Pacific Odyssey - Leg 5

We woke up to a nicer morning, the skies were light blue and there was slight warmth to the sun, like an early spring day when one looks forward to the end of the cold.  At 0900 the bus came to take 20 trainees and Katie to the Oceanic Culture Museum that boasts a 10,000 ton aquarium.  Everyone returned to the ship at 1600hrs with good reports of their day.  The drive took them along a spectacular coast, through a steady stream of communities, industrial areas etc.  The highlight was the whale shark.  Antony, Jose, Karen and Sarah B. spent most of their day alongside the Grace in the zodiac sanding and painting the port side of the hull, getting the ship ready for public viewing in China.   The weather cooperated wonderfully.  When they were done they were covered in a fine black dust and so we sent them all to the baths for a thorough clean.  Skipper and I took our entire family to the bathhouse today.  The girls were nervous initially but after 10 minutes, they were enjoying themselves and taking advantage of copious amounts of water at any temperature and a variety of pools with jets or bubbles or just calm, and dry and wet saunas and even a sauna with salt for exfoliating...wonderful.   Arwen and I went into the salt sauna and immediately one of the Japanese women started rubbing salt on my back and then began massaging my upper back, neck, shoulder, arm etc . . . heavenly.  She then gave Arwen the same treatment.  I wanted to offer her a back massage, but she left the sauna and all we could do was thank her over and over again (“domo arigato, domo arigato”).  Our culture is not one that is comfortable with being in the nude amongst each other, even separately as men and women.   We felt fortunate to have this experience amongst a culture that is so comfortable with their bodies in this situation; there´s something to learn from them in this realm.  Quite a few of the trainees also went to the baths again today, enjoying a final clean before we head off hopefully tomorrow.   Crew commented repeatedly on how clean they felt, as if they had reached the softest and cleanest they´ve been in a while, possibly since they were born! I forgot to mention the vending machines.  We noticed it the first night we went for a walk. Vending machines selling both hot and cold drinks are everywhere along the sides of the street, even in areas where we would be concerned about vandalism.  We have seen up to 7 of them lined up in a row and the Japanese use them regularly to get pop, juice, tea, coffee etc.  The same machine puts out hot and cold drinks.  My kids love them and run from machine to machine, at least one set every block, checking for loose change. Caley, Graham and Zach had their haircut professionally; we´re becoming a pretty smart looking crew.   On our long walk home tonight, about 2230hrs, we were discussing leaving for sea again, with our kids.  Simon was very tired but piped up, “Where are we going tomorrow?´´  We all laughed when we answered, “Tomorrow we´re going to China.”   How often will we get the chance to say that to each other? It has been a good day; there´s always so much to see and figure out.  Trainees are truly making the best of their time here, enjoying as many cultural experiences as they can.  Until tomorrow, good night, Bonice.