KYOTO

I stayed in one of the best hostels ever during my stay in Kyoto. Nothing like the hostel in Dublin! It was more like a hotel but not as expensive as a hotel.  When I arrived, they looked at me and said, we are upgrading you at no cost to a room with a private bathroom. I think it was the silver hair. Sometimes age does have an advantage.

They had a large modern kitchen, dining area, beautifully decorated lounge and even a comfortable roof top area to hang out. Everything was so clean! They also offered cultural classes for a small fee. My first class I learned about Buddhism, how to write in calligraphy and a Macha tea ceremony.

The Japanese have several writing systems which make it even harder to learn the language. I learned a little of the writing system called Hiragana. The calligraphy system is very precise on how to hold the brush, the amount of pressure to apply and when to lift off the paper.  I gave it my best, which did not account for much.

It seems as if everything in Japan is a spiritual experience that demonstrates respect, grace and mindfulness, even making a cup of tea. In the Macha tea making class we learned to hold the tea bowl, not a cup, in the palm of our left hand, then place your right hand around the middle of the bowl and turn it twice in your palm before drinking it. Macha tea is made from young tea leaves that have a high concentration of chlorophyll and therefore gives you more energy. It has been used by Buddhist monks for centuries.

Which brings us to Buddhism. Buddha means “enlightened one” and originated in India before coming to Japan. The practice has been around since before Jesus.  While there are many fundamental differences between Buddhism and Christianity there are also many overlapping philosophies and teachings about how to live and conduct your life. One of the reasons I like traveling is that I learn new things that help me keep an open mind about the world.

There are so many beautiful temples in Japan. When you approach a temple or shrine there is always water near by. One must first pour water from a ladle over your left hand, then your right hand.  Reminds me of the holy water we use in the Catholic church.

Then you stand before Buddha and lightly bow, slowly and gently, not too deep. Then you take a breath and bow deeply and respectfully 2 times. Give your intention, then clap your hands two times, bow deeply once more, and finally a light bow before leaving.  The temples come in all sizes, some very large tourist attractions, and some rather small ones in neighborhoods. No photos are allowed inside of most temples.  You can buy a candle or stick of incense to light to the Buddha for your intentions.

While in Kyoto I also took a miso making class.  I am not a big fan of miso and generally just thought it was some sort of broth and tofu. I took the class to meet other travelers – hoping for some who spoke English.  And I did meet a young man from Seattle, Washington and a couple from Austria who spoke English.  Much to my surprise I learned miso is actually fermented rice kneaded with beans to make a paste and must then ferment in an airtight container for a minimum of 4 months. We had a great time making it and I gave mine to another traveler as I did not want to carry it around for 4 months.

From Kyoto I board a bullet train to Tokyo with a two-day pit stop at Mt. Fuji, which was beautiful.  I have to mention that the trains are incredible. Clean, precise and always on time –to the second, all the time.  Tokyo is huge and mixes ultra-modern with traditional. The Olympics were in Tokyo in 2021.  I saw trash on the street for the first time, not a lot but not as clean and pristine as the other cities I have been in. This may have been due to all the tourist around. I visited a few museums – mostly to stay inside and stay cool and I visit the famous Shinto Shrine.  It has been reported that Japan is seeing the hottest summer ever and I feel it.

I noticed that this trip has me on a cultural roller coaster. I mentioned this to my son who sent me an article called The Paris Syndrome.  It was actually written for Asians visiting Europe but applies to anyone visiting a foreign country that experiences complete culture shock. Japan is so different, not only from the USA but from any European or Latin country I have been in.  The language, writing, customs, food, religion are so different that my mind feels discombobulated.  In addition, the heat and humidity are overwhelming. I decided to come at this time because I was already in LA at the end of June and close to Japan.  But this summer is practically inhumane and I can barely stand being out side for any length of time, which complicates site seeing.

Yet despite my “discombobulated “ mind- yes, that is a real word, I find things to admire and enjoy in Japan.  And I really hope people start bowing to me when I come home- especially my family!

Making Miso at the hostel

My name in Japanese – read right to left

Neighborhood Temple

Famous Toyko and Kyoto Temples

Macha tea Icee with red bean paste on the side- delicious!

Snack in Potatoe Chip isle – NOT delicious!

It was not all that bad, but I was very hungry.

Unbearable heat yet this man had on what looked like a down jacket.

He showed me that it was actually an airconditioned jacket running on a battery!

I want one!

A coffee machine at the train station with over 75 buttons to choose from.

I did not even try!

These older women just finished a tea ceremony at the culture center!

I stared at this sign for a long time trying to figure out what they meant. Any guesses?

So Buddist !