Himeji Castle, Mt. Shosha, Engyogi

June 18 (Saturday)

Arrive at Himeji.

 The Himeji Castle is under renovation until 2014. So there is a structure that is built around it in order for the work to take place.

 Himeji Castle dates back to 1333. It was completed in the 1600's. It is now 400 years old in its present state. There have been restoration projects to keep it in tact.

 Spencer playing photographer.

 For Father's Day we went to Mt. Shosha.

The Arts and Crafts Museum had a hands on exhibit. The kids made Japanese tops.

Matt worked with Spencer to make a snake. I worked with Hannah on a Hello Kitty.

Engyogi Temple was magnificent. This area is one of the 3 most important training centers for the Tendai sect of Buddhism.

You may recognize this from "The Last Samurai."

 

Here's one of my favorite parts to the day.

 

Canadian Academy & Life in Kobe

Summer School at Canadian Academy....
2 weeks (June 13-24)

The poster at the entry of the school.

I love that there is a class on Tea Ceremony. A master in the art teaches the class in the school year. She was on staff when the building was built. So she was able to design the space.

Spencer already had a fieldtrip to the local swim pool.

Spencer playing math games with a smaller group. Here he is with Avery.

I love catching Hannah in the act of life. She's in an afternoon film class. Here she is shooting something.

We're taking off to Himeji Castle this morning. So I'll post more later.

Kerrs Visit & Osaka

June 7th

We had our first visitors. Stephen & Noel Kerr joined us for an evening.

The Kerrs are friends from Bradley. Stephen is in Tokyo administering CPA exams.

We were able to use our gift certificate to Nomisus (we won it at the Bingo fundraiser). 

June 9th Osaka

Matt and I have decided to sprinkle in an amusement park or something relaxing each month.

 What we have noticed is the amount of planning, cleaning, traveling, walking, washing, focusing, recycling, translating, commuting, navigating, etc.... , reduces our laughing and relaxing. So we spent 1 1/2 days over in Osaka and visited Universal Studios.

We found plenty of young people willing to try out their English while we spout out disconnected Japanese words. 

A street artist drew a quick picture on the sidewalk, using water.



 Spencer's favorite ride was the Space Fantasy. It was a combination of ET meets a crazy yellow figure. I tried on the hat.

Hey Scott, if you were here, you would have drawn a crowd. Everytime I sing along to the English words of something, people smile. I don't think we could have held you back from singing and dancing in the street.

More girls in line.

Hiroshima & Miyajima Island

June 4 (Saturday) We took the bullet train down to Hiroshima.

The Hiroshima Prefectural Commercial Exhibition Hall was constructed in 1915.

Since the bomb went off directly overhead, some of the structure remained, while the entire vicinity was destroyed.

 The structure is now known as the "A Bomb Dome." It stands at one end of the Hiroshima Peace Park.

 The crane has become a symbol of peace. There is a story of a girl who was 2 yrs. old when the bomb exploded. At the age of 10 she developed cancer and she believed that if she made 1000 cranes, she might get better. Hollywood didn't produce her story, she died at 12 years old...but the hope and prayer for peace is now symbolized by the crane. Visitors bring strings of cranes and add them to the memorial. Here are just a few.

 Japanese students practicing their English skills with me.

 Another young man from the same school practicing his skills,  gets a few minutes with Matt.

The museum was deeply moving. At one point Spencer turned to Matt and said, "I'm not sure this place is for kids." Matt gave a fairly respectful history lesson to our kids about the dilemma that faced President Truman at the end of World War II.

I'm not going to add much more for now.....there's too much to say.

Our view from the hotel was of lush and green Japanese rolling hills.

 The entrance to the Grand Prince Hotel.

 The hotel has promoted itself as a wedding chapel.

 In the lobby is one Christian chapel for services. The aisle sends you out to the center of an infinity pond.

 On Sunday we headed by boat to Miyajima Island. It was a wonderful Sabbath.

 When we arrived at the island we were met by wild deer who just live among the people.

 Spencer was careful not to touch or to feed the deer, but he couldn't resist getting close.

 We arrived at high tide in order to witness the floating torii.

The whole island of Itsukushima Island (popularly known as "Miyajima Island") is held as a sacred Shinto space. There has been a gate in the harbor since 1168, but this magnificent torii gate was erected in 1875.

 There seems to be a tension between keeping the island sacred/pure, but also allowing commoners onto the island. So one of the interesting "rules' that has been developed, as the island is more open, is the prohibition of giving birth or dying on the island. When you are near to giving birth, you are expected to journey to the main land. If you are nearing the end of your life, same goes.

 As we head towards the Buddhist temple, little Buddhas are everywhere.

 5 story pagoda.

 Once we return to the hotel, Hannah & I head down to the hot spring onsen. Sorry no pictures since we are all natural!

 Okonomiyaki (Hiroshima pizza). What? No crust. What? No cheese.  Did you say noodles, cabbage, eggs, octopus, shrimp, sprouts, mystery sauce, and green flakes? St. Louis Imo's or Pi has nothing to worry about. Although Matt, Amy, and Hannah ate (enjoyed?) it. Spencer took his obligatory bites and then waited for the breakfast buffet. The melon soda was tasty.

 Hiroshima Castle....one more beautiful thing to look at.

Look at this beautiful shogun.

What a weekend......at every turn we wish we had loved ones here to share this with us.