I suppose that's what I tried to do!
Yesterday was my birthday, so of course the sun was shining (at least, a little bit). We were off to Kyoto in the morning, and after many trains, including the bullet train (and let me tell you, standing 30 feet away from something that's going 200+ miles an hour is breathtaking to say the least), we arrived at Yasaka Shrine.
Above is a photograph I took of one of the inner parts of the shrine, where there were tons of lanterns, with I'm guessing either names or good luck/wellness saying on them. The wind picked up, and I thought it created a interesting balance of movement and still frame. I turned towards the temple in time to see a group of Japanese girls dressed in their kimonos walking towards the giant ropes. From what I could see, you ring the bell, clap twice, and bow your head to pray. It was refreshing to be present at those moments, like the wind was taking away your doubts and fears and leaving you with the energy to carry on.
After another 3 hours of exploring (I wound up in some pretty neat places, I'll have to elaborate later), we had dinner at a wonderful soba/udon restaurant that was told to us my Toko-san's second-mother. :) A couple of us did a sake toast, and I finished a whole container (what are those called?)... it was interesting... tastes just like rice vodka, which that's pretty much was it is anyway!
More later... Osaka later today for a baseball game!
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Of Rain and Reason
Oh boy. I meant to do this post yesterday, but I was so tired I was falling asleep at my computer, so I went to bed at 8:45pm. Yesterday was quite the adventure. It rained all day, but that didn't stop us from exploring town. We had lunch at place that served the yummiest ramen, which was a wonderful shelter from the cold!
To get around in Hikone, we use bikes. It's surprisingly easy to get around, and the land is pretty flat. That first bike ride we had to the ramen place was probably the best that I've felt in a while, even though the rain was whipping in my face. All the stress that I've been feeling melted in that moment as I looked around Lake Biwa (Biwa-ko) and the surrounding homes.
The rain and fogginess of the hills remind me of what it's like to be alive, although this happens too few and far between, I think. The wind and the rain brings to mind what I've lost, what I've gained and where I'm going to be in the future. It's renewing, I suppose.
After our outing in town and biking in the pouring rain (we didn't go to Hikone Castle due to the rain), I decided to get a few more photographs while it was still a little light outside. I changed my dripping wet capris and gathered my camera equipment yet again.
We passed this graveyard while on our way to the ramen restaurant, and I felt an immediate draw to it. It was beautiful even at that time of day, with the rain bouncing off the granite markers and the sound of the waves of Biwa-ko in the background. Most of the markers had signs of it being seen recently- candles and flowers all around. If I remember correctly, the Japanese have much respect for the dead so this display of honoring the dead didn't surprise me much.
きょう は、わたしのたんじょうび ですよ！
(Today is my birthday!... at least in Japan :) Kyoto today!
To get around in Hikone, we use bikes. It's surprisingly easy to get around, and the land is pretty flat. That first bike ride we had to the ramen place was probably the best that I've felt in a while, even though the rain was whipping in my face. All the stress that I've been feeling melted in that moment as I looked around Lake Biwa (Biwa-ko) and the surrounding homes.
The rain and fogginess of the hills remind me of what it's like to be alive, although this happens too few and far between, I think. The wind and the rain brings to mind what I've lost, what I've gained and where I'm going to be in the future. It's renewing, I suppose.
After our outing in town and biking in the pouring rain (we didn't go to Hikone Castle due to the rain), I decided to get a few more photographs while it was still a little light outside. I changed my dripping wet capris and gathered my camera equipment yet again.
We passed this graveyard while on our way to the ramen restaurant, and I felt an immediate draw to it. It was beautiful even at that time of day, with the rain bouncing off the granite markers and the sound of the waves of Biwa-ko in the background. Most of the markers had signs of it being seen recently- candles and flowers all around. If I remember correctly, the Japanese have much respect for the dead so this display of honoring the dead didn't surprise me much.
きょう は、わたしのたんじょうび ですよ！
(Today is my birthday!... at least in Japan :) Kyoto today!
Monday, May 10, 2010
I'm here.
15 hours of travel... our prize? A sweet room (own bedroom with shared living space) and Cup Noodle! :D Yessss... but so tired, I probably don't have the energy to cook it. But apparently I have time to write. And eat my left over gummy bears.
The flight was nice, I suppose. We didn't have the individual TVs, sadly, but I had the exit row with a window so I could get up pretty much as much as I wanted AND see the view when the clouds break. That has to be my favorite- seeing the clouds over the wings going by, excited to see what is beneath them. At first I thought- Detroit. It was super packed with barely any green. A minute later, though, there were seeing tons of fields, then tons of pools. Japan = lots of stuff in a itty bitty living space.
K, time for bed. See you American people in the evening.
The flight was nice, I suppose. We didn't have the individual TVs, sadly, but I had the exit row with a window so I could get up pretty much as much as I wanted AND see the view when the clouds break. That has to be my favorite- seeing the clouds over the wings going by, excited to see what is beneath them. At first I thought- Detroit. It was super packed with barely any green. A minute later, though, there were seeing tons of fields, then tons of pools. Japan = lots of stuff in a itty bitty living space.
K, time for bed. See you American people in the evening.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
T-minus 48 Hours
I suppose I should introduce myself- My name is Kate Borkowski, and I'm 23 years old (soon to be 24 next week! Go Nurses Day!!). I currently live in Ann Arbor, MI, but that's going to soon change come June 3rd. I went to Michigan State University, and graduated in 2008. I've been working as Registered Nurse since last year, and just resigned last month. I'll be going to Mongolia with the Peace Corps next month, but instead of taking the month off, I'm doing a two week study abroad in Japan with Washtenaw Community College! So this blog is for posting my pictures from that trip, and also the pictures from Mongolia for the next 27 months.
I'm leaving for Japan in two days. Packing still yet to be done, I'm finding time to hang out with my best friends and family. I'm attempting to balance doing stuff for Japan AND Mongolia at the same time, and it's kinda driving me nuts. I keep forgetting things, even though I've been writing list after list. Perhaps the time in Japan is what I need? Like reset my brain?
Stress stress. I'm used to stress, but not when I'm trying to pack for two years.
I'm leaving for Japan in two days. Packing still yet to be done, I'm finding time to hang out with my best friends and family. I'm attempting to balance doing stuff for Japan AND Mongolia at the same time, and it's kinda driving me nuts. I keep forgetting things, even though I've been writing list after list. Perhaps the time in Japan is what I need? Like reset my brain?
Stress stress. I'm used to stress, but not when I'm trying to pack for two years.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
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