Hiroshima & Miyajima

So here's things that got left out from last time about Hiroshima...

We walked around the peace park for a bit, most iconic of everything is the atomic bomb dome, one of the few still standing structures after the bombing. The building is literally one block from the Hypocenter, it survived the blast with some standing walls because it was literally underneath the giant ball of flame.

Walking around the peace park was a bit hard for me when I hit the Children's memorial. Everything just hits you all at once, one after the other, in a relentless emotional assult. I didn't cry, but I kind of felt that emotion in me. It's a really powerful place, I've been learning a lot that I didn't know before, good and bad, about all sides.... But I don't feel like getting into all that now, it's a discussion better to be left for in person.

The speaker was talking in the basement of the museum, so I walked around inside the museum for awhile, and before I get into that I just want to say, Japan is the best place when it comes to museums and things. If it's something imporant and cultural they charge very little to get in. Temples are normally the most expensive (at a whopping 3.50 US entry), and you know it goes to matience so you don't even feel that bad about it.

The Museum was just as hard as the grounds...

I stopped and stood and stared at this one thing behind glass in a case for a long while...

There was something about this statue, knowing it's history, that I just felt held so much emotion and symbolic representation at once, it took me a long time to take it in, like a catalyst for digesting everything that I'd felt so far.

Then I heard the talk, you all know how that was. This is a picture of the survivor who spoke (the man in white is the professor who arranged the trip).

Following that we found the other girl's hostel and then decided to do something significantly less depressing. We went to Hiroshima castle. (though honestly, even that's a bit depressing, because the original castle was of course destroyed in the blast...)

But we got some amazing pictures from the observation deck:

Inside the temple they had all this Samurai clothing and Kimonos you could try on. So the five of us decided to have a jolly time doing so. After about 10 minutes I glanced over and there was like this small cround of Japanese people looking very confused and amused watching us. I'm so used to people staring at me for just existing at this point that it just rolls right off. But normally in tourist areas it's a bit better. I think they thought it was funny how excited we were and how silly we looked when posing and everything. (That and maybe also becuase I'm in boy's clothing... I wanted to be the Samurai over the Kimono Lady....)

==== Miyajima ====

First, permit me to start by saying that this is in my top 4 most amazing/scenic places I've ever been, in the world, in my entire life. Screw the carribean, my dream home is on Miyajima island.

So the girls said be up by 9 and ready to go. I'm halfway there and they tell me that they're running an hour late. Well by that time the tide was going to be on it's way out. If you're going to Miyajima, check the tides! All the best shots are when the tide is in and I didn't want to miss that, so I told them I was going to go on ahead rather than just walking in circles for an hour, and meet up with them on the island.

From the center of Hiroshima it's an hour trolly ride and then a five minute ferry out to Miyajima island.

So at Miyajima there are deer, you meet them right when you get off the ferry. And the deer in Japan apparentally didn't get the same memo that the deer in America did. Japanese deer love people. They're not afraid or skiddish, they just walk around, walk right up to you, sniff you to see if you have any food. Little screaming kids can run up to them and they're just like "whatever." I made the mistake of sitting down and trying to read my map and like three deer walk over and begin slobering and poking their noses all over me. One deer head in my lap, one over my shoulder, and one begins to try to eat my map. The moral of the story? Don't sit and try to read a map, best done on the move!

So of course they also say "don't feed the deer" for fear of what tourists may give them. I don't think it's fear of taming them, that's WAAAY past. But this one woman thought "oh what a cute little deer!" And fed it.... Then another cute little deer came up.... then another.

Soon she's squealing, waliking very fast, walking backwards, and all you see is this:

I was highly amused....

But onto what you all really care about! The "floating" Torii:

The Torii is amazing, high tide it's astounding, and low tide you can walk right up to it and touch it. (hence why I said, check the tides)

Located near the Torii is of course a variety of Shinto temples...

But one was also built in the water, and at high tide looks like it's just sitting on top of the ocean:

These pictures really don't do this place justice, I walked around for hours just, taking it all in. It's a senic, serene, peaceful, happy, amazing, little island.

I also came across a very very beautiful Buddhist temple. Going to these Buddhist temples and living with a family who identifies as "Buddhist" has really given me some perspective and thoughts on the religion, I really like it.

I like this picture a lot, I think of "Buddah's Army" because if Buddah did have an army it'd be peaceful and serene and contemplative like statues. And it was a literal walkway with hundereds of tiny Buddahs.

At the temple I picked up some real Buddhist insense, it smelled so good walking into every temple I really wanted some. I'm not quite sure how to go about asking my Okaasan if it's okay or not to burn it in my room.

And then... my camera died! YAY! But thankfully I know I'm definately going back when everyone gets here, you all HAVE To see this place. So I'll get more pictures then.

When I was walking through Miyajima I also saw a traditional bride and groom in Kimonos riding through town, everyone began cheering when they passed. I also found a used/antique (fancy way of saying old) kimono shop with kimonos for 1050 yen! I could've got a Kimono, Obi, and Shoes for about 35.00 US! But the trip was already expensive enough so I refrained myself. I also didn't LOVE any of them, and it was in a touristy area, so I'm thinking that maybe in Kyoto they'll have some really beautiful used shops.

I came back fairly early but it's a long trip, so I got home around 7, starving. Thankfully my Okaasan kind of plans for me to be hungry when I get back from a trip (assuming I get back at a reasonable hour) so she always has some kind of food ready for me. I tell you, salmon and rice is the best ever. I appreciate fish so much since I've been here and all the meat really stinks. I'm on pretty much a fish/tofu/vegtable only diet right now. But I don't feel or look bad, so I don't think it's hurting me at all.

==== Monday ====

And all of that brings me to today, yay!

Not much to say, so I'll skip to the highlights...

Firstly, this Thursday and Friday are my speaking midterms and we signed up for time slots. If we take it on Thursday we don't have class on Friday and vice versa. Well, the only class I have on Friday is ceramics, which I can make up if need be. I'm not sure why I'd skip, but it's nice to think of a 3-day weekend as an option.

I was thinking of going to Koyasan, it'd be about 35.00 US round trip in transit. It's a mountian town to the south of Osaka where the Shingon sect of Buddhism was literally founded. The hotels there are all temples, you literally stay with the monks. They serve you dinner and breakfast (in monk food) and invite you to participate in morning prayers. The only thing is staying there is about 90.00 for the night, which after Hiroshima is a bit too rich for my blood. But, 35.00 US cost for round trip on the express train may be worth it for a long day trip.

When I got home I stopped by Top World (Japanese Publix) and got some things to make Carrot Cake.

I made the cake, and then no one tried it... I felt like apologizing, but I didn't know what for. I made the cake, I bought the ingrediants, and I put in the time, so I shouldn't be sorry for anything... I don't know, maybe I've baked too much?

If they haven't touched it by tomorrow night I'm taking it into school and sharing it with my friends.

And that's been my day. I really miss everyone, perhaps we should all set up skype times? (speaking of which, mom and dad sorry about skype today, the internet Gods did not like us at aaaallll)

But it's time for bed now, I love all the comments, thanks everyone!