Saturday, September 18, 2004
Going To Have A Bad Time Somewhere Else
On Friday night, after karate, Catherine and I told Laura that we’d be coming up to Kamigoto in the morning, but then made a last minute decision at 11:30 p.m. to go up that night. I had very little gas in my tank—at least less than an 1/8 of a tank, all gas stations were closed, and a 30 minute drive ahead of us. I was so worried we’d be walking a part of the way, ‘cause I was sure Midori-chan wouldn’t make it—but she prevailed. We had plenty of gas and no trouble. Knocking on Laura’s door after midnight surprised her and we made the first leg of the trip!!
We had been planning this trip for weeks, but when Saturday came, we had a really hard time actually leaving. We didn’t have tickets for the ferry, and we didn’t have any hotels reserved (and all the ones we called were booked). We all got kind of grumpy about the situation and frustrated that no one could make a decision. Kerry made a decision: she was going to go even if that meant going alone and then I said, “Let’s all just go!” And we did. And we kept our humor about it: “Let’s go have a bad time somewhere else.” So we met at Laura’s at 11 a.m., planning to get some groceries and head for the port before the ferry leaves at 12:30.
Noon. Thirty minutes until take off. We’re at Kamity (the grocery store) with bags of ready-to-eat meals, bottled drinks and …and no idea where the port is. I can’t believe we didn’t think of this earlier. It is pouring down rain, Laura and Kerry the only ones smart enough to bring jackets, Catherine racing back and forth from the car to the payphone, calling Peter, then Yuka for directions. Okay, we’ve got directions, we head to the port—still in the pouring rain, find it without problem and buy our tickets. We’re definitely going.
I take pictures like a mad-woman and yet have none to show for it because my camera has decided to randomly delete pictures from this entire first half of the trip. Technology can be so infuriating!
The ferry ride went quickly. Kerry and I manage to eat the entire six hours. Catherine doesn’t eat thinking she doesn’t know when her next meal is. (We may not know where we’re sleeping, but it’s not like they don’t have food in Fukuoka!!!) Peter was also on the ferry, headed to Hirado for a swim competition. He and Catherine spend almost the entire time outside on the upper deck while we make bets if this is the day they’ll finally kiss. (To all our surprise, we lost our bet—no action this time, folks!)
Kamigoto from the ferry.
Catherine jumping. If that's not a cool picture I don't know what is. It took me forever to figure out what it was. I thought she was jumping into water and I was wondering, "How did I miss that?"
Leaving Kamigoto behind!!! For a weekend at least!
Inside the ferry, where I ate and slept the entire time.
Then Dawn gets on the ferry. She’s the JET from Ojika, a very small island just north of ours, also in the Gotos chain. We haven’t seen Dawn since orientation in Omura five weeks ago! Dawn’s going to visit Emma, a second year JET on Uku, another small island just north of ours. We relish in seeing another JET, take pictures, exchange phone numbers and make plans for her visit to Kamigoto. The ferry (called the Taiko, I think) docks in Uku and we wave wildly to Emma where we get to yell to her from aboard.
Getting later and closer to Fukuoka. This sunset was amazing!
Kerry and Catherine braving the wind!
We arrived in Fukuoka around 6:30 and get a taxi to our capsule hotel, Greenland near Tenjin Station. Our taxi drives us around for a while, calling people on his cell (presumably getting directions), eventually stops the meter and drops us off outside a building with a British flag on it. It’s not a hotel, but a restaurant and they don’t even speak English there. So we wander around for hours, Catherine has brought her enormous backpack (full of air, she claims, but maybe she’s right because weight never seemed to be a problem for her). We ask, god knows how many people, for directions to Tenjin Station, directions to the Greenland Hotel and Tully’s Coffee (where there is another JET with her cell phone), directions to ANY hotel that might have a room available. Catherine is our savior, befriending a large Japanese woman decked out in an army uniform—but who cares what she’s wearing—she called the Greenland Hotel, made us reservations, and even walked us to their front door! We were so grateful for her kindness.
That's Catherine on the left talking to army woman. I'm standing around trying to look hopeless. Laura's on the phone with Leah. Thanks Kerry for taking this picture!
The capsule is great. We check in, just $40 a night, and take the elevator up to our capsules. It’s a bit scary at first—they looked like dryers with glass doors, stacked two high …and we’re just suppose to climb in there and sleep? Hope you’re not claustrophobic! But once I’m inside my capsule, it’s quite nice. There is no door, but a screen that you pull down—it’s much nicer than being shut in without any air. There is a television with an English channel, radio and air circulating. Kerry and Catherine start screaming about the free Japanese porn that seems to have taken over their TVs. No one knows how to change the channel and we all laugh, causing quite a ruckus. Forgetting that noise travels through the thin screen doors, we wake some old woman up, she rightfully gave us a dirty scowl and we creep out apologetically.
Here they are! The little capsules...aren't they great?
Our first night in Fukuoka and we’re not eating Japanese! We found an Italian place and ordered some delicious pasta and wine. We were all so happy to be off the island. We’re not having a bad time at all. Okay, it was an adventure finding a hotel, but we did it and we’ll be fine. The other thing we all agree to do this weekend is go dancing. We find a club about 50 feet from our hotel (I’m embarrassed to tell you it’s name: The Happy Cock) but they have a great deal: $20 for all you can drink until they close. I got the “two drinks for $10” deal because I wasn’t that thirsty and then we gaijin take over the dance floor! We all danced—no one holding up the wall in this group!—and we have a great time.
Are we not adorable? Me, Catherine and Kerry.
Waiting outside Greenland Hotel, all dressed uo to go out.
Somehow this seemed like a good idea at the time: Taking a picture from above.
Me and Catherine wanna dance!
Unfortunately, Laura wasn’t feeling well so she called it a night, while the three of us went in search of another Happy Cock where there apparently were some other JETs staying in Fukuoka for the long weekend. That’s where we met up with Leah (who had the cell phone in Tully’s Coffee), and several others whose names I don’t remember, but they were just leaving to go to our Happy Cock. By now our Happy Cock was brimming with people and no longer my scene, so I called it a night and walked back to our capsule.
Not the most attractive picture, I know. But these are the stock PJs they give you at the hotel. Super comfty, I had to restrain myself from taking them home!
Kerry modeling now.
And Cathering too!
This is going to have to be all for this entry because it is already so long! But I’ll be back with stories from Sunday and Monday soon!
Going to have a bad time somewhere else,
Sierra
