Japan 2020 (Part 5)

I could not remember what our original plan for today was but Rochelle is quite eager to see penguins. Again, not a fan of buses but that is the only way to reach it. We had to pester a local to help us get to the right bus. Google Maps is not that helpful at this moment. So anyways, if you find yourself getting to the penguin aquarium as well, you need to get to the bus with the PENGUIN logo on the LED ticker at the top of the bus. I was like, of course.

+ Nagasaki Penguin Aquarium +

It's about a 30ish minutes bus ride which as usual I had to oversee via maps just to verify it's really going to where we intend to. I was extremely anxious because the route there involved doing a mini Marcos road type of travel. Yes, there's some bit of mountain involved because the aquarium is on the other side of the island. 

And so we have arrived at our stop. I am not sure how to go back, but hopefully it's the same bus. (it is)

We've arrived quite early. There's a handful of couples and parents with their kids but surprisingly they aren't as loud as you suppose with children. 

My hand for size

Judge Penguin

Sunbathing sans sun

Years from now I will look at this photo and think it's not a good one. But for now, it's one of my favorites.

From the foyer, you start at the bottom where there are fish aquariums, then to the second floor for viewing some of the penguins in their glass cages and then go downstairs again as they frolic on rocks and water.

The exit also features a bay where as far as we've read holds feeding sessions which would obviously be more packed by kids who might be on field trips. For now we had it for ourselves, cloudy and windy. Just the perfect weather, but no roaming penguins around.

It's a small aquarium, but nonetheless, this is a better experience than the ones we have here because they are always behind foggy glass you can barely take decent photos from the other side. Whereas here in Japan, they can afford to have penguins in open air because it's obviously colder there than in PH. 

Entrance: 520 JPY for adults. Just fall in line at the ticket machine next to the entrance. 

We have nowhere else to eat there so what we did when we came back was to go around the mall by the Nagasaki station, ate and shopped. I was able to snag a pretty nice coat worth 700 PHP. What a steal. It's even the last piece. 

I also found an e-kairo (hand warmer) which is one of THE BEST THINGS I have ever bought. It's so warm to the touch! It's a bit pricey AFAIK but at least I won't have to test buy different brands of kairos like last time when I was with Reagan. We basically buy food and a kairo pack almost every day to see which one works well. 

+ Bye Nagasaki! +

We're supposed to be leaving for HTB but due to COVID, we're forced to stay in Fukuoka for an extra day. What didn't change though was our plan to visit the 26 Martyrs on the morning of our checkout. They let us leave our stuff so we can visit the place. It is after all, just walking distance.

Breakfast first! c/o Route Petit Cafe 

+ The 26 Martyrs Museum +

A standout, the facade of the museum is a patchwork of colorful tiles. It's quirky and much prettier up close.

I haven't read much on the museum since we know it's just a stone's throw from our hostel so I was quite surprised when near the door, I saw this statue of a martyr:

I almost ran towards it just to verify that what I'm seeing was real. Yes, that's actually a statue of San Lorenzo Ruiz.

I am not a Catholic but I won't pass up on a museum visit especially when we're the first ones to come in. I'm glad our timing was just right that it is open.

Nagasaki on the olden days were one of the ports remaining open to the outside world, hence it's not impossible to learn that Christianity was brought to it's shores at one point. They were, like almost everywhere else in Japan were not welcome to practice those beliefs unlike when it was with us. They had to be extremely secretive and had to devise ways in practicing those beliefs to prevent persecution. 

PH was thicc!

It's a tiny museum so you may be able to finish it in an hour or probably two. One of the things I liked in the visit were the various century old maps on display, especially those that had the Philippines on it. The varying sizes and shapes are fascinating. 

Entrance: 500 JPY

The hostel's facade from the parking of the museum. Yes, it's really that close.

BONUS!

 

So if you remember I have this huge ass luggage that is extremely hard to carry. NOR ROLL at this place. I don't know if they just pitied us but the hostel offered to bring us to the station with our stuff. We were supposed to go there until one of the owners realized that his kid was on one of the seats (it was a small car, they have some cargo too, like a bike so essentially it's either one of us walks, or their kid would be left alone. Rochelle and I were OK with walking instead since we don't want to overextend their courtesy. It's even a surprise since they offered. We met near the station, our bags are even already outside and our kind host waiting for us to arrive. What a very pleasant stay. 

 

+ Nakasu Yatai, Fukuoka + 

We've checked in to WeBase again, only to a different floor this time. Our time was ripe for their yatai, which is in our version the banchetto and decided to check them out and maybe grab some dinner. I remembered getting lost a few times but have still found it in the end. We didn't get to eat though because we are extremely anxious on how close everyone is packed under plastic. I don't know with you but even if Covid-19 wasn't still named Covid-19, we were already practicing social distancing as much as possible. Unfortunate we don't get to experience it here, but maybe some other time instead.

Binondo can easily look like this if it weren't for the undisciplined sh*ts.

So we then walked around. We were planning to dine back to our place but found a branch of the famous Ichiran.

+ Ichiran +

We decided to have the ones upstairs where you are segregated on your own. You are literally just facing a wall that opens up to the kitchen. I got the very last seat so that I would only have one seatmate.

The broth was creamy and very fulfilling. As usual I didn't get to finish it but nonetheless it'a nice side experience especially that we don't have to fall in line. 

+ Mega Donki! + 

On the way back we found the nearest branch. They occupy a floor on a building which is still impressively huge. You can still get lost. We just went in and bought stuff with no regards to time since we're just a few blocks from our hotel. I mentally remember the things I would be buying the next time we'd be around. And not only that, we found out that the hostel First Cabin is upstairs. Imagine being a tourist with a Donki literally an elevator away. Too dangerous.