Japan and Kyle, Tokyo
Japan is wonderful and surprisingly Kyle has been an amazing tour guide:) Honestly though I don’t know how I would have navigated this country without him. Hardly no one speaks English, so it’s not as if you can ask for help when lost or when you try to escape the train station and the paddles keep hitting you and blocking your departure. No one can help you, though you know they would like to, but they don’t speak your language to explain what to do. One tries not to panic in these situations but let’s face it…this one kind of did:( Flying 12 hours, waiting at airports for 3 hours, not sleeping well and 2 hour train rides can kind of put one over the edge. Have you noticed I am using the word one and Leigh Ann interchangeably? Anyway that was my experience coming to Japan…there was a little more and suffice it to say I wanted to choke my wonderful son but in the end we found one another and since then all has been well:)
The first day Kyle took me to some Japanese garden called Sankeien. The gardens were beautiful, tranquil and serene. Mostly older people dotted the landscape painting the scene before them with their watercolors. They were all very good from what I could tell. I guess you make sure and learn at home before you expose yourself to public humiliation. I just thought…now that is how I would like to spend my retirement years. So I guess I better start that water color class that I have been putting off now for so many years. In this garden are also either actual, rebuilt or repaired buildings from different periods. It is hard to describe but really beautiful. The Japanese maples are in full blown fall mode bursting with reds and oranges and yellows. It’s really beautiful! It’s kind of like our late September or early October. Still a few flowers here and there, a few leafless trees, the evergreens and then the colorful maples. It’s cold here though, I’m following summer and I have been cold everywhere except the first 5 days in Fiji:) Kyle tells me it’s in the 40’s but I think he is fibbing:) That night we went to dinner with a bunch of Kyle’s friends all or most PHD students studying something to do with Asian cultures. All very nice and I didn’t really feel stupid at all…it’s great being too stupid to feel stupid:) And Cindy just for you…I will describe the food. We, okay they, ordered an assortment of things from raw fish, to fried veggies, then some kind of cabbage, egg, squid and mayo mixed together cooked at the table. I suck at chopsticks and this is not like home where they offer you the fork option…so I apologized for my lack of skills and dug in. It was all very tasty. I find I really have to work hard to eat here but of course have lost no weight:(
The 2nd day we went to what seemed like a Japanese neighborhood. Kyle later told me it was called Kamakura. We just meandered through it and then would come upon a little entrance and the next thing I knew we would be looking at ancient temples. It was amazing! So beautiful, the architecture is all at once simple and complex and makes you feel calm. Kyle’s friend Ling Ling explained to me that, that was the point, that it was Zen. So just so y’all know, I get Zen:) We went on paths through forest and looked at many temples and then we pop back out in to the neighborhood again, or possibly a different one, who knows? A mile or so later we end up at another entrance and lo and behold we see the enormous bronze buddha. It was stunning. spectacular, awesome…well it made me cry. Though that is not a terribly difficult feat these days, everything seems to make this non crier cry:)
The third day Kyle had appointments and I just read. That’s a nice luxury too:)
Yesterday we went to Tokyo. We are babysitting a naked cat. A hairless, weird, bizarre, pathetic kind of cat for two nights. When we got through the maze of trains which Kyle does so well he took me to Shibuya, the heart of Tokyo…think Times Square on steroids…but in Tokyo. It was amazing…there is that word again, but true. I am loving every minute of Japan. Kyle has been the best tour guide/son ever and as stated previously I’m not sure I could do this country without him. We will be traveling to Kyoto soon and touring different areas and then on to Taiwan…more to come.
For now Sayonara from Tokyo Japan…
Glad to hear my boys comin’ through for ya!!! With all our love from Colorado!
Robert
He is…Kyle has been amazing. You would be proud of him:) We miss all of y’all like crazy. Merry Christmas honey. Being with Kyle makes it easier to be without the rest of you but we still miss y’all. Love you, love you, love you!
Hey Leigh Ann! So happy you are having a great time with Kyle! You are such a good story teller and I am enjoying each and every one of your stories!!! Miss ya and remember, I am living vicariously through you! Merry Christmas!!!
Hi Shawn! I’m wishing you and Dave a Merry Merry Christmas! Please have a Poudre Canyon Slider for me…maybe two:) at some point during the holiday festivities. Kyle has really been wonderful and showing me everything….we travel at a similar pace, so it’s been great. It makes me less homesick to be with him for sure:) Enjoy what’s left of your holidays! Thinking of you often.
Love hearing all your stories. Glad you will be with Kyle for Christmas. Miss you tons and hope to see you sometime somewhere in the near future 🙂
Hi Mandy! Merry Christmas to you and yours. Thanks for taking care of my guys at Christmas time:) Thank goodness I’m with Kyle or else I think it would be very difficult…now it’s only a little difficult:) Big hugs and kisses to the Wright family. Love you all…and it would be awesome to see you somewhere..anywhere:)
Sounds like Kyle is taking good care of you. Nice to hear what is going on with you. Have a good Christmas. i am glad you will be there with Kyle then. I love you. I love the pictures too btw. Really pretty.
Hi Steph! Yea, he is. It has been wonderful to be with him here and see him in action:) Merry Christmas to you and your family…I bet it will be lots of fun with Christopher…I love you bunches and we need to get more of our India plans nailed down so my sisters don’t suffer upon arrival:) Can’t wait!
Merry Christmas Carol! Hope you and Ron are enjoying the holidays….I do know that y’all were one of the first to decorate in the neighborhood:) Hugs to you both!
Domo arigato! Ok, that’s probably not spelled right, and I don’t even really know what it means anymore! I briefly caught Kyle on FB a while back then again recently but missed him. Thinkin’ maybe we can Skype sometime… you two figure it out and we’ll see. What time is it there anyway, and what date? We are hoping for a white Xmas, but it may not happen – really windy today and cold! I will go to the house Xmas day and see everyone then over to Wrights. Xmas Eve at Koltaks for a few. Otherwise Dixie and I will hunker down and relax for the rest of the time I have off. Since I can’t meet you in Africa maybe I look in to some part of the Europe portion, whatcha think?
Hi Megan! Yes Kyle told me that but our time here is kind of topsy turvy. I’ve spoken to Robert once since I got to Japan:( We’re usually sight seeing when it’s an appropiate time to call…We are a day ahead and several hours. I hope you do have a white Christmas, that would be awesome. Give my guys a Wrights a hug from me. Enjoy your holidaze and hugs to Dixie:) Yes, wherever you can make would be awesome! Love you!
Awesome Momma!!! There is a storage room here that you could totally make an art room to practice water color, that’d be cool! Keep positive and enjoy it all!
Hi Garrett! What a smart ass:) How I miss you! I promise when I return I will use the wonderful art room that you guys created for me. Time is a precious commodity:) Merry Christmas Gar! Love you!
Merry Christmas dear friend…glad to see you are doing well. It is freakin’ cold here in Breck, but gorgeous. Sent you an email. I’m know you’ll miss being home for Christmas but I’m happy you’re with Kyle..Japan sounds like an amazing place! Peace and Zen, L
It is amazing Louise, really beautiful. At times peaceful and then a block later chaotic and crazy. I bet Breckenridge is gorgeous right now….lots of snow? Enjoy your family. Merry Christmas to you all. Hugs! Keeping the faith regardless:)
Merry Christmas Kimmie! Miss you too. All is well though, Japan is great. Glad to be seeing it with Kyle:) I’m not sick of my clothes yet but I so far I have only gotten to wear a small portion…the same thing every 4th day because I thought I was following summer and it’s been cold. Soooo…right now I don’t need anything, in fact I just mailed some stuff home because of the weight. Weight is a huge thing when you are carrying your life on your back:) Unfortunately my body weight remains the same:( Enjoy those grand babies at Christmas…such a wonderful time of year with little children (of course all times are wonderful with little children). Hugs to the Martin clan and Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas Joan! I can’t really imagine being here without Kyle…how did you and Mike do that? I will say he has kind of become my crutch in Japan. Next week we will be in Taiwan though and we will be equally lost:) For now I’m just letting Kyle be in charge. I hope you all have fun tonight…I’ve tried to call Robert several times but I think between Christmas and visitors it just has not worked out. Tonight we take the night bus for Kyoto. Take care and Enjoy! Hugs!
Hey, Leigh Ann! I’m sitting here waiting for my kids to show for Christmas at Grammy’s and thought I would take. Few minutes to read your blog. You tell a story just like you would say it! I love that. I remember my parents going to Japan and my Dad got stuck on the wrong side of those gates you were talking about at the train station. My poor Southern Mom was scared to death she was never going to see him again!! I’m sure you are enjoying your time with Kyle. Have a peaceful and “zen like” Christmas! Love and miss you!
Hi Sylvia! Merry Christmas. Hope you are enjoying your family…very cool veggie Christmas tree by the way. You are so creative! I am totally enjoying Japan with Kyle. I can’t believe your parents came here alone. Honestly, I would be lost without him. We just arrived in Osaka today. Kyle has lots of stuff planned but I’m not feeling great…hoping I get over this quick. Love and miss you Syl!
Hey LeeLee! I’ve perused your itinerary; when you know more solid plans for Europe let me know and I’ll see if I can meet you somewhere. You should look in to visiting Greece though, political unrest and chaos is what I’ve been hearing; may not be the best place to visit, although I know you like excitement! Saw R and G Xmas Eve and Xmas day as well as R and P. I hope to see all NY day, probably for black-eyed peas or something disgusting like that! HA! Have fun, take lots of pictures!
Love ya!
Hi Megs! I will have to see how money holds out before I make any firm plans for Europe but I’ll keep you posted. I am hoping not to miss Greece for any reason barring poverty or war:( Sounds like you have had a busy busy holiday. I think the Peters clan is exhausted from all their holidaze happenings:) Make sure you eat cabbage and blackeyed peas for me…I’m sure we won’t find those scrumptious blackeyed peas in Japan:) Take care…love you, hugs!