I had a chance to visit one elementary school in Kyoto University's neighborhood the other day under the invitation of an organization promoting international understanding here. The class I went in for was the 5th grade (10-11 years old kids). They have a class about the world and other countries on regular basis. That day was a special event when they invite a number of foreigners living in Kyoto to go in and talk about their own countries. I was one among other 9 countries' representatives. Some are those who reside and work here in Kyoto. Some are the parents of the kids in school Some are foreign students like me.
There were 6 students under my responsibility that day. I was very surprised to see how eager they were to listen to my talking. I really didn't see myself as a teacher, but truly felt as if I was playing and having fun with the kids. It was really, really casual. We chatted together, we teased each other, we played some games together... It was indeed a great moment. All the kids called me "「先生」(teacher)". It was a bit weird to hear, but definitely was a good feeling. Now that I started visitting one, I want to visit more local schools!
Wednesday, November 30, 2005
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Unexpected Tofukuji Trip (11/28/05)
This trip was totally an unplanned one. Uncle Ump, my mom's friend, came to Japan on his work and all of the sudden, we decided to meet up for lunch. Jill and I went over to see him at his hotel near Kyoto Station. So after our late lunch, we took a short trip to Tofukuji. My first time to this temple was around this time of the year in 2001. Of course, I came over for Koyo (red leafs) sightseeing from Nagoya (which was where I stayed at that time.) Sooooooo much crowd at that time. I never thought I would be coming back here during this season again. But hey.. I did!
Tofukuji is one of the Five Great Zen Temples of Kyoto. It was buit in the 13th century with the aim to be comparable to Todaiji and Kofukuji, the great temple complexes in Nara. No wonder this temple is with this name; To + fuku + ji. And it is a HUGE complex! It is especially famous for beautiful koyo. I think so too. When you look through the temple -- it was just totally reddish, both on the trees and on the ground! Even the leaf's quality is not that good this year, the overall look is still marvelous.
First scene when you enter the temple ground
Another view from the bridge
I somehow like this picture a lot
Tofukuji is one of the Five Great Zen Temples of Kyoto. It was buit in the 13th century with the aim to be comparable to Todaiji and Kofukuji, the great temple complexes in Nara. No wonder this temple is with this name; To + fuku + ji. And it is a HUGE complex! It is especially famous for beautiful koyo. I think so too. When you look through the temple -- it was just totally reddish, both on the trees and on the ground! Even the leaf's quality is not that good this year, the overall look is still marvelous.
First scene when you enter the temple ground
A view from Tsuten-kyo Bridge
Another view from the bridge
Bunch of leafs
with uninvited white-shirt guest -_-')
I somehow like this picture a lot
Jill and Uncle Ump
on our way back to the station
Sunday, November 27, 2005
Beating the Autumn crowd
Oh gosh... there was just absolutely enormous number of people flooding into Kyoto over the past weekend. Well... the reason was obvious. It was the best time to see Autumn leafs in Kyoto, one of the most famous places for that in the whole Japan.
P'Big also came by for a few days, so we all went to Ryoanji and Arashiyama.
We started our day quite early since we had to make good time to work out with our sightseeing plan. It was a Sunday and only a few buses running per hour. We really don't want to miss any of that and have to wait 20-30 minutes for the next one. So we reached Ryoanji, our first destination, by 9 a.m. We really made a good decision cuz there weren't that many people there just yet when we arrived.
Ryoanji is a temple famous for rock garden which is highly influenced by Zen art. The garden only measures 25 meters from east to west and 10 meters from north to south. No trees, only 15 rocks and white gravel there. Taken a claim from the temple pamphlet "It is up to each visitor to find out for himself what this unique garden signifies. The longer you gaze at it, the more varied your imagination becomes." You can simply sit there and take a look at the rock pattern. It is known to be the inspiration for philosophical meditation.
Then, we made our way to Arashiyama - the mountain lying along the west side of Kyoto.
Arashiyama is famous for the monkey seeing, boat paddling, the bridge to the moon, Tenryuji Temple, bamboo grove and a few others.
We first took a stroll along the bamboo grove, then stopped by to have lunch. When we got to the main street of Arashiyama, 'OMG!... where the heck are all these people coming from?!?!' They had to rearrange the trasportation route and make it a one lane street, so there would be more room for walking people.
After lunch, we paid a visit to Tenryuji Temple, one of the world heritage temples here. The main attraction of this temple is the 'Sogen Garden' located right in front of the main hall. Tenryuji is much like Ryoanji in the sense that it has something related to rocks. Ryoanji is rocks in the white gravel. Tenryuji is rocks in the water. Here, you can sit by the main hall overlooking the pond. It's very interesting to see how wind direction and water flow make effect to the standing rocks. Great meditation, I suppose.
We walked through the bamboo grove over and up the mountain and had great look of the river. There were many great spots for the red leafs. Beautiful.
Along the walk by the river, we found this very interesting street art. My first time to see one of this kind. This lady can make you a paper-cut portrait. Her equipment includes really only the white and black papers, scissors and glue. No drafting. No anything. She can talk to you while still cutting the paper and still makes it comes out just like you! So amazing!!
We then walked across the bridge and back. Then grabbed so good soft-cream by the bus stop. While we were talking, one Japanese guy who was working as a transportation volunteer came up to us and asked 'คนไทยรึเปล่าครับ สวัสดีคร้าบบบ' ('Are you Thai? Sawasdee Kraaaab~~~' in Thai), then continued chatting away! He speaks just like a Thai!! So impressive. He said he just loves Thailand so much and he has been there 30 times already. (this man is in his 30s, I think.) So overwhelming.
Our trip in Arashiyama ended there at the bus stop. =) But our day was still young. We went over to Ishii family house to have dinner together. My first time to see them after Papa is back from Canada and I'm back from Thailand. Today Yuichiro-kun (the youngest son) couldn't come join us -- too bad. Rise-chan (the granddaughter) grew up a lot in the past 6 months we didn't meet. And I will be here for a few years to see she grows up more. It's kinda scary to think how big she can get in the next 2-3 years. =) Always a great fun time with this family.
p.s. Happy Birthday na ka mommy!!
P'Big also came by for a few days, so we all went to Ryoanji and Arashiyama.
We started our day quite early since we had to make good time to work out with our sightseeing plan. It was a Sunday and only a few buses running per hour. We really don't want to miss any of that and have to wait 20-30 minutes for the next one. So we reached Ryoanji, our first destination, by 9 a.m. We really made a good decision cuz there weren't that many people there just yet when we arrived.
Ryoanji is a temple famous for rock garden which is highly influenced by Zen art. The garden only measures 25 meters from east to west and 10 meters from north to south. No trees, only 15 rocks and white gravel there. Taken a claim from the temple pamphlet "It is up to each visitor to find out for himself what this unique garden signifies. The longer you gaze at it, the more varied your imagination becomes." You can simply sit there and take a look at the rock pattern. It is known to be the inspiration for philosophical meditation.
'Kyoyochi Pond' where mandarin ducks can be seen
so red by the pond
some kind of fruit
Then, we made our way to Arashiyama - the mountain lying along the west side of Kyoto.
Arashiyama is famous for the monkey seeing, boat paddling, the bridge to the moon, Tenryuji Temple, bamboo grove and a few others.
We first took a stroll along the bamboo grove, then stopped by to have lunch. When we got to the main street of Arashiyama, 'OMG!... where the heck are all these people coming from?!?!' They had to rearrange the trasportation route and make it a one lane street, so there would be more room for walking people.
Arashiyama Donburi
After lunch, we paid a visit to Tenryuji Temple, one of the world heritage temples here. The main attraction of this temple is the 'Sogen Garden' located right in front of the main hall. Tenryuji is much like Ryoanji in the sense that it has something related to rocks. Ryoanji is rocks in the white gravel. Tenryuji is rocks in the water. Here, you can sit by the main hall overlooking the pond. It's very interesting to see how wind direction and water flow make effect to the standing rocks. Great meditation, I suppose.
'Sogen Garden, Tenryuji Temple'
by the wall of Tenryuji Temple
part of Tenryuji Temple
We walked through the bamboo grove over and up the mountain and had great look of the river. There were many great spots for the red leafs. Beautiful.
In the park along the path
v(^^)v
Paddling in Arashiyama (so crowded today!!!)
Along the walk by the river, we found this very interesting street art. My first time to see one of this kind. This lady can make you a paper-cut portrait. Her equipment includes really only the white and black papers, scissors and glue. No drafting. No anything. She can talk to you while still cutting the paper and still makes it comes out just like you! So amazing!!
Interesting street art.
one of the customers and his finished product
We then walked across the bridge and back. Then grabbed so good soft-cream by the bus stop. While we were talking, one Japanese guy who was working as a transportation volunteer came up to us and asked 'คนไทยรึเปล่าครับ สวัสดีคร้าบบบ' ('Are you Thai? Sawasdee Kraaaab~~~' in Thai), then continued chatting away! He speaks just like a Thai!! So impressive. He said he just loves Thailand so much and he has been there 30 times already. (this man is in his 30s, I think.) So overwhelming.
The famous bridge to the moon
pBig and Hoji tea & Taro ice cream
Our trip in Arashiyama ended there at the bus stop. =) But our day was still young. We went over to Ishii family house to have dinner together. My first time to see them after Papa is back from Canada and I'm back from Thailand. Today Yuichiro-kun (the youngest son) couldn't come join us -- too bad. Rise-chan (the granddaughter) grew up a lot in the past 6 months we didn't meet. And I will be here for a few years to see she grows up more. It's kinda scary to think how big she can get in the next 2-3 years. =) Always a great fun time with this family.
beloved Ishii family
p.s. Happy Birthday na ka mommy!!
Naba's Wedding
(This blog is dedicated to Naba-chan and Makihiro-san)
The wedding was truly beautiful! It was just lovely! (another long post - be ready!!)
14.00
All invited guests gathered around the hall of The Sodoh Higashiyama. When I arrived, Akane-chan (my friend) was already there waiting for me. It was so glad to see her again after roughly more than half a year. Now she is 7-month pregnant, but you can't really see from the first glance. (she said nobody noticed it, so noone gave her a seat on a shinkansen!! So poor her!!)
14.30
We all moved to the reception hall awaited for the ceremony to start. There were 2 musicians - violin and organ - playing in the background. The ceremony went in a church-like style. The Groom walked in first, then bride followed on her father's escort. There was an MC who carried out the ceremony instead of a priest. First the two read a marriage message and ask for our kind continuous support for their lives after marriage too. Then, they exchanged wedding rings, followed by wedding kiss and a paper signing. Everything went in a rather comprehensive style, but in a very heartfulled warmth atmosphere.
15.00
We moved back to the reception hall to register and leave our Oshugi (and present, if you have any). We are provided our transporation fee and a reception party information. I found out right there that there were 80 guests in total (including the bride's and groom's family members). So small a number, huh! Yes, it is!! So if you are invited to join anyone's wedding, that means you are very honored, you know. =) I was obviously the only foreigner to attend the function.
Reception started not so long after registration. Our seatings were fixed and you can notice from your name on it. Inside that was a little message to me from the bride. So cute. (Naba can speak quite good Thai and she also wrote a little Thai in the card too. (^^)
After everything was settled in the reception hall, there appeared the bride and groom. They bowed upon entering the hall for greeting. To my wonder, the first thing they did was to cut a wedding cake!
Throughout the reception we were served with uncountable number of dishes - great food! They came in a french style - not too much per dish, but a lot of dishes. While we were eating, there were always, always something going on. Messages from bride's and groom's representatives for kampai. Present-giving to lucky guests, etc. There was also a quiz for the bride prepared by the groom's friends. It was soooooo funny!!! (I learned at that moment that the groom was as funny as my bridal friend, Naba!! haha)
Another session was the bouquet throwing. Well, I don't think we could say it a throwing in this case though because it wasn't thrown. The way the Japanese do it is to hold a bunch of ribbon ties equal to the number of single women attending the party. Yes, because the number of guest is limited and seat reservation is required to attend the ceremony, they could control all the details concerning guests who are coming. And yes, that's why they know for sure who are single and who are not. Meaning, in this case, EVERY single women there had to come up to randomly pick the ribbon tie to hold. And yes, that included me! =P On the count of 3, we all had to pull our tie. The only one who holds the ribbon which one end is tied to the bouquet gets it. And you know who that was? It was................................. a lady right next to me!!!! (sigh.. sigh.. =P) To make it equal, all the bachelors also had to come up front to take a fortune for a bottle of wine too. (picture right below)
Then, the bride and groom left the room, leaving only their slide presentation on how they grew up to meet each other. I could feel the cares bride and groom put in this slide making. Why? Because... EVERYONE in the reception has AT LEAST one picture of themselves on it with either the bride or groom along their life path. It was like how they grew up to meet all of us attending the party and how they got to meet each other. Even I who probably met Naba-chan the least of all attending guests, I still had a picture on it with Naba-chan and Akane-chan! (Btw, Toffee, your picture taken at Naba-chan's house was also on it!!!)
(Naba-chan with her beloved cake at the age of 2 years and 9 months)
The couple reappeared in Japanese style dresses afterward. As a tradition, they walked around each table to light the candles and also the one on their own seats.
I finally got to take a picture with Naba-chan!!
In closing the reception ceremony, the bride read a letter to her parents. It was very, very, very touching. One thing I learned from here is that 'YOU NEED A WATERPROOF MASCARA TO GO TO A WEDDING!!' (Yes... I did put that on today!!!=P)
18.15
The reception ceremony ended.
19.00 ~
Nijikai Party
Nijikai is the party held after the formal reception that any friends can attend (we all pay for our part). The format depends on the bride and groom. For Naba's, we went to a Chinese Restaurant not too far from the Sodoh Higashiyama. Upon arrival, we all took a polaroid picture to write special message to the couple.
(Akane's husband - Hiro kun - also came to join the Nijikai Party)
This party is usually organized by close friends of the couple. For this case, Naba's close friends took care of arranging the party. Makihiro-san's friends took care of being the MC. So the party was really relaxed and heart-warming. The couple appeared again in a semi-casual dress, gave a little speech and walked around to talk to all the guests (approx. 40+ people). There were games throughout the party. We laughed a lot!!! So much fun.
Even with all that fun parts, there were many touching moments. The one that got me the most was the letter reading (again). But this time, it's the letters from their moms to both of them. I couldn't help but feeling overwhelmed. In closing the party, we lined up and made a tunnel for the couple to walk through. It was a really lovely party.
Naba-chan, thank you for your kind invitation. See you again next time in Hiroshima!! Congratulations once again. :)
The wedding was truly beautiful! It was just lovely! (another long post - be ready!!)
14.00All invited guests gathered around the hall of The Sodoh Higashiyama. When I arrived, Akane-chan (my friend) was already there waiting for me. It was so glad to see her again after roughly more than half a year. Now she is 7-month pregnant, but you can't really see from the first glance. (she said nobody noticed it, so noone gave her a seat on a shinkansen!! So poor her!!)
14.30
We all moved to the reception hall awaited for the ceremony to start. There were 2 musicians - violin and organ - playing in the background. The ceremony went in a church-like style. The Groom walked in first, then bride followed on her father's escort. There was an MC who carried out the ceremony instead of a priest. First the two read a marriage message and ask for our kind continuous support for their lives after marriage too. Then, they exchanged wedding rings, followed by wedding kiss and a paper signing. Everything went in a rather comprehensive style, but in a very heartfulled warmth atmosphere.
15.00We moved back to the reception hall to register and leave our Oshugi (and present, if you have any). We are provided our transporation fee and a reception party information. I found out right there that there were 80 guests in total (including the bride's and groom's family members). So small a number, huh! Yes, it is!! So if you are invited to join anyone's wedding, that means you are very honored, you know. =) I was obviously the only foreigner to attend the function.
Reception started not so long after registration. Our seatings were fixed and you can notice from your name on it. Inside that was a little message to me from the bride. So cute. (Naba can speak quite good Thai and she also wrote a little Thai in the card too. (^^)
After everything was settled in the reception hall, there appeared the bride and groom. They bowed upon entering the hall for greeting. To my wonder, the first thing they did was to cut a wedding cake!
Throughout the reception we were served with uncountable number of dishes - great food! They came in a french style - not too much per dish, but a lot of dishes. While we were eating, there were always, always something going on. Messages from bride's and groom's representatives for kampai. Present-giving to lucky guests, etc. There was also a quiz for the bride prepared by the groom's friends. It was soooooo funny!!! (I learned at that moment that the groom was as funny as my bridal friend, Naba!! haha)
Another session was the bouquet throwing. Well, I don't think we could say it a throwing in this case though because it wasn't thrown. The way the Japanese do it is to hold a bunch of ribbon ties equal to the number of single women attending the party. Yes, because the number of guest is limited and seat reservation is required to attend the ceremony, they could control all the details concerning guests who are coming. And yes, that's why they know for sure who are single and who are not. Meaning, in this case, EVERY single women there had to come up to randomly pick the ribbon tie to hold. And yes, that included me! =P On the count of 3, we all had to pull our tie. The only one who holds the ribbon which one end is tied to the bouquet gets it. And you know who that was? It was................................. a lady right next to me!!!! (sigh.. sigh.. =P) To make it equal, all the bachelors also had to come up front to take a fortune for a bottle of wine too. (picture right below)
Then, the bride and groom left the room, leaving only their slide presentation on how they grew up to meet each other. I could feel the cares bride and groom put in this slide making. Why? Because... EVERYONE in the reception has AT LEAST one picture of themselves on it with either the bride or groom along their life path. It was like how they grew up to meet all of us attending the party and how they got to meet each other. Even I who probably met Naba-chan the least of all attending guests, I still had a picture on it with Naba-chan and Akane-chan! (Btw, Toffee, your picture taken at Naba-chan's house was also on it!!!)
(Naba-chan with her beloved cake at the age of 2 years and 9 months)The couple reappeared in Japanese style dresses afterward. As a tradition, they walked around each table to light the candles and also the one on their own seats.
I finally got to take a picture with Naba-chan!!In closing the reception ceremony, the bride read a letter to her parents. It was very, very, very touching. One thing I learned from here is that 'YOU NEED A WATERPROOF MASCARA TO GO TO A WEDDING!!' (Yes... I did put that on today!!!=P)
18.15The reception ceremony ended.
19.00 ~
Nijikai Party
Nijikai is the party held after the formal reception that any friends can attend (we all pay for our part). The format depends on the bride and groom. For Naba's, we went to a Chinese Restaurant not too far from the Sodoh Higashiyama. Upon arrival, we all took a polaroid picture to write special message to the couple.
(Akane's husband - Hiro kun - also came to join the Nijikai Party)This party is usually organized by close friends of the couple. For this case, Naba's close friends took care of arranging the party. Makihiro-san's friends took care of being the MC. So the party was really relaxed and heart-warming. The couple appeared again in a semi-casual dress, gave a little speech and walked around to talk to all the guests (approx. 40+ people). There were games throughout the party. We laughed a lot!!! So much fun.
Even with all that fun parts, there were many touching moments. The one that got me the most was the letter reading (again). But this time, it's the letters from their moms to both of them. I couldn't help but feeling overwhelmed. In closing the party, we lined up and made a tunnel for the couple to walk through. It was a really lovely party.
Naba-chan, thank you for your kind invitation. See you again next time in Hiroshima!! Congratulations once again. :)
Friday, November 25, 2005
Preparing for a Japanese Wedding
Nahhhh~~~~.... not mine!!! =P
It's my friend's!! I'm preparing to go for her wedding tomorrow.
I didn't think I had to do that much for attending the event though. But I just realized I was quite wrong.
For Japanese tradition, only family members, relatives and a few close friends are invited to attend a wedding ceremony - probably within 50 people scale. (the number varies though, but usually around this.) And it's a common knowledge for people invited (and accepted to attend the ceremony) to prepare "Oshugi お祝儀" of around 30,000 yen (-"-) as a wedding gift. No other present is necessary. The ceremony and also wedding souveniors and other gift for guests usually costs extremely a lot to bride and groom. A lot of people said 30,000 yen is approximately the amount spent for each guest, so it makes sense to put that much in for the wedding gift. That was pretty much all that I was aware of for a long time.
Now that I'm actually invited to join the wedding, I learned that for that 30,000 yen, it has to be in newly printed banknotes that has no bending nor been used before. (meaning you have to go to the bank to exchange for this.)
Second, you have to prepare a special envelope for the greeting money (金封）. Regular postal envelope is prohibitted. I got this done quite some time ago. But I found out just this evening when I wanted to put the money in that there are certain rules to how to write on this envelope!
The envelope comes in 2 portions. The one inside that you put the money in. Then the outside cover. For the inside one, you have to write your name and address on the back and the amount of money on the front using a specified set of chinese characters (kanji).
On the outside cover (called "Shugi fukuro" 祝儀袋）, write your full name on the bottom portion using smaller font size than the character above. Here is written in the old style Kanji of 寿(Kotobuki) which means 'congratulations'
The more I searched about this, the more I found out about Japanese wedding customs. It's very interesting to learn that everything has meaning here. The envelope decoration is for one. The folding pattern, the element combination, the color used, etc. - very amazing. There are also customs for dresscode and set phrase to say during the ceremony. It's already a lot of work for people attending the party, but it must be so much more for the bride and groom. Let's see how it goes tomorrow. The next post will surely be about it. Get ready!
It's my friend's!! I'm preparing to go for her wedding tomorrow.
I didn't think I had to do that much for attending the event though. But I just realized I was quite wrong.
For Japanese tradition, only family members, relatives and a few close friends are invited to attend a wedding ceremony - probably within 50 people scale. (the number varies though, but usually around this.) And it's a common knowledge for people invited (and accepted to attend the ceremony) to prepare "Oshugi お祝儀" of around 30,000 yen (-"-) as a wedding gift. No other present is necessary. The ceremony and also wedding souveniors and other gift for guests usually costs extremely a lot to bride and groom. A lot of people said 30,000 yen is approximately the amount spent for each guest, so it makes sense to put that much in for the wedding gift. That was pretty much all that I was aware of for a long time.
Now that I'm actually invited to join the wedding, I learned that for that 30,000 yen, it has to be in newly printed banknotes that has no bending nor been used before. (meaning you have to go to the bank to exchange for this.)
Second, you have to prepare a special envelope for the greeting money (金封）. Regular postal envelope is prohibitted. I got this done quite some time ago. But I found out just this evening when I wanted to put the money in that there are certain rules to how to write on this envelope!
The envelope comes in 2 portions. The one inside that you put the money in. Then the outside cover. For the inside one, you have to write your name and address on the back and the amount of money on the front using a specified set of chinese characters (kanji).
----------------------------------------
金壱萬圓也 （10,000 Yen）
金弐萬圓也 （２0,000 Yen）
金参萬圓也 （３0,000 Yen）
金伍萬圓也 （５0,000 Yen）
金壱拾萬圓也 （１00,000 Yen）
----------------------------------------
金壱萬圓也 （10,000 Yen）
金弐萬圓也 （２0,000 Yen）
金参萬圓也 （３0,000 Yen）
金伍萬圓也 （５0,000 Yen）
金壱拾萬圓也 （１00,000 Yen）
----------------------------------------
On the outside cover (called "Shugi fukuro" 祝儀袋）, write your full name on the bottom portion using smaller font size than the character above. Here is written in the old style Kanji of 寿(Kotobuki) which means 'congratulations'
The more I searched about this, the more I found out about Japanese wedding customs. It's very interesting to learn that everything has meaning here. The envelope decoration is for one. The folding pattern, the element combination, the color used, etc. - very amazing. There are also customs for dresscode and set phrase to say during the ceremony. It's already a lot of work for people attending the party, but it must be so much more for the bride and groom. Let's see how it goes tomorrow. The next post will surely be about it. Get ready!
It's Autumn
(in continuous to the previous post)
Anyways, after the presentation, I felt like I shouldn't be going back home just yet, so I went on my bike to my favourite temple nearby Kyoto University to see some red leaves.
beautiful maple leafs
Shinnyodo Pagoda
the ground turns red
beautiful against the sunlight
doesn't it look suspicious?
the spiderweb is so clear (-_-")
super red - beautiful!
the most beautiful spot
Since I haven't been coming this way that often, I rode on that chance and stopped by Philosophy Path on the way back too.
by Ginkakuji entrace path
we are here
the famouse "Philosophy Path"
cute shops along the path
Anyways, after the presentation, I felt like I shouldn't be going back home just yet, so I went on my bike to my favourite temple nearby Kyoto University to see some red leaves.
Since I haven't been coming this way that often, I rode on that chance and stopped by Philosophy Path on the way back too.
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