Yesterday after we got back to the hotel we attended the Sunset Party
which is held every night in a different guest room, sort of like rotating
meetings (what a novel idea). These parties are a lot of fun and have
33+ people in a room and the rooms are small so one gets to know pretty
much everybody in the group pretty quickly.
Brad had a scoop on a great restaurant in Kyoto and said that he had
a few extra reservations so he asked Cindy and I, another couple from
Southern California, to join Jolene, her Mother Florence, and Brad for
dinner. We had a long walk to dinner which means that Cindy and I did
a walking marathon on this day. This is a good thing since we certainly
need the exercise.
The dinner was very good, interestingly prepared and presented. Cindy
was not very hungry so she ordered a couple of appetizers. Unfortunately
the snapper she ordered was deliciously prepared but when she found
the mouth of the fish on one piece and the eye of the fish on the next
she lost whatever appetite she had left. The waitress assured Cindy
that it would make her healthy and stronger …………
but then admitted that she did not like it either.
We got back to the room and Cindy made a bowl of oatmeal and then went
to bed. I stayed up so I could talk to you. The next morning we put
our bags outside of our romm and we were off to catch a train after
breakfast.
We had a two hour train ride and when we got on to the train we entered
it very slowly. Brad and Chieko San were worried that if we could not
get on the train faster when we get on the Bullet train tomorrow, we
will be left on the platform. 
A
bus picked us up and we went to explore the Ise Shrine, which is the
most important Shinto Shrine in Japan. Over 6 million people visit the
shrine every year.
Every sanctuary in the Ise Shrine consists of two identical adjoining
sites. Sites stay empty for 15 years and then they are built. It takes
5 years to complete them and then the adjoining site building is torn
down and left as empty for 15 years. Since the 7th Century these buildings
have been rebuilt and the symbols of the “kami” get ceremoniously
transferred every 20 years. 
By
performing this task every 20 years the Japanese people receive renewed
blessings from their kami and pray for peace in the world. The grounds
are absolutely gorgeous and have somewhat of a resemblance to Henry
Cowell Park in Felton. The difference is the hot humid weather we are
experiencing. There are gorgeous trees and grounds as can be seen from
the pictures. The stairs you see going up in the second picture are
going up to the area where the building has been removed. When 15 years
of empty lot has passed then the structure will be rebuilt there and
the adjoining structure will be torn down after transferring to the
new one.
The grounds have walkways made of gravel 
and
there are so many people walking to the shrine that if one is meditating
one can hear the constant sound of tromp, tromp, tromping, to the shrine.
After visiting the shrine we drove to a 9 story building for lunch.
Two different Rotary Clubs meet there on different days. How do Cindy
and I know it was 9 stories? We know this because we walked up the stairs
and did not take the elevator. We had a very good Japanese style lunch.
All of a sudden it hit me that I would not like to be the dishwasher
in a Japanese household since there were at least 10 different dishes
for each one of us.
Saying goodbye from the Shima Kanko Hotel in Kashikojima, Japan.
See you tomorrow on the web site.
Ron and Cindy Sekkel
