Fukuoka Sun Palace Hotel

... learn in person!). Each plant only produces one pineapple and it takes around 2 years for the fruit to ripen. No wonder it's difficult to compete with low-cost producers! I also did not realize that there were so many applications for pineapple -- from cakes, to wine, to vinegar. For those of you that have been to Hawaii, this is probably not a revelation. For me though, it was interesting. <br><br>Today is our last day in Okinawa and it is with mixed emotions that we leave ...

Today we decided to do something that I don't normally like to do -- go on a guided tour with a bunch of other people and get caught up on a commercial racket. Given that neither of us have ever been to Okinawa and don't know our way around, we decided to go on a bus tour and are we ever glad that we did.<br><br>The tour took us to a number of historical and interesting spots, most notable of which was the old Imperial Navy Underground Headquarters that served as ...

... this though, I probably would not have noticed this at all -- the signs that this prefecture is a bit behind others are subtle. A shabby building here, some litter in a river there -- things that one tends not to see to such a degree in other parts of the country. Nonetheless, this is quite a nice place and definitely a sub-tropical paradise.<br><br>We will definitely see a lot more of rural Okinawa over ...

... bow when saying good-bye. The one which owes more respect will bow more and the other one will bow back. Sometimes they do so for 5 or 6 times each!<br>4. Beer dispensers in the street is the single best invention on earth<br>5. The sushi rotating plates is the 3rd best invention (sushi being 2nd)<br>5. Back left door of taxi opens and closes automatically<br>6. In toilets, there is a wash-hand basin on top of the flush<br>7. You gotta try an ...

On Sunday, we woke up early again to drive to Shuri Castle, down in Naha. Shuri Castle today is a recreation from memory of the 14th century castle that was destroyed during the battle of Okinawa. Chinese envoys used to come to the castle to crown the Ryukuan king, and there are many portraits and artifacts from these kings inside. You have to take off your shoes to walk around in the museum. We were happy to do so, since it ...

... other fish was definitely a favorite. There was a diver in scuba gear cleaning the inside of the glass, so that was funny. Riley did not particularly care for the exhibits, but she did like running around.<br><br>Outside, we visited the turtle pools and the manatees, which were interesting because they were spacious and had cartoon character mascots (like most Japanese advertisements!) Our next stop was the native Okinawan village ...

... I visited famous Buddha sculptures carved in rock faces. At the station I met a few other foreigners (a British-German couple, an Italian couple and a Maltese girl) and together we rode free rental bicycles to the site (and back). After visiting the nice site the Italian and I were the only ones to dare eat the local specialty: fugu (it was fugu tempura). Fugu means blowfish and an ill-prepared blowfish can result in death - no joking! But you've guessed that from the ...

... in Pusan and was vacationing in Fukuoka. She had a lot of great tips regarding teaching and Korean culture in general. For instance, I didn't know this, but apparently Koreans treat age very differently: when one is born, one is already considered 1 year old. Also, everyone turns a year older on New Year's. Therefore, if one were born on December 31st, one would be 2 years old after only a day! Actually, when I got back to Korea, my boss told me that one of the parents had ...

... When we lit up the smoke cone, and smoke started coming out of the little wooden man`s pipe, Mrs Tanaka was so surprised and so enthralled by the system. You could just see how happy she was about it. I also told them the history of the Rauechermaennchen. They seemed to love it. Then I also gave to Atsuko-san the special lamb fur shoes as a present from Suzanna and myself. She was taken by surprise, as well. The shoes fit 100 ...