Last November, a group of my friends decided to drive up to Koyasan World Heritage Site over mountains of Kii Mountain Range. Going through suburbs of Osaka and passing short distance valley of cultivation lands - divided into tiny pieces, then little up to down-hill sides where families selling organges on the road and vegetation occupiniyng of slim trees like bamboos, that will be typical route to Kii Mounatains. Further such well-maintained road led us to towards upper part of Koya mountain. Surrounded all by pointy mountains, Koya’s pilgrim town is majestically located for great view. Templtes, shrines, cemetery were built in with neat effort and eye-catching cute shapes, yes immense culture of respect and tradition there exists. You can see nice pictures at Koya-san’s website.
Up there, Koya is rolling among trees of old age and large size which seemingly tell you stories of ancient times under chilly shadows of their own. When leaves change new colours in authumn, such beautiful a place! - it creates featuring with peaceful temples. Sure, it is worthy visiting!
Monday, January 11
Thursday, January 7
Natural Disaster and Kobe's Response
Kobe city experienced a devastating natural disaster in 1995; 6.8 moment magnitude scale earthquake (7.2 the Richter scale) hit the city and cost lives of thousands of people and millions of money worth infrastructures. This earthquake was the worst earth quake in Japan since one in 1923. To learn more about this disaster, click this link.
Kobe city recovered incredibly fast from the disaster and learned lessons from harsh Mother Nature. Now the city works hard to educate people and promote disaster reduction measures for all people of the world. As part of the work, Kobe hosts a Disaster Reduction and Human Renovation Institution (The Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake Memorial)- DRI.
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DRI is a place to learn and feel the disasters that Nature cause. Striking pictures and 3-dimensional films show the edges of all feelings about natural disaster, there are centers and rooms to study more about disasters in interesting ways. View more of this at DRI.
Saturday, January 2
New Years Eve and Japan New Year
I had a great opportunity to experience New Year's Eve and New Year in very multicultural/Japanese way. My collegue invited me and my friend over to his family - a German wife and two kids (Nova and Maya) And, it was wonderful.
My host
His house is roughly at 400m on the southeast slope of Rokko mountain. It faces a beautiful view of Nishinomiya city, a small bay of Japan sea, parts of Osaka city. And, gimple of Rokko mountain forest adds beauty to this scenery.
12AM
When a year of 2010 came at midnight, we cheered with drinks and nice wishes. As I jumped into their balcony having full of view neighbourhood, I hear no sound on street. It was clear calm and quiet.No fireworks seen nor did I hear any sound of explosives! I hear a chant of a large bell!
Shrine
Japanese go to a temple, and pray for coming year, my Japanese host explained. So we went to a shrine nearby.
First, hands must be purified with water.
Then, go and bow in front of Buddha in the shrine, and place your offer [a coin], and pull down a string twice and pray for wishes and bow to finish.
It was cold, too:)
Then, most Japanese come to monks to pick your fortune for new year and take a bowl of Sake (rice wine). I cannot miss that Sake:)
There was an another temple closer to this shrine, so we walked up there. Besides, a larger temple and private service - monks serve a special cermony upon a reservation of people in a temple - it is private.
The difference here was a big bell, in which people knock it by 108 times (the number of sins). So people were lined up to knock it once each person.
01, 01, 2010
On the morning of 2010, we had a proper Japanese New Year's breakfast. Many of dishes like beans represent prosperity and good wishes for new year. It was delicious, the fish was the most tasty! Yum yum;p
To start new day of new year, Japanese go to temple/shrine in the morning as well.
My host
His house is roughly at 400m on the southeast slope of Rokko mountain. It faces a beautiful view of Nishinomiya city, a small bay of Japan sea, parts of Osaka city. And, gimple of Rokko mountain forest adds beauty to this scenery.
12AM
When a year of 2010 came at midnight, we cheered with drinks and nice wishes. As I jumped into their balcony having full of view neighbourhood, I hear no sound on street. It was clear calm and quiet.No fireworks seen nor did I hear any sound of explosives! I hear a chant of a large bell!
Shrine
Japanese go to a temple, and pray for coming year, my Japanese host explained. So we went to a shrine nearby.
First, hands must be purified with water.
Then, go and bow in front of Buddha in the shrine, and place your offer [a coin], and pull down a string twice and pray for wishes and bow to finish.
It was cold, too:)
Then, most Japanese come to monks to pick your fortune for new year and take a bowl of Sake (rice wine). I cannot miss that Sake:)
There was an another temple closer to this shrine, so we walked up there. Besides, a larger temple and private service - monks serve a special cermony upon a reservation of people in a temple - it is private.
The difference here was a big bell, in which people knock it by 108 times (the number of sins). So people were lined up to knock it once each person.
01, 01, 2010
On the morning of 2010, we had a proper Japanese New Year's breakfast. Many of dishes like beans represent prosperity and good wishes for new year. It was delicious, the fish was the most tasty! Yum yum;p
To start new day of new year, Japanese go to temple/shrine in the morning as well.
Friday, January 1
Osaka Zoo (Tennoji Zoo)
Tennoji Zoo is an huge area of land for zoo and park. It is well maintained and many of animals look happy and 'clean':) A number of species is various. Definitely, worthy to visit and spend your time there for a whole day! It is cheap, only 500JPY by Dec,2009. Also, make you plan to view animals before 4pm afterwards 'hot' animals like Lion, Rhinoceros etc are closed earlier!
Some pictures from Zoon -down.
Some pictures from Zoon -down.
Osaka Aquarium (Kaiyukan)
Osaka Aquarium is like a small ocean! Most sea species of animals are collected to display in one large aquarium. I went to see this place with my friends.
Aquarium is a 8-floor tall and it starts from the top going down. There are small sections showing animals from a various seas. On the center there is a large aquarium which is themed under 'Pacific Ocean' and contains larges animals like whales, shark etc - wow.
Yes, indeed FUN! Visiting Kaiyukan will cost your half-day or more, and entrance fee is 2000JPY by Dec,2009. I share some of my photos from Kaiyukan below.
Penguin Parade
Let's start!
Window dive:)
How is like to be born in an aquarium?
Jelly fish Jelly fish Jelly!
More about aquarium, check this out!
Aquarium is a 8-floor tall and it starts from the top going down. There are small sections showing animals from a various seas. On the center there is a large aquarium which is themed under 'Pacific Ocean' and contains larges animals like whales, shark etc - wow.
Yes, indeed FUN! Visiting Kaiyukan will cost your half-day or more, and entrance fee is 2000JPY by Dec,2009. I share some of my photos from Kaiyukan below.
Penguin Parade
Let's start!
Window dive:)
How is like to be born in an aquarium?
Jelly fish Jelly fish Jelly!
More about aquarium, check this out!
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