Did I mention that this trip is also an educational trip/ performance for some of my friends? 4 of them were to either perform some aikido/ katori technique or play a musical piece. So today is rehearsal day for them and I am their photographer. So off we went to thisnearby school hall for practice. And its pretty amazing how martial arts can pull everyone together. There were delegates from Malaysia of course, Sweden, Spain, USA, Russia, Korea, Finland, how could I forget Japan, China and many more.
Its really an eye opener to see so many people practicing the art in front of me, all in one place. I am not very exposed to Japanese arts but its wonderful to see it being demonstrated right in its country of origin. And it seems to me like a very peaceful art. And I am sure that if I were to study it philosophy, it would mean so much more. A friend shared with me that its a teaching, a way of thinking ....... and that is what sets us Asians as uniques collective cultures. So much to be learnt.
But my 3 hours watching them practice was well spent. It really provokes you to want to do something with your own life. Well, of course there was the side rack of chatting, socializing, laughing, photo taking and all .... but it was a good day.
And the best thing that ever happened to me in Japan happened then!! It snowed!! At least for a minute .... its magical. So beautiful ... just watching the gentle while flakes falling from the sky ... so peaceful and so smooth. Its like watching the free floting of paradise. I went outdoors and tried to catch the snow .... with my bare hands .... ok, its a little dissapointing, like ice shavings in ice kacang ...... but its snow!! And it melts i n your hand! And for a minute or two, I was like a mad woman, sitting by a pond trying to catch snow flakes. Words cannot describe how beautiful it was. And the image of snow falling a midst a fake sakura tree (which I discovered to be a plum flower) is just worth the whole trip.
And I can say that I am truly happy. I saw what I wanted to see but I expected not to see. It did not snow in Tokyo for a long time. And it snowed this time round. 3 times in the day. I'm so lucky, so privileged! And its wonderful to have seen it together with your friends, together with other happy people. Seeing such a happy work of nature together with other happy people makes this THE moment of the entire trip! And yes, it is etched in my heart .... the picture that paints a thousand words.
More food and lazing around later, we took another trip to Shinjuku to visit the Honbu Dojo, head quarters of Aikido for the whole world. Worth the ride right? It was settled in some small town, pretty difficult to locate but who's complaining? Its always nice to walk in the cool weather.
It was a good night ... exploring the streets of Shinjuku, busy hunting for good cheap food, laughing all the way with your company, watching the Saturday night crowd hit the streets andhaving your feet hurt like hell. But another good way to end the night ............... it Snowed again on our bus ride home!! A truly magical day!
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