Sendai, Japan, 8/30/2024, National Geographic Resolution
Aboard the
National Geographic Resolution
Alaska
We spent the morning at sea enjoying the wildlife that surrounded us while the ship was approaching Sendai. Lots of shearwaters and flying fish were seen on this cloudy but very pleasant, warm day. Some of us went to try different sake (a Japanese rice wine) and other went for a lovely walk in Matsushima, a coastal location where the magnificent temples and gardens invite you to explore and relax, to just enjoy the views and listen to the songs of the birds.
It was a wonderful, calm day where all of us had the chance to experience a little bit of traditional Japanese culture and discover its charms.
Maria Intxaustegi is an internationally awarded maritime archaeologist, naval historian, commercial diver, professional offshore sailor, and expedition guide from the Basque Country.
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After exploring the remote corners of Chichagof Island yesterday, it was time for a day of adventure in one of our favorite Alaskan small towns. Haines straddles a unique peninsula that juts out into the Lynn Canal. Framed by exquisite mountain ranges and dynamic tidal flats, it hosts a spectacular abundance of bald eagles which frequent the Chilkat River. The choices for guest excursions in Haines are many and diverse: rafting and visiting a tribal village, fly fishing, hiking the highest peak on the peninsula, a guided bike tour, or unstructured time to explore town with its many museums and unique shops. There are no poor choices when it comes to deciding what to do for the day. Brown bears, Dolly Varden, sockeye salmon, harbor seals, bald eagles, banana slugs the size of real bananas, and plenty of other endemic flora and fauna were sighted by guests throughout the day. And of course, what better way to celebrate a successful day in Haines than with a glorious endless crab feast back on board National Geographic Sea Lion ? We rounded out the evening with a contagiously inquisitive presentation by our resident master falconer and naturalist, Alberto Montaudon. Can’t wait until tomorrow!
After leaving Hokkaido, we arrived at Aomori City, our first port of call on Japan’s largest island, Honshu. With a forecast for a nice warm day, we were excited to visit the Seiryu-ji Temple, a beautifully terraced garden which houses a five-story pagoda and is renowned for its towering bronze sitting Buddha, the largest in Japan at twenty-one meters tall. We were invited to participate in a meditation demonstration and session led by our hosting Buddhist monk. Following a very peaceful experience at the temple, we returned to Aomori City for a visit to the Nebuta Museum, exhibiting a celebration of the Nebuta summer festival in which bright, colorful floats parade the city each August, a true photographer’s dream. Not only did we see and learn about the festival’s origins, but we were also given the chance to examine the processes and fine skill that go into making the floats.
