SEAGAIA

Every so often in life you stumble unto something and say, WOW! This would be the Sheraton Grand Ocean Resort, or Phoenix Seagaia Resort, in Miyazaki, Japan, located in the southeast corner of Kyushu, nearly 12 hours by train from Tokyo. This is partially why no one comes here, although there is a nearby airport. So WOW can be a mixed blessing, and unfortunately reminds us of our Sheraton Cairo nightmare, featured in Chapter 6 of SIMPLE SOLUTIONS for Humanity.

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The resort itself is first class in beautiful natural surroundings. There is something intruding about a skyscraper in nature, but I like it. Pearl poses above from the 42nd floor of the dominant structure. Our room comes with three large picture windows. We could live here forever. Maybe this is heaven.

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Miyazaki Prefecture has just about the same population as Hawaii, about 1.2 million. The Kobe-like beef and chicken are nationally famous. However, being free-range with no hormones, there is an unusual toughness to the fowl flesh. Interestingly enough, local meats tend to be more expensive than imported varieties. Same for the beer. We are nevertheless planning to try Kai tonight, a special attraction featuring local delicacies.

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The Seagaia tourist complex first opened in 1993. Poor timing, for the economic bubble had burst, and in 2002, Sheraton took over the operations. This was a money losing proposition for another five years, but in 2007, finally a profit was turned. The latest economic collapse is, however, unfortunately evident today.

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How can an international convention center and 45 story hotel with monstrous sized rooms, 99 holes (including Tom Watson 27-hole course), tennis center, onsen, ten restaurants, several bars and the largest indoor water complex (which recently closed) succeed so far away from anything significant? I can't imagine how, under current conditions, there can be any hope.

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Yet, the opportunity is intriguing. The shuttered water park, for one, is just waiting for the ideal application. Maybe a marine concert hall? The first meal we had is another example of imperfect excellence. Located on the 42nd floor, the view is incredible, but the decor somewhat reminescent of a stale coffee shop. The food? Memories of the best in Paris...with an Italian flavor. The set menu comes at different prices. They all start with seven (yes, 7) appetizers, focusing on the food of the region: Miyazaki beef, black pork, foie gras, local vegetable in various hybrid amusements. Then the real food arrives, where you have a choice of soups, pastas, entrees, dessert, interrupted with something called Granite, which is like finally shaved ice. The flavor for the day was wasabi citrus. We had too much to drink at the free cocktail party next door, but a nice bottle of barolo would have gone well with this tapa-ish Roman feast.

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The currently compelling draw today is the cost effectiveness High quality at a bargain, for all the restaurants are uniformly outstanding, service at a 5-star level and outdoor activities varied and appealing. Toshitsugu Sakou and Takeo Kondo: Techno-Ocean should explore a future meeting here, for the economics could be enticing. Joe Vadus: bring one of your international ocean gatherings to Seagaia. Mt. Sakurajima is currently erupting, but only Kagoshima is being affected, and Oita is not too far up the road.

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I regret if I'm making this all sound so doomsdayish for the facility because the whole Seagaia experience is wonderful and relaxing. We most definitely will want to someday return, so let me begin my crusade to draw some positive attention. After all, the G8 Nations met here in 2000. Next, perhaps the G20, with the advantage being that no one will be able to find this site to protest.

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But all these comments are after less than 24 hours, so, perhaps, I might adjust my attitude by the time we leave tomorrow for Kyoto.
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