Next stop: Korea

Our flight home to Hawaii had an 8 hour layover at Incheon Airport, in South Korea. I've never been to Korea before so I was pretty excited. We weren't allowed to leave the airport but since Incheon is actually a huge mall, filled with omiyage stores, culture corners, and high end shops, I really didn't mind. Instead of sleeping for eight hours, we decided to walk around the mall for a couple hours, talk on skype for another couple, build desks at a culture corner, oh, and throw in two meals. Not such a bad layover.
The culture corners are filled with Korean art, such as sculptures, books, photographs, and clothing. At every corner there are two to three women dressed in traditional Korean garb. They invite foreigners to come in and make something for free. The station we were at had materials to make either a paper lamp or wooden desk. We opted to build the desk.

Finished product, the desk I made at one of the culture corners.

Lunch for one. Spicy and delicious!

I take pictures of Coca-Cola cans and bottles because my mom is a huge fan.

I thought this size was pretty neat.

It was a good stop, filled with good food. My only recommendation is to not buy alcohol at the airport. If you're flying Korean Air, they serve free wine on the flight. We learned the hard way by buying two Asahi beers before our flight. It cost $15 total, for two cans of beer. We forgot it was "imported". Bleh...

It's beginning to look a lot like....

CHRISTMAS!!

Being a country that doesn't celebrate Christmas, I didn't think Japan in December would impress me. Boy was I wrong. Japanese people go ga-ga over Christmas, especially over decorations and lights. Except, they use the word 'illuminations' for lights, which makes perfect sense, and sounds more Christmasy if you ask me. In Japan, Christmas is usually spent with your friends or your significant other. Unlike in America where we spent it with our families. I wasn't able to spend Christmas in Japan but I am hoping to in 2010.
Here's a little glipse of how beautiful it is in Japan, during the winter season. Did I mention it snows??

Christmas illuminations in Tenjin.

Illuminations at Canal City.

Fukuoka Motor Show

Grand Sumo Tournament

The Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament is held every November at the Fukuoka Kokusai Center, in Hakata. Tickets range in prices, but lucky for us gaijin (foreigners), we got a good price on some nose bleed seats. We waited for a good hour or so for the sumo wrestlers to walk into the building. We noticed other people doing it so we thought it was a good idea. The sumos then walk into the building, and the people waiting cheer them on before the tourney starts. We were able to see one of the Yokozuna, Hakuho, walk in with his entourage.

The tournament lasted for about three hours, with the two Yokozuna fighting at the end. Hakuho beat his apponent, while Asashoryu lost.

Hakuho waiting to defeat his opponent while the sponsers make their appearance.

I've always wanted to see a sumo tournament live and never thought I would get the opportunity. Japan has so many beautiful aspects to it's culture and so many resources that provide endless possibilities to those willing to experience them.