August 8 - A day in which I can eat some foods!

Insect count: small flies, and sounds of monsters but no sites! :D

T5B: 1) Got to talk to my bffs! 2) Limor got to come with us to see some sights in Morioka. 3) We all got to go to an Onsen together and Limor drove. 4) It was less humid today. 5) I saw some firsts in Morioka (I was saving them up for seeing them with someone).

Today started late (thank goodness). I went to bed before everyone else last night. I left my lamp on for the girls and woke up in the middle of the night and it was still on. .. So I turned it off. In any case, I got to sleep in until 9 am and I had fallen asleep sometime around 00h30 with my head trying to split itself open. I had a lingering migraine/tension headache (that ran into my shoulders) but I didn't feel like vomiting with every beat of my heart. So, yay! Limor actually arrived before we were all ready to go. I threw on some clothes and we both walked to the bank since she needed some money as well. On the way back, we stopped at the bakery. I grabbed some cheese bread and my favorite pastries for the girls to try. When we got back, the girls were ready to go and off we went. We walked to Boonji Temple which is also called the Temple of 500 Disciples. It was really cool. We were also almost the only people there! Limor and I walked around the wrong way so we had to walk back in. Limor had visited some temples before so she knew the ettiquette. We put some money in the box, clapped twice, then bowed twice and sent up a prayer. I really enjoyed doing that because I was glad I could show cultural respect and experience the beliefs of another country. On our way out, we saw two Japanese women. They chatted with us for a few minutes. All we said, passing them, at first was, "Konnichiha!" (Yes "ha" - that's the character used though it's said: wa.) One of the women stopped and said, "Sugoi nihongo!" That was flattering to hear! So she asked where I was from and where I was living. At times she had to ask her question again or rephrase it, but I had another conversation with a Japanese woman! She asked where I was teaching and I told her. It 's just so fun to talk and understand and BE understood! :D After that, as we were leaving, we saw signs that said, "Demon Handprints." Well you know we followed those signs! Luckily it was only two blocks out of our way.

At the Demon's Handprints I put a one yen coin in the rocks like many others had done and we got some pictures and learned the history of Sansa. (I took pictures of all this!) I also got pictures of me as a demon (oni)! After we finished taking pictures and walking around, we walked back towards my place. On the way we stopped at a Lawson's (for the a/c and some cold drinks) and we separated briefly. That is, the girls went to see Ishiwarizakura (rock splitting cherry tree) and Limor and I were overheated and walked back to my place to sit with the dehumidifier for a while. When the girls got to my place, we cooled down a little longer and then Limor drove us to the onsen. It was across town at a place called Aishinkan. Limor and I went to the outdoor pool but we skipped the indoor ones. We were both overheated anyway so sitting in the heated pools wasn't too appealing to us for too long. It was funny, when we first got there, I started undressing first and then mooned Limor. LOL She had come out of the bathroom and I got her attention and then started wiggling my bum at her. LOL She was shocked. It was a blast. Limor and I ended up leaving earlier than the other girls so we could talk and the girls could spend more time at the onsen.

Limor left me at my place after talking for a bit and I ran the dehumidifier and cut the pastries and cheesebread up. When the girls got here, I gave them their bread and pastries and we all cooled down again. After that, we headed back out and went to Hachimanguu (the biggest shrine in Morioka). We walked around for a bit and got all sweaty again. On the way back to my place we stopped at the grocery store. The girls loved exploring the grocery store. The grocery was nice because of the aircon but going back out I said, "Brace yourselves [humidity is coming]." It was a blast of swamp! I may run the dehumidifier all night so that we can sleep comfortably. The girls said they would leave me some money for my bills. I hope they do so. That would REALLY help me. In any case, I hope this entry made sense I'm a little light-headed still. (I drank some Pocari Sweat today ~ an electrolyte drink ~ as recommended by my mom and Jerod and they are smart people! I was able to keep the little bit of food and water down that I had today. I still have some enormous tension pain and my stomach is feeling a little iffy right now, but still it's huge progress over yesterday!) :D Hope you're all feeling well! XOXO, A

500 Disciples (Rakan - meaning also Holy Men)

An explanation

The entrance to the temple grounds

A statue within

Another statue - Limor and I saw a guy approach this one, take off his hat, and bow

Limor and a bell

A beautiful garden in the back

An inner room

This was to the left in the above picture - it reminds me of the Bible

These are statues outside of the room with the Rakan so I'm assuming they were recovered in the area

Big guy statue

Other statues and a horse head

The 500 Rakan and the centerpiece

Some of the Rakan

Me (SO hot and sweaty), Amber, and the Rakan

The ceiling had dragons on it!

me and Limor :D

A little statue behind the whole set up - it was dark and creepy back there!

The girls taking pictures of the main part and me showing there are Rakan everywhere!

Oh noes!!

Marco Polo! o.0

Playing pool, being bored, and throwing rice at a wedding! :)

Limor made fun of me for taking a picture of a picture - but this shows many different Rakan that weren't seated together - the top two to the right reminded me of the Muppets - the two heckler guys whose names I never remember! Something and Waldorf?

This is at the entrance to the entire temple - this is where I put money in a box (not pictured, sorry), clapped twice, and bowed twice

Me as an oni (demon)

My other demon face

The history of the Demon's Handprints and Sansa :)

Demon's Handprints

Me after the onsen - see! I am getting my color back! :D

Hachimanguu from across the street

one of the lion pillars

Me and the gate

The gate with cars to show scale - it's BIG

The girls walking up to the shrine - in front of this building, there was another money box like at that other temple. Someone had put in 1000 yen ($10). It was possible to reach in and pull it out as it was sitting, so I pushed it down with my fan. Maybe that was wrong... I just didn't want someone to lose their $10 prayer.

the girls and other buildings we found

buildings

me and one of the smaller shrines

a cool carving there

Another big shrine - we washed a woman walk up, move one of those cords (which were covered with bells) and start bowing and praying

me and the temple/shrine (the dark spot on my chin is the last remnant of my fall from the bus - I hope it finishes healing soon! It's still tender.)

me and a lion

Tara and the trees ~ those smaller stone carvings all in a row were the Zodiak

Abbey getting water - we watched a woman go up and get some, and then we imitated her. :) (I had some water too.) - You pour the ladle into your hand and drink the water from your hand. It was cool. :) Another cultural experience.

Good night! Hope you're all doing wonderfully! -a