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Published: August 5th 2007
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Itsukushima Shrine - Miyajima
After an afternoon trekking up and down Mt Nisen by myself returning to capture this wonderful sunset behind Itsukushima Shrine.
A thought i like to share with you all.
Watching the sun setting behind the mountain my thoughts came to Meeta.
A friend still so young and beautiful but with such a cruel unfortunate disease that we hear so often these day, continually stealing away love one from people who still love and care for them so deeply.
With the air cooling down & the sound of the waves gentle clashing away, as the sun slowly disappears behind the mountain in the distant.
In front of this holy shrine i prayed that with her youth and all the love from her family and friend that she will fight through this difficult period and will continue to enjoy such beautiful sunset as the one in front of me, that we so often take for granted.
STAY STRONG BABY!!!... YOU HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE THINKING OF YOU ALWAYS.
So I made it to Japan Finally...There was a festival on in Kyoto so i decided to go straight there and skip Osaka after losing 2 days due to flight cancellations and delays. As usual did very little planning and so had not booked any accommodation so with no surprise they was fully booked and so was most of the cheap budget hotels....Hmmmmm!!!
Luckily they offered to let me stay in there communal area ( a Japanese Style lounge that changed into bedroom after 11pm)
I wasn't the only one Martin was in the same boat....Luckily we got on really well and decided to go to Temple lodging in Koyasan.
Actually it was much nicer than staying in the dorm room but you had to get up early at 7:30 when it is open to the other guest. The Tour Club was a lovely places (I highly recommended it and its cheap too), the staff was friendly and they had helpful information and recommendations of places to visit and eat, the only bummer about it was the 11pm curfew which i later found out was for most hostels. (Yep we had a bit of an incident getting back in time
for it)
Japanese people are so sweet and extremely kind...If you asked for direction they would not only direct you but would literally take you to the door....They are so small and cute you have to refrain yourself for running over and hugging them especially the old people to the little babies with there big chubby cheeks. Funny thing was Martin was this huge tall guy so everywhere we went he looked like a giant against me "The Little People" even the building, he had to duck every time he entered a room or train and bumped his head a few time too 😊
KYOTO - Geisha hunting....we went Geisha hunting in Gion area but i think we was a little too late and had miss most of them.
Although we did spot some suspicious business men in there suit wondering the street and disappearing behind a dark alleyway which i quickly got a peep off inside...Lovely zen garden. There was very little geisha about but many Taxi pulling up and dropping off Business men which would be escorted in by the older lady which i call the "MADAM"...hmmm we know what your up too.
Temple lodging
Geisha Hunting
Didnt have much luck...Bumped into a couple in Hiroshima who recognised me from the Tour Club. They saw loads in the early afternoon...we was mis-informed!!! grrrrr in KOYASAN- What can i say let the picture speak for themselves.
We tried some Zen meditation... ah it was so difficult trying to clear your mind and concentrate on your breathing and count up to 10... my mind was racing away and by the end of the meditation time all i seemed to achieved was a dead leg!!!...USELESS ME!!!..
The temple was efficiently run by a few Monks that was so well organise everything was so punctual, well actually thats just japanese people as a whole ... Dinner was at 5:30pm on the dot, Early morning service was at 6:30am (that was very interesting to see, even though im a buddhist too and had attended temple weekly when i was younger a lot of the ritual was different to what i have experienced).
I It was a lovely quite and peaceful places...I think we was lucky to cone during the weekday as they was fully booked for the weekend and i can imagine it being for of tourist and would have lost the tranquility of the place.
NARA wondering through Nara-Keon Area watching all the tourist been chased as they try feed the deer which roam
the park was pretty entertaining...also seeing the Japanese try squeeze through the wooden column behind statue in Todai-ji Temple. Hehe we gave it ago too.
HIMEJI the Himeji-Jo Castle...this was an impressive castle.
HIROSHIMA- Visiting the peace Memorial Park and Museum really did open my eyes to the suffering and After effects of the Atomic bomb on 6th August 1945 on the people of Japan... i must have spent over 3 hours in there.. it was overwelming and i must admit felt tearful reading and hearing of all the stories of survivors.
MIYAJIMA- Ah this was a lovely day spent all by myself... I trekked up to Mt Misen in the most inappropriate gear. Skimpy top, gypsy skirt and sandles... I didnt realise that i could do it so thought the day would be a nice relaxing stroll around the the famous Shrine and get a cable car up the mountain but when i found out you can trek up...how could i refuse.
As always im a little annoyed with myself for not being more organised and got myself a JR train pass before entering Japan, I could have saved myself some money and most importantly
TIME and the freedom to travel throughout Japan ( yes in my defence i was meant to go to Korea but decided not to as it would be too much of a rush and would have cost me a fortune on travelling back and forth..dissappointed for not able to catch up with Adam-SORRY BABE!!!)...
I so wanted to go catch the Sumo wrestling tornement which was on but was informed that tickets was sold out at the ticket office but rumours say you could try at the door...if i had a pass i would have risked it.. but today on my way to Tokyo i meet a girl who actually recognised me from the museum the other day, she had went and told me they had plenty of seats left...GUTTED!!!...she was ever so friendly and bubbly i should have made an effort to chat to her then..i was to obsorbed with the exhibition.
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wowwwww
Itsuk Shrine Pic is awesome!! chumberlee when are you ever gonna learn woman? ORGANISE dammit! x