Big Rain!!!

On my day off, Friday, I decided to get out of the heat by going to the harbor. Ocean breezes...water...open space...sounded like a great idea. Left early and had my first experience with super crowded subway trains. Even so, people are very polite and respectful of personal space, including men giving up seats to elders and women with children. This "manners" sign in the subway shows people what not to do!



This clock really tells time - I spotted it from the station where I changed trains. The architecture always amazes and amuses! It's hard to tell, since the sky is grey, but the building below was like a giant erector set, with the big ball floating in space. Not sure what it is exactly, but I thought, "What an office space!"


When I arrived at the harbor, having randomly chosen a park area on the water, I discovered a mini Statue of Liberty with a back drop of a super long span bridge.

Took a lovely walk down by the shore, and wondered why there weren't hardly any people. Then the wind came up, and it started to sprinkle. Not being averse to a little cool moisture (after months in bone dry Texas), I enjoyed the first bit of rain, umbrella in hand under a few trees. Before long, I was standing in a series of little rivulets with pounding rain coming at me sideways! Laughing, I scurried to the nearest shelter, a nice clean little rest room. After squeezing out my skirt and changing into my flip flops, I made a drenching run for it, back up the long path and steps to the hotel/subway complex. Actually, it was really fun. At one point, it was this amazing bonding experience, laughing with the moms, kids, old people, and fancy young girls, as we slogged through puddles and got soaked.

Here, the only one without an umbrella is the statue! When it rains, it really rains here!

Still, it wasn't cold, and after a half hour, my clothes were dry again. Since Friday, it's been cool and continuing to rain. A big relief from the oppressive heat.

I spent some time wandering through an Artist's Market on my way through a subway/hotel/shopping complex. Kind of interesting to see what kinds of crafts were there, some different, some similar. The young lady in the photo was making beautifully intricate designs with scissors, starting with found paper (including receipts, magazine images, etc.). She was really friendly and happy that I was interested in what she was doing, even though we couldn't communicate beyond smiles and pantomime. I was delighted that she would pose for my camera.

Saturday and Sunday, my first days of client sessions. All is going well, and I am delighted when I recognize a person from my previous trips. Today, Monday, I met with two business executives in charge of the publishing department of Synchronicity Japan, as well as the company president. They had asked me to present projects for possible publication in Japan, and so I pulled all sorts of things out of my archives, including my mandala paintings, which I had made into affirmation cards, and my Mandala coloring book. Also, a reading system (complete with guide book) that I designed and used in 1990. They liked all of it, but were mostly thinking about production and costs, so in the end, they are looking into producing something I almost didn't show them because I thought it might be a little silly. These things I call "Spirit Blocks" which you roll to see which of your guides to call in for the day. There would be a small booklet (a chapter from my main book) to go with it. They are also seriously considering translating and publishing my book. I left it all with them to research a bit before I go. I'll hear more in the 2nd meeting which is in a couple weeks. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

I've taken it upon myself to learn the Japanese script, and have discovered the key to unlocking the cryptic labeling on food packaging, bathtub settings, etc. There are three scripts. I initially focused on learning Chinese characters (Kanji), which enabled me to read place names and maps, and kept Steve and I from going into a 'Gentlemen's Club' when looking for a dinner restaurant, but I've switched to learning the other two because you have to read them to learn Kanji from the books. Katakana, is the script used for Japanese words, 104 characters for the syllable sounds. And then there are another 104 syllabic characters for Western words, Hiragana. I feel like a kindergardener again, practicing writing and beginning to read the shampoo bottle, but I think I might just get this. I can even read and write my name!

There have been at least 4 earthquakes that I have felt in the first week while in my 4th story condo. Nothing big, mostly just a wiggly, floaty feeling because the buildings move so well. I think my Japanese hosts are concerned that I'll be worried, since they call me to make sure I'm okay! Glad I grew up in California and know not to panic.

Sleep time for me. Love Daeryl

First Outings

Finally getting my first chance to write. Travel was remarkably easy this time, thanks to an empty seat beside me and a sleeping pill! I actually felt fresh and alert when I arrived.

My first two evening events went well. Lots of new people and interesting questions from the audience. Even sold 9 of my books. Doing a lecture via Ustream was a whole lot more challenging than I thought it might be. Harder to concentrate just drilling my gaze to a camera on the computer, rather than moving about an audience. But received good feedback, so maybe my awkwardness didn't come through for others.

Having arrived and with some free time, I set out to see the Imperial Palace (or what's left of it) and the surrounding gardens. There are many huge walls built in the 1600s that are foundations for castles and guard buildings and fortress walls, and hold back the moats and little lakes.

Close up, you can see the lines in these rocks which upon closer inspection are hand chisel marks. Yikes! That's a lot of manual labor - this section is about 11 feet tall, and probably 3 - 7 feet thick (wider at base).

It was super hot this day, and I could imagine how miserable it would be to wear full multi-layered kimono or samurai gear. This time of year the sound of cicada is almost deafening and has become a sound I most definitely associate with Japan in summer.








Here's one of the massive gates that are made out of huge blocks of cedar, from the large old growth trees that were once abundant. To give an idea of scale, the top of that inset door is about at my shoulder height. There's not much left of the palace, only the foundation. Apparently, there was a massive fire that swept through all of Edo (now Tokyo) in the 1800s that destroyed many of the palace buildings and it was never rebuilt. The Meiji Emperor moved the palace to a new location.







This is an entrance gate, which has stood solid for over 400 years, but recently damaged in the March earthquake. The new "Eiffel" style tower being built, shows a contrast in eras.

The moat went entirely around the compound, with walls this tall or taller, and about 18 guard houses originally. Kind of reminds me of medievel Europe.




Here's another guard house, this one overlooking a lake/moat on the other side, which was also the place the Shogun who had it built liked to watch the fireworks over the main city.

I amused myself noticing the fire extinguisher placed in the doorway (not sure if you can see it here), being as this was one of the only buildings remaining.

It's often a strange experience to wander about by myself, and not without challenges. Where to eat? Am I doing something possibly offensive? Memorizing foreign characters to get to the right place off the subway. Trying to remember a few key phrases of survival Japanese. I am motivated by the opportunity for adventure, and reinforced by the constant source of stimulation and things to see, as well as the overall safety and friendliness of Japanese people. I find that if I stop too long to study a map, I have someone come along who insists on helping me get to exactly where I'm wanting to go, even though that is impossible for me to explain to them!
Friday I had a day off, and went on another adventure...this time in torrential rain...but I'll get to posting that story and photos after my first day of sessions tomorrow.

Thanks for sharing the journey!
Daeryl