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Japan

Visiting Kondo Hakkaku Tōrō and The Great Temple

We went to visit the Kondo Hakkaku Tōrō at Tōdai ji which was quite something to see. The day was a bit wet with on and off light rain  showers.

Shelley at the front of the Kondo Hakkaku Tōrō bronze Lantern
The Kondo Hakkaku Kondo Tōrō

The Kondo Hakkaku Kondo Tōrō is located in front of the Great Buddha Hall.  The ancient octagonal bronze lantern dates back to the 8th century, making it over 1,250 years old. It was created during the founding era of Tōdai-ji, around the same time  as the temple.

Ray and Shelley in front of the Buddha Temple

We went inside the temple and the Great Buddha of Nara (Daibutsu),  loomed in front of us. It is one of the largest bronze Buddha statues in the world.

The Great Buddha of Nara (Daibutsu),

The Buddha rises about 15 meters (49 feet) tall, weighs roughly 500 tons, and sits within the huge Great Buddha Hall. 

 

The photos don’t reflect the scale. The Buddha’s sheer size of the statue makes you feel small. 

We walked around the temple looking at the Buddha and other buddha idols from different angles. 

Outside of the temple is a small wooden Buddha and it was being touched by some of the visitors. We went over to check it out. 

Wooden buddha

The wooden buddha is called the Pindola and he was one of the disciples of Buddha. It is believed in Japan that when you rub a part of wooden Pindola and then rub the same part on you. That injured or troubled area of your own body will bring healing. So of course Ray had to try it.

Ray’s knee has never felt better since.

時は矢のごとく過ぎ去る。

Japan

Hiroshima Castle

Hiroshima Castle, sometimes called the Carp Castle, was originally built in 1591 but was destroyed in the atomic bomb of 1945. It was later rebuilt in 1958 as a complete replica of the original.

Hiroshima Castle located in the heart of Hiroshima

The castle is surrounded by a moat which makes it a buffer to the hustle and noise of the city.

Walking across the bridge into the castle felt a little like walking from the city into the past.  

Bridge leading in the Castle

There were several things that really stood out for us. As we walked along a path towards the Castle there was twisted tree which had a plaque. We stoped to discover that this tree had survived the Atomic Bomb of 1945.

Tree that survived the atomic bomb in Hiroshima 1945

We could see the castle on the hilltop which was quite stunning to see with the cherry trees in bloom at the base of the hill.

Hiroshima Castle

We walked up the hill to the castle and admired the details of its reconstruction. It looked like it had been there for centuries. 

We walked around the castle admiring the architecture and design. We eventually came to the temple area. 

entrance area to the Temple

We did not go into the temple but looking in we could see the ornate design and beauty of it. 

View of the interior of the Temple

It was an enjoyable day exploring the castle and the weather was perfect.  

戦争の灰の中から生まれ変わり、平和を尊ぶ

Japan

Wandering Dotonbori District, A Perfect Afternoon

We spent an afternoon wandering through the Dotonbori area of Osaka Japan. It is a vibrant area with food and restaurant shops and it actually felt like we were stepping into a living postcard. The shops and stores all had unique signs and vibrant colours.

Shelley and I set out without much of a plan, we just wandered the narrow streets of the district.  The streets were vibrant with bright creative signs overhead, lots of locals and tourist weaving past one another.

The vendors shouting and calling out trying to entice you to buy their food. We took our time, letting ourselves get pleasantly lost among the narrow side streets and bustling main paths. Of course, it wasn’t long before we decided to sample one of the local foods called Takoyaki.

They make different types of Takoyaki which is a popular Japanese street food. It is generally made of small, round balls of batter filled with diced pieces of octopus or other fish. We bought the traditional Takoyaki with octopus to try.

Shelley having some Takoyaki

We continued exploring and looking at all the different signs and advertising. Some of the signs were three-dimensional and very creative. There were everything from dragons, octopus and crabs to other unique signs.


At one point, needing a bit of a break, we found a small outside bar tucked away along the Tonbori River.

Tonbori River in Osaka

It was the perfect spot for us, we could relax but still watch all the people and excitement of the area.

We grabbed a couple of drinks and sat for a while, watching the tour boats go by on the water.

One of the many different tour boats on the Tonbori  River

Each tour boat was unique and everyone would wave to all the people on the banks of the river.  After resting up we slowly made our way back towards our hotel.  The Dotonbori district was more than we expected  and we had a great afternoon exploring the culture and foods. 

私たちの人生のあらゆる瞬間は、無視するのではなく、楽しむべき奇跡なのです。

Japan

Our first day In Japan

Shelley and I landed in Tokyo after our 15 hour flight with a mix of excitement and also tired from our flight. We made our way to the hotel and checked into our room. We unpacked, freshened up, and took a moment to look out over the city. Tokyo stretched endlessly before us, below near our hotel was a Japanese Garden.

View from our hotel room in Tokyo
View of Japanese Gardeon from our Hotel.

Even after the long journey, we felt an energy in the air that made it impossible to feel tired for long. 

We decided to spend our first day exploring the traditional Japanese garden near our hotel.  The noise of the city softened into the background. The water falls and beautiful Koi fish made it peaceful and relaxing.

Shelley in the Japanese Garden in Tokyo


We wandered without any real plan, stopping often just to admire the details in everything around us.

That evening, we kept things simple, choosing a nice meal at the hotel and rest over rushing into more sightseeing.

It gave us time to reflect on the day and build anticipation for what was to come. 

We enjoyed some Japan beer, a nice meal then headed off to get some well deserved rest before the start of our adventures in Japan.

“その瞬間は二度と繰り返されないのだから、一つひとつを大切にしましょう。”

Germany

Nuremberg Trials

Located in the Palace of Justice, The Nuremberg Trials Museum, also known as the Memorium Nuremberg Trials, preserves the very place where the Nuremberg Trials were held, and where the world first attempted to hold leaders accountable for crimes against humanity.
Nuremberg Palace of Justice
When we arrived at the front of the building, we were surprised at just how ordinary it appeared. It looked like a typical government building. There was nothing about the exterior that hinted at the gravity of what had taken place inside. However from the moment we entered the building, there was a quiet weight in the air. This was not a museum meant for casual wandering, it was a place of Justice and for reflection.
Courtroom 600 where the Nuremberg Trials took place
We began by going into Courtroom 600 and we sat on one of the courtroom benches.  We looked at the layout of the courtroom and imagines how the court process that would have taken place.  It felt  surreal sitting in the actual courtroom on the actual bench. A few minutes later there was a semi transparent screen which lowered slowly down and the curtains closed and lights dimmed.
Courtroom 600 location of the Nuremberg Trials
The screen covered the whole front of the courtroom although we could see through the screen to the courtroom. There was a hush  and then original footage from the actual Nuremberg Trials began to play. Seeing the real defendants, hearing their voices, and watching the proceedings unfold in the very room where we were seated made the experience deeply personal. What was truly unique was that the courtroom layout was visible through the screen and if gave a sense that we were witnesses there in real time.  After about 20 minutes the screen lifted and we continued onto the next section which contained different displays. We gained a deeper understanding of the complexity of the trials, the legal challenges, the moral questions, and the lasting impact on international law and human rights. The Museum did not shy away from difficult truths, nor did it sensationalize them. Instead, it presented history with honesty and respect. It took us about two hours to slowly go through the different displays and read, watch historic video clips and see the entire displays.
window on the second floor where news cameras were located during the trials
By the end of our visit, we felt emotionally drained and it was a somber experience. While “enjoyable” may seem like an unusual word for such a place, it fits in the sense that the visit was enriching, educational, and deeply moving. “Bis zur Nistzeit”