Thought I'd forgotten about you all and this blog didn't you? Well....I didn't.....it's just that it takes a REALLY long time to get here and then last night it was all I could do to fall into bed and then today we've been out and busy and really....it's only the 11th for you....bottom line....I'm back. :-)
Just got in from an amazing day and found some chocolate that Darlene and I purchased on Granville Island in Vancouver so decided a couple bites of that would keep me awake long enough to catch you up on what we've been up to since I last wrote.
Our first flight from Vancouver was not the best flight I've ever been on but we made it here just fine so I really can't complain. The most challenging part was that Darlene and I were seated in row 59 which is supposed to be better than some of the other seats but in truth...it was so crowded! The seats were on a bit of an angle and so the leg room was crazy tight! On the upside the second plane (Taipei to Sapporo) we were seated in a normal row and so had much more leg room. First flight was 12 hours long. Then we had a 3 1/2 hour wait in Taipei before we climbed aboard flight number two for the final leg of just under four hours to Sapporo. Everyone made it through immigration and customs with no trouble at all. All of our luggage arrived unscathed and when we walked through the doors into the arrival lounge Darlene and I were sooooo relieved to see our bus driver standing there with a big sign that said FORDE as there is always that little bit of worry that something will have been lost in translation. We climbed aboard and the bus driver had us safe and sound at the Mercure Sapporo Hotel in about 1 1/2 hours and the registration staff at the hotel had us checked into our rooms in a flash. They'd been waiting for us to arrive and had all of our room keys ready with corresponding names on a list....it was soooo appreciated as we were badly in need of a shower and a reclining position to take the edge off.
A little less than two hours later our group was all at the ready once again and off we went in search of something for dinner. I had my heart set on finding Ramen Alley and this time decided to get a map with directions rather than just wandering around trying to find it. Happily we walked right to it and found a couple of little shops that could accommodate our group. I ordered the butter corn miso ramen and yes....it was as good as I'd remembered. Yummy!
By the time we came home last night we were done for though and it was a short fall to the bed. In truth I'm not sure I even remembered to take my mascara off! It was only 8 pm local time when we hit the hay and it was 12 hours later before we rose from the "dead" ready to take on the adventures that this new day would hold for us.
This morning everyone was on their own for breakfast and two of our group, Barb and Wendy, managed to make themselves memorable to some of the local residents. While they were having breakfast at a nearby restaurant the owner of the place was doing his best to make conversation with them. He asked where they were staying and without missing a beat Barb replied that they were from the street. Yes.....she told him they were street people. According to Wendy....He didn't know what to say....and neither did she!
Our driver, Manfred and our guide, Makoto, were there to pick us up right on schedule so by 10:00 we were loaded into the van and ready to begin our day. The van itself was an adventure for many of our group because every row of seats has a jump seat in the aisle so you can sit 4 people across a row. Makoto had brought two of his adult kids along with him and Father Manfred had brought one of the sisters with him so by the time all 21 of us were packed into that little Van....it was tight and cozy. We all had a laugh when we shared the story from last time we were here 2 years ago when Manfred and Makoto picked us up from the train station (on our return from Toyokoro) in the pouring rain. We packed our bodies into the van and then had to find a way to pack all of our suitcases in there too! There was a random stranger on the street helping us out and he just kept passing cases in and we just kept piling cases on top of ourselves. It was a memory in the making but we were sure glad it was just a short drive to the hotel!
This year was spacious in comparison to that memory!
Our stops today were many and varied and some of the things we learned and saw were not even at stops...but just things we saw out the windows or heard as stories were shared and customs explained by Manfred and Makoto. For example, we drove by a statue of a boy who is working (carrying a bundle of wood on his back) and at the same time he is reading a book. This statue is culturally important and demonstrates the importance of learning....even while you're working at something else.
One of our stops this morning was at a Japanese Garden/Park that is next to the Emperors palace (now a museum). The zen was palpable in that gorgeous park! We just wandered the trails and appreciated the nature and the history that was apparent in a quaint little tea house that sits inside that park. In fact that tea house offered up a little learning for us too. Makoto explained that in his whole life he's only every participated in one tea ceremony which really drove home just how lucky we all are knowing that Toyokoro will be welcoming us to the town with a beautiful tea ceremony that we will all have the opportunity to participate in. We learned that the reason for the turning of the bowl (cup) in the ceremony is in large part to be intentional about appreciating the pottery that the tea has been served in. It is also an opportunity to consider the beauty of all that is in that moment....the gift that the ceremony is....the surroundings.....the scents, the space and time, and perhaps most of all to appreciate that we have the gift of that moment in time to do just what we are doing. We thought about all of the tea ceremonies that would have taken place in that special little tea house in that beautiful Japanese garden and recognized again just how lucky we all are to be here and doing what we're doing and learning what we're learning.
On the other end of the spectrum, this afternoon we stopped at the chocolate factory which is anything but zen! Having said that it was a great stop and as was obvious by the sheer number of visitors...it is a very popular tourist attraction. The tour is great and there is loads to learn and to see. We watched the assembly lines created perfect little square chocolate filled cookies that we were also given a sample of. We oooohed and ahhhhhed at the wedding cakes that need to be seen to be believed. And we laughed like children as we rode the little train around the grounds and popped our heads up through a hole in the ground for a special photo opp. As we knew it would be....we had loads of sweeeet fun and the chocolate factory.
We also visited a Shinto Shrine where many of us received our fortune (a Japanese custom) and others of us made wishes and gave thanks for things that are important to us. All of us participated in the traditional custom of washing hands and mouth in pure water as hands and mouth are considered to be areas that humans have some history of doing bad things with. While on the Shrine grounds Darlene and I met two women and a baby who was just learning to walk. When that baby saw the two of us, she was so afraid as we look so different from any others she's ever seen. Interesting how we each bring our own perspective to every situation regardless of how much life experience we have.
Our final stop of the day was the one that really drove home how lucky we are for all of us though. This stop was Makoto's home which is also his church (he is a Tenrikio priest) where we would be treated to a lesson in origami followed by a performance of members from his church who play ancient instruments in the traditional way. To top off the show, Makoto played Oh Canada on one of those most ancient instruments and it was so beautiful. In fact there were not many dry eyes in the place by the time he had finished. The performance included traditional dancing and singing too and all of it was very moving. At the end of our time with Makoto's family his mom honoured us even further by gifting many of the women in our group with kimonos, obi's (a wide belt that could be used as a table runner), and traditional shoes. Everyone couldn't believe this amazing gift and it left us all overwhelmed and feeling unbelievable special.
Once back at the hotel tonight Darlene, Carmen, Hannah and I made our way through this section of the susokino district to find the Ferris wheel that is on top of one of the high rises (our hotel is right in the middle of the nightlife district of Sapporo). We found our destination and climbed aboard for views of the city that were breathtaking! This was a whole different view than the one we'd had from the ski jump today. Yep....we're seeing this city from all angles.
Well folks....I think it is time for me to sign off for now. Bed is calling and the alarm will be going off bright and early as we have another busy day planned so till next time....sayonara.
Darlene and Lorrie
So happy to see your post tonight. Now I know what it feels like to be on this side of the adventure...... checking,checking,checking....hoping for a post from Lorrie and Darlene. Thank you, thank you, thank you ☺ so fun to follow along!
ReplyDeleteSo happy to see your post tonight. Now I know what it feels like to be on this side of the adventure...... checking,checking,checking....hoping for a post from Lorrie and Darlene. Thank you, thank you, thank you ☺ so fun to follow along!
ReplyDelete