Dover from a Japanese perspective
- 29 March 2010 11:0444973On Thursday evening, I took a phone call from an old friend from Japan. Completely out of the blue. We had been expecting her in June, but much to our surprise she was here on honeymoon with her new hubby, and was only in town for one day, last Saturday, 27th March.
Hurriedly, we arranged dinner for us in a local restaurant, drinks at The White Horse afterwards, and a few sightseeing things during the day as well as Sunday morning. We had a really enjoyable dinner, a wonderful relaxed evening in the pub and Kazu & Hiromi thoroughly enjoyed seeing Dover from a tourist's point of view. Hiromi has been here before on three occasions, each time with her Girl Scouts pack on exchange visits, so she hadn't really seen the place as a tourist. Now, we all know the problems that the town suffers from - they're well documented and we know all about them. Ad nauseam, really!
They come from a city in Kyushu, the southernmost of the three main islands that make up Japan, called Miyazaki. It's sub tropical, with the most gorgeous palm trees lining the roads, wonderful flora and fauna, and we are fortunate to have good friends there. When we go there, it feels like going home.
This, then, was the parting comment from Kazu as they boarded the train to St Pancras yesterday: "Thank you for wonderful hospitality. Dover is a truly beautiful place with wonderful people. I can't wait to come back."
I got a text from them as they were about to board their plane at Heathrow saying the same thing, and inviting the people with us at the pub to come to Japan with us on our next trip. So there you have it, from the horse's mouth - and Kazu is right. Dover really is a beautiful place - next time the sun's out, go up to Langdon Cliffs, to the Western Heights and along the sea front and see it for yourself. Dover, like every other place, has its problems, but it remains naturally beautiful and we shouldn't lose sight of that or forget it. Let's big ourselves up. No one else will!
True friends stab you in the front. - 29 March 2010 12:2044980Well Said Andy xx
Shelix - 29 March 2010 13:1544984That's great to hear Andy, thank you.
When we had our guest house we had a quite a few from Japan and one young Lady had us put in the Japanese Travel Guide - I think it was called the Big Red Book.
She and many others from Japan and many other countries, loved/love Dover; accept that it isn't perfect yes, but work on those points that need improving; we still have a great town and surrounding area.
Roger - 29 March 2010 13:4444987We had 30 people from all over the UK including as far as Halifax on an English Heritage members walk on teh Western Heights yesterday. All thoroughly enjoyed it and want to come back to the area again.Been nice knowing you :)
- 29 March 2010 14:4844992I think living in the same place year in year out can make you see the downside of alot of things. I have photo`s of different places in this country we`ve visited over the years, and similar to Dover, and even before I came on here, I used to think, if this was Dover, I wouldn`t be doing this. Just being away to another town can be interesting no matter what it might be like. You therefore have to encourage outsider`s to come here, regardless of what your own personal views are on the place.Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
- 29 March 2010 17:1545011We do indeed Colin; making Dover a destination with "Group-Travel" could see our town and businesses thrive instead of just surviving.
Roger - Ross Miller
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,709
29 March 2010 18:1845019I agree Dover is wonderful and has fantastic potential - if only the local authority would actually deliver on the plans to realise that potential"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." - James Dean
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
While loving someone deeply gives you courage" - Laozi - 30 March 2010 05:3745085
- 30 March 2010 10:4345106I must admit I wax lyrically about Dover to the Jersey Beans..informing them of the Castle ,the Bronze Age Boat and the abundance of cheap ferry crossings in comparison to the monopolised Condor Ferry prices over here.The advent of Manston Airport and its close proximity.The channel tunnel and new fast rail link to London.
However I feel that I should be able to criticise Dover to my 'family' on the forum.Every town has its pitfalls but never have I witnessed such an active caring on line community as I do each day on the DF.Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter) - 30 March 2010 15:3045139As Marek said: "Every town has its pitfalls but never have I witnessed such an active caring on line community as I do each day on the DF."
I'd agree with those sentiments about the DF members, Marek. Everyone on here really cares and would really love our hometown to punch at, or above its, weight again.
Floreat Dubris,
Andy - 30 March 2010 15:5545142Marek, expect you know but the high speed craft Speed One which used to run Dover-Boulogne has now been purchased by Condor after being laid up in Tilbury ever since Speed Ferries went bust owing prodigious sums to all and sundry. She is replacing Condor 10 and will be named Condor Rapide.
Unfortunately, high speed costs high money and is why Condor charge so much and stay in business, and why Speed Ferries went under, and why all the other fast craft operations from Dover have disappeared. The last one, Norman Arrow, is now in summer service Portsmouth-Le Havre after proving lamentably ill-suited for the quick turnarounds on the short sea.
All the Sea Containers seacat services under the Hoverspeed banner to Ostend/Calais/Boulogne winked out one by one and Sea Containers itself is now no more, the company received a Winding Up Order in January after operating under Chapter 11 bankruptcy since 2008.
http://www.condorferries.co.uk/Documents/CONDOR%20FERRIES%20TO%20LAUNCH%20NEW%20FAST%20CATAMARAN_UK_EAST.pdf - 30 March 2010 17:1645165Andy, was there a nip in the air when your friends were here?
- 30 March 2010 17:5345172
True friends stab you in the front.