Hisashiburi! (Long time no see) So, as you can see from the photos below, I did tea ceremony. This is a very old Japanese tradition which takes time and is not at all about the tea drinking. Then we got to have a go at making it ourselves.
It was difficult as can be seen from the amusement of our honorable Sensei who lead the ceremony.
Here is a Fan on the Tatami mat. Very pretty but also completely Gaijin. The fan is never opened during Tea ceremony, but instead used to signal that someone is going to talk (usually the tea master is explaining something.)
Here she is, very friendly and nice. Here is some tea information. In Kyoto, if someone offers you more tea if you are at their home, it is a way of saying it is time for you to leave. You should take the hint. 30km away in Osaka, the people are very different and would probably tell you to get out.
Here is her Kimono, it is a very formal one that she might wear to her sons graduation.
As it has been autumn (although still in the 20s some times) The leaves have been falling. There are so many ginko leaves, because it is the sign of the government and they plant them everywhere. In autumn they turn a pretty yellow, but in summer, the fruit that falls to the ground smells so disgusting, I'm glad I arrived towards the end.
Then on Friday, I went to Chichibu Night Festival (Yomatsuri) The photos are generally bad because it was so busy I couldn't keep a steady hand.
I had Hiroshima style Okonomiyaki (Like a cabbage Pancake with whatever you like added.) Hiroshima style means you get an egg and noodles included (and bacon but I asked for her to make me one without ^_^)
There were fireworks, but my photos didn't work very well but they were very pretty and went on much longer than anything I have ever seen before (i.e. 2 hours.)
It was difficult as can be seen from the amusement of our honorable Sensei who lead the ceremony.
Here is a Fan on the Tatami mat. Very pretty but also completely Gaijin. The fan is never opened during Tea ceremony, but instead used to signal that someone is going to talk (usually the tea master is explaining something.)
Here she is, very friendly and nice. Here is some tea information. In Kyoto, if someone offers you more tea if you are at their home, it is a way of saying it is time for you to leave. You should take the hint. 30km away in Osaka, the people are very different and would probably tell you to get out.
Here is her Kimono, it is a very formal one that she might wear to her sons graduation.
As it has been autumn (although still in the 20s some times) The leaves have been falling. There are so many ginko leaves, because it is the sign of the government and they plant them everywhere. In autumn they turn a pretty yellow, but in summer, the fruit that falls to the ground smells so disgusting, I'm glad I arrived towards the end.
Then on Friday, I went to Chichibu Night Festival (Yomatsuri) The photos are generally bad because it was so busy I couldn't keep a steady hand.
I had Hiroshima style Okonomiyaki (Like a cabbage Pancake with whatever you like added.) Hiroshima style means you get an egg and noodles included (and bacon but I asked for her to make me one without ^_^)
There were fireworks, but my photos didn't work very well but they were very pretty and went on much longer than anything I have ever seen before (i.e. 2 hours.)
To finish off I have tried to upload a video, I hope it works. It kind of shows the business and crazy atmosphere (The people are interacting with us because we were probably the only non asians there.)
On Friday I am going to Kyoto, so I am very very excited. I don't think I can wait!
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