it's all happening for a reason...: January 2010

Sunday, January 31, 2010

A thousand a day...Journey to Japan (Part IV)

Day 50: Jan. 26, 2010 (Tokyo)
Our final day in Japan was spent atop Kyoto Tower for a final view of the city.

Afterward, we traveled to the home of one of our classmates. He took us to a shrine (again set in a mountain) where we descended stairs into a pitch black chamber with the hopes of shaking Buddha's hand.

Day 49: Jan. 25, 2010 (Tokyo)
A day in the most magical place in all Japan: Disney Sea!

Day 48: Jan. 23, 2010 (Kamakura)

A 45-minute train ride took us to Kamakura for a day of temples and shrines. Hasedera Temple, set in a mountain, gave us a beautiful view of the sea. There were so many other special things to admire.

Day 47: Jan. 22, 2010 (Tokyo)
At the observatory on the top of a building (almost 50 floors up), we were able to once again appreciate the sights of the city.

Later in the evening, a group of us went to the hotel's aquarium to take in a dolphin show and enjoy the fish.

Saturday, January 30, 2010

A thousand a day...Journey to Japan (Part III)

Day 46: Jan. 21, 2010 (Tokyo)
We were invited to the Foreign Correspondents' Club luncheon where we heard Mr. Suzuki speak about his company's new deal with Volkswagen. With his caterpillar eyebrows, Suzuki-san is 80 going on 56. The secret to his excellent physical and mental health: work. He says he is in the prime of his working career.

Day 45: Jan. 20, 2010 (Tokyo)
At about 8 a.m., Tsukiji fish market is just winding down after a busy morning filled with fishermen and restaurateurs chopping, cleaning, bargaining and buying. The fishermen were so welcoming to our presence as we watched them in awe.

Taking a full behind-the-scenes tour of Kyodo News was a highlight of the media portion of our trip. The newsroom was packed wall to wall and floor by floor with intrepid journalists.

Day 44: Jan. 19, 2010 (Tokyo)
It was one of those days...the kind where you go to places that don't allow photography. But later in the evening, we did come across a Krispy Kreme donut shop. After experiencing Japan's trademark in the donut world, Mister Donut, Krispy Kreme just can't hold a candle to it.

Day 43: Jan. 18, 2010 (Tokyo)
Walking around Ueno Park this morning, we discovered the Ueno Toshogu shrine. My favorite part was seeing the wish paddles. People will write a wish on the paddle and hang it up. As the wind blows, the wishes are carried away with it to come true. The paddles were written in all different languages - from what I could distinguish, I picked out English, French, Japanese, Chinese, Korean and German. Reading the wishes was something incredibly special - I felt that by reading the wishes, I was helping them come true.

Day 42: Jan. 17, 2010 (Tokyo)
Hundreds of people flock to Asakusa Shrine in Tokyo. People wave the holy smoke over the part of their body they need help with most - for example, their head for more knowledge, biceps for muscles!

Day 41: Jan. 16, 2010 (Kyoto)
The morning we left Kyoto for Tokyo, we climbed to the top of Kyoto Station one last time. It was the cloudiest and dreariest day of the trip...Kyoto was sad we were leaving.

A thousand a day...Journey to Japan (Part II)

Day 40: Jan. 15, 2010 (Kyoto)
Our final day in Kyoto was a free day, so we decided to take a trip to the Silver Pavilion. It was yet another stunning temple, the view from the top of the mountain was even better. To top off our last night in Kyoto, we climbed to the top of Kyoto Station.

Day 39: Jan. 14, 2010 (Nagoya)
We spent a day in Nagoya hanging out with new tomodachi, friends! Our tomodachi took us all around Meijimura to see what Japan looked like during the Meiji period. After that, we went downtown and walked to a rooftop with a reflecting pond and a stunning view of the city at sunset.

Day 38: Jan. 13, 2010 (Hiroshima)
Our day in Hiroshima was very sobering and emotional. We spent a few hours at the peace park and museum, just walking through and soaking in all the personal accounts of that day and the aftermath. The A-Bomb Dome serves as a memorial to those who died on Aug. 6, 1945.

A little girl who was suffering from leukemia a decade after the bomb decided to make 1,000 cranes - each with a wish for her to live. She surpassed her goal of 1,000 but kept making them because of the message rather than the number. She died but her message for peace lives on through her folded paper cranes.

Day 37: Jan. 12, 2010 (Kyoto)
These two precious animals were the highlight of our time at the Toei Kyoto Studio Park, where they make all the old-time Edo period movies. I felt so badly for the pony all tied up, while the pretty kitty was just relaxing near the bow-and-arrow game booth.

A thousand a day...Journey to Japan (Part I)

Day 36: Jan. 11, 2010 (Kyoto)
At Kiyomizu Temple, drinking from the spring water brings longevity and makes all your wishes come true

Walking the backstreets of Kyoto for the afternoon, we discovered so many wonderful things. We saw this man working diligently in his shop, so we walked in and found out he makes candles from all natural plant materials and he hand paints them.

We also spoke with this man and learned he was repairing a part for a butsudan, a Buddhist symbol found in homes and shrines.

Day 35: Jan. 10, 2010 (Osaka)
A man in a silver suit was performing outside Osaka Castle, but the real show was just watching the children as they watched the performance.

As thanks for helping with part of the show, this little girl got to choose between a lollipop and a photo of the performer. When she chose the photo, he was so honored and excited. It was truly precious. He gave the little girl the lollipop, too.

Day 34: Jan. 9, 2010 (Kyoto)
A stunning day at the Golden Pavilion.

Catching goldfish in the Gion district. It's a popular game where children use flat paper nets to catch as many goldfish in a bowl as they can before the net breaks. This little girl dominated and caught at least a dozen...and kept going even after her net had a big hole.

Day 33: Jan. 8, 2010 (Tokyo)
Waiting for the Shinkansen (bullet train) to take us to Kyoto

Day 32: Jan. 7, 2010 (Tokyo)
Reflections at Hibiya Park

Day 31: Jan. 6, 2010 (Narita)
First meal in Japan

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Off to Japan for January

Farewell! I will be heading to Japan to take a media and culture class this Winter Term, so I won't be blogging or posting my "A thousand a day..." photos. But when I get back, I will have a plethora of photos and stories to post. Until then!!!

~Ashley