Serenity & Sanctuary

Today could not have been improved upon in any way. It was a perfect day of solitude in a place of serenity and sanctuary. I realize that sometimes I blog a little wordy/dramatically, but it really was.

I decided to do some exploring on my own, instead of spending the day at home in my dorm room. I read about a walking trail from Ikoma Station to Ishikiri Station. I took a train to Ikoma station, and started on my way. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to find any maps or specific directions online, so I decided to wing it. Which turned out to be...pretty...wingy. I had no idea where I was going. But with the help (again) of some very nice people, lots of pointing and incomprehensible Japanese, I managed to find my way to the walking trail. I'm not sure I went the right way, because it turned out to be more of a hike....with my pretty new shirt, purse, and sandals, I wasn't dressed for hiking. But the trail was nice and it was so beautiful, I went anyways.


On the (fun) cable car on the way up the mountain...turns out there's also a kids amusement park at the top!
This is my fancy new 'Japanese Shirt' that I spoke of...

I met a few people on the trail, but not many. We exchanged nods and 'Konnichi-wa's, and occasionally I asked to make sure I was still heading towards Ishikiri. They all thought it was just delightful that I was walking by myself, in my sandals. One guy asked if I was alone, another woman wasn't sure I should continue in my sandals. Everyone was very friendly, albeit giggling and smiling a lot when they saw me, and watching me until I was out of sight.



The trail was in large part big stone steps and staircases, interluded by rocky paths and dirt trail. There was a light and cool breeze, and overhead the path was shaded by brush and trees of all kinds. The birds chirped and sang, and from time to time I could hear water in the distance. It was so beautiful and serene; I sat, from time to time, just to take it all in and imprint it in my memory. I walked slowly, partially due to my footwear (or lack thereof), but mostly because I wished I could walk forever. About halfway through, I came to a shrine - perfectly situated in the trees. Made of stone and faded wood, it didn't look at all out of place. I washed my hands in the fountain and stepped inside to look around. There were several statues and buildings, but most of the buildings were closed. One was open - so I stepped up to the door and peeked around the corner. It was beautifully decorated, and there was a lady sitting inside at a desk. I quickly stepped away from the door and back down the steps, but then decided to go inside and look around. I always find myself hesitant to enter such a holy and revered place - lest I do something to embarass myself or offend other visitors. But everyone is very forgiving and friendly, and I knew I would regret it if I didn't go inside.



As I expected, she just smiled at me as I looked around . . . I never tire of the ornate gold carvings and beautiful flowing paintings. Just before I reached the door to leave, the woman offered me some tea. I accepted and she laid out a cushion, then poured me some tea and ran into the back - coming back with a packaged cookie. The gesture was so kindhearted and genuine, it made me feel as welcome as if I was an honored guest and friend. We chatted a bit - with some difficulty as my Japanese is somewhat lacking - about where I was from, what I was doing in Japan, and her trip to Canada some years ago. As I had finished my tea and we had finished talking, I heard several people coming and decided to leave so they could pray and worship. I thanked her from the bottom of my heart, conveying my gratitude as best I could - because it really did mean a lot to me that she had taken the time to talk to me and give me tea and a cookie.


The rest of the trail was downhill - every couple hundred feet were statues, often with incense or flowers or candles in front of them. I found a waterfall to the side of the path and sat for a few minutes - all I could hear were the birds and the water; all I could see was greens and natural browns, and the wet rock wall.




The trail turned into a paved road, with neat little houses on both sides. As I was walking, I heard a clackety-clack noise, and saw a big water wheel to my right. Set up under a covered area was a smaller water wheel with big wooden hammers that made the noise I had heard. Beside it was the larger water wheel - still functioning, but looking as though it had seen generations come and go more than once or twice. There was a little information board with old pieces of similar equipment, and pictures and captions (none of which I could read).


There was a map of the area, once the road got closer to town. I almost headed to the train station, but I noticed pictures for another temple off to the side. Of course - I had to go see it. I wasn't disappointed - again, it was beautiful and as tranquil as any place I've been. There were some more small ones that I visited as well - one had over 700 small statues in glass cases. Every temple and shrine was neat and well cared for, with small offerings and prayer requests on and around it.



When I was satisfied that I hadn't missed anything, I continued into town, and explored a short shopping street. I had a delicious (and well-deserved) lunch before I headed back to the train station.



I spend a lot of my time alone - but the solitude of being in the green forest, just with the birds, the running water, and the timeworn statues...it was different. A sanctuary of solitude that released all but peace and joy from my heart and soul.



More Pictures...

Moms Visit - Part II

I realized I forgot a VERY important part of the Sunday-day!

When we got back to the dorm, we went to the onsen! I received tickets for the onsen several weeks ago, but didn't want to venture there by myself. So - I brought Mom! The entrance to the mens and ladies rooms are covered by red and blue curtains, respectively. Doorway curtains here are split in the middle, cover the top two thirds of the door, and have fancy writing on them. Inside the pretty curtain is a locker room and a powder room. The locker room has lockers (you didn't know that, didja?), and the powder room has a couple sinks and several counters with blow dryers. A sliding glass door lets you into the shower area. The picture below is from my dorm, but the onsen showers are the same.



This particular onsen had several pools, a sauna, and a steam room. There was a cold pool and 1 hot pool in the shower area. Outside were several more pools...walking outside was like walking into a tropical spa - it was beautiful!

The center pool was made of rock...rock steps, rock sides, rock floor. The water was warm and steaming slightly. On the left side of the pool was a vertical rock wall, with a thin stream of water falling from the top, down across the rock seat, and into the pool. Scattered about the pool were large rocks to rest on or lean against. To the left of the main pool was a horizontal stone area, with taps across the back wall. The taps let hot water flow across the rock platform - laying down on the platform was the perfect spot to rest or cool off, and the hot water ensured you didn't get too cold! Beside the entrance was another pool, with a natural chemical to soften your skin. The pool edge was slightly off the ground, and tiled. To the left of the entrance were the massage pools - two identical pools. Each one consisted of three stalls, with two sets of metal tubes between them - similar to those used as handrails on pool ladders. Leaning against the back wall of the pool awarded you a wonderful and very strong jet massage.

After a long day of being on our feet, the onsen was a perfect way to relax and hopefully prevent some of the ache in our muscles...so they would be all ready for the next 3 days of adventure!

Monday - Monday morning, Mom woke up at about 5:30, and I was up around 7. We had another delightful fruit and pastry breakfast, and walked to the train. We met my boss and his wife at Kintetsu Nara Station. They took us around Nara park and to a couple popular temples and shrines.





Nara Park is famous for the deer - there are over 1000 of them in the park. Deer are considered sacred, and are well respected by park visitors. If you're brave, you can buy a packet of rice cookies to feed them - but they can get pretty aggressive if they know you have food! After a couple hours of sightseeing, Takemori-San & his wife took us for a very fancy Japanese-style lunch, which was delicious! Next we visited a shrine and a flower garden...'Wisteria' was in bloom, and it was gorgeous!



Takemori-San invited us to have tea at his house, afterwards. The house was quaint and the entrance was surrounded by pretty flowers. The inside of the house was quite small, but beautifully decorated with quilted items! Yoko (Takemori-San's wife) taught herself to quilt and has made some incredible things. She made us tea and coffee and we all chatted - she also gave me & Mom little gifts. I got some delicious green tea, and Mom got a small decorative set. It happened that the day was 'Boys Day', a day to celebrate and bless your sons. The set that Yoko gave Mom was one that a mother would typically set up on the holiday to bless her sons.

We went from Nara straight to Namba to meet my coworkers for a Japanese-style dinner. That was quite the adventure! Everyone was very polite to Mom, and Hisazumi-San brought us both very pretty hankerchiefs. (Sidenote: Bonus to Mom visiting...I get lots of presents, too!) Yamaguchi-San ordered drinks non-stop for Mom, and by the end of the meal she had 5 in front of her. I had to laugh, because usually it's me they do that to! Traditional Japanese dinners come in several small courses, and it was a lot of food...but it was delicious! I was trying to see it from Mom's perspective, since I'm used to being in similar dinner situations. I realized that there is the occasional question or slightly difficult conversation, but for the most part, they talk in Japanese and I (we) watch and try to listen. After dinner, we headed home and watched part of 'Notting Hill'...but Mom was falling asleep, I was tired, and my computer was slow, so we didn't finish it.



It was a very busy day, but full of exercise and good food!

Mt. Takamiyama

Yesterday I hiked Mt. Takamiyama in Nara. It was wonderful to get outside again, in the trees and the fresh air, and the snow! - And to get some exercise. I went in a group of nine. There were six men I work with, one man's wife, one man's daughter, and myself. I bought eisen (ice spikes) for my hiking shoes as instructed, and bought some gloves while I was at it (I've never really had a good pair of gloves). We all met at Haibara Station (35 minutes by train from my station). Hanaka (sp?), Yamaguchi-San's daughter was adorable. She had practiced the night before how to say, "My name is Hanaka" in English. At first she was a bit shy, but she quickly warmed up to me. From Haibara station, we took a bus for 40 minutes to the mountain. It was quite busy - apparently it's a popular destination.




It took us about 3 hours to get to the top, with a stop for lunch partway. The scenery was beautiful - despite the fog. At the top was a shrine. The lady who came with us clapped and bowed to it - I believe it was a tribute to ancestors. Just past the top were the ice trees. The pictures below are not sideways and it was not incredibly windy. The ice forms on the trees this way - it has something to do with how the branches vibrate. It was incredible and so beautiful!





The trip down took about 2 1/2 hours. One of the men who came (Hisuzumi-San) had a problem with his leg and had to take it slow. There was a 700 year old tree on the way - it was pretty neat. I wanted to get a tree-hugging picture, but there was a fence around it. :)




When we got down the mountain, we caught the last bus back to Haibara and taxied to an onsen. It was my first visit to a Japanese onsen! I was charged with care of Hanaka (she's only 8). The mens and women's onsens were seperate. We bought tickets from the machine and traded them in for a locker key. I was greatly relieved that the onsen was gender segregated. You are expected to enjoy an onsen minus clothing or a bathing suit - and I believe some onsens are not gender segregated. Being from conservative BC, I am not completely comfortable taking my clothes off in front of a bunch of old ladies, let alone men that I work with!!




Before you enter the onsen you are required to shower and use the provided soap and shampoo, and rinse all the suds away. Hanaka and I enjoyed the warm water of the onsen (which is like a large hottub), then blowdried out hair and met the men outside. Then we went for dinner upstairs. It was a great dinner - instead of everyone ordering a meal, often they just order a bunch of appetizer-type things and everyone shares. At the end of the meal, I asked how much it was and they wouldn't let me pay! I asked if they were sure and they told me I was a guest. I was very grateful and also relieved - I haven't received a paycheque yet, and my funds are running low - I think it was a pretty expensive dinner, too!



It was an awesome day - the scenery, the company, and the exercise. Yamaguchi-San said we would go hiking a time or two again, before I leave in August - and I'm looking forward to it!

February 2nd

I am currently enjoying something that must have been made by angels – it’s an amazing chocolate ice cream popsicle…no, it’s not really ‘Japanese’, but it’s so good!
Today was circus day! Takemori-San mentioned (on Thursday), at lunch to Moriya-San (the girl in the trio I usually eat lunch with) that I was going to the circus and asked if she wanted to go. She did, so I let her know what station to meet me at, etc. She’s kind of shy and speaks minimal English, so I was a bit worried about how we’d do spending time together. One of the coops came, too – Kelvin. He was a bit late, so Moriya and I hung out and talked a bit. Between my Japanese and her English, we made it work. Kelvin speaks decent Japanese, so he kind of translated for the rest of the day. The circus was so much fun! It wasn’t too big and extravagant of an affair, but I thought it was fascinating and a lot of fun. It was an acrobatic circus – there’s some pictures below. There were people balancing all over a bike, twirling plates, trapeze artists, balancing acts! There was a girl who flipped a bunch of dishes up onto her head – that was pretty cool. There was also an ultra-efficient use of a bike…there were so many people on it! There was a funny clown, who was very good. There were some crazy guys in hamster wheels. It was a small circus tent, but the lights and colors definitely added atmosphere. The costumes were beautiful – my favorite was one that the girls wore, with long veils off the back of their heads. They were flowy and gorgeous. Most of the participants were pretty young – some of the girls who did amazing things on the trapeze were only 13! I had some popcorn and tried a Japanese thing – a ball of mushed rice rolled in brown-sugar-like stuff. It was pretty good. After the circus, we went to Namba – a major shopping destination in Osaka. There’s infinite stores and places to eat. Each street and branch is like a smaller version of the pictures you see of Las Vegas. There’s signs and flashing lights everywhere…people stand outside the stores and yell and talk to you and try to get you to come in. They’re not market-like stores, though…they’re mostly miniature mall-like shops – except very thin (like 10 or 15 feet wide). I should have taken a picture – I will next time. There’s a picture below of me in front of one of the famous places, halfway across a bridge in the area. We walked around, Kelvin got a haircut (which was decidedly Asian, but he’s Asian, so it fit – it looked good. I pictured it on Mark or Matt or someone and had to laugh.  )

Then I had an exquisite Osaka dining experience. We went to one of the many restaurants for Okonomiyaki. Osaka is famous for it’s Okonomiyaki. It’s kind of like an omelette except with noodles and cabbage and meat or seafood and other assorted vegetables. It was delicious. Osaka is also famous for another food that I will have to try – I forget what it’s called. After dinner, Kelvin went to Den Den Town, which is a very well-known electronics place – it’s several floors. I’d like to go, but I was getting tired and still had to pick up groceries. I had another wonderful grocery shopping experience – I tried a new store and loved it! There was way more selection than anywhere else I’ve been! I came home, had that wonderful ice cream bar, and here I am! That’s it for tonight…more tomorrow!!