Our Japan Trip #2

In case you didn't get to read my last blog, this is a series of blogs about my recent trip to Japan.  Here is the link to my last one, in case you're interested.  My sister was nice enough to take my son and I to a trip to Japan, mostly because he's nearing end of life issues.

http://likaslaments.blogspot.com/2016/06/our-trip-to-japan-1.html

We spent a part of 2 days visiting with my cousin, Izumo and her family.  Once was with just her, and another was with her husband and their two lovely daughters. We had done a lot, so I will only post select pictures I think might be of interest, or at least to me, they are interesting.

My cousin Izumo and her husband.

I must say, my cousin Izumo is probably one of the sweetest people I know, and her husband is super nice.  I am glad they are happy together, and they are such an awesome couple.  Of course, we gave them stuff, one is a Wisconsin Blue Book (I ended up with 2, and she is active in her political party, so I figured this would be interesting for her.

Anyway, the first time, she met us at the Edo/Tokyo Museum, a favorite of hers and her sister Macomo to visit.  So, of course, I had to get a few pictures, no matter how neat or silly or what have you...  My favorite parts were the WWII technology, which included the type of cars they used during that time period, along with some other cultural buildings, like the type of housing the Emperor lived in, and some other interesting cultural stuff.

I am so tiny in comparison...

 Obviously, I am not ferocious looking.  At all.

 A layout of what towns/cities looked like, back in the feudal days

This is a miniature replica of a tatami room, and would be for hosting get togethers.

A life size replica of a helmet/head gear for warriors.

One of those festival things, where you twist it back and forth.

A Japanese WWII era pick up truck.  Old vehicles are cool looking, aren't they?

Life size robe, worn back in the day.

No, this is NOT a Ford or Chevy.  I just love the way this car looks.

Almost resembles a VW Bug, but is NOT. Neat, isn't it?

OLD fuel pump, probably diesel, and is a real pump, not replicate.

Me, being silly, or maybe I'm waiting for the horse.

Of course, I can't seem to get this bike to go anywhere. Hmm.

Finally...  Chad, giving his mom a ride.

It was a very interesting museum, mostly because I've been to the museums around here, in S.E. WI and in the Greater Chicago area.  There is still so much to learn, but, because this is new to me, it was interesting.

The next time we went out with my cousin, we went out with the whole family, and they are just the nicest people!  We went on a relaxing fishing excursion, as well as a boat ride.  Very nice day with really nice people.

My cousin's daughters.  Very nice young people.  They also caught the only 2 fish from our group...  Go figure, huh?

Chad, putting fish food on the hook.

See the green ball?  That is the fish food. 

The fish that were coming around begging for food were off limits. So we had to swing the hooks out there.  I think it's more for relaxation, than for actual fishing.  All fish get tossed back.

The older of the two daughters smiling for the camera.  The younger to the left, and me and my crazy self at the far end, and my cousin's husband on this end.

Not so exciting, but, I have to say, it is a nice way to spend time outdoors, and a good way to chill out.  It's not a big pond, though it was fun to feed the fish.

The boat ride was also relaxing, and of course, I love to be by any body of water, whether it is a lake, great lake, ocean, or river.  Nice to have these times to be able to spend with family, relatives, and friends, to be able to bond and reminisce of life in general.

 From left - Cousin in law, younger daughter Akane, older daughter Momoka.

My son Chad with his Aunt Megi, my sister

Me, with my cousin Izumo.

Izumo and her husband, a really cool person.

My sister, and cousin Izumo

Going under a bridge, where others are celebrating a festival.

gliding down the river, checking out the sites.

Different tall buildings.

Tall buildings, even here, by the river.

Look at how close to the water some of these sky scrapers are.

Just showing the different types of tall buildings, and that they are very close to the river.

Thank you again, for obliging me, and this boat ride was so relaxing, I think many of us napped through at least part of the ride.  But was interesting, very smooth, and we followed it up with lunch with my cousin and her family.  It's been such a long time, and I have missed my relatives.

Tomorrow, I will be following it up with time spent with another cousin, Macomo, who is Izumo's younger sister.  Macomo is the salsa dance teacher, and I think that is such a fun sounding job, and how she must love it so much!  Please stay tuned...

Our Trip to Japan #1

My sister Megi took my son Chad and I to Japan from June 9 - 21. Between the pictures that were taken by me, my son, my sister, and my cousins, I think we had well over 200 pictures total. Of course, some of mine are not your usual type pictures, but still...

The trip was interesting that, our flight took off from Chicago’s O’Hare Airport on the 9th at 4:30am or some ungodly hour like that on the 9th. When we landed in Tokyo’s Narita Airport, it was something like 5pm on the 10th. It’s kind of crazy. I’ll explain more at the end of the last blog for this series.

Anyway, we stayed in this little apartment type of place, which was nice. It’s tiny, but, what is cool, is that when you flush the toilet, they have this device that instead of just filling up the tank, there is a spout that comes up, and you can wash your hands in the water that will fill up the tank, thus, saving a lot of water. Isn’t that cool? But, sorry, I didn’t get to take a good picture of that.

We ate dinner with my dad and step mom each night we were in Tokyo, about 5 or 6 nights, I think, including the first night and the last night. It was interesting to see them, since it has been 15 years since the last time, where they came here, and my son was only a year old. Of course, he doesn’t remember that. It is also interesting that the last time I was there, I was 16, and this is my son’s first visit, and he is 16 now.

Here are some pictures of us having a meal or looking at pictures together.

My & my sister's father.

My father and I were never close. I actually don’t know very much about him personally, only that he retired as one of the top CEOs of Eisei, a lab that produces medications, and that he is a biochemist (I think). My sister has always been closer to him, and had somewhat of a father/daughter relationship for intermittent times in her life. I am glad she studied Japanese in college, because for as long as it’s been for me, I don’t remember enough to get around well.

My sister Megi and our stepmother, Reiko-san

There is my sister to the left, and stepmother to the right. The cool thing about this is that her and I technically have the same name. My name is pronounced L (the l in pleasant) I (the i in pizza) KA (the cu in cut). Hers is pronounced Lei (the Hawaiian flower necklace) Ko (like in coho). Except, mine is the traditional version, and hers is the modern version of the same name, meaning “a fragrance of knowledge”. I’m not sure if I exactly fit, but, it’s kind of neat that I share a name with my stepmother, even though she is only related through being married to my father. She is also a great cook, who made a Polish/Russian version of chicken paprikash, to where I know the Serbian version of this dish, as well as other great meals filled with different pickles, veggies, and fish, all served up in different ways.

My father and son, after a great meal.

Myself, father, and sister at the end of the day

Of course, there were so many things to do, and people to see. We got to visit with a couple of my sister’s friends on a couple of different occasions, as well as long time family friends, and we had a lot of catching up to do. Here is a glimpse.

Isobe-san, her daughter Momoko, and her daughter.

Isobe-san is a lady my mother had been close friends with when we had lived there during my young childhood, and her daughter, Momo is my age, and we were good friends as well. I was glad to meet her daughter, who was about the same age as my son. Good people I tell you, and I wish we had more time to spend with this particular friend of my sister’s ought to be a teacher. She was awesome at taking us around and telling us what things were, and their meanings. We had gone to a temple/shrine, which was a combination of Buddhist and Shinto faiths represented here. It was very interesting. Here are the places we went to.

Garden view of Tokyo Tower

This is a view from the Buddhist/Shinto Temple & Shrine. Most places are either Buddhist or Shinto, and are either temples or shrines, and this is one of the rare ones that are both.

Garden looking up at sky scrapers

Entrance into Buddhist/Shinto Shrine & Temple

An ancient tree of the temple, thousands of years old

Approaching the Temple, with Tokyo Tower in the backdrop

One of the shrines in the same park

Making these parks beautiful by having a LOT of greenery

A Shinto Shrine to honor babies who have passed to the after world

This one really spoke to me. I had had a son before Chad, who I lost at 33.5 weeks due to being very ill during my pregnancy, and was a very loved and wanted child. He would be 17 if he were born alive. I dedicate this shrine to honor all babies who are now our angels.

Old post office station

Once upon a time, it was not allowed to have any building or structure taller than this building. But, through a loophole, the owners of the surrounding buildings/area started selling the sky, therefore being able to build their businesses to reach for the stars.

On the 5th floor deck, to help make people cooler w/ greenery on the rooftop

5th floor overlook, looking UP, not down

Same 5th floor overlook, at the various structures below.

Different spot to look - at the train station - Wow! All of those tracks!

I apologize for the bad photography. But, these were just too interesting for me to not post them, even if not the best pictures. Thank you for obliging me and reading my blog.

Part 2 will be of our visit with my cousin Izumo and her family, and more parts to come afterward to complete the series of 6. This is very fun for me to share with you all.

This is why I had cancelled June’s YVI meeting, so, here is toasting July’s meeting and beyond. Please keep your eyes peeled for future blogs. Thanks!