May 14th. Kamiooka, Kamakura, Japan

these are todays pictures. I am going to take a nap and come back and write a blog with it. Right now I need to rest, it has been a long busy day.

 

Hi I am back!

I was really glad today that I did road rallies in the past because that is what I felt like I was doing today. I would get a clue here and talk with someone else about how to get somewhere and then get another clue to figure out. But the long and short of it I got there with a little bit of thinking.

 

I wanted to go to the store with yarn I was told about, it is called Yuzawaya. It is Japan’s version of Sears and JoAnn Fabrics rolled into one. The address was Kamiooka-nishi, Kona-Ku Yokohama-City, Kanagawa. It said it was in front of Kamiooka Station of the Yokohama municipal subway and Keikyu Line. Sounds easy. I figured go to Yokohama ask around for Keikyu line and there it would be. Not so easy! I went to Yokohama City then was sent on another train to Kanagawa which sent me back to Yokohama City to find the Keikyu line. When I found the station I found one person with a little English and he printed a map in English for me. Well it wasn’t English it just wasn’t in Congi. He then pointed to the station I wanted Kamioooka which was nine stops from where I was. Great I got on went over and found the store. It was a great store.

I found buttons, stuff for making purses, fabric, and YARN!

   

 I was surprise to see how many man where there buying yarn and fabric. There was a whole section of fabric to make suits and shirts for men. Thank God I don’t make Paul’s suits. God Bless them. I found four great books. I will share with you later. Two are knitting books (one with 250 different types of patterns, the other is hats), and the other two are Needle embroidery. They are really neat and beautiful!

 

I found many books and all kinds of stuff. The girls at the cash register there were very nice even when I brought all my buttons without the trays with the prices. They had to go back and match all the buttons to the boxes and then bring them to the register. It only took four girls to help. Two had some English put them together and I could pay.

 

I then took the train back to Yokohama station and found the rapid blue train to Kamakura. There are twelve temples in this area. I saw two, The Big Buddha – Kotokuin-Temple and Hasedera-Temple. I learned that Hitler took the Congi symbol for peace and temple to use for the Swastika.    The grounds were wonderful and so many different gods. There was statues for at least 10,000 if you count the small ones. The gardens were so wonderful and the trees just beautiful. I am so glad I have one true God there is just too many strange looking things for all kind of reasons. On the bus over to the Big Buddha a gentleman stood by me and started talking in English. He asked about my trip and where I lived and so many things. He said he doesn’t get to use his English often but enough. He told me he once spent a week in Nashville and it was big and he loves country music. He helped me get off at the right place and where to walk to get to the other temple. The Big Buddha had many children with their classes. One set of children came up to me with a clip board and said. “Excuse me, may I ask you questions? Then asked where I was from, and used Hello and a few other phrases. Then they asked if they could have a photograph with me. I said yes but I wanted one too. Took a little while for them to understand that but it was a great photo. I was their English lesson for the day.

  

 

I then went to Hasedera-Temple. It is a large wooden temple with many gardens and trees. You go through the temple and grounds and stop at a look out that is over the ocean and then you can see the mountains. To say it was beautiful does not explain the view at all.  I found it very interesting. Many priests were doing things and people were lighting candles and taking fortunes. I was slowing down a little so I stop and drew a few trees and the temple in my art book. I didn’t notice until I looked up and saw several older men watching and nodding at me. I learned they really love their trees and to draw them is very special. Who knew!

  

   

 

I then walked back to the station little did I know it was a 45 minute walk but it was pleasant and I got to see the real city and people. I asked one man for help to the train station and we worked at getting me headed in the right direction. He went off his way and I continued but just as I was confused as which left I needed he appeared and took me down the right street. I think he thought about it a little and then came back to find me and direct me the right way. He had no English but my little Japanese and cheat sheet had me going in the right direction but I bet he was sure I would miss the small street to turn. He was right and I was very grateful he came back! Gochisoo sama deshita! Many people act really surprise that I am by myself. They are always asking ichiban (one) and then put up one figure. I say yes and they give me the bow with the ohhhhhh ahhhhh, thing.

  

 

I then found my way back to Yokohama and then to Shi-Yokohama with out a problem this time. I figured out what I did wrong yesterday. There are two places to queue up on the platform. One is green one is blue. I got on the first one that came last time. It was blue and wrong. This time I waited for the green train.  I was Right! I ask less and less how to get around each time. 

 

Tomorrow I am staying in Shin-Yokohama and going to the Ramen Noodle factory and the art museum. Day after I will head out for the Silk Museum near Yamashita-Koen. I just need to figure out how to get there or at least get started to get there before I go. It will be another road rally I am sure.

 

More tomorrow. I miss everyone and wish you could be here with me. (need some one to talk to!)  But I am having a great time.

Love Emily