This morning we docked in Fukuoka, having left Busan at 10 pm last night. The captain (Captain Limoncello - that's what it sounds like) warned last night that there were predicted 4 metre high waves overnight but we both slept soundly without noticing).
As this was our first destination in Japan we had to go through immigration when we disembarked but guests were called through in groups and it was a smooth operation.
We were on a half day walking tour with an elderly gentleman as our guide. We got a shuttle bus to the subway station where he led us up several staircases and then looked at a map on the wall as he didn't know where he was. It didn't bode well and we had to retrace our steps to the ticket barriers. He turned out to be a good guide, knowledgeable and entertaining.
We visited 3 temples, one Zen Buddhist, one Buddhist and one Shinto. All very beautiful.
At the Buddhist temple we were encouraged to walk through a winding dark tunnel; it was pitch black and being unable to see, we had to touch the wall on our right to guide us through until we came out into the light with the obvious symbolism.
At the Shinto shrine there was a ceremony taking place. A young boy, dressed as a Samurai complete with sword, and his mother dressed in a kimono, sat before the altar whilst a priest chanted and banged a drum.
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Wow! Glad you both slept through the storm. Sounds like another very interesting day. Beautiful photos. Thank you for the continuing updates. We are really enjoying following your journey. Love and hugs. xx
The symbolism of the dark tunnel to the light is an obvious one , I guess, but powerful nonetheless the less. Glad you slept through the rough seas.
Lots of love x x x ( p,s 19 weeks to go for Katie) x x