6. FERRY "EASTERN DREAM" VLADIVOSTOK - JAPAN.

On Wednesday 09/10 we boarded the « Eastern Dream » from DBS, the only ferry to Korea & Japan. Stena Lines has also a ferry once/week, from Vlad to Korea.

Vladivostok: our Toyota under customs and the BMW
motorcycle from the Colombians.

The Korean/Filipino crew was unbelievable friendly after the rather surly Russians (however I must add that once the crust broken, Russians are able to show great hospitality, especially in the east). We did not earn this, it was almost embarrassing !

And clean toilets ! And clean … everything !

2nd Class: 8 bunks in a room.
We were with a Russian couple and a Japanese lady.
Economy: 72 bunks in a dormitory.

Next day the ferry moored in the port of Donghae – Korea. We were allowed about 6 hours ashore and teamed up with two Dutch ladies to visit the Mureungdowon Scenic Spot. This park is full of waterfall's, a couple of temples/monasteries, a fortress (not enough time to visit this one) and other points of interest. At the entrance we had a typical Korean lunch accompanied with mountain vegetables (don't ask me what – can't even remember the name of the dish). The taxi driver looked like the villain Sato from the film Black Rain with Michael Douglas and rushed us at 100 km/h through Donghae. Nice afternoon out and a good work out in the park, up and down the hills.

Restaurants at the entrance of Mureungdowon.

Twin falls.

Work out.

Friday 11/10 we disembarked in Sakaiminato – Japan. After personal immigration and customs, the car had to be in inspected. A team of 5 officials were in, on and under the car while disinfecting the wheels and -cases. Very polite, thorough and clean operation! The officials smiled, asked politely if they could search the luggage/car and thanked for the cooperation. Embarrassing, ... another world.

Vladivostok (A) - Donghae (B) - Sakaiminato (C).

A Slovakian and a Colombian biker had no Carnet de Passage. In fact they were better off than us because they did the formalities for 12.000 Yen, received a temporary import doc and that was it. We paid the same amount for the same formalities, did not receive the temporary import doc but had to go afterwards to the Japanese Automobile Federation for the Validation Letter of our CdP and back to the customs to show the original CdP with the Validation Letter. This took us 3-4 hours and another 10.000 Yen for the taxi. Also the CdP costs 235 € in Belgium.
So: you are better off without a Carnet de Passage. You get in cheaper and faster without Carnet. However, I do not know if other ports will oblige. I read (HUBB?) that arriving with the ferry from Sakhalin, also the port of Wakkanai - Hokkaido will let you through without the Carnet.

With regards to the Carnet de Passage:
Colombia did not sign the FIA agreement back in 1947.
So this guys just temporary imported the bike.

Tatyana from DBS, based in Sakaiminato - Japan, contacted a car insurance company while we were still in Vladivostok and a lady brought the compulsory 3^rd party car insurance for 5.600 Yen (one month) and off we went. 5.600 Yen : cheap, but, this covers only bodily injury/death of the 3^rd party, no damage to the vehicle or belongings … too cheap ?

Arrival in Sakaiminato - Japan.

09:00 a.m. in Sakaiminato.