This is, hands down, the most fun I've had on a vacation by myself ever. Fukuoka is totally amazing. I'm going to try to put lots of pics up and try to make this blog interesting for people, but we'll see how that turns out in reality...
It’s my first full day in Japan. I’m sitting in my apartment in Fukuoka City, a nice sea breeze blowing in from Tenjin, a game show running in the background for company. Not many lights and sirens – as best as I can tell, it consists of two guys in suits playing scrabble with Kanji. There are two very serious judges scoring them. Not to say that I didn’t see insane game shows last night while I was going to sleep.
So, why has it taken me so long to post anything? Well, sitting on my table back home is the two-prong attachment for my Mac. Japan, for those of you who don't know, is 2-prong only. No adapter, no power.
Of course, that wasn't a problem. I just had to walk to the Mac store, which is 4 blocks from my apartment. Of course. If you are looking for it, just look for the Starbucks. No, not that Starbucks - the Starbucks across the street from that Starbucks. If you get lost, just look for the Starbucks 2 blocks away. "2 blocks away, but in what direction?" you ask.
In any direction.
No pics yet -- why do I buy things from Dynex? They never work...including their 5-in-one memory card reader. Don't buy it, btw. Back to the Apple store, I guess...
OK - so, a few observations, and then I have to get out of here...
The Flight
I learned a few things that I'd like to share:
1. ANA is the best airline ever
OK, so I was stuffed into a tiny seat next to some 260 pound guy. That's economy class for you. And nevermind that by my calculations, there was $350,000 worth of airfare on that Boeing 777. But it's an airline- that's supposed to happen.
But the staff were incredible -- nice, attentive, thoughtful -- constantly and thoroughly attentive the whole time. And the food was awesome; they gave me the Western meal (crap) but it was pasta and it was amazing!! Breakfast was Onigiri (rice ball), with the nori (seaweed wrap) separate so it wouldn't get soggy. Tea served constantly, and I have to find that brand of tea because it either had morphine in it or it was some secret blend of amazing tea.
2. We Make Our World Miserable
And by we, I mean westerners. Traveling in an airplane full of Japanese people is like a Montessori field trip. I watched four year olds carry their trash to the trashbin on the other side of the plane. Repeatedly. The plane was so clean I wondered if it was new.
The last flight I had to Orlando was in a flying dumpster. There was trash in the seat. When I got on the plane. What? I was afraid to touch anything for fear of getting TB.
Which, by the way, explains why Japanese people at customs all wear surgical masks. Hell, if I grew up in Japan, I would wear a mask when dealing with foreigners too. We are disgusting.
3. When the Lady at the Ticket Counter Asks If You Want An Exit Row, You Say "YES"
10 feet of leg room. 'nuff said.
Next Post - Fukuoka City, and my Apartment.