Fukuoka, Fukuoka, JapanFinally we get to visit with Haruna, Robert & Kensuke today!!! Our whole purpose for visiting Japan again!
We started with the complimentary breakfast at the Comfort Hotel. It was a good breakfast with fresh fruit, yogurt, sausages, scrambled eggs, hash browns, shredded lettuce salad, potato salad, chicken with broccoli and garlic, Japanese fried rice, soup and an assortment of breads. Greg was disappointed as there was no dessert like at our hotel in Hanoi. Poor deprived guy!
We went to the Hakata station across the street and caught the Fukuoka subway, and later connected to the JR train to finally meet up with Haruna & Kensuke at the Kyudai-Gakkentoshi station. It was about a 40 minute trip. Robert was out picking up dessert. It was SO wonderful to see all of them!
We visited with them all day in their apartment. Kensuke is his full first name but he is called Ken or Kenny most of the time. He is just over 10 months old and just starting to pull himself up. He has 4 top teeth and 2 on the bottom. A very happy baby indeed who has a major love for Robert's slippers!
In Haruna and Robert's washroom, the toilet tank works as the sink to wash your hands when you flush, with the faucet on top.
We went for a couple walks during the afternoon. The first one was to a bakery a few blocks away. We all picked out pastries & baked goods for lunch. Mmmm For dessert Robert had picked up some Winter strawberries from the strawberry farm. One fits in the palm of my hand. They were so big, sweet & delicious!
We chatted about a variety of topics. We caught up on family updates on both sides. We are sorry to have missed seeing Haruna's dad this time - Yasutoshi lives in Yamaguchi, about 2 hours away by car.
We took another walk to the liquor store a few blocks away. Haruna & Robert know Greg's interests so well! LOL. Lots of interesting items. Previously we saw 4L bottles of Whisky(which they still have) but this time there were 5L bottles available for $25 - $45. Apparently for those times when 4L just isn't enough. Pump dispensers were for sale if needed!
We walked by a gas station and KFC on the way back to the apartment. Gas was 159 yen ($1.59 CDN) per litre. The Colonel was also outside the KFC :-)
Robert & Greg made the drive to get take out sushi & chicken for supper. Quite the platter & assortment and so good!
After supper conversation was slightly interrupted by a 4.3 magnitude Earthquake. Very odd feeling as the apartment building swayed from side to side, as we were up on the 9th floor.
After many pictures and hugs it was time to part. We are so grateful to have spent the day with Haruna & Robert and get to meet Kensuke!
We caught the train straight through to the Hakata station. The station was very busy for 9:30 at night, probably because it's Friday night. We stopped to pick up a pastry and a beer, with braille on the top, before coming back to the hotel. Perfect that everything is right out the door of the hotel!
Jim
2023-02-20
So glad you got to see your Japanese family, thank you for taking us along.