Fukuoka

16 July

We leave Busan, Korea heading back to Japan, via ferry, again through Fukuoka.

Our ferry, the Queen Beetle, awaits us...

We're back!  In Fukuoka, Japan, that is.  There's been an event adjacent to the pier, going on since we left for Korea two weeks ago - the 2023 World Aquatic Championships.  Hmmm, can we get tickets for anything, last minute?

Tim poses with the mascots for the Championships, as we walk to our hotel for the next 3 nights.

17 July

We've been watching a bit of Japanese major league baseball here and there on the TV in our hotel rooms and at some izakayas, now's our chance to see a game in person.  It's the Fukuoka Hawks vs. the Kobe/Osaka Buffaloes, and it's free jersey give-away-day.

We're famished, so it's octopus balls for Gerri, and of course, KFC for Tim.

Fukuoka's pitcher today is Carter Stewart Jr. from Florida.

When you want a beer, the beer girl brings the keg right to your seat.

Something strange seems to be happening...

...cue that song from Monty Python's "The Meaning of Life" - the song - "Every Sperm is Sacred"...
(they didn't actually play this song during the game, it's just so darn reminiscent of that movie though)

This image was originally posted to Flickr by eundas athttps://flickr.com/photos/9596483@N04/14415348139 (archive). It was reviewed on 10 October 2018 by FlickreviewR 2 and was confirmed to be licensed under the terms of the cc-by-2.0.

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The sperms have landed - time for ice cream - ah, there's the ice cream girl now heading our way.

Oh nooo, the Hawks have lost against the Buffaloes, 3-0.  Yeah, Fukuoka just couldn't generate any offense.  They still thank the fans for coming...

...and we got free jerseys.

It's Stairway to Dinner...

18 July

Lunch the next day - tempura and noodles.

Just like for many of our family and friends back home, it's also a scorcher here today.

Here's one way to cool off - watching women's water polo matches at the World Championships.  At least they get to have a dip in the pool.

In the next game, it's USA vs. the Aussies.

USA! USA! USA!

...and finally, France vs. China (France won 12-11)