On our third day in Japan we took the Shinkansen (bullet train) and then a few local trains to Ube city in Yamaguchi prefecture. Brian lived and worked here as an English teacher after college, and we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to see how it had changed over the last decade. Many aspects of it reminded us of dying towns in the American Midwest with its depressed downtown, closed shops, and empty streets, but it still had some lovely neighborhoods and some charm here and there. The best part for me, though, was to get to see where he used to live and work.

If you can read Japanese you will see that where his school used to be is now a hairdresser. We didn’t find the new location, but apparently there is a school still in town.

Katta-Kun, one of Ube’s most famous citizens. The pelican was famous for living in Ube’s main park and visiting local schools to play with the children.

The very depressing shopping arcade that was mostly closed.

The parking lot that used to be home to a 7-11 where Brian would buy his lunch everyday.

His old apartment building.

Waiting for my omelette rice at the Dugout. At least Brian’s old dining hangout was still there.

Brian in front of the Dugout.

Finally the train came and took us away from Ube. Goodbye for another 14 years!

On our last day in Fukuoka (sniff sniff) we went to Ohori Park, a lovely city park with a pond, running and cycling paths, and an awesome looking playground. We enjoyed a 7-11 breakfast on the island in the middle of the pond and then walked around marveling at the very fit runners who seemed to lap us every few minutes.

The park was filled with runners.

An egg and baby cheese breakfast. I just could not resist pronouncing baby cheese like Gloria on Modern Family.

Fukuoka is very lush, so much so, that there were plants growing on the trees.

Next to the park are the remains of Fukuoka Castle. It was a bit hard to envision what it looked like. I was often not sure if I was “inside” or “outside” the castle walls, but it was beautiful and peaceful anyway.

The base wall which is pretty much all that is left of Fukuoka Castle. The stone work was very impressive all the same.

Trees don’t seem to get cut down in the castle area. Instead they are tenderly cared for.

Also next to the park, Gokoku Shrine was hosting a flea market when we were there. So many tempting things to purchase.
Our last adventure for this trip was to visit the Fukuoka Tower and dip our toes (okay my toes) into the ocean. The tower was not super tall nor were the views anything amazing, but it was a nice way to get a better feel for how big Fukuoka city is. We will definitely go back to Fukuoka someday!

View to the east.

After Korea we took a short flight down to Fukuoka, Japan on the southern island of Kyushu. Fukuoka is Brian’s favorite Japanese city, and I too quickly fell in love with Fukuoka. Its great mix of big city amenities and laid back, unrushed atmosphere makes it a relaxing and convenient place to vacation. Our first day we explored the Tenjin shopping area, both above and underground. We also explored Gion, which was the area where our hotel was located. Gion, like much of Japan, was such a wonderful place to wander around little side streets finding shrines, temples, cemeteries, and other gems at every turn.

Flying into Fukuoka.

Just a random water pump.

The ubiquitous drinks vending machine. They are everywhere in Japan.

I can’t tell you how much I love Japanese convenience stores.

The next day we went to Canal City, a large indoor/outdoor shopping area. We weren’t in the mood to shop, but did have breakfast at a cute Moomin themed cafe. You can learn all about the Moomins here.

Every table got to host a Moomin character. We dined with Snorkmaiden who is not a Moomin but a Snork. You learn something new everyday.

Brian about to dig into his gigantic breakfast plater. Note the Moomin shaped waffles. It was all very delicious.

Next we hopped on a train to the Hakozaki Shrine where the 1,000 year old Hojoya festival was being held. The Shinto shrine was built in 923, but sadly burned down in the first Mongol invasion. (I am starting to see a trend in our travels….) The festival was an interesting blend of county fair like displays of amateur art and flower arrangements, religious activities, and carnival food. I skipped the cotton candy for a roasted ear of corn–it was delicious.

Hakozaki Shrine.

Vistors bought fortunes from the shrine employees and if they were good tied them to frames to be granted.

The festival is famous for its fresh ginger. I had never seen it with its stalk still on before.

It was quite the festival atmosphere.

Next we headed back to the area around our hotel where we wandered over to the nearby Kushida Shrine and Hakata Machiya Folk Museum. I should point out that around pretty much every corner in Gion is a shrine or temple. It would actually be hard not to visit shrines in that area. Anyway, the shrine was interesting in that it housed an amazing and huge paper machete float used in the Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival held each July. I bought a fortune here but as it was bad; i.e, too good to leave behind, I kept mine for my journal. I will let you know later if it comes true.

Kushida Shrine.

The float. I can’t imagine how they carry around something so large.

Thinking about making Santiago an outfit like this.

The Folk Museum was made up of three old style buildings housing a store, a small museum dedicated to the history of the area, and a reconstructed merchant’s home. Inside the home a women was demonstrating how silk used to be woven on a loom. The loom used a card pattern system, and it was fascinating to watch how the cards were changed in the production of the woven silk.

The pattern cards for the loom.

The weaver at work.

The idyllic garden behind the museum.

The tiny little urinal in the ladies room. It was even pink!

Joining Brian’s dad and Yvonne on a leg of their around the world trip, the four of us flew to Seoul, South Korea for a quick trip. One of our favorite places to visit, this trip to Seoul was a mix of new and old activities for us. Our first evening in town we wandered around a bit in the Bukchon village area (old style Korean homes), and then after a pleasant walk through a new park along the Han river, we had dinner at a lovely Italian restaurant near the Banpo bridge. The next morning we visited the National Museum of Korea, which we had not been to before and were roundly impressed by. It was so large that we had to pick and choose what we saw, so we focused on the Goryeo dynasty (Mongol invasions) and the Sinan Shipwreck which sank in 1323 on a voyage from China to Japan and was rediscovered by a fisherman in 1975 when his nets brought up a porcelain vase. We highly recommend the museum if you ever find yourself in Seoul.

The pond in front of the museum.

At the museum. Between our heads you can see N Seoul Tower which we visited next.

After a delicious meal at the museum food court (food courts in Asia are not to be confused with greasy low quality American mall food courts) we hopped back on the subway and then onto a cable car that got us to the N Seoul Tower. We were fortunate to catch a free cultural at the base of the tower before heading to the top. The views were much better than the last time we visited when it was snowing! The best part, though, had to be the ice cream sandwiches made with macaroons. Delicious!

Sword play.

Brian and his Dad thinking of Mongolia.

Even the bathroom views were amazing.

That evening we had one final dinner together and then said our goodbyes, as Brian and I were heading out early the next morning to Fukuoka, Japan and Phil and Yvonne were continuing onto Hawaii. Lucky ducks!

This summer has been exceptionally busy for us in terms of visitors. Many people talk about visiting Mongolia, but few ever make it. This year was different. In July, after our trip to Shanghai, my mom and her friend Frank visited us for a week. It was very green and lush then in the mountains, as you can see in the pictures.

Mom and Frank

Wondering where the dog has gotten to.

Hiking Ladies

The men often had to stop to talk math and physics.

Then in August our Peace Corps friend Angie and her husband Fidel visited Mongolia, and we had the great pleasure of hosting them. They visited western Mongolia where Angie used to live, and went to the Gobi desert, where they let me join in their adventures. We happened to be in my village when it was celebrating its 90th anniversary, and we got to see lots of cultural shows, as well as many of my old students.

Lovely ladies getting ready to dance and sing.

Namuuntuul and I. She is going to college now to become a math teacher and I could not be prouder.

Dancing to open the wrestling competition.

Aminerdene, the daughter of one of my former students.

I think all gers should be made of flowers.

Zula, Angie, and Fidel.

Finally, in September Brian’s dad and his wife Yvonne stopped in Mongolia on an around the world trip. Their trip had already taken them to New York City, Iceland, France, and Turkey, so Mongolia had a lot to prove. This trip to the mountains was much browner than in July, but still lovely.

Look Ma we all fit in the picture!

Pretty puppy.

Dog in motion.

So who is going to visit us next? Time will tell…