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First up, Hualien, Taiwan
September 13-14 After leaving Japan, the Odyssey headed towards Taiwan. Oddly, we went to mid-eastern Taiwan and the tiny port town of Hulian. Here we spent two days. Most tourists come to hellion as a gateway to Taroco gorge. Other than the gorge its other claim to fame is a night market. On day one,
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Okiwana & Ishigaki Island
September 10 & 12 Okiwana World After flying in from China, I had missed the first day in Naha or Okiwana, Japan. Most people had toured around the city on day one, so my friend Paul asked if I wanted to go to the caves with him on day two. I decided, why not? We
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Shanghai, Modern China
September 4th – 8th As much as Beijing is steeped in thousands of years of history, Shanghai is its modern wonder equivalent. Most of Shanghai has been developed within the past 50 years. For the tourist, Shanghai is a shiny new jewel and is best explored at night. Particularly in the summer, where temperatures averaged
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Beijing, the Old China
August 31-Sept.3 Beijing is the capital of China and has been in existence for 3000 years. Its history is deep and greatly connected to the leaders of China. I was in Beijing in the year 2000, so 25 years ago. As much as China has changed in advance, the history of Beijing remains intact. Two
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a day in the heat warning Jeju Island
August 30th 2025 The Odyssey has arrived for a two-day venture on Jeju Island. We are parked in the Segwipo International Cruise Passenger Terminal, which, much to my dismay, is about a 20-minute drive to the main Segwipo tourist attractions. I am, however, super excited because this is my 4th trip here and I love
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Nagasaki, Japan: for the intrepid traveler
August 26-27th, 2025 One of Japan’s key ports in the south is Nagasaki. It is well known for its blend of Japanese, Chinese, and Dutch influences. Sadly, it is also best known as the second atomic bomb site. With all this rich history, there is plenty for the intrepid traveler to experience. There are basically
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Hiroshima- Beyond the Bombing
August 22-23rd, 2025 We arrived in Hiroshima after lunch on the 22nd. After clearing port and being allowed off the ship, several people went into town. This wasn’t my first visit to Hiroshima, and instead, I spent the day on board. The next morning, I decided to head out and visit a few things that
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Kobe & Kochi, Japan
August 18-22, 2025 Did you miss me? It’s been a while since my last post. I took three months off to do camping, gardening, visiting with family, and even a quick trip down to LA to see my man. But now I’m back on the boat and ready for more adventures. After a quick three-day
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ABC’s
April 13-18 Bonaire The Odyssey is visiting the ABC Islands, but not in that order. First up is two days in Bonaire. We arrived on a Sunday, and everything was closed because no one seemed to know that our cruise ship was coming. Bonaire is small, and the primary activity here is snorkeling. Some people
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Trinidad and Tobago
April 10 – 11 Scarborough, Tobago We arrived in Scarborough Port around 7:30 a.m. The Odyssey has a tendency to shake when we are slowing down, and the dining hall is a camphony of sound with the dishes and silverware dancing on the tables. The residents were cleared for disembarkation by 9:00 AM, and Steve,
Welcome to my blog! I’m Patti-Jo, an educator and travel enthusiast who has dedicated her life to International teaching and is taking a break. Through this blog, I aim to share my expertise, insights, and experiences. Join me on this journey as we explore the world of amazing travel together.
Chasing Summer - 