Springing into Singapore and Japan.

[GarrettM]

After dinner we ventured back to the "hotel room", to put the child to bed. On the way through the lobby we discovered a vending machine selling some necessities.

 

[GarrettM]

The child fell asleep after her usual daily recap of events and attempts to gouge my eyes out, just in time for the stupid crazy loud water show to kick off. Luckily she didn't stir.
MrsGM wanted to go look at some more shopping options, and there really wasn't room for the two of us to just hang out in the room anyway, so I was happy for her to get a little alone time.
She'd been very kind to me with my sporting excursions after all.
I settled into my bed/floor/wall groove, and watched some baseball on the tv. Hanshin Tigers versus the Yokohama DeNA Baystars. On mute, due to noice concerns, and also I don't understand Japanese.

 

[love_the_life]

The range of items available in vending machines always amazes me. I love the underwear and sometimes (often) wonder why you would need it but then again I have a friend who one time forgot to pack any clothes for one of her children when they went to Sydney for a few days. :shock:

 

[GarrettM]

Well I actually did need underwear at this stage of the trip, due to laundry issues. But I bought them from Gap instead. Seems superfluous to have an underwear vending machine in a hotel inside a giant department store.

 

[BacchusMarsh]

I love the underwear and sometimes (often) wonder why you would need it

These particular ones are for that time of the month:

Sofy Ultra-perfect FIT Sanitary Product - Sofy Japan

 

[love_the_life]

Lol, GarrettM - would have been a good story to tell to have bought underwear from a vending machine
No doubt about it, they think of everything.

 

[GarrettM]

Saturday May 13, and our last full day in Japan.
There was not a lot of sleep on the floor, and the girls didn't fare much better on the bed. Deciding that this simply wasn't going to fly for a second night, we marched downstairs and politely requested a move to a room with two beds.
Thankfully, hotel staff were quite considerate about it, and we were able to move into a twin single room at the other end and side of the corridor.
A slightly larger room, which would also be considerably quieter thankfully. Plus it had views to the east of the city, including the odd plane take off from the airport.

Only cost us about $40 extra compared to our original booking I think. Totally worthwhile.
We had to wait for it to be ready, so we went off exploring.


Looking for the Kushida Shrine, and then found ourselves at the very small Hakata Traditional Craft Centre.

The shrine.

 

[GarrettM]

 

[GarrettM]

 

[GarrettM]

No pics from the traditional craft centre. We hadn't planned on going on, but an elderly lady who'd taken a liking to bub stopped to talk and suggested it, so we popped in.
We thought it was more of a museum, but it is, but it seemed like a lot of the stuff was also for sale, and none of it was cheap.

Some beautiful pieces though.

Check the website if you want to know more: HAKATA TRADITIONAL CRAFT AND DESIGN MUSEUM

 

[GarrettM]

The wife mentioned she was keen to check out the Kawabata arcade, but it still wasn't quite open. So we relaxed in Reisen Park for a while, enjoying the swings and rocking horses.

 

[GarrettM]

Kawabata wasn't much chop in the end, but when we got through it we came to the Hakata Riverain Mall.
And at the top of this building, completely unknown to us, is the Fukuoka Anpanman Children's Museum.

Anpanman Children's Museum

Museum does not mean the same in Japan as in Australia. It's a theme park!

 

[GarrettM]

I didn't know anything about Anpanman (I still don't), but we knew we had to go in, and let bub run and play until she had nothing left to give.
It took her a while to get going, but soon enough she was off and into everything.

Fans of Ren & Stimpy might remember Powdered Toast Man. The resemblance is uncanny.

 

[GarrettM]

Mum went off to check the shop while I supervised.


Aahh the ball pit. That great parental aid.


Of course I had to join in.

 

[GarrettM]

Loves a train.

 

[GarrettM]

Making friends. Sort of. All the other kids were very aware of how she was different.


Not that she cares. SLIIIIIIIDE!!!


And into the sand.

 

[GarrettM]

Last stop before lunch was the big balls. There are rules about how to play in here, but some of the bigger kids and adults didn't pay much attention to them. Quite a few balls flying about. A couple kids got some solid head whacks. No major damage done though.



After a couple hours of non-stop excitement it was time for a bite to eat at Dokin's Heart Shape Cafe.


Basic burgers. No pics for some reason.
We managed to extricate ourselves from the building without spending more on souvenir photos et cetera, and walked back to the hotel through Kawabata arcade.
Luckily for us we got to glimpse all the chefs from Ramen Stadium out and about on their daily sabbatical.

 

[GarrettM]

Back at our new hotel room and we just chilled out, and repacked everything in preparation for our morning flight out. I thought I had some pics of the room but can't find them.

Picture organisation is something to be worked on. We've got pics now spread across two camera cards, two tablets, and two telephones. So I'm sure I've neglected a few really good ones from this report simply because I don't have them to hand.

We decided on one more sushi train for our last meal in Japan.

 

[GarrettM]

Squidy!



Flamey!

 

[GarrettM]

Going totally against her grain, the wife ordered a glass of shochu.

It was..... awful.


She had a small sip and discarded it. I tried it also. Disgusting.
I would not be surprised if this was the cause of the distressing night we were about to endure.