Big in japan

My blog takes on a slightly different form as I type up notes from my diary which I am keeping of my 8 day trip to the land of the rising sun.

Day One - 26 July - Busan to Fukuoaka

Woke up later than planned and rushed out of the house to catch a bus from Changwon terminal to Busan.Something was bothering me as I headed for the International Ferry Terminal, and just as I got on the subway in Busan, it dawned on me that I hadn`t packed my Japanese currency.All 63,000 Yen, which I had carefully made sure had been obtained from Gyeongnam bank before I left, was idly resting in my bottom drawer, back at my flat. So I had to withdraw cash at the ferry terminal and exchange it for 60,000 Yen just before I boarded the Kobee/Beetle Hydrofoil at 12.00 midday on Saturday.

2 hours and 55 minutes to cross the Sea of Genkai, to the southernmost province, Kyushu.Fukuoaka, the biggest city in Kyushu, the northern prefecture on this southerly region, awaited.I left behind gloomy, overcast Korea for brilliant, hot sunshine and temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius. Immigration were not impressed that I did not know where I was going to be staying, so I scribbled Ryokan Kashima Honkan as a preferred choice.One expensive taxi to said ryokan (Japanese-style inn) later and I found it was full up for the holidays.Many Japanese are on their vacations now, just like the Koreans will be this week.A visit to Hotel Simple nearby quickly made me think that I should have booked somewhere after all.Nevermind, for every downside there is an upside, and a passing Aussie suggested trying a 24 hour internet café.He didn`t actually know one in Fukuoaka but his suggestion proved positive.Despite having trouble finding Cybac Café (as mentioned in my travel guide), I later stumbled across one in the Tenjin area of the city.I stayed there for 1,100 Yen - exactly the same cost as my taxi earlier in the day… although it should be said that it was 4.30am on Sunday by the time I checked in for a shower, yes a shower (in the staff area no less) and a comfortable PC equipped booth all of my own.

Having acclimatised in the late afternoon, and having had the brilliant idea of checking most of my luggae into a coin locker at Harkata station, I headed for Oyafuko-dori.This bustling street, in Tenjin hosts many a good bar and club.I wanted to enjoy my first night.. an early bedtime was not on the agenda.I took in the sights, including a pre-Harajuku display of gothic teenagers outside a high rise at the north of the main drag.Then at 7.30pm I was the first customer at the International friendly Off Broadway bar, Oyafuko-dori.I spent `happy hour` alone, watching old Droopy and Tom & Jerry cartoons on the bar TV, waiting for the action.Louis, the owner, came in and introduced himself.He spent the rest of the evening doing front-of-house duties, literally by being the customer side of the bar.When he took the piss and called me an unsociable Brit for not talking to anyone, I decided to pick on a table.I got talking to two Australians, John and Anthea and their friend, Jerry, an American/Japanese guy who knew the area.Anthea had been a teacher in a private language school until recently in a remote part of Japan, but wanted to work in Osaka now.I later met Amber and Nicky, two Americans, originally from Michigan, who are both current teachers at two separate hagwons in Seoul.They were only here because Nicky won a trip in a raffle!We all visited The Dark Room, a little club with a rooftop terrace, nearby.There I was exposed to a local girl and keen dancer, Lily.Having spent a long time talking to the Americans, something which those of you who were with me in Seoul last weekend would be very surprised about, I got busy with Lily.Without going into too much detail we danced until closing time, upon which I headed for Cybac Café and 1 hours sleep.

Day Two - 27 July - Fukuoaka to Okayama

Collected my JR (Japanese Rail) Pass with no problems, except I had to wait an excruitating 3 hours after arriving at Hakarta Station.There I tried in vain to sleep, and ruminated on whether I had been a selfish person for not showing more interest in the situation back home with the family.This blog is not a place to talk about these things, but I had to send an email just to reassure Kirsty and the boys that I was thinking of them.The idea that I was persuing my own dream and neglecting my family suddenly struck me and I spent the whole of day two worrying about it, my stomach churning inside.

It transpired that Day Two was probably going to be the most sober day of my trip.I boarded the Shinkansen (faster, express train) and headed north.First stop, Hiroshima.Yes, my fun-packed trip to Japan, included an early sobering visit to the precice sight of the world`s first meaningful Atomic Bomb explosion.They said that nothing would grow there for 75 years after the Enola Gay unleashed the A-Bomb on 6 August 1945.Almost 63 years later, people now come to visit the A-Bomb Dome, a symbolic monument, where the epicentre of the bomb exploded in mid-air, 600m above it.It was deliberately left as an eternal reminder.The Peace Memorial Park is a beautifully designed island just across the way.There is a cenotaph which lists all of the known victims of the bomb, and contains the Flame of Peace, which will only be extinguished once the last nuclear weapon on earth has been destroyed.Then the Peace Memorial Museum, which is a quite breathtaking display on artifcats, photos and documentaries on everything to do with the event.It is quite overwhelming.I went round in complete silence for an hour or so, reading, thinking.…although it did have a little shop… I like a nice shop(!)-(Doctor Who reference there for Connor only.)

After sweating in the 33 degrees heat and needing to rest, it was a blessing in disguise to jump aboard the wrong train… right direction, wrong speed.The slow train to Okayama seemed to take forever, but I did nod manage to nod off.A little bit indecisive about what to do next, I picked out Matsunoki Ryokan, 5250 Yen for the night, and thankfully the owner let me stay.I wandered around Okayama bit aimless and depressed, lonely.I went for a cheap curry, but not before a local had spotted me looking in my guide book trying to find the Quiet Village Curry Shop. It didn`t seem to exist anymore, but that didn`t stop him trying to help me find it.I holed up at a quiet bar near the main station and downed a bottle of white.I jave quickly picked up the Japanese words for `yes` and `thanks` and I think I can get by with just those two words.Other that, it is a case of Alan Whicker`s refusal to speak anything other than proper English, what!

The night`s stay at Matsunoki was pleasant.The wine helped me as I fell asleep watching Japanese Game Shows… it was either that or news.There was only 5 channels in this particular inn.The air con worked a charm, but I woke up in a panic on day 3.

To be continued…