Valie Hotel Tenjin Fukuoka

... 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).

... like? I have no friggin' idea. I've been trying to research it on the internet but have come up with very little as to what kind of life we'll be living there. Which is one of the reasons I've decided to revive the travel blog and maybe somewhere down the line, someone else is moving to Salalah and will actually have some idea of what it's like before they get there. Here's hoping it's good!

-M

... in various robot-related activities."
* become the "'Silicon Valley of Robotics' in Fukuoka City Japan"!

The institute holds "science and technology workshops, for school teachers who intend to incorporate robot building courses as a part of their schools science education courses." It's "a portal of knowledge and hands-on activities for the youth and individuals seeking information and an understanding" thru on-site and in-school workshops and demonstrations. And ...

... 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 everybody's ...

... was really suffering and sniffling away. At one point, we passed rice fields where they were burning the remnants of the last crop, and the smoke was heavy. This poor kid pulled his jacket over his head--I'm not sure whether he was trying to use the jacket as a filter for the smoke, or if he was secretly blowing his nose underneath, but I didn't hear anything. There is a lot in Japan that you aren't supposed to see or hear, and the ...

... and experience was worth it!

The next day we boarded the Beetle - a high speed Jet Foil Boat which lifts out of the water and skims on ski-like foils. It took less than 3 hours to do 120 miles across the sea to South Korea which is pretty quick. It felt like you were on a place or a train but was even smoother, so no sea sickness, even after having an early morning beer - well, it was free!!

... s avoir monté et descendu des pentes...avec un vélo une vitesse, panier, clochette et siège trop bas, j'arrive à la station. Dans les trains, on doit payer pour la distance que l'on veut parcourir. Donc par exemple, à Montréal je paierais un différent montant si je voulais faire Bonaventure-BerriUQAM et Bonaventure-Beaubien. Junko-san, aka. maman d'accueil, me suggère fortement de prendre une carte de train, qui me permet d'aller partout, d'une valeur de 5000 ...

... transportation, etc. The rain let up for my walk through the west side of Fukuoka. Took some pictures of some beautiful peonies right by the side of the busy intersection. YATAI for RAMEN was the reason why I came to Fukuoka. There are some Yatai where people wait and wait for a tiny seat in a tiny stall. Ichi-ryuu is the most famous. I waited for the next most crowded place, especially because I wanted ramen and ...

... There were just the 2 most expensive seats left. We coughed up the £20 that was needed each and went in. There was quite an atmosphere, every seat taken. The crowd all knew these elaborate chants involving hand movement and clapping, all except us. Japan had just won the baseball world cup, several of the Japanese players played for Fukuoka Hawks so it was a big game. I must admit I wasn't completely familiar with all the rules of baseball so I was just trying to ...

... is Fukuoka`s harbor area, and I believe there are also a number of seafood restaurants in the area, though I stand to be corrected on this. From this point on all the way to Karatsu, we drove more or less parallel to the coast. Which coast? Well parts of Kyushuu island border on the China sea, but Fukuoka borders on the south side of Japan pretty much to the Atlantic ocean, i.e. the ocean in which Taiwan and the Philippines ...