All photos on this post are from www.lacarmina.com

For many of us travelers, traveling can be like crossing through a looking glass into a weird Wonderland, where we are seduced by worlds that are strangely beautiful and which we never knew existed.  We’re shocked, awed, delighted, bedazzled and mortified all at once, reawakening us with a curiosity to go deeper. It allows us freedom to experience alternative spaces and it broadens our world to involve other realities, which in turn, gives us growth and a greater knowledge of the world.  Personally, this is one of the reasons I love travel.

But sometimes, even in travel, we can get into a rut of falling into a pattern and mimicking footsteps before us, rather than carving out our own.  How do we escape that rut even in travel?

The travel lady I have the honor to interview today stands on the other side of that looking glass in the world of the strangely bizarre, spooky and beautiful.  She’s an extraordinary lady, successful at seeking out the “off-beat and cool”  when she travels. From interviewing bagelheads (a form of body modification) on TV to blogging about
Japan street style, underground culture and Asia… she’s also the author of three books, one of which took Andrew Zimmern’s Bizarre Foods on a tour exploring Tokyo’s theme cafes (watch her TV host reel for a glimpse of this and to see shows she’s been on).  She’s a writer for CNNTravel/CNNGo and the Huffington Post… and I could just go on.  But rather than give you a resume, let me share the person. Let’s cross through the looking glass…

I’d like to welcome goth travel fashionista,  La Carmina.

Where are you originally from and where do you live now?

I was born and raised in Vancouver, Canada. This is still my home when I’m not roaming the world for my work in blogging, journalism, and TV presenting. At this point, I travel to 1-4 destinations per month, so perhaps it’s more accurate to say I live in planes and airports!

When were you first bitten by the travel bug?

I don’t remember my first trip, but my parents took me to Hong Kong at the age of one, to visit relatives. I’m sure flying on a plane and seeing a bustling, neon Asian city at such a young age made a big impression on me. Since then, travel was part of my life. My family and I took vacations a few times a year, to Asia, North America and Europe, so it became a natural rhythm.

 What attracts you to travel?

Nothing inspires me and opens me up like traveling. I’ve discovered new creative passions, obsessions, favorites while on the road — there are foods, people, cultural differences that you’ll never encounter anywhere else, even if you live in a cosmopolitan city. (Like camel milk and cat cafes!) I never stop getting excited to “coolhunt”  (or scout out and report) on alternative culture worldwide, and share my findings with my readers.

How did a Vancouver girl make her way across the globe to find a home in Tokyo?   Was this a spontaneous decision or did you plan it for a while?

I don’t live full-time in Tokyo, but I’m there at least a few times a year for TV show filmings and other projects. I lived in Japan for several months while working on my theme restaurants book. I love being in Japan, but for a variety of reasons (logistical, cultural, visas, work), I prefer Vancouver to be my home base.

What drew you to the alternative/goth fashion scene and what makes the fashion scene in Tokyo unlike any other in the world?

Growing up, my impression of the teen-pop universe that consumed my fellow classmates was… “It sucks! How annoying!“.  Instead, I gravitated towards Tim Burton, Edward Gorey, Vampira and other creatures of the night. I began exploring Gothic fashion, music and nightlife, and was captivated.

In Tokyo, there is incredible creativity in makeup and clothing — the club kids can transform themselves in extraordinary ways. You won’t find fantasy evil queens like this in Western nightclubs!

One of your books, Crazy Wacky Theme Restaurants: Tokyo, ultimately found its way into an episode of Andrew Zimmern’s Bizarre Foods.  Did you have any idea that book would open the doors to TV guest appearances?

None whatsoever.

Like most regular people, I was someone who grew up with no entertainment industry connections or inside knowledge. I had zero prospects of getting into TV, so it was never a goal. However, this opportunity on Bizarre Foods led to other producers reaching out, and I now appear regularly on networks like Food Network, Travel Channel, Discovery, National Geographic. On June 8, my appearance on Oddities will air on Science and Discovery Channel. I love the medium of TV presenting, and want to continue down this road.

Hitting Tokyo? Check out La Carmina’s book, Crazy Wacky Theme Restaurants:Tokyo !  (click on photo)

One of the things I love about your sensibility and style is your way of finding quirky and off-the-beaten-path places, when you travel. You call it “cool hunting”.

For example, I didn’t know there were Tokyo restaurants with ninja waiters or macaques that serve you…  Any tips for travelers on how they can become “cool hunters” in their travels?

I think this process (searching for emerging trends and underground, youth, sub-movements) comes organically to me. Without knowing what the word “coolhunting” meant, this is something I’ve naturally done since my teen years.

The best way to get connected is by participating in alt communities and building trusting, genuine relationships there. Be active on social media and interact with readers. Then, when you’re off to a new destination, you’ll have contacts and leads for places to explore.

What are your top three most bizarre and favorite cities?

It’s impossible to name only three, but for drag queen parties, body modifications, and alternative art/culture, I adore Tokyo, Osaka, and Berlin.

What country or places surprised you in unexpected “cool”?

I scouted out bizarre places in Milwaukee, Wisconsin for my travel web series, and was pleasantly surprised by the quirks I encountered. I went to a secret agent bar, cheese castle and retro love hotel! You can see my travel TV episodes on my Huffington Post page.

What is your personal travel style, when you’re not working and what type of places or experiences do you seek for enjoyment?

I try to dress in layers, since temperatures can vary highly between destinations. I bring a light jacket and scarf in my backpack, in case I get cold. On flights, I wear comfortable clothes.

When I’m in front of the camera, I get dolled up. I like to wear styles that match the destinations, such as a retro 1920s look for Miami’s Art Deco Weekend, and head scarves in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

You’re a woman, who has worn many non-traditional travel hats — alt fashionista, travel host, blogger, fashion consultant, cool hunter, fixer, writer….(hope I didn’t leave any out). Is there one aspect, which you feel defines you the most and what’s your secret to juggling sanity?

Today, it’s exhilarating that young people don’t need to choose one industry. The web and social media gives the ability to self-publish and get works out there. You can shoot digital photos and video, upload on the web… the process is much faster than traditional TV and journalism. I think wearing all these hats defines me; I’d hate to have to choose only one field.

You’ve found celebrity success, despite the fact you’ve not tried to appeal to the mainstream…  Any tips for someone looking for career success in travel blogging or hosting, even if their sensibilities might appeal to a smaller or more alternative niche?

Don’t try to appeal to everyone. You can build a strong, passionate base by focusing on specific, alternative niches. These may seem limited, and you may have your haters… but those who “get it” will be on board 100%. And this will enable you to do work that is unique to you, and grow in unexpected ways (I started by blogging about Japan street style, and it grew to books, TV and journalism about subcultures worldwide).

What’s one personal survival tool that you feel you owe your success to?

My Scottish Fold cat, Basil Farrow!   He is my rock, or more accurately, my squish-ball. Basil helps me stay relaxed and maintain perspective — his cuteness will brighten up anyone’s day. You can see a million photos of him on my Twitter, Instagram and blog.

Follow La Carmina’s travels and adventures here:

Website: www.lacarmina.com
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Check out her book: Crazy Wacky Theme Restaurants: Tokyo, 

Any thoughts on this interview or just want to do a shout out to La Carmina, leave it in the Comments section below.

You might have seen this photo on Instagram

… Okay, I haven’t actually scoured the world for amazing aquariums. But I’d heard rumors that Osaka Aquarium was a pretty rock star aquarium .

And you know… it was!

What makes Osaka Aquarium one of the coolest fish tanks in the world?

Were there fish I didn’t know about? Dolphin tricks I hadn’t seen before?

Okay, so I heard they had a whale shark.

Was that any reason to cut my  Kyoto sightseeing short, for a day-trip to Osaka?

Once I arrived, I understood what made Osaka’s Aquarium special…

Osaka kaikujan

Before sharing the highlights, I encourage you to watch my video below.

The video shows my favorite highlights and its under three minutes.

For fun, I’ve embedded “a secret egg” in this video. If you can find the hot-link, it links to a special video about my favorite sea creature and an activity I almost did last year, but had to miss at the last minute. Thus, I’m absolutely obsessed with the thought of doing it.

Four Reasons to visit Osaka Aquarium:

1.  Osaka Aquarium’s got friggin’ humunga-noid fish!

I’m from Hawaii where our culture revolves around the ocean. But I’d never really seen enormous fish before. The closest I’ve come to gi-normous fish was in a Vietnamese village in the Mekong Delta, where a family had one giant lonely fish in a tank, that didn’t seem big enough for it to do anything but float.

But at Osaka Aquarium, there were many giant fish and a much larger aquariums. Some fish looked like they could swallow a head whole.

If you had a small child, I’d keep them away from the glass. It could be worse than a scary carnival ride.

This fish could swallow my head!

A tank of extraordinarily large fish Just imagine swimming in this tank.

2.  There are live performances, where you see everything

With most aquariums, you’re watching dolphin and whale shows from the bleachers with the hot sun beating down on you. You get to see these amazing beasts jump out of water.  But fish aren’t really meant to be out of water. Their home is the ocean, not the air.

With Osaka Aquarium, you’ll see trainers commanding sea life to perform tricks above surface and below surface. I appreciated that. Some may be disappointed that there are no high leaping tricks, but I promise you won’t miss it.

Also, during feeding time, they throw the food near the glass, so you can see your favorite species up close.

Shows and performances Scuba Santa- why not? . The Penguin TankPenguins doing a Face-off
 Otter feeding time and how close they get to the glass

3.  Experience deep sea diving, without getting wet

While Osaka doesn’t make Touropia’s top 10 largest aquariums in the world, it’s aquarium houses more than just a snorkeling experience.

If you love to scuba dive, the main tank deep sea tank may trigger memories. The aquarium is 9 meters deep and filled with 5,400 tons of water. The tank descends around 4 to 5 floors (or 9 meters/30 feet deep) and you can view it at each level until you reach the bottom. It’s a phenomenal experience.  You can see many manta rays, sharks, fishes… and one giant whale shark.

See the video for a better view of the tank.

The deep sea tank. It goes 5 levels down.   . Bottom of the deep sea tank
 A lot of sharks resting on the sea bed of the deep sea tank

4.  It’s not just a “little” sea life, but it’s choke lots!

Wow.

Here we go…

Wow.

I just said it again… When you find yourself collecting enough of these one-off expressions to fill your speechlessness, you know it’s pretty good.

At each turn, you’ll see large tanks packed with sea life… and I mean “packed”.

I’ve been to aquariums where there’s been many categories of  fishes and sea life, but a small amount of it. I always assume it’s due to budgets and funding.

Not a problem for Osaka.

Four seals in this picture. But there were more.

The three most impressive showcases were the seals, mantas and Alaskan king crabs. You get to see them large, plentiful and up close. The seals were playfully enjoying their swim, while the mantas were flapping and flying everywhere in their tank. The Alaskan crabs… okay, they don’t do much, but look like big scary water spiders. But it’s like they’ve invaded the water terrain and “infestation” is the word that comes to mind.

You won’t be wasting your time waiting for the right photo op here. If you miss one, another will come along, the following moment.

Aquarium of race track anchovy fishes and one scary shark. Just ‘Wow!’ .Displays of assorted jellyfish (some of them glow in the dark too) Tank full of Japanese Spider Crabs (yikes, a little scary)

What’s the best aquarium you’ve ever been to?

 Information: 

Website: http://www.kaiyukan.com/language/eng/index.htm
Getting There:
From Tempozan Harbor Village, it takes about tforty-five minutes to Kyoto.
By metro: Get off at Osakako station (near Tempozan Harbor Village), and walk for 5 minutes to KAIYUKAN. Near the giant ferris wheel.
Hours: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Admission: Adult (16 and over, High school) : 2,300 yen

Love Letter #28: To my Mother  (Photo from when my mom visited me in South Korea)

Happy Mother’s Day to Moms around the world!

I hope you took the opportunity to do something for your mom.

By the time this is posted, this will have been a day late.

Nothing new. My mom knows how it goes and loves me all the same.  She hasn’t disowned me yet, although I’m sure there have been times it’s crossed her mind to leave me on a neighbor’s doorstep. Especially, seeing as I’m no longer as cute as when I was a baby.

We fight, we laugh, we talk girl talk, we laugh …we fight.  She scolds and screams at me and sometimes, I scream and scold her back.  In many ways, I’m a bad daughter. I can’t help it. It’s something all daughters are innately destined to be, even when they’re good. But the love between me and my mom actually runs very deep. She’s always been my best friend.

As a traveler, my home is everywhere, but I only have one heart.

As a traveler, each place I visit, I find a natural home in.  I can flit around the world and live anywhere, be anywhere. Anchor-less. But my secret is that I’m actually anchored. My mom my rock and compass and as long as I have that compass, the geography won’t matter.

“Like mother, like daughter”… not all the time.

My mom and I have different travel styles. While we often enjoy our girl time together, she’s not as big a fan of traveling as I am, she likes to always be planned, international travel stresses her out and she doesn’t like to fly alone.

While I know her well enough to gauge her interests, I don’t always know her tolerance. For instance, when she’s with visiting or traveling with me, she has to “rough it” some. Of course, I don’t always know that I’m making her rough it. But I find out pretty quickly, as I’m met with a complaint and the stubborn resistance of a mule.

But then I think of all the sacrifices she’s made for me, the endless baby illnesses, teen dramas and adult scares that were (and continue to be) hurled at her.

Basically, the resume on her “mommy list” is long, extensive and more than I’ve ever had to manage in my life.

If I’ve got GRRR, then you can probably guess where I got it from.

… Because it ain’t easy being a GRRRL TRAVELER’s mom.

Happy Mothers Day to my mom!    She deserves a gold medal.

It was coming up on my second day in Kyoto and I was in a quandry. What would I do?

I was contemplating visiting Osaka Aquarium. I wanted the  most affordable sightseeing itinerary and most efficient use of my day, as I’d have to return to Kyoto in time to catch the night bus to leave.

The young good-looking Japanese desk attendant, working at my hostel jumped on the internet to research the best (aka cheapest) route for me . His search returned an unbelievable tourist discount package!

“This is a very, very good deal! ” he said excitedly as he printed it out. “These not normal prices. This is much better than student rates!”

This is why I don’t mind giving up some of my freedom for a hostel. Not only are the people helping you, young and cute (vs. old and farty) but they’re professionals when it comes to scouring student rates and they know a good deal when they see it!

What did I get in my one day tourist discount day pass to Osaka?

• A round trip ticket to Osaka from Kyoto
• Admission to the Osaka Aquarium
• An all-day metro pass in Osaka (this includes JR lines).

The cost

2,700 yen (aka $27.00 USD).

The deal was unbeatable. A dream.

The reality of that same day excursion would’ve normally looked like this…

• A round trip ticket to Osaka from Kyoto :  1,100 yen (approx $11 USD and taking the cheapest local express train)
• General admission to Osaka Aquarium :   2,300 yen (approx $23 USD).
• A basic one day unlimited pass in Tokyo and Fukuoka ranged 600-800 yen (approx $7 USD)… And Note:  JR lines are generally excluded from this value.

The Grant Total? Roughly $41 USD.

The only catch

I had to leave specifically from Kawanamachi station in the geisha district of Gion.  This was because the pass could only be bought at that station.

This didn’t matter to me. My hostel was in Gion and not more than 10 minutes from Kawanamachi.

The route going from Kawanamachi Station in Gion, Kyoto to Osaka Aquarium

Beware of ATMs in Japan… they don’t like foreigners

With my newly-printed itinerary in hand, I was off  to Osaka! Distracted by a TV filming in my neighborhood, I was getting a late start. I got even later, when I found I was fresh out of money and this prompted the discover one of Japan’s biggest pet peeves for travelers… a lack of ATMs which take international bank cards!  … Really Japan?

After running around through department stores searching for that one ATM which took foreign bank cards, I finally got my money, bought my Osaka day pass from the Kawanamachi ticket booth and then my wheels rolled.

A sobering train ride to Osaka

The ride from Kyoto to Osaka was only 30 minutes.  Most of Japan is developed. If you ever get to see Japan from a plane, it’ll appear that the only thing they don’t build upon are mountains and occasionally, parks.

Thus, seeing the Japan landscape wasn’t as entertaining as I imagined it would be.

Being raised American and part Japanese, I can’t help but compare it to a fantasy of an old Japan and a period in time when my ancestors lived steeped in tradition. Unfortunately, these days, much of old Japan is replaced by a regulated, modern and industrialized Japan. Still, if you strain, you may see some remnants of its past, before industrialization covers it up.

Japan Stations and Laying back into a mellower rhythm with Osaka

While Osaka feels more laid back than Kyoto, Osaka Station can overwhelm you.  Hub stations in the big cities can be like a large labyrinth, carrying a maze of metro lines, JR lines and bus docks. Osaka is no exception.  It’s easy to get lost if you’re not focused on finding your way. It was a little stressful.

Nonetheless, once you exit the stations, you feel more at ease.

Osaka lifestyle feels more casual, calm, but still dynamic and interesting. The grocery store prices are much cheaper than Tokyo or Kyoto.

When I finally reached the station for Osaka Aquarium, I had a chance to wander around the neighborhood.

Neighborhood
Museum near the aquariumBig ferris wheel
 Osaka Aquarium

I wish I could’ve seen more of Osaka but ultimately, all I had time left for was the aquarium (coming in the next post). So my unlimited transportation pass didn’t get used to it’s maximum.

But maybe there will be a “next time”. Hopefully, if there is one, I’ll get the same deal!

ROBOSQUARE, an interesting look into Robot Technology in Japan

When you think of robots, what’s the first thing that pops into your mind?

For me, it’s movies like Blade Runner, Terminator and 2001: Space Odyssey, where robots turn frighteningly evil and eventually, take over the world. Scary, right?

Another part of me thinks of fantasy Lego-set bots like Transformers or cute, quirky mechanized toys like Wall-E or R2-D2 from Star Wars.

But mostly, the notion of “robots” used to live in a world far far away… that of space men and film fiction.

Escaping the tourist rut

I was at the Fukuoka Tourist Information center inquiring about landmarks to visit.  Everything the agent suggested seemed to lackluster… I was coming towards the end of my trip and it all seemed like ‘tourist standard’ stuff:  beach, observation tower, temple, museum, etc…

Sometimes, sightseeing is like eating. If you diet on the same thing each day, eventually you grow tired of it. It doesn’t matter if it’s spicy or sweet… if it’s a night market or river houses on raised stilts, with time and regularity, it all starts to go bland and you need something “different” to awaken your spectacle senses.

Just as my mind was about to go numb, she blurted out something accidentally…

A robot museum.

Fukuoka is simply robot-ic

Like many cities in Japan, Fukuoka is a clean, orderly and quiet city. But I’ll bet you didn’t know it’s the designated city for robotic experimentation and development. Yup, under that placid and mellow exterior, there’s a heart where R2-D2 dreams are made.

Although you won’t see humanoid robots or mechanized wheelies wandering the streets of Fukuoka, there’s probably more robotic systems and electronic circuitry integrated into the community, than you suspect.

A trip to the Robosquare Museum

Built in 2002, Robosquare  is a cozy robot technology museum. The center offers robot performances, robot technology workshop classes and it houses over 200 intelligent systems, from robots to interact and have conversations with, responsive robots, rescue robots and everyday machines you may not think belong to the robot clan.

…Best of all, touring the museum is free.

Playing with Robots

What sets this museum apart from traditional museums, is that you’re not merely looking at robots, with your nose pressed against a glass case. Instead, you get to “play with the art” in order to understand how they were developed for human use, interaction and consumption.

Here’s some of what was on hand…

Conversational robots

The first robot I played with was a Hello Kitty robot, which held some 20,000 conversations in Japanese, while expressing emotions with its hands, eyes and head (see video below). My Japanese isn’t extensive, but it was enough to get Hello Kitty engaged and once she is, boy, she loves to talk!

The Ifbot was another conversationalist robot, which had similar features, but expressed emotions by lighting up.

Ifbot conversation robot  Hello Kitty Robo Instructions for a Hello Kitty Robot.

Responsive Robots

You can entertain yourself with light-sensitive robotic balls that propel when you shine a flashlight on them. Or you can test your speed and fork lift operating skills against the clock, with a robot that you must control to pick up a ball and drop it in a hole.

How about a game of Robo catch? Objective is to maneuver this robot to pick up the ball and drop it in the basket.

Mental Therapy Robots

Despite what people think, robots don’t always generate cold responses. Some can be used for social therapy with humans.

Paro is a robotic seal that responds to being pet and stroked.  It coos and purrs, when it’s stroked on its body and winces and squirms, when it’s touched on places it doesn’t like, such as it’s eyelashes and nose. It’s actually quite adorable and cuddly.

This seal was taken to a retirement home as a therapy pet, to draw lonely seniors out of their depression, by giving them something to talk to, care about and interact with; thus, improving their emotional well-being.

Humanoid AIBO dogs

Invented by Sony in 1999, AIBO (Artificial Intelligence RoBOt) dogs could do many things a normal dog could do, but more. A robotic pet, it had a built-in camera to take photos and memory chip that stored words. It could learn to respond to the name you give it, respond with emotion and develop it’s own personality (more here). Read one owner’s experience raising two pet Aibo dogs here.

In 2006 Sony discontinued their line of dogs, but Robosquare houses a collection.

 Performance ‘puppet’ robots

Robosquare has two resident robot performers or mechanically-programmed dolls, which are animated to act out entire scenes like a puppet show. The movements are a little choppy, but overall, still pretty good. One of them is a two-foot high geisha, performing nihonbuyo  (or Japanese traditional dance) with a fan. The other is a samurai robot.

Puppet performance oriented robots which are programmed to perform entire scenes and dances.

Samurai puppet robot

 Everyday robots

Much robotic technology goes unnoticed in society, despite the fact, some have important roles, from wake-up alarms and house cleaning robots, to survey takers and  search and destroy robots used post 9-11 to search through the rubble.

Did you know that even Segway stations are considered robotic technology?

RIDC-01 Passes out survey flyers and calculates them. Search and Destroy? This robotic model are the arms and hands for jobs that humans don’t want to do. When 9-11 happened, New York used some of these robots to help them search through the rubble.

. Segway stations: Have you seen this robot around?

Information:

Address: 2nd floor of TNC building
Directions: Momochi area, 15 mins walk from Nishijin Subway. (More directions)
Website: http://robosquare.city.fukuoka.ig.jp
Hours: 9.30 am to 6.00 pm (closed 2nd Wednesday of month, except Jan, July, Aug and Dec).
Show times:  Monday-Friday:  11am, 2pm and 4pm,  Saturday and Sunday:  11am, 1pm, 3pm, and 4:30pm.
Admission: Free

Fukuoka City was once a city divided by a river. Hakata was a port town for merchants, while Fukuoka was a castle town for samurai. Time fused the two together and although Fukuoka is the official name, Hakata is the name, most Japanese know it as.

Today, as the biggest city in the Kyushuu territory, Fukuoka bridges Japan with Seoul and Shanghai as a port city and is now home to many IT companies. Areas like Gion and Tenjin hold small streets and alleys you can explore to get a feeling of the local lifestyle. Meanwhile, Fukuoka at night emanates a beautiful neon glow.

To be candid, I wrote about my awesome manga adventure in Fukuoka, but finding an adventure in the day was a different story.  Beaches and parks aren’t my thing and Fukuoka holds a quiet lifestyle. I felt hard-pressed to find exciting things to do.

Here’s some  highlights you might enjoy.

*Most of these highlight attractions are free. My goal was to spend under $20/day and I spent approx. $15/day between meals and transportation.

What to do in Fukuoka

Robosquare Museum

Yes, Fukuoka has robots!  As the world’s leading country for robotic technology, a trip to Japan wouldn’t be complete without experiencing some of it.

Robosquare is a museum of interactive robot technology was the highlight of my time in Fukuoka. At first glance, it looks like a toy store, but step inside and you’ll be pleasantly surprised. A talking Hello Kitty, a robotic seal that coos and reacts to your touch, robots that perform entire scenes like puppets… you’ll see robots in a new light!  The museum showcases 200 robots and 70 types workshops in robotic technology. English-speaking guides will tell you about the robots.  (Post coming soon!)  It’s on the second floor of the TNC Hosokaikan building,  in the neighborhood of powerhouse electronics companies such as Panasonic, Hitachi, Fujitsu and AI.

Here’s a link to show times and directions.
Admission: Free

Hakata Machiya Folk Museum (Gion district)

Of all the museums Fukuoka has to offer, the Machiya History Museum (in the Gion district) carries a personal charm. Outside, it seems to be a humble wooden folksy museum, but inside, is a rich tapestry of Hakata’s cultural history. Exhibitions showcase old merchant lifestyles, through figurines (reminding me of another fun but racy exhibition I’ve seen in Korea.), panoramas, recordings and staged sets.  There’s also a fascinating documentary on the Yamakasa Festival , Fukuoka’s biggest festival. Additionally, there’s a Hakata ningyo dolls (aka delicately- crafted clay dolls) exhibition and a textile weaving shop, where you might see craftsmen at work.

Yamasaka Festival (above); Scenes from historical Hakata (below) Hakata ningyo dolls 

Temples and shrines

Shintoism and Buddhism are the main religions in Japan. Temples and shrines occasionally have shops, which sell ritual souvenirs and prayer card or fortunes you can buy for a small monetary donation. If your fortune turns out to be bad, there’s an area (see photos below) you can leave it in to receive extra prayer help.

Here are my two top picks (both are in Gion):

• Kushida Shrine (Gion district) is an impressive Shinto shrine, dedicated to the goddess of Sun, Amaterasu (goddess of Sun) and Sunsoo (god of Storms and Wind). The towering shrine is especially important during summer, when it’s celebrated at the Yamakasa Festival.  Location: Across the Machiya Folk Museum)  Admission: Free

Above: Temple Above: The Kushida shrine  :  Each face of the two-sided shrine is emblematic of either, the goddess Ameteratsu or Susansoo. This face is  for Sunsoo. Japanese temple fortune (there were both, English and Japanese versions) If you got a fortune that’s bad, you can tie it here for blessings.

• Tochoji Temple (Gion district) houses a 5 story pagoda and a Fukuoka Daibutsu (a giant wooden Buddha). Both shrines are located in walking distance from each other, near the Gion Subway station.   Admission: Free

Canal City (Nakasu district)

If you’re a shopper looking for amusement, then Nakasu’s Canal City might be your thing.  A splashily-designed shopping mall , it will catch your attention with its flash and cheese. It’s got an outdoor water and light show (when I was there, it played to Disney’s Beauty and the Beast “Be our Guest” song), restaurants and ..lots of stores. I wasn’t  greatly impressed by it, but then again, I’m not much into shopping.  Note: If you end up shopping until late, drop by the nearby yatais for some ramen.

A shopping alternative:  Tenjin Underground Mall, located outside of Tenjin subway station, houses 12 blocks of shops and restaurants.

Yatais

After 6:00 pm, snug tent-like food stalls emerge as Japanese customers and businessmen roll in after work.  Seating is limited, forcing customers sit close and cosy-like to chat. Menu dishes are  generally yakitori, oden, ramen, grilled ramen, tempura, gyoza and sake.  Yatais are found in Tenjin, Nakasu and Nagahama areas.

While tourist guidebooks highlight the yatai, there’s one detail to prepare for- - most yatai menus are in Japanese. So if you plan to eat at one (and not just photograph them) , you’ll need to work around the menu.  My advice: Point at dishes of neighboring customers (even if it might be considered rude) or play Russian roulette with names (from the list of menu names above), hoping it turns out the way you imagined it!

Recommended:

• Nakasu Area:  Pretty riverside setting which is great for photography. Located at the edge of the red light district and near to Nakasukawabata Subway or Nishitetsu “minami-shinichi” bus stop.
• Nagahama Area:  Sells tonkatsu ramen with very thin noodles. Located near Nishitetsu “Minato 1-chrome” bus stop.

yatais line the river at Nakasu  

The Red light district  (Nakasu district)

The evening is peak time for adult pleasure and Nakasu is Fukuoka’s seedy red light district (and a place, I happened upon, on my way to the yatais).

In Japan, prostitution is illegal, so  the sex industry skirts around this by offering anything, but coital sex. Brothels line the street advertising women, who will service you with blow jobs or any other pleasure. Meanwhile, male escorts hang outside looking to lure women into companion bars for ladies.  Note: Most places don’t allow foreigners, but service only Japanese.

It’s by far Fukuoka’s grittiest scene, leaving you with a feeling of you’d likely want to wash off.
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Foods to Try in Fukuoka

Udon noodles

Fukuoka is the birthplace of udon and soba noodles. Udon has soft and thick noodles and a refined soup base.  My udon bowl ironically, was intensely chewy. However, it was one of the yummiest udon noodles I’ve had and the soup was very flavorful.

Hakata ramen

Hakata ramen noodles are noted for their thinness.  Fukuoka’s specialty is tonkatsu (pork bone) ramen.

Hakata udon

Other Notable events or attractions:

• Yamakasa Festival (tourism website)
   It’s Fukuoka’s proud festival, where men from each nagare in Fukuoka prepare and then race against each other carrying a float, which weighs a ton. The festival is in July and has me pining for a summer return!  Cost: Free

• Yahoo! Japan dome
  If you’re a baseball fan, then seeing a baseball game at the Yahoo! Japan Dome is a must.  They also offer Dome Tour which takes you around on a special access pass to see the dugouts and places that are generally off-limits to the public. Hours: 10am-4pm, call to ask about tour availability at (092)847-1699.
• Fukuoka Tower (website)
  It’s a 237 meter high tower, which gives great views of the city. Viewing times change with the season. Cost : 800 yen for adults.  Tel: (092)823-0234
• Kyushu Basho Sumo tournament
  I went during winter so unfortunately, I missed sumo season. But this would be a *must see* event.  During mid-November, the Kyushu Basho Sumo tournament  takes place at the Fukuoka Kokusai Centre. The tournament lasts two weeks.  Cost: Same-day tickets (3100 to 14,000 yen) are available starting at 8:00 am, but get there early as tickets are limited.
• Tenjin Town Walking Tour (website)
  It’s a walking tour, held on the last Saturday of the month, that aims to introduce you to the town of Tenjin and to show you what it has to offer.  Cost: Free
• Day trips from Fukuoka: Daifuzu (famous temple area), Beppu (visit Onsens), Nagasaki.
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 Getting Around

Fukuoka sells unlimited day passes for tourists, making sightseeing easier and affordable. The subway is easy to use, with two main station transfer hubs (for JR trains) and a route to the Fukuoka International Airport (read here for night layovers). You can buy a single fare (600 yen) or get an unlimited day pass. The station master booth near the turnstile can answer any questions you have.

Getting bus route information will require help.   Advice: visit one of the many tourist information centers . While they don’t have bus route maps in English, they can advise you on routes to take. Also, pick up a city map and a Fukuoka City Visitor’s Guide (it’s better than a guidebook!).

Can you survive a last minute trip?

Day Pass options for Tourists

Fukuoka Tourist Day Passes grants access to each/all the public transportation: 800 yen (adults) affords a pass on Nishitetsu Bus, Showa Bus, JR Train and the Subway, while 1,300 yen gets you an extra usage of the Nishitetsu Train (* takes you out to the Dazaifu Temple Area). I chose the 800 yen pass and was very pleased. Show your passes at events and attractions and you may get a special discount.

Open Top Buses are 1,500 yen/day offering three hop-on/hop-off courses:  Bayside Hakata Town Course, Seaside Momochi/Fukuoka Castle Ruins Course,  a night view of Fukuoka City. Website: www.fukuokaoptntopbus.jp

Check out my photo gallery for Fukuoka. 

If you haven’t heard yet, Hawaii has a love affair with SPAM! Yes, you heard me… SPAM.

Fish and chips, hush puppies, maccoroni and cheese?… Those never flew in Hawaii. Instead, we love our “mystery meat”. Growing up, my family’s kitchen was always stocked with cans of it, as were my friends… and their families. In fact, you’ll probably find few local households without them.

Why do Hawaiians love SPAM so much?

While the rest of the U.S. looks down on SPAM as a “poor man’s food”, here in the Hawaiian Islands, it’s our comfort food, which traces back to World War II.

Eating saimin? Sprinkle some fried SPAM onto it. Making fried rice? Chop it up into cubes and throw it into the frying pan. Going to a family picnic?… Ball up some musubis and wrap it with some seaweed and SPAM.  It’s gotten so that the innovations off of SPAM have grown Just in 7-11 stores alone, you’ll find a handful of variations of SPAM Musubis- from SPAM and Egg, SPAM Katsu, Teriyaki SPAM, etc…

Today, Hawaiians are the top consumers of the meat, which can go without refrigeration and boasts a shelf-life of forever…  (I don’t even want to think about what preservatives are in it…)

If you’re not into reading, then here’s something better… I put together a short and interesting video, quickly documenting what this love affair is about.  If you have the attention span of a teetsy fly and can’t watch over a minute, turn it on and play it in the background, while you do your work (that’s what I often do).  But let me know what you think of it!

The SPAM Jam Street Festival and a celebration of ‘Mystery Meat’

SPAM Jam Street Festival  is a yearly festival, where Waikiki closes off Kalakaua Ave, and restaurants cook up innovative recipes using the celebrity meat.  There are SPAM Jam Festivals all around the nation. But for Hawaii, it’s probably a more than special event; it’s a celebration of our comfort food.

I almost didn’t make it to the event, because I don’t eat meat.

But as an island gal who used to love my SPAM, as well, I was curious about what new recipes could be dreamt up using SPAM.

Some of the creativity at this festival is surprising.  There were innovative fusion items-  like Sicilian SPAM Pizza, Mango BBQ SPAM Sliders, SPAM Nachos, Mongolian SPAM radicchio cups- to spin-offs of favorite local foods, such as SPAM Loco Moco, SPAM Loco Moco w/Fried Rice and SPAM Manapua.

Here’s the menu lineup and some food porn photos from Nonstop Honolulu, to give you an idea of what restauranteurs had in store for attendees.

Maybe it’s because I got there late (two hours past the actual start time).  I didn’t see even half of those dishes!  Really.

Either you had to arrive early at the starting mark in order to see some these food items (watch Tad Tamura’s video) or maybe, the paper trays and plates downshifted the aesthetic value of them.  It could also be  that some items were more popular than others… or…or … or.  Nonetheless, the streets were filled with hungry attendees and curious tourists and I captured some unique ways of presenting SPAM.

Now I may not be able to eat Spam, but I’ll always salivate on the topic of dessert.

.. Or will I?

Here’s my top Spam-curious dessert picks:

1. SPAM in a pancake-  by  Eggs n Things

A cousin of pigs-in-a-blanket, this snack has SPAM deep fried in batter. You can eat it plain or add maple or chocolate syrup to it.  Would you consider this a breakfast, dinner or dessert?

2.  SPAM Musubi Ice Pops and Chocolate Ice Cream with candied SPAM  -by Ono Pops

Um, I suspect you’d either love it or hate it.  It’s certainly a way you’ve never had your SPAM before. Would you dare to try it?

Would you try these? Photo: Unknown photographer

3. SPAM Cheesecake - by Hawaiian Cheesecakes

Does milky and SPAMmy a good fit? This cheesecake base has tiny sprinkles of spam on it, drizzled with chocolate. A bit of sweet, milky and salty for you.

 What do you think? Are you a lover of SPAM? Would you go to a SPAM Jam Festival?

Information:

Waikiki SPAM Jam Festival (website)
Event Admission: Free
Location: Kalakaua Avenue, Waikiki

Macau production

Do you have a penchant for attracting certain situations or people when you travel?

Travel can bring unusual patterns,  synchronicity and personal discoveries. The fact we’re often far from home, just makes them more prominent.

For instance, I’m a film set magnet.

In the U.S., I have a knack for stumbling upon film sets… frequently and randomly. Occasionally, when I’d decide to detour from my regular homebound path, BAM! …actor trailers, grip truck, crew folk running cables,

…”Lights, camera, action!”

Of course, living in booming entertainment industry cities such as Los Angeles and New York City, I know it’s not improbable to happen upon them. But according to friends and their lack of frequency to the occasions, I’ve apparently a greater talent for coming upon them.

Interestingly, when I travel, it doesn’t matter than I’m thousands of miles away from my life back home, if there’s a production set within my five-mile radius, I’ll accidentally find it. Maybe destiny, dumb luck or the power of attraction.

…Maybe it’s the fact my work is tied to the entertainment industry or that I love foreign films. Perhaps it’s the simple fact that I’ve always been passionate about films.

But I’m a film set magnet.

And when I travel, I continue to be one.

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Is Action! a universal word for all directors?

Seeing productions around the world, I like comparing them. Most aspects of filming and crew appear standard, but the culture, costumes, drawbacks of an environment and technology, all have flavorful tweaks.

My very first experience seeing filming abroad was actually in the remote countryside of Nepal. I was passing a country quarry on my way back from my day’s excursion and saw a small truck with noticeable grip (aka lighting/electrician) flags.

Was there a Nepali-wood?

I had flown thousands of miles to a country cradled in the Himalayas, to see my first overseas film set.

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Unique travel jobs and …what’s in a location?

If you were to ask a location scout or film crew folk, what the most beautiful or memorable film location they’ve shot in, you’d likely have some interesting views of a place.

Crew folks and actors travel a lot.  It’s one the most unique ways to travel in your own state (and occasionally abroad). Film locations can range from public spaces to exclusively private. Some locations might be mentioned in guidebooks, while others grant access privileges to highly specific situations (aka big budgets!). A location can be as personal as the back room of a store or as impersonal as an abandoned farmhouse you never knew existed.

Off-hand, three of these places have garnered a handful of films and television shows in Hawaii, from Jurassic Park, 100 First Dates, Hawaii Five-O, etc…

My most memorable film location was the floor of the United Nations in New York, filming The Interpreter, with Nicole Kidman and Sean Penn.  The United Nations, as you can imagine, is very high security. Nobody gets in beyond the lobby, without having a worker’s pass and to get onto the U.N. floor, you have to be a leading representative of a country. For me, background acting was an occasional part-time job to grow extra income, while working on my freelance career in camera operating.  It granted me privilege into a lot of places, but so far, the U.N. was my highlight.

But onto travel sets abroad…

(AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Four travel magnet examples:

Mumbai, India

When the world thinks of the “leading television and film industry”, they think of Hollywood.

India however, is the reigning producer of films in the world and it’s a multi-million dollar industry, finding an audience in over 90 countries. Bollywood is generally known for it’s musical-like films and highly emotional story lines. It’s generally last three hours long, with a planned “Intermission” break in between.

I was at Chhatrapati Shavaji Terminus (aka Victoria Station) that I happened upon either a TV drama or commercial production. While looking for my train  to get out to Chowpatty Beach, I saw a crowd and some lights.

mumbai train station

Filming anything in Mumbai, India

Now, everywhere you go in India, you’ll see crowds and that can be a potential drawback of the environment.  You generally have to secure an area, where there’s room for the actors and crew to work, without a whole lot of people trying to jump into the shot or stare into the camera. It’s called crowd control.

I think this production did a pretty good job, but it’s still blows me away (watch the short video below).

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Macau (Hong Kong)

For over a decade, Hong Kong has been known as the Asian Hollywood. (Click here to read about the Avenue of the Stars).

You may not know it but Hong Kong is the third largest producer of films. Genres they were originally well-known for, were martial arts/ kung fu action films and Triad (aka gangster) films.  You may not know it, but most Chinese films come from Hong Kong and you probably know more celebrity names than you think:  Bruce Lee, Jacky Chan, Jet Li, Chow Yun Fat, Andy Lau, Andy Leung, Donnie Yen and directors John Woo and Wong Kar Wai.

The Location:   Downtown Macau

So what could the streets of Macau offer me on a rainy day? I’d just finished walking exploring the neighborhood of the Rua De Felicidade and didn’t know what more there was left to see on foot. Wanting to escape the monotone commercial shops on  the main drag of Almeida Ribeiro, I dipped down one of the side streets, where a crowd was forming.

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Filming a Family Drama Television Show or Commercial in Macau/ Hong Kong

What genuinely threw me at first was the chop suey style of the crew, the extreme in ages and the low-key style of dress.  But clothing can be indicative of weather and comfort (and Macau doesn’t get very cold) and age could mean ‘experienced professionals ‘mixed with youthful strength and young assistants.  It was still a very interesting set to watch, especially as the actors prepared beforehand, running lines with the director.

.  .The director in the blue jacket to the right    
    Watch a short clip of what I saw and experienced in the video below.

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Kyoto, Japan

Japan is the world’s 4th leading producer of films and they’re often known for genres, such as samurai, yakuza, monster film (i.e. Godzilla), quirky horror and anime, to name a few…

The Location:    Gion district in Kyoto

The streets of Kyoto’s Gion district (aka the Geisha district) are like an architectural time capsule of a historical Japan. Restaurants, tea shops and stores, Gion’s streets hold the hushed footsteps of geisha and its buildings are dusted with the age of  old merchant houses.  The streets are quiet and offer a secluded getaway from the hub-bub of activity.

I was on my way to the train station, with a weighty decision … Did I want to see how Japan samurai movies were filmed or did I want to go to Osaka Aquarium?  I couldn’t decide. My walk from my guesthouse to the train station would help me decide.

I heard shouts down the street…

 Set location of the first scene

Filming a Cop-Detective Television Show

Production didn’t appear to be much more different than the U.S. At a glance, although the crew was small in comparison to the U.S.,  everything seemed normal.

Gion district in Kyoto  (above) First scene
The main star acts as a “detective cop”
  Background actresses waiting for their scene
Set location for the next scene down the street
Watch a short clip of what I saw and experienced in the video below.

Sukhothai, Thailand

I’ve not seen a Thai movie, since the 1999 film, Bangkok Dangerous (which was remade by Hollywood in 2008 with Nicholas Cage), but perhaps it’s time to give them some notice again….

When biking through the UNESCO wat ruins and giant buddhas of Sukhothai, the last thing you expect to see is a film shoot.

It’s really the last thing on your mind…

The Location: Wat Mahathat, Sukothai

I was doing my tour of the Old Sukhothai Historical Park and the one most reknown site I was hoping to see was the Wat Mahathat. Unfortunately, it was slightly closed off for viewing that day.

Sukhothai Historical Park, Thailand

Shooting a Period Action Film

They were filming a fight scene from the period movie, Kingdom of War (aka The Legend of King Neresuan).  I’ve only recently seen the sequel of this film, and I was blown away by the lavish style of the production and quality.

Didn’t know there was a Thollywood, but apparently, we can look forward to some good productions coming out of there.

movie trucks and trailers
. Kingdom of War film  Actors rehearsing a muay thai fight scene. Wat Mahathat    
Watch a very short clip of what I saw and experienced below…

 Note: Apologies for the bad filming. I’m not often well-equipped to shoot videos with my point and shoot or DSLRs. Most moments are so unexpected and happen so quickly and I’m fumbling to capture them in the process.

What are some of your travel magnets? Do you find many synchronous events in your travels?

What are Manga Cafes in Japan?

When I had an overnight layover at Fukuoka airport and discovered they didn’t allow sleeping in their terminals, I felt a stab at my pocketbook.

Fork over $40-80 on 8 hours of sleep, just so I can reboard the plane, without having experienced anything more than a pillow? You gotta be kidding.

That’s something your average tourist might do.

… But I am not  your average tourist.

I’m like a flea market traveler; I like to rummage through possible “experiences” in the hope of finding something kind of cool, unique and best of all, cheap!

The tourist information desk offered me a decent list of guesthouses and hostels to stay in.  Hostels were the cheapest, starting at $22 for a bed. It wasn’t expensive, but also, not terribly exciting.

…Then I remembered a tip a friend had given me about the least expensive  and last alternative for sleep in Japan.

The manga cafe.

What is Manga and Manga Cafes?

For those who have never heard the term ‘manga‘  (pronounced: mahn-gah), they’re popular comic books made in Japan and the Japanese are crazy about them.   The stories can range anywhere from romance, adventure, fantasy, business to racy adult themes. Audiences of all ages read or watch manga in Japan.

Some folk even like to look like them.

Thus, Manga Cafes otherwise called Manga Kissa are 24 hour internet cafes, furnished with wall-to-wall manga comic books and videos. Local Japanese who miss their bus home or need an overnight rest place, can rent a cubicle out for the night.

However, due to the low rental costs, a growing number of unemployed Japanese youth (aka Japanese net refugees) now use them over renting apartments. Thus, it’s said that over 75% of the cafes expect to be used for overnight stays and are generally stocked with enough things to make for a temporary living accommodation (Read here).

Some cafes are standard internet cafes, filled with cigarette smoke and internet gamers. Others have luxury options like charging stations, showers, sleep stations and/or unlimited soft drinks. It’s best to check out the outdoor signs to see what is included or do an internet research in advance to ensure a comfortable stay.

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Examining the list of budget hotels in my hand, I then looked up at the Japanese receptionist at the airport tourist information desk…

“Are there any manga cafes nearby you could recommend?”

She looked surprised. She paused for a moment and then her stiff professional demeanor melted into a more relaxed one.

“Well, I don’t like staying at the smoky ones.  There’s one that I know of… I haven’t stayed at it, but I’ve heard from others it’s pretty good. It’s really easy to get to and it’s right outside Hakata station.”

Bingo.

I dumped my luggage into an overnight airport locker, packed a small overnight bag, took a tour of Fukuoka’s red light district and yatais …and then guess where I stayed at?

How do you know when a Manga cafe has sleeping facilities?

When I walked up to the front desk of the manga cafe, I felt awkward. I had heard people could sleep there, but I didn’t know if it was common practice.

  “How long?” The young Japanese cashier asked.

I didn’t know what to say. I looked at the options on the menu outside, but it looked like Japanese-Greek to me. The Japanese man then prompted…

 ”Sleepu?”

“Hai, sleepu,” I responded gratefully with an exhale. Alas, my request to rent a cubicle to sleep in was more normal, than uncommon.

Many manga kissa’s have signs out front, luring you in with additional luxuries.  You can rent a cubicle  by the hour or  as 3-5 hour and 6-8 hour packages (…depending on the cafe).  I took a 3-5 hour package at  1,180 yen or $12 USD.

This was almost half the cost of the hostel and 1/3 the cost of a capsule hotel!

Is there privacy in a manga cafe?

I stayed at Media Cafe Popeye; it’s one of the bigger and more reputable chains in Japan.

The cafe had around 200 cubicle spaces, with a smoking and non-smoking section.

Each compartment was separated by closing doors and the noise volume in the cafe was similar to a library. With Japanese culture, many things are considered rude, so peeking over the wall into other cubicles or making loud noises is frowned upon.

Taking a picture from my reclined chair.

In a way, I felt like a guest at a hotel, with the exception that I didn’t have a bed and I couldn’t make loud noises, like farting or have friends over to party.

The front desk service was pleasant and helpful, like hotel lobby staff. They asked if I’d be showering and when I replied agreeance, I was handed a basket with a toothbrush, razor and hairdryer. A rental towel was 100 yen extra. I was allowed twenty minutes for a shower, with a cleaning person going in before and after me. Soap and shampoo dispenser were provided.  In essence, I didn’t need to bring anything more with me, than a change of clothes.

It certainly felt more personal and private than a dorm room in a hostel. I had my very own space. I could store my bags, I had a place to hang my coat and I had my own computer, TV and charging station. All mine.

“Lights out” was at 12 am. The power on the floor was shut. There was no internet or entertainment access until 5:00 am. Not all manga cafes are like this, but I appreciated that this one respected sleep.

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Is it comfortable to sleep in a manga cafe?

“Comfort” depends on the cafe  and sleeping package you choose.

Internet seat:   A regular chair with a computer

Reclining Seat:   A posh luxury reclining chair in a cubicle with a door.  (more on this one in my next post)

Flat Seat:   A cubicle with a floor seat and a space to sprawl.

Twin (or sofa) seat:   A cubicle with a mini sofa.

I rented the lounge recliner in the non-smoking section and it was comfy. My chair reclined well and I had enough space for my legs to stretch out. It wasn’t hot or cold, but temperate. There was also room for luggage. I got free drinks from their coffee and soft drink vending machine. I could either, buy snacks from one of the vending machines or bring my own food in.

I was bedding down in cool and quirky Japan at $12 a night.

Huzzah!

What to do and not in a Manga Cafe?

1.  Check in with the front desk and let them know you’re going to stay overnight.

2. Let them know what hour package (or how many hours) you’d like to stay.

You’re clocked in and when you clock out, they’ll tally up your total. If you go over your allotted time, you’ll pay a extra yen for the time you’ve stayed.

3.  Let them know if you’ll be showering.

Showering in some places might be free. But you may get charged if you rent a towel.

4. Respect the rules of the cafe.

5.  Respect your neighbors’ privacy.

Don’t peek into your neighbors cubicle or under them. You’ll be tempted to. Don’t do it. The partitions aren’t high.

6.   Don’t be loud or noisy

A noise canceling headphone is provided for your own entertainment purposes and to keep the environment quiet.

7.   Remove your shoes before going inside your cubicle.

The cafe offers house slippers (although I’d wipe them down first to be safe)

If you have a layover at Fukuoka Airport:

Getting there…

Media Cafe Popeye, Hakata
Hakata Station, Fukuoka City

From the International terminal, take the free shuttle to the Domestic Terminal ( approximately a 10 minute ride). Look for the subway sign and follow it downstairs. Take the subway to Hakata Station. Exit Hakata Station. It’s the  tall, thin bus terminal building immediately outside and to your right.  There should be a Daiso and Mc.Donalds in the building, as well.   Media Cafe Popeye will be either the last or second to last floor from the top. Exiting the elevator, turn right and it’s ther

Storage lockers in Fukuoka Airport
Fukuoka Subway at Fukuoka Domestic Airport;

Hakata Station above. Bus terminal on the left side of this picture.

Next post >> My favorite manga cafe in Tokyo

This photo is from the project ‘Dark Dwellings’ by Christine Kaaloa

As a solo traveler, I admire solo travelers, who commit to bravery when going alone.

I still have my moments of fearing traveling alone and getting lost or stranded in some place foreign. And yet, it’s this fear of being alone,  ’getting lost’ and experiencing struggle and vulnerability, which turns my travel challenge into an exciting “adventure”, a secret thrill and a

testament that I’ve truly lived.

I’m not sure if I ever want to be completely fearless, due to a greater fear that life may not be as interesting.

Story behind a photo documentary:

I was scheduled for an MTV shoot in Ohio. I arrived at night into Cleveland and had to get to Ashland, which was approximately a one hour drive. I was alone and I didn’t have a roadmap or directions, but I was confident I’d find my way, because my car had a GPS system.

Thirty minutes into my journey, I realized that my GPS was wonky. It was taking me into the backwoods of rural Ohio, where it’s all desolation, darkness and miles of uninhabited farmland. You could drive a mile in darkness before coming upon the lights of a farm house.  Surely, if I ever got stranded, no one would find me until daylight.  I was scared. To matters worse, my cellphone battery was dying.

What this experience ultimately gave way to was a discovery of beauty that could only be found in darkness, loneliness and being lost.

The photos above are part of a series of photos, which ultimately became a project titled ‘Dark Dwellings’ . You can view this project  here.

How do you see your fears of travel or going solo?

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