Matsuri! (Day 2)
Posted by: lizzystravels on: December 4, 2009
The second night of Matsuri was my favourite!
On the second I arrived at Olivia’s house at midnight, took a nap and was ready to go by 3am.
At Niihama Matsuri there are no Danjiris but Taikodais, which are these massive shrines that up to 200 men carry on their shoulders! They are also incredibly heavy (2 tonnes) and sometimes the men cannot carry them any longer, so they collapse under the weight. On this second night, we followed one of the Taikodais up to a shrine in the mountain, and it was one of the most impressive things I have ever seen!
The reason I enjoyed this evening more than the first night of Saijo Matsuri is that because the taikodais are so much heavier and much bigger than the danjiris, the men are so much more focused and to me it was much more impressive to see them carry a taikodai… especially up a hill. Also when lit at night the Taikodais look so beautiful with all the details that go into them (My favourite was a gold dragon with red fire coming out of its mouth!).
We all had a great, great time this night! We had so much energy and were just so excited at what we were seeing that a few of us decided to stay to the very end, sometime around 7am. We followed the last taikodai down the hill, and it took them a very long time to make their way down (I think they were very tired). Once again we went home, slept, ate and got ready for the finale of Saijo Matsuri that same evening.
Keeping you posted!
Matsuri! (Day 1)
Posted by: lizzystravels on: November 17, 2009
5 days of portable shrines (Taikodai), a LOT of men, sake and fun all around!
Last month I experienced my first Japanese Festival (Matsuri) in Saijo and Niihama. Everything began on Thursday morning (1 am). I personally didn’t feel like going anywhere at that time in the morning so I was asleep when my friends came knocking at my door to get ready to go… and I am so glad they came to get me! We walked to a shrine about 45 minutes away from my home along with the danjiris (portables shrines, covered with lanterns). They bring the danjiris up to the shrine and is incredibly beautiful to see all these shrines covered in lanterns coming up the hill. I have also never seen so many people in Saijo in the whole time I’ve lived here! It was crazy, and sake bottles were passed at me from all over the place. The festivities didn’t finish until 7:30 am, when we came back to my place, slept, ate, got rid of our hangovers and got ready for Day 2.
Keeping you posted!
Kindy! =)
Posted by: lizzystravels on: November 10, 2009
I love kindy!
As a private school teacher I don’t get to teach at regular Japanese schools too often. As a matter of fact I only teach at a kindergarten once a month. There are approximately 30 children ages 5 and 6, and I teach them for an hour. I teach them the colours, how are you?, I’m from Japan!, animals, the weather, fruits and vegetables, and play and dance and sing with them!
Every monday night before kindy however I feel physically sick. I get so nervous that on the morning of kindy I can’t have breakfast because I feel like throwing up. 5 year old children scare me… the expectation of having their little faces staring at me and expecting me to do something is terrifying!
This morning I had kindy and I sat in the car for 5 minutes before the class just going over my lesson plan and trying to calm my nerves down. Then I walked in and all those fears were gone right away. I couldn’t believe that although they only see me once a month, they remember my name (this is the first time I teach them on my own, the last 2 times I was training). I walked in and they were all saying “Hello, Liz-Sensei!”
I had a great time with them! I have A LOT to learn about kindy but they seemed to enjoy themselves too and that’s what matters. Every time I shook my crazy hair and opened my eyes really big they would laugh hysterically. The most important thing that I have learned from kindy is not to take life too seriously. It is more than okay to act stupid and silly and to have fun… funny how a child can teach you that.
Now I’m starving…
Keeping you posted!
Surfing in Kochi!
Posted by: lizzystravels on: October 22, 2009
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Last month I went surfing for the first time in my life, and let me tell you it was hard!
A friend of mine is really into surfing and he let us use his equipment while he went on a sailing trip for the weekend. We totally took advantage of the situation and made it a girls weekend. This was probably the best weekend I’ve had since I arrived in Japan!
It has been years since the last time I’ve seen the ocean so it was fantastic to be near actual waves, real sand and salty water (although my lungs did not appreciate the salty water after one too many falls!)
Surfing didn’t go that well. Those waves really got the best out of me, but we all had a great time just paddling and falling consistently. The best part of Kochi however, was at night when you can see thousands of stars! You could just sit there for hours on end staring at the sky. I had never seen stars actually twinkle until I’ve visited Kochi, so that was definitely the highlight of the trip. Unfortunately I have not been able to go back since, but it was definitely one of the most beautiful places I have ever been to, so I thought I’d post some photos. Enjoy!
Keeping you posted!
Typhoon Update…
Posted by: lizzystravels on: October 8, 2009
Hello everyone!
Some of you have been trying to reach me to make sure that I’m doing ok as Typhoon Melor makes its way through Japan. To all of you, thank you for keeping an eye out for me!
I’m doing fine and everyone here is fine as well. We actually didn’t get hit as bad as expected. Last night there were some strong winds, but nothing major and by the time I woke up this morning it had stopped raining altogether and the sun was trying to break though (although it failed at doing so).
I was totally prepared for it though! I have enough food to feed a small army, movies, tea, hot chocolate, books and a blanket… what else could I need?
Anyways I just wanted to let you all know that I have survived my first typhoon and that I do appreciate all your concerns.
Keeping you posted!
Crossing the Kurushima-Kaikyo Bridge
Posted by: lizzystravels on: October 1, 2009
A few weekends ago, two of the girls I work with and I decided to bike across the Kurushima-Kaikyo Bridge.
The Kurushima bridge is the world’s longest suspension bridge structure that spans a series of islands, and joins Shikoku Island (where I live) to Honshu Island, where one finds Hiroshima.
The bridge was completed in 1999, and is 4, 015 m in length.
The day could not be more perfect. The clear blue sky gave us a great visibility of all the surrounding islands, and while it was hot it was not as humid as it had been a few days before. We rode from Imabari which is the city on the border of Shikoku Island to Oshima Island. Then we went down to Oshima and had a well deserved ice cream, walked a bit around the marina and made our way back.
The bikes we rented were so nice too.They were pretty sleek, and most importantly they were speed bikes! Our bikes in Saijo and Niihama do not have speeds, and they are also not the most ergonomically correct bikes, so your behind feels every bump while riding on the sidewalk.
Going up to the bridge was hard work! I tried to act cool and composed, but to be quite honest I was feeling pretty out of breath, which is scary because that means that I’m pretty out of shape! So I have decided to go back until I can go up to the bridge without puffing my way up the path.
Crossing the bridge was on my to do list while living in Japan, so I was psyched that I got to do it in such a perfect day with great companions. The view is also quite spectacular so I thought I’d share some of the pictures with you.
Keeping you posted!
Sailing!~
Posted by: lizzystravels on: September 23, 2009
Let’s take a break from the trip.
Lately I have been updating the blog with all the adventures from my trip to Kyoto and Osaka, but there are many other events that have been going on in since I came back from the trip that I thought, why not take a break?
My friend Ty bought a sailboat back in April/May and we have gone out on the Seto Inland Sea for the past month almost on a weekly basis. I had never been on a sailboat before, I have seen them on the Marina in Port Credit and always wanted to go out for the day in one of them, but I don’t know anyone in Toronto that owns a sailboat so all that was wishful thinking… until now.
Sailing is like putting a puzzle together. The whole process from taking the boat out to bringing it back in is full of steps that need to be completed properly. There is also a lot to be learned; from the meaning of the flags around the port, the distance between boats as well as their direction, and of course the direction of the wind (if there is any).
I have learned quite a bit about sailing in the last few weeks too. Ty likes everyone that goes on the boat to know how it works in case that at some point we need to take control of it. So we have learned how to stir it, how to put the sails up and down and the whole process of taking the boat in and out of the port.
We have also gone swimming on the Seto. Unfortunately the Seto is pretty polluted, and every so often we find all sort of rubbish floating around us. At the same time it is incredibly beautiful, and I have to say that I have never seen such sunsets! You can also hear and see the school of fish as well as huge jelly fish.
I am posting some of the pictures from the last couple of weeks. As you can see we have just way too much fun out there!
Keeping you posted!
Kyoto Day 3
Posted by: lizzystravels on: September 16, 2009
During my third day in Kyoto I visited Ginkaku-Ji and Eikando Zenrin-Ji Temple.
Ginkaku-Ji (not to be confused with Kinkaku-Ji) is also one of Kyoto’s main attractions. This used to be a villa, and translates as ‘Silver Pavilion,’ but is actually not covered in silver and now it has been converted into a temple.
Once again the garden was breathtaking, with tall pines and a pond in the middle of the temple.
One of my favourite temples is Eikando Zenrin-Ji Temple.
I was at first shocked to find it almost empty, but I really enjoyed that aspects of it as it gave me the chance to really explore and walk and see without feeling rushed, or in someone else’s way.
It was founded in 855 by the priest Shinsho, but the name was changed in the 11th century. It has a beautiful pond with the biggest carp I have ever seen! You will notice the pagoda (Taho-to) in the background of some of the pictures. I really love pagodas. I guess is because I find the architecture so intricate, so I wanted to go take a better look, but I could not for my life find my way up to it! It took me a good 45 minutes of going up and down stairs that would lead to many other places except the pagoda before I actually found it.
Keeping you posted!
Kyoto Day 2
Posted by: lizzystravels on: September 10, 2009
Kyoto Day 2.
During my second day in Kyoto I decided to visit the 2 places that I had been looking forward to seeing for quite a while; Kinkaku-Ji and Ryoan-Ji.
Kinkaku-Ji is the famous Golden Temple and one of Japan’s best-known sights. The original building dates back to 1397, but it was burned to the ground in 1950, so a full reconstruction was completed in 1955. Being one of Japan’s most famous sights, this place was packed with people, but I managed to get some decent pictures in there. The thing that I loved the most in all the temples were the gardens. They are just so intricate that you feel as though everything is placed the way it is for a reason… which is probably true.
Close to Kinkaku-Ji one finds Ryoan-Ji.
I had been really looking forward to seeing this temple. Founded in 1450, this temple belongs to the Rinzai school of Zen, and its main attraction is its garden arranged in the dry-landscape style. There are 15 rocks, positioned in such a way that they appear adrift in a sea of sand, with no explanation given as to why the rocks are positioned the way they are. Is up to each one of us to come up with our own interpretation. I think I spent over 1/2 hour just sitting there trying to figure it all out.
Keeping you posted!
Kyoto Day 1
Posted by: lizzystravels on: September 9, 2009
Kyoto Day 1
I’ve been trying to think of the best way to update the blog with my trip to Kyoto and Osaka and I think the best way to do so is to go day by day so I can give you detailed explanations. Don’t want to miss ANYTHING!
On my first day in Kyoto I decided to explore Kyoto station area because my hostel was near by and there were plenty of things to see around
Kyoto station is impressive.
Like with anything in life, when the building was unveiled in 1997 it was met with mixed feelings. I personally really liked it. There is a huge atrium that overlooks the main concourse, and many levels to explore. Actually there are 15 floors and from the 15th floor you get an incredible view of the surrounding area.
I decided not to be lazy and actually climb all the stairs, so I was sweating buckets by the time I got to the top. Well worth it though!
After exploring the station I moved on to Higashi Hongan-Ji.
This temple was rebuilt in 1895 after a fire destroyed it, and is pretty monumental in size. Nowadays the temple serves as the headquarters of the Otani branch of the Jodo Shi-shu school of Buddhism.
Two minutes walk from where I was staying one can find Nishi Hongan-Ji.
This temple is the headquarters for the Hongan-Ji branch of the Jodo Shin-shu school of Buddhism. I really enjoyed this temple because I was able to take part one of their meditations, and since then have become interested in learning more about Buddhism and its teachings.
Keeping you posted!
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- Audra: hey girl! i had no idea kindergarten was so hard for you! i know the best part of my day is little 5 and 6 yr old kids staring at me with bright, spar
- ohiokimono: VERY CUTE! I wish we had kimono parties around here!
- Paul Armstrong: Lizzy, Your pictures look fantastic. I would love to see a larger version of IMG_0253 (second last picture in this blog entry). Looks stunning! Tha
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