Last night after we finished packing we got on a bus and got over to
meet Jeanne (LT Governor) and Tom MacLaren (Directory Publisher) near
their Hotel. We went to a Department Store that had several restaurants
on the 8th floor. We looked at all of the pictures of the food in front
of the restaurants and settled on the Italian Restaurant. We were impressed
on the reasonableness of the price and the quality of the food. At the
hotel we had been staying at a bowl of oatmeal and coffee cost the same
as an entire Italian meal at this restaurant.
We then left the restaurant and found ourselves near the Dotonburi
Area so we looked for a green tea ice cream cone for dessert. Then we
found the bus that would take us back to the Osaka dome so that we could
attend the closing ceremonies of the Lend a Hand Convention.
There were only 4 of us on the bus and since Tom has to use crutches
to walk they directed our bus to the elevator were disabled do not have
to climb the millions of stairs that the rest of us do. Cindy and I
thanked Tom for allowing us to come along on his elevator. As a Thank
You we were thrilled that they accepted our invitation to sit in the
DGE section of the Osaka Dome.
The closing ceremonies started with many thanks for those who put on
the Convention. Then there was one of the most passionate speeches I
heard delivered by Jonathan Majiyagbe. When he was finished there was
a large symphonic orchestra that started playing. They played Antonin
Dvorak’s From the New World Symphony. That set the tone for the
most wonderful evening of entertainment.
A gentleman came out in a traditional Japanese costume with a black
hat and was introduced as a famous imperial court musician. It was a
wonderful experience he played a little flute that had about 6 openings
and I swear Cindy and I agreed that he sounded like Kenny G.
The symphony orchestra accompanied him. One had the eerie feeling when
we saw him in costume that he was the bridge from the past to the present.
It was a beautiful marriage of the old and new Japanese culture. He
played several pieces. He came back later to play some more of his music
while also being accompanied by the symphony orchestra. When he came
back he was no longer in the traditional costume. He just wore casual
clothes and also informed us that he recently became a Rotarian and
was enjoying playing for us since he was one of us and loved to play
for his friends.
The performances were outstanding and it was brought to a close by
singing in Japenese the Harry Ruggles’ standby of O’ Rotarian.
They
put the words on the screen like a sing-a-long so we all know how to
sing in Japanese. They then sang auld-lang-syne and we all held hands
for the last 2 songs while they had cherry blossom petals made out of
paper floating all over the front part of the dome.
We said our goodbyes and then got in the bus line to go home to our
hotel. Cindy went to bed and I did my most favorite thing I wrote to
you more of our experiences.
The morning of the 27th we were very excited since we were starting
our 3rd part of our adventure. We left the hotel with all of our bags
and got into a Taxi to go to the New Otani Hotel were we were joining
our Tour with Howard Tours. We met in the lobby of the hotel, turned
over our bags, and started to meet some of the people which we are going
to share the next 9 days.
We got on the bus and Brad Howard explained a few things and introduced
us to Chieko San who would be our tour guide for the next 9 days. He
told us that she was a much sought after guide. He turned it over to
her and we quickly saw how right he was. She immediately started to
tell us stories about Japan which helped us to gain a quick understanding
of the Japanese culture.
One story was about how crowded Japan is and how important toll roads
are in defraying the cost of acquiring them. The land for the roads
has to be purchased from the people who own them and land is most expensive
due to the lack of it. There are various toll roads and once there was
a shack that was burning on one of the islands.
The fire department had been called and dispatched a fire engine. When
they arrived at the toll taker he would not let them through until they
paid the toll. Chieko San said …. “You see in Japan we are
somewhat bureaucratic”.
She then explained religion in Japan. The religion of Shinto can be
used to be happy in this world. In Shinto there are many deities it
is sort of hero worship. It can take the form of hero worship or the
worship of an ancestor, etc. Buddhism and Christianity are for a happy
life in another world.
When one has a religion which allows for many deities it is not a
problem to add another deity so that Shinto and other religions can
co-exist rather easily. One so often thinks of the exclusivity of the
Japanese culture and here is a new perspective which actually allows
for inclusivity.
Chieko San told us about the process of praying. We saw many people
walk up to the praying area in a shrine, bow twice, clap twice bow,
and then finish with one clap and one bow. Chieko San said that the
clapping twice was to get the attention of what ever deity is on duty.
To make sure that a deity heard you, you then buy a fortune which is
on a piece of paper. If it is a good fortune you take it with you and
all is good. If it is a bad fortune you go over to the bad fortune designated
area and tie it on a tree and go back and buy another one.
The first stop was Nara and the park of the tame and sacred deer. 
There
are 1200 deer in a park. Chieko San said that if we wanted to feed them
there were some crackers that we could buy. She did caution us not to
have paper money out because they would eat it and they do not know
the difference between small bills and large ones so “careful
please”. We have never seen a scene like this. They are exactly
like dogs, they lick your hand if you are patient and build a relationship
(building bridges) with them. I could have stayed all 9 days right in
that park. Of course we are the kind of people who could stay in a pet
store petting dogs through the windows.
The same park had the very impressive Todaiji Temple 
which
is the largest wooden structure in the world. It was originally built
in the 7th Century and had to be rebuilt twice due to fires in 1180
and 1567.
Both at the temple and in the deer park there were school kids of
many ages and we all were so very impressed about them. 
The
picture shows a group of 4 and 5 year olds walking in the temple area.
It seems that many school groups come to this area as a field trip.
After this marvelous first stop we then went to a shrine were we learned
one of the processes of how to purify ourselves when we come to a water
source that has cups with long handles. After our purification we drove
to a facility that is attached to the location where they do “Noh”
theatre. We had a gorgeous view and a very good lunch.
Saying goodbye from Kyoto, Japan.
See you tomorrow on the web site.
Ron and Cindy Sekkel
