2 days in Fukuoka, and im in love...

[Kara_Nari]

Yay! I can finally start my OWN thread in this section!
Well I arrived yesterday morning off the ferry from Busan. The ferry was great, but very long. It was like a mini cruise ship, movie room, restaurant, communal baths. I was the only non asian on the ferry, and for some reason everyone decided they would speak to me in Japanese, even the Koreans. Luckily I could still remember enough Japanese to get by. There was a Japanese woman who had won $300,000 at the Casino overnight. Also I saw my host family from when I first arrived in Busan, such a surprise.

Anyway enough about the ferry, passed through customs super slowly, dont know why but they were VERY interested in what I do in Korea, not even Korean customs cares. Got my bags searched... everything was cleared, wandered through, and was surprised that my friend was waiting for me!
I was thinking I would be waiting till the afternoon.
So we drove to her house, she hadnt slept yet, so she gave me her bicycle, and showed me how to get to Canal city, a great mall, with a canal running around it. At ten oclock, they were playing music, and the water fountain was dancing to the music.
The coolest little shops were there!

After an hour or so of getting dangerously close to spending ALL my money, I got on my bike, and headed to Tenjin, sort of kept going till I realised I needed to get back eventually too...
In the afternoon we went to a festival that they had at a temple. Went crazy at the food stalls for all my favourite things I hadnt eaten for so long.
Also I had gone to the supermarket to buy everything I cant get in Korea.
Then we went to the COOLEST restaurant for dinner...

Lock up. Its a dodgy stairway, all dark, and mysterious, when you get to the counter they handcuff you and lead you to your cell. The cell is complete with a barred door and barred windows. You are served by cell mates, and there are monsters running around.
My friend told them it was my birthday *it wasnt* and after we finished our delicious dinner the lights went crazy, ghosts appeared on the walls and monsters were running through the restaurant going crazy! Sirens were blaring, as well as scary music.
then a skeleton came and brought me a cake, I got my photo taken, and we left. A very memorable dinner!

At dinner we had a fair bit of Sake to drink, and then some beer... my friend had to go to work, so my new friend and I decided to go and drink lots of beer, then I wanted to go dancing, so we found a dance club where you could pay 20,000yen and drink as much as you wanted for 7 hours. Heh, what fun! Fuku san and I met an American Navy guy at the door, who was by himself, so he came and joined us. Got up to lots of mischeif, and drank a lot too... met one of Fuku sans friends there and we all went to my friends work. The Navy guy hadnt been to a bar quite like this before, and I think he was pleasantly surprised by the woman that came and sat on his lap.
Enjoyed a few drinks with the guys and girls, then after our time was up, wandered outside. Navy boy *who does have a name* wanted to eat ramen, and I hadnt yet had my ramen fix in Japan. He had to wait until 11am for his bus, so I thought I had the energy to stay up and keep him company coz I know how much it sucks when you are in a city by yourself and dont know anyone. Anyway after the ramen experience with a fantastic drunken Obasan telling us we werent slurping loud enough, and her husband trying to give an explanation without actually having noodles in front of him, I got tired. Sat down on the street much to the joy of passersby chatted for a bit, and then decided I really needed some sleep.
Managed to get back ok, considering hahha. Lucky thing I was wearing my vans.

Today we went for an Okonomiyaki lunch, super HUGE couldnt even eat it all.
Had a quiet day shopping around, I just love the fashion, found a bike I want to buy when I get back, as well as a million hats.
Then I went to the video store, got a couple of Japanese vids, watched one, ordered in some Pizza, and sat down to write this. Just me all by myself tonight, but its nice, gotta relax after all the craziness last night. I love getting up to mischeif in different countries. Havent found any Happa yet though...... :souka:
Maybe tomorrow will be more exciting!
Ciao for now!!!

[Maciamo]

Sounds like you had a lot of fun ! :-) I was in Fukuoka for less than 24h last month. Canal City is great. Did you see the enormous mikoshi they use for the Hakata Matsuri at the Kushida-jinja Shrine nearby ?

then I wanted to go dancing, so we found a dance club where you could pay 20,000yen and drink as much as you wanted for 7 hours.

What did they serve you for this price ? Chateau Margaux ? Are you sure you aren't counting in won ?

[Kara_Nari]

Hhaha, no it was in Yen, but you can have ANYTHING... more than 100 cocktails, beer, spirits. Its actually 2,000 yen sorry hahha, but 3,000 for men. My mistake, I guess I was thinking in won. Whoops. Oooh I dont even know the name of the Shrine I went to.... but there was a lucky stone that you could touch to get good luck, and it had a little red fence around it. There were soo many people there, I didnt get a good look around.

I really love that its so clean, and people dont just chuck their rubbish on the ground, and there are rubbish bins everywhere. Hate that I cant remember how to read Kanji, very few are recognisable to me.
Also the internal stereo systems they have in apartments are awesome! Oh and the toilets with those cute little faucets on the top to wash you hands... its nice to be in an anti germ loving environment, havent made any great booboos yet, and I feel safer as a pedestrian on the streets here, I've noticed people are very concientious to pedestrians, even to the bowing if you stop and let a car go. I think I would even be brave enough to drive here.
All the handsome guys too, forgot how adorable Japanese guys are. Rounder features, and better fashion, than Korean guys.
I just feel so comfortable here, if I could read Kanji, I would definately feel at home here.

[Kara_Nari]

Well I slept all day today, because we had visitors at 5am, didnt get to sleep until 7ish or later.
Woke up determined to eat the infamous MOS burger, enjoyed and devoured in such a short time. Teriyaki chicken yum yum!
Then went to the public baths, was really relaxing, I especially liked the outside bit.
I dont know why, but its always much nicer washing your hair somewhere other than your own house. Seems like such a chore otherwise.

Met one of my friends customers at a great Restaurant, would love to recommend it, but cant read Kanji, so I have no idea what it was called. Anyway it was private dining, quite close to Fu Bar in Fukuoka, and a couple of doors down from the temple food restaurant which is down the alleyway. Heh, im just hoping someone knows the area and can help me out!
Anyway its old style and sitting above a small creek, and there is a waterfall garden area when you open the window in your own private dining room. Im sure my friends like taking me to places where I get lost going to the bathroom. Everything is winding and almost feels like you are outside in a naturous garden. So beautiful.
We ate lots and drank lots, then my friend had to go to work. I'll go and meet her at 2am, who knows what'll happen then???
Im angry at myself because I took the wrong video back, and cant really be bothered making another trip down there, not to mention that the one I did take back hasnt been watched yet. So I will go and beg and plead to change them over. Heh but I dont know the name of the video either.

Home to Korea tomorrow. Half looking forward to it, half not. Have to go to Seoul on the weekend, so it'll be nice to catch up with my friends there. Of course it'll be nice to see the boyfriend again... but thats as exciting as it gets.
Planning the next trip to Japan for Christmas time, in Tokyo for a couple of days, then down to Fukuoka for Christmas day... then back to Seoul on the 3rd to meet up with a friend from NZ who has planned to pass through.

[Mikawa Ossan]

Glad you had a good trip! I have to work tomorrow, so I'm signing off for now. See you later!

[Kara_Nari]

Thanks, I have to find my way to the ferry terminal by bus.....
Anyone know what bus goes from between Nakasa and Tenjin to the terminal???