Author: Ella

We spent the afternoon wandering the Peace Memorial Park and Museum in Hiroshima.  Full of somber people. The place had that feel.  The unimaginable had happened here. I was asked to sign a petition against nuclear weapons. Perfect place to gather signatures. Though who they are petitioning is unclear. The museum was claustrophobically crowded and dimly lit…

We both somehow got our timing off this morning and checked out of our Fukuoka apartment an hour earlier than planned. What to do? Oh look…as we rolled our luggage by a big Starbucks next to the station. Let’s set a spell, have some free WiFi with coffee. I branched out and ordered a matcha…

We’ve moved on to Hiroshima. Here are some last photos of Fukuoka.

The Fukuoka Prefecture Art Museum advertised itself as a place where local artists could show their stuff. From the exhibition on the first level, it seemed like a place where community art classes could exhibit their progress. Couldn’t resist taking a photo of this photo. How cute is this feathered creature? Moving to a room…

some signs we encountered today in Fukuoka

Dazaifu. Japan’s most famous Starbucks

I lost my sunglasses a few days ago (cheap ones) and have been trying to find sunglasses to buy ever since. In the US, seems every corner Walgreens and CVS has a rack of them. Not here. In Fukuoka on the island of Kyushu, in Japan. Sunglasses = yakuza (the evil Japanese crime syndicate so…

Lunch 2 days ago. Total = $14.00 Lunch yesterday. Total is $43.00 Lunch today. Total is $25.00

Load of wash accomplished. This apartment in Fukuoka comes with a washing machine but no dryer. Not uncommon anywhere we’ve traveled (lack of dryer).  Lack of dryer necessitates draping the damp clothes over every available surface and hoping they will dry in a day or two. Sometimes I get desperate and use a hair dryer…

At the General Head Temple of Sasaguri Shikoku in Nanzoin. The setting on the mountain was tranquil and beautiful. Read Grubb’s post “Nirvana” for context. I am enthralled with the “maneki-neko” (beckoning cat) which are believed to bring good luck and fortune.

Shinkansen might be fast but when you are in tunnels most of the time, it begins to feel a bit claustrophobic. I wondered why so many tunnels. See Google AI’s answer below. That “tunnel boom” is real! “Japan’s mountainous terrain and the need for high-speed, efficient rail travel led to the extensive use of tunnels…

We left Kagoshima, home of jambu mochi, bound for Fukuoka, well known for its ramen and seafood. We are still on  Kyushu but at the northern end. No more gorgeous view of the volcano from a fancy, schmancy hotel. Our pampered splurge is over and we are back in our budget lane at an unstaffed, eight…

I treated myself to a massage a couple nights ago. This hotel has a spa on the same floor as the Onsen baths so I thought heck yeah, let’s get this old body worked on. It was just the thing. Some Kumano Kodo kinks got worked out.  After the massage I was offered an unusual…

Post by Ella We stumbled upon the red light district Walked along the river

Post by Ella Back in Kagoshima proper after our venture in Sengan-en, time for a real meal. While staring at our phones, a woman (let’s call her Mae) rushed over and poked her nose between the two of us.  “I Help?” Or more like “I Help!” Demanding to help. Okay sure. We mimed eating. Mae…