The flight to Kumamoto City on the 12 December was packed with Japanese high-school girls. From what my Japanese counterpart remarked when I was at their college, at about this time of the year, as many as 20,000 of their students will be in this region for vacation, a safe holiday, and to escape from winter and to enjoy the strong Yen currency versus Asian currencies.
The flight back to Singapore 9 days after that date was quite the contrast: it was an at-most one third filled flight, with mostly Singaporeans comprising the passengers with just a small number of Japanese travelers. Fukoaka Airport is more a transit point for persons visiting other spots in Japan (if any), and also for business travelers. So, I had the row of seats to myself, which made it possible to take my last series of pictures on the flight back itself.
Like the one above: the Japanese ground crew actually wave to departing airplanes! Just like what you saw in those old World War II films.
Our plane was fourth in the airport pattern: three planes landed in sequence before we were cleared for immediate take-off.
Just a couple of seconds after wheels-up, and before the plane did a 180 degree turn to head south towards Singapore. It was a late morning flight at about 1030, but the weather was still really murky.
There was an interesting cluster of super-high rise office blocks in what looked like a spot of reclaimed land. The place looked like a business park of some kind, and still under construction.
And lastly, Kyushu from about 5000 feet I think. Huge urban sprawl and the many hills on the island.
There’re several other pictures taken but of clouds, and on landing approach passing over Indonesia. Quite a stunning view, and the pictures are here.:)
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