Kyoto Day Two

Monday, October 25, 2010

Today we had a late start – 8:20! Lucy does have a great sense of humor! We rode to the Zuihoin Temple for a Tea ceremony and a lesson in Zen Meditation. The Zen monk led us in how one should do the meditation. We were allowed to sit on stools if we couldn’t set on the floor. Thank goodness – so about half of us were on the stools. Then we had the tea ceremony – Lucy had given us lessons in the proper etiquette involved.

The Zen Garden here was better than the one we saw on Saturday – we all agreed on that.

Following the temple we rode out to Kameoka City where we meet some local organic farmers. The farm had been in their family for 400 years. We all pulled up some bean plants – edamae. We then got the beans off the plants while having a discussion with the farmers. Beans in sacks, we headed to our Japanese cooking lesson. We want you to know that we have been designated at “Sushi Ambassadors” for our country. I am afraid that I would have to resign that task. I still don’t like it, but Charlie liked his. The cooks there boiled the beans and they were pretty good!

Back at the hotel we had 40 minutes to get ready for this evenings program. Off we went for a Japanese Traditional Music lecture at the performer’s house. They were so sweet. They talked to us about the Koto, Shakuhachi, and shamisen. The first is like a harp in sound, the next one is a bamboo flute, and the last one is similar in sound to the banjo. We really enjoyed the music.

We went by taxi then to the Higashiyama District where we explored the path of Nene and the path of Ishibei which are beautiful alleys. They are filled with restaurants and Japanese style inns. It is said to represent the best of refined elegance that Kyoto can be.

We had a dinner at a local restaurant which was excellent – no fish!!

Tomorrow is the last day of the tour – it has been a fantastic tour. We really think that OAT (Overseas Adventure Travel) has outdone itself with this tour. It is “jam-packed” with so many different adventures and “discoveries.” We all have commented daily on how much we are enjoying everything. There certainly is never a dull moment or a wasted moment.