Day 5 – Finding Our Feet in Kochi, Japan!🚢❤️

Today we arrived at our first port of call, Kochi, Japan, at 10am. Our Japanese adventure was finally getting underway, although I have to admit my body clock is still very much out of sync!

I seem to have developed a new routine of staying up far too late and then struggling to get up in the mornings. Not quite my usual early morning gym and meditation routine, but I am sure my body will eventually adjust to the time difference.

One thing that hasn't changed, however, is my love of the sea. I spent some time sitting on our balcony, simply watching the water and enjoying the peacefulness of it all. There is something so utterly calming about looking out across the ocean. The gentle movement of the ship, the sound of the water and the endless horizon have always been my happy place. I could happily sit there for hours, just being present in the moment.



Eventually, Gaby and I headed to the Colonnade Restaurant for breakfast, whilst Joe opted for room service. Unfortunately, poor Mr C is still not feeling well, and his back continues to give him problems, so he decided that he wasn't up to venturing off the ship today.

After breakfast, Gaby and I decided to head into Kochi to explore a little and, more importantly, sort out some practical things that we knew would make our travels around Japan much easier.



We had missed the shuttle bus into town, so we decided to grab a taxi instead.

One of our main missions was to get ourselves Japanese SIM cards so that we could use our phones whilst exploring the various ports. Little did we know just how much of a lifesaver these would turn out to be over the coming days!

Being able to navigate around unfamiliar towns, find our way back to the ship and look up information whilst out and about would make such a difference. Especially in a country where we don't speak the language and where even the simplest things can become a bit of an adventure.

Mission accomplished, SIM cards purchased and phones sorted!

We also managed to find a pharmacy and pick up some medication that Joe had asked us to get for him. Those of you who followed our Grand Voyage will know that a visit to a pharmacy seems to be an essential part of any Cuby holiday! Some traditions are clearly destined to continue wherever we travel!

Once we had finished our little shopping expedition, we made our way to the shuttle bus stop and caught the bus back to the ship.

It had been lovely to get our first little taste of Japan, although I was sad that Joe wasn't feeling well enough to join us. Hopefully, with a little more rest and the medication, he will soon be back to his usual self and able to enjoy the ports with us.

Back on board, Gaby headed off to her suite to relax and get ready for yet another dinner invitation. She is certainly embracing the social side of cruising and seems to be building herself quite the social calendar already!

Meanwhile, Joe had rested enough during the day to feel that he could venture out for dinner, which was lovely to see.

We decided to try the ship's Sushi Restaurant, which I think has already become Joe's favourite dining venue on the Seabourn Encore.

The menu is fairly limited, but that doesn't seem to bother him at all. He knows what he likes, and when he finds somewhere that serves food he enjoys, he is more than happy to keep going back!

It was good to see him out of the suite and enjoying a meal, even if he still wasn't feeling quite himself.

By the end of the evening, tiredness was catching up with us all, so we decided that an early night was definitely in order.

I am hoping that tomorrow my body clock starts to cooperate a little more and that Joe begins to feel better. We have so much to look forward to, and I really want us all to be able to enjoy this wonderful experience together.

For now, I am simply grateful to be here, sharing another adventure with two of my favourite people, and enjoying those precious moments of peace that being at sea always brings me.

Tomorrow is another day, and who knows what adventures await us! ❤️

🌿 Daily Reflection

Sometimes slowing down is exactly what we need. Finding peace in the simple moments reminds me that the journey is just as important as the destination.

✨ Highlight of the Day

Exploring Kochi with Gaby, getting ourselves connected for our Japanese adventures and seeing Joe well enough to enjoy his favourite sushi restaurant.

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