Do you know we can change our visions by going out from our house to somewhere and exploring the world? Some people may interest in huge cities that have crowd of people but that's not me. I'm more interest in somewhere that have stories and Kyushu is one of the best place that I can go around to learn more about their story, remember it in my memory and also write it down in my blog (http://www.kazekim.com).

My journey started from October when I've arrived here in exchange student program for half a year. Let's see what's going on my last 3 months. What's happened in my new world and what I learn from my experience?

Hakata Tomyo (Lantern) Festival (Fukuoka)

One night in Hakata area in the middle of October, this area was covered with more than 100,000 of lanterns. Lanterns were arranged to be pictures of somethings. It was amazing! The area of lanterns covered more than 10 Square Kilometres. Who was the one that managed all of this? May be some organizations or government? Some of travellers may interest only how nice of it but who knows? These art works were come from the power of Fukuoka people who proposed themselves to be volunteers to manage this event. Starting from think about what they needed to show, designed the structures of their works, assigned position for each lanterns and also spread out all jobs to all volunteers on that long night. Absolutely, we can participate as volunteers to help them work too and be proud of the final works that everyone help each others to make them happened.

It was very long night. I started walk from Hakata to capture this moment around. Walking from point to point and feeling excited with one of the biggest art works that just created in a very shot period. From Hakata station to Marine Messe Fukuoka with 3 kilometres distance. Most of area covered with small lanterns. Many of couples walked together and enjoy one of the most romantic event in Fukuoka. I think everyone who have a chance to come to Fukuoka should enter this event but please note that the event will not fix the date in every year. So, next time will be around October again and you can easily check its information in Fukuoka Tourism Website (http://www.fukuoka-now.com/). If you can't join this event, there are also plenty of other events that you can join.

Manga, the mix of Japanese cultures

As we know, Manga is include in culture of Japan and because of "Takamasa Sakurai" who has just passed away last 4th December, he can let the world know about this culture and make foreigners like us know about this one of this entertainment things that can make us more happy. You might see some Mangas have stories base on their tales or legend. Japanese people try to mix all of their cultures into the stories and let everyone know about Japan more through this way. That's Interesting!

In Kyushu, we can see many people dress like their favorite manga characters everywhere. No one will blame you if you dress like your favorite characters here too. You can try entering Maid Cafe, Game Cafe, Manga Club and more places for Manga in Tenjin area. I have tried all of these shop and found that it was very good feeling to speak with local people in the same things. I might know only little Japanese language but everyone there tried to enjoy their time together no matter they can understand each others or not.

The biggest event is in the Halloween festival. We can see the street in Tenjin have crowd of cosplayers. More than people were their custumes and take pictures with someone on the streets. Enjoyed their time with new friends and asked about what they thought about their customes.

I learned that people there were so kind and I think everyone who like to come here will feel like that too.

Dolphins are around Kyushu!

Kyushu is also the area that has many kinds of Dolphins live here. It was the first time I went to Marine World in Uminonakamichi and learned about how cute of the dolphins in the close distance. In their shows, I can see how smart they are. It can jump over 30 metres too! The biggest dolphins there are may be 10 times bigger than the children (As you see in the pictures).

After I watched their shows and go back to my place, I started to find more information about dolphins in Kyushu and found that they live around here. We also can watch more than 100 of wild dolphins too if we go to Amakusa. I tell my friends and that's my next plan to go in the upcoming year.

Saga Balloon Fiesta, Really need to be free in the sky with the Balloons!

In the early morning of one day in November, I caught the first JR train to go to the "Balloon Saga Station". It was only 5.30 AM. In that time, I was normally in the bed but I thought that I couldn't miss this world-class event "Saga Balloon Fiesta". It arrange only 1 period in the years in this area. I've heard that balloons are one of the things that I should try to take photos if I'm the photographer. I took many of nice photos there. I was proud of them. I also learn a lot of photograph techniques from the other photographers who attended this event too. They stood around the event area and took photos of balloons from multiples nationalities.

More than interest someone who like to take photos, this event also interest some parents who need to bring their children to travel somewhere too. I saw many foods, drinks and souvenirs from Saga prefecture sold around there. It looked like the big temple fair that was not located in the temple but located in the wide lowland. I tried taste of foods from around Saga there and spend time to watch their shows. Balloon Fantasia is the show that brings Balloons of Manga Characters to show out. Listen to the Burner concert in the evening or try to fly with balloon for a short distance and be free in the sky!

Karatsu Kunchi Festival, thanks for the harvesting seasonal with the largest festival in Kyushu

Enya! Enya! Enya! it wasn't my alarm clock sound but it was the sound of people in Karatsu who were doing their hard work to drag all fourteen hikiyama (Massive floats in the form of samurai helmets, sea bream, dragons, and other fantastical creatures, all constructed from wood, lacquer, and other materials) and move around the city. Each one weight 5 tons and they need many people to help. I think this is the biggest festival in Kyushu that has around 150,000 - 500,000 people attended in this 3 days event. For Karatsu people, they may be arrange this event to thanks for the stuffs they have just harvested in the autumn time. But for us, it may be the huge show that use all area of the city to be the stage.

The festival, which begins on the evening of November 2 and concludes on 4th. I decided to go there in the day after I attended the Saga Balloon Fiesta. My hotel was not far from the center of this event "Karatsu Shrine" and I could hear the voice of people said "Enya!" from my hotel too. What's the powerful voice!

Yatai, taste the Japan Traditional foods in the traditional style

You may see this type of restaurant in many countries (include my country, Thailand) but you don't see many of them in Japan. In Japan, we call this kind of remote restaurant "Yatai" and there are many of them in Fukuoka area. Yatais start to open when sky become dark and it's the time that people finish their work day. People come to sit together in front of chefs and order their favorite dishes like Oden, Yakisoba, Ramen, Gyoza or other menus that each Yatais serve for their beloved customers. They can spend their time to talk with someone who sit in the same Yatai with them too.

I walked pass by those Yatai many times but the first time I try them was around begin of november. I can feel the feeling of Japan style in this Yatai. I could say "Kore kudasai" for each menu I want to order and say "Itadakimasu" out lound when I want to start eating my meal. Their price may be a bit high but everytimes my friends come to visit me in Fukuoka and ask for traditional foods in Fukuoka, I will recommend them as one of the restaurant they should try too.

Yatai in Fukuoka are in 2 area. First one is in Nakasu. In this place, Yatai is located on Naka riverside. If you like to take photos, it's one of the best location for you too. But if you want to try most famous Yatai in Fukuoka, it was located in second area in Tenjin. If you want to try it, you should go there earlier or not you should get a queue for several hours.

Nagasaki, beautiful city on the hill

I think you have been heard about Nagasaki before. In World War II, this city was destroyed by the most dangerous weapon in that time "Nuclear Bomb". The life clock of around 75,000 people was stopped from that day but the city's clock can't be stopped. The city has been resurrected in several years later and finally it become one of the most beautiful city in the world.

The best time to take photos there is in night time but in day time it's still nice and looked colorful too. I was excited about how they can build the city on the hill like this but I also like it too. Do you know that night time city sight used to be voted as 1 of 3 the most beautiful city night view in the world too?

After the war, Japanese start to teach their children to live peacefully. It may be the reason why they don't have the soldiers but have only Self-Defense Forces to protect themselves.

Itoshima, taste Grilled Giant Oyster feeling

Grilled Oyster has became popular in this several years but it may be hard to find somewhere that has Giant Oyster like Itoshima.

There are many of Oyster Huts around Itoshima area. The fresh Oysters, Shellfish, Shrimps are ready to be served. If you want to eat rice too, you can order rice with Sea Urchin.

I enjoyed with that meal so much. The seafoods were so fresh. It looked like they could melt when I put them into my mouth. Their meat were soft and have no fishy smell. I agreed that it is one of the best choice you should try when you coming here or need to have lunch with your friends.

Kumamoto Castle, one of three largest castle in Japan

After Kumamoto Castle was destroyed in 1877, it has been reconstructed again with new technology of building. Its structure are stronger than before but the design is also same as before. I was looking forward to go to this castle for a long time and I finally went there. It's a super huge castle in the big area. If I compare its area with something, it can be about 100 football fields connect together size. I heard that it used to be larger than this but now they sepearateits area to use in another activities.

I was going to the main castle and taking a look city around from the top view. I investigated on the stuffs from ancient time. The castle also has two towers and each tower also have their stories too.

Next to the main castle is Honmaru Goten Palace. It's the building with large Tatami room and use for greet the country's important guests. There is one building that left from the past and was not attacked so much. It was Uto Turret. I went to explore it too and found that its ceiling was very low. If you go there, you should beware of your head too.

Daikanbo, silver grass moutain in Aso Mout. area

if you look from Northern outer rim of Aso moutain. in Autumn, you can see one of moutain has silver and green color . It also has a shape different from other moutain because it has less curve than the other moutain.

When you stand on Daikanbo and watch to the Aso moutain, you can see view of Aso Gogaku and the Kuju Mountains from here is fantastic. We can see somethings look like a Buddha lying on his back and that's called ""Nehanzo" . The area is also known to be a great spot for astronomic observations as well.

There are silver grass named "Miscanthus Sinensis". It is a grass family Poaceae. It was grown there and became very popular for traveller to go there and take some photos

Sumo, the game that big men become heroes!

I knew Sumo from game "Street Fighter" which "Honda" use his Sumo Skill to fight with the others but I had never watched the real Sumo game before I came here. It was my first time to see the real Sumo Game "Grand Sumo Tournament - Kyushu Basho 2015" in the Fukuoka Kokusai Center. This event will arranged in Fukuoka around November every year. Over 600 men came here to fight in the game.

I was very exciting that in this game the big men become popular. I saw some Sumo guys had their young girl fan clubs and they looked popular. I may be tell my big guy friends to try the game and join the Sumo tournament too but it may be hard because these men have practiced for a long time to be like this. They do a hard work to have their strength and I think they can proud of it too.

Collect your 5 Yen Coins and donate them at the Shrine when you have a chance to go there

In my country also have temples, I often go there too. But in Japan the belief of people may be a bit different. I had chances to go to many Shinto Shrines in all area in Kyushu (Such as Aso Shrine as you see in picture) and saw how beautiful of their architectures in the Shrine.

Shrine is the place of God. There are many Gods that existed in the Japanese's stories. I can go and pray for everything in my life like Work, Study, Love or Family. I can use my 5 Yen coin that has a hole in the center of it for donating. In Japanese belief, Five-yen coins are commonly given as donations at Shinto shrines with the intention of establishing a good connection with the deity of the shrine, and is widely believed it is best to insert a single five-yen coin into a new wallet before inserting any other money.

But whatever you are praying for, you should try to do it everything by yourselves to get the result of your effort, Right?

Yanagawa River, cruising with slow life day in Kotatsu

It started to be colder than before. I decided to go to Yanagawa with my friends. The sky was clear on that day. We were slowly move around in the Yanagawa river. We were all stay in the Kotatsu table to keep out body warm. It's amazing to stay outdoor in 10 degree celsius but our body still warm.

After about an hour, we had arrived the final destination. We had a chance to try the famous dishes there "Unagi Don", the rice with pieces of eel meat. It was very delicious and I think everyone should try it when you go there too.

Greeting Aso-San, visit the volcano crater

Dear Aso-San,

I'm glad to have a chance to visit you last time. You are a first active volcano that I have a chance to visit. Because you were not in a good mood. You still spitted some toxic volcanic gases out from your mouth when I saw you. That's why I can't to go near you closely.

Please calm down. I will wait for your good news via this website (http://www.aso.ne.jp/~volcano/eng) and I'm looking forward to see you again next time.

Best regards and hope to see you soon,
Kim

Yaskawa Factory - Company Visit, amazing robot for working in factory

If you are engineer who work for factory, you may interest in this. Yaskawa is a big player who produce robots for using in facetory. It can replace some of repetitive works and make your works go faster too.

I have a chance to visit their company. They open factory to let us visit. They also have Robo Village to show out how day can work. You may not know, Robots can now do many jobs for us such as take care of patient, sell Ice-cream or be a Taiko (Japanese Traditional Drum) player.

If you are a business man, you can ask them for visiting their company. You may be find some solutions to improve your operations too. Good Luck!

Usuki, the Samurai village

In the South East of Oita city, there is the city name "Usuki". It's the village that maintain the environment of the ancient city. It has been called "The city of Samurai".

I went there and have a chance to enter the Samurai house. I was greet with the tea ceremony and Real Samurai came to welcome me by himself. I feel like I was sending back into the past world and enjoyed to be a character in this Samurai Village.

Jigoku Meguri, the tour of 8 hell Onsen

Onsen is the most famous attraction in Kyushu area. If you come to Kyushu, you should find a chance to go to Beppu in Oita Prefecture to see the most famous colorful Onsen named "Jigoku Meguri". Its name means "Tour of 8 Hell". Each hell will have unique style of itself. Their name are Umi-Jigoku (Sea Hell), Oniishibozu-Jigoku (Oniishi Shaven Head Hell), Yama-Jigoku (Mountain Hell), Kamado-Jigoku (Cooking Pot Hell), Oniyama-Jigoku (Demon Mountain Hell), Shiraike-Jigoku (White Pond Hell), Tatsumaki-Jigoku (Tornado Hell) and Chinoike-Jigoku (Blood Pond Hell). It's the other place that can take some good photos too.

Yusentei Garden, the other Japanese Garden with beautiful scenery

Yusentei Park is located in the south west of Tenjin area in Fukuoka. It's the good place to have the afternoon tea with Japanese dessert while have sightseeing the Japanese style garden in Autumn here. I really loved it. There are red color of Maple leaves and yellow color of Ginkgo leaves around. There are many girls like to have their Japanese Kimono dress photos collections come here for taking their photos too.

It's a good place to spend your holiday and take rest in somewhere quiet and not far away from the center of city.

My journey is not end yet. I'm still travel around and share my experience

My journey is still continue. I have plans to move around Kyushu more and more to explore this area. I need to learn more about this entire area. Absolutely, I can share it and you can follow me via my SNS account.

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