The last of its kind (picture heavy)

[Kapitan]

So i have been on my travels yet again this time around Asia, filling in some of the missing blanks so to speak, well while I went for my own reasons i did find something relevant to the forum as with all my trips it normally includes a museum of sorts.

My trip started at London Heathrow terminal 5 and nearly as always with a flight delay, this evening we are flying Speedbird 31 London to Hong Kong red eye flight which is flown by the double deck A380.

Asia Misc by Blair shaw, on Flickr

So i grab my seats on the upper deck once we board nice seats must admit i did well with the selection here and its a seat I will be sat in for the best part of 12 hours too.

So after two hours delay we take off for the uneventful flight, we are due to land Hong Kong time 1420 unfortunately we land 1530 not to worry im staying not far from the airport in Kowloon there is much to do so after bags are dropped a quick freshen up I'm out exploring.

Asia Misc by Blair shaw, on Flickr

Asia Misc by Blair shaw, on Flickr


Asia Misc by Blair shaw, on Flickr

Asia Misc by Blair shaw, on Flickr

Not much to do in Hong Kong despite being home to the British far east fleet for the best part of the century not much remains of the naval fleet there Isn't even a museum around that i could find, so i had to make do my 36 hours in Hong Kong had to be wisely spent and well i had little time really, a good thing to see is the light show at 2000 from Kawloon to Hong Kong where they project all the lights from the buildings its a free and good sight last only 10 minuets but happens every night.

Asia Misc by Blair shaw, on Flickr



If your going to eat in Honkers make sure you bring plenty of loo roll and brace yourself in public loo's that's all I'm going to say, the stay was nice but now i have been i don't intend to go back and id advise you not to stay in guest houses stay in hotels.

So now Kai Tak no longer exists we landed and are now back at Chep Lap Kok international about to board the Cathay Pacific CX410 service to Inchoen South Korea the 3 hour flight on the A330 is nice and i do love airbus A330's, got to say they were a good aircraft even in cattle class and also the main thing the service was good.

Landing at Inchon you didn't feel like you were stepping off the plane into a war zone (Both North and South are technically still at war) like i did many years ago in Iraq but you do get the feeling something isn't quite right.

Initial apprehensions over we head for the subway system very efficient and also the locals are very helpful and on top of that a lot do speak English !
Again we waste no time in going off to explore bags dumped in our hotel we wander off to find new places to go.

So we ended up doing a tour around Seoul and one place caught my eye the museum of the Korean war and Military museum and yes i had to go inside but to my horror the place was closed for renovation BUMMER! well not quite out side they have a lot of aircraft on display from AN-2 to the B52 oh yes we took a wonder.

Asia Misc by Blair shaw, on Flickr

Asia Misc by Blair shaw, on Flickr

Asia Misc by Blair shaw, on Flickr

Rather poignant F86 with a mig 15 beside it don't you think ?

Anyways we did alot of sight seeing including a rebuilt traditional village which i admit was nice to see in the middle of a big city, Seoul is almost like an american or British city it is hustle and bustle and to be honest i dont think Pyongyang is the same.

Asia Misc by Blair shaw, on Flickr

Asia Misc by Blair shaw, on Flickr

Asia Misc by Blair shaw, on Flickr

From the top of the tower im not too sure why there is a big circle on the ground maybe if you jump you got to try and hit the centre maybe?

Well our time in Korea was coming to a rapid end and we have to move along rather quickly so after dinner we knuckle down pack and relax next stop Gimpo airport for Haneda Tokyo Japan.

Konichuwa !

Arriving slightly exhausted in Japan this was our last stop before home we have a little more time here than the rest there's a whole reason for this, as the next day i am off to some where special somewhere my camera cant fully go.

In the first afternoon i meet up with friends who have been there all week we have a meal and a chin wag before heading off to see some sights including the sky tree tower. at 623m tall its the tallest earth quake proof building in the world.

Asia Misc by Blair shaw, on Flickr

Asia Misc by Blair shaw, on Flickr

Asia Misc by Blair shaw, on Flickr

Thats me on the glass floor 450m up in sky tree .......... my travel buddy Vicky was crying at this point.


Asia Misc by Blair shaw, on Flickr
Looking out over Tokyo from sky tree 450 meters above the ground.

We enjoyed the view which helped us select the next destination

Asia Misc by Blair shaw, on Flickr

Asia Misc by Blair shaw, on Flickr

Asia Misc by Blair shaw, on Flickr

Not too sad they like the colours and they like their shrines this is an active temple and thousands come here everyday and give offerings to their gods.

That evening and night we decided you cant do Tokyo without visiting the famous Tokyo tower !

Asia Misc by Blair shaw, on Flickr

Asia Misc by Blair shaw, on Flickr

Asia Misc by Blair shaw, on Flickr
From 150m observation deck

Later on we do what every tourist does shopping !

Asia Misc by Blair shaw, on Flickr


Well naturally we were very tired we have spent a long time travelling and indeed jumping through time zones rather quickly too, we hit the sack around 2245 only problem with that is i have to be up at 0530 !

In the morning i wake up rather sleepy have a bath which is one of the worst i have ever had ! i'm 5ft 11 and still had to fold myself in half to get in ! i know they are some what smaller but please give me a tub that i don't have to kneel in !

Anyways off to Kamata station to head down towards Yokohama and eventually Yokasuka its not massively long but theres two reasons why im going the first i cant say the second they have Mikasa here.

DSCN0278 by Blair shaw, on Flickr

[Kapitan]

Mikasa is a pre dreadnought battleship built of all places in England launched several years prior to the first Dreadnoughtcoming down the ways, however Mikasa does have history.

Asia Misc by Blair shaw, on Flickr

In 1905 she was the flagship of Admiral Togo, when during the Russo Japanese war took place Mikasa spear headed the assault on the Russian fleet destroying it completely.

DSCN0293 by Blair shaw, on Flickr

Mikasa would later suffer a magazine explosion and sink only to be salvaged repaired and recommissioned although now obsolete she did serve in world war I and in the Siberian intervention during the Russian civil war, before she was stood down as a coastal defence ship.

After world war I she would never again play any major role the London and Washington naval treaties put pay to that and Mikasa was decommissioned in 1923 where she became a museum ship.

DSCN0294 by Blair shaw, on Flickr

She never saw service in world war II and like the Imperial house she represented her days were numbered or so it seemed.
DSCN0304 by Blair shaw, on Flickr

After the war and the denouncing of the Emperor of Japan Mikasa fell into disrepair neglected through the 1950's and only reprieved in the 1960's when restoration work began on her and continues to this day.

DSCN0301 by Blair shaw, on Flickr

Today Mikasa sits just outside Yokasuka naval base open to the Public but encased in concrete her main battery hasn't fired a shot in nearly a century.

DSCN0327 by Blair shaw, on Flickr

Mikasa today is fairly empty some relics of her battles remain and some items from the Tsushima battle remain on board, a lot of her original fixtures and fittings are gone and her upper decks and some of her lower decks are home to classrooms

DSCN0355 by Blair shaw, on Flickr

I managed to have a talk with this man (the one with his back to the camera) he is a former JMSDF Captain with 40 years experiance and has held several command positions, today he lectures the new recruites both officers and cadets this is a new group saluting the colours on the aft deck, he explained to me that his first initial meeting with new cadets he always makes them salute and honour the flag then tells them why it is important to honour and serve their country.
He was very respectful to all other nations including the Russians and Chinese our 5 minuet conversation could probably have lasted half a day but these cadets are about to learn what serving in the JMSDF means.

DSCN0388 by Blair shaw, on Flickr

After i left Mikasa i did walk by the naval base and got some shots of some of the vessels in Harbour i couldn't take pictures while i was inside the base obvious reasons.

Yokasuka Naval Base by Blair shaw, on Flickr

Brand new Soryu class submarines one is readying for sea and a patrol.
SS-505 Zuiryu and SS-506 Kokuryu (closest to camera)

Yokasuka Naval Base by Blair shaw, on Flickr

USS Stethem DDG-63 Arleigh Burke class Destroyer along side.

Yokasuka Naval Base by Blair shaw, on Flickr

(174) Kongo Class DDG Kirishima (6102) Experimental platform ship (ASE) Asuka and finally (116) Akizuki class Teruzuki

Yokasuka Naval Base by Blair shaw, on Flickr

Coming in for a port visit the Asagiri class Destroyer Yamagiri (152) her home port is Kure

In all i did have alot of fun i saw alot of things and completed 3 countries in 6 days it was a whole lot of going but it did get done !

As always i have my flickr account open to all who wish to view it so please feel free to have a look.

There is one more trip to come before i finally settle down and stop after my year and a bit travelling i do need a break and also im not getting any younger guys my life is about to take a new direction and hopefully one for the better.

[Oberon]

As soon as I saw that you were in Japan I wondered if you'd be going to the Mikasa, lovely looking ship she is. IIRC Fleet-Admiral Nimitz was one of the people who helped get her restored in the 1960s since he was a big fan of Marshall-Admiral Tógó.

[Catfish]

Once again phantastic pictures from your trip, Kapitan, thank you very much

[Sailor Steve]

Great pictures! I need to come back and re-read your post a few times just to take it all in.

[Eichhörnchen]

Wonderful post, buddy

[Schroeder]

Awesome pictures.

But that's not a MiG15 in your picture. The elevator doesn't match. I think it might be a MiG 19.

[Commander Wallace]

As Usual, great pictures Kapitan / Blair. Thanks for taking the time out to take them and post and share them with us.

[Mr Quatro]

Thank you kindly for the photo's and I hope your new adventure in life is rewarding and exciting

[Jimbuna]

Crackin post and pictures....I haven't been out there since 77 but would love to return one day just to see what has changed

[Kapitan]

Originally Posted by Jimbuna

Crackin post and pictures....I haven't been out there since 77 but would love to return one day just to see what has changed

Showing your age there Jim

And the mig saga i had all of 20 minuets to whip around the place so i looked like usain bolt with my phone!

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Kapitan

Showing your age there Jim

And the mig saga i had all of 20 minuets to whip around the place so i looked like usain bolt with my phone!

Reminds me of how I must appear to look like to others when at aircraft museums 'the first time round'.

Thank God for digital photography/cameras and memory cards

[Kapitan]

Originally Posted by Jimbuna

Reminds me of how I must appear to look like to others when at aircraft museums 'the first time round'.

Thank God for digital photography/cameras and memory cards

Dementia is an ass isnt it ?

............Who are you again ?

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Kapitan

Dementia is an ass isnt it ?

............Who are you again ?

When I figure that one out I'll be sure to let you know......if I can remember who you are.