26.1.13

LAST OF KYUSHU






Our last day in Kyushu was spent shopping, walking and eating in Hakata. The place reminded me a lot of Tokyo, with the familiar shops and city walkways, though it was a lot less crowded.

Next time we'll like to spend a bit more time there.


19.1.13

GILLMAN BARRACKS









A little sidetrack from my mountain of Kyushu photos.

It threatened to rain the whole time we were there, but all in all we liked the place for it's pretty black-and-whites, wide open spaces and oh the trees, there were so many of the big old trees!

It felt great too that there was no crowd to be found :)

Check out the Gillman Barracks.


17.1.13

THINGS I REMEMBER, THINGS I LOVE: NAGASAKI PART TWO

How can a trip be complete without chasing down a few cats?

So introducing... ...

... ...the adorable cats of Nagasaki.

They were everywhere to be found!



The famous Glover house, the oldest western house still standing in Japan.

And according to the guidebook, the birthplace of the even more famous Mitsubishi giant and Kirin Beer.


We enjoyed wandering around the old western residences of Higashiyamate too.

Most of the beautiful wooden interiors have all been converted into exhibitions or cafes.






On the last day. We were headed for the city of Hakata next. 


6.1.13

THINGS I REMEMBER, THINGS I LOVE: NAGASAKI PART ONE

A drizzle on our first day in Nagasaki. These little transparent umbrellas always remind me of Japan.

The senbazuru.

A beautiful prayer for peace.


There were so many of the old tram systems still in use in Kyushu. They might not be as fast as you want them to be but it was lovely being in one.

At Dejima, where Japanese did business with foreigners for the first time.

The former Dutch residences were only re-creations.

But I was blown away by how stunning the Western and Japanese elements worked together.

I want to live in one.


A short walk away was the Nagasaki Prefectural Art Museum.

We saw an exhibition about Finnish design, and bought a little spoon as keepsake by the late Sori Yanagi.

The beautiful lines of the building architecture continued up to the little rooftop garden.


And we were lucky to be greeted by a pretty pink sunset after an all day of rain.

Hello Nagasaki, I think I just might have fallen in love.