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You can lose everything, but nobody will take away what you saw and what you experienced...
............ 
Oct 07, 2013 04:00 PM The dragon sipping sea water...
Today I reached the place where The Great Wall is meeting the sea. They call it "Old Dragon's Head". In their imagination enormous dragon (Great Wall) sneaking through China has his head in Laolongtou on the coast of the Yellow Sea - sipping there the water.
Actually in Laolongtou I found the stronghold with towers, extended 22 meters into the sea. In the first tower, built and painted in traditional style I found... the statue of chairman Mao. The second, stone tower is empty. With white beach around this stronghold is very picturesque place. But some 200 m away they built another attraction - the colorful temple of Sea Goddess. Both are included in the 60 yuan ticket... They know how to milk the tourist!
The first and very solid gate in the Wall was some 5 kms away - in Shanghaiguan - this is now UNESCO World Heritage Site. From this place I was walking another 4 kms to Jiao Shan - the restored part of the Great Wall. With 30 Y ticket you can climb here the wall to the little castle on the mountain ridge. Good exercise, believe me! This was my third time on the Great Wall but it still impress me - they did enormous work!
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Oct 06, 2013 04:00 PM Tianjin - saying bye to the ship!
In the morning I disembarked the ship in the Chinese port Tianjin. They built new, enormous passenger terminal in the middle of nowhere. So the main task was to get to the closest station of the light railway. This is definitely not a walking distance!
I was lucky to jump on the shuttle going with a crew members to the AEON shopping Mall - Light rail station "Exhibition Center" is just nearby.
Ticket to Tianjin (45 kms) cost me 9 juan (they pay 6,05 juans per USD at the moment).
Tanjin center spread around Hei River has a lot of European architecture from the end of 19th century, To get to the remains of the old town take subway to Gulou Station - picturesque Drum Tower is close with the traditional gates and Confucian Temple... You will also find many traditional workshops around.
It is warm with some haze in the morning and I am happy and ready for the new adventure. Freedom! Since today there will be no need to come to the ship.
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Oct 05, 2013 04:00 PM Dalian-China. Not always it is so easy!
We arrived to Dalian with 1,5-hours delay. I was running the city to be as soon as possible at the bus stop opposite the north entrance of Dalian Station.
Why? I wanted so much to see former Port Arthur - where the Japan was fighting with Russia at the beginning of 20th century.
I bought the ticket for 8 yuan and I was waiting in the line of the local people. A young lady responded my question "Does anybody speak English?" And then she said that due the traffic jams the bus to Lushun ((it is present name of Port Arthur) goes 1,5 to 2 hours. I started to count my time and came in to conclusion that if I will go, I will be late for the ship - it stupidly departs already at 3 pm!
Bad luck! Maybe next time!
Dalian - ex Russian Dalnyj has nice buildings from Russian and Japaneese era and also nice skyscrapers... There is even "Russian Street" with Russian food on sale and "Arbat" restaurant.
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Oct 04, 2013 04:00 PM Qingdao. Geremans once were in China!
I am in China again! Qingdao is a big port on the Yellow Sea. I see the crowds everywhere - they celebrate here their national holiday - it takes one week!
It is hard to believe but at the end of 19th century Germany established here their base for the commerce and further expansion... Settlers from Germany established here in 1903 the brewery which works till now producing well-known in China Tsingdao beer. I had a chance well-preserved samples of German architecture; former governor residence, city hall, the prison.
There is also nice lighthouse far on the peninsula and a couple of nice parks.
I had a feelings that access to GS site is blocked in Qingdao (as facebook is). Luckily the problem disappeared when I went to the other province of the big China!
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Oct 03, 2013 04:00 PM Sailing The Yellow Sea
We just passed Korean Cheju Island entering The Yellow Sea. Only 3 days left till the end of the cruise. Then I will travel onward on my own. Hay time to make a laundry!
In the evening I had again the chance to listen to the wonderful tunes of our Thalia String Quartet - they are really good. They love what they do. They are professionals. And they have personal charm...
I was specially delighted when they played for me (the only Polish passenger aboard) string adaptation of Chopins' waltzes...
At home I am going to the concert say, once per two weeks. Here I can listen their melodies every evening... What is the best on this ship? Not a food, nor the shows... "Thalia String Quartet" of course!
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Oct 02, 2013 04:00 PM The temples of Pusan - Korea
I have been before to the South Korea, but never to Busan or Pusan - the second largest city of the country.
Busan in the morning sun looks very nice from the sea. Port is big so they offer free shuttle to the city centre. Due to the traffic it is like 40 minutes ride! Then it is worth to buy a day ticket for unlimited travel on the subway (4000 Won, they pay 1020 won per 1 USD). I took a long ride to Beomeosa Temple (from the station bus 90 will take you to the gate for 1200 won) This top Buddhist temple has
spectacular location and is still alive - people are coming here to pray, and probably that's the reason why the entry is free. Back in the subway I went closer to the coast and bus 181 took me to Haedong Yonggung Temple spectacularly located on the rocky coast. Return to the downtown took me more then an hour. Busan (3,5 million inhabitants) is a huge city, distances are big and traffic jams are very common - consider that planning your stay...
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Oct 01, 2013 04:00 PM The smuggler... :)
We have the day at sea sailing toward South Korea. I the morning I saw little and poor fishing boats of the North Korea fishermen. It is different world there - I was writing about this country few years ago...
I am the smuggler :) The cruise company do not allow to bring to the ship any liquor from the port. They want you to buy it from them - paying about 5 USD per each glass of wine.
I must confess: in Vladivostok I smuggled the bottle, so it is warmer in the evening (they are freezing us on this ship using a/c )
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Sep 30, 2013 04:00 PM Vladivostok - the Golden Bridge is ready!
Wow! When I have been to Vladivostok 4 years ago they just started the construction if the high bridge over the Golden Horn Bay.
It is ready now and Vladivostok - the Russian San Francisco also has its Golden Gate!
Sunny day with some fogg in the morning - I took a long walk uphill to reach the brigde and to recognize that the guard allows me to walk the bridge! It is Russia and I was not sure! The pedestrian space is very, very narrow along the bridge - but is is worth to be there because the Golden Bridge offers now the best panoramic view of Vladivostok.
Then I walked to the former Polish Catholic Church. It was built in the late 19th century by Polish patriots deported here by tsar. Closed during communist period it is now restored and open for Russian catholics. I was surpised that the mission is run by the catholic priests from the USA!
For me it was lovely visit of important place.
Then I took a long walk to the well-known places. Entry to historic submarine cost 100 roubles.
Very busy, but lovely day!
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Sep 29, 2013 04:00 PM Memories of Japan - at sea
We have another day at sea today. But I am still impressed by yesterday's stay on Hokkaido island.
Most my of my fellows bought expensive excursion to Sapporo. Not me! Since I know Sapporo I decided to take 12-kms coastal walk to enjoy the nature: they have here great cliffs and isolated beaches. I saw Golden Cliff and Chikyo Lighthouse built on the rock 120 m above sea level.
And I did not spent any single yen :)
In the late afternoon at the pier the big band of the local high school (mostly young ladies) were playing for us. And then the young kids in the costumes (about 100 of them)were dancing the national dance. They are like a little charming dolls - I loved it!
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Sep 28, 2013 04:00 PM In Japan again!
Is was sunny morning with few clouds only when we docked in Muroran port on the island of Hokkaido.
Our hosts are very well prepared and ornanized.
Free shuttle bus took me from the port to the town where
they offer presentation of the costumes, tea ceremony,
origami making and much more.
Everybody here is very polite.
And at least I have the access tothe free internet.
I plan to take a long walk along the coast...
Greetings from hospitable Japan!
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