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Nagasaki remembers Atom Bomb

November 17, 2016 by David Herd

Peace Park Statue

Nagasaki remembers Atom Bomb

Nagasaki Peace Park remembers Atom Bomb

Nagasaki remembers Atom Bomb which was dropped on the city August 9th 1945 instantly killing 74,000 civilians. The 9.7 meter statue was created in the hope this horrific tragic event will never be repeated.

Terrible statistics

Nagasaki remembers Atom Bomb

 Man’s inhumanity to man, Makes countless thousands mourn! Robert Burns 1784.

Nagasaki remembers Atom Bomb

Nagasaki Atom Bomb

The right hand is pointing to the sky signifying the threat of atomic weapons, the left arm points horizontally to represent the wish for peace.

 Fountain of Peace

Nagasaki Atom Bomb

The fountain is shaped like the wings of an angel, it was constructed to remember the poor tragic victims who died searching for water.

Nagasaki Peace Bell

Nagasaki remembers Atom Bomb

The Bells of Nagasaki were set up in 1977 and each year are rung at the moment of silence at 11:02 on the anniversary of the terrible event which instantly killed 74,000 people.

On 9 August 1945, the US dropped the second atomic bomb ever deployed in conflict, hitting the Japanese industrial city of Nagasaki. From BBC News August 2015.

School children of Nagasaki

Nagasaki Atom Bomb

 On October 24 2016 I saw these Japanese students paying respect at the Nagasaki Peace Park. I spoke to one of the teachers who told me they were here for a “peace lesson”. I told the teacher visiting Nagasaka had an extra personal meaning for me, I explained that my late uncle was a prisoner in the mines during the war, and how he was liberated by the Americans, put on a train & passed through the still burning city of Nagasaki 3 days after the atomic bomb instantly killed 74,000 people.

Here is my uncle’s story written in 1980, https://fivestarvagabond.com/soldiers-incredible-story/

This was a very special moving experience for me, seeing & hearing these beautiful Japanese schoolchildren singing for peace at the Nagasaki Peace Park.

Nagasaki students sing for peace

 More school children

Nagasaki Peace Park remembers Atom Bomb

 Heiwa Kinen-zo statue at Nagasaki Peace Park, an extremely humbling emotional experience reading about the 74,000 people who were killed instantly in August 1945. The marvelous statue was built to pray for victims of atomic bomb.

 Orizuru or paper cranes

Nagasaki Peace Park remembers Atom Bomb

There is a lovely story behind these colourful paper cranes that are sent by people from all over the world, they have really become a symbol of peace. 

A moving & symbolic experience

Nagasaki Atom Bomb

This statue provided perhaps the most moving and symbolic experience in my life, maybe it was the connection with my late uncle, maybe it was the emotion generated by the children that were here being taught about peace, whatever the reason I shall never forget this day.

How powerful was Hiroshima & Nagasaki?

Nagasaki remembers Atom Bomb

Compared to weapons of today it could be considered small, however that is not the case, it killed 140,000 people. 

Robert Lewis, the co-pilot of the U.S. bomber “Enola Gay,” later wrote, “My God what have we done?”
That horror, encapsulated by those few words, continues to resonate worldwide.

Standing Boy of Nagasaki

Nagasaki remembers Atom Bomb

Please follow think link for the full story.

A young boy carries on his back the lifeless body of his younger brother, in the devastated city of Nagasaki after the atomic bomb. An American military photographer, Joe O’Donnell, took a picture of him standing stoically near a cremation pit. No one knows the boy’s name, but the photo has become an iconic image of the human tragedy of nuclear war. This program follows the continuing efforts to deepen understanding of the photograph, while exploring the fate of thousands of “atomic-bomb orphans” and their struggles to survive the aftermath of World War II.

My hotel was in a perfect location only a 10 minute tram ride to the Peace Park. Rated highly by AGODA, book through THIS LINK for an excellent room rate with free WiFi.

Thank you for visiting my Nagasaki remembers Atom Bomb photo blog.

Sukiyaki (Ue o Muite Arukou) - Kyu Sakamoto (English Translation and Lyrics)

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            Great hotel room rates anywhere in the world if you            
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Slide show here.

 
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That’s all folks

1g Duck

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Battleship Island Nagasaki

November 16, 2016 by David Herd

Ferry to Battleship Island aka Gunkanjima

Battleship Island Nagasaki coal mine

Battleship Island Nagasaki

 Battleship Island Nagasaki coal mine, has been abandoned since 1974. The real name is Hashima Island commonly known as Gunkanjima which translates to ‘Battleship Island’. The ferry trip takes just 45 minutes to reach the fascinating deserted island. 

Battleship Island Nagasaki coal mine

Battleship Island Nagasaki

Here is our first glimpse of the “ghost island”, and yes it does look like a battleship. 🙂

Lookout or bird’s nest?

Battleship Island Nagasaki

Not too sure what this little house was used for but it is a good spot for a lookout.

We are almost at the dock

Battleship Island Nagasaki

Only a hundred meters to go before we leave the ferry for an hour to walk around the island.

OK, here we are at Battleship Island Nagasaki

Battleship Island Nagasaki coal mine

We are all given a number in a plastic holder to wear around our neck, I guess they don’t want to leave anybody behind.

Crumbling walls & buildings

Battleship Island Nagasaki

According to our guide the destruction of walls & building is totally due to the regular typhoons that have pounded the island over the last 40 years.

The power of a typhoon

Battleship Island Nagasaki

It seems incredible that typhoons & storms can reduce concrete buildings to rubble.

Japanese guide

Battleship Island Nagasaki

 Our guide was excellent and told us a lot about the history of Battleship Island Nagasaki coal mine. For instance, from 1887 the island was a very busy coal mining facility that employed thousands of workers. In 1959 there were over 5,200 people living on the 6.3 hectare of space which was Battleship Island, this in fact made it the most densely populated place per square meter on the planet.  

The boys from Sydney

Battleship Island Nagasaki

Doug & Waz are two lads from western Sydney I met on the ferry, we hooked up together & explored the island, then back in Nagasaki enjoyed many ice cold beers followed by an excellent Italian dinner.

 Aerial view of  Hashima Island

Battleship Island Nagasaki

This shot puts the island into perspective, credit to  Kntrty, Flickr Source: Supplied.

 Video of Battleship Island

Hashima Island is called Battleship Island

My apologies for the wind noise.

 Happy tourists

Battleship Island Nagasaki

  The island has been featured in several films and recently  being the inspiration for the villain’s lair in the James Bond movie Skyfall.

More boats approach the island

Battleship Island Nagasaki coal mine

There seems to be a huge amount of tourists visiting the island, TripAdvisor rate it 3rd out of 242 things to do in Nagasaki.

The power of nature

Battleship Island Nagasaki

It seems hard to believe typhoons can cause such devastation.

Battleship Island Nagasaki coal mine

Battleship Island Nagasaki

So as you can imagine after the mine mine closed in 1974 sadly Hashima Island gradually was reduced to ruins.

Make sure you take this interesting tour.

Battleship Island Nagasaki

The cost was 4,300 Yen & well worth the expense, here are the ferry details.

My hotel in Nagasaki was only a three minute walk to the station & a short tram ride to the ferry terminal. Rated highly by AGODA, book through THIS LINK for an excellent room rate with free WiFi.

Standing Boy of Nagasaki

Nagasaki remembers Atom Bomb

Please follow think link for the full story.

A young boy carries on his back the lifeless body of his younger brother, in the devastated city of Nagasaki after the atomic bomb. An American military photographer, Joe O’Donnell, took a picture of him standing stoically near a cremation pit. No one knows the boy’s name, but the photo has become an iconic image of the human tragedy of nuclear war. This program follows the continuing efforts to deepen understanding of the photograph, while exploring the fate of thousands of “atomic-bomb orphans” and their struggles to survive the aftermath of World War II.

Thanks for visiting my Battleship Island Nagasaki coal mine photo blog, please check out my Nagasaki city blog on THIS LINK.

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            Great hotel room rates anywhere in the world if you            
 book through these links below.  Book now & pay later.
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A-One hotel on Beach Road

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For a great room rate at the A-One hotel opposite the beach just book through THIS LINK.               

 
 
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Nagasaki harbour street drummers

November 15, 2016 by David Herd

Nagasaki Station

Nagasaki harbour street drummers

Nagasaki harbour street drummers, arriving at the station by Shinkansen from Kagoshima, I was eagerly anticipating the history and subsequent recovery of this fascinating city on the west coast of Kyushu Island.

Trams

Nagasaki harbour street drummers

A great way to get around the city in Nagasaki, my hotel was only 200 meters from the station where all the trams stopped as well. 

 My favourite Nagasaki sign

Nagasaki harbour street drummers

It’s on billboards, the side of trains & trams, wonderful Japanese humour. 🙂

Kankō Maru

Nagasaki harbour street drummers

Kankō Maru was Japan’s first steam-powered warship, originally a Dutch warship named Soembing it was presented to Japan in 1854 and renamed Kankō Maru.         

Kankō Maru 

Nagasaki harbour street drummers

 She was based at Tsukiji until she was sent to the scrapyard in 1876. This exact replica was built in the Netherlands in 1987, it has a crew of 14 and can carry up to 300 passengers.

 Waterfront restaurants

Nagasaki harbour street drummers

A number of restaurants overlook the harbour, I enjoyed many ice cold beers with two Sydney guys I met on a tour to Battleship Island.

Nagasaki nature culture history

Nagasaki harbour street drummers

Here I am with Doug & Waz, not much culture but lots of tradition, we solved many of the world’s problems before finally having dinner at Gorm’s, a very nice Italian restaurant.

Hills overlooking Nagasaki

Nagasaki harbour street drummers

One one side of the city is the bay & the other side hills overlooking the city.

Nagasaki harbour street drummers

Nagasaki harbour street drummers

On two occasions I was so lucky to see street performances by some amazing artists. 

Nagasaki harbour street drummers

Nagasaki harbour street drummers

Just a matter of being in the right place at the right time.

Drummers in Nagasaki perform for the crowd

Nagasaki ferry terminal

Nagasaki harbour street drummers

I bought a ticket to Battleship Island.

Ferry terminal

Nagasaki harbour street drummers

The terminal itself looks like a ship with a huge funnel. 🙂

In front of the station

Nagasaki harbour street drummers

The tram stop was in front of Nagasaki station and my hotel was just around the corner.

Orion Hotel

Nagasaki harbour street drummers

Perfect location only a three minute walk to the station. Rated highly by AGODA, book through THIS LINK for an excellent room rate with free WiFi.

 That’s all for now.

Nagasaki harbour street drummers

Thanks for visiting my Nagasaki city harbour street drummers photo blog, if you have time please check out the Peace Park, Battleship Island & Nagasaki food.

                     

Standing Boy of Nagasaki

Nagasaki remembers Atom Bomb

Please follow think link for the full story.

A young boy carries on his back the lifeless body of his younger brother, in the devastated city of Nagasaki after the atomic bomb. An American military photographer, Joe O’Donnell, took a picture of him standing stoically near a cremation pit. No one knows the boy’s name, but the photo has become an iconic image of the human tragedy of nuclear war. This program follows the continuing efforts to deepen understanding of the photograph, while exploring the fate of thousands of “atomic-bomb orphans” and their struggles to survive the aftermath of World War II.

  Here are some more posts to check out 

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          Tokyo                        Rio De Janeiro                        Budapest
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            Great hotel room rates anywhere in the world if you            
 book through these links below.  Book now & pay later.
                                                                 Plus free cancellation .
                                               Bangkok Hotels                    Pattaya Hotels
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A-One hotel on Beach Road

Seven deadly Songkran days

For a great room rate at the A-One hotel opposite the beach just book through THIS LINK.               

 
Pattaya live webcam
 
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That’s all folks

1g Duck

Fukuoka Hiroshima Sapporo Sendai

Tokyo Kagoshima Kanazawa Nagoya

Nagasaki Yokohama Kyoto Kamakura

Counter only started June 16 2020.

This gallery contains 3 photos