Seriously! What exactly does it mean when an active volcano has a harmless eruption? I really hope to not find out! 

Anywho… apology tour now complete, all is forgiven Madame and by the way we are French so we do not understand the (concept of) responsible service of alcohol. But please have another €250 shipboard credit for any inconvenience LOL. Maybe they are paying me to not play the piano in the middle of the night, although I can see the cruise director has enlisted me for the talent show. Dammit, now I do need to practise! 

It’s my first time in Kyushu today, right at the south, one of Japan’s most unique places: Kagoshima. It was hot and sunny and our bus boarded a car ferry to take us across the bay to Sakurajima volcano. We were allowed off the bus to wander around the upper decks of the ferry, which had its own noodle bar. Love it. Side note: once the children of Sakurajima reach middle high school, they have to commute to Kagoshima daily, and four ferries run 24/7. I wonder how that went when the typhoon passed by a few days ago.

First stop was to the visitor centre, which sounds banal but was actually excellent: a short film to enlighten us, a shop that needed me to spend money all the while they charged up my power banks for me. Nothing is too much trouble for the Nihon-jin. Dai-suki desu ne!

Then a short stroll to soak our feet in the hot spring waters. Thank god there was shade, and a very relaxing half hour with friends as our feet recovered. Some underwater footsies, all accidental of course. 

Our guide Mayumi was a delightful local lady, with excellent spoken English, although I used every opportunity to expand my Nihon-go vocabulary and practise making sentences. It’s been a long time between visits here, but my lovely brain seems to be co-operating. 

A few more volcano-related sights then back to the ship for rehydration and beer snacks, trivia quiz and ablutions. I have instructed the bar staff to bring me Perrier between each cocktail, and that system now seems to be working well. I rarely suffer hangovers and to be honest I think it’s more a case of waking up tipsy and sobering up by lunchtime (eek) when I do not enjoy wine, like some people, lol. I am trying to be good but it’s hard.

We skipped the shamisen performance - you only ever need to hear that instrument once in your lifetime. IYKYK. 

Martinis and dinner with new friends from… Hawthorn! We even have lawyer mates in common, what a crazy world this is. Then up to the lounge for “casino night”. It was only play money so of no real interest to me, but I lost millions on the roulette table and had loads of fun with Hawthorns and the New Caledonians, whose young children were tucked up in bed. Speaking of bed, I managed to get there before midnight, a minor miracle, but we have a very early start tomorrow - the bus leaves at 8.05 and I need to allow time for miso soup, coffee and preparing vegemite baguette to take on the bus. Also, don’t forget: passport, ship ID, yen, credit cards, water, sunscreen, headphones, chargers, iPad to upload blog while in transit… so much to do, so little time. Mata ashitane! 

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