Heian Temple and A Bunny??

The pace of life in Otsu is much slower than that of Tokyo. Normally, I'm a big city type of girl, but when you don't understand the symbols around you or the customs, it generally better to observe when people aren't rushing around you. Otsu is a suburb outside of Kyoto where we are living. I went on a run yesterday morning around the city, finding that it is perfect for such habits and fishing as well. There is a calm that seems eminent over the area as a result of the peace of Lake Biwa. Nevertheless, there is also a resounding, serene music built in to the people of Otsu as well.

Alright people, pictures...

I don't know whether or not this bunny counts as Ikebana, but I feel like it should at least be an awesome topiary...

Another interesting happening yesterday was our journey around and past three temples... the first of these was the Heian Shinto shrine.

Above is the torii gate that one would arrive at in the driveway to the temple. Notice the vermillion color, it is Japan's traditional color for their shrines... as the Chinese color is red.

The inside of the temple complex...
After the Heian Shrine, we decided to walk around to the other nearby Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines. At one of these, Dustin, Sean, and I climbed to the top of the mountain as allowed by the stairs around the temple. I even saw a senior citizen with a cane walking up over 60 stairs over the course of about 5 flights. It's crazy. Their dedication to their beliefs is sincere. Why else would you do this?

Above is an incredible view of the temples from the highest point I could find to get Kyoto in the background. It was an absolutely amazing experience, but my legs are paying for it. Pretty sure I just lost about five pounds in one day! Not that I'm complaining, but I guess you could call it the Buddhist diet.

Around Kyoto there are quite a few hilarious signs that we ran into, so here I will share them...

 First of all, this is for Justin Heap. Starbucks are EVERYWHERE here! It's like the us for the most part, but they wrap all their baked goods in cellophane. More sanitary, no?

 Above is a great shot that I got of a geisha setting up the entertainment house in Kyoto. She is putting posters on the wall. Her kimono was breath-taking. Really all of the kimonos are breath-taking.

 This is a hilarious sign outside of a ukiyo-e museum that we passed. I wish that American shopkeepers were this honest.

Ok, apparently Japan has magical cheese. Define magical. Not sure that is very appetizing...

More to come and with more love.

Kyoto and Otsu: Day 1

With many a sad face, we left Tokyo for Otsu. Otsu is where we will be staying for the majority of the time. It is a suburb of the first capital of the country- Kyoto. Kyoto is known for it's many temples, shrines, and universities. Also, Kyoto is the birth place of the Japanese flower art- Ikebana. Looking over the map in the train, it seems that we will be in a college town with geography fairly similar to our beloved Nashville. Beloved. Yes. Don't sass me. Just Kidding.

Here are the sad faces leaving Tokyo... 

Appacha, notice that there's a definite "toh" face in this picture.... and a backwards hat. For those who are unfamiliar with my grandfather's picture-taking habits, there tends to be a moment when he flips the ballcap backwards, yelling "toh" so the kids will look and smile. :-D

 I can also check off at least one mountain off my bucket list- Mt. Fuji. We passed the giant on the train to Kyoto. Here is the best picture I got while flying on the tracks...

 When we arrived in Otsu, we decided to go back to Kyoto and attend the Hollyhock Festival. This festival was on the move from shrine to shrine all day. Notice the incredible flower arrangements of the parade... Also, I can check off seeing a geisha from my bucket list.

All in all, the festival was like a larger version of the fair. We sat by the shrine and watched the best thing about Japan... the incredibly cute children. Oh my goodness..... Below are some kids too, a little older and probably a little crazier. Gotta love 'em. From left to right, Sean, John (no I didn't mean for that to happen), Sarah, Nicole, and Dustin.

Our accomodations here are particularly awesome. Especially, my room. I somehow managed to get the double room instead of the single. I have a bunk bed that will probably never get used unless I get to babysit a child somehow...

 Now these are the tiny bathrooms that I'm pretty sure were labeled "Rainu-size". The guys have already almost died a few times trying to fit in the tub...

 This is especially for Carly Jones. I was in Harajuku looking at used clothing in a store called Hinjro and happened to find the steals of a lifetime... I'm not usually a spender, but these dresses are KILLER! Together, they both cost me a little over TWO (yes, I just said TWO) dollars. Really, I'm sure what the labels are, but frankly, I don't care. They are both absolutely gorgeous. One of the other dresses I picked out the guys called "old maid" like... or matronly.

More adventures to follow. Love you guys! Miss you!!!!

Pictures Finally!!

As our first day in Kyoto has arrived, we are used to the subway systems and the other details in trying to navigate Japan. I have finally figured out the camera, so now I will be able to update you all as everyday occurs. First, we have to re-coup our lost ground... 

Let’s start with the hotel room... 

it’s very small and built for a person of my size :-D

Extremely glad that my room comes with a desk my size with my very own cute cup of green tea :-D

By the way, the tea here is 5,000,000 times better than what we call tea in the states. 

The first temple/shrine (the distinction is between Buddhist and Shinto, at this temple there was a little of both). The conglomeration between Shinto and Buddhism throughout Japan is an interesting juxtaposition, only furthered by the fact that there are former "pleasure quarters" literally in front of the temple.

At the Meiji Shrine, we were lucky enough to run into a series of weddings. Pictured here is a bride leaving the site of her marriage.

Here is another bride approaching her ceremony from one side of the Shinto shrine. 

These are the ever busy streets of the Harajuku shopping district. Even inch of space is crammed with neon lights and fashion. To some degree the overstimulating becomes mind-numbing. 

Above, are my friends on the trip, Dustin and Sean, as they point up at me from a staircase in the Harajuku district.

After our time in Harajuku, we toured Shibuya. Here, there are panoramic views of the city and the nearby Shinjyuku district. There are several department stores with up to seven floors of merchandise.

All in all, we ended our day on a good note, having a glass of Korean sake and people watching. :-D

So rather... Day Two Tokyo

I think that this is day two. I'm thinking that it is a little weird that I still unable to place time and location.

Today, we went to the Meiji shrine in the Harajuku district....

For those of you who do not know the district very well, it is the theme of many of Gwen Stefani's album. With its loud colors, distinct fashion, and constant hurry, the Harajuku district can be slightly seizure-inflicting at points. I much more appreciated the Meiji shrine and it's significance.

As a way of building relationships between countries, certain French families have donated barrels of wine to the Shinto shrine as a symbol. The French have kindled a special relationship with the Japanese that seems obvious through their love of the language and the food of the French.

One of the thought-provoking moments of the Shrine happened as a young woman was being married off in a Shinto ceremony. We all looked on as we remembered a tradition that once was sacred to our culture as well. I wondered whether at any point we will return to the sense of sacredness about marriage that it once had. There is a sense of commitment and beauty in the Japanese people unlike that of the Western societies that I have grown up in.

After our escapades in Harajuku, we went to the department stores in the Shibuya district. These are SEVEN floors high, including a grocery store. It seems that from observation the Japanese appreciate the presentation of items; whether through flowers or labels, the Japanese are careful to present themselves in a particular way.

After our many journeys through the halls of Shibuya and Harajuku, we sat to have a bottle of sake and watch the crowds. The diversity of style and technology in Tokyo ranges, but they all emanate one thing- transient beauty.

PS- if you're wondering why I haven't posted pictures of myself or my comrades, I can't seem to find the software to load the pictures yet. I will be trying to work its mechanics tomorrow. Also, in the future if you see fewer pictures of me, it's mostly because 1) I'm the one taking them and 2) I hate pictures, probably more than I hate allergies. Pretty strong. :-D

The Morning of....

So here we are folks.

 The morning of, yet my brain is going to go in circles all the way until we get on that flight. I am super scared of the idea of what could go wrong. Yes, by nature, I am a worrier and planner. Go figure. There is part of me that doesn't know whether all of this is going to be worth it. There is part of me that doesn't know how well it will turn out. I am never afraid of doing something different, but boy, I am afraid of doing something wrong.

One thing I know for sure, I would not be leaving with my sanity intact if it weren't for the incredible graciousness of the people in my life. From my employers, to my friends, and even my professors, everyone has taken mercy on me and my crazy situation right now as I prepare to leave. In leaving, there were several places that are my casual acquaintances that were SO sweet to me. They did things like give me a free cocktail, soup, or a sticker. I am incredibly grateful for your mercy on me when I couldn't be perfectly on time to everything and for your gifts. I feel so bad when I get something free, but these things, it seemed, were out of love. I just needed to express this gratefulness to y'all. I am always afraid of disappointing someone by not meeting the standards I am normally able to. Lately, under the duress of school, this trip, and working, I have been unable to be completely anywhere one hundred percent. I will come back and repay you for all the grace that you have shown in dealing with me. I hate to be a disappointment.

I love y'all. If I ever leave Nashville, I think that the principle that I will take with me, is the absolute kindness and understanding of the people of this town. Even one's acquaintances feel a kind of sincerity with their customers, even becoming friends. This is such a unique place of kindness and a special value for the arts.

With all of this said, I am leaving in about an hour. I love y'all. I'll see you when I get back, in the mean time, follow me here if you are curious about the other side of the pancake we call the world.

It's real?

So this is my work friends trying to figure out an autograph on a page. I am on my last shift at Puckett's. It's true. I'm leaving. It's strange.

Since when did I ever get to the point that I am right now. Japan was something that I thought was a good idea about a year ago and now I am going. Given not everyone is too thrilled that I am going because of the whole nuclear detonation threat, I am surprised.

When I go to Japan, as an homage to my work of the past seven months I am going to take a picture of my work shirt in front of a Japanese monument of some kind. I will definitely miss my buddy Jami. Jami and I have worked together a ton since I started at Puckett's and I can honestly say that this last shift is giving me the realization that I really going. Bye guys. I will miss y'all. Yes. Y'all.

Pre-Trip Jitters

Ok so it's a given.... I've been to India, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and many other places in my short 20 years... but first, none without my parents.... two, none where I couldn't figure out a language... and three, it's just nerve-wracking.

(the above picture is my first Mac experience after buying one of these amazing machines so that I can better communicate with the folks at home through it)


Don't get me wrong, I'm excited to go. I watched Anthony Bourdain's "Hokkaido" episode hoping that would help me become more excited and less scared. I am thoroughly even on the anxiety level and excitement level of this endeavor.

I have decided to continue traveling, writing, and reading when I get back to the States. Bourdain said it best when he was pondering the value of travel in the human experience- does it make us wiser? No one really knows.