I haven’t been updating lately for all the craziness going on in terms of travel. After getting back from Bali and trying to get back up to speed, I’ve been to Fukuoka two weekends in a row for different parties with different friends.  I can’t believe I’ve still yet to wrap up blogging about Bali!

Kuroneko sighting in Taipei's Taoyuan Airport

And next to Kuroneko, My Iron Friend.

 

I took the ferry to Fukuoka for the first time, though I have also taken the night ferry back from there once.  This is in an attempt to save some yen in the face of various friends from various locales wanting me to come meet them there between now and August.  By the time my long holiday back home comes around, since I arrived in Japan this time I will probably have been to the city about ten times.  

Happy to report I am that in these past two weekends I met not one but two cute and interesting Japanese gentlemen, one who speaks loads of English and one who speaks none but has a great-looking mix of 25% Irish and 75% Japanese ethnicity.  Neither look to be suitors, but they’re fun for to have party good!

Looking back from the ferry to the island on the way to Fukuoka.

I feel so safe with this one lifeboat on the ferry.

Green tea waffle at a convenience store in Fukuoka.

 

I stumbled upon yet another item new to me at my local grocer, Japanese ginger. The characters 妙姜 (exquisite + ginger) at the store are different from those my dictionary lists 茗荷 (tea + baggage) for the product.

Japanese ginger, with different kanji for it than my dictionary.