Thursday November 28, 2013
On Thursday we left Bethel for a 1 week vacation in the south west of Japan, specifically, Hiroshima, Onomichi, and Fukuyama. Now, we are very tired from 7 hectic weeks of work and association so a good rest is what we need... but, we are in Japan... so rest is not on the agenda...
What a nice surprise to see some friends wave us off at 6:30 am.
Our local train at Ebina was scheduled to leave at 7:01 and the Shinkansen (bullet train) from Odawara at 8:08. Sure enough, thats exactly when they did depart. This is the type of thing that impresses Alexandra 'very' much in Japan. It appeals to her Austrian-ness.
Rail is a much more comfortable way to travel than air... And it's cheaper for foreigners than for locals... With a 1 week pass in hand we can get on and off whenever and wherever we want... It's the best way to travel.
Alex editing my FRIENDS blog.
How fast does a bullet train go? According to Wikipedia; "The maximum operating speed is 320 km/h (200 mph). Test runs have reached 443 km/h (275 mph) for conventional rail in 1996, and up to a world record 581 km/h (361 mph) for maglev trainsets in 2003."
A Shinkansen can be up to sixteen cars long and they flash by in between 6 an 10 seconds.
At Osaka we changed to local trains to do some sight seeing.
This may look like footpath to you but it's a road in Japan.
This is the home and garden of a famous Japanese author and historian that we have never heard of... Fame is a funny thing.
Just up the garden path...
Past the walled courtyard garden...
Through the momiji grove (Japanese maple trees).
It's the architect Tadao Ando (a famous Japanese architect that you have probably never heard of, most of our Japanese friends had not) designed Shiba Ryotaro Memorial Museum.
Now you probably know how much we like traditional timber Japanese architecture. And you may have read our blogs about FLW... We'll this is not that... Strangely enough we also like modern minimalist architecture.
If you don't like concrete, please look away now...
The main room inside is a library containing the many books that Shiba Ryotaro wrote and many more that he collected and read...
For those who don't like concrete, I'll just explain that this concrete has a silky smooth finish. Sounds ridiculous, silk, but it's true...
The lead-light end window from outside.
Sunbathed entry ramp.
Selfy...
If there is an annoying thing about this building, it's that you are not permitted to take photos inside "to preserve the silence". Well, it is a library but it's ok for people to talk and make noise... Anyway, here are some photos borrowed from the net (thanx to http://thefunambulist.net/2011/03/17/architectural-projects-i-was-wrong-about-tadao-ando/)
The curved wall with the 11 metre high bookshelf.
The reading space.
The lead-light end window from inside.
Looking up
We arrived at Hiroshima and met our new friend Miki. A regular pioneer now serving with the Tagalog congregation.
A feast at our hosts home, the Kumura family.
Alex, Hiromi, Miki, Eiji, Ai, and Mei.
A perfect way to finish the day.
Lloydnalex.
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