Much Delayed part 1

Do you know that song:

Video killed the radio star?

Well, i don't think of myself as a star, but Facebook really makes updates for Blogger less "Up-to-Date".

Here at Alishan on the Move...I suffer, ahum, from being connected to FB.

Of course with the bizz: Fukuoka Sunset Sailing, i have to be frequently online with updates, as you can understand.

Anyway, see here some pictures and yeps about what happened with Alishan and her Crew the last weeks.

Oh yes, Sunset Sails on board of Fu Kyo...

But one day in August, we found Esther the Car loaded with Dear Loved Ones.

Sister Jacqueline, sister Marleen, nephew Tom, Marijke, sister Hessel,

and our Japanese Paparien.

Sisters and Tom had arrived from overseas (Belgium, NZ, Holland, Korea) to be here for the Obon Festival.

But first we made a trip to Nagasaki, enjoying a sun-downer at the Dejima harbor front.

( 3 years ago Alishan had been here..)

Remember, (see previous posting) this August was so grgrggrrr hot in Fukuoka...

so we escaped the heat and drove half-way up Mt Raizan, where a cooling water fall was an important item for our Summer Noodles Slurping Lunch. 

A Top Day that was.

Afterwards...we went for.....

 a soak in one of the cool-ish hot-springs...

But as mentioned, the family was here because of Obon.

Our mother/ grandmother had passed away last year and according to Japanese thinking, the first Obon Festival is an important one. 

Mum would be back with us for the few days before August 15 and then on Obon evening, she would make the return trip to heaven...by means of a small boat.

the PIKIMANA is ready for the trip.

Loaded with some sakeh, pictures, a scarf, ...

Wow, isn't Fu Kyo perfect for this event?

As you can see, not a sad moment.

Before sunset we motor-sailed someways onto Hakata Bay...

Friends Nobuko and Noriko joined us.

Launching time....

some fire works to guide PIKIMANA and Mum into the right direction..

Bye Bye MOEDERS.

What's Up this Summer

Well for sure the temperatures!!

 Fukuoka hit a new record: 37.4C.

It has been a bit Low on Postings here at 

Alishan on the Move.

One of the reasons....you might guess, is Facebook.

Since this Spring, a Lot of "adventures" have taken place on board of

Fu Kyo the Catamaran that is now going strong as

 Fukuoka Sunset Sailing.

For business reasons, the use of that SN is a "must".

Please check it out at: Fukuoka Sunset Sailing

Some pix:

What else is happening regarding the crew of Alishan?

Nori and Wakame are happy

...esp now it is cooling down a bit after this 

Extreme Hot Summer.

And they are proud to score so many hits 

with their Blog Posting:

 What's the difference

Marijke is recording more and more great pictures, see: Wings and Things

Trips to the mountains and running are not taking place as often as we would like to,

but autumn is around the corner:

The Time of the year for Outdoor.

For now: Salute.

Some Work & Some Play around Hakata Bay

We can start this post with Wakame asking:

What's Up?

In Fukuoka, the month of May is the start of 
TAI=snapper fishing season.  

Sumie Maru, the fishing boat i usually help when they are busy 
again asked me to do so.

The catch of the day-before, is brought to the big fish-market down town. For that, small K-trucks are used. Of course the fish is still alive...as swimming fish makes the best price.

This time Sumie Maru had a good catch and so we needed 2 K-trucks, each loaded with 6 tanks.

By the way:What time is it?

Right, 0330 AM!

Empty boxes are set out, to be filled with sea water...

Then, when we get the signal from the fish auction manager, the fish is put into these boxes...

As you can see, some serious fellows...

Red Caps are the fish buyers....

The whole sales-process is done in less than 5 minutes...

Don't ask me for details...as the language used by these market people is a combo of 

Japanese, Hakata-ben, Latin and...

By now it's 0415, and fisherman friend Kunitoshi always likes to take me for a bowl of

Hakata Ramen.

I'm not a big fan of the soup, but the noddles are NICE.

Eating a bowl of noodles after the fish market became "bunka"...tradition...so i join the ride...

What else is UP?

Fu Kyo the Cat is now parked in her possy in the Meinohama Fishing Port.

Awaiting her busines: Sunset Sailing and other trips around the bay.

Or even better: Sailing to the off-shore islands Iki, Tsushima, Ohshima....

  Showing her great location in the Meinohama Port.

Perfect for evening parties, as from the cockpit, the view over Marinoa is Magic.

There was more done...

??

What's Marijke doing??

Ping-pong.

With buddy runner Noriko a run was made to Mt Imori.

This aluminium Tori can be seen from far away...and is impressive to stand beneath.

It was a blue blue sky day.

And Tatata....next....

Somehow Tokyo TV heard about our "poor-man's life".

And that we were living on a boat.

So, they decided to make a program about ..well,

 our life here in Meinohama, about our fun jobs and our adventures with the fisherman's families.

A great promotion for Fukuoka Sunset Sailing as 1 day we went out sailing with Fu Kyo...

Marijke was followed by the TV camera to her job at the LaLaLa  Daycare in Daizafu where she runs
 an All English Activity for the customers.
Never too young to learn idea.

And then at home, Marijke was "close-upped" while cooking...

Result?

Traditional Japanese Alishan food...

Sashimi, hot steaming rice with a raw egg, spinach, tofu, natto and nori.

Yummy.

The whole TV program recording lasted for 3 days...pfff.

By now we have seen the result, shown all over Japan, and we have to say:

 They made a nice show about our "house-less life"

in Meinohama.

A few days later we got this year's first foreign boat in Odo yacht-harbor in Fukuoka.

Last year very few boats came as a result of the big earthquake/tsunami of 2011.

By now (June 11) already 6 boats have arrived...Keeping us busy with helping out with what ever.

Tasmania sailing yacht Nomzamo.

With Lorraine and Howard.

It's tsuyu now, rainy season, but we are experiencing many nice days.

Luff this time of the year: 
Not cold and the days are still getting longer.

Salute

Fukuoka Sunset is.......SAILING

These days 

Fu Kyo is making waves 

on Hakata Bay.

Of course you can follow us at:

Fukuoka Sunset Sailing in English

 and here in Japanese.

Not much text this time,

pictures tell the story.

Hope to welcome you on board one day.

Salute

Saga ken's Famous Sunset

 So many Nikons and Canons....

What is happening here?

Marijke is the Lady in Green.

This is one of the world's Photo Hot Spots.

In early spring, when the rice paddies are flooded with water, just before the planting of the new crop....

 it's awesome to see the Sun Sinking in the Sea.

Now we have to wait...Every body has come at least 3 hours in advance to claim the best spots.

Those power cables? Hmmm, some photo-shopping will do. 

Or wait, the sun will sink enough...

(btw, the electricity comes from N Kyushu's own nuclear power station...so you know...)

What to say...??

Too bad some clouds had been hiding on the horizon....

Almost Down and Done.  

And on return home, we find Fu Kyo (and Alishan of course)

 "baking" in the Full Moon Shine.

Salute