Kagoshima restaurant village near the railway station is called Kagomma Furusato Yataimura. There are about 25 small restaurants that seat only 8 or 10 people.
Kagoshima restaurant village
Many of the places are so tiny it’s hard to get a seat. 🙂
Some have seats outside as well
Big & small, it doesn’t matter, the atmosphere is fantastic.
Big crowd for a Sunday
I’m guessing this place is crowded every night.
Yakitori washed down with hot sake.
One of my favourite Japanese dishes.
Such a busy place
The action never stops here. There really isn’t any English spoken however you can get by just pointing at the menu. 🙂
This nice guy spoke a little English
Not only that he was in Thailand on holiday the previous week. He took great delight in telling me how much he enjoyed Soi 4 & Nana Plaza. 🙂
Some things in Japan you can be sure of, happy smiling faces, they love to be in a photograph, & people are just so nice & polite.
Hot sake coming up sir. 🙂
I realised after my first two glasses of sake the waitress was adding about 30% hot water, I thought they were tasting a little weak. Perhaps she did me a favour. 🙂
My hotel was only 10 minutes walk to lots of restaurants & the ferry terminal, a great location and a great room rate if you book through THIS LINK.
A very busy village
I didn’t see any other foreigners here, I was the only one.
Kagoshima restaurant village
Here is a wonderful documentary
The village is quite close to the railway station which is adjacent to the Ferris wheel.
Keeping the rain out
Rain is absolutely no problem here.
Happy customers
You gotta love the Japanese people, as soon as they see a camera they want to be in the photo. 🙂
Here is a map of the village
That’s all folks
Thank you for visiting my Kagoshima restaurant village photo blog. Just a reminder my hotel was in a great location, you will get a discounted room rate if you book throughTHIS LINK.
Here is another photo blog for Kagoshima.
Please check out some of the most popular photo blogs below.
Active Volcano Kagoshima Japan Sakurajima had been peaceful since 2013 until July 2016, then suddenly plumes of smoke, cracks of lighting and a flow of lava came bellowing out of Japan’s Mount Sakruajima in July 2016. Located in a scenic bay on the southern island of Kyushu, this 1,117 meter high volcano has been a sleeping giant for the past three years prior to this fiery spectacle. The incident took place at 12:02 am on Tuesday at the mountain’s Showa crater, which resulted in a 5,000 meter high column of ash – but officials say no fatalities have been reported. Credit to STACY LIBERATORE FOR DAILYMAIL.COM Read about it here.
Experts have voiced concerns about the volcanic activity on the Pacific Island, primarily that it could be completely wiped by one massive eruption in the next century – killing all of its some 127 million inhabitants.
Leaving the terminal
Plenty to see on the short voyage across Kinko Bay.
On deck with the breeze in your face (or the phone)
Best spot for a photo opportunity.
Here I am heading for the island.
Hope to see at least a few puffs of smoke. 🙂
We arrive at Sakurajima
It’s a very short ferry ride, about 4 km at a cost of 170 Yen.
It is also a car ferry
About 5,000 people live on the island.
Tour bus around the island
For a 90 minute trip the cost was 500 Yen or about $6 AUD. You can get on & off the bus at different points of interest.
SAKEBI-NO-ZO (Shouting Statue) Park
Apparently a rock musician held a concert in 2004 in front of 75,000 screaming fans. To commemorate the concert, he built a statue of himself, this statue shouts at Sakurajima.
Up close to the volcano
We enjoy a 15 minute stop at the lookout to take some photos.
Sakurajima active volcano Kagoshima lava spread
Many types of fruit & vegetables florish due to the volcanic ash. The Sakurajima radish is a representative traditional vegetable of Kagoshima Prefecture, normally weighing about 10kg but one may also see radish that weigh as much as 20 – 30 kg. This is the world’s heaviest radish (weighing 31.1kg) and is registered in the Guinness Book of World Records.
Sakurajima Radish is cherished by people across Japan as a uniquely original product of Kagoshima. It stays consistent when boiled and has a flavor that absorbs well, along with a fine flesh that looks as white as snow. Sakurajima Radish can be used in a wide variety of ways, such as boiled or pickled to name but a few.
Here is a wonderful documentary
Eruption in 2012
This spot is only 5 minutes walk from my hotel & another 5 minutes to thee ferry terminal. A great location and a great room rate if you book through THIS LINK.
Thanks for visiting my Active Volcano Kagoshima Japan photo blog.
Please check out some of the most popular photo blogs below.
This is the view from Horizons the amazing rooftop bar. A great five star hotel located opposte the beach & above the Central Festival shopping mall. Just book through THIS LINK for an excellent room rate.
Kagoshima Aquarium Kinko Bay has a similar look to the Sydney Opera House. Not nearly as spectacular of course but certainly well worth a visit.
Whale shark
The whale shark is the largest of the fish species. The biggest confirmed individual had a length of 12.65 meters and a weight of around 21.5 ton.
Here is a video of the Whale Shark & others.
Huge whale shark at Kagoshima aquarium in Japan.
I’t’s so peaceful & relaxing watching these amazing fish swim lazily in circles around the huge pool.
Another big guy
I can’t remember how many years it has been since I was at an aquarium, it was a total pleasure visiting the aquarium at Kagoshima. Entry was 1500 Yen or $14 USD.
Another huge tank with a great variety of fish
The women in the photo gives you an idea of the size of the tank & the fish.
Jelly fish
Jellyfish are the most efficient swimmers in the oceans. They use less energy to cover a given distance than any other ocean creature. Follow THIS LINKfor some great information.
Big body, small head.
The huge variety of marine life is quite amazing.
Hiding among the reeds
This little guy was only about 6 inches long.
Here are some starfish in the background
The starfish is not a fish. It’s an echinoderm, closely related to sea urchins and sand dollars.
There are some 2,000 species of sea star living in all the world’s oceans, from tropical habitats to the cold seafloor. The five-arm varieties are the most common, hence their name, but species with 10, 20, and even 40 arms exist.
They have bony, calcified skin, which protects them from most predators, and many wear striking colors that camouflage them or scare off potential attackers. Purely marine animals, there are no freshwater sea stars, and only a few live in brackish water.
Beyond their distinctive shape, sea stars are famous for their ability to regenerate limbs, and in some cases, entire bodies. They accomplish this by housing most or all of their vital organs in their arms. Some require the central body to be intact to regenerate, but a few species can grow an entirely new sea star just from a portion of a severed limb.
Most sea stars also have the remarkable ability to consume prey outside their bodies. Using tiny, suction-cupped tube feet, they pry open clams or oysters, and their sack-like cardiac stomach emerges from their mouth and oozes inside the shell. The stomach then envelops the prey to digest it, and finally withdraws back into the body. Credit National Geographic.
Here is another video, great shots of sharks swimming.
Great variety of fish & sharks at Kagoshima aquarium
These sharks are absolutely fascinating creatures, so streamlined & graceful.
My hotel is only 10 minutes walk to the aquarium, a great location and a great room rate if you book through THIS LINK.
Now for some more sashimi 🙂
Another beautiful looking creature.
Deep sea worms
Despite being an inland bay, Kinko Bay reaches depths of more than 200 meters, making it home to deep see marine life as well. Additionally, a new species of tube worm, or Lamellibrachia Satsuma, can be found on the sea floor at depths of around 90 meters in the upper bay. Research has shown that this unique population is supported by underwater volcanic vents from Mt. Sakurajima that spew hydrogen sulfide from the sea floor.
A few small fish among the coral
The coral itself makes a beautiful display.
You have seen the worms, now how about a sea snake?
Snakes are one of the things I have always been afraid of. Growing up in Australia which has nine of the ten most venemous snakesin the world, is it any wonder we are scared of them? 🙂
Beautiful colours
You really can spend hours watching these wonderful creatures.
Stonefish, most venemous fish in the world.
Stonefish are venomous, dangerous, and even fatal to humans. It is one of the most venomous fish known. They are found in the coastal regions of the Indo-Pacific.
Video of the Stonefish in full camouflage
Stone fish resting at Kagoshima aquarium in Japan
Very hard to see this guy, looks just like the surrounding rocks.
This guy is giving me the stare. 🙂
They are so sleek and sinister.
Imagine swimming in the sea & seeing this guy coming toward you.
I think I would die of a heart attack before he got to me. 🙂
Watching the seals being fed
Always popular with the crowd is feeding time.
Video of the dolphins
Dolphins jumping at Kagoshima aquarium in Japan
Personally I don’t like to see these wonderful intelligent animals in captivity, they need to be free in the ocean, not imprisoned in a small pool.
Pattaya Parasailing every day except for the few occasions the weather is so bad they have to cancel. Most of these tourists are from China, they pay for their holiday before leaving so a fair bit of the money never makes it to Thailand.
Organised chaos
They buzz around like mosquitoes, personally I would not do this because I just don’t trust the Thai boat drivers.
Coming in to land
There are 4 or 5 of these barges located on the bay, non-parasailers can also come out to the pontoon to watch the fun for a small cost.
One of the overpowered speed boats.
About 750 HP is a ridiculous waste of money, I’m guessing they are just showing off to their competitors. When I lived in Australia I had one Yamaha 200 HP powering my boat, that used to cost me about $25 aud per hour in fuel. So these guys are obviously making plenty to be able to justify these three huge engines.
Stuck on the sand.
Speedboat stuck on sandbar
Every which way but loose
This was the name of the 1978 Clint Eastwood movie, the phrase reminds me of the speed boats in this photo, it seems to be total chaos. 🙂
Check out the crowd on the barge
All waiting for their turn to fly.
Flying high
The most popular attraction for tourists.
Chaotic & crazy Parasailing in Pattaya
Chaotic & crazy Parasailing in Pattaya
A storm is looming
The black clouds are coming across the bay but the tourists don’t seem to care.
More boats stuck on the sand.
Pattaya boats stuck on the sand
Here it comes
There is no better sight than watching a storm roll in over Pattaya bay.
A beautiful rainbow over the bay
After the rain in Pattaya there a beautiful day always follows.
Pattaya Parasailing every day
Quite a walk for the tourists to get to the boats when the tide is out.
Finally another busy day on the bay
Triathlon coming to Pattaya Thailand
Thanks for visiting my Pattaya Parasailing every day photo blog. Bookmark THIS LINK to access my webcam and check out Pattaya bay any time you wish.
Thanks for visiting my Pattaya Parasailing every day photo blog.
This is the view from Horizons the amazing rooftop bar. A great five star hotel located opposte the beach & above the Central Festival shopping mall. Just book through THIS LINK for an excellent room rate.
Many wonderful boats Pattaya Bay, lets start with the old clunkers, funnily enough some of these boats from 1980 are still being used today.
Here is a perfect example in 2016
I guarantee this classic has been working in the bay for 60 or more years. I would definitely recommend a life jacket. 🙂
Protection from the burning sun?
No way José , just sit there & fry.
At least the captain has shade in this one.
Forget the passengers the captain is ok. 🙂
This old bucket has just had a paint job.
Looks pretty good with the new paint job.
One extreme to another
Here is one of the hundreds of speed boats that take tourists, mainly Chinese, to Koh Larn & Para-sailing. This one is grossly overpowered with almost 700 HP to push it along.
Even all that power doesn’t always do the job.
Speedboat stuck on sandbar
These Thai drivers are not very skillful I’m afraid.
Every morning in Pattaya
The boats start gathering on Pattaya beach from 6.30 every morning.
Here come the Chinese tourists
Every day thousands flock to Pattaya to board the boats.
And now for something different
A nice catamaran pulls into the beach.
Koh Larn ferry
The 40 minute ferry ride to Koh Larn will set you back B30, or 86 U.S. cents.
Needs a little work
One owner, & open to all reasonable offers.
Here is one being done up
Still a little work to be done but starting to look good.
There are some luxury boats here as well.
Just wander around some of the marinas along the coast and you will finds some very nice boats. However please don’t expect the “French Riviera”. 🙂
Fabulous views, excellent restaurants & a very good room rate if you book through THIS LINK.
The building in the middle is the Holiday Inn, on the left is the Amari Hotel which is another very good five star hotel. Use THIS LINK to book for a very good room rate.
This is the view from Horizons the amazing rooftop bar. A great five star hotel located opposte the beach & above the Central Festival shopping mall. Just book through THIS LINK for an excellent room rate.
This is not a travel blog just my personal photo collection from the 2nd half of 2016.
Another birthday rolls around July 7.
Loving Pattaya life 2016
Loving Pattaya life 2016 has seen me spend all year here, the quietest travel year I have had this century. I over spent in the last 2 or 3 years so I thought I should pull my horns in. 🙂
I spent 5 days in Koh Samui in June, 2 weeks in Australia in August and a great trip to Japan in October.
Some of the usual suspects
Greg, Hamish & John helped me celebrate at the Mantra.
A year living in Pattaya seems like about 6 months, time just seems to fly.
Great beach shot August 4th at 7am
All the boats are waiting for the hordes of Chinese tourists.
And here they come in their thousands
The buses roll into Beach Road of a morning and the tourists flock to the boats.
Tony & Nikki Murphy at Signature Steak & Seafood.
The Murphy’s spent a week in Pattaya then 3 nights in Mae Pim before flying back to Australia.
Visitors from San Diego
It was great to catch up with Paul, Eileen, Parker & Elle in Pattaya as part of their 9 week Asian holiday with included Chiang Mai, Bangkok, Koh Samui, Koh Samet & Danang.
Seagulls in Pattaya?
Here is a sculpture on Beach Rd showing a flock of seagulls, yet to this day I have never seen a seagull in Pattaya. 🙂
Here comes the rain
I love seeing the black clouds roll in over Pattaya.
Steve is a great mate of Larry’s from the Gold Coast. Terrific news for movie goers which vastly overshadows the recent Brangelina bullshit, the “odd couple” Larry Krausz & Steven Reade have been signed by BangBros, the largest porn studio in the world, to star in a remake of the 1988 movie Twins, which stared Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito. See if you can pick who will play DeVito. 🙂
The more thigs change the more they stay the same
After many years the Cherry bar on Soi 3 & 2nd Rd has been sold and is now Billabong 2.
When can we have some fun?
Every night you go out in Pattaya the fun starts.
For a discounted hotel rate with free WiFi in Pattaya or anywhere in the world, just book through THIS LINK
Starbucks
Opened in September at the “Bay” which is between Soi 5 & 6 on Beach Rd.
Good coffee & happy staff
They are the first to open at the Bay, next will be McDonalds.
Stunning November sunset
So many great sunsets from my balcony.
My new home
On November 1st after 4.5 years I moved from the 17th floor in Markland to the 20th, does that mean I coming up in the world?
The usual suspects
Jim’s Burgers is a great place for a casual dinner with friends, I’m with Hamish, Jonathon & Matt.
Delicious
Lots of varieties & you can order small or large.
One of my massage girls
Used to be a waitress in Chamiko in Soi 3, now she works at a massage parlour in Soi 3 & sometimes gives me a reasonable foot massage.
Spectacular clouds over Koh Larn
These days I seem to be obsessed with taking photos of clouds & sunsets. 🙂
October in Japan
I m with my friend Kayo in a Spanish restaurant in Tokyo. I purchased a two week ticket on the Shinkansen or bullet train, then after 3 nights in Tokyo I travelled to 6 interesting Japanese cities, includung Kanazawa, Hiroshima, Kumamoto, Kagoshima, Nagasaki & Fukuoka.
I arrived back in Pattaya on Ocober 28th & the following day my good friend Larry Krausz was rushed to Bangkok Pattaya hospital after suffering a major stroke, now 5 weeks later on December 5th he is still in a serious condition in the intensive care ward.
Ross & Bryce arrive from Australia
The boys came over for a few days to visit Larry.
Centara Grand
After a couple of cold beers at Centara Grand and a Pattaya cop working security wanted to throw us out. I lay the blame 100% on Pothole aka John David Martin who was dressed like a local bum & showing off his silly tattoos. 🙂
Pothole & sons + Kayo.
Tate is Pothole’s eldest son, he arrived in Thailand from Australia to celebrate Xmas & to meet his 2 half brothers Tyrone & Tiger. Notice for some strange reason known only to Pothole, all his children including daughter Tamara have to have a first name starting with the letter T. Just another one of his many offbeat strange quirks. 🙂 The lovely Japanese girl in the photo is my friend Kayo from Tokyo.
Shopping for a dress in Soi 6
Even though Soi 6 is one of the wildest streets in Pattaya there is still time for some quiet shopping. 🙂
Soi Diana redhead.
A very sweet girl from Area 51, no wonder I’m Loving Pattaya life 2016′
On the subject of Soi 6
Here is Geoff from Australia, a fanatical Soi 6 supporter. We are at Leckerle in Soi 33 Naklua with his ex fiance Nana for a terrific meal & lots of wine.
Xmas Day with Geoff & Nana
We started with a bottle of French Champagne on my balcony.
Lunch at Surf & Turf & Loving Pattaya life 2016
A great location on the beach at Wongamat. Kayo flew from Tokyo to spend 10 days in Thailand before heading to Australia.
Two nights in Bangkok
December 29th took Pothole & Yogurt to Cheap Charles before checking out Brewski a new sky bar at the Radisson Blu.
New Years Eve in Pattaya
Steve “Jumbo” Reade having a ball at the Atlantic Bar & Loving Pattaya life 2016.
Atlantic girls
They all looked terrific, dressed to kill. 🙂
Meet the gorgeous Katie.
A very happy lady from Billabong 2.
Here’s Pothole dressed in his Jaffa outfit.
Anything to attract attention. 🙂
Farewell to an old friend
Larry Krausz, a friend for around 30 years suffered a major stroke on October 28. After 2 months in the Bangkok Pattaya hospital on life support he was transported to Australia by a hospital Leer jet, thanks to his Medibank travel insurance. After a month his life support was removed & he passed away peacefully.
It’s now 2017 and here is Glenn Frey to tell you exactly how I feel today.
For a discounted hotel rate with free WiFi in Pattaya or anywhere in the world, just book through THIS LINK
Mae Pim Excellent Hotel is across the road from the beach on the gulf of Thailand, two hours from Bangkok airport. Only 90 minutes east of Pattaya, B1200 by taxi and B1800 in a mini bus. For an excellent room rate just book through THIS LINK.
Adjacent to the pool you will find a fully equipped gym and a Thai massage service. The gym is free and it’s B300 for an hour for a Thai massage or foot massage.
Naturally 301 on the next floor would have an even better view. 🙂
The hotel from the beach
You can clearly see the great location of Mae Pim Excellent Hotel Thailand.
Main St Mae Pim near Rayong
There are many good restaurants close by overlooking the beach
This vermicelli & prawn dish was at Xing Xing restaurant. For more information on food in Mae Pim just follow THIS LINK.
Tequila Sunrise
Only 150 meters down the road is our favourite bar restaurant Tequila Sunrise. There is an international team there, a Swiss owner, Peter the German chef, Gary an Australian manager & some very nice Thai staff who run this popular establishment. On our recent trip we had lunch there 3 times, dinner once and cocktails every evening.
Location
As I said earlier Mae Pim is two hours from Bangkok airport & only 90 minutes east of Pattaya. Thanks for visiting my Mae Pim nice Hotel photo blog. Use this link for a discounted rate at THE MAE PIM RESORT.
Mae Pim beach boats sunsets a beautiful onshore wind & peace and quiet. Only 90 minutes from Pattaya and 2 hours from Bangkok airport. The peace & quiet only applies between February and October, the 3 months over Xmas is a different story when the crowds converge on this delightful beach side resort.
Fishing traps
Here are the traps being loaded onto the boat.
Setting off for a nights fishing
The traps are on board and there is a long night ahead, Mae Pim beach boats sunsets it’s all here.:)
Roadside stalls
The fresh produce is sold at roadside stalls beside the beach.
Beautiful Mae Pim beach boats sunsets
Plenty of deck chairs through the high season however they don’t seem to waste their time offering them in the low season.
Looking west the beach goes on forever
This is the perfect place for long beach walks with the onshore wind blowing in your face.
Mae Pim beach resort Thailand
Sunset at Mae Pim
A beautiful time of the day to enjoy a stroll along the beach.
The sun setting in the west
Mae Pim is on the gulf of Thailand only ninety minutes by car east of Pattaya, and 2 hours south of Bangkok. Beautiful white sand and clean water, it’s so quiet and peaceful after the noise & Madness of Pattaya.
However it’s not all a wilderness
There are many restaurants offering live seafood, the photo above is my brother Warren & I at Tequila Sunrise.
Amazing Bangkok buses transporting tourists all over Thailand, many are decorated in bizarre colours often featuring Japanese cartoon & Disney characters. Eagles, serpents you name it they have got it. I have never seen anything like it anywhere in the world, take a bow Thailand for giving us so many great photo opportunities.
Bright & exciting colours
I have no idea how they produce these amazing creations, I’m guessing it’s all created on computer then automatically painted on the production line, then again how would I know? 🙂
There was a comment on Facebook that explained to process, it is a vinyl wrap, using the same machines that produce outdoor posters, then they just wrap them round the bus.
For a discounted hotel rate in Bangkok just book through THIS LINK
I see Johnny Walker at the front
I’m also guessing they didn’t get permission to use the Johnny Walker logo. 🙂
Back view
Six exhausts and speakers for sound.
This beast is one of my favourites
It was parked a few meters from where I live in Soi 1 Pattaya so I was able to have a close look.
Eight lethal exhaust pipes
Imagine if a motorbike crashed into the back of this bus, the exhaust pipes were on a 45 degree angle with sharp edges pointing upwards. Perfectly positioned to impale a human being. You gotta love Thailand.
Beach Road Pattaya
Every morning hundreds of buses converge on Beach Road Pattaya bringing thousands Chinese tourists who board the boats to go para-sailing and visit Koh Larn island.
For a discounted hotel rate in Bangkok just book through THIS LINK.
This yellow one will get noticed.
There are so many amazing styles, this one looks like a huge yellow monster. 🙂
The Eagle has landed.
And the beat goes on, it must be a prestige thing the way some of these guys push it to the limit.
You light up my life
Or so the song goes, I really want to ask a question, do you think this guy is trying just a little too hard?
36000 buses idle
Tour bus operators are in dire need of measures to cushion the impact of the coronavirus crisis, as an idle fleet of 36,000 buses countrywide has already missed out on 7 billion baht in income during the sluggish tourism period.
President of the Thai Transportation Operators Association, said that while tourism was at its peak, each bus could generate 50,000 baht a day from tour services.
The current lack of income has led operators to carry a cost burden of roughly 2 million baht from each bus leased, and they don’t have enough cash for installment payments.
Many thanks for visiting my Amazing Bangkok buses photo blog.
This is the view from Horizons the amazing rooftop bar. A great five star hotel located opposte the beach & above the Central Festival shopping mall. Just book through THIS LINK for an excellent room rate.
Koh Samui sports bars have increased quite a bit since I was there in 2007. Most of the beer bars etc have numerous screens showing sport from all over the world. The header for this post show my friend John Martinaka Pothole& I on our first night in Chaweng at Henry’s Africa which seems to be the best bar in town.
Koh Samui sports bars
Henry’s Africa is a huge bar with lot’s of girls, some pool tables and TV screens. As you can see Potholeis enjoying himself. 🙂
Henry’s Africa
Early in the evening they offer Chang beer at B79.
Best racks in town
Or so they claim.
Opposite Henry’s
There are a couple of small bars struggling to attract customers because of the low number of tourists in June 2016.
Green Mango
This iconic bar nightclub is a little further along the street, it is arguably Chaweng’s most popular nightspot. It boasts of one of the largest dance floors on the island, Green Mango is large, loud, & very busy from around 11 pm.
Green Mango
A great effect with the green and orange decorations.
Happy Bar
A little further around the corner from the Green Mango there are quite a few smaller bars.
It was a little early and there were no customers, most of the young tourists in Samui don’t go out until around 11 pm. Geriatrics like us are living in a different time zone. 🙂
Keep walking back to the main street and you will find the Hard Rock.
Bondi Aussie Bar & Grill
Another sports bar where the Aussies gather for obvious reasons. I was rather put off by the B210 price for a Jack Daniels. So I went to the bar next door to watch the State of Origin played on June 22nd, which QLD won.
The bar next door.
A glass or red here was only B80.
The Islander
200 meters down the road from the Aussie bar is the Islander where I watched the AFL, next door is Legends, another well known sports bar.
Tropical Murphy’s Irish Pub
Quite a way up the road past Central Festival is Tropical Murphy’s another popular sports bar.
Tropical Murphy’s
A fairly normal layout, however a funny thing happened as I took this photo, initially the Thai barman was standing towards the front of the bar, but as soon as I raised my camera he ran like a rabbit to get out of the shot. I’m guessing he is hiding from somebody. 🙂
VW sidewalk bar
There are lots of these great mobile bars where I live in Pattaya.
