All Our Bags Are Packed!

                              Travel bog # 11 - Japan and Taiwan

                    We are finishing up our time in Japan. 

Although we've been to Japan before, most of what we saw and experienced on this trip was new uniquely special for us. FYI - Jerry has an international beer bottle/can collection. He thought the way the ship's bartender set up the cans was interesting.

Often, there was the unexpected. Across from where we were docked was a USN stealth destroyer.

Everywhere we looked - advertisements, posters, museum tickets or even stationary, there was a reminder of Japan's historical and artistic past.

Dinner with our friends of many years, Helene and Fred, and our new friends, Bobbi and Evan.

There was one startling aspect on our trip that kept repeating itself: We docked in many ports. In ALL cases, there was hardly any commercial activity going on. There were very few container or bulk carrier ships loading/unloading. There were not many containers stacked on the docks. If no one is shipping merchandise, does this mean that there is a possibility of an economic downturn?

All of the dry docks were empty. Cranes are shutdown

Many Japanese cities continue to use bus service, light rail or tram transportation.

                                      Simple and elegant

There is always the unexpected when traveling. Throughout the many Japanese towns and cities we visited, bikes, scooters and motorcycles appeared to be unlocked. Is everyone so trusting? Is "not stealing" a Japanese "cultural phenomenon" or are most people simply trusting?

Our first trip to Japan was in 1970. With Jerry's interest in Asian Studies, he thought it would be fun to own a samurai sword. Unfortunately, the price was not in our pay scale. We settled on purchasing a hilt (a sword's hand guard). During a previous trip to Japan, once again, we looked into acquiring a samurai sword. It was even more expensive. At $2.5 Million, we passed on the idea of owning one. Our old hilt will just have to do!

Fond memories: We didn't purchase anything in Japan on this trip. There was nothing that caught our eye. However, these wooden dolls were acquired during our first (1970) visit. Typical of most Japanese art - then and today, designs are simple as well as beautiful.

French Impressionist artists were influenced by Japanese art and culture. (Reproduction of a Japanese print is on wall).

                                 Monet painted a Japanese bridge

 Japanese artists were also influenced by their European counterparts. We learned that around the early 1900's, a Japanese business man acquired over 1000 impressionist paintings to be placed in a Tokyo museum. Unfortunately, there were Japanese duty issues prohibiting the paintings to be imported to Japan. While this issue was being worked out, the paintings were stored in a New York warehouse. Sadly, a fire destroyed most of these pieces.

Still, however, there are quite a few impressionist paintings (and Japanese artwork influenced by their European counterparts) placed in Tokyo art museums. As time permits, we would like to return to Tokyo to see these paintings.

Besides the elaborate welcoming when our ship docked, there were also quite a few unusual send offs: This was an all-girl drum team.

                        A secondary school band plays for us

Moving on to Taipei, Taiwan

Jerry wondered if we might see Chinese warships in the Taiwan waters. One of our friends took this photo as the Chinese ship crossed our bow.

Jerry has a "Marine Traffic" app. The blue colored ship is our ship. The gray colored ships indicate "Naval ships." They could be Chinese, Taiwanese or American.

                                  Tea Time on the Viking Orion

Chinese eat a lot of pork. It's disturbing to see this type of art work on the truck.

                  Sun Yat-Sen is honored at the National Museum

                 Large mural depicts everyday life in China

                We can learn about daily life from the print's detail

                           Artist understood "perspective"

Museum goes "hi-tech." Visitors interested in a particular item can "touch" an item on displayed on the wall. The image "pops up" onto a screen which, in turn, provides information about that item.

We first visited this museum in 1970. At the time, it was our understanding that the museum had so many pieces, it would take ten years to recycle and allowing visitors see everything.

       Most of these pieces in these photos were made in the 1600's

                                    Headband and earrings

Pins

Belt

Wealthy women attached/wore elongated finger coverings

                           This piece drew a large crowd

However, this Jadeite piece drew even a larger crowd. In a small room, visitors pushed, shoved and were verbally rude as they attempted to take a photo of a cabbage and insect. 

new addition

This piece is quite famous in that the artist was able to take the Jadeite material with its natural gradation of color and turn it into an art form.

                 It took "years" to carve this piece - notice the detail

         This item and the one below served as an "amusement."

  A variety of "things" could be put in the drawers or compartments

This piece is unique in that a woman is the rider

We find it interesting that artists throughout time and in different areas can be so creative.

                        The detail and coloring is amazing

Japanese language (based on Chinese characters) were actual "drawings" of everyday life or situations: Mountain, sun, man, family, heaven, etc.

 

Different materials to make a similar item: Bronze and clay

                                            Unique design

            Contemporary art form: Signage for the restrooms

Visiting a memorial for deceased war veterans and a teacher who  died trying to save children from a building fire.

                                              Pretty setting

         Every hour there is a "Changing of the guard" ceremony

     We're hungry! Time to eat lunch at a hotel. This is the entrance!

         The Grand Hotel and "WOW! - This was certainly grand!

                             The entrance hall to the hotel

                                 Photo opts in all directions

                            Even the ceiling has beauty

Lunch was incredible - Easily well over fifty dishes to choose from and enjoy.

                         Peking duck and Mu-shu pork - Yum!

Dumplings with a variety of fillings 

 Of course, there were scores of desserts

Opera House

Impression: Although Taipei had many tall office buildings. There were many more in Tokyo. Also, the Japanese structural architecture and designs were more interesting. 

Unlike Tokyo, Taipei seemed to have many more small to medium "Mom and Pop" businesses in the downtown/central city area.

Motorcycles and scooters were very common in Taipei - not so in Tokyo. In addition, Taipei was not as "clean" as the "immaculate" Tokyo. We even saw graffiti in Taipei - not in Tokyo.