Saga Youth Hall

... The next morning I wandered the side streets and lanes, and found myself at Yusida Shrine, welcomed by a Nandi on the left (later learned there is also a sacred cow/patron god in Shinto)

Then to the blast of the main streets, and ticket on to Yufuin. (I fly out of FUK, so will explore more of the city when I return).

... FIDO" (Friendly Indelligent Dog Option) would be more fitting:).

Several pretty young Japanese women were on hand to demonstrate the robots and answer any questions. One had just fed an AIBO (i.e. replaced its batteries) when a trio of female Korean Navy officers happened by. Reading from a command list, one officer commanded the digital canine to dance. Their eyes lit up with amusement when the little robot sounded a tune and started to dance.

I made my way around ...

... Mojiko also became an important terminal for both the railroad and cruise ships. So it's full of Meiji-era Western-style buidings, mostly built in grand style between 1910 and 1920. The view of the waterfront and the bridge across the strait is just beautiful. There's a nice little railroad museum, a couple of small shopping plazas, and a new hotel with a striking modern design. I think Mojiko deserves ...

... days, there was strategic value associated with making the finest porcelain, and high culture was associated with political power. Okawachiyama was about a 1 1/2 hour walk from the Kami-Imari train station, which is barely a station--there are just four plastic chais, a few signs, and an unmarked path to a nearby street.

A NOTE ON TRAIN ETIQUETTE

The most amazing thing about trains in Japan are that they are always on time. You ...

... the other stuff was!! But glad we did as it was the best noodle soup we have had all trip. Then we decided to be brave and order some other little bits - Rob ordered some chicken skewers, which although this is what it was, we had no idea what part of the chicken it was from as it was hard and crunchy!!!! Lesley then pointed at a few things that could not be identified but thought it might be ...

... videos hochlade. Bin schon reichlich müde von den Blasen auf den Füßen sprech ich gar nicht. Die verdank ich den neuen Schuhen (die etwas höher sind) und Andis Orientierungssinn ^_^.
So dann mach ich da morgen weiter,wir haben hier im hotel zwei nächste gebucht und wir schauen mal wo es uns dann hinführt, aber dazwischen melde ich mich ja noch.

Zum Glück hab ich die ...

... 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!
4. Beer dispensers in the street is the single best invention on earth
5. The sushi rotating plates is the 3rd best invention (sushi being 2nd)
5. Back left door of taxi opens and closes automatically
6. In toilets, there is a wash-hand basin on top of the flush
7. You gotta try an ...

... at around 10 am. But we'll have to be up really early, probably around 5 or so so we can get a ride to the Station in order to take the train for an hour to the airport where our flight leaves for Okinawa. Please pray for us, we are praying for you. We miss you, our friends, our families, and all our comrades and loved ones. Why did God make it so easy to love? We are made in his image and with that comes the ability to love passionately, like it or not. So ...

... traders arrived in 1500s there was much interest in western technologies, but foreign-ness & Christianity were viewed as threats and, coupled with good ol' fashioned xenophobia, Japan fearfully slammed its doors. In 1597, 6 Spanish friars and 20 Japanese (some were teenage boys) were crucified here if you doubt the power of fear-of-other... Penalty of death for any Japanese who traveled abroad, and the Dutch (who were viewed as being more motivated ...

... fast train. It was a super hot day but was nice to walk around and be a tourist for a day. First I went to see all the sites related to the atomic bomb. I didn't really know anything and was ready to learn as much as I could. There was a huge park dedicated to peace with many statues. There were a lot of bus tours and school groups there visiting this site. (more to come of descriptions in the email about the fotos.) Next came the hypo-center - where the ...