I caught an EVA Air B773s today!/今日エバー航空のB773を捕獲しました！

I was able to take pictures of an EVA Air B777-300ERs BR105/106 flights today. She has already come to Fukuoka five times this year, the last time was on 10 and 11 May. But I don't know about it. I missed her so much. Actually I saw such a plane on 27 March. If you're interested in about this article, click here.
今日エバー航空BR105/106便のB777-300ER機の写真撮影に成功しました。同機が福岡に飛来したのは今年5度目で前回は5月10・11日だったようですがそのことを知らなくて見に行けずにとても残念でした。実際見たのは3月27日以来のことです。詳しくはこちら。

The plane from Taipei was landing on Rwy 16R at 11:21 am Japan time. Aircraft registration number B-16710 was used for flight of the day.
台北発の飛行機は午前11時21分滑走路16Rに着陸。機体番号はB-16710でした。

After arriving, the plane was stopped at Gate 56, the right end of the international gates. The immigration counters are nearby, so it's very convenient when you're getting off the plane.
飛行機は右端のゲートである56番にスポットイン。当ゲートは飛行機を降りるとすぐ近くに入国審査台があるのでとても便利です。

One hour later, the plane was returned to Taipei.
1時間後飛行機は折り返し台北へ。

I'm going to take a picture of an EVA Air Boeing 777-300ER tomorrow

I'm going to Fukuoka Airport to watch EVA Air's B773s landing and takeoff at the usual place, near Rwy 34R. I was checked it out EVA Air website today, only tomorrow's flight is operated by these models. She'll come to Fukuoka after a long time since 27 March. The weather will be fine tomorrow, so I want to take a beautiful picture.

Go traveling to Seoul, Hong Kong and George Town

As I mentioned before, I'm traveling to Seoul, Hong Kong and George Town/Penang for 6 days from tomorrow.

I'm so excited to go George Town/Penang first time. I already went to Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia in 2007. During my stay in George Town, I'll visit to Cornwallis fortress, the architectural vestiges of British colonial era still remains there. Little India, the Indian street area that spreads back to the Harmony Road. The street has colorful cultures of religious buildings, of mosque, and Hindu and Chinese temples. As its name, there is a mixture of multicultural society, Malay, India and China.  A notable building in the town is Komtor, a 65 story circular building and the landmark of George Town, is located in the west side of old city center. You can catch the view of the city panorama of 360 degrees from the observatory on the 58th floor.

The Asia Pacific Festival Fukuoka 2014

On 11 October, I went to the Asia Pacific Festival in Hakata Station. This festival, one of the annual event of Fukuoka, is held both in Hakata Station and Tenjin. As usual, some airlines and tourist industries have shown their own products and promotions at the booth. There are some new exhibitors from this year, such as Tourism Malaysia, a tourism origination by Malaysian government.

I'm uploading some pictures.

The Cathay Pacific/Hong Kong Tourism Board in the booth 5 and Singapore Airlines/Singapore Tourism Board in the booth 6. Although Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines are the rivalry of airline alliances, but they're close to each other.

Hong Kong Express in the booth 3 next to the second right of Cathay Pacific. Hong Kong Express, Hong Kong's budget airline, began operating their Fukuoka route once per day in April. This time, games for free tickets took place at the booth.

Jin Air's special booth. It's well decorated like a movie theater. Using 3d image to show their products, such as seats, in-flight services etc. The airline, Korea's low-cost carrier, will be flying to Fukuoka from December.

A Chinese man playing erhu on the main stage. It is a Chinese two-stringed bowed musical instrument.

Yuko Oshima getting ready to celebrate her 26th birthday today!

I love Yuko Oshima or simply called Yuko-san so much. Yuko-san, one of the top members of AKB48, currently the most popular female band group in Japan, has just graduated in June after her graduation concert in Ajinomoto Stadium.
I wish she will be a big actress that she really wanted after her graduation.

A lovely photograph poster of Yuko-san. I took a picture in May which is shown at the AKB48 shop and cafe in Fukuoka a month before her graduation.

Yuko-san Ganbare!

Koura-taisha Shrine, Kurume

Driving on the Minou Skyline (耳納スカイライン) mountain highway from the Kurume city center and passing some gentle curves, you will get into the Koura-taisha (高良大社) shrine. We arrived there around 4:15pm. This is the last place to visit on this trip.

 History

Kōra was founded in the fifth century. The shrine is mentioned in the Engishiki and was one of the most important shrines in Chikugo Province.

Buildings
The torii of 1654 and the honden, haiden, and heiden of 1661 have been designated Important Cultural Properties.


From Wikipedia

The torii is standing at the entrance. We climbed up the very steep stairs to the shrine. 

A prospect park is located in the opposite side of the road. From Here, you can see a great view of the entire Kurume city and the surroundings.

The central Kurume can be seen in the west. Chikugo River running through the city, the Sefuri Mountain Range in the foreground, a high rise building of Kurume City Hall center picture, and Kurume University in the background. This picture is taken at a cafe in front of the torii, so I've a tea break there and taking pictures with permission.

A view of eastern suburbs. The Kyushu Expressway, as shown in the center picture, is passing through in the direction of north and south.

Taking a motorway from the nearest Kurume Interchange, and have a little break at Kiyama Parking Area on the way, we returned home at half past six.

The end

Seeing the big kannon statue at Kurume Naritasan Temple

After visiting the Kurume Suiten-gu Shrine, we have decided to take a drive to the Kurume Naritasan (久留米成田山) Temple. It was founded in 1958 after part of the spiritual embodiment from the Naritasan Shinshoji (成田山新勝寺) Temple in Chiba Prefecture was given to the temple.

The Jibo Kannon statue (慈母観音像) is one of the largest statue in the world. It's a 62 meter high. You can climb up the stairs in the statue to catch a view of Kurume and even Mount Unzen.

Beside the Kannon statue, there is the 38 m high Indian Village Heiwa Daibutsu Tower (インド村・平和大仏塔極楽殿) and a Hall, a replica of the one in India’s Budh Gaya constructed on its grounds.

Plane spotting on 11 October 2014/2014年10月11日飛行機観察

Today, I went to Hakata Station, the venue of Fukuoka Asian Month 2014. It's known as Fukuoka's biggest annual festival held in every October. Before that, I took pictures of some planes at the airport.
今日（11日）福岡アジアマンスの会場である博多駅へ行きました。その前に空港に立ち寄って数機撮影しました。

A Korean Air flight KE790 to Seoul is taking off on Rwy 16R at 4:29 pm.
大韓航空のソウル行きKE790便が午後4時29分に滑走路16Rから離陸。

At 4:43 pm, two Korean carriers meet each other: While an Asiana Airlines flight OZ133 to Seoul is taking off on Rwy 16R, a Jeju Air flight 7C1104 from Seoul is taxiing after landing.
午後4時43分にアシアナ航空のソウル行きOZ133便が滑走路16Rから離陸中に済州航空のソウル発7C1104便が着陸＋タキシング。

The Asiana Airlines A321-200s went into the sky.
離陸後のアシアナ航空A321-200機。

Nine minutes after, two international carriers meet each other: While a Dragon Air flight KA381 to Hong Kong is taking off on Rwy 16R, an All Nippon Airways flight NH259 from Tokyo Haneda is taxiing after landing.
9分後、香港ドラゴン航空の香港行きKA381便が滑走路16Rから離陸中に全日空の東京羽田発ANA259便が着陸＋タキシング。

The Dragon Air Airbus a330-300 just after takeoff. Now, she comes here often because an incresing number of passengers on their Fukuoka route in recent years.
離陸直後の香港ドラゴン航空A330-300機。近年福岡線利用客数増加にともない同機で飛来する日が多くなってきている。

Visiting to Kurume Suiten-gu Shrine

We arrived at Kurume Suiten-gu Shrine (久留米水天宮) at 2:30 pm. This shrine is the headquarters for all Suiten-gu Shrines in Japan.

Legends
As a shrine related with water, Suiten-gū came to be venerated as a guardian shrine for marine traffic and was said to have a connection with the legend of Kappa. These days, it is known to house the god of safe childbirth.

From Wikipedia

We're praying for our wishes at 'haiden' (拝殿) or the hall of worship of the shrine.

We strolled the shrine then. This is called heidan (幣殿). The Haiden is the part of a Shinto shrine used to house offerings. In spite of its name, nowadays it is used mostly for rituals.

Statue of Maki Yasuomi, a Japanese samurai of the late Edo period, who served as a retainer of the Arima clan of Kurume in northern Kyūshū. He was born in 1813 as the family head of the hereditary line of Shinto priests who cared for the shrine.

 A torii made of a stone.

A little further down the road approaching a shrine, you can find a moon bridge and romon (楼門).

A close-up view of the Romon.

The Chikugo River (筑後川) flows next to the shrine. With a total length of 143 kilometers, it is the longest river on Kyushu.

 After that, we were going to Kurume Naritasan Temple.

Window shopping at Tosu Premium Outlets

Yesterday, we went to Tosu and Kurume. Where did we visited there? We went to Tosu Premium Outlets (鳥栖プレミアム・アウトレット) first, then we visited to some temples and shrines in Kurume.

We arrived at Tosu at about 1 o'clock. We just got a hungry, so we had a lunch at food court. We found the Freshness Hamburger shop, so we ordered a cheese burger set with coke and french fries.

After having lunch, we started window shopping. This day was weekday, we didn't see many shoppers there.

We saw some Halloween decorations in flower gardens. They're so pretty!

There is the Koran-sha (香蘭社) Arita porcelain shop in the middle left side of shopping zone.

We left there at 2 pm. After that, we visited to Suiten-gu Shrine in Kurume.

Thai Airways B787s will fly to Fukuoka from November

Thai Airways will be introduced Boeing 787-8 to Fukuoka from 1 November. Presently, the airline operates on their Fukuoka route once per day with A330s. As of September 2014, the company has two B787s, their aircraft registration numbers are HS-TQA and HS-TQB. It is excepted to be received HS-TQC, the first three aircraft within this month.

NB: This image is borrowed from Thai Airways official site.