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Published: October 30th 2008
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Ramen...mmmmm
This was one of our favourite meals in Japan. It was so good we had it almost every day after we tried it although it seemed more like a western Japan food. We sat in individual booths (like a bar) and selected our meal on a piece of paper then handed it to the person on the other side of the curtain (to which we only ever saw hands). Then within minutes your soup arrived and the curtain went all the way down for privacy. We thought this was the greatest thing ever! The soup was fantastic too! I cant really explain what it is but there are noodles, some spices, some green onion, cilantro, a couple slices of pork and a boiled egg if you want it all in a kindof creamy pork broth. Soooo good! Definitely want to learn how to cook it when we get home! After a great 300km/h train ride, we arrived at Fukuoka. It is a cool city that is on the ocean, The seafood is great here and the food variety is vast. Fukuoka is the closest big city to Korea and mainland China, bringing in migrants from all over asia. This adds a neat blend of culture.
Fukoka has a really big sports team that rivals the Flames in dedicated fans. What sport?.........Baseball (Fukuoka Carp). The Japanese are insane for baseball. It is apparently like a soccer match with chants and songs and dancing in which the whole crowd participates. We were at the Yahoo dome, ready to go in, when we realized that we left our money in the hotel. It was shitty, but we were able to see the festivites outside of the dome. It was great.
After touring Fukuoka, and walking around for hours just exploring the waterfront, we walked down to the beach and enjoyed a drink watching the sunset. It was a really nice area that reminded us of Eau Claire market in Calgary. Fukuoka is a city like many in Japan that has many scenic areas such as parks, public squares, and gardens. Although
Traditional Japanese Restaurant
A night of eating with a girk, Kate, we met in the Hostel in Fukoka. She had been teaching in Japan for 2 years and knew how to speak Japanese so it was just perfect! We went out to a couple of places for food and biiru and left it to Kate to order for all of us (especially since there was no english on the menu). Great night! they are not the best in the world, the beauty really makes your experience better. It is times like these that remind you of home, and the beaty that you might take for granted.
After a nice leisurely visit, we were off to Beppu which is in the far southwest part of Japan. It is past the end of the lightning fast Shinkansen bullit train line, and is accesible by the still quick 140km/h express trains (Japan is awsome).
Beppu's claim to fame is based on something we in Alberta and B.C have around our Beautiful provinces........natural hot springs. Beppu's city is heated by geothermal heat, and has hundreds of natural spring pools called "onsens" all over the city. This natural phenomenon has lead to many hotels, hostels and ryokens featuring private hots springs in the buildings. This is evident by the countless numbers of steam vapors rising up from leaky pipes and natural guysers all over the city. These leaks give the illusion that the city is on fire, partuclarly at night, and even more so during the winter, when the city is under a blanket of steam.
These guysers have been a part of their
The Beppu Mascot and Erin
No real expanation for this one. history and myths for centuries. Some of the more well known are called "Jigoku" or "Hells". These hells have different styles and temperatures, also different importance. Some of the most interesting are filled with mud and belch bubbles that when they hit the surface look like the bare scalp of a monk. Others have special water that trickles to pools and creates perfect breeding conditions for crocodiles. This is evident based on 60+ crocs we have seen in one farm.
The most interesting hell we saw was built by a volcanic explosion, and was called "Umi-Jigoku". The ancient explosion left behind an almost perfect 40ft diameter hole, but with a staggering 200m, or 660ft depth. What remains now is a pool filled with boiling water that has been dyed turquoise blue to look like the ocean. But dont let the inviting color fool you, the water is leathal enough to hang a basket inside and boil eggs. The grounds around it are full of great gardens, tori gates and shrines. It was the most beautiful of all the hells. They even had a natural spring to put your weary feet in, and recooperate after a long day. Bitch'n hot,
The Public Bath Lesson...
(this could have been useful when we were in Nagoya) but a nice touch.
Finally, we went to a special onsen that has had special visitors such as international action star Jackie Chan. Nestled in the hills overlooking Beppu, this onsen has something special to offer.......natural hot spring mud pits!! Erin was very excited to have a mud bath.....how about a naked, co-ed mudbath? Lets give it a try!! Here we are, Japanese junk a flailin all around. However, the women keep it a little more modest. It was a funny expperience that we both enjoyed. Erin didnt much like the mud pits, as they are acctually mud pits with grass and roots (which felt like hair) on the bottom. No tile pool, just a natural hole with clumps of muddy clay at the bottom and muddy, murky water. It was very relaxing and it is said that is great for your skin.
As usuall with Japan, we enjoyed our stay. Beppu was certainly a highlight of the far southwest. We are dissapointed that we cant make it to Okinawa to see the birth place of karate and other martial arts, but that will be another trip one day.
Now we are off to Hiroshima........at 300km/h. Ready,
Traditional Japanese Ryoken
This was our first ryoken in Japan. It was nice because there is no furniture therefore there was lots of room to spread out. It was really cute and quaint although we cant say it was the most comfortable to sleep on the tamari mats. steady, go!
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