Japan 2009
Been a long time since I've written in here... but seeing as I'm in Japan, I think it may be a good idea.
We flew into Tokyo and immediately took a bullet train to Kyoto, which is where our first hotel is. Today we visited Nara park and Todaiji temple.
Nara park - Within the temple district itself.. it's home to 1000 deer which are considered to be sacred by the Shinto religion. They have no fear of humans. This is a good thing because it lets you get close to the deer, rub their fur and feed them. However, it's also a bad thing because they can become aggressive. Some of the deer would rub their faces against you to get you to give them food.... while one particular deer thought ramming would be a better idea. Their horns were filed, but it was still a painful experience. Painful, but good.
Todaiji - This is the world's largest wooden structure... and yes, it's massive. It houses the world's largest gilded bronze buddha statue.... and yes, it's huge. Awe inspiring really. I took a moment to slip away from my parents and engage in a short meditation session underneath the buddha for the experience of it. This was a meaningful experience to me and it'll be nice to think back on it. Within the temple is a hole in a pillar... there's a legend that says if you can fit through the hole you will one day attain enlightenment. I was the only one in my family to try, and I made it through, even though my brother and mother didn't think I would fit. We also had our fortunes read by bamboo sticks. In addition, we donated the money to put a new roof shingle on the temple. They allow you to use a calligrapher's paint brush to put your name and a wish on the shingle.. and it's said to bring you good luck forever. I wrote my name, "Wishing for happiness and greater understanding for all people", and a swoosh design at the bottom (not a nike swoosh, more like a classical writing swoosh.) It's cool to know that something of mine will become part of such an incredible structure.
I'm enjoying the Japanese people so far. They are very kind, and seem to be helpful. Their is a very low crime rate in Japan, and even walking down a dark alley you still seem to feel safe. Cleanliness is another positive attribute. As an example, a man dripped a few droplets of water around the bathroom sink the other day and quickly wiped it up to make sure he didn't tarnish the bathroom's cleanliness.
I've made an effort to learn some of the language and customs. I'm doing surprisingly well, as people seem to understand the things I'm saying despite having no prior knowledge of the language. They always smile when I thank them with "Arigatou Gozaimasu" and say something to the effect of "your welcome" in their native tongue.
The only downside at the moment is that I arrived in Japan with a cold. This has been a difficult illness to deal with because it is considered rude and vulgar to blow your nose in public. I find myself frequently visiting the bathrooms or slipping off to some unseen corner. I want to be as much like a japanese as I can be on this trip. That's what it's all about... immersing yourself in their world so that you can gain a better understanding of all people.
We'll see what tomorrow brings. For now, room service and a good night's sleep should work wonders.
We flew into Tokyo and immediately took a bullet train to Kyoto, which is where our first hotel is. Today we visited Nara park and Todaiji temple.
Nara park - Within the temple district itself.. it's home to 1000 deer which are considered to be sacred by the Shinto religion. They have no fear of humans. This is a good thing because it lets you get close to the deer, rub their fur and feed them. However, it's also a bad thing because they can become aggressive. Some of the deer would rub their faces against you to get you to give them food.... while one particular deer thought ramming would be a better idea. Their horns were filed, but it was still a painful experience. Painful, but good.
Todaiji - This is the world's largest wooden structure... and yes, it's massive. It houses the world's largest gilded bronze buddha statue.... and yes, it's huge. Awe inspiring really. I took a moment to slip away from my parents and engage in a short meditation session underneath the buddha for the experience of it. This was a meaningful experience to me and it'll be nice to think back on it. Within the temple is a hole in a pillar... there's a legend that says if you can fit through the hole you will one day attain enlightenment. I was the only one in my family to try, and I made it through, even though my brother and mother didn't think I would fit. We also had our fortunes read by bamboo sticks. In addition, we donated the money to put a new roof shingle on the temple. They allow you to use a calligrapher's paint brush to put your name and a wish on the shingle.. and it's said to bring you good luck forever. I wrote my name, "Wishing for happiness and greater understanding for all people", and a swoosh design at the bottom (not a nike swoosh, more like a classical writing swoosh.) It's cool to know that something of mine will become part of such an incredible structure.
I'm enjoying the Japanese people so far. They are very kind, and seem to be helpful. Their is a very low crime rate in Japan, and even walking down a dark alley you still seem to feel safe. Cleanliness is another positive attribute. As an example, a man dripped a few droplets of water around the bathroom sink the other day and quickly wiped it up to make sure he didn't tarnish the bathroom's cleanliness.
I've made an effort to learn some of the language and customs. I'm doing surprisingly well, as people seem to understand the things I'm saying despite having no prior knowledge of the language. They always smile when I thank them with "Arigatou Gozaimasu" and say something to the effect of "your welcome" in their native tongue.
The only downside at the moment is that I arrived in Japan with a cold. This has been a difficult illness to deal with because it is considered rude and vulgar to blow your nose in public. I find myself frequently visiting the bathrooms or slipping off to some unseen corner. I want to be as much like a japanese as I can be on this trip. That's what it's all about... immersing yourself in their world so that you can gain a better understanding of all people.
We'll see what tomorrow brings. For now, room service and a good night's sleep should work wonders.