Rockin' and Rollin' in the East China Sea

Naha market

After departing Keelung, we rocked and rolled our way North to dock in Naha, Okinawa, shortly after lunch the next day.  It is said that Okinawa is the Hawaii (beach resort) of Japan.  The main reason for our short stay in Okinawa appeared to be to get all passengers cleared through Japanese immigration before visiting larger ports. The Far East is big on bureaucracy.  Getting our Chinese visa required jumping through hoops and, prior to boarding the ship in Hong Kong, we waited in long lines to have 3 copies of our passports made.  In Taiwan and Japan both, they stamp the passport copies rather than passports, and those are the documents you use while in the country.

Dwight and I took a taxi to the main Street in Naha after clearing immigration. We got out in front of a Starbucks just in time to see the end of a Street performance featuring threatening drums and a terrifying dragon.

Terrifying dragon!

This space creature offered free hugs.

Further down the street we were offered a free hug from a Spacemen passing out leaflets explaining how humans had been created by visitors from outer space.  A short walk further didn't reveal much more of interest, so we caught a cab in front of MacDonalds and headed back to the ship for dinner.

Today is another rocking and rolling day at sea on our way to the main islands of Japan. The seas should calm down once we reach their shelter. I've gotten my sea legs, so it's not bad for me, although it makes me drowsy; however, it's rather difficult for Dwight dealing with the movement of the ship with his walker.  But he soldiers on. Tonight we're hosting the Virtuoso Voyages welcome reception and are looking forward to meeting all our pilgrims.  Then we dock in Kobe tomorrow where we overnight.  Many adventures await after a slow beginning.