March 10th - Fukuoka

Woke up and went downstairs for breakfast.   Standard japanese 'fish' breakfast in their first floor japanese restaurant.   Here's what it was:

Went back to my room and got my heavy sweatshirt and fleece jacket and headed out for my morning through early afternoon walk.

It WAS windy and chilly out.   I also had one of my ski hats, but it was still cold.  

Went to the subway station and bought a one day pass so I wouldn't have to keep figuring out fares.   It was only 600 Yen, about $5.

Headed down the subway line to walk in a big park area which also houses the Fukuoka Castle Ruins.    The park is bordered by a

water feature and lots of nice lawn areas.   I saw some people playing with their dogs. 

There were also quite a few giant black birds -- maybe crows -- flying around.   I was worried they thought I might be edible!

A little further in I came to the shiomi turret -- here's what it looked like as I walked past:

Further up the road I walked up towards the actual castle ruins.   On the way there were some nice cherry blossom trees:

Starting to get close to the first layer of the castle ruins:

And up that set of stairs, then up three more sets "further up" behind it I got to the top of the ruins, which 

offered a great view in all directions ("Location, Location, Location!" if they ever want to list the place on the market!)

Here's a 360 degree "video" to take it all in:

Headed back down and, on the way, strolled through a layer which was primarily a nice cherry blossom tree garden

Went back to the subway and then on several more stations to what I thought was going to be another interesting site -- something about a palace, but

turned out it was probably a pachinco house or something -- in any case all I saw was big blocky buildings and nothing worth taking a picture of.

So I went back on the subway back a station to look for an area noted as having lots of little carts with fruits and veggies and shopping of that type.

I found it, though it turns out the action doesn't really start until around 1pm and it was only 11am.    Oops!

Walking up the down the street I did come across a store/bakery and found a few items!

How could I NOT buy something from this store front?

And more carts starting to setup--

on the way back to the subway found a department store.    In addition to going upstairs and buying myself a pair of warm gloves

(it is VERY cold here compared to where I have been) their basement level offered some great pastry items made on the spot.

I got a warm circle of batter encasing some sweet azuki bean paste.   Kind of a 'baked pancake with filling' thing.  Yum!

Headed back to hotel and rested a while (while eating the yummy "puck of happiness" shown above.

Decided  Should have something for lunch that was protein based but didn't feel like walking much more, so went back to the sushi-conveyor belt place

and bought lunch:

Ha!  All that sushi only cost 780 yen, or about $6.40 US!

Anyway, back to the room for a long nap!   

Around 6pm headed out for dinner.   Decided to to back to the Yatai stand that I'd seen last night but was too full (at the time) to eat at.   This was one

that had bowls of some type of soup with noodles, veggies and chopped up meats in them.   Really 'warm' and 'hearty' looking -- but for me a major meal unto itself.

One stand last night had a very nice lady who came out and showed me a picture menu, so I knew I was in for something good.

In addition to the giant (for me) "half bowl" of wonderful grilled and chipped up pork, noodles and veggies in a thick (I think miso) broth the vendor

also treated me and the rest of the patrons to some grilled chicken wings.   The guy doing the grilling was actually working on his birthday!

The nice lady acting as host and chef was making some Gyoza for someone else at the far end of the bar.   The nice couple to my left also ordered

some and offered me one!   Yum!   It was good -- a little pork and a lot of very fresh chopped up scallions.    The lady was hand folding them and 

frying them up for everyone.   Here's a video of her prepping some -- including a second video showing her "flipping" them all in the pan.   Don't try this

at home -- they'll end up on the floor!

Here are a few more pictures of the chef's at work:

My friend to the right of me ordered some type of omelette dish as well.   Here she is prepping it for him and the final "dish" was delivered -- go this picture before he dug in:

It was a really great dinner!   I waved goodby to everyone (it was very friendly there) and walked a block to a coffee place for dessert.   I got a nice warm tea

(its really cold here completed to Bangkok) as well as a piece of rolled cake for dessert:

Headed back to the hotel and passed out for the night.