9 November 2018
Surprisingly quiet Tenjin
Exploring the shop filled streets of Tenjin
Hakata versus Tenjin, tonight Tenjin, and it was surprisingly quiet? I had to check my watch to make sure it was Friday.
Last time I was here I remember this place as being bright and crowded. Tonight it was kind of bright, but kind of deserted. Admittedly I did not go very far, its been a 50,000 step day today and I was BUGGERED. Right now I am barely making sense typing this and ready to go to bed at 8:30pm. Good times indeed.
Perhaps in the battle of city centres Hakata had an unfair advantage with the illumination lighting ceremony last night. The good news is I still have time for a round 2, as I still have 2 more nights in Fukuoka before I go to Nagasaki.
Now for an update on my toe. The nail is still on, it doesnt hurt at all.
Now for an update on whats on Japanese tv. In this hotel I get zero English language channels to distract me in the background while I type this. Thats not a problem though because the curling has been on somewhere. That thing where they sweep the ice. Tonight its New Zealand versus Japan and I have never heard such exuberant commentating. If you are Australian and can remember Darrel Eastlake commentating the weightlifting, its like that times 10. Who knew curling was so exciting?
Oh yeah, tonight photos are pretty boring, scroll scroll scroll.
Another night, another canal shot. This is a different canal to last night, but its still looking towards canal city. All canals meet at the canal city shopping centre. That orange dot floating in the sky is a tethered air ship advertising something.
The local headquarters of the sacred stonecutters. Strange activities go on in there.
The main street through Tenjin, looking away from the main part. I am not making a lot of sense here.
This guy is struggling to wheel his food cart across the road. At the same time, all the locals are waving hello to him, and hes putting it down to wave at them. It was quite amusing. Amusing to me at least. I am easily amused. I just never show it. Stern face always. 1000 yard stare.
I kicked this guy in his ugly face. His mask fell off.
The bright lights but quiet streets of Tenjin. Maybe I missed the main bit tonight?
Tonights cat shot! This poor little guy is as tired as I am. I think I could sleep on a clear perspex box also. Japanese hotel beds are nearly that hard. I kind of like it.
My dinner! Its something different I guess. Soba and lots of other things. I think most are miso related, or tofu related, I didnt really know what most of it was. Theres also the savory egg custard under one of those lids with the mushrooms baked in. I think it was all vegetarian, who knows!
I tried for a non blurry food shot tonight, less arty, more standard picture menu shot. Actually it wasnt all vegetarian now that I look at it, the seaweed roll things were full of hunks of raw fish.
Ippudo! I dont know where the original store is, I thought maybe this was it as its large and in a busy area, but then I saw 2 more just like it within a few blocks of this one. I still have not been to the Melbourne store due to the huge lines, but I have been to the Sydney, Perth and Taipei stores.
Here is a crappy shot of a crappy shrine in amongst the department stores. You go here to pray for a bargain.
Here is tonights BAITEN. Word courtesy of my mother. They have wisely set up by the torii gate to get more tourists. I dont know what they are serving, but I like this photo. Its the only photo from tonight that I like.
Here, have a bit more bright lights of Tenjin, with the fancy stores and their overpasses.
This is the Daimaru atrium and its huge Christmas tree. I think it was fancier the last time I was here? I took a photo then, I will check later, or not, I dont know, maybe I cant be bothered, I am just going to trail off in this rant now.
Last time I was here this is where the Ramen fair was. Today its the Fukuoka marathon expo, whatever that is. But when is the marathon? None of the signs had a date. Is it too late for me to enter?