Tuesday 14 April Beppu

Overcast morning with high of 19 plus showers likely from late morning. We have to wait for a pilot boat to take us into the port of Beppu.

After breakfast we head onto the coaches where our first stop is to Chinoike Jigoku, or Blood Pond Hell, the oldest of the 'hells' featuring vivid red waters coloured by iron oxide. Historically it was useful for extracting red clay for dyes and ointments.

We are given the opportunity for a foot spa in the 37 degree water.

The next onsen is Umi Jigoku or Sea Hell which is a streaming cobalt blue pool created by a volcanic explosion over a millennium ago. The spring reaches near boiling temperatures, releasing thick clouds of steam. There is an obvious sulphur smell in the air (not as bad as Rotorua).

The gardens are definitely wow factor.

The hot house water lily pond is impressive as is a small Blood Pond we didn't expect to find here.

We then head to the Beppu City Traditional Bamboo Crafts Centre where we try our hand at bamboo weaving during a workshop guided by local women. I'm not ready to start up my own small business in bamboo weaving!

There is time to look through the small museum as well.

The light bulb is using a bamboo filament that Thomas Edison determined was a great conductor for his electric light bulb. Time to head back to the ship for lunch. Our timing is really good as light rain had just started and now looks likely to set in. We haven't booked the optional tour for the cherry blossom festival and are really pleased as the weather is not at all conducive to walking around open gardens now, plus we saw lovely cherry blossoms on our first day in Osaka so don't feel like we are missing out on anything. Instead we catch up with Margie from Travelmarvel to talk about future tours and possibilites, and then have time to catch up on the blog. Late afternoon Margie hosts a travel talk on different tours Travelmarvel are offering. May need to think about Sri Lanka in future. Hmmm. It is also cocktail time and yes, I am working my way through the drinks menu!

We have a look through the small onboard gift shop but there is very limited range and very expensive so no shopping done. Back to our cabin for a short rest before it is time to go for a briefing about tomorrow and then dinner. We sit with Owen and Steve for dinner who happen to be the same guys we sat with at breakfast this morning. Lovely evening of good company and good food. I forgot to take my phone with me so no photos of the excellent sushi and then udon noodle main meal. Late night talking so we were the last to leave the dining room. Time for bed as we have an early start in the morning and need to use the zodiacs in what is likely to be wet weather.