December 27, 2008

• 12/28/2008 Moji

  Today's "go somewhere" was the harbor town of Moji, located near Kitakyushu.  This location is important as a connection point between the southernmost island of Kyushu and the largest island of Honshu.  You can see the very narrow straight on the map.

  

  

  Above see the train platform at Moji Harbor Station.  I thought is was rather quaint.

  

  Here is a scene of some jinrikishas decorating the station.  Moji is trying to attract tourists with a "good old days retro" atmosphere.  There are jinrikisha pullers that will give guided tours, but as the area is small enough to get around in on foot, we opted to walk.

  

  This poster is advertising a local dish, banana curry.  I would have liked to have tried this!

  

  This is Moji Harbor Station from the outside.

  

  This is a map of the area with its various historical buildings.

  

  Some boats in the harbor.  Hey, one has Hubby's name on it!

  

  This is an aerial map of the straight, Kyushu south and Honshu north.  The red characters say "You Are Here."

  

  Cross this drawbridge and go up to the observation deck in the tall building to the right.

  

  The building in the foreground was used as an inspection site.  Let's go inside.

  

  A contraband bag...

  

  and fake designer goods.

  

  I liked this retro grate on the second floor.

  

  Here is another retro building, probably a former library that now houses a Chinese restaurant on the first floor.

  

  Here is a scene from the observation deck of the bridge that connects Kyushu and Honshu.

  

  See the island with two bumps?  That is Ganryujima Island, the site of the famous battle between the two great swordsmen Miyamoto Musashi and Sasaki Kojiro.  Miyamoto always wins.

  

  The inspection building seen from the observation tower.

  

  This was an item in a souvenir shop.  It reminded me of the lamp from the movie "A Christmas Story."  I didn't bring it home with me.

  

  More souvenirs that I didn't bring home because they looked so impressive lining the shelves.

  

  This is another retro building where Albert Einstein stayed.

  

  Albert Einstein slept here.

  

  Albert Einstein sat here. 

  

  Never mind...

  

  Albert and Frau Albert

  

  I saw this walking to the next destination, a museum that was not the best. 

  

  There was a spiral hallway leading around the inside of the building with no other purpose than to make us exercise along the way to the floors above which did not really contain any informative historical displays.  The museum staff was a bit too "helpful," as well.  One lady kept wanting to take our tickets (I finally told her that we would give her the tickets when we were ready to go in, which we were not yet), and another asking us what was the matter when all we did was walk into the above room where a movie had just ended.  We might have waited for the next showing in five minutes, but felt that she rushed us out and up the spiral walkway that lined the walls of the theater.  Yet another lady asked us if we had been able to enjoy the museum at our leisure...  Now how am I supposed to reply to such a stupid question?  Well, at least we know not to recommend including this place on anyone else's itinerary.

  

  Another retro building

  

  The harbor shopping area

  

  The harbor at night

  

  Back to Moji Harbor Station and then to Fukuoka!

   

  • 22:21
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