Lallie finally made on the boat and we set sail. It was interesting when we went to the car port to get a few things from the car, the ferry that was previously loaded with cars, was barely full on the way back. This time our van and maybe 3 other containers where the only things in the whole boat’s cargo hold.
Joel and our new friend Keiji on the front of the ferry before settling sail, hardly believing we’d be seeing the Sea Terminal from the boat because of the commotion of the whole day.
It was hard to believe that our journey was coming to an end, the smell of the Sea and the rocking of the ferry was reminiscent of how Joel and I were trying to get through our heads what would the journey be like ahead of us when we were taking the Dover Ferry from the UK to France- the only difference is that this ferry ride was a good 2 nights.
According to our new friend Keiji, student at Ritsumeikan Univeristy in Kyoto, who’s 20 day holiday was coming to an end, had ridden this ferry a couple of times before and said we’d lucked out. Last time people were extremely sea sick from rough waters.
The ferry was actually a lot nicer than I expected. The ferry had a full mess hall, disco, music lounge, bar, convience store (that was inconviently closed most the time) and movie room. Most the time Joel and I spent was outside on the deck, reading or resting.
Joel and I had a room to ourselves, meals included, and also a lot of travelers who spoke English going to Japan or returning. We traded stories as usual, most of which had traveled on the Trans-Siberian by Rail and Joel and I joked as how we were pretty much following them by car the whole journey.
Keiji, Joel, Me, Professor Suda and her husband, Hendrick and a Swiss Traveler who’s name I forgot.
On our last night, since Joel and I had lived in Japan for quite a while, as well as our New Zealand raised, (although born in Osaka, and going to school in Kyoto now) had a discussion with other travelers about places to visit in Japan. Towards the end of the night, a Japanese man approached us with his wife and they ended up living only 10 minutes away from Joel’s apartment, and he goes jogging every morning near mine. They’re pictured above.
What are the chances of meeting people who live down the street from you on a ferry from Russia to Japan? My guess is highly unlikely.
