud, fast talking restauranteer with a huge smile lured us into his establishment with exuberant banter and an occasional word of English. He had a silver tongue, asking my age and then insisting with theatrical disbelief that I must be at least 10 years younger. I'm sure he was lying. "Hot! Hot! Hot!" He yell...

Akiko, the guide on our tour of Hiroshima, was passionate about her city and full of titbits of information, one of which was that Hiroshima was loudly and proudly known as 'Carp City,' and Hiroshima Castle was nicknamed 'Carp Castle'. Now all you Australians just need to take a deep breath and let go of your instinctive antagonism: that's European carp you're thinking of, wreaking havoc on Australian waterways and hoovering up everything that lives on the bottom of the river.  I'm talking about their cousins the koi carp. According to Akiko, back when Japan was closed off from the world they all got bored and bred the   Brocaded carp  which can be found in some public ponds around Horoshima and has been sold on occasion for ridiculous amounts of money. The carp was also considered a symbol of good luck, so where a live carp couldn't be found there was usually one of metal or stone. Don't be that tourist and attempt to pat a live carp. Pat this one f...

Did you know that back in the time of the Napoleonic there was a brief period where a small island in Japan was the only place in the world that the Dutch (Netherlands) flag was flown? Nope, I didnt either. As it turns out,  Dejima Island , barely 5 minutes walk from our hotel, was that place. We spent a solid couple of hours wandering around Dejima, learning all about the island and its history, and the often complicated and nuanced relationships between the Japanese and their trading partners. A model of Dejima, with some of the real thing beyond. While wanting to continue trade, Japan was serious about preventing outside contamination: Dejima was protected by a large wall with armed guards at all times. In addition to being on an island, of course. Did the Dutch get Island Fever, cooped up as they were? History is silent in that regard. An unimpressed Durchman. Late that afternoon another walk took us down to the Port where our old friend the Cunard cruise ship was still docked....