Command Fleet Activities Sasebo, Japan

Jellyfish in the water (Moon Jellyfish don't sting, no worries)

Pictures of the Base - Those ships are actually the Japanese fleet... ours are all out, which is why all the docks are empty.

Hachiman Shrine

24 June 2009-

The Hachiman Shrine, built in 1264, was dedicated to Emperor Ohjin and Empress Jingu. The Empress is the guardian deity of Sasebo. It is the main shrine of Sasebo and citizens and tourists alike are encouraged to visit and appreciate the beauty or ask for good fortune.

After washing your hands in the fountain (pictured), you go up to the shrine and ring a bell to awake the spirits and give an offering of 5 yen ($0.05). You MUST donate a gold 5 cent piece and not a silver one (the Japanese are very superstitious). Then you bow twice, clap your hands twice, ask for the blessing you have come for, and bow twice more.

You can also buy a white, decorative card and write your wish down and post it on a wall. When your desired outcome occurs (ie, you get into college or your crush falls in love with you) you return and remove it from the wall. They leave it up for a year before it's removed. Be careful with food because the pigeons will jump right onto your hands for a bite to eat.

Flight from the US to Korea to Japan

18 June 2009-
I flew Korean Air from Atlanta to Seoul. Prior to the flight, an annoucement was made in Korean and about twenty attractive korean women dressed in blue button shirts and white leather skirts lined up and paraded to the airplane to attend to the passengers (That one is not my photo). It was quite a show. They were formal and extremely polite.

I was upgraded to first class and moved to the second floor of the 747, which is the premier private seating. I enjoyed free movies, sushi, drinks, and entertainment the entire flight. It was the best 15 hours ever.

The Seoul airport was large, clean, and very exciting. While waiting for connecting flights, one is encouraged to enjoy free cultural arts and crafts, such as painting and fan design. I arrived in Fukuoka airport at 8:00 pm after 26 hours or travel. My shuttle to the Sasebo Naval Base arrived at 10:00 and I arrived on base at 1:00. A total of 31 hours of real time travel. Phew!