Wabi-Sabi Sole

Finding Beauty with Imperfection

Author: wabisabisole Page 28 of 58

Nijo-jo Castle

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On August 7, 2017

In Japan, Kyoto, Nijo-jo Castle, Shinkansen, Tokyo, Train

Before leaving Kyoto on Sunday, Dave and I went to visit Nijo-jo Castle. 


The castle was completed in 1603 for Tokugawa Ieyasu. Tokugawa Ieyasu was the first Shogun of the Tokugawa Shogunate. Tokugawa Ieyasu was able to unify Japan and establish period of peace and prosperity for 250 years. Throughout the past 400 years, the castle has continued to witness significant Japanese historical events. In 1994, Nijo-jo Castle was registered on the UNSECO World Hertiage list. This picture is the entrance gate to the outer gardens. 


This is the entrance to the interior gardens and castle. 


Photos of the inside of the Castle are not permitted. The castle consists of six connected buildings. The interior walls are decorated with beautiful wall paintings and intricate carvings in the hallways connecting the rooms. The best part of walking through the castle was the sound of the squeaky floorboards. The sound is similar to the song of a nightingale and caused by the clamps moving against the nails in the wooden boards and support beams. Unfortunately, according to the brochure, it is a misnomer the squeak was intended to announce the presence of intruders. Oh, well. It’s a fun theory. 

The gardens were beautiful. The islands represent a crane and turtle. Symbols of longevity. 


Hopefully, from these pictures you can see the expanse of the castle. 


From the base of the keep tower that burned down after a lightning strike in 1750, a view of the castle and Kyoto were visible. 


We finished our walk around the gardens. 


Check out the fall color popping out on the Japanese Maples. Dare we dream of fall!?!


As we left, we were able to walk through a water mister. Ahhhh… 


We took the 11:58 Shinkansen back to Tokyo. As per a request from one of my readers, I took a picture of the inside. 



And our cute bento boxes for the ride home. 

Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine 

By

On August 6, 2017

In Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine, Japan, Kyoto, Shrine, Train, Travel

TripAdvisor listed the Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine as “the #1 most popular Japanese site for foreign tourist” for three years in a row! We went to visit early Saturday morning and can understand why the site is so popular. In fact, it’s my new favorite Shrine. 


We arrived before 0800 because I read the Shrine will get very busy. Plus, in this part of Japan, it’s extra warm and steamy during the summer months. It was an easy two stop train ride from our hotel. 


We were so early, we caught a glimpse of the priests going to work! 


The Shrine is famous for the 1000 Torii. Torii are the famous red gates of the Shinto religion. 


The main buildings of the Shrine were beautiful and well maintained. 


The Shrine is dedicated to Inari. First and foremost, Inari is the god of rice. Second, the god of fertility and industry. Torii gates mark the entrance to sacred ground. Typically, they are made of wood or stone and painted. My research told me the color the Torii is painted is known as vermillion. Vermillion is a bright red made from the mineral, cinnabar. It is considered the color of life and eternity. The Torii at the Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine have been donated by those who have been successful in business in honor and gratitude of Inari. The writing on the Torii identifies the donor. 


The extra large Torii such as the one in this picture cost the equivalent of $50,000. 


The number of Torii present was impressive. 


Besides the Torii, the Shrine had many different smaller shrines. 

This Shrine was dedicated to this tree. I couldn’t find information about the tree. But, I can appreciate showing the tree respect. 


Fox are considered messengers from God and act as guardians of the Inari Shrines. They are set in pairs at the main entrances of the Shrine. 


We only saw a small portion of this Shrine. It is possible to climb to the top of Mount Inari. It’s takes about two hours. 


We decided today was not that day! Look how sweaty I was after walking around for only 30 minutes!! 


I hope when you visit, we have time to go to Kyoto and visit Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine. Please, do us both a favor an don’t plan that trip during the summer!! It’s so HOT and muggy! 

First Cup

By

On August 5, 2017

In Coffee, Hotel, Japan

I wanted to share a Japanese coffee making experience. We have stayed in several Japanese hotels and this is my first experience with Drip Café. 


It’s pretty simple. Just follow the directions. 


Also available is a small hot pot. 


Check out the tiny cord. Please don’t consider plugging this appliance in anywhere else in the room! 


I did my best to follow the instructions that I couldn’t read. I was thankful for the pictures! 


Once the light switched off on the hot pot, it’s time to make your first cup. Or two. 

Finally, remove the Drip Café and enjoy your first cup. 


With cream and a side of Shinkansen for me please! 

Nara

By

On August 4, 2017

In Google Map, Japan, Kyoto, Nara, Shrine, Temple

We took a quick trip on Friday from Kyoto to Nara. We expedited the trip by traveling on a Limited Express Train. The typical hour trip only took 35 minutes! 

Not only is the route orange in Google Maps, so was the actual train!

Once in Nara, we made our way towards Nara Park. Within Nara Park are several famous Shrines, Temples, and deer!! The deer are a sacred part of Nara Park and considered “messengers of the gods”.

For ¥150, you could buy deer crackers from street vendors. The deer started early begging for crackers from this vendor. Look at the first picture- the deer in front is sticking his tongue out at me! 


We didn’t buy any crackers. Instead, we enjoyed watching other visitors feed them. 


The deer weren’t shy. They walked right up looking for a snack. 


Our first Temple we visited was Kofuku-ji Temple. Pictured here are the Temple’s Golden Hall and five-story pagoda are a National Treasure and date to 1425. The Eastern Golden Hall was built by Emperor Shōmu and the pagoda by his wife, Empress Kōmyō. The pair of buildings represent the ideal of marital harmony. 


Other beautiful buildings were also on the Temple’s grounds. 


As we continued through Nara Park, we saw even more deer. My favorite was watching people take selfies or pose with the deer and the deer would poop or pee and the tourists didn’t notice! Ha! 

The first Shrine we visited was Kasuga Taisha Shrine. The walkway to the Shrine has over 3,000 stone lanterns. No worries, I didn’t take a picture of them all. Although I tried! They were really impressive and unique. 

In keeping with my tree theme of the summer, look at the tree growing inside the remains of an old tree! 


After visiting the Kasuga Taisha Shrine, we were ready for lunch. It was approaching 11am and starting to really heat up. We doubled back to the area around the train station where there was a conveyor sushi restaurant. It was well air conditioned, served cold beer and delicious sushi. For those reasons, I could have stayed all afternoon. 


But, we had the Todai-ji Temple to visit. The Todai-ji Temple is also a World Heritage Site. The current structure was completed in 1709. The Great Buddha Hall is the largest wooden building in the world and houses the largest bronze image of Buddha dating back to 752 (the head however has been replaced and only dates to 1692).  

Now that’s a Big Buddha! 


My favorite spot in the Great Buddha Hall was behind the Great Buddha. There was a lattice door allowing a delightful breeze to come through. Plus, as Bill would say, we got a chance to see Buddha’s pooper. Can you tell how hot it is!?! The breeze felt amazing! 

Buddha’s Gold Pooper. 


We continued around enjoying the great hall. 

The fierce warriors are guardians to protect Buddha from evil. 


And how about this guy? If you rub the corresponding body part on him as the part that ails you, you will be healed. I rubbed his knees and gave him a high-five! 


We started to make our way back to the station to head back to Kyoto. We chased the shade the entire 20 minute walk. We purchased our train tickets for the 1400 train to Nara. While waiting to depart, I checked the weather. No wonder we were so hot! Heat index of 119!!!! Wow! 


Returning back to our hotel, we enjoyed a siesta that we earned from enduring the days heat and humidity! Plus, as Dave continues to remind me, we are on vacation and naps are always ok! 

Train Crush

By

On August 3, 2017

In Japan, Kyoto, Ramen, Rokuoin-ji Temple, Ryoanji Temple, Shinagawa

Today, Dave and I took the Shinkansen from Shinagawa to Kyoto. It was a little over a two hour trip. 

I took a few pictures in the station because I LOVE the Shinkansen. It’s such an easy, comfortable, and convenient way to travel around Japan. 


We arrived in Kyoto around 1300. We dropped our bags with the concierge at our hotel and went out to eat lunch. We found a ramen joint. We both were happy because we haven’t enjoyed good ramen in a couple months. 


We returned to the hotel to check in and crank down the AC. My English student, Manami, helped me plan out our schedule. We needed to hit the ground running to see the “best of Kyoto Temples” during our visit. We caught a taxi from the Ryōan-ji Temple. The Ryōan-ji Temple is famous for it beautiful 15 stone rock garden. There are indeed 15 rocks. Dave and I both counted. The significance of 15 rocks is unknown. More significant is the lack of trees and presence of only the 15 rocks and white gravel. The garden dates back to the 1500s. 


Just as impressive were the moss gardens and pond. 


The second Temple we went to visit was the world famous Rokuon-ji Temple. More widely known as The Golden Pavilion. It was breathtaking. If only the pond water was still! The Golden Pavilion is justly named. It is covered in actual gold leaf! 


Our visit in the afternoon summer sun was perfect for pictures. The gold was stunning. 


The gardens were beautiful as well. 


We returned to our hotel after visiting the Temples and decided to eat at the Beer Garden on the roof of our hotel. It was an amazing view. We were surrounded by mountains. More importantly, we watched the Shinkansen roll through every 2-3 minutes! All of this while watching the sunset. I told Dave I have developed a train crush on the Shinkansen. It’s truly my favorite way to travel! 

Tokyo Giants Baseball

By

On August 2, 2017

In Baseball, Japan, Tokyo, Tokyo Giants, Yokohama Baystars

Thank you for the outpouring of love, support, and congratulations shared yesterday. Dave and I truly appreciate the kind words. I’m happy I could share his promotion with you. Thank you.

Meanwhile, back in Japan… I’m almost caught up to real time. Which is good, because on Thursday Dave and I are taking a trip to Kyoto. I will have so much more to share!

Saturday, July 29th, Dave and I went to the Tokyo Giants baseball game at the Tokyo Dome. The Tokyo Giants were playing the Yokohama Baystars. The Dome from the outside is impressive! The roller coasters and rides in the background are part of the Tokyo Dome City – an amusement park.

From a distance the sunflowers looked amazing. Upon closer inspection they were even more amazing! They are fake flowers that are actually water misters! Perfect for a hot summer day in Tokyo. Plus, they are kawaii!! (As you can tell by the pictures, it was cloudy and drizzly so the misters weren’t needed too much today.)


There is an American Baseball store right by the Tokyo Dome with all the American team’s logos. I paused to pose in my favorite t-shirt’s team. I mean next to my favorite baseball team. Go Brewers!


There were so many people entering the stadium!


We had a group of SRF sailors join us for the game. The orange towels were the free gift of the game. They made GQ ties for the gents!


The Dome was impressive and perfect. It was mildly air conditioned and it prevented a rain delay!


My friend, Sonia, also joined us for the game. Originally from the San Fransisco area, she sported her SF Giants gear with Giants Pride.


At halftime (?), we went on a hotdog run.


A hotdog with potato chips, BBQ sauce, and a side of fries. Yes, please! Because, Japan.


It was a very fun night. The Giants baseball game at the Dome seemed less animated than the Yokohama Baystars game. The biggest difference was that they didn’t have the balloons during the seventh inning stretch. Simultaneously, the crowd didn’t seem as excited, even though the Giants were winning throughout the entire game. All in all, it was a fun night. Japanese baseball is an experience. If you are brave enough to visit during the summer, I’ll make sure we catch a game! “Put me in coach…”

Captain Dwyer

By

On August 1, 2017

In Captain, Japan, Navy, Promotion

August 1st, 2017, Dave was officially promoted to the rank of Captain. He enlisted in the Navy 33 years ago and today received his 13th promotion. I am so proud of all his hard work, dedication, and commitment throughout his career. The promotion ceremony was held at 9:00am at SRF-JRMC on the Naval Base. 

His boss, Captain Farman, read the oath of office. 

 

After accepting the oath, Dave was ready to have his collar devices switched. Goodbye oak leaves, hello eagles!! 


The end result was a fine looking O-6! 


After the ceremony, Dave took a few minutes to give thanks to his family, mentors, and shipmates. I know he missed being able to have everyone who has given him support and guidance attend the ceremony. You were definitely in our hearts. 


Dave also passed down his old collar devices to a couple officers stationed at SRF. 


The promotion ceremony was well attended by friends, coworkers, and shipmates. 


As with all official Navy ceremonies, it wasn’t complete without a cake! The cake was made by a CS1 who works in the Galley on base. He heard about the need for a cake for Captain Dwyer’s promotion and quickly accepted the job. 

After the ceremony the celebration continued. The lead secretary in Dave’s office and several other of the Japanese ladies presented Dave with flowers! 


The ceremony was a perfect tribute to a dedicated sailor who has reached the pinnacle rank of his career. The only thing missing was all of you – our family and friends. But no worries, you didn’t completely miss it. I had someone use my phone to video the ceremony. The next time we see you, we can enjoy a beer and watch the 20 minute video of Dave becoming Captain Dwyer. 

Dave, I’m so very proud of you. You truly are an inspiration. Congratulations! I love you! 

Big Sur

By

On July 31, 2017

In Big Sur, Friendship, Japan

Monday was my last full day of my American Adventure. It ended on a high note with more views of the Pacific Ocean as we drove along the coast to Big Sur. 


We stopped frequently because we didn’t have too many miles between where we were staying on the north end of Big Sur and where the landslide was blocking the road. Each stop gave us more beautiful views. 


We were fortunate to have a bright sunny morning for our journey. 

The breeze was strong as well. Providing the perfect opportunity for one last “flock of seagulls” hair picture. Check out Roxanne. No wind can mess up her perfect style! 


As we continued south, we came to Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. We stopped to walk around and took a quick walk through a few Big Trees. They weren’t quite as large at the trees in Redwood but, magnificent in their own way. 


One trail that led to the beach was one of the few trails open. It seemed like a sign. Beach friends find a trail to the beach! Off we went. 


We took a little time to play on the beach! 


As the clouds rolled in again and the breeze picked up, we retreated from the beach. We made it safely to the van, stopped for lunch, and began our trip back to the airb&b. 

We were glad to have enjoyed the beautiful sunset the night before because our last night was full of clouds. 


The clouds didn’t dampen our spirits or our time together. We finished the evening with a salmon dinner, wine, and dominoes (chicken feet – our new favorite). The time I was able to spend with my friends and family over the past three weeks was just what I needed. Dave and I are enjoying our time living in Japan with the daily adventures. Living so far away from our loved ones is perhaps the most difficult part. Thank you for taking the time to let me savor my time while I was with everyone and also for giving me time to share the experience with you. I’m so appreciative of everyone who worked their summer schedules to make this vacation possible. Thank you and I love you! 

One last closing thought. July 31st marks our one year anniversary in Japan. I have enjoyed “wabisabisole” as a means to share my experiences. While I can’t say I fit in like a local, I can definitely say I’ve developed a new sense of confidence, adventure, and independence as a result of living abroad for the past year. I appreciate all your love and support throughout our Japan Journey. I look forward to sharing even more stories with you over the next couple years. Simultaneously, if you are thinking about coming to visit, now might be a good time to start planning your own adventures! 

Monterey & Carmel-By-The-Sea

By

On July 31, 2017

In Carmel-By-The-Sea, Friendship, Japan, Monterey, Road trip

Sunday, 7/22, Sara headed back to San Diego and the rest of us took a short road trip from Paso Robles to the coast. Our first stop was in Monterey. We enjoyed a walk through the quaint little town. It was fun to see Cannery Row. Since high school, I have been a huge John Steinbeck fan. 


The Pacific coast enticed me yet again. 

After our visit in Monterey, we continued towards Carmel-By-The-Sea and drove along the beautiful 17 mile drive. Slowly, the clouds started to lift. 

17-Mile Drive is a scenic road that runs along the coast and connects Monterey to Carmel-By-The-Sea. There are several golf courses. The most famous being Pebble Beach. I honestly, just loved seeing the rocky shoreline of the Pacific. 

It didn’t take long for the clouds to settle again. Bird Rock is pictured on the background. Again, you can’t hear all of the California sea lions lounging on Bird Rock. Using Mark’s binoculars, they were easy to spot. Using a picture from my iPhone, not so easy to spot. 

One of the most iconic spots along the drive is the Lone Cypress. The clouds had definitely settled by this point. Nonetheless, we enjoyed taking tourist pictures! 

We stopped in Carmel-By-The-Sea for lunch. 


After lunch, we continued driving south to Big Sur. For the next two nights, Sue arranged for us to stay in an amazing airb&b at the top of of Palo Colorado Road off of US1. Before heading up the mountain to our airb&b we made a quick stop at the grocery store. Would you believe our luck – they had a wine tasting! Thank you, don’t mind if we do! 


The house were we stayed was spectacular! The views were incredible. We literally were above the clouds. The Pacific Ocean is under the clouds. 


We enjoyed a lively game of dominoes as we watched the sunset. 


Watching the fog roll in after the sunset was captivating and eerie. 


Despite the low clouds, Allison and I enjoyed a clear night sky to stargaze. We saw two satellites and three shooting stars! 

Paso Robles Wine Camp

By

On July 30, 2017

In Friendship, Japan, Paso Robles, Running, Wine

The third part of my American Adventure was uniting with my friends from Virginia Beach. Friday, 7/21, I linked up with Mark and Roxanne at the San Francisco airport. After enduring a bit of rental car drama, the three of us drove south along 101 to Paso Robles. The traffic was awful. When finally made it to our airb&b rental we were beyond relieved and excited! Here we rendezvoused with the rest of our VB friends. Sue, Jeff and their daughter, Allison, had spent the week in San Diego visiting our friend, Sara and her family. They were driving north to Paso Robles. 

The reunion was magnificent! And definitely better than our selfie stick pictures. Somehow we couldn’t quite get all seven of us in one picture! Or smiling. Or looking at the camera. 


After our snack, we decided to charge our glasses and take a walk around the grounds of the airb&b. 

The owner’s dog acted as an escort. 


As the sunset, we seized the opportunity for a few modeling shots. 

This one makes me laugh. Mark and his paparazzi’s shadows.

Allison and her paparazzi! 


After dinner, Roxanne began the first lesson of Wine Camp. She used her socks to school us on her expectations. 


Saturday morning, before our day of Wine Camp, Sara and I enjoyed a run through the J. Lohr vineyards. 


Our first appointment for wine tasting was at 10:30 at the J.Lohr vineyard. Off we go! 


Another friend in VB helped to arrange a personal tasting experience with Elisa. Despite having an appointment and being told not to be late, Elisa seemed to have no clue who we were or why we asked for her. None the less, she provided us with a VIP experience. 


Perhaps you notice the cat ears? I brought them with me from Japan for us to wear. We spent the day explaining the purpose. They are “kawaii”, Allison (our driver for the day) was the cat herder, we wanted to be able to find each other, we wanted to fit in with the numerous bachelorette parties, and well, because Japan. We never quite perfected the story. Personally, I think cat herder was most appropriate. 


Our second winery of the day was at Eberle winery. This winery was our favorite for several reasons. 1. The staff was super friendly. Even when we broke a glass! 

2. The wines were delicious. 


3. The tour of the winery caves was interesting and our tour guide was super animated. 


4. Free pizza.  


After a stop for lunch, we continued to our third winery, Sculpterra.  

The wines were delicious and the sculptures throughout the gardens were really impressive and unique. 


Our fourth and final winery was San Marcos Creek Vineyard. It was a quiet winery with delicious wines. It was the perfect quiet ending to a lively and exciting day. Kanpie! To dear friends! 

Our five souvenir bottles from the day! 


I want to give a special shoutout to our driver, Allison. She drove us around all day and patiently waited for us at each winery. She earned the highly esteemed honor of Cat Herder. Thank you, Allison, for enduring the day and keeping us safe! 

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