Well, it appears that I have been neglecting my blog for quite some time. My last post was on October 17, 2013. It seems to me that that was so long ago.
On December 19, 2013 I will begin my Christmas vacation. There have been so many things happening between my last post and today. There is no way that I can catch up in one post, so stayed tuned for more to come once I am off of school.
My mother was still visiting on October 18th. I do remember what a busy day it was though. We had booked a ride on the Fukuoka Open-Top bus for a tour around Hakata and Tenjin. I was looking forward to it since I had never been driven around that area. I do remember that it was very sunny and warm. I did enjoy seeing the area from an above street level view.
That evening was also the Lantern Festival in Hakata. I have always loved seeing the designs that are created. My mother and I were also looking forward to seeing the geishas. I was not able to see them the previous year. We met some friends at the festival and walked around the route with them. We did get to see the geishas. Unfortunately, my camera did not do a good job taking zoomed in photos. I need to make sure that I have a new lens before next years festival.
Oh, I did just remember something that happened as we were coming home on the subway from the lantern festival. We were all in the subway and our group was talking in English. Even the Japanese teacher was talking in English. Well, I do not know what all happened at first but all of a sudden a man was yelling at our group saying that this is Japan and everyone should be speaking Japanese. He as very, very angry. Now, my mom and I were not with the others right by him. We were standing on the opposite side from him. We were going to stay on the subway because we had to go one station farther than the others. My friends said she felt it would be better if we got off, too and waited for the next train to come through. We did that and we were a little surprised when we made it back to Meinohama that the same man was at the station waiting for a train to head west of Meinohama. We just walked past very quickly. It was very stressful!
My mother and I also went to a festival that was held in front of the Fukuoka Tower. I can't remember now if it was the same day or not, but either way I have shared some photos from that, too.
Enjoy the photos. I will try to get caught up next weekend.
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| Character at the festival near the Fukuoka Tower. |
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| Balloon lady at the festival in Tenjin. |
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| A proshop for beauty....... |
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| A crane at the Japanese Garden. |
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| MMMmmmmmmmm....delicious dried fish (Yuck!). |
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| Entertainment at the Fukuoka Tower festival. |
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| Flower displays at the festival in Tenjin. |
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| The festival at the Fukuoka Tower was crowded. |
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| The open bus tour. |
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| We were all just boarding the bus. |
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| The geishas |
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| Posing with the geisha. |
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| Beautiful sunset |
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| Hawaiian dancing at the festival in Tenjin. |
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| Interesting outfit this person was wearing. |
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| These women walked with the geishas and played music. |
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| lanterns |
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| lanterns |
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| lanterns |
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| lanterns |
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| lanterns |
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| lanterns |
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| This design was so large. |
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| lanterns |
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| View from the bus. |
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| Me with the rice head (?) character. |
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| My posing with the girls who helped us make slime. |
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| My mom and a real character. |
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| Still one more character. |
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| A panda taxi. |
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| Reusing things |
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| Fukuoka Tower display |
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| lanterns |
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| lanters |
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| View from the bus. |
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| Yes, squid spinning to dry.... |
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| Lanterns in Hakata. |
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| Wood carving at the Fukuoka Tower festival. |
