Queues lined up at 9am to get in Panchenko shops; ramen soup as comfort food; Kyoto women in tradional dresses; SUMO; Ginza at night; Tea and Yukata at the Ryokan; serialized folk series on TV; young men and women with haircolour other than black; metrosexual men with nice brows; XP or Mac in Kanji version; the smell of wood kilns in Mashiko and Shigaraki; tiny hotel rooms; Japanese modern and traditional bathrooms; same while riding the Shinkansen at 300 km/hour; eating persimmons; supermarket sushi; Fall colours (especially the red maples); bamboo forrest; zen gardens; Shinkansen: the trains and the staff bowing all the time; Chefs and their bandaned heads.
Sayanora JAPAN!!!
Friday, December 09, 2005
TOKYO - last day
This is it! I managed to spend a little more time walking around the city, especially in the Shiodome section, a modern office building environment, and also got some Christmas gifts for the family.
Walked by a gallery starting a pottery auction. Some pieces were 1,000,000 to 1,500,000 Yen starting bids! Gulp!! Must reconsider what I charge for MY pieces :-)
Cheers all - and see you all in NYC very soon.
Walked by a gallery starting a pottery auction. Some pieces were 1,000,000 to 1,500,000 Yen starting bids! Gulp!! Must reconsider what I charge for MY pieces :-)
Cheers all - and see you all in NYC very soon.
Thursday, December 08, 2005
Ginza - Tokyo
My last blogs are coming to you courtesy of the Apple Store in Ginza. My hotel nearby does not have internet connectivity, for a change.
Today was pretty much spent on the shinkansen heading to Tokyo. Very sad as this means my trip is coming to an end. Coming back to Tokyo though is EXCITING. I caught an early evening act at the KABUKI. Awesome! Plot summary to follow.
As these are my last 36 hours in Tokyo, I have a bit of shopping to do, and then will be saying goodbye to Japan.
Today was pretty much spent on the shinkansen heading to Tokyo. Very sad as this means my trip is coming to an end. Coming back to Tokyo though is EXCITING. I caught an early evening act at the KABUKI. Awesome! Plot summary to follow.
As these are my last 36 hours in Tokyo, I have a bit of shopping to do, and then will be saying goodbye to Japan.
Wednesday, December 07, 2005
Miyajima Island
Today's weather was perfect for an excursion to the island of Miyajima, near Hiroshima. It is accessible by train then ferry. There are tamed deer, seagulls and herons greeting you upon arrival, and if the season permits, a climb near the summit would also take you to the monkeys... but I stayed close to the shore and visited the impressive O-torii gate at low tide and upclose because by noon it and the shrine of Itsukushima and the bay between them were engulfed by the high tide.
A second shrine was the one entitled "A thousand tatami"s because it is so big. It remains incomplete but is interesting to visit nonetheless.
My favourite temple on the island (and probably the last one I will be visiting on this trip) remains the Daisho-in temple where I saw many mini-buddhas -- some adorning hats and scarves to protect them from the cold; a golden reclining buddha and a cavern illuminated by hundreds of lanterns.
A swell trip!
A second shrine was the one entitled "A thousand tatami"s because it is so big. It remains incomplete but is interesting to visit nonetheless.
My favourite temple on the island (and probably the last one I will be visiting on this trip) remains the Daisho-in temple where I saw many mini-buddhas -- some adorning hats and scarves to protect them from the cold; a golden reclining buddha and a cavern illuminated by hundreds of lanterns.
A swell trip!
Tuesday, December 06, 2005
Hiroshima - Sixty years later
Once again arriving before check-in time, I dropped off my suitcase at the hotel, and after a quick lunch headed to the centre of .... the epicentre of the A-Bomb.
Sixty years after the artificial sun that destroyed this town and its surroundings, it is hard to believe this is the same place. And yet, the lesson has not been passed on, as many leaders of many countries have yet to sign the nuclean non -proliferation and such treaties.
The visit to the Peace Dome, the only building still standing after the A-Bomb, the Memorial Cenotaph, the children's memorial, the eternal flame and the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum didn't make an easy visit. Nor should they.
I walked back in silence, and somehow noticed that the buds are on the trees, and a few daffodils are blooming.
Sixty years after the artificial sun that destroyed this town and its surroundings, it is hard to believe this is the same place. And yet, the lesson has not been passed on, as many leaders of many countries have yet to sign the nuclean non -proliferation and such treaties.
The visit to the Peace Dome, the only building still standing after the A-Bomb, the Memorial Cenotaph, the children's memorial, the eternal flame and the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum didn't make an easy visit. Nor should they.
I walked back in silence, and somehow noticed that the buds are on the trees, and a few daffodils are blooming.
Monday, December 05, 2005
Lake Biwa and Port City of Otsu
Lake Biwa is the largest lake in Japan. It has a sister city association with Lake Michigan!
Otsu, which is South of the Lake, is where I am staying for a second night. It's a small port city, and my hotel was the perfect refuge for this weather beaten tourist-itis body of mine. My calves alone were begging for a restful day, especially after yesterday's 3 km hike in Shigaraki (ALL WORTH it babies!)
At noon today, I took a 90 minute boat ride on the Lake. Very nice, relaxing, just a bunch of tourists and senior citizens keeping me company.
The rest of the day included some slow meanders in the covered market, around the town, and resting, reading up on Hiroshima, where I will head tomorrow via Kyoto then bullet train.
Otsu, which is South of the Lake, is where I am staying for a second night. It's a small port city, and my hotel was the perfect refuge for this weather beaten tourist-itis body of mine. My calves alone were begging for a restful day, especially after yesterday's 3 km hike in Shigaraki (ALL WORTH it babies!)
At noon today, I took a 90 minute boat ride on the Lake. Very nice, relaxing, just a bunch of tourists and senior citizens keeping me company.
The rest of the day included some slow meanders in the covered market, around the town, and resting, reading up on Hiroshima, where I will head tomorrow via Kyoto then bullet train.
Sunday, December 04, 2005
Shigaraki National Ceramics Park
Sunday's breakfast was my last meal in Kyoto. I decided to have a Japanese traditional breakfast, at my Ryokan, and it was quite formidable.The ladies of the house gave me several departure gifts, and were quite nice seeing me off. I loved staying in this traditional inn and the paper thin walls were only a problem on the last morning, as some fellow travellers didn't realize that voices carry in a ryokan. I bumped into a couple getting out of the traditional bath that morning, all blissed out.
So, goodbye Kyoto and a brief hello to the city of Otsu, where I quickly dropped off my suitcase and moved on to Shigaraki, a couple of hours into the mountains. This pottery town is well know for its beaver pottery (more on this when I upload the pictures) and the art complex has an artist in residence program as well as a gallery where I saw a very good exhibit.
http://www.sccp.or.jp/Win/English/index.html
Before heading to Shigaraki cultural park and the 3 mile round trip hike, I visited the community centre where there is a historic exhibit, and across the street I purchased some pottery tools :-)
The weather was lousy, it rained quite a bit, so an early night is in order. Tomorrow, I am planning to take it easy (?) and perhaps do a boat ride on Lake Biwa.
Sayanora everyone
So, goodbye Kyoto and a brief hello to the city of Otsu, where I quickly dropped off my suitcase and moved on to Shigaraki, a couple of hours into the mountains. This pottery town is well know for its beaver pottery (more on this when I upload the pictures) and the art complex has an artist in residence program as well as a gallery where I saw a very good exhibit.
http://www.sccp.or.jp/Win/English/index.html
Before heading to Shigaraki cultural park and the 3 mile round trip hike, I visited the community centre where there is a historic exhibit, and across the street I purchased some pottery tools :-)
The weather was lousy, it rained quite a bit, so an early night is in order. Tomorrow, I am planning to take it easy (?) and perhaps do a boat ride on Lake Biwa.
Sayanora everyone
Saturday, December 03, 2005
Nature Walks and gardens in Kyoto
Today was my last full day in Kyoto. I took the JR train to the western suburbs of Arashiyama. There you can find the gardens of World Heritage temple Tenryuji. Unfortunately there were too many people there enjoying the beautiful grounds on a sunny Saturday. It was the first time the visitors were noisy, so I left to go to the Bamboo Forest.
The grove is quite large, full of tall mature bamboos on the side of a mountain. Sounds were hushed as we walked through them, with a gentle breeze blowing a gentle lullaby. The area is magical! This visit was recommended by a colleague of mine and rightfully so.
I left busy Arashiyama and rushed back to Kyoto to visit the tiny but lovely Raku museum (no photos allowed). Raku is a family of potters who started doing their own types of wares about 400 years ago. Each piece is hand made and trimmed; they don't use the wheel. Then the pieces are fired one at a time in small kilns. They were originally made to be used in tea ceremonies. The family is still active in the field of pottery.
In the late afternoon I went North to the Daitoku-ji complex of 20 miniature temples of which only 4 are open to the public. One of them, Daisen, has a wonderful zen garden.
Well, it's time for dinner. I will leave Kyoto to go North to Otsu and hope to get online there also and update you about Shigaraki National pottery park.
Until then, Sayanora babies!!
The grove is quite large, full of tall mature bamboos on the side of a mountain. Sounds were hushed as we walked through them, with a gentle breeze blowing a gentle lullaby. The area is magical! This visit was recommended by a colleague of mine and rightfully so.
I left busy Arashiyama and rushed back to Kyoto to visit the tiny but lovely Raku museum (no photos allowed). Raku is a family of potters who started doing their own types of wares about 400 years ago. Each piece is hand made and trimmed; they don't use the wheel. Then the pieces are fired one at a time in small kilns. They were originally made to be used in tea ceremonies. The family is still active in the field of pottery.
In the late afternoon I went North to the Daitoku-ji complex of 20 miniature temples of which only 4 are open to the public. One of them, Daisen, has a wonderful zen garden.
Well, it's time for dinner. I will leave Kyoto to go North to Otsu and hope to get online there also and update you about Shigaraki National pottery park.
Until then, Sayanora babies!!
Friday, December 02, 2005
Kyoto - Rainy Day
Today the weather was pretty miserable, the first that was not sunny and mild. So, it became a museum day. I visited the Kyoto National Museum which contains historic sculptures, archaeological excavated pieces (bronze, pottery etc..), scrolls showing the four seasons and nature, lacquered pieces, and beautiful kabuki and geisha clothes.
In the morning, I metup with my friend Nora's brother, who teachers yoga and meditation. He is currently living in Kyoto, and was gracious with his time and hospitality; he even allowed me to join his class today. Vasco also makes a mean vegetable curry and avocado salad (recipes will be shared :-)
So today ended being a lazier day.
In the morning, I metup with my friend Nora's brother, who teachers yoga and meditation. He is currently living in Kyoto, and was gracious with his time and hospitality; he even allowed me to join his class today. Vasco also makes a mean vegetable curry and avocado salad (recipes will be shared :-)
So today ended being a lazier day.
Thursday, December 01, 2005
Kyoto - Walking Tour
I met with my Good Samaritan guide today, a student named Hiro, and a Londoner, Charles, for a great walk around NW Kyoto, which included the temples of Ninna-ji, the zen garden of Ryonaji and the golden temple of Kinkakuji.
We then went to the Eastern part of Kyoto to visit the house of a Potter, whose working studio and home have been preserved. Imagine a 7 chamber climbing wood kiln in the middle of Kyoto city!
Dinner was fabulous. Happened to get lost on my way back to the Ryokan and by chance found a fabulous restaurant with great wine. Cost me a pretty penny but was a nice change from the meals I've had so far.
Dear friends and family who are reading these blogs. Pictures will be uploaded when I return to NY.
We then went to the Eastern part of Kyoto to visit the house of a Potter, whose working studio and home have been preserved. Imagine a 7 chamber climbing wood kiln in the middle of Kyoto city!
Dinner was fabulous. Happened to get lost on my way back to the Ryokan and by chance found a fabulous restaurant with great wine. Cost me a pretty penny but was a nice change from the meals I've had so far.
Dear friends and family who are reading these blogs. Pictures will be uploaded when I return to NY.
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