On departure from the Port of Osaka, saw a tourist boat. We left at around 7PM, and took the following photos and videos from our veranda.  We were berthed that close to largest aquarium in the world. The Tempozan Ferris wheel has a diameter larger than a football field ( 330 feet ), for a ride that lasts around 16 minutes, costing $6.  There are sixteen cabins.  LED lights put on quite a show at night. Today is Thanksgiving. So I ordered a traditional Thanksgiving meal, with glasses of Duckhorn Chardonnay and Paraduxx. We met the Chief Sommelier Leo, who convinced us to join his Caymus dinner table on December 5. This will be the menu. Ended with a pumpkin pie. Then, off to Explorers for karaoke. About Tropical Storm Koto in our path to Singapore, here are some details. Appeared as a tropical depression on November 24, the day before we boarded the Diamond Princess. November 25:  strength increased to 45 MPH. November 26:  became Typhoon Koto at 8...

 Welcome champagned on Formal Night. Then dinner at Sabbatini's. Frescobaldi wine from Tuscany was featured.  But we instead had Bertani Amarone from the Valpolicella region of Verona, Italy. With white wine and gin martini. Appetizers. My  grand soup. A misti assortment. A couple of shrimp dishes, My dinner of mushroom risotto and ossobuco. Panna Cotta dessert. On to karaoke. Final stop at Skywalker's Night Club Only 3126 steps on Day 2 of cruise. We arrived in the Port of Osaka the morning of Day 3.  We are berthed almost alongside the largest aquarium in the World, Kaiyukan.  I've been to Osaka at least 50 times.  Here is  my posting of almost exactly two years ago , which described this city, and showed a photo of whale sharks in this aquarium.  They are today called Kai and Yu Went early for lunch, so breakfast was still being served.  A concoction of rice, miso soup. hash, sunny side egg and natto. to start, with a Bloody Mary. Second c...

This was one of my enjoyable do nothing days.  Seems like a waste to be in Osaka and not going to the Aquarium Kaiyukan with those whale sharks, or not visiting the Osaka Castle, but the older I get, the more I love just relaxing with no worries on my mind. Usually, when in Asia, the hotel I'm in provides a superb free breakfast buffet, then evening drinks with excellent food offerings.  The Marriott we're in I'd characterize as adequate breakfast and disappointing evening dishes.  So much so that we actually went out for lunch.  Our third eating out experience was again in our building and like the previous two, for Japanese food.   We loved each lunch, and were rather surprised at the cost.  In Hawaii, a Zippy's Zip Pack Bento box is around $16.  Simple, lot's of rice, but food that's lukewarm to cold.  These three Japanese lunches were freshly made, very tasty and, surprisingly enough, cheaper that a Zip Pack.  Also great service. Tur...