Kamakura outing

Today it was OBON, a very important holiday for Japanese people. This is the day to return to your family home, to connect with ancestors. What a better excuse for me to return to one of my favorite places, Kamakura. It is 1 hour outside of Tokyo, with a 35' bronze Buddha, built in 800 AD. Though it was extremely hot and humid, I arrived early to start my hike while it was cooler. There is a hiking trail that leads from the train station, over a mountain, past the grave and temple of a famous shogan, and arriving at the Daibutsu (Great Buddha).

This trail has been used for hundreds of years, and I truly felt I was walking in the footsteps of the ancestors. Notice the stairs, made of wood. In some places, there were rounded footholds worn into large smooth rocks, showing centuries of use.

Here's the view from the top, looking out over the town of Kamakura. At top right is the harbor beach, which you will see a close-up photo of at the end of this post.

These seats are actual log stumps, set around stone tables, using only natural materials. Placed on the temple grounds for those hiking this pilgrimage to the Buddha, they have been here long enough to grow mushrooms!

It was very crowded, so I was delighted to catch a photo while the Buddha had some peace and quiet.

What would Buddha think of her shoes!

After the Buddha, walking down the shopping street.
This kitty was a favorite for many tourist photos.
I think he liked the attention!

OMG! How does anyone swim? Too crowded for me. Time to go home! I'm planning a trip to the beach at the end of my trip. I have heard that there are Jelly Fish warnings by the government after September 1 - but just to get everyone back to work! So the beach will probably be empty for me.

This is a short post today. I'll post again soon. Enjoy your weather, where ever you are, knowing that here, it is hot, hot, hot!

Love Daeryl

Summer 2012 trip begins!

This trip is dedicated to my mother, Ruth, who passed away exactly one month ago. She was quite an adventurer and would have loved Japan, so I keep picturing that she is with me as I move through this friendly and gracious land.

The view out of my 5th story condo. At left is a children's park, complete with a zip line! The sound of cicadas is resounding this time of year. Even with a busy street, and construction, my apartment is amazingly peaceful and quiet. In the morning, It's quite hot and humid here, again, as is usual for the summer.

 

 

 

 

I haven't started work yet, so I went on a excursion to the Institute of Nature Study, a large tract of land within Tokyo which includes natural wetlands and woods. Originally the lands of a 1600s shogun, it stayed wild until the 1950s, when it was set up as a Museum of Nature and Science. Exploring with an eye through my camera lens, I mostly captured close-ups of plants and insects. Here's a few of my favorites. If you click on the image, the photo gets bigger.

I call these "fuzzy hot dog" reeds.

Not sure what kind of fungus these are, but they were quite large. The tree trunk was probably 16" in diameter. When the sun hit the one on the left, the heat caused orange 'dust' to float in the air. Unfortunately, you can't see that in the photo.

Maybe this says, "Joe loves Emily." I'm not sure!

These guys were everywhere. About 3" long from end to end.

I caught this large one as it landed for a moment. Probably 6 or 7" nose to tip of tail. The dark mass between his body and the branch is part of the tree, making the body appear a strange shape.

This one's for Tarin, who has trained me to be compelled to take photos of spiders!

I kept trying to catch this one flying, with wings open. The way they fly is designed to make it difficult for their predators to anticipate their movements, so it was equally effective on me!

Lots of moms with young children were inside exploring nature. This is the favorite mode of transportation. Amazing to watch a woman (often in a short skirt and heels) navigating through traffic with two toddlers! I've even seen one with an additional infant slung across her front.

And finally, on the way home, I couldn't pass up a photo of a sign in the subway. What not to do with your cell phone, and how to stop a train from running over a drunk! Understandable in any language, but the Japanese have a flair for cartoon images and bright colors to draw attention.

Tonight I begin my work, presenting an Evening Seminar. I am excited about this trip, as the two products we have been working on for the past year are now on the market.  

The Spirit Game is a board system, with dice, to give people a tool to have self-introspection about their lives and a tool for calling in their Spirit Team. It was fun to call on my skills as a graphic designer to illustrate the board and design symbols for the dice, and it was a new exercise in letting go of control to have the book translated into Japanese!

There is also a DVD, about 2 hours long, which was filmed last winter. I present 6 topics of inspiration, with stories and guided visualizations. That was perhaps one of the most challenging things I've ever done, as it was all filmed within 1 short day, and under pressure to look good, make no mistakes, and even 'wing it' on a couple of pieces added last minute. Whew! 

Also new for this trip, I will be teaching Level 4, which is a practical application of material learned in Levels 1-3. I am excited to see many return students and see them evolving into healers and teachers.  

Blessings!
Daeryl

Photos from my trip last winter, not previously posted.

 Sightseeing in the Asakusa area. North end of Tokyo, near the Sumidagawa (river). This river runs north/south down to the Tokyo harbor.

So, first I wandered around in the area of shopping streets that lead to the temple grounds. Following the street layout that predates cars, these streets are narrow enough for pedestrians only. Makes for a crowded, but easier wandering pace. So I spent a couple hours gawking at crowds of all types of people, snacking at street vendor stalls, being amazed at the variety of little shops, and taking photos.


The cherry blossoms aren't in bloom yet, but there are lots of fake ones around, just to get us in the mood I suppose.

The temple area was swarming with people, as it is quite famous, having been established in 630 or so. I've found most of the Buddhist temples to be quite large, embellished with gold and elaborate paintings, carvings, and multiple buildings. While the Shinto shrines seem to be subtler and not as frequented. I find the Shinto ones to be much more peaceful.

Sensoji Temple, Asakusa

The photo with the lanterns is leading up to the main Temple. There was also a five story pagoda, and several other similar buildings.

This lady was all by herself, no crowds around, while right on the other side of those bushes is the scene at the temple. Behind her, was a lovely little pond with stream, Japanese foot bridge and camelia bushes. Part of the Shinto shrine area.

Lovely young ladies, who were on their way somewhere, and graciously allowed me to take their photo. 

 Legs at the lantern shop.



And me, on right, pretending to be part of an ancient Japanese wood block! Just a futile attempt at fitting in here!


For those who don't know... if you click on any photo, it should show up bigger for more detail.

 I apologize for any bizarre formatting. Wish I could figure out how to just put these photos all next to each other with captions!!

At left is the famous Asahi Beer building. It's the black one, shaped like a beer glass, with the gold shape on it. The buildings are really modern art sculptures some times. Also in this shot, is the newest, tallest tower. The gold building was super reflective depending on whether or not the sun was shining on it, and from which direction. Then I went on a river cruise and got the opportunity to see many wild things. Hard to photo, unless they were on my side, since the boat was covered in plexiglass. (I showed up too late in the day to be allowed to ride on top!) I thought I might see some green areas, but the entire distance was fully cement and tall buildings!






The next view, is through the right side windows (complete with stylish light fixtures!) looking down a smaller side canal, which had many old style boats - maybe parked along their owner's apartments?

 These buildings are across the river, hard to see in this shot. The water gate is very old, from Shogun days. Standing there, I wondered what the ole Shogun would think of his falconry grounds being now in the middle of such a metropolis! The water comes in here, to feed a beautiful little lake, with a tea house where many Shoguns and other dignitaries entertained their guests. Didn't have time to have tea, as I was trying to get home before rush hour.

This is the tea house, set in the lake, now with gigantic glass buildings behind it! Also, the sounds were in contrast. Freeway noise mixed with cawing crows who were gathered up in the tree tops. There's a wooded area with tall pines just to the right of the lake. The crows are really large here, bigger I think than ravens.