These are the days of My Life - Tokyo, Japan

Well today was a good day.  I finalized my India volunteer paperwork and it was actually sunny for most of the day.  I was able to head out to the streets by early afternoon.  I headed out to Shimbuya but i thin i ended up in Shumbuku??  go Figure.  The streets of Japan are NOT, I repeat are Not set up in any kind of grid pattern.  Once you leave the subway station you are on your own.  Well success today.  That's right people I actually found the Meiji Jingu Temple and I actually meant to.  Usually I end up bumping into something but never the actual location that I had intended to discover.  Fun and frustrating at the same time.   

Today was a fun day.  I met a great guy from Hiroshima that is in Tokyo on business and he recommended that I head over there and just maybe I will luck out and see a traditional Japanese wedding which are from time to time held on the property.  Well today was my lucky day.  I took the JR line which I normally do not as this subway line is not as clearly documented but lo and behold just as easy to navigate if you pay attention.  It got me just where I wanted to go, there was an actual information sign that showed the park where the Shrine/Temple was located.  Hating to depart from the main road as once you go down the many small tributary, one way or smaller side streets there is no return as one leads to another and before long without street signs or a large loaf of bread to drop bread crumbs I am hopelessly lost.  Don't laugh...it has happened more than once...ok so it happens every time.  But not today.  I found a friend in the JR subway as I have finally been told that most of the sights worth attempting are on the JR line.  Just a note, it is a major line used by business people so I am the only one not in business attire.  I'm getting used to being ignored and definitely not fitting in dress wise.  Oh well I'm traveling not here for a photo shoot.

Well speaking of photo shoot; look what I found on the streets of Tokyo.  Love this place.

On your mark....get set....Go!  A really small but common crossing site. All the car directional light turn read at the same time and all pedestrian crosswalk light turn green so everyone dives off every conceivable corner and crosses in every way imaginable.  When the pedestrian light changes to red, get out of the road you had your turn and the cars rule the road again.

Torii - Shrine Gate, made of Japanese cypress.

Traditional Japanese Shinto wedding party.

Traditional Japanese Shinto Bride and Groom.

Wedding Party awaiting the arrival of the Shinto Preists.

The small group then proceeded at a very slow pace out of the chapel, across the grounds and out the side gate.  It was quite a spectacle.

A very official procession.

So cool to have captured such an important moment on such a beautiful day.

There is an official process for approaching any shrine.  There is a fountain with handled scoops that you ceremoneously, wash your left hand, transfer the ladle to your now cleansed left hand and cleanse your right, then cleans the ladels handle.  If you are big time into it you can take a scoop of water rom your right hand and swish it into your mouth and spit on the ground. 

This is one of many prayer trees.  There is also a process for a prayer request which requires 2 initial bows to show respect, the clap of the hand together twice to wake the diety, say your prayer, bow twice as you back away never turning your back on the temple out of respect.

Weird Shinto Shrine collection.  French wine caskets that were sent to the Emporer as he was the first to begin transitioning the country to western ways.

Chrysanthimum design on the wine casks.

Sumo Warrior

Mt. Fuji

These are the days of My Life - Tokyo, Japan, 101st Blog

Well, if you are keeping count it is only about the 90th blog that I have actually posted to Facebook.  The rest are just musing to myself.  Sometimes things happen that are beyond your control.  Take today for example.  I decided to go to the Edno Tokyo History museum and the Sumo museum.   I had been in the area previously but the museums were closed so today was a swift walk and and entertaining morning.  The Edno History Museum was a walk thru the history of Tokyo and of course has a display area of the 1945 air raids during the war.  I was amazed at some of the historical debris and videos that were on display.  I just sat down on a bench when an older gentleman wandered over.  For the most part there are very few foreigners let alone Western European or Americans in Tokyo at this point and time.  Most other countries that I have attended appear to have an expat area where when I arrive I am so overwhelmed by the presence of so may Westerners that i tend to leave almost immediately as they are truly an outspoken and boisterous bunch.  I am not so proud of some of our behavior.  Even those that live in the country as teachers and exchange students appear to be less open to the customs and day to day living of their surrounding...like the local people are their hired staff which they may be but treat them in a very unfriendly way.  Hard to describe but it gives me a uncomfortable, slightly defensive feel for the local people just doing their jobs.  It reminds me of the snobs I have hung out with in the past that are so shallow that it is uncomfortable to go out with them they act so obnoxious.  They are rude and don't even realize it that attitude is so ingrained in their persona.  It is real sad to see it carries over when they travel.

Anyway, as i was just sitting and observing a video, no sound just images which were disturbing this older gentleman comes and sits next to me.  We watch the video to it's conclusion and I just sit there...yeah, I had a tear in my eyes, it was truly disturbing the visual of wars devastation.  The next thing I know the older gentleman took my hand and just held it.  I wasn't uncomfortable. I wasn't embarrassed. I wasn't afraid.  However I was moved.   He didn't say anything and neither did I.  We didn't hurry just sat and cried.  Both of us.  I can only assume that the visual was a emotional to him as it was to me.  He patted my hand after about 5 minutes and got up and walked away.  Wow, nothing like that has ever happen to me before.  Another guardian angel watching over me at a time that I need an emotional connection.

Talk about chance meetings, several days ago i was standing in front of my hostel just hanging out/loitering and the Japanese businessman from across the street came out to talk to me. he speaks English and we just started chatting about his travels to the States.  Well now everyday as I come and go he waves.  Well yesterday as I was heading out I noticed he was working in his garage which is his distribution center for his belt company.  I hesitantly walked over and waved.  he motioned for me to come in and asked me what i had planned for the day.  i explained my days agenda.  He asked what I was eating and I mentioned that I found the little restaurant around the corner which is a takeaway place was very good, inexpensive and convenient.  I told him that i was attempting to eat local foods on my travels and that from time to time being a Westerner wandering from the street I felt a little uncomfortable based on either the prompt response from staff or their hesitance to serve me.  I agree that most western establishments have an English language menu or picture board, that alot of the smaller local establishments only had Japanese menus or for that matter only Japanese signage which for a non-Japanese speaker/reader was challenging.  He knew the restaurant I mentioned and agreed that it had good food, prepared while you waited or some preparded meals. 

He said that if i didn't have dinner plans on Friday that he usually goes to a local family style restaurant and that if I was interested that I could tag along.  I was blown away, one by his kindness and secondly that he would extend such an invitation to a stranger.  I of course immediately said Yes.  so today i have dinner plans with my new friend from across the street.  I can't wait.

Sumo statuary's line that street leading up to the Sumo Arena.  There are no pictures allowed in the museum and it is a very small facility housing the pictures of past Sumo wrestlers that had attained the highest ranking.  There was also a video of past bouts.  The bouts can last all if 15-20 seconds.  Amazing strength and strategy to get your opponent to step outside of the ring or be pushed so that they fall.  Either strategy wins the bout.  There is recently a huge controversy about the throwing of matches that not unlike our WWF is full of more show that strategy.  However the crowds take the sport very seriously.

A beautiful day to stroll the Imperial Palace East Gardens.

Tokyo is a city of old versus new.  The old isn't that old just rebuilt after the war and the new well; like everywhere is springing up all over.

The East Garden of the Imperial Palace is the only part of the Palace ground open to the public.  There are over a thousand different kind of plants.  It is a mini-Central Park.

Moat and stone wall surround the Palace grounds.

Edo-Tokyo History museum.  Kabuki warrior costume.

Kabuki costumes

And this is the real thing sighted on the street out in front of the museum.

Gigantic ceremonial rake used during festivals as they are used to rake in Good Fortune for the person,, business, area.

Back in the haze is Mt. Fuji.  Not sure I will make it any closer this trip but the pic doesn't do the view justice. 

Moving bike track so that although you have to take the stairs, your bike rides up or down based on which sensor is triggered by the bicycle tire.  The track is to the left of the picture.  Very cool.

These are the days of My Life - Xi'an, China, The Terra Cotta Warriors

Yeah, this is that now Billionaire, once poor farmer who found the first Terra Cotta warrior as he was digging a water well.  He is now of course the most famous man in the city.  I bought the book and got my picture taken with him all for just $200 yuan.  It was sooo worth it. 

First impression...WOW!!

This is one of many sites that the archaeologist have uncovered close to several thousand of these warriors.  They are said to have no two faces alike.   This site is gigantic.  There are parts where excavation is still being done.  The best examples have been moved to the front where they can be viewed. 

Quite an amazing facility.  This is only one of the sites of excavation.  The others are being excavated and not open to the public.

Yeah, that's me grinning as I had to pinch myself to realize that I am in Xi'an, China, at the site of the excavation of the Terra Cotta Warriors.  It is not a dream, I'm really here!

Unfortunately, there are sites that show that not all of the excavation is proving as successful as the first.  There are still alot of excavation to be completed and as the later sites are not in as good a condition the Government has decided that some of the surrounding lands will not be disturbed until further progress has been made n the technology to locate, extract and preserve these ancient treasures.