Jackie emailed me the other day to let me know that she had experienced an earthquake. It was centered off the Island of Shikoku and was according to the news reports a 5.2 on the Richter scale. She said it was over by the time she realized what it was.
My timing seems to be right. I am sure that it would have really freaked me out to be there during an earthquake. That would have been too much excitement to take in.
Besides missing the earthquake, I also show great timing, by leaving before her "creepy crawly buggy" season. A few days after she left, she found a very long centipede on the living room floor. She thinks it was the poisonous kind. (Shudder). The day or so after that she found a 3 inch long spider in the room behind where I slept. (Shake).
I am aware that the lush land of Japan cannot come without it's fair share of bugs and insects. I am just thankful that they showed up after I left.
I have finally looked at all my digital pictures of Japan and love the feeling and memories that they bring. I am just starting to work through Jackie's pictures. In the same manner I have been working on setting up some of my pictures o1n Flick r. So let me set you up with a link. I hope it works.
http://www.flickr.com//photos/turtle_lady/
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
A NASTY COLD + JET LAG = A BUMPY REENTRY
Here is a mathematical question for you.
My plane left Kansai Airport in Osaka on Saturday, April 21 at 1530. It was travelling approximately 600 miles per hour. The time difference between Japan and San Francisco is 15 hours. The flight was 9 hours and 37 minutes. I took some "daytime sniffing sneezing, stuffy head fever so you can get rest" cold medication upon take off from Kansai. I can take it every 4 hours. We were to arrive in San Francisco at 0830 hours. Half way through the flight we crossed the international dateline. An hour later I switched my clock to San Francisco time. When could I have my next cold medicine?
Answers:
A) Ask the stranger next to me to feel my forehead to see if I really did have a fever.
B) Work through the math and never really know the answer.
C) Take the medicine because my watch said it was Saturday April 21st and it was only about 5 a.m. and I hadn't taken the first dose yet.
Truly this did go through my fever addled mind on the plane. I took the medicine and went to sleep.
Jet lag is not any ones favorite thing to go through. I had purchased some homeopathic pills called "No Jetlag". I swear they really helped me adjust when I arrived in Japan. This has not been the case this time.
Jackie and I talked about jet lag and a friend of hers thought that ones soul needed time to catch up to your body when going through time zones. I think so. My soul is not into being here just yet.
I have the strangest feeling that I am still in Japan and yet I wake up to being in my own bed. I relate my day in Calgary as what they are doing in Japan at that time. You know the mental gymnastics of adding 16 hours to my time. I look around my condo and can't quite believe that I am home. Did I already go and come back?
I know I have. I have problems with letting go of all the fantastic experiences and people that I met. I feel I should be an ambassador for Japan's tourism bureau.
These new experiences are so exciting to me and yet I can see that there is this general zoning out when I launch into one of my tales from Japan.
Jackie, is this the reverse culture shock that you talked about?
I left Japan on Saturday, April 21 at 1530. Jackie was there to see me safely through to the security door. We hugged each other until my tears flowed. It was such a wonderful time together that neither of us wanted to let go of it.
I arrived in Calgary on Saturday April 21 at 1530 "ish". I left the secured area to the arms of Bill. Alanna was fighting for a close second big hug and the most awesome smile. Jill was able to hug the top half as Alanna hung on to the bottom half. Chris was in the background cheering us all on.
If one is to travel this way where one leaves and arrives at the same time, what better way can it be bookended than in the arms of those you love?
WKH
My plane left Kansai Airport in Osaka on Saturday, April 21 at 1530. It was travelling approximately 600 miles per hour. The time difference between Japan and San Francisco is 15 hours. The flight was 9 hours and 37 minutes. I took some "daytime sniffing sneezing, stuffy head fever so you can get rest" cold medication upon take off from Kansai. I can take it every 4 hours. We were to arrive in San Francisco at 0830 hours. Half way through the flight we crossed the international dateline. An hour later I switched my clock to San Francisco time. When could I have my next cold medicine?
Answers:
A) Ask the stranger next to me to feel my forehead to see if I really did have a fever.
B) Work through the math and never really know the answer.
C) Take the medicine because my watch said it was Saturday April 21st and it was only about 5 a.m. and I hadn't taken the first dose yet.
Truly this did go through my fever addled mind on the plane. I took the medicine and went to sleep.
Jet lag is not any ones favorite thing to go through. I had purchased some homeopathic pills called "No Jetlag". I swear they really helped me adjust when I arrived in Japan. This has not been the case this time.
Jackie and I talked about jet lag and a friend of hers thought that ones soul needed time to catch up to your body when going through time zones. I think so. My soul is not into being here just yet.
I have the strangest feeling that I am still in Japan and yet I wake up to being in my own bed. I relate my day in Calgary as what they are doing in Japan at that time. You know the mental gymnastics of adding 16 hours to my time. I look around my condo and can't quite believe that I am home. Did I already go and come back?
I know I have. I have problems with letting go of all the fantastic experiences and people that I met. I feel I should be an ambassador for Japan's tourism bureau.
These new experiences are so exciting to me and yet I can see that there is this general zoning out when I launch into one of my tales from Japan.
Jackie, is this the reverse culture shock that you talked about?
I left Japan on Saturday, April 21 at 1530. Jackie was there to see me safely through to the security door. We hugged each other until my tears flowed. It was such a wonderful time together that neither of us wanted to let go of it.
I arrived in Calgary on Saturday April 21 at 1530 "ish". I left the secured area to the arms of Bill. Alanna was fighting for a close second big hug and the most awesome smile. Jill was able to hug the top half as Alanna hung on to the bottom half. Chris was in the background cheering us all on.
If one is to travel this way where one leaves and arrives at the same time, what better way can it be bookended than in the arms of those you love?
WKH
Thursday, April 19, 2007
I'll Be Home in 48 Hours.
It is my last day in Onomichi. My bags are packed. Jackie and I will take the shinkansen at 5:30 pm tonight to Kobe. We are staying overnight and then taking the hotel shuttle to the airport tomorrow at noonish. I leave at 3:25 from Kansai airport in Osaka on Saturday and arrive in Calgary at 3 pm "ish" on Saturday.
The month in Japan flew by. It was so full of adventure, culture and fun. Jackie and I enjoyed our time together. I couldn't have asked for a better time. I felt that Jackie and I got to know each other even better, if that is possible. It was good mother / daughter bonding time.
I spent the morning walking around Onomichi. I can't believe how much I have come to know this city. I sat by the seaside in the blazing sun. Today was one of those blue sky, bright yellow sun days. I journalled by the sea and will miss it. I walked down there covered shopping mall. I met Jackie for lunch at the waffle house. I even treated myself to a waffle and blueberry ice cream waffle. They had awesome coffee. Jackie and I checked out the cat museum. This women has more than 1000 different representations of cats in this house like museum. It was pretty cool. I think I heard that she only had one live cat who was strutting around. Cats wth a paw raised are a symbol for good fortune, luck, health and whatever.
After Jackie returned to work, I walked the temple path for just a little way to see if I could see just a few more of the 25 temples that Onomichi has. I saw 3 more and then the heat and the steep stairs sent me home. It doesn't help that I caught a nasty cold a few days ago either. The person next to me on the plane is not going to be happy with my coughing and hacking.
I am now going to read until we leave. I will be home in 48 hours. I can't wait to see my Calgary family and freinds. And I don't want to say good bye to Jackie.
What is a mother to do?
The month in Japan flew by. It was so full of adventure, culture and fun. Jackie and I enjoyed our time together. I couldn't have asked for a better time. I felt that Jackie and I got to know each other even better, if that is possible. It was good mother / daughter bonding time.
I spent the morning walking around Onomichi. I can't believe how much I have come to know this city. I sat by the seaside in the blazing sun. Today was one of those blue sky, bright yellow sun days. I journalled by the sea and will miss it. I walked down there covered shopping mall. I met Jackie for lunch at the waffle house. I even treated myself to a waffle and blueberry ice cream waffle. They had awesome coffee. Jackie and I checked out the cat museum. This women has more than 1000 different representations of cats in this house like museum. It was pretty cool. I think I heard that she only had one live cat who was strutting around. Cats wth a paw raised are a symbol for good fortune, luck, health and whatever.
After Jackie returned to work, I walked the temple path for just a little way to see if I could see just a few more of the 25 temples that Onomichi has. I saw 3 more and then the heat and the steep stairs sent me home. It doesn't help that I caught a nasty cold a few days ago either. The person next to me on the plane is not going to be happy with my coughing and hacking.
I am now going to read until we leave. I will be home in 48 hours. I can't wait to see my Calgary family and freinds. And I don't want to say good bye to Jackie.
What is a mother to do?
Monday, April 16, 2007
Thoughts On Japan.
I have been asked many times what I think of Japan. My first answer is that it is more beautiful than I thought. For what ever reason, I thought of Japan as an endless flat land with wall to wall people. I cannot get over how wonderfully lush and green and mountainous Japan is. If I would have thought about it, of course it is mountainous, because it is volcanic land.
The fauna and flora is so variant. I did not expect to see Palm trees, large fern like plants and trees. There are pine trees along side of maple trees. Of course I have talked to death the beauty of the Cherry Blossom trees. Jackie has a blooming Magnolia tree in her front yard. It is all so wonderful.
Japan is clean. I mean squeaky clean. When I got off the plane and entered the airport, I couldn't believe how shiny the floors were. Yesterday, Jackie and I were on a train to Fukuyama. You could have seen your face in the polished shine of the train floor. I am not kidding.
As I mentioned before, they are into dividing their garbage into combustibles, etc. Leaving trash behind is never heard of. It is just not done.
Jackie was telling me about the school children. They have lunch. The pre-arranged list of children have to go down to get the soup pots and dishes and etc. They are also the ones that have to serve each child. Each child has the same thing and no one is allowed to not to finish their meal. Allergies are unheard of. After lunch, they then clean the school. There are no janitors. Each child has their turn at cleaning the desks, toilets etc. I understand how it would be in their best interest to keep things clean.
The Japanese toilets,as a matter of rule, do not have hot running water. Most sinks run cold water. They usually don't have soap or paper towels. Everyone has a small cloth, usually terry, in their purse or pocket and they dry their hands on them. These clothes seem to be another place of fashion expression. When you eat or have a coffee in a restaraunt, you are given either hot wet towels, or more likely individually wrapped desposable hand cleaners to use prior to eating.
I still have difficulty understanding why they wear masks. I am not sure if it is to protect us from their germs or is it to protect them from our germs. As a nurse, I know that masks are only 5% effective, but it must make them feel better. As an aside they can buy colorful face masks as well, but usually it is white.
Speaking of white, most of the drivers of bus or taxi wear white gloves. They also wear suits. It is very formal looking.
The Japanese people are always dressed very smartly. Usually business suits, both men and women. Women who are not in business wear, dress in very fashionable clothes with the best high heel shoes and matching purses. Even the children wear good clothes and if they wear jeans they are the designer jeans and lovely jackets and intricate blouses. The more mature women seem to wear dresses and skirts more often.
The school children wear uniforms. They girls wear black skirts, and white knee socks. The boys wear black suits. They are the same. Even their backpacks are the same. Their shoes are black. I wonder if dressing in a uniform all their formative life follows to their adult life as stylish dress wear.
Practically everyone has a cell phone. They are constantly in their hand. No one is speaking. They text message each other constantly. They rarely need to call someone and talk. I think that is an interesting concept that I can't wait to take hold in Canada. The cell phones here are technologically so far ahead. I had a hey day looking at all the cell phones that I will not be able to use back home. By the way the cell phones are always decked out in bling. Jackie says it is one way to express themselves.
The Japanese people are endlessly polite. It took me a long time to get use to everyone bowing. The cart lady on the train who brings refreshments will bow upon entering and leaving each car. It is a slight bow at the waist with the hands together in front of your body.
I have seen business men really bow and bow many times to each other. I wondered where the cut off is to bowing. Quite often as I walked the paths of Jackies home, I will run across some women and they always seem to bow which reflexively makes me bow back. I don't know it just happens.
The newscasters always bow at the beginning of each segment and as it goes to commercial. Respect is a huge here. Having said that I found it funny that entering a busy train, it is every person for themselves. No one gives up their seat. However they do cue up for the entrance to the train.
I like their language. It is almost musical in tone. It is most often soft, unless you are in a market where they are yelling for you to enter their store. The yelling is more musical and has pitches to it. When you enter a shop their is always, and I mean always someone their to greet you. I believe it is something equivelant to welcome to our store, or thank you for coming and sometimes a little bow. It makes you feel important.
When you pay for your goods, there seems to be this proceedure that I think I have figured out. They ring it up and then tell you the amount. You get your money and then put it in the tray. I think never directly into their hands. The change you get back is given to you in the paper money first. It is handed over to you with both of their hands like an presentation. I believe you are to recieve it with both hands. Then they hand you the change with both hands and again you accept it with both hands. They say arigota something something and give a head bow.
There are so many little details and traditions that I have enjoyed. I can only imagine the years of history behind them. It is a mystery to me, but it is not to the Japanese people.
The fauna and flora is so variant. I did not expect to see Palm trees, large fern like plants and trees. There are pine trees along side of maple trees. Of course I have talked to death the beauty of the Cherry Blossom trees. Jackie has a blooming Magnolia tree in her front yard. It is all so wonderful.
Japan is clean. I mean squeaky clean. When I got off the plane and entered the airport, I couldn't believe how shiny the floors were. Yesterday, Jackie and I were on a train to Fukuyama. You could have seen your face in the polished shine of the train floor. I am not kidding.
As I mentioned before, they are into dividing their garbage into combustibles, etc. Leaving trash behind is never heard of. It is just not done.
Jackie was telling me about the school children. They have lunch. The pre-arranged list of children have to go down to get the soup pots and dishes and etc. They are also the ones that have to serve each child. Each child has the same thing and no one is allowed to not to finish their meal. Allergies are unheard of. After lunch, they then clean the school. There are no janitors. Each child has their turn at cleaning the desks, toilets etc. I understand how it would be in their best interest to keep things clean.
The Japanese toilets,as a matter of rule, do not have hot running water. Most sinks run cold water. They usually don't have soap or paper towels. Everyone has a small cloth, usually terry, in their purse or pocket and they dry their hands on them. These clothes seem to be another place of fashion expression. When you eat or have a coffee in a restaraunt, you are given either hot wet towels, or more likely individually wrapped desposable hand cleaners to use prior to eating.
I still have difficulty understanding why they wear masks. I am not sure if it is to protect us from their germs or is it to protect them from our germs. As a nurse, I know that masks are only 5% effective, but it must make them feel better. As an aside they can buy colorful face masks as well, but usually it is white.
Speaking of white, most of the drivers of bus or taxi wear white gloves. They also wear suits. It is very formal looking.
The Japanese people are always dressed very smartly. Usually business suits, both men and women. Women who are not in business wear, dress in very fashionable clothes with the best high heel shoes and matching purses. Even the children wear good clothes and if they wear jeans they are the designer jeans and lovely jackets and intricate blouses. The more mature women seem to wear dresses and skirts more often.
The school children wear uniforms. They girls wear black skirts, and white knee socks. The boys wear black suits. They are the same. Even their backpacks are the same. Their shoes are black. I wonder if dressing in a uniform all their formative life follows to their adult life as stylish dress wear.
Practically everyone has a cell phone. They are constantly in their hand. No one is speaking. They text message each other constantly. They rarely need to call someone and talk. I think that is an interesting concept that I can't wait to take hold in Canada. The cell phones here are technologically so far ahead. I had a hey day looking at all the cell phones that I will not be able to use back home. By the way the cell phones are always decked out in bling. Jackie says it is one way to express themselves.
The Japanese people are endlessly polite. It took me a long time to get use to everyone bowing. The cart lady on the train who brings refreshments will bow upon entering and leaving each car. It is a slight bow at the waist with the hands together in front of your body.
I have seen business men really bow and bow many times to each other. I wondered where the cut off is to bowing. Quite often as I walked the paths of Jackies home, I will run across some women and they always seem to bow which reflexively makes me bow back. I don't know it just happens.
The newscasters always bow at the beginning of each segment and as it goes to commercial. Respect is a huge here. Having said that I found it funny that entering a busy train, it is every person for themselves. No one gives up their seat. However they do cue up for the entrance to the train.
I like their language. It is almost musical in tone. It is most often soft, unless you are in a market where they are yelling for you to enter their store. The yelling is more musical and has pitches to it. When you enter a shop their is always, and I mean always someone their to greet you. I believe it is something equivelant to welcome to our store, or thank you for coming and sometimes a little bow. It makes you feel important.
When you pay for your goods, there seems to be this proceedure that I think I have figured out. They ring it up and then tell you the amount. You get your money and then put it in the tray. I think never directly into their hands. The change you get back is given to you in the paper money first. It is handed over to you with both of their hands like an presentation. I believe you are to recieve it with both hands. Then they hand you the change with both hands and again you accept it with both hands. They say arigota something something and give a head bow.
There are so many little details and traditions that I have enjoyed. I can only imagine the years of history behind them. It is a mystery to me, but it is not to the Japanese people.
A Japanese Afternoon.
Where does my time go here?
I think I left off talking about going to Jackie's teacher, Yoko San, for the afternoon. Yoko has been just wonderful to me. She picked me up that afternoon. I forgot how nice it is to have a car to come and go as you please. Yoko is easy to talk to and at times not so easy to understand. She actually has remarkable English skills. This is really quite uncommon for Onomichi. I also believe that she is very curious about "foreigners". As she said to me that in as little as ten years ago, seeing white people in Onomichi was very rare. Now that teaching English has been mandated in all the grades, the English speaking students are coming to all the cities, towns and villages and teaching their children. Slowly the Japanese are becoming accustomed to seeing the foreigners in their towns.
I noticed though, the difference in number of foreigners in the bigger cities as compared to Onomichi. In Onomichi, I feel that I am definitely white and am often stared at. Well that is until I look at them. They quickly look away. It would be rude to stare.
Jackie told me that in one of her classrooms, she tried to help the children understand that if they went to another country that they would be foreigners. She said that they could not comprehend what she was talking about. They could never be foreigners!
It is these king of talks that Yoko and I have had. She was more than happy to entertain me for the afternoon while Jackie was at work.
Earlier in the week, she asked me what my favorite food was so far. I told her that Jackie and I had been to a restaurant where we had okonomiyaki. I thoroughly enjoyed it. She then said that Jackie and I should come over and she would show us how it is made. Wow that is quite the invitation and I was quite excited to participate. The plans evolved into a whole afternoon event.
She picked me up and we immediately went to her favorite grocery store. She had to buy all the ingredients. More over she wanted to show me all the foods that make up a Japanese grocery store. We spent over an hour in two grocery stores. She showed me all kinds of wild and wonderful vegtables and fruits and fish and rice and seaweed and powders and teas that I have never seen or at least never looked for in Calgary. Once we had all the ingredients we went back to her house and waited for her teacher.
I think in the previous blog, I said Yoko San was a teacher. She isn't. She is a student and it takes a lot of practice to learn how to dress someone in a kimono. The teacher came and the fun started. This women of whom I can't remember her name, has apparently held the country honor of being able to put on her own Kimono the fastest. After I was in one, I can't believe she is actually able to put it on herself.
There was much fussing about the colors of the kimonos and sashes and ties. There was several kimonos there which surprised me. I am told that the kimono usually costs approximately $1000. Cnd. and that is at its cheapest. Yoko San had several handed down to her from her mom and several she has aquired over the years.
Finally everything was decided while I stood wondering what to do. Off with the clothes. The Japanese have no body issues. The teacher helped me on with a top half slip which was tied in the back and a half slip. Then because I had bigger feet than them they found me a pair of stretchy split toe socks to put on. Okay, its starting to come together, I thought. Then the second layer of a lighter but fancy shorter Kimono. This is the first layer around the neck. There was much tying and sinching and knotting. However because it is behind you, I had no idea what was going on. Next the most beautiful silk Kimono was put on me. More belts and wrap around ties with plastic, cardboard inserted in the front to keep it flat I guess. The silk and brocade wrap around the waist was put on and cinched and more ties and rope belts. In the end I was kimoned and felt quite elegant. Uncomfortable, but elegant. Then Jackie arrived and I got to watch how they dressed her. It is unbelievably complicated. We both looked so elegant. Yes there was lots of pictures taken and when I figure out how to post them, I will.
The teacher left and then Yoko San had us to her tea ceremony. That is another thing all steeped in tradition.
We then undressed,although we didn't want to and went to the kitchen to make Okonomiyaki which is the Japanese equivelent to pizza. A pancake type batter is used to bind together the cabbage, noodles, meat vegetables, fish layers. It is usually cooked at the table and in a restaraunt you get to use the wooden spatula to eat it with.
I was also served Sake and another sake like drink. Jackie and Yoko couldn't join me as there is zero tolerance for drinking and driving.
It was the most wonderful afternoon. And something that I will remember for a very long time about my time in Japan.
I think I left off talking about going to Jackie's teacher, Yoko San, for the afternoon. Yoko has been just wonderful to me. She picked me up that afternoon. I forgot how nice it is to have a car to come and go as you please. Yoko is easy to talk to and at times not so easy to understand. She actually has remarkable English skills. This is really quite uncommon for Onomichi. I also believe that she is very curious about "foreigners". As she said to me that in as little as ten years ago, seeing white people in Onomichi was very rare. Now that teaching English has been mandated in all the grades, the English speaking students are coming to all the cities, towns and villages and teaching their children. Slowly the Japanese are becoming accustomed to seeing the foreigners in their towns.
I noticed though, the difference in number of foreigners in the bigger cities as compared to Onomichi. In Onomichi, I feel that I am definitely white and am often stared at. Well that is until I look at them. They quickly look away. It would be rude to stare.
Jackie told me that in one of her classrooms, she tried to help the children understand that if they went to another country that they would be foreigners. She said that they could not comprehend what she was talking about. They could never be foreigners!
It is these king of talks that Yoko and I have had. She was more than happy to entertain me for the afternoon while Jackie was at work.
Earlier in the week, she asked me what my favorite food was so far. I told her that Jackie and I had been to a restaurant where we had okonomiyaki. I thoroughly enjoyed it. She then said that Jackie and I should come over and she would show us how it is made. Wow that is quite the invitation and I was quite excited to participate. The plans evolved into a whole afternoon event.
She picked me up and we immediately went to her favorite grocery store. She had to buy all the ingredients. More over she wanted to show me all the foods that make up a Japanese grocery store. We spent over an hour in two grocery stores. She showed me all kinds of wild and wonderful vegtables and fruits and fish and rice and seaweed and powders and teas that I have never seen or at least never looked for in Calgary. Once we had all the ingredients we went back to her house and waited for her teacher.
I think in the previous blog, I said Yoko San was a teacher. She isn't. She is a student and it takes a lot of practice to learn how to dress someone in a kimono. The teacher came and the fun started. This women of whom I can't remember her name, has apparently held the country honor of being able to put on her own Kimono the fastest. After I was in one, I can't believe she is actually able to put it on herself.
There was much fussing about the colors of the kimonos and sashes and ties. There was several kimonos there which surprised me. I am told that the kimono usually costs approximately $1000. Cnd. and that is at its cheapest. Yoko San had several handed down to her from her mom and several she has aquired over the years.
Finally everything was decided while I stood wondering what to do. Off with the clothes. The Japanese have no body issues. The teacher helped me on with a top half slip which was tied in the back and a half slip. Then because I had bigger feet than them they found me a pair of stretchy split toe socks to put on. Okay, its starting to come together, I thought. Then the second layer of a lighter but fancy shorter Kimono. This is the first layer around the neck. There was much tying and sinching and knotting. However because it is behind you, I had no idea what was going on. Next the most beautiful silk Kimono was put on me. More belts and wrap around ties with plastic, cardboard inserted in the front to keep it flat I guess. The silk and brocade wrap around the waist was put on and cinched and more ties and rope belts. In the end I was kimoned and felt quite elegant. Uncomfortable, but elegant. Then Jackie arrived and I got to watch how they dressed her. It is unbelievably complicated. We both looked so elegant. Yes there was lots of pictures taken and when I figure out how to post them, I will.
The teacher left and then Yoko San had us to her tea ceremony. That is another thing all steeped in tradition.
We then undressed,although we didn't want to and went to the kitchen to make Okonomiyaki which is the Japanese equivelent to pizza. A pancake type batter is used to bind together the cabbage, noodles, meat vegetables, fish layers. It is usually cooked at the table and in a restaraunt you get to use the wooden spatula to eat it with.
I was also served Sake and another sake like drink. Jackie and Yoko couldn't join me as there is zero tolerance for drinking and driving.
It was the most wonderful afternoon. And something that I will remember for a very long time about my time in Japan.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Shrine, Shrine Every Where a Shrine
Wednesday morning and Jackie is off to work. This is my third day on "my own" and it has been great. Yesterday, Jackie's freind Yoko and her husband Morrie took me to to the island of Hirayama Ikuo. It is two islands kind of west of here. The city we visited was called Setoda.
The prime attraction is it's temple complex which my rough guide disliked. Kosan-Ji is the creation of a steel tube manufacturer who made his money apparently from the arm's trade. Kanemoto Kozo was a devoted son who used some of his funds to build his mother a holiday retreat in the city. When she died, the bereft Kanemoto decided to build a temple in her honour and bought the priesthood from Nishi-Hongan-ji temple in Kyoto. He took over the name of a minor temple Kosan-ji in Niigata. He quit his job and build the ever expanding temples which now which includes 10 halls, three towers, four gates, an underground cave, and an enormous statue of Kannon, The goddess of Mercy. They are all recreations of originals throughout Japan and although smaller it is said that no intricated detail is left out. My roughguide book says that since 1936 it has opened to millions of paying visitors. And since it is recognized as a temple all this income is tax free.
The intriguing spectacle was the Cave of a Thousand Buddhas and the valley of hell. The rock was brought from Mount Fuji and apparently formed into this cave with Buddhas enshrined into the rock, in statues and pictures. There is art on the wall showing the horrors of damnation and the raptures of heavenly host of Buddha. You emerge from the cave and are standing under the 15 meter tall statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy.
From here you walk up The Hill of Hope which is a modern marble structure /shrine/ statues. It is hard to say what it is, but it is white and marble. It is a modern design and well gives a beautiful view of the inner harbour of Setoda.
Next to this Shrine is a museum of art by the living Hirayam Ikuo. He is one of the most famous Japanese artists I was told. He was a junior high school student during the atom bomb on Hiroshima and his works tend to be dark. He uses ancient painting techniques and there for has to produce the huge wall canvasses quite quickly. The nice thing about an art museum is that it usually knows no language.
Yoko and Morrie then treated me to ice cream at famous Gelato place on the island. I had lemon and salty blue (whatever that was). It was great. The weather has been plus 18 or there abouts. It is just right for ice cream, but then for me any time is just right for ice cream.
It is a day later now. Jackie's internet connection is not very reliable. I went to Fukyama on my own yesterday in search of Starbuck's. God bless them as I could smell where they were from the station. I was almost in heaven by the time I stretched my Grande misto for one and one half hours.
Today, Yoko has invited me to her lovely home. She is going to teach me how to make a wonderful Japanese dish which Jackie and I had last week and i quite thoroughly enjoyed. I can't remember what it is called, but I am looking forward to it. More later on food.
Yoko is also a teacher of "dressing up people in Kimonos" and giving the tea ceremony. She has invited her teacher over and the two of them are going to dress me up in her kimono. Pictures will be taken. She keeps repeatedly saying she is much smaller than me, but it will work. Should I worry?
Jackie will come for supper. So I am off to be dressed this afternoon. Oi.
Well I am doing Jackie's laundry this morning and hear the washer is done. That means I should go and "hang up" the laundry. God that has brought back memories of mom hanging laundry in 40 below. Hanging laundry? Who knew i knew how to do it?
Love to all
WKH
The prime attraction is it's temple complex which my rough guide disliked. Kosan-Ji is the creation of a steel tube manufacturer who made his money apparently from the arm's trade. Kanemoto Kozo was a devoted son who used some of his funds to build his mother a holiday retreat in the city. When she died, the bereft Kanemoto decided to build a temple in her honour and bought the priesthood from Nishi-Hongan-ji temple in Kyoto. He took over the name of a minor temple Kosan-ji in Niigata. He quit his job and build the ever expanding temples which now which includes 10 halls, three towers, four gates, an underground cave, and an enormous statue of Kannon, The goddess of Mercy. They are all recreations of originals throughout Japan and although smaller it is said that no intricated detail is left out. My roughguide book says that since 1936 it has opened to millions of paying visitors. And since it is recognized as a temple all this income is tax free.
The intriguing spectacle was the Cave of a Thousand Buddhas and the valley of hell. The rock was brought from Mount Fuji and apparently formed into this cave with Buddhas enshrined into the rock, in statues and pictures. There is art on the wall showing the horrors of damnation and the raptures of heavenly host of Buddha. You emerge from the cave and are standing under the 15 meter tall statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy.
From here you walk up The Hill of Hope which is a modern marble structure /shrine/ statues. It is hard to say what it is, but it is white and marble. It is a modern design and well gives a beautiful view of the inner harbour of Setoda.
Next to this Shrine is a museum of art by the living Hirayam Ikuo. He is one of the most famous Japanese artists I was told. He was a junior high school student during the atom bomb on Hiroshima and his works tend to be dark. He uses ancient painting techniques and there for has to produce the huge wall canvasses quite quickly. The nice thing about an art museum is that it usually knows no language.
Yoko and Morrie then treated me to ice cream at famous Gelato place on the island. I had lemon and salty blue (whatever that was). It was great. The weather has been plus 18 or there abouts. It is just right for ice cream, but then for me any time is just right for ice cream.
It is a day later now. Jackie's internet connection is not very reliable. I went to Fukyama on my own yesterday in search of Starbuck's. God bless them as I could smell where they were from the station. I was almost in heaven by the time I stretched my Grande misto for one and one half hours.
Today, Yoko has invited me to her lovely home. She is going to teach me how to make a wonderful Japanese dish which Jackie and I had last week and i quite thoroughly enjoyed. I can't remember what it is called, but I am looking forward to it. More later on food.
Yoko is also a teacher of "dressing up people in Kimonos" and giving the tea ceremony. She has invited her teacher over and the two of them are going to dress me up in her kimono. Pictures will be taken. She keeps repeatedly saying she is much smaller than me, but it will work. Should I worry?
Jackie will come for supper. So I am off to be dressed this afternoon. Oi.
Well I am doing Jackie's laundry this morning and hear the washer is done. That means I should go and "hang up" the laundry. God that has brought back memories of mom hanging laundry in 40 below. Hanging laundry? Who knew i knew how to do it?
Love to all
WKH
Monday, April 9, 2007
Japan And My Coffee
Jackie has just left for a Hanami party. I did not feel like going so here I sit at the computer.
Japan is not really a coffee country. You have to know where to look for the coffee shops. As I had mentioned there are Starbucks but they are usually in the bigger cities. I have not seen many people walk around with coffee. Coffee is offered at most restaraunts, but not all of them. A dedicated coffee shop is a rare find and a treat for me. As you know, I love my coffee and I love to journal with a coffee in a shop with ambience. Jackie has scoped out several great coffee shops for me in Onomichi where I feel comfortable ordering my coffee in English and have myself understood.
It is also very rare to see people walking around with coffee. Jackie tells me that having coffee is done when you are seated and relaxed and able to enjoy it to it's fullest. And I can understand that when it costs you approximately $4.80 for each cup.
However to order a coffee "to go" seems to put the staff in quite a tizzy. It is not without presidence. First, I have to explain how the Japanese retailers love to wrap up their customer's purchases. An example is from the other day when I went to the bakery shop and bought several different types of pastries. I was alone. First they wrap up each baked good individually and then put it in another bag and then carefully tape it closed. Another example is when I bought some postcards, pens, paper and envelopes. They took each group of items and packaged them together. Taped that bag closed. They put all the bags into a bigger bag and tape that closed. If it is raining they then put it in plastic and tape it closed so not to get wet. It can be a real challenge to take them out when you get home.
Okay, about the coffee to go and I think you know where I am going with this. They pour the coffee into the cups and carefully place their lids on. They then bring out a tray and place the coffees in there and then put it in a paper bag and tape it closed. My simple cup of coffee has become a bag. All this and I go outside and take out my coffee and get rid of the paper. At least I hope I get rid of the paper because garbage is not a simple thing in Japan. God knows I am still trying to get that right. There is flamable, non-flamable, bottles, plastic and tins and the list goes on. The first trick is actually finding the garbage receptacles as they do not have them frequently located. Jackie tells me everyone just takes it home and disposes of it there.
An alternative to a coffee in a restaraunt or at the coffee shop is found in their unique vending machines. When I first arrived in Japan, I was intrigued by the multiple vending machines that they have at least every block or more often. They are the coolest things. They sell every type of drink imaginable including beer and alcohol. During my first day or two here, I was complaining about my lack of caffeine. Jackie then stopped at the vending machines and bought me a coffee. I was absolutely blown away that right along side the cold drinks in the same vending machine they sell hot coffee, cafe au laits, and more. I was sure that I would not like vending machine coffee. It brought back memories of night shifts in the hospital and getting vending machine mud, called coffee. First of all the cans are so hot that it is difficult to hold them, but when you open them up they are at a comfortable drinking temperature. How do they do that? More importantly they are not that bad when you need a coffee.
What got me thinking of this tonight was that after supper Jackie was going out and didn't really want a coffee at home. I felt way too lazy to set up her esspresso pot on her gas hotplate just for myself. She convinced me to go for a walk to 7-Eleven so she could pay for her new computer that she is buying. Yes one can pay all their bills at the "combenni" store while buying their Sake and heavenly treats.(Jackie might explain that name to you.) Thus I went to buy my can of coffee for $1.20. I had a nice walk and got a warm coffee in a very hot tin.
As Jackie and I were heading back to her house, I began to count steps up to her place. She told me that she didn't want to know the count. The count went something like this. From street level to the overpass over the road and rail tracks, it is 34 steps up. We walk over the road and tracks and again that distance on flat pavement. Then you come to the first set of stairs which count 33 steps. Then walk approximately 15 paces and ascend the second set of 22 steps. The is the last of the stairs, but then you gradually ascend ramps that would equal the height of two, two story homes. Then walk up her dozen front steps to get to her front door. Once in the house I then ascended another 14 or so stairs that are steep or steeper than any Amsterdam stairs I have stepped on.
Thinking back on it, it probably would have been easier to make the coffee on the hotplate. However all kidding aside, the walk to Jackie's home is wonderful. We pass by one of many temples and shrines in Onomichi. I also step lively past the graveyard.(It creeps me out), but they are everywhere. The walk ways are sidewalk narrow and meander between houses at times just armlengths apart. It is history that I walk by every day while getting my coffee from the vending machines. It is beautiful trimmed trees and gardens. It is Cherry blossom trees. It is flowers. It is homes that are so paper thin that you can hear what is happening on the other side of the wall just a few inches away. It is hundred of years of eeking out every square inch of land for the people who live on it. It is nothing I have ever seen or experienced on my walks at home in Calgary. And I love it.
WKH
Japan is not really a coffee country. You have to know where to look for the coffee shops. As I had mentioned there are Starbucks but they are usually in the bigger cities. I have not seen many people walk around with coffee. Coffee is offered at most restaraunts, but not all of them. A dedicated coffee shop is a rare find and a treat for me. As you know, I love my coffee and I love to journal with a coffee in a shop with ambience. Jackie has scoped out several great coffee shops for me in Onomichi where I feel comfortable ordering my coffee in English and have myself understood.
It is also very rare to see people walking around with coffee. Jackie tells me that having coffee is done when you are seated and relaxed and able to enjoy it to it's fullest. And I can understand that when it costs you approximately $4.80 for each cup.
However to order a coffee "to go" seems to put the staff in quite a tizzy. It is not without presidence. First, I have to explain how the Japanese retailers love to wrap up their customer's purchases. An example is from the other day when I went to the bakery shop and bought several different types of pastries. I was alone. First they wrap up each baked good individually and then put it in another bag and then carefully tape it closed. Another example is when I bought some postcards, pens, paper and envelopes. They took each group of items and packaged them together. Taped that bag closed. They put all the bags into a bigger bag and tape that closed. If it is raining they then put it in plastic and tape it closed so not to get wet. It can be a real challenge to take them out when you get home.
Okay, about the coffee to go and I think you know where I am going with this. They pour the coffee into the cups and carefully place their lids on. They then bring out a tray and place the coffees in there and then put it in a paper bag and tape it closed. My simple cup of coffee has become a bag. All this and I go outside and take out my coffee and get rid of the paper. At least I hope I get rid of the paper because garbage is not a simple thing in Japan. God knows I am still trying to get that right. There is flamable, non-flamable, bottles, plastic and tins and the list goes on. The first trick is actually finding the garbage receptacles as they do not have them frequently located. Jackie tells me everyone just takes it home and disposes of it there.
An alternative to a coffee in a restaraunt or at the coffee shop is found in their unique vending machines. When I first arrived in Japan, I was intrigued by the multiple vending machines that they have at least every block or more often. They are the coolest things. They sell every type of drink imaginable including beer and alcohol. During my first day or two here, I was complaining about my lack of caffeine. Jackie then stopped at the vending machines and bought me a coffee. I was absolutely blown away that right along side the cold drinks in the same vending machine they sell hot coffee, cafe au laits, and more. I was sure that I would not like vending machine coffee. It brought back memories of night shifts in the hospital and getting vending machine mud, called coffee. First of all the cans are so hot that it is difficult to hold them, but when you open them up they are at a comfortable drinking temperature. How do they do that? More importantly they are not that bad when you need a coffee.
What got me thinking of this tonight was that after supper Jackie was going out and didn't really want a coffee at home. I felt way too lazy to set up her esspresso pot on her gas hotplate just for myself. She convinced me to go for a walk to 7-Eleven so she could pay for her new computer that she is buying. Yes one can pay all their bills at the "combenni" store while buying their Sake and heavenly treats.(Jackie might explain that name to you.) Thus I went to buy my can of coffee for $1.20. I had a nice walk and got a warm coffee in a very hot tin.
As Jackie and I were heading back to her house, I began to count steps up to her place. She told me that she didn't want to know the count. The count went something like this. From street level to the overpass over the road and rail tracks, it is 34 steps up. We walk over the road and tracks and again that distance on flat pavement. Then you come to the first set of stairs which count 33 steps. Then walk approximately 15 paces and ascend the second set of 22 steps. The is the last of the stairs, but then you gradually ascend ramps that would equal the height of two, two story homes. Then walk up her dozen front steps to get to her front door. Once in the house I then ascended another 14 or so stairs that are steep or steeper than any Amsterdam stairs I have stepped on.
Thinking back on it, it probably would have been easier to make the coffee on the hotplate. However all kidding aside, the walk to Jackie's home is wonderful. We pass by one of many temples and shrines in Onomichi. I also step lively past the graveyard.(It creeps me out), but they are everywhere. The walk ways are sidewalk narrow and meander between houses at times just armlengths apart. It is history that I walk by every day while getting my coffee from the vending machines. It is beautiful trimmed trees and gardens. It is Cherry blossom trees. It is flowers. It is homes that are so paper thin that you can hear what is happening on the other side of the wall just a few inches away. It is hundred of years of eeking out every square inch of land for the people who live on it. It is nothing I have ever seen or experienced on my walks at home in Calgary. And I love it.
WKH
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
The Sakura Have Bloomed
Onomichi is a beautiful city. I can see why Jackie loves it. Yesterday we met up with Jackie's freind and language teacher, Yoko. Yoko has live in Onomichi for most of her life. She is a wonderfully warm women who has gone to great lengths to help Jackie with plans and sights for us to visit while I am in Japan.
After lunch we took the ropeway (cable car) to the top of the mountain in Onomichi. We had picked a beautiful day. The Sakura were out in full bloom. The sight was breathtaking and I must admit that no picture will ever do it justice. The views from the observation deck allowed me to see all of Onomichi and some of the many islands in the Inland Sea. The atmosphere is almost festival like. Some families were picnicing under the cherry blossom trees. This is called Hanami and is often declared a national holiday when the blossoms are in full bloom.
Yoko was wonderful to have along. Her English is quite good. She was able to point out several things that we would not have known. The mountains of Onomichi have many temples and shrines. She took us to one of the older ones and shared information about it. We had a very interesting discussion on graves and how all are cremated in Japan. She found it interesting that we did not always cremate. She found it hard to believe that one grave could be for one person. The graves we saw were for families.
As we walked along under the trees there were many vendors selling there local delicacies. She stopped at one and decided to buy us a favorite treat of the Japanese people. It smelled quite good. She bought it and Jackie warned me that it was Ocupus wrapped in a batter and grilled. It is called Takoyaki. My book tells me that "they are battered balls of Octupus". Don't take it too literally please.
If I could have disappeared I would have. I think Yoko saw my fear. She asked me if I could eat Octupus. I smiled and said I never have, but I was willing to try it. We found a bench under the Sakura tree and ate these delicacies that Japanese people line up for as we would for Tim Horton's Donuts. I had to calm my mind and demand it not to take over my stomach. I tasted the first one. It was not as bad as I thought. The chewy part was not even as bad as I thought it would have been. I had three, served with special sauce and mayonaise. Yes I would have it again.
Yoko asked me what kind of fish I eat. I said being from the prairies, I rarely ate fish. I guess I can see why she thinks that would not be possible. Fish is a staple in Japan. I have a long way to go to love fish.
Tomorrow, Jackie, Brandon and I head on a road trip for four days. We will be on the island of Shikoku. Brandon is a fellow jet student and it is his car we are using for the trip. I will keep you posted. I think we are in more ryokans and enjoying onsens again.
Jackie helped me set up a site that I will put pictures on from time to time. Please check on it by clicking on the following link.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7645918@N07/
After lunch we took the ropeway (cable car) to the top of the mountain in Onomichi. We had picked a beautiful day. The Sakura were out in full bloom. The sight was breathtaking and I must admit that no picture will ever do it justice. The views from the observation deck allowed me to see all of Onomichi and some of the many islands in the Inland Sea. The atmosphere is almost festival like. Some families were picnicing under the cherry blossom trees. This is called Hanami and is often declared a national holiday when the blossoms are in full bloom.
Yoko was wonderful to have along. Her English is quite good. She was able to point out several things that we would not have known. The mountains of Onomichi have many temples and shrines. She took us to one of the older ones and shared information about it. We had a very interesting discussion on graves and how all are cremated in Japan. She found it interesting that we did not always cremate. She found it hard to believe that one grave could be for one person. The graves we saw were for families.
As we walked along under the trees there were many vendors selling there local delicacies. She stopped at one and decided to buy us a favorite treat of the Japanese people. It smelled quite good. She bought it and Jackie warned me that it was Ocupus wrapped in a batter and grilled. It is called Takoyaki. My book tells me that "they are battered balls of Octupus". Don't take it too literally please.
If I could have disappeared I would have. I think Yoko saw my fear. She asked me if I could eat Octupus. I smiled and said I never have, but I was willing to try it. We found a bench under the Sakura tree and ate these delicacies that Japanese people line up for as we would for Tim Horton's Donuts. I had to calm my mind and demand it not to take over my stomach. I tasted the first one. It was not as bad as I thought. The chewy part was not even as bad as I thought it would have been. I had three, served with special sauce and mayonaise. Yes I would have it again.
Yoko asked me what kind of fish I eat. I said being from the prairies, I rarely ate fish. I guess I can see why she thinks that would not be possible. Fish is a staple in Japan. I have a long way to go to love fish.
Tomorrow, Jackie, Brandon and I head on a road trip for four days. We will be on the island of Shikoku. Brandon is a fellow jet student and it is his car we are using for the trip. I will keep you posted. I think we are in more ryokans and enjoying onsens again.
Jackie helped me set up a site that I will put pictures on from time to time. Please check on it by clicking on the following link.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7645918@N07/
Monday, April 2, 2007
And You Thought I Would Talk Of Golden Shrines!
April 2nd, 2007 Onomichi, Japan
Memories are a funny thing. They are hidden below the surface waiting to show up at just the time when we least expect it.
I remember a time when I was sitting a potty behind a curtain in a tiny room. A woman came in and brought a tiny baby whose whole hand was so small, it seemed doll like. I remember talking to mom about this memory and more details. She couldn't believe what I was saying because I was describing the day mom brought my younger sister home from the hospital and she was picking me up from her good freind's house who baby sat me. Can you believe that I was just 22 months old?
This memory came forth today when I decided to talk about toilets and potty humor. Japanese traditional toilets are of the squat type and are called toire.
I had heard about these toilets from different tourists who came back from Asia and couldn't wait to talk about "the toilets". I listened with great interest and quite sure that I would never need to use them in my lifetime seeing how Asia was not on my list of places to visit.It is funny how things have a way of changing.
I must admit that among other things, using a squat toilet was definitely on my list of living outside "the box" or my comfort zone. I thought about it often and talked to Jackie about it. She said not to worry about it as western toilets have become more popular.
A squat toilet looks like a urinal laying on the floor. I was told that you walk in and pull down your clothes and squat. Remember I was telling you about the agility of the Japanese women and men, well now I know why.
I saw my first squat toilet at a tour site in Kobe. Jackie was good enough to tell me a hint. The wheelchair stalls always have Western toilets. Well suddenly I was happy and started to use them exclusively. For the next few days, Jackie would go into the restroom first and then come back to report to me about it's status. It's a western one, mom or it is a great bathroom if you need to use it. The funny thing is that I would only need to use it if it was western. Jackie caught on and then decide that I would have to find out for myself. Great trepidation followed me the first time and to my great relief it was a beautiful bathroom with many many stalls and most were squat, but the rest stop had labelled maybe a half dozen as Western. Yea for me again.
I would like to add at this time that toilets are squat or the mercedes type. I sat on the toilet seat and just about shot off because it was heated. Who knew that heated seats really existed? Not a bad touch. But God forbid they put more than one button beside the toilet. Then you were taking your chances as to whether it might shoot water or blow dry you. I speak the truth.
Once when we were travelling in Germany, I had remarked to my sister in law that flushing always was a new discovery and mystery. She had said that she thought she would make up the song about 50 Ways to Flush a Toilet. Japan is not too bad, but I have been caught looking for the little button more than once.
After a week of avoiding squat toilets and feeling kind of good about it, I met my match in an out of the way temple in Kyoto. It was squat or nothing. I could not ignore mother nature this time and had to use it. I managed but was mortified that I would come out with a wet spot on my pants somewhere. Don't worry I had a back up plan and that would have been to throw the sink water on me from top to bottom making out like some freak sink attacked me. None the less I managed my first squat toilet.
Now let me tell you another story that will make sense in a few minutes. Bill and i were young and we had Jill and Jackie who were 4 1/2 and 27 months respectively. We didn't have a lot of money but wanted to go on a holiday. We decided to borrow some camping gear and go on a camping trip. You know fresh air and fun. Well it actually was our vacation from Hell, but that is a whole different story. We decide to stay in a northern Saskatchewan campground. It was a bit rustic and had an outhouse. There was a flush toilet and shower but it was about a mile from where we tented.
Jackie had just been potty trained, which meant you had very little time from the time she said she had to go potty and the time she went. The time had come when she had to go. I picked her up and took her to the outhouse. As we approached, Jackie said to me "Mommy our bathroom doesn't smell like this." Since I was just one small step from gagging myself I said something clever like hold your nose. I procceeded to pull down her pants and set her up on the hole. Well Jackie was so small that I underestimated how far she would fall down the hole. I grabbed her while she started screaming and crying. She hung on to me for dear life and nothing would allow me to set that child back on the hole. She said to me, "I don't want to use the fall down toilet!" and that was it. From that time on our family has called outhouses "fall down toilets."
Life is full of irony sometimes. Jackie's home is many decades old and doesn't really have all the conveniences of a modern home. It is pretty Japanese looking with sliding doors etc., however it does not have a flush toilet. She has an OUTHOUSE!. Well it is attatched to the house and has a toilet on it. But oi. I really never realized how scary a black hole is below your bottom. I thank my cousin from the farm for that one. She was a teenager and I was about 8 or 9 and they only had an outhouse. I hated it. She picked up on my fear and told me that creepy crawlies and snakes and things that bite wait for you in the outhouse hole. My memory of that is crying the whole weekend in fear of the outhouse. As I said memories have a way of surfacing at the least wanted or expected time.
I want to say to Jackie that my bathroom at home doesn't smell like this. I suggested that she get an air freshner, but she did have one, but it up and puked and died. The only salvation may be the incense she burns in there. I will never like incense again.
I have to say that I had a suspicion about her toilet, but she never would tell me about it before I came. She did paint it a vivid orange and put a nice toilet seat cover on it.
But if smells like one and looks like one; then it probably is one.
WKH
Memories are a funny thing. They are hidden below the surface waiting to show up at just the time when we least expect it.
I remember a time when I was sitting a potty behind a curtain in a tiny room. A woman came in and brought a tiny baby whose whole hand was so small, it seemed doll like. I remember talking to mom about this memory and more details. She couldn't believe what I was saying because I was describing the day mom brought my younger sister home from the hospital and she was picking me up from her good freind's house who baby sat me. Can you believe that I was just 22 months old?
This memory came forth today when I decided to talk about toilets and potty humor. Japanese traditional toilets are of the squat type and are called toire.
I had heard about these toilets from different tourists who came back from Asia and couldn't wait to talk about "the toilets". I listened with great interest and quite sure that I would never need to use them in my lifetime seeing how Asia was not on my list of places to visit.It is funny how things have a way of changing.
I must admit that among other things, using a squat toilet was definitely on my list of living outside "the box" or my comfort zone. I thought about it often and talked to Jackie about it. She said not to worry about it as western toilets have become more popular.
A squat toilet looks like a urinal laying on the floor. I was told that you walk in and pull down your clothes and squat. Remember I was telling you about the agility of the Japanese women and men, well now I know why.
I saw my first squat toilet at a tour site in Kobe. Jackie was good enough to tell me a hint. The wheelchair stalls always have Western toilets. Well suddenly I was happy and started to use them exclusively. For the next few days, Jackie would go into the restroom first and then come back to report to me about it's status. It's a western one, mom or it is a great bathroom if you need to use it. The funny thing is that I would only need to use it if it was western. Jackie caught on and then decide that I would have to find out for myself. Great trepidation followed me the first time and to my great relief it was a beautiful bathroom with many many stalls and most were squat, but the rest stop had labelled maybe a half dozen as Western. Yea for me again.
I would like to add at this time that toilets are squat or the mercedes type. I sat on the toilet seat and just about shot off because it was heated. Who knew that heated seats really existed? Not a bad touch. But God forbid they put more than one button beside the toilet. Then you were taking your chances as to whether it might shoot water or blow dry you. I speak the truth.
Once when we were travelling in Germany, I had remarked to my sister in law that flushing always was a new discovery and mystery. She had said that she thought she would make up the song about 50 Ways to Flush a Toilet. Japan is not too bad, but I have been caught looking for the little button more than once.
After a week of avoiding squat toilets and feeling kind of good about it, I met my match in an out of the way temple in Kyoto. It was squat or nothing. I could not ignore mother nature this time and had to use it. I managed but was mortified that I would come out with a wet spot on my pants somewhere. Don't worry I had a back up plan and that would have been to throw the sink water on me from top to bottom making out like some freak sink attacked me. None the less I managed my first squat toilet.
Now let me tell you another story that will make sense in a few minutes. Bill and i were young and we had Jill and Jackie who were 4 1/2 and 27 months respectively. We didn't have a lot of money but wanted to go on a holiday. We decided to borrow some camping gear and go on a camping trip. You know fresh air and fun. Well it actually was our vacation from Hell, but that is a whole different story. We decide to stay in a northern Saskatchewan campground. It was a bit rustic and had an outhouse. There was a flush toilet and shower but it was about a mile from where we tented.
Jackie had just been potty trained, which meant you had very little time from the time she said she had to go potty and the time she went. The time had come when she had to go. I picked her up and took her to the outhouse. As we approached, Jackie said to me "Mommy our bathroom doesn't smell like this." Since I was just one small step from gagging myself I said something clever like hold your nose. I procceeded to pull down her pants and set her up on the hole. Well Jackie was so small that I underestimated how far she would fall down the hole. I grabbed her while she started screaming and crying. She hung on to me for dear life and nothing would allow me to set that child back on the hole. She said to me, "I don't want to use the fall down toilet!" and that was it. From that time on our family has called outhouses "fall down toilets."
Life is full of irony sometimes. Jackie's home is many decades old and doesn't really have all the conveniences of a modern home. It is pretty Japanese looking with sliding doors etc., however it does not have a flush toilet. She has an OUTHOUSE!. Well it is attatched to the house and has a toilet on it. But oi. I really never realized how scary a black hole is below your bottom. I thank my cousin from the farm for that one. She was a teenager and I was about 8 or 9 and they only had an outhouse. I hated it. She picked up on my fear and told me that creepy crawlies and snakes and things that bite wait for you in the outhouse hole. My memory of that is crying the whole weekend in fear of the outhouse. As I said memories have a way of surfacing at the least wanted or expected time.
I want to say to Jackie that my bathroom at home doesn't smell like this. I suggested that she get an air freshner, but she did have one, but it up and puked and died. The only salvation may be the incense she burns in there. I will never like incense again.
I have to say that I had a suspicion about her toilet, but she never would tell me about it before I came. She did paint it a vivid orange and put a nice toilet seat cover on it.
But if smells like one and looks like one; then it probably is one.
WKH
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