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October 2023

September 2023 - June 2025
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Seattle to Japan! Read more
Currently traveling

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  • South Korea
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  • TravelerOctober 2023
    111

    Welcome to Nagasaki

    October 24, 2023 in Japan

    Beautiful day in Nagasaki! I saw some witchy brooms, cleansed my soles, and saw the cutest anti terrorism sign ever.

    Oh, and good thing I left my camel at home!

  • TravelerOctober 2023
    111

    Sasebo

    October 23, 2023 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 72 °F

    We are on the island of Kyushu in southern Japan now. Today, we explored Sasebo, a city known for its hamburgers!

    Not what I expected, but it makes sense when you learn about Sasebo’s history. Due to its proximity to Korea, many US sailors were stationed here during the 1950s. The hamburgers were created to appease their appetites.

    The famous Sasebo burger consists of a burger, but it’s topped with an egg, and I’m not sure what all else. We didn’t try any burgers today, although seeing a “Samurai burger” advertised at the local McDonald’s cracked me up.

    We’re a lot closer to the equator here than we were on Hokkaido. It was in the 70s here today and quite sunny.

    The local shopping street, kinda like a Japanese version of Barcelona’s Rambla, was covered. We appreciated the shade today.

    Just as in other Japanese cities, we saw some painted manhole covers, and other designs in the streets.

    We popped into a 100 Yen store, where I bought a sour plum candy simply because the business man on the wrapper amused me. I didn’t buy the UFO ramen that also caught my eye.

    I bet the American Festival, for which we saw a poster today, is a lot of fun. We also noticed plenty of Halloween decorations, and a poster saying, “Trick or Enjoy.”

    Remember the groundskeeper I saw at Yuushien garden? We saw those witchy brooms and lightweight rakes for sale at a hardware store today.    Read more

  • TravelerOctober 2023
    111121

    Yuushien Garden

    October 22, 2023 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 70 °F

    Today we visited Yuushien Garden in Sakaiminato. I love Japanese style gardens, but this is the first one I’ve ever visited in Japan.

    It did not disappoint!

    Despite all the visitors, the garden felt peaceful. Even the groundskeepers had a placid air. No noisy leaf blowers to disturb the serenity, just a witchy looking broom and a bamboo rake were enough to get the job done.

    As we snaked our way through twisting paths, a sea of chrysanthemum blossoms splashed contrasting colors onto all the green.

    So relaxing!

    By the way, do you like my new hat? We bought it at the fish market in South Korea. The brim makes it perfect for a sunny fall day.    Read more

  • TravelerOctober 2023
    11

    Buddhism in the Garden

    October 22, 2023 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 68 °F

    One section of Yuushien Garden featured statues where people could burn incense.

    I assume it’s Buddhist due to the swastikas on the little packets they had on a shelf at the bottom of the path.

    In Buddhism, a swastika represents Buddha’s footprints. On maps, a swastika is used as an icon to identity Buddhist temples.

    Each of the packets I saw today contained a coin. I didn’t see any coins left as offerings, however. I did see a pile of acorns at the base of a rather fierce looking dude brandishing a sword. I’d like to learn the story behind that.

    Once again, there’s so much to learn when traveling!    Read more

  • TravelerOctober 2023
    3

    Chado: The Way of Tea

    October 22, 2023 in Japan ⋅ ⛅ 66 °F

    Since we just visited South Korea, we had to go through Japanese immigration again, which took a while simply because it was a face to face meeting with everyone on board our ship.

    After we emerged from that, locals from Sakaiminato greeted us in the cruise port terminal and invited us to take part in “chado,” which is “the way of tea.”

    Men and women in beautiful silk kimonos showed us how to vigorously stir the powdered matcha tea. They warned it would be bitter, but I thought it went really well with the little sweets they served with it.

    After a lengthy bit of bureaucracy, it was nice to enjoy some local hospitality, and a literal taste of Japanese culture.    Read more

  • TravelerOctober 2023
    1
    22

    South Korea

    October 21, 2023 in South Korea ⋅ ☀️ 52 °F

    We docked in Sokcho, South Korea today. Our shuttle bus was surprisingly roomy, with festive lights on the ceiling and silk curtains on the windows. This was our ship’s first time in Sokcho, but they had a banner for us.

    The shuttle bus was free and dropped us at a bustling market where we wandered labyrinthine alleyways, admiring myriad fish and produce on display.

    A man sold fish shaped pastries filled with chocolate at the very first stall. I wish I’d bought one because they looked and smelled delicious. Sadly, when we returned, he had sold out for the day!

    I’m not quite sure what those phallic looking bottles contain, but when I used Google to translate, it said something about how you will be able to “stand up again if you follow the lord.” Seems rather euphemistic!

    Despite all the fish for sale, the market did not smell fishy. At times, it smelled like smoked fish, but in a tasty way. Everything looked fresh and inviting.

    Well, everything except for the bucket of bones and teeth that we came across in one of the smaller alleys!    Read more

  • TravelerOctober 2023

    Hakodate Cemetery

    October 18, 2023 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 64 °F

    Hakodate’s cemetery is located on a steep hillside with a wonderful view of the sea.

    The burial ground we explored was right beside Koryuji Temple, so it featured Buddhist monuments and symbols. I definitely saw depictions of lotus blossoms, but I’m not sure what some of the others were and will have to do some research.

    Flowers were plentiful, but other grave goods included open cans of beer.    Read more

  • TravelerOctober 2023

    Halodate Memorial

    October 18, 2023 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 64 °F

    7 Eleven’s are plentiful in Japan, and a good place to find ATMs, or in our case today, water.

    Next to the convenience store I noticed what appears to be some sort of memorial. I have a “shoot first, ask questions later” approach when traveling, so I took photos and will research this memorial later.

    In the meantime, here’s what I saw.    Read more

  • TravelerOctober 2023
    2

    Hakodate Wanderings

    October 18, 2023 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 61 °F

    With a population of roughly 240,000, Hakodate is the third largest city on the island of Hokkaido. Even so, it feels more like a sleepy fishing village than a big city.

    Larry and I spent hours wandering through shopping streets and neighborhoods, and were surprised by how quiet it was. Often the main sounds were fluttering leaves and ravens cawing.

    Hakodate is known for its seafood, and the local mascot is a squid. Like other Japanese cities, the manhole covers are decorative, with some of them painted.

    I’m not a big cantaloupe fan, but the local melons look quite tasty. I was especially intrigued by an ice cream sundae featuring the fruit!

    Many streets in Hakodate are quite steep. Each of these slopes, as they are called, has a name. By the time we reached the top of one, I had stripped down to my t shirt.

    While waiting to cross the street, an elderly woman grabbed my bare arms and began rubbing them while laughing and talking a mile a minute in Japanese.

    I had no idea what she was saying, although it seemed like she was surprised I wasn’t cold.

    I find it so endearing that she felt comfortable enough to come up and touch a complete stranger. Her demeanor was so kindly. It felt like being admonished by a long lost grandmother.

    I wish I knew more than “please” and “thank you” in Japanese. I would have liked to chat with her more.    Read more

  • TravelerOctober 2023

    Koryuji Temple

    October 18, 2023 in Japan ⋅ 🌙 55 °F

    We dropped by Koryuji Temple in Hakodate today. Established in 1633, this is the oldest Buddhist temple on Hokkaido.

    “Koryuji” translates as “high dragon temple.” The gates feature intricate wood carvings.

    Several famous Japanese are buried on the grounds, including the famous Haiku master, Basho. Even I have heard of him!

    There was also a memorial for a samurai. I will have to do more research on that. I also need to find out why so many Buddha statues have red scarves around the neck.

    So much to learn!    Read more

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