My wife is heavily into Reiki. She is a Reiki master and practitioner, with a pretty good practice down here in Southern Spain.
So, when we were in Japan it seemed natural, and important, to visit a couple of Reiki sites. One day in Tokyo we went out to the Buddhist cemetery where the man who started Reiki, Usui, is buried. It was a very powerful experience, even for me as someone who knows very little about Reiki. His monument is an impressive obelisk, reminiscent of 2001, A Space Odyssey!
A collection of photos can be found here.
A few days later we popped down to Kyoto (thank you Shinkansen!) and climbed Mount Kurama. Kurama is where Usui had his enlightenment. The mountain, not found in any tour books, is pretty incredible. It is still a Buddhist center, and the entire thing is covered with Temples and Shrines.
Photos from that day are here.
Coincidentally, there was a massive exhibit going on in Tokyo at the National Musuem on relics of Tendai Buddhism, which is the branch that Usui followed. Seeing 800 year old items that belonged to the men who first spread Tendai Buddhism throughout Japan (centered on Mount Hiei) was a once in a lifetime experience and I think it was fated that we were able to see it. What made the day even more special was the (unexpected) generosity of complete strangers – two separate Japanese ladies gave both Marcie and myself tickets to get in to the special exhibit. Completely out of the blue. Quite wonderful.
Saturday, 6 May 2006
Wednesday, 3 May 2006
Tokyo - pt 1
Now that we are back from Japan I can sit down and write some impressions.
First, on one of our first days there we went out to Meiji Shrine and Yoyogi Park. The Shrine (see the day out in pics here ) is in a beautiful green area. I was warned before going to Tokyo that it was a concrete jungle. I found the opposite - that there were surprisingly large green spaces. Maybe coming from Spain I am used to brown dirt. I don't know. But the shrine is impressive and it was a great introduction to the historical cultural aspects of the city.
We stumbled across an Ayumi Hamasaki concert. I have been a fan of hers for years, but to be honest we couldn't figure out how to buy tickets! Oh well. I have the live concert DVDs.
Around the corner is Yoyogi Park. The park is also huge, but for me the big attraction was the live bands playing.
We caught a set by The Pink Panda. They were snappy uptempo JPop. Which I love. The singer(MaYou) is also terribly cute. Also saw a set by a band who's name is perhaps one of the oddest ever - A.N others after the 20th (click on the 'PC' link). I bought 3 of their singles. I found the music to be almost prog-rock. Very cool.
Across the street we stumbled into Tokyo's Earth Day celebrations. A huge area was covered in stalls selling food, earth friendly products and handing out information. There was also a stage where we caught a few live acts. Much to my disappoint there was very little food that was vegetarian. Since I consider vegetarian/veganism a good thing for the planet it seemed an odd ommision. There was a little woman handing out stuff on being a vegetarian, but that was it. We bumped into a guy (Hi Sanjay!) who was a vegan and kindly set me an email listing the good restaurants in Tokyo.
Also missing from the Earth Day booths was anything about Japan's practice of whaling. Japan consistently uses deceitful and underhanded techniques to ensure its whaling continues. It is one of the few things I hate about Japan.
But I digress.
From there it was down to Chibuya. And then back to the hotel, knackered.
First, on one of our first days there we went out to Meiji Shrine and Yoyogi Park. The Shrine (see the day out in pics here ) is in a beautiful green area. I was warned before going to Tokyo that it was a concrete jungle. I found the opposite - that there were surprisingly large green spaces. Maybe coming from Spain I am used to brown dirt. I don't know. But the shrine is impressive and it was a great introduction to the historical cultural aspects of the city.
We stumbled across an Ayumi Hamasaki concert. I have been a fan of hers for years, but to be honest we couldn't figure out how to buy tickets! Oh well. I have the live concert DVDs.
Around the corner is Yoyogi Park. The park is also huge, but for me the big attraction was the live bands playing.
We caught a set by The Pink Panda. They were snappy uptempo JPop. Which I love. The singer(MaYou) is also terribly cute. Also saw a set by a band who's name is perhaps one of the oddest ever - A.N others after the 20th (click on the 'PC' link). I bought 3 of their singles. I found the music to be almost prog-rock. Very cool.
Across the street we stumbled into Tokyo's Earth Day celebrations. A huge area was covered in stalls selling food, earth friendly products and handing out information. There was also a stage where we caught a few live acts. Much to my disappoint there was very little food that was vegetarian. Since I consider vegetarian/veganism a good thing for the planet it seemed an odd ommision. There was a little woman handing out stuff on being a vegetarian, but that was it. We bumped into a guy (Hi Sanjay!) who was a vegan and kindly set me an email listing the good restaurants in Tokyo.
Also missing from the Earth Day booths was anything about Japan's practice of whaling. Japan consistently uses deceitful and underhanded techniques to ensure its whaling continues. It is one of the few things I hate about Japan.
But I digress.
From there it was down to Chibuya. And then back to the hotel, knackered.
Thursday, 27 April 2006
Tokyo Life
This place is pretty amazing. Everything is clean and it works - quite a far cry from London or Spain.
Full reports will follow - a bit too flustered right now - but have to say there are some great restaurants here. Big hello to the guys over at Antwerp Central, Junya and Atsushi. They showed us extreme hospitality, which we ended up paying for the next morning. Cold sake rules!
We've hit all the neighbourhoods this week - Ginza and Roppongi getting special attention. This is a different world. I think Japan is still the master at isolation and adaptation. It has trappings of Europe and the west but there is no forgetting that you are in Tokyo. For example, at Antwerp Central, it was packed with a 150 or so people. We were (literally!) the only non-japanese. I can't think of any central city restaurants that you would be the only non-native in. Certainly not in London, Toronto or especially Spain (where often you would be hard pressed to find one native amongst the foreign diners).
I need to collect my thoughts and write some concise things, but I can't think right now. I've never gotten comfortable with Internet cafe's.
Sunday we fly home, but, I am a little concerned as for some reason our status on the BA website seems a bit wierd.
Full reports will follow - a bit too flustered right now - but have to say there are some great restaurants here. Big hello to the guys over at Antwerp Central, Junya and Atsushi. They showed us extreme hospitality, which we ended up paying for the next morning. Cold sake rules!
We've hit all the neighbourhoods this week - Ginza and Roppongi getting special attention. This is a different world. I think Japan is still the master at isolation and adaptation. It has trappings of Europe and the west but there is no forgetting that you are in Tokyo. For example, at Antwerp Central, it was packed with a 150 or so people. We were (literally!) the only non-japanese. I can't think of any central city restaurants that you would be the only non-native in. Certainly not in London, Toronto or especially Spain (where often you would be hard pressed to find one native amongst the foreign diners).
I need to collect my thoughts and write some concise things, but I can't think right now. I've never gotten comfortable with Internet cafe's.
Sunday we fly home, but, I am a little concerned as for some reason our status on the BA website seems a bit wierd.
Monday, 24 April 2006
Travel - GBAirways style
The idea seemed simple - on my birthday fly to Tokyo.
GBAirways had other ideas! GBA, who run BA's flights in southern spain and Gibraltar, saw fit to put us on a plane first piloted by the Wright Brothers. Of course it arrived in Malaga fine. But couldn't take off.
First problem was the hydraulics, which required a new pump. That was 6 hours. Finally, the plane was ready to go! Yippee! Missed the flight to Tokyo of course, but got on one the next day.
Taxi out to the runway and doh! Now one of the engines is acting up. So back to the ramp for some more dicking around. Finally at 11 (that is about 12 hours after scheduled departure) it was called a night and we were shipped to the local hotel.
So, for my birthday dinner I was enjoying hotel food at midnight. Well, not enjoying as we were not given any choice, just a plate of chips and pork in sauce. Now, being a vegetarian I didn't find this particularly appealing, so dinner was chips (french fries for you Canadians, Freedom Fries for you Yanks).
Pork has to be the stupidest choice for a 'forced' meal as not just us vegetarians, but Muslims and Jews as well don't take kindly to it. Oh, and it was cold.
So, day 2 of the journey starts and we are still around 100km from home. Instead of getting us on the now-fixed plane nice and early, GB Airways decides to give us a noon slot, which means we have no margin for error to get onto our Tokyo flight.
We taxi out to the runway and doh! Same problem! Somehow it had not fixed itself over night. What a bummer.
I say 'fixed itself' because the pilot made no mention of them working on it over night.
So, another few hours while GB Airways decides what to do and all flights are now booked for the day from Malaga so they are really in a pickle.
At 11pm, now 36 hours late (on a 2 1/2 hour flight) a plane from Excel Airlines (who??) takes us to Gatwick.
Of course, we were supposed to be going to Heathrow, where the flight to Tokyo leaves from. Can we get to Heathrow at 1:30am when we land? No. We have to stay the night in Gatwick, then take the bloody bus from Gatwick to Heathrow. That means we can sleep for 5 hours only, because we have to schedule 90 minutes to get to Heathrow and of course be there nice and early to check in as we now are not automatically checked in because of the fact we are in a different airport and our bags are with us.
But I am writing this in Tokyo, so we got here eventually. 48 hours late. Thanks BA!
Oh, when we got to Heathrow I thought that perhaps BA owed me something and maybe, seeing as I missed my birthday, they would upgrade us to something a little nicer. Wrong. To quote BA ground staff - there was 'no reason' to perform the upgrade. And I was reminded that GB Airways is NOT BA (despite flying under their logo). I pointed out that I had booked tickets on ba.com, not GBAirways.com, but they weren't having it.
In short - GBAirways has a lot to answer for.
GBAirways had other ideas! GBA, who run BA's flights in southern spain and Gibraltar, saw fit to put us on a plane first piloted by the Wright Brothers. Of course it arrived in Malaga fine. But couldn't take off.
First problem was the hydraulics, which required a new pump. That was 6 hours. Finally, the plane was ready to go! Yippee! Missed the flight to Tokyo of course, but got on one the next day.
Taxi out to the runway and doh! Now one of the engines is acting up. So back to the ramp for some more dicking around. Finally at 11 (that is about 12 hours after scheduled departure) it was called a night and we were shipped to the local hotel.
So, for my birthday dinner I was enjoying hotel food at midnight. Well, not enjoying as we were not given any choice, just a plate of chips and pork in sauce. Now, being a vegetarian I didn't find this particularly appealing, so dinner was chips (french fries for you Canadians, Freedom Fries for you Yanks).
Pork has to be the stupidest choice for a 'forced' meal as not just us vegetarians, but Muslims and Jews as well don't take kindly to it. Oh, and it was cold.
So, day 2 of the journey starts and we are still around 100km from home. Instead of getting us on the now-fixed plane nice and early, GB Airways decides to give us a noon slot, which means we have no margin for error to get onto our Tokyo flight.
We taxi out to the runway and doh! Same problem! Somehow it had not fixed itself over night. What a bummer.
I say 'fixed itself' because the pilot made no mention of them working on it over night.
So, another few hours while GB Airways decides what to do and all flights are now booked for the day from Malaga so they are really in a pickle.
At 11pm, now 36 hours late (on a 2 1/2 hour flight) a plane from Excel Airlines (who??) takes us to Gatwick.
Of course, we were supposed to be going to Heathrow, where the flight to Tokyo leaves from. Can we get to Heathrow at 1:30am when we land? No. We have to stay the night in Gatwick, then take the bloody bus from Gatwick to Heathrow. That means we can sleep for 5 hours only, because we have to schedule 90 minutes to get to Heathrow and of course be there nice and early to check in as we now are not automatically checked in because of the fact we are in a different airport and our bags are with us.
But I am writing this in Tokyo, so we got here eventually. 48 hours late. Thanks BA!
Oh, when we got to Heathrow I thought that perhaps BA owed me something and maybe, seeing as I missed my birthday, they would upgrade us to something a little nicer. Wrong. To quote BA ground staff - there was 'no reason' to perform the upgrade. And I was reminded that GB Airways is NOT BA (despite flying under their logo). I pointed out that I had booked tickets on ba.com, not GBAirways.com, but they weren't having it.
In short - GBAirways has a lot to answer for.
Saturday, 15 April 2006
Spanish Spirit Holidays
I have to put in an entry about my wife's company, Spanish Spirit Holidays. They are in their new premises and things are starting to take off. It is great to see someone following their dreams and making a success of it. Along with her partner Jeanette they have started to bring people down to our humble end of the Costa del Sol for healthy holidays.
I've sat in on the first few weekends and I think it is pretty amazing. The location is very nice - a hotel not too far from the beach but nicely quiet. And the room is great too.
Check it out! I think you'll find something you like.
Spanish Spirit Holidays
I've sat in on the first few weekends and I think it is pretty amazing. The location is very nice - a hotel not too far from the beach but nicely quiet. And the room is great too.
Check it out! I think you'll find something you like.
Spanish Spirit Holidays
Tuesday, 11 April 2006
Kicking the habit
No, nothing to do with abusing Nun's.
After 15 years I think I am finally free of my EastEnders addiction. I have pretty much watched the show since day one, with the short break here and there.
When I moved to Europe - and Canada was still 2 years behind in the shows - I had my brother mail over (pre high speed internet days!) tapes of the shows. Crazy!
But now it has been a month since I've seen it and I don't miss it one bit.
Of course, I have been too busy watching Lost, ER, 24 and so forth to care, really.
After 15 years I think I am finally free of my EastEnders addiction. I have pretty much watched the show since day one, with the short break here and there.
When I moved to Europe - and Canada was still 2 years behind in the shows - I had my brother mail over (pre high speed internet days!) tapes of the shows. Crazy!
But now it has been a month since I've seen it and I don't miss it one bit.
Of course, I have been too busy watching Lost, ER, 24 and so forth to care, really.
Saturday, 1 April 2006
Introducing....The PRICK Principle
I'm working on this theory - a theory about living life. I call it PRICK. Of course it's an acronym.
It came about as I sat around thinking about what guides my life. If I had to distill it down into a Self-Help Marketing Campaign, what would it be. And I came up with PRICK.
P - Profundity.
See below the surface of things. Look at the depth of life
R - Responsibiity.
Own your actions. Accept the consequences of them.
I - Integrity.
Be known as someone who has principles - and sticks to them.
C - Conscience and Compassion.
Treat others as you would be treated - animals too. See others' suffering, and try to relieve it.
K - Knowledge.
Never make a judgement through ignorance. Learn all you can about those things that matter in your life - and some that don't
Over the next little while you'll see things on here expanding on these principles.
You too can be a PRICK.
It came about as I sat around thinking about what guides my life. If I had to distill it down into a Self-Help Marketing Campaign, what would it be. And I came up with PRICK.
P - Profundity.
See below the surface of things. Look at the depth of life
R - Responsibiity.
Own your actions. Accept the consequences of them.
I - Integrity.
Be known as someone who has principles - and sticks to them.
C - Conscience and Compassion.
Treat others as you would be treated - animals too. See others' suffering, and try to relieve it.
K - Knowledge.
Never make a judgement through ignorance. Learn all you can about those things that matter in your life - and some that don't
Over the next little while you'll see things on here expanding on these principles.
You too can be a PRICK.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
