Overland '05

Day 8 - Fri 6 May 05, Osaka, Japan

A week ago I was a work, now I getting ready to step off an island onto a continent! Breakfast at the hotel was a self service affair - and I'm glad that I did it early, as when I was checking out it was mobbed! The weather has turned, and I'm heading out into light rain, but at least it's a bit easier to trek around with a backpack.

I got to Cosmo Square with no issues, and then spent a half hour waiting for a bus, that took 2 minutes to get me to the ferry terminal! I knew I could have walked, but if I had, it would have started to rain.

I swapped my JTB voucher for a real ticket, and I'm now sitting in the departure lounge watching the boat being loaded with containers. It seems a very efficient process.

The boat sailed on time, and I headed for the restaurant. Sweet and sour pork and rice for 600Yen - Yummy! The passenger part of the boat isn't that big, and there aren't that many passengers on board. The lowest class on the boat is just a room with tatami mats on the floor.

Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, Japan

My room is quite small, but it does have it's own shower, toilet and TV, so I'm more than pleased! I was sitting in my room when it occurred to me that we might pass under the big suspension bridge near Kobe. I went up front to the reading room, and the bridge was right in front of me! Talk about lucky!

The sea is very calm, but I guess that's because we're sailing between the main islands of Japan, it could all change when we get out into the East China Sea

Supper was just as good as lunch with Chicken with peanuts, testing my chop sticks skill to the limit, especially after a big bottle(685ml) of beer!