The waters were alive with marine life and over the day, saw us encounter 20+ sperm whales as well as several fin whales that loitered remarkably close to our comfortable home, National Geographic Resolution. The avian life was just as captivating—our first sightings of streaked shearwaters were long anticipated, and we marveled at rafts of Leach’s and Tristram’s storm petrels that danced on the waves in near-comical fashion.
- Daily Expedition Reports
- 25 Aug 2024
At Sea, One Day Away from Japan, 8/25/2024, National Geographic Resolution
- Aboard the National Geographic Resolution
- Alaska
Lisle Gwynn, Expedition Leader
A native of the southern heathlands of England, Lisle has been a naturalist and dedicated ‘birder’ since early childhood. After an undergraduate degree in Geography, and 6 months on a Spanish ferry as a whale watching guide, a DST-NRF scholarship led...
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A Journey from Nome to Tokyo: Ring of Fire to Ainu Culture
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8/30/2024
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National Geographic Resolution
Sendai, Japan
We spent the morning at sea enjoying the wildlife that surrounded us while the ship was approaching Sendai. Lots of shearwaters and flying fish were seen on this cloudy but very pleasant, warm day. Some of us went to try different sake (a Japanese rice wine) and other went for a lovely walk in Matsushima, a coastal location where the magnificent temples and gardens invite you to explore and relax, to just enjoy the views and listen to the songs of the birds. It was a wonderful, calm day where all of us had the chance to experience a little bit of traditional Japanese culture and discover its charms.
8/29/2024
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National Geographic Resolution
Aomori, Japan
After leaving Hokkaido, we arrived at Aomori City, our first port of call on Japan’s largest island, Honshu. With a forecast for a nice warm day, we were excited to visit the Seiryu-ji Temple, a beautifully terraced garden which houses a five-story pagoda and is renowned for its towering bronze sitting Buddha, the largest in Japan at twenty-one meters tall. We were invited to participate in a meditation demonstration and session led by our hosting Buddhist monk. Following a very peaceful experience at the temple, we returned to Aomori City for a visit to the Nebuta Museum, exhibiting a celebration of the Nebuta summer festival in which bright, colorful floats parade the city each August, a true photographer’s dream. Not only did we see and learn about the festival’s origins, but we were also given the chance to examine the processes and fine skill that go into making the floats.