From Shimabara to Nagasaki (從島原至長崎)

After having had our fill of the sight and smell of Japanese "hells" , we were on way to our next destination, the city of Nagasaki (長崎)



We're leaving Shimabara

We passed through a pier

the city

some terraced farm lands

freshly turned earth

rows and rows of carefully lined up market gardening fields

a beautiful bay

flowers growing on the side of the highway

Well irrigated fields

We reached a pier

We had to take a ferry

The rear lower deck

boats neatly parked one after another in the shelter

We're leaving the pier

We passed some docking area

huge cranes for container cargo freighters

A Japanese baby. What kind of world will he have to face when he grows up?

We've been to all these places, Unsen, Shimabara and we're headed for Nagaski

We are in Nagasaki!

It's a port city

The former British Embassy building in Nagasaki right next to our hotel

We are going up to the highest spot in Nagasaki to do some night photography: Mount Inasa Yama ( 稻佐山)

Some shops we passed through on our way uphill

We are some distance up already.

Finally the car park up there..

The map showing the park area of Mount Inasa

Nice big lawn beside the park car. There are some environmental vans taking us up to the top of the mountain. But the drivers resolutely refused to start earlier although there was a  sufficient number to fill up an entire van. Despite some hectic negotiations, he insisted on starting at 6 p.m. only. So after some discussions, the group decided to walk up the steps.

Close to the entrance of the steps, there is a small deer park

The city below our feet mid-way up.

Another view

A slightly closer view

The sun was going down

The sky was beginnng to turn a little red

Finally we're at the car park below the viewing tower

A view of the car park and the city below mid-way up the viewing tower.

It was getting darker: the sun is surrounded by the evening mist.

Cut into two halves by a cloud

The cloud has passed: the sun a bright yellow disc.

Its top hidden

The sun was reddening at its bottom

all red now

Beginning to sink below the horizon

Very little left of it now.

A wide angle view of the city below: not yet fully lit up

Getting darker and darker

Completely dark now

According to the local guide, this is a view worth a million USD

Another side of the city

Back to the hotel lobby

waiting to be given our rooms

It would be a buffet dinner

The wine collection