Tuesday, & Wednesday, January 28, 29, 2003 ....
I arrived back at Fukuoka (Hakata Station) at about 3:30 pm or so. I of course found that I
had time to investigate the busy food court in the basement of the department store next to the
station., Once again I loaded my bags with a lot of brochures on pastries from all of the
booths selling western styled pastries. I even snapped off a couple of pastry pictures
without upsetting anyone. I noticed a variety of booths selling local crafts and souvenirs
here too. but I was not ready to load down the weight of my bags too much here quite
yet. The Japanese love things cute and cuddly and Hello Kitty stuff is every where you
turn with Miffy the Rabbit from the Dutch artist Dick Bruna running neck and neck for a
close second in popularity right up there with Winnie the Pooh. Fukuoka had some kind of
red stuffed character like the California Raisins only more like the Fukuoka kidney bean ha
ha ha I never did figure out what that was all about.
I walked down the street with my bags in tow about 1/4 of a mile to the Tokoko Inn.
As it was past 4 pm, I checked in for the next 3 nights. Since I requested the cheapest
room --- that is what I got. I may have mentioned it before -- This was one of the two
rooms on each floor that wrapped around the elevators. then came the modular Bathroom
and finally the actual bedroom was only 6 feet deep by 10 feet long. just big enough for
the twin bead and a little bit of room next to it. I kept my luggage in the hallway
since there was no room in the bedroom.
I went down to the lobby to use the Internet and check up on e-mail (controlling the
junk mail) Then I was writing to my friends at P. L. -- I believe that I was pondering that
while I was having a nice trip. People do not just come up on the street to talk with you
like they might in the Philippines. I broke it down that maybe they are scared of me and
my big size, Or they are embarrassed about their English skills. Or maybe they just did
not care about talking with me.
I had just finished sending my e-mail lamenting about this phenomenon, when I saw a
little bundled up woman looking at me as I stared outside into the cold. She waved and
came in doors Why it was my single friend Miho who I had started writing with about 2
months earlier. I wasn’t planning on seeing her until the next day when we were to go
to Nagasaki (her home city) but this sure was a pleasant surprise. After looking each other
over and breaking the water with some small talk I invited her up to show her my
small hotel room and to give her the gifts that I got for her. Miho gave me a bar of
dark chocolate from Starbucks. which I had later on. It was surprisingly good, I thought for
sure It would be a poor quality chocolate like Hershey’s.
Then we decided to walk back up the street towards the Train Station to get something to
eat. Since it was blustery and flurrying outside and we seemed to have a good rapport
with each other I put my hands around her now and then to keep her close to me to keep
her warm. Hey Being the Grande Gringo has some advantages ha ha ha. We found a
nice Italian restaurant and she helped order insuring that the pasta dish did not have any
seafood in it for me. We had a pleasant time together talking and laughing, Miho is a
fun girl and I basically feel good when I am with her. Then we shuffled back down the
street in the cold to the hotel and she left to go home.
The next morning I checked My E-mail and there was a message from he,r thanking me for
the previous evening. She also said that since the highway was closed due to snow she
would be unable to drive to Nagasaki. Ah shucks there goes my plan to see that city I
thought. But Miho took the train into Fukuoka (she lives about 30 km outside) and she
met me at the hotel at a decent hour. We went down to the train station and we found
MR. Donut (my Buddy) I introduced her to the corn chowder as well as some free
complimentary salt ha ha ha. Maybe she was being nice but she agreed that it enhanced
the flavor too. At some considerable expense for her She surprised me and bought a train
ticket and using my rail pass we were going to Nagasaki after all. On the train platform
as we waited for the train she dusted off a little Donut sugar that I had on my face
totally unaware. I think Miho is definitely a caring and nurturing girl. Miho works as a
Caregiver in a home for the Elderly. since she is only 5 foot tall I think she has a very
tough job. We held hands and I kept her warm waiting for the train.
We relaxed and talked about family a little bit on the trip down to Nagasaki. Her
Grandfather was a Catholic monk so she has an understanding of Christianity. Neither of
us are really practicing religion so much. but I think it is nice that we share a similar
background. She drew in my vocabulary book that I had assembled and explained to me
what her name means according to the different Kanji symbols MIHO KATSUKI --- Mi (
Beautiful) Ho (sail) Katsu (Win or Victory) Ki ( tree). She has been to America once or
twice before. She said that she would like to meet my mother but I explained that my
mother is ill and lives on the other side of America in New York State, while I live in
California. It took a little while to get the idea across that I do not live close to my
family. It was a nice train ride down to Nagasaki.
Upon arriving at the train station we took some pictures of boats that they had on display
on the platform and I got some pictures of Miho goofing around . We also decided that
we were hungry for Chinese and Miho directed me on the trolley cars until we arrived in
Chinatown and she took me to her favorite restaurant. Miho got some seafood and noodles
and slurped away while I got some fried rice and I got Chow mein. No hot and sour soup
in Japan I think, but the Egg Drop soup was pretty good I thought. I managed with the
Chopsticks and I halfway impressed Miho by using them ha ha ha. Then we went out side
and I took one of my favorite pictures of Miho sitting in front of the carp pond next to
the restaurant.
It was a couple of days before Chinese new years and The Chinatown (Actually The
cleanest Chinatown I have ever been to) was being dressed up for the Lantern festival.
We goofed around and had a good time together being silly. I went into a Chinese Store
and it is interesting to be reminded of the difference in quality between Japanese goods
and the cheap quality merchendise that the Chinese sell but there were some interesting
items to look over. We took some pictures by the Chinese paper floats to be used in a
couple of days for the festival. and also the gate for entering Chinatown.
Miho asked me if I wanted to see the Atom Bomb site ( I told her that I would go to
Hiroshima in a couple of days and I would see the site there) I wanted to continue
having a happy time with her. She asked me If I wanted to see the Glover Mansion
(British)-- While I would enjoy a panoramic view of Nagasaki from here it was still
snowy and rainy not to mention overcast so I thought it would be pointless. So what did
we do but go window shopping. We went to some more covered street malls, and walked
around. I found a Boulangerie (bread store) that has the Eiffel Tower made out of
Bread in the front window -- I asked permission and I took a picture of it. I tried to
corrupt Miho to have some bread but she no! We saw some interesting shops and I saw
one that sold the L’Occitane French soap that the Four Seasons gives -- Verbena. But
the Soap bar was so old that it did not have any smell. The next day I gave Miho a
fresh bar (strong smelling) that I had in my pack.
One of Miho’s important friends Mr. Tagawa ( an elderly man almost a father figure for
her) Introduced her to having high tea. So she located their favorite Tea Shop and took
me upstairs for High Tea at 3 :30 or so. It was an equitable deal I think. Miho was
still full from Chinese food and She only wanted a cup of tea, so I had a glass of water
and I had the tough duty of trying / finishing the Scone and Pastries that came with tea. I
also ordered an order of Crepe Suzette Which I haven’t had in many years. We just kicked
back and chilled out (or should I say warmed up and talked) We walked around held
hands and I teased her now and then too. At about 6 PM we made our way back to the
train and she had to buy another ticket for the trip home. I kept her warm and even gave
her my gloves to wear as it was quite chilly that night in Nagasaki (one of the
southernmost cities in Japan). She laid her head on my shoulder once we found our seats
and we rested kind of exhausted after all of the activity.
Miho got off of the train about 30 km outside of Fukuoka where she lives and parked
her car. I enjoyed the rest of the train ride home thinking about how well things went
that day and what a nice and thoughtful girl she was / is too me. If I move to Japan I
think Nagasaki would be my first choice to live. It is an interesting city geographically with
a narrow harbor and nice hills surrounding it. Nagasaki is a good sized compact city with
about 500,000 people, so it is not a megalopolis city. Of course Nagasaki has a Chinatown
which is a definite plus for me and the food I prefer. and Nagasaki has a Dutch
influence Because of their history of being the only city allowed to trade with the
foreign world (Primarily the Dutch) for about 200 years or so when Japan isolated
themselves from the outside world.
I arrived at the hotel I was about ready to crash in my small cubicle room at 10 : 30,
when Miho called my room and told me how much of a good time she had with me and
she told her roommate / friends about me. She had to work the next day but she asked if
she could see me again. I said of course -- I only thought I would be able to see her for
1 day but It was turning out that I got a 3 day package deal for free! Not bad in my
book.
