Winter starts

Winter!!!

The temperature has dropped dramatically, night time is generally below 10celcius. I had to run off quickly to buy fluffy lined coats and down jackets to keep warm - I can't leave my room without at least four layers on.

During December the weather is supposed to hover around 17 degrees during the day, but last week it was 7 degrees during the day so go figure. Apparently the coldest months are January and February - single digit temperatures T_T Last week it even snowed a bit!!

Fukuoka gets a lot more snow than us - the Japan Sea side is colder than the Pacific Ocean side so I guess that's the reason why.

Thank goodness for Uniqlo I don't know what i'd do without it - they sell cheap and simple but fashionable clothes, really really good quality - perfect for every season. Right now they have a heat technology range - very warm!

Kokura has been transformed. They've set up lights around the river at Nishikokura and in front of Kokura station - dubbed Kokura Illumination. The theme of the lights is <3 It's very couply.




Another thing in winter is nabe!!! Kind of like hotpot... but there tends to be certain ingredients that suit a particular type of nabe better than others. Nabe warms you up and makes veggies taste nicer! Motsu nabe もつ鍋 innards and veggies in miso or soy sauce base - very very yummy!!


I've also been trying my hand at making miso nabe at home... I don't exactly stick to the 'proper' ingredients all the time but who cares. I have a one person nabe pot... and even for me it's too small!!
Although the japanese style is to finish the soup off at the end with rice or udon! I think it's a great idea!

Autumn

'Tis a pretty picture around uni, the leaves are turning bright red and a blazing yellow. Haven't been up to too much, but I went to a Japanese beach in the day finally! In Wakamatsu.
There aren't any natural beaches around here, the coast has been filled and developed to incorporate all the trade with Asia.

I must say it doesn't smell like the sea... the sand is darker and coarser here.


Hibiki Green Park is one of tourist spots in Kitakyushu. They change the flower displays according to season:



'Cosmos' - an autumn flower that blooms in autumn in this area:

A hall and an observatory ride that goes round and round

The Tanaka mother and daughter drove me around that day ^^ so nice... that's the daughter. We 'teach' english to them.

Another awesome event that happens in autumn at KIT is the school festival! Koudaisai! All the students into groups from their labs or clubs. It's a fully 100% student organised event, from the rent and setting up the stall to disposal of garbage... the Let's english speaking circle made mini burritos and mini kebabs.


setting up the tent stall

making tiny burritos/kebab
the structural engineering lab's shop - jagga potatoes
inside/sitting area of the let's shop

cooking area
miso flavoured onigiri on a bamboo stick
'nurse'
xjapan cover band????
horse wants fairy floss!
satoko...i mean... horse is thirsty!
the korean store!
the stage
bunny and chicken

Saga International Balloon Fiesta 2008

Saga Balloon Fiesta

(by Bex)

Saga prefecture is to the south west of Fukuoka prefecture, my interest in the 'fiesta' was peaked due to all the advertisements hanging around the main railway station Kokura.
Japan greatly encourages traveling within the country so these advertisements are not rare.

To cost cut I wake up at 4am to catch an all stops train to Fukuoka - from there I take a highway bus to Saga prefecture, followed by another local train to where the balloons were launched. It's Monday 3rd November - public holiday and the last day of the festival...I mean fiesta


I arrived in time to see the inflating of the 'balloon fantasia' event - these balloons didn't fly:
Doraemon!!! yay!!!

The fox's glasses never inflated properly lol
This balloon was from a german bank i believe...or was that the fox =S:
Yes that's a giant babybel cheese balloon...
Tako!!!! Octopus! yay!


After they'd inflated them all everyone was allowed to go into the grounds to get close to the balloons:
The fiesta also included tents where they sold local food and wares - typically, and a bike show and a tent where bands played - they weren't that good. And of course heaps and heaps of festival food and heaps and heaps of people to eat it!!


I was in danger of catching a cold at the time...I couldn't wait for the last day event - the key grab race - they have a race in their balloons obviously - then many many balloons inflate at night - it's supposed to be a very pretty sight and they have fireworks and everything...but i've got the postcard for that lol.