Japanese Flea Market

Last weekend DJ had a day off so we decided to venture out to a flea market that was being held at the Dazaifu Temple, which is only a 20 minute drive from us. We figured that if the flea market was not a big hit we could at least go and see the temple. DJ had already been to the temple, but even though we have been over here for 3 years this is the first one that I have gone to.

The flea market ended up being fun. We got to look through tons of booths but didn't find much we wanted to buy. We tried to find something though (just so we could say we got it at a Japanese flea market). The best we found was a little bracelet for Tessa!






The temple and the area surrounding it was beautiful. There were big huge trees and a cool little pond. Tessa loved feeding the fish bread at the pond. She thought it was so neat to see the big fish open and close their mouths.









The temple is the temple of knowledge. Students go there before tests to make sure they are full of knowledge. This is where people come to wash their hands and drink the water for knowledge.






The weather was awesome and the city was so cute, so we decided to walk around on our way out. They had a neat little downtown area that was blocked off from the cars that was lined with restaurants and little shops to look through. Tessa had fun cruising around and checking everything and everyone out. She would give people her best smile and wave as they passed by her oohing and aahing over the little blond hair, blue eyed girl. We had a good time looking through the Japanese souvenir shops and DJ actually talked me in to trying the most disgusting thing I have ever eaten (which I didn't get a picture of) :) He told me that he had had them before and that it was good. So I TRUSTED him... It was from a little walk up window that served deep fried food on a stick. They had a bunch of different choices from carrots to cuttle fish. I decided to go with the sweet potato. That was what I thought would be the safe bet! So I imagined, in my head, that what I would be getting was a inch thick round slice of sweet potato on a stick that was stuck in some batter and deep fried. Ya not the healthiest choice but I was starving so I thought at least it was edible. Well I was wrong. What I got looked like it was what I imagined but when I took that first bite I was so so wrong!!! First of all, when I went to take a bite of it it smelled like fish. That should have been my first clue but since DJ took a bite and said it wasn't that bad I decided I would take a bite to try it. I didn't say I would eat it, but I would take a bite. That is what I did... I took a bite and immediately spit it out. It was so DISGUSTING. I can't even tell you what it was because I have no clue what it was. The best way to describe it is by comparing it to an eraser. I know, well at least I hope, none of you have bit into an eraser, but this thing was like biting on rubber. It was this thick white rubbery stuff deep fried with little chunks of sweet potato mixed into it. Needless to say, I didn't eat anymore. DJ had a little more (Poor guy told me that this was considered good food for him when he is at the field. I can only imagine what they feed him there!) and then we tried to give Tessa a bite. Let's just say, she had the same feelings I did and the wonderful 380 yen ($4) snack ended up being thrown on the ground and then thrown in the trash :) So we ended up buying 2 ears of corn instead for 1000 yen ($10) instead. At least we could eat it!

If you look in the background you can see the deep fried things we bought.