Discovering Tokyo....

Believe in the creation of our dreams.....

A few weeks ago I had a wonderful opportunity to stay with friends who have had a sea change. Since I have known them 4 years now, their wish was to leave the city life and head to a rural environment.  A place where they can breathe in fresh air, create a vegetable patch, work at a slower pace, enjoy cooking and sewing, amongst other things.  This year they made this dream a reality.

While I was spending a week with them in October we talked about what places in the world we would like to see.  We discussed Japan. They didn’t have any desire to go, but I have enjoyed my 2 visits, one in 1983 and the other 2009. It interests me the different culture of Japan and many aspects about this country.  So to my surprise, only a few weeks after this chat, an opportunity came for my husband and I to travel to Tokyo. My thoughts were how incredible was this, that I had no plans of this trip happening and here it was. The bonus was that the accommodation was also provided by our host club.... woo hooo.

My husband has enjoyed writing and taking photos of horse racing around the world. This time we were entertained by the Racing Club of Japan. The first night we went to a restaurant on the 49^th floor of one building and enjoyed a traditional Japanese meal – we had a large bowl which was on a portable gas burner in the centre of the table. Inside the bowl was a soup and then placed in the soup was all sorts of meats, seafood vegetables. We filled this up twice and then placed some noodles in the soup and enjoyed them. An assortment of other small dishes was also served to us by ladies dressed in traditional kimonos. Some very nice people shared our table from Australia, USA and Japan. I sat next to a lovely lady, who was born in Japan, but lives in Los Angeles, USA. Her husband also has Japanese heritage, though he was born in a camp in America during WW2. As I got to know Umi we discovered that we had started on a spiritual journey about the same time and we shared many experiences and stories during that evening.She also had a love of Ikebana (floral displays) and has 60 students under her guidance.

We went the next morning by coach to the race track to watch the 4 overseas horses work out.  It was interesting looking around the course and had the best view of Mt Fuji as it was so clear and its snow covered peaks was just a sight to behold...

There was some time to do sightseeing and discover the metro underground system on our own. It is a challenge at first, because of the different letters than we are used to in the west, but as you get more familiar to the colours and the number system, it is very good. People are friendly and very helpful; they find it very difficult not to give you assistance, even to the point they will take you to where you need to go. It is very clean and orderly in Tokyo. I feel very safe and there is an abundance of food, drink and things to do, see and enjoy. I have decided that the Japanese people are the biggest consumers; they love fashion and nic nacs.
Everything is presented so beautifully and the window decorations are amazing. People are so well dressed and I love that you cannot use your phones on the trains or in public. They have designated smoking areas – it is great. We travelled on the river one day which was really nice. Visited temples and I love the architecture, the layout of the towns have been well thought out and very orderly.

Another day I decided to do my own thing and visit Disneyland in Tokyo.  My husband did say that he had read there are big crowds especially on the weekend but as there was a free shuttle bus at the hotel I thought this was an opportunity to see some of Tokyo and have some fun.  Well, when you come from a country that’s total population is approx 23 million people in a country the size of USA and that this number of people live in Tokyo. I don’t really think I understood what big crowds were. Yes, it was amazing as the day went on more and more people came in the park dressed in many outfits from Alice in Wonderland, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Minnie, Mickey, Donald etc people of all ages, young and old and had some form of Disney placed on their body. The queues at most rides were a waiting time of 90 minutes.  I think the Japanese have learnt to be patient.  I did have 2 rides and walked around but people observing was more the feature of the day.  It is very clean, orderly, well run and very much Disney.

The parks in and around Tokyo are lovely and a real feeling of connection to nature, shaped bonsai trees, water fountains and planted colour. I enjoyed seeing the autumn colours of the trees the beautiful shades of golden & reds. I would listen to my meditation music or a book enjoying the peace.

I also come back with a renewed connected to Christmas. Really strange when 2% of the population is Christian but the technology of flashing lights, trees, angels, snowmen and reindeer scattered around the districts are so beautiful. As it is cool, because it is autumn and as day turns to night the beautiful lights make a very appealing sight. Here in Australia it is summer time and hearing the songs “roasting chestnuts on an open fire” and “sleigh bells” is very strange to anyone that has not grown up with fake snow and melting while cooking the traditional roast dinner . So, thank you Japan for bringing the festive season to my heart once more and giving me a wonderful holiday to remember.

~ Findingurwings.