Japan Journal # 9

Thursday January 30, 2003 ....

After a good nights sleep, I checked out of the room for that day at 10 ish and turned my
keys in to the front desk. I wanted to return for something unimportant but they were pretty
adamant and said I could not return as they were cleaning the room. so I walked down to the
Train Station once again to savor the Mr. Donut breakfast extravaganza. Then I asked some
of the Ladies at an information booth (dressed up in their sexy Jackie Kennedy uniforms
with matching hats) about visiting the Fukuoka Tower. a 300 meter plus tower that gives
a nice view of the city. The information girls directed me to the corner of the train station
where the bus station was. They also gave me a coupon book that gave me $4 or $ 5 off
the admission price.

The bus station was easy enough to find. but I had trouble figuring out how to buy a ticket
from the machine and just to get on the bus. So I missed the bus. after 10 minutes of
being baffled I was able to find someone to help me get the ticket for the right fare. and
when the next bus came I boarded and tried to talk with the driver so I did the
procedure the right way. I really don’t think he cared though. The bus drove us through
some other areas towards the tower, and I realized that the area where I was staying and
the train station was located was not even the center of the city. Stop by stop I got
closer to the tower is this the stop to get off at I thought each time?

But finally I got off at a stop that I figured was right next to the tower I talked with
some of the reception area girls. and then the cute elevator attendent took me up to the top
telling me alittleabout the height and construction of the tower. I took in the panoramic view
of the large city laid out below me on this nice sunny day and I took some pictures. Of
course I lingered to look at the souvenirs at the little booth 300 plus meters in the air. But
nothing there caught my attention so I descended the tower. Yes once again the cute elevator
attendant in her cute Jackie Kennedy uniform to talk to with during out 90 second decent
ha ha ha.

At the base of the tower was another larger souvenir shop. They were selling some serving
trays / signs with Americana slogans for sale. Speedy from McDonalds, Route 66, Phillips
76 gas, etc.... But the sign that threw me off was BUY WAR BONDS. in the vein of Rosie
the rivitor thinking. I wondered do they have any idea of history in Japan? Do they
realize that we were buying war bonds to fight them in the war? Apparently not, but
someone had mentioned to me earlier and I had read that the Japanese have a very rose
colored glasses view on past events. Oh well let bygones be bygones right, and lets
move ahead. I certainly can’t hold others accountable for something that happened before
most of us were even born. But it is a mistake to forget and rewrite history.

I found a McDonalds at the base of the tower once again next to the local television studio
complex (they broadcast from the tower). I savored the fine cuisine of their trademark salty
fries and a Big Mac. Combo meal roku ( 6) ha ha ha. Hai (yes) I would like to biggie size
that arigato gozaimashta (thank you) and a quick nod to the young girl at the register. I
woofed the meal down quickly and made my escape to avoid the people close by who
were smoking. A couple blocks away I found a wooden boat in the yard of a near by
museum that I saw from the tower. I thought that will be a nice picture of Japanese
boats to toake for my brother, since I couldn’t find a boat book for him. I asked permission
and took some photos but It turned out to be a reproduction boat from the Mediterranean
seas -- Greek / Roman type of stuff. I found the bus stop and I took the bus back I knew
how much it should cost even though I didn’t have a ticket this time. I figured I would
just give the appropriate change as I was exiting and that would work. As we were
driving back to the Train station / Bus terminal we went by the Fukuoka dome which
was close to the tower. That is where their baseball team the HAWKS play. I also saw a
hard rock cafe restaurant there too but I was trapped on the bus and I couldn’t visit.

After arriving at the bus station I got out and I still had some time to kill before I met
Miho that evening. I wandered around and I found the 100 yen plaza. it was interesting
to walk around this quite large store and see the Japanese version of our dollar stores here.
Yes they had a lot of the same type of junk but every now and then you would turn a
corner and find something uniquely Japanese like the wind chimes made out of charcoal
sticks. I wandered around the store examining things for about an hour and I went back
to my hotel.

Soon Miho arrived. We asked one of the receptionists to take a couple pictures of us
together in the lobby. Earlier in the day I had stopped by a 1 hour photo location and I
had the film of our previous day together developed. I gave her a set of the prints and I
also bought a box of Chocolates and I gave that to her. Miho did not come empty
handed either. She gave me a box of cookies from Nagasaki that she had ( I still have not
eaten them) and she gave me an envelope with sheets of stamps that were from her
collection I was touched that she gave me something like this that really meant a lot to
her. she mentioned the stamps to me previously the day before on the train ride to
Nagasaki.

We braved the cold once again and headed back to the train station yes it was another
opportunity for the Grande Gringo to keep Miho warm ha ha ha. I think we found a
Japanese restaurant for dinner and I was able to take a couple more pictures. After we
finished most of the shops at the train station had closed. Miho used the restroom and I
watched as some homeless were setting up for the night. I watched the man
meticulously shoo away any dust bunnies that were nearby and he laid out his cardboard
on the floor. Then Miho and I walked around the outside of the station.

I must confess that I would take a look at Miho’s derriere once in a while and I liked
what I saw I think ha ha ha but it was winter and her coat covered the view most of the
time. Before I met Miho when I was still writing with her She mentioned to me that she
was fat. Maybe according to Japanese standards but I told her but I had said based on her
2 pictures that she had sent me previous to my visit I thought she looked fine. I told her
that I believe most American men prefer the women to have some meat on their bones. As
we were about to exit the train station I noticed a girl who was very skinny and
remembering our earlier conversation I told her that I thought the girl was unattractive
because she was so skinny. she said really? That is what the Japanese guys prefer in
Women. I said that is not for me, to me you look just right and she smiled and said
thank you thank you.

We walked around looking at the lights of the pachinko parlors. and clubs of
questionable repute. I said do you want to go in and I took a step towards them jokingly
she grabbed my arm no no no no ! she said very quickly and kept me on course.
We found a Starbucks and she got a tea and I did hot chocolate. we talked a little bit
and I told her again that I was going to meet other Internet girls in those cities. She said
she liked her time that she spent with me but she thought that I had a girlfriend. I
explained it to her hopefully in very clear terms that I am single with no Girlfriend. That
seemed to make her a little happy. we walked around the train station back to the front and
we walked back to the hotel one last time. We hugged and I told her she was a very
good friend and I thanked her for being so nice to me. She left to go home. I checked
up on my Internet messages and Planet-love and then I tackled doing a few loads of
laundry till 2 am. The next morning as I was packing to check out I received 1 more
phone call from Miho thanking me for the nice visit and the good time with her. she
hoped that I have a nice rest of my trip. I assured her that I had a great time with her
and I would e-mail her when I could as I continued on my trip.

What can I say but WOW ! what a nice thoughtful and caring girl Miho is, a goofy girl with
some spunk -- some of the charectorisics I like. I suppose I could keep you in suspense
for an other 2 weeks as I finish the Journals ha ha ha but I will tell you now that she is
the girl I am interested in. We are writing almost daily, instant messaging and she has
even called me 3 times so far. I want to call her back soon but I am trying to figure out
how to do this cheaply with these calling cards and 10-10 type numbers -- any suggestions? At least I will keep you in the dark for a few weeks before I get the pictures under control ha ha ha.