Escape from Rice Fields

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Hi Everyone,

I'm finally getting to see more of Japan!
My mom arrived last week and it started snowing an hour after we picked her up and didn't stop snowing until the day we left Morioka! It snowed a foot the night she arrived! Travelling with her is definitely a different experience, the main difference is everywhere we go people offer us special treats, help and sake! We shared a boat trip through Geibikei gorge with a tour group who insisted that we eat most of their elaborate lunch and drink sake and beer. It was 11am so of course they were loaded. One of the men sat beside my mom and kept calling her 'mama san' (Mrs. Mom) and when we had to walk through part of the gorge he took her arm to walk with her, but ended up falling and pulling her down!
In Ichinoseki, we stopped in a kimono shop and the owner had me try on a $5,000 silk kimono with a $2,000 obe (the part that ties it together (so my mom could take pictures).
And in Tokyo, the minute we pull out a map a Japanese person will walk up and ask "Can I help you?"
Yesterday, we were at a shrine as a wedding party was leaving; the uncle of the bride gave us special wedding candies and insisted we join the wedding party for photographs!!!! Preparation for next week--don't worry Camille, I won't wear a toque and ski jacket for your wedding pictures. Notice the head dress the bride is wearing is represents purity so that she keeps her anger in, something men in Japan obviously don't need.

Thankfully, Tokyo's 13 different subway lines are colour coded and announce the next stop in English and Japanese. However, on our first day here we went to the busiest station (2 million people get off and on there each day) and went to the wrong exit (there are 60 exits). We ended up in the right place, it just meant we had to walk for 20 min underground.

Accommodation has been great. I was a bit worried about the first place we stayed which was called City Hotel; Japanese characters can't spell city so the sign outside said "Shiti Hoteru." Fortunately, it turned out to be great and I slept on the most comfortable bed since I arrived in Japan. In Tokyo we have been staying in true Canadian style; a family friend works at the Embassy, so we are staying in the Embassy compound in a large gorgeous apartment (my entire apartment would easily fit in their living room). We have all the luxuries of home including a clothes dryer!!!! Wow, I could hardly remember life without having hanging laundry everywhere.

Sorry, this is so rushed! Our trip was wonderful. I'm off to San Francisco tomorrow and looking forward to sunshine, central heating and comfy beds. Hope you are all fantastic!
See some of you soon!
Love Maddy.

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