Cue slow-motion and dramatic music a la Amazing Race

Alright this blog is starting to look very disjointed Memento-style with posts from the past and present being posted in turn, but I guess I'm going to forge on.


The day we were supposed to ferry over to Fukuoka, you all know that our boat had to turn around back to Busan. Here's why:




We get back to Busan around 11 a.m., and the situation is grim. The next high-speed ferry won't leave until 2 days later. The regular speed ferry is already booked. We don't want to ride an over-nite cruiser. So we taxi over to the airport to catch the 4 p.m. flight to Osaka.

We get to Osaka and realize that we are not going to make it down to Nagasaki unless we take a 2-hour taxi ride from Fukuoka. We are forced to cancel our hotel (but thankfully did not have to pay a cancellation fee owing to the graciously understanding hotel staff), and come up with an alternative plan to stay in Beppu, entirely skipping Fukuoka, Kumamoto, and Nagasaki. I guess they will have to wait until the next trip...

We got to Beppu past midnight... a whole day of traveling.

Seriously. Sucked.

Phil: "At least we got to go on the Green car (executive class) of the bullet train."
Steven: "Oh, shut your trap."

Korea/Japan 1st Draft Itinerary

Cities in bold text are where we would be spending the night.

March 14 - Friday

• Steven and Phil fly from Chicago to San Francisco, then San Francisco to Seoul, South Korea
  
• Julie flies from Chicago to Tokyo, then Tokyo to Seoul, South Korea

March 15 - Saturday

• Phil, Steven, and Julie arrive in Seoul, South Korea

March 16 - Sunday

• Seoul, South Korea
• Tour - Gyeongbokgung and Chandeokgung Palaces
• Explore - Namdaemun or Dongdaemun Market
  

March 17 - Monday

• Half Day trip to the DMZ
• Trip to Suwon to explore Hwaseong Fortress, Blue House, National Folk Museum, Joseon Dynasty and Kyongbuk Palaces.
• Travel to Gyeongju, Korea
  

March 18 - Tuesday

• Full day Gyeongju city tour visiting the remnants of the ancient Silla Dynasty, including secluded temples, ancient ruins, burial mounds and National Museum.
• Travel to Busan, Korea
  

March 19 - Wednesday

• Busan – Early morning visit to Jagalchi Fish Market
• Taejongdae Park with its vast rock outcrops and sweeping sea vistas, the UN cemetery, the international market and Yongdusan Park)
• high-speed ferry to Fukuoka, Japan
• Transfer to Kumamoto, Japan
  

March 20 - Thursday

• Kumamoto - Morning visit to volcanic Mt Aso; transfer to Kurokawa hot springs. Travel through beautiful mountains to Beppu.
• Train to Nagasaki, Japan.

March 21 - Friday

• Nagasaki
• Train to Kagoshima and see Sakurajima Volcano
• Train to Hiroshima, Japan
• Julie leaves Steven and Phil
  

March 22 - Saturday

• Hiroshima – Full day visit to Hiroshima Peace Park and Miyajima
• Train to Nara, Japan
  

March 23 - Sunday

• Nara - One of Japan's ancient capitals and Ninja Castle.
• Train to Kyoto, Japan

March 24 - Monday

• Full day in Kyoto to explore temples, shrines, and Zen Gardens
• Train to Tokyo, Japan
  

March 25 - Tuesday

• Tokyo

March 26 - Wednesday

• Tokyo

March 27 - Thursday

• Phil and Steven Fly from Tokyo back to Chicago