FAREWELL, FUKUOKA ...!

As I bid fond farewell to the Japanese Island City of Fukuoka, I thought I'd share a few photos, including:  The city skyline (#1-2);  My hotel, the Okura, and surroundings near the Naka River (#3-5);  the Suikyo Shrine (#4);  the International Congress Center, where my meetings were held (#7);  the Hakata Port (#8-9) and last but not least, the Cherry Blossoms in full bloom at Tenjin Park (#10-15).

IT'S A MOUNTAIN, IT'S A BUILDING, IT'S THE STEP GARDEN AT ACROSQUARE ...!

I discovered a hidden treasure this morning in Fukuoka.  By the banks of the Nakagawa River (#2), near the Prism of Wind (#3), just a stone's throw from Seattle's Best Coffee (#4), stands the Step Garden at the Acrosquare (#5-9).  The exterior of this building is like a step pyramid, covered in 55 varieties of exotic trees and plants.  The interior houses a world class cultural center and the Fukuoka Symphony Hall (#10-11)! 

WHEN A MOLLUSK IS A MEAL ...!

For my "last supper" here in Fukuoka, I decided to join some colleagues at the world famous Teraoka Honten restaurant.  While I knew we'd shell out some big bucks, I never expected to be served up a shell in return.  Dinner included a genuine conch shell filled with what was presumably a recently deceased conch.  It was surprisingly crunchy.

COD HELP ME ...!

Me:  Did I read the menu correctly, does that say Ovaries of Codfish?!?

Japanese Bigwig:  Yes.  You just ate them (photo 1).

Me:  Ahhhh.  Now you tell me.  What's this?

Japanese Bigwig:  Did you notice the creatures in the fishtank (photo 2)?

TAKE TWO CAPSULES AND CALL ME IN THE MORNING ...

I finally caught my first glimpse of a "Capsule Hotel" today in Fukuoka. For those who don't know, Capsule Hotels are the latest craze in Japanese Hospitality.  For a small fee, much less than a traditional hotel room, you get the privilege of sleeping in a genuine capsule alongside hundreds of other travelers.  As this photo suggests, it's basically a human filing cabinet!

THE SEVENTH WONDA OF THE WORLD ... !

Wonda of Wondas, I finally found something I like better than Starbucks in Japan.  It's called "Wonda:  My Favorite Coffee" and is served piping hot, directly from the can.  Later in the day, however, I ate a Fish Called Wonda at one of Fukuoka's finest restaurants.  While I initially thought its head (photo 2) was purely "decorative," I later learned that the waitress plunked it into my soup when I wasn't looking.  Will Wondas never cease?

CURRY OF THE SKY ...!

At first I felt somewhat insulted when the woman sitting next to me on my flight to Fukuoka donned a surgical mask after taking just one look at me.  Then, I realized she was probably getting ready for the hospital after sampling the latest inflight taste sensation:  "Curry de Sky" (Photos 2-3).  Maybe next time the pilot can just drop her off at the Mayo clinic!