Spending some time alone

My parents went to Nagano to snowboard today that I had all day to myself. I enjoy spending my time with other people, but I definitely need sometime to spend alone: the balance is the key.

Back here at home, it has been great spending time with my parents. I have questioned myself whether I had ever spent my time with them alone in the past. Now that I think of it, broght up as a second eldest daughter of 4 girls in the house, I have never spent time with them alone for the last 26 years.

It indeed is an interesting feeling to have the parents pay all their attention to you. But since I am so used to occupy myself by doing things alone, today's solitary time seemed somewhat refreshing to me.

Additionally, I have been putting my website work on the side, I wanted to work on it today. To my satisfaction, I was able to come up some images/design for the website quite easily, so I decide to put them all online to share with my friends.

The purpose of this website is to reflect on my SELF once again while gaining the sense of self that can fulfill myself to its fullest so that I can manifest my SELF and SOUL passionately...:)

Visiting a local shrine

My dad went to a local ski resort to snowboard and my mom had a Japanese flower arrangement lesson that I had to go to the gym the first thing in the morning. Probably because I had not eaten breakfast prior to the work out, I felt a little tired, but I did my 1.5 hr work out consist of cardio and strength work out. I wanted to do a longer strength work out, but since I wanted to walk home, which would take at least 45 minutes or so, I decided to leave at 12:30pm. On the way home, I took some photos of the Inaka (suburb neighborhood) and a shrine.

Shiba-ken (such a cute dog, aww):


Housing by the mountains:

There are a few Sengen Shrines around Mt. Fuji dedicated to Princess Konohanasakuya, the Shinto deity of Mount Fuji. Fuji-Yoshida (my home city)'s Sengen Shrine, formally known as Kitaguchi Hongu Sengen Jinja (North Entrance Sengen Main Shrine), is the main Sengen Shrine on the north side of Mount Fuji. In the past, most pilgrims approaching the mountain from the north side, would commence their ascent from this shrine. Fuji-Yoshida's Sengen Shrine stands in a dense forest of tall cedar trees. The current shrine buildings date from 1615 and are dedicated important cultural properties. I visited this Jinja on Feb 1st, and cleaned the public washroom with my mom as a volunteer work. I was meaning to bring a camera with me, but since I forgot to do so, please view this page, which I found online, where you get to see some nice photos of the area. Since there is one of the Sengen Shrines on the way home from the gym, I visited it and took some photos to share with you guys :)

Notice: the red structure is called "Torii (to-ri-i)" that marks the approach and entrance to the shrine. Beside the shrines, you see "komainu", a pair of guardian lions (or dogs), on each side of a shrine's entrance.

Before you make your prayer, you are supposed to wash your hands and ship water from this Purification through (ritual purification). I believe that the water @Sengen Jinja is natural spring water melted off from the snow on the mt. fuji, which takes hundreds of years to reach the area. Just so you know, our house gets the same water as spring water in our property, so we get to drink the most delicious tap water in the whole world!! (seriously!!)

As you approach the Haiden (Hall of Worship) an offering box Saisen Bako, this is what you do to pray: Toss some small change into the box, Make two deep bows, Clap loudly, twice, Make one more bow and make your wish.

If the haiden has a huge bell like this, you can shake it before you throw in some change in the offering box.

This is the stage for Bugaku:

I saw a horse inside in this haiden, and I assume that it is dedicated for a god of horse of some sort. Since I am a year of horse, I also made my prayer for this god.

On the way home, I saw a couple doing some farm work by the rice field:

See, this is the Fuji I get to see from my home. Can you believe that I was on top of it in August 2003? :)

Meeting another old friend

I went to the local gym, where my old classmate works now. I had not seen him for over 12 years that I did not know what to expect how much he has changed. Unexpectedly, he had a gentle facial expression on his face and he looked quite calm. I guess he has experienced many chapters of life and has grown up to be a mature adult now. He was in the national junior soccer team during Junior Highschool and went to the same highschool where the famous soccer player, Nakata attended (Nakata is 1 year older than us). He was a role model (in academics and athletics) to many of us that I remember him for always keeping his focus on his mission. So seeing him with this gentle facial expression, I for a moment did not know what to say to him. Regardless to say, he looked somewhat at peace and positive. Seeing him all grown up here at home brought me some smiles, as I know deep inside that both of us must share similar struggles in the past as passionate humans. I do not know how much he is comfortable to talk with me, but I hope that one day we get to talk about both of our perspectives on life over a couple of drinks or something. Will see :)

Meeting with my old classmates

So on the first visit to the gym after my return here in Japan, I bumped into a boy whom I learned what it is to *like someone*. lol That's right, I bumped into my first love unexpectedly. I almost was going to speak to him in English casually yet to be reminded that I was here in Japan. He looked quite surprised but in fine mood. We bumped into each other a couple days later and made an arrangement to meet up with each other along with our old classmate at noon today. So Tsuyo (Tsuyoshi) came to pick me up at my house (sad girl's reality: no driver's licence) and we went to pick up Yoshito (our old classmate). Another friend, Ke-suke was going to come, but because he had other important errands to run, he could not come. Three of us went to this restaurant, where Tsuyo works as a cook. Two of the boys ordered lunch, but since I had just eaten at 10am, I ordered a piece of cheese cake.

Here are a few photos of my friends:

Yoshito:

Tsuyoshi:

Two of them eating their lunch:

It was very cool seeing them, especially because we got to share some of our thoughts that we could not share in the past (since we were all shy etc). It was also nice to hear what other classmates are up to from their knowledge. We chilled at the cafe until 4pm or so and aparted from each other. Hopefully I get to see them shortly. Yo-cchan, good luck on your job hunt. Tsuyoshi, thank you for driving us kids around :) See you soon!