August 25, 2009 World War 2 Atomic Bombed Cities

Hey All
Well it has been almost another month since I made a little update on here. So here goes
We had a great time down south on the southern Island of Kyushu. It was HOT HOT HOT, but very nice to educate myself once again about WW 2 happenings. I guess I did NOT listen very well in school as many things were very new to me? :-( It is a mighty humid area and we surely released lots of toxins as we walked all over town sweating profusely in the high 90 degree temps and humidity as well. UGH!
We were in Nagasaki on Aug 6th as they were preparing for the August 9th anniversary and then we stopped by Hiroshima on the 9th and saw all the flowers and memorials that were left there a few days earlier at their Aug 6th Anniv.

In Nagasaki we stayed at a little traditional Japanese Ryoken and had fun with Fugiwara the owner. It was very much like our home here in Japan, but would be very exciting for those who don't live in a Japanese style house and a much different atmosphere than a western style hotel. Highly recommended if you ever visit Japan.
Another night we stayed at a hotel, but there we enjoyed a traditional Japanese style buffet breakfast. Does anyone know what Nato is? It is fermented soybeans and I found I DO NOT Like the odd flavor at all. I gagged and nearly vomited right there at the breakfast table.:-O YUCH! I heard it is an acquired taste and some folks really LOVE IT.. not me though, sad to say. After ramen one night we walked out of the park and heard drums and music in the air and so we headed toward a park to find many children and adults practicing for an upcoming festival in October. After listening to them, we wandered through some old temples and up the steep old brick steps into the cemetery where we had a nice view of the city lights in the surrounding hills over the harbor area as the sun set on another very hot day.

After two nights in Nagasaki we went north to Fukuoka and spent a couple nights there and enjoyed colorful light reflections on the river, lots of ramen and noodle dishes,the fish market, walked along the man made beach area, visited some markets, had a much needed bus tour around the city in the heat of the day for a respite from sweating and the hot sun. When down by the fish market we stopped to watch as they maneuvered a VERY BIG Cargo Ship up to a dock with the use of 3 tug boats pushing it around. Then we enjoyed a walk through the park and across the island path and over many a Japanese stone bridge as the cool air blew over the water. We watched many a dad and child out catching cicadas with their bug nets and boxes as well. The air is a constant BUZZZ still with their music right now as I write this post back here in Yokohama. Soon that season will be over and all will be quiet once again.

On our way home from Fukuoka we decided to stop by Hiroshima as well and here we ran into some rain. It sure put more of a somber mood when touring all the memorials with gray skies and drizzle as we made our way past many crane and flower covered granite memorials. We had fun making an origami crane with Ryo and some kids from a school outside the A Bomb museum. More noodles and then back on the Shinkansen for a quick ride home. It sure is nice to travel home on a train when your tired after pounding the pavement and covering lots of ground each day. Not like long car trips home where your trying hard to stay awake. You just sit back, relax and fall asleep yourself only hoping to wake up at the right stop.
It was a most interesting visit and I found it interesting that the Japanese are taking a closer look at their old history books to make sure the whole story is being told about who did what to whom. Lots of sad ways in which many people were treated in those years :-(